[001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising at least two compartments, wherein the temperatures of the compartments can be controlled efficiently.

[002] Cooling devices comprise two compartments, namely the freshfood and the freezer compartments. A thermostat is situated in each compartment to keep these compartments within the desired temperature range. One of the thermostats checks the temperature of the medium and controls the temperature of the corresponding compartment by starting or stopping the operation of the compressor and/or the fan when required. The other thermostat controls a flap that changes the cross-sectional area of the duct, connecting the two compartments, through which air flows for cooling the second compartment.

[003] The prior art document, International Patent Application no. WO2004/029527, describes an application which utilizes a button and a thermostat, wherein both the thermostat and the flap are controlled by this button. The diameter of the flap, rotated by the button, changes angularly so that the cross-section of the air passage opening is closed in varying ratios at different angular positions.

[004] In United States Patent no. US3908392, a refrigerator having a button in each compartment is described. One of the buttons is connected to the thermostat starting and stopping the compressor and the fan, and the other is connected to a flap opening and closing the air flow channel. The buttons operate in a coordinated manner by means of a transfer mechanism situated between the two buttons. The transfer mechanism consists of a rod, both ends of which are fitted in the grooves of the buttons.

[005] The embodiment disclosed in United States Patent no. US4009590, comprises a button situated in each compartment. One of the buttons can control both the thermostat and the flap. The other button controls the flap through gears and rods in connection with the gears.

[006] In United States Patent no. US4009591, a refrigerator comprising a button placed in each compartment is described. When one of the buttons, axially connected to each other by means of a shaft through their centers, is turned, both the thermostat and the flap can be controlled.

[007] The aim of the present invention is to realise a cooling device which does not occupy much space, comprises a low-cost temperature control mechanism providing ease of control and production.

[008] The cooling device designed to fulfill the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, where:

[009] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a cooling device.

[010] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of an assembled temperature control mechanism.

[011] Figure 3 - is the exploded perspective view of a temperature control mechanism.

[012] Figure 4 - is the sectional view of a temperature control mechanism.

[013] Figure 5 - is the sectional detail view of a temperature control mechanism.

[014] Figure 6 - are the height vs. angular position and air duct sectional area rate vs. thermostat temperature graphs of a guide.

[015] Figure 7 - is the height vs. angular position graph of another guide.

[016] Figure 8 - is the air duct sectional area rate vs. thermostat temperature graph of another guide.

[017] Figure 9 - is the height vs. angular position graph of yet another guide.

[018] Figure 10 - is the height vs. angular position graph of another guide.

[019] Elements shown in the drawings are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Freshfood compartment

3. Freezer compartment

4. Thermostat

5. Air duct

6. Flap

7. Button

8. Guide

9. Shaft

10. Pin

11. Retainer

12. Shaft housing

13. Pin socket

14. Temperature control mechanism

15. Slit

[020] The cooling device (1) comprises a freshfood compartment (2) where food is stored at low temperatures, a freezer compartment (3) providing storage of food by freezing, an air duct (5) providing the passage of air between the compartments (2 and 3), and a temperature control mechanism (14) providing the adjustment of temperature and the air flow.

[021] The temperature control mechanism (14) comprises a thermostat (4) which provides the adjustment of temperature, a flap (6) providing the adjustment of the opening of the air duct (5) according to desired air flow rate, a rotatable button (7) for letting the user select the desired temperature, a shaft (9) situated on the rotating axis of the button (7), with one end connected to the thermostat (4) and the other end to the button (7),

rotating together with the button (4) and providing the control over the thermostat, and a guide (8) surrounding the shaft (9), connected at one end to the flap (6), transmitting the rotating movement received from the shaft (9) as a linear movement to the flap (6) so that the flap (6) opens or closes the air duct (5).

[022] The guide (8) has a variable height (H) changing with its angular position (A) around the shaft (9). The shape of the guide (8) is specified by the producer by calculating the relation between the angular position (A) and the height (H), according to the required air flow rates at certain thermostat (4) temperatures (T), and according to the shutting rate (K) of the air duct (5). The height (H) of the guide (8) may change in a linear, parabolic etc. way according to the angular position (A) (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, and Figure 10). The slope of the angular position (A) vs. height (H) curve is the factor determining the movement speed of the flap (6) within the air duct (5), and therefore the shutting rate of the air duct (5). Consequently the desired movement can be dictated to the flap (6) by the rotating motion of the button (7) according to the variable thermostat (4) temperatures, changing the shutting rate of the air duct (5). For example, if the shutting rate of the air duct (5) needs to be increased up to a certain value (Tl) of the thermostat (4) temperature (T), and afterwards if the shutting rate needs to stay constant up to another temperature value (T2), the guide (8) has a shape increasing in height (H) to reach a certain value (Hl), as high as the angular position (Al) corresponding to this temperature (Tl), keeping its height (Hl) constant as high as the angular position (A2) corresponding to the second temperature (T2) value (Figure 6).

[023] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide (8) is a helical projection extending perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the button (7) along the radial direction.

[024] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control mechanism (14) comprises a pin (10), one end of which moves along the guide (8), while the other end is connected to the flap (6). The pin (10) comprises a slit (15) at its end portion, grasping the guide (8) from the bottom and the top.

[025] The flap (6) is a component in shape of a plate, moving inside the air duct (5) with the motion received from the guide (8), partially decreasing or increasing the sectional area of the air duct (5) with this motion.

[026] The thermostat (4) starts or stops the operation of the compressor and/or the fan by measuring the interior temperature of the cooling device (1).

[027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide (8) is a helical groove. The pin (10) comprises a headpiece fitting into this groove and moves along the groove- shaped guide (8).

[028] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control

mechanism (14) comprises a retainer (11) for bearing the shaft (9) and the pin (10). The retainer (11) comprises a shaft housing (12) on the rotation axis of the button (7), which bears the shaft (9), and a pin socket (10), parallel to the shaft housing (12), inside which the pin (10) is retained.

[029] Parameters such as the dimensions and angle of the helical structure of the guide (8) and the length of the pin (10) are determined according to the flow rate of the air required to flow from one compartment to the other at certain thermostat (4) temperatures.

[030] When the user rotates the button (7), the shaft (9) retained in the shaft housing (12) also rotates, enabling the adjustment of the thermostat (4). Simultaneously the helical guide (8) also rotates together with the button (7). This rotational movement is transmitted as a linear movement to the pin (10) connected to the guide (8). Consequently, the pin (10) moving in the pin socket (13) enables the flap (6) to move within the air duct (5). Thus the thermostat (4) is adjusted and the flow rate of the air flowing through the air duct (5) is controlled by one movement of the button (7).

[031]

[032] Single-point- adjustment of thermostat (4) and the air flow rate flowing from the freezer compartment (3) to the freshfood compartment (2), brings about an ease of use and reduction in cost.