Abstract:
A quick-cooling device for a refrigerator includes top, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define an air intake/delivery housing. A plurality of air discharge nozzles are arranged about at least one wall of the housing. A blower fan is mounted to the housing for drawing an airflow from the refrigerator into the housing and thereafter expelling the airflow from the housing through the air discharge nozzles. The air discharge nozzles can be constituted by slotted or circular openings arranged in staggered rows and sized to match a particular application.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a device for rapidly altering a temperature of an item in a refrigerator. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   In the art of refrigerated appliances, it is known to employ a device to rapidly alter a temperature of a selected food item. The device can be used to decrease ice production time, rapidly chill a beverage, thaw a frozen food item or perform other similar operations. In general, the device can be mounted over an icemaker in a freezer to decrease ice production time or positioned in a fresh food compartment for chilling beverages or thawing frozen foods. Some appliances include through-the-door quick-coolers that enable a consumer to quickly chill, for example, a beverage container without opening the appliance. Regardless of the particular configuration, the devices are large, bulky mechanisms that take up precious space in the appliance. In the highly competitive field of home appliances, storage space in a refrigerator is a major design consideration and, often, a key selling point. 
   Based on the above, despite the presence of various devices that bring about a rapid temperature change for items in a refrigerator, there still exists a need for a quick-cooling device for a refrigerator. More specifically, there exists a need for a quick-cooling device that is compact in size, easily re-positionable and, when positioned below a food item, causes a rapid change in temperature by disrupting a thermal insulation layer allowing faster temperature transfer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a rapid temperature change or quick-cooling device for rapidly altering a temperature of an article in a refrigerator. Preferably, the quick-cooling device includes top, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define an air intake/delivery housing, a plurality of air discharge nozzles arranged about at least one wall of the housing and a blower fan for drawing an airflow in from the refrigerator into the housing and expelling the airflow from the housing through the air discharge nozzles and back into the refrigerator. The quick-cooling device includes a power supply adapted to deliver power in a range of between approximately 3-5 watts to the blower fan. The power supply can produce AC or DC power depending upon particular application requirements. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, each of the plurality of discharge nozzles is constituted by a slotted opening formed in one wall of the housing. Preferably, the slotted opening has an area of between approximately 0.03 and 0.049 square inches (about 0.19 and 0.316 square cm). Alternatively, each of the plurality of discharge nozzles could be constituted by a generally circular opening having a diameter of between approximately 0.2 and 0.25 inches (about 0.51 and 0.64 cm). Regardless of the particular configuration, the plurality of nozzles direct an airflow onto an outer surface of an article in the refrigerator to disrupt a thermal barrier and bring about a rapid temperature change. In the case of ice production, employing the device has been found to establish a rapid temperature change that can speed ice formation by as much as 2-3 times. 
   In any event, the plurality of discharge nozzles are formed into rows that extend longitudinally across the wall of the housing. The rows are preferably arranged so that a spacing of approximately 1.5 inches (about 3.81 cm) is maintained between each of the plurality of discharge nozzles. In the most preferred form of the invention, the plurality of rows are staggered so that adjacent nozzles are not arranged in adjacent rows. 
   Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial, upper right perspective view of a side-by-side refrigerator incorporating a quick-cooling device constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the quick cooling device depicted in a quick-ice configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is an upper right perspective view of the quick-cooling device arranged below an icemaker; 
       FIG. 3  is an upper right, partially exploded, perspective view of the quick-cooling device constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an upper right, partially exploded, perspective view of the quick-cooling device constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a partial, upper right perspective view of the side-by-side refrigerator of  FIG. 1  illustrating two quick-cooling devices positioned in a fresh food compartment, with one of the quick-cooling devices performing a thawing operation and another of the quick-cooling devices performing a beverage cooling operation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator generally indicated at  2  includes an outer shell or cabinet  4  within which is positioned a liner  6 . In the embodiment shown, liner  6  defines a freezer compartment  8 . In a similar manner, a fresh food compartment  9  is established in cabinet  4 . In a manner known in the art, freezer compartment  8  can be accessed by the selective opening of a freezer door  10 . In a similar manner, a fresh food door  12  can be opened by engaging handle  13  to access fresh food compartment  9 . For the sake of completeness, refrigerator  2  is shown to include, on freezer door  10 , a plurality of vertically adjustable shelving units, one of which is indicated at  16 . Further illustrated for exemplary purposes are a plurality of shelves  21 - 24  arranged in freezer compartment  8  that are cantilevered from spaced shelf ladders, one of which is indicated at  28 , having a plurality of vertically spaced apertures  29 . 
   Positioned in freezer compartment  8 , above shelf  21 , is an automatic icemaker  40  which, in a manner known in the art, produces and dispenses ice into a hopper or bin (not shown). Positioned below icemaker  40  is a quick-cooling device  50  constructed in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, quick-cooling device  50  functions to direct an air flow onto a lower portion of icemaker  40  to speed ice production time. That is, when positioned below icemaker  40 , quick-cooling device  50  will decrease an amount of time required to produce ice as will be discussed more fully below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , icemaker  40  includes a main body portion  60  having a first end  63  defining a motor housing  64 . First end  63  extends to a second end  65 , at which is arranged a water inlet  66 . Arranged between first end  63  and second end  65  is an ice dispensing portion  70 . As shown, ice dispensing portion  70  is provided with a pair of mounting brackets  72  and  73  that are adapted to secure icemaker  40  to, for example, a side wall (not separately labeled) of freezer compartment  8 . Ice dispensing portion  70  includes a plurality of outlet openings, one of which is indicated at  75 , through which formed ice cubes pass. The formed ice cubes are designed to fall into a bucket or hopper (not shown) positioned below icemaker  40 . In a manner known in the art, the ice cubes are guided through the plurality of outlet openings  75  by a plurality of push or lifting members, one of which is indicated at  76 , that raise the ice cubes from an ice tray  77 , through outlet openings  75 . Icemaker  40  is also provided with a bail arm  80  which is adapted to selectively halt ice production when additional ice is not required. In general, this description of exemplary icemaker  40  is known in the art and provided only for the sake of completeness. 
   Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 2 and 3  in describing quick-cooling device  50  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, quick-cooling device  50  includes top, bottom and opposing side wall portions  106 - 111  that collectively define an intake/discharge housing  120 . A blower motor  125  is mounted to top wall  106  of intake/discharge housing  120 . Blower motor  125  is drivingly connected to a fan wheel  126  and includes a main housing  127  from which projects a drive shaft (not shown). Blower motor  125  is also provided with a pair of mounting flanges  129  and  130  that extend radially outward from main housing  127 . Each mounting flange  129 ,  130  is provided with a respective mounting aperture  131 ,  132  for securing blower motor  125  to top wall  106  with, for example, a respective mechanical fastener (not shown). Blower motor  125  is operatively connected to a power supply  134  ( FIG. 2 ) that supplies either AC or DC current (depending on the particular configuration) to drive fan wheel  126 . 
   In the most preferred form of the invention, power supply  134  delivers between approximately  3  and  5  watts of power to blower motor  125 . A low wattage output is particularly advantageous in cooling applications, as the radiation of heat generated by the operation of blower motor  125  is maintained at a very low level. Thus, maintaining power input to between approximately 3-5 watts minimizes any heat generation that could adversely affect the overall cooling effect of quick-cooling device  50 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , quick-cooling device  50  is provided with a plurality of mounting lugs  140 - 142  arranged about top wall  106 . In accordance with the embodiment shown, mounting lugs  140 - 142  serve as attachment points for securing quick-cooling device  50  to an underside of icemaker  40  or, as will be detailed more fully below, to other portions of refrigerator  2 . In addition to providing structure for securing quick-cooling device  50 , mounting lugs  140 - 142  establish a preferred spacing between quick-cooling device  50  and an underside (not separately labeled) of ice tray  77 . For most efficient operation, quick-cooling device  50  is preferably spaced approximately 0.5 and 1 inch (about 1.27 and 2.54 cm) from ice tray  77 . 
   In further accordance with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , side wall  111  includes an inlet opening  148  while top wall  106  is formed with a plurality of discharge nozzles, one of which is indicated at  150 . In accordance with one aspect of the invention, discharge nozzles  150  are constituted by generally circular openings arranged in a plurality of rows  153 - 157  that extend longitudinally along top wall  106 . Preferably, each discharge nozzle  150  has a diameter of between approximately 0.2 and 0.25 inches (about 0.51 and 0.64 cm) and are maintained in a spaced relationship such that a distance (d) between adjacent nozzles  150  in respective rows  153 - 157  is approximately 1.5 inches (about 3.81 cm). Most preferably, nozzles  150  in adjacent rows  153 - 157  are staggered one from the other so, for example, discharge nozzles  150  in row  157  are not positioned directly adjacent or aligned laterally with discharge nozzles  150  located in adjacent row  156 . 
   The overall size and spacing of discharge nozzles  150  is designed to optimally correspond to ice tray  77  of icemaker  40  so as to obtain the greatest possible heat transfer coefficient. Discharge nozzles  150  are arranged about top wall  106  such that cool air emanates from nozzles  150  to disrupt an insulation layer that develops on an underside of ice tray  77 . However, it is desired to shield the plurality of outlet openings  75  arranged closest to second end  75  of icemaker  40  from direct air in order to avoid hollow ice cube production. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the two outlet openings  75  that are shielded are adjacent a thermostat (not shown) positioned in motor housing  64 . More specifically, given that direct air in this area could negatively impact the overall ice production of icemaker  40 , there are no nozzles  150  positioned below the closest of the plurality of outlet openings  75  arranged adjacent motor housing  64 , e.g., the first two outlet openings  75 . In any event, in response to a signal received from a central control (not shown), blower motor  125  operates fan wheel  126  to draw cool air from freezer compartment  8  into housing  120  through inlet opening  148 . The cool air is then discharged through nozzles  150  onto an underside of ice tray  77 . It has been found that this direct impingement of cool air onto the underside of ice tray  77  speeds ice production by as much as 2-3 times the normal rate of production. 
   Reference will now be made to  FIG. 4  in describing a quick-cooling device  50 ′ constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, quick-cooling device  50 ′ is provided with a plurality of discharge nozzles  150 ′ shown in the form of slotted openings  200 . Slotted openings  200  are formed to have an overall area of between approximately 0.03 and 0.049 square inches (about 0.19 and 0.32 square cm). In a manner analogous to that described above, slotted openings  200  are arranged in a plurality of rows  210 - 214  such that, upon activation, a cooling air flow is expelled through openings  200  onto a lower surface of ice tray  77 . In a manner corresponding to the embodiment described above, the operation of quick-cooling device  50 ′ speeds the production of ice up to as much as 2-3 times. Therefore, when large amounts of ice are needed with either device  50  or  50 ′ present, a consumer need simply select a quick ice option button, switch or the like provided on a control portion (not shown) of refrigerator  2  to activate quick-cooling device  50  or  50 ′. 
   While quick cooling device  50 ,  50 ′ is described as being mounted below ice tray  77 , other locations within refrigerator  2  could equally benefit from quick-cooling. For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative positioning of quick cooling device  50 . As shown, quick-cooling device  50  is placed in fresh food compartment  9  on an underside of one of a plurality of shelves  231 - 234  cantilevered from spaced shelf ladders, one of which is indicated at  336 . In this arrangement, quick cooling device  50  is attached to the underside of one of the plurality of shelves  231 - 234  with suitable attachment members (not shown), preferably without mounting lugs  140 - 142  as there is no need to maintain or establish a requisite spacing in this configuration. The air discharged from nozzles  150  are directed downward to thaw frozen food items such as indicated at  250  or, alternatively, to cool beverages such as shown at  260 . Of course, quick cooling device  50  could also simply be placed upon one of the plurality of shelves  231 - 234  or mounted to a dedicated support structure (not shown). In any case, although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited to the scope of the following claims.