Description A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a compartment utilized in last freezing of food.

[0002] Cooling devices comprise a cooling compartment wherein food and beverages are stored and a freezing compartment that provides storing of food by freezing. When new foods are emplaced in the freezing compartment, these foods have to be frozen last and during this freezing process, the temperature of the foods previously emplaced in the cooling compartment should be kept at the same level without oscillating much. Special purpose freezer compartments emplaced in the freezing compartment are utilized for the last freezing process.

[0003] Foods have to be suitably frozen in order to store them for a long period of time without losing their vitamin and mineral values. If the freezing process is slow, the water molecules crystallize such that the cell membranes are damaged and the food loses its nutritional value. In the special purpose freezer compartments the acceleration of the freezing process is maintained by various methods.

[0004] In state-of-the-art patent documents, JP 11311476 and EP 0716278, special purpose freezing compartments are provided.

[0005] The object of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a special purpose freezer compartment that provides last freezing of the foods emplaced therein.

[0006] The cooling device realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and dependent claims thereof, comprises an evaporator situated in the special purpose freezer compartment, used only for cooling the special purpose freezer compartment, and a second evaporator used for cooling the freezer and the cooling compartments. All the compartments are cooled by a Ian that can circulate air over both of the evaporators and a shutter that provides to direct the air blown by the Ian. By situating the first evaporator in the special purpose freezer compartment and preventing air flow into the cooling and the freezer compartments by means of the shutter, a closed loop is attained between the Ian and the special purpose freezer compartment. Consequently, the air passed over the evaporator is provided to be conveyed directly to the foods that will be subjected to the last freezing process.

[0007] The cooling device realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0008] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a cooling device.

[0009] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a cooling device in another embodiment of the present invention. [0010] The elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Cooling compartment

3. Freezer compartment

4. Special purpose freezer compartment

5. Compressor

6. Condenser

7. First evaporator

8. Second evaporator

9. Fan

10. First air suction channel

11. First air distribution channel

12. Shutter

13. Second air suction channel

14. Second air distribution channel

15. Second shutter

[0011] The cooling device (1) comprises a cooling compartment (2) wherein food and beverages are stored, a freezer compartment (3) providing storing of food by freezing, and a special purpose freezer compartment (4) situated in the freezer compartment (3) that provides last freezing of the foods empkced therein.

[0012] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a compressor (5), a condenser (6), providing to carry out the cooling cycle, a first evaporator (6) that provides to cool the cooling compartment (2) and the freezer compartment (3), a second evaporator (8) providing to cool the special purpose freezer compartment (4) and a Ian (9) that circulates the air over both of the two evaporators (7 and 8).

[0013] The first evaporator (7) and the second evaporator (8) can be connected parallel or in series.

[0014] The cooling device (1) comprises a first air suction channel (10) wherein the first evaporator (7) is situated, a first air distribution channel (11) that provides the air blown by the Ian (9) to be directed to the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3), a second air distribution channel (14) that provides the air blown by the Ian (9) to be directed to the special purpose freezer compartment (4), a second air suction

channel (13) through which the air sucked by the Ian (9) from the special purpose freezer compartment (4) passes and at least one shutter (12) that provides the air blown by the Ian (9) to be directed to one of the air distribution channels (11 and 14) (Figure

1). [0015] When the second air distribution channel (14) is closed by the shutter (12), the air blown by the Ian (9) cools the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) passing through the first air distribution channel (11). [0016] When the first air distribution channel (11) is closed by the shutter (12), the air blown by the Ian (9) cools the special purpose freezer compartment (4) by passing through the second air distribution channel (14) and over the second evaporator (8).

The air then passes through the second air suction channel (13) and reaches the Ian (9).

Accordingly the air is only circulated within the special purpose freezer compartment

(4).

[0017] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, when the cooling process is started by actuating the compressor (5) and the Ian (9), if the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) are to be cooled, the first air distribution channel (11) is opened while the orifice of the second air distribution channel (14) is closed by the shutter (12). In this case, the air blown by the Ian (9) reaches the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) passing through the first air distribution channel (11). Since the shutter (12) closes the orifice of the second air distribution channel (14), suction cannot be made from the second air suction channel (13) thus cold air cannot be blown into the special purpose freezer compartment (4).

[0018] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, when the cooling process is started by actuating the compressor (5) and the Ian (9), if the last freezing of the foods emplaced in the special purpose freezer compartment (4) is desired, the second air distribution channel (14) is opened while the orifice of the first air distribution channel (11) is closed by the shutter (12). In this case, the air blown by the Ian (9) reaches the special purpose freezer compartment (4) passing through the second air distribution channel (14). After the air is cooled by being passed over the second evaporator (8), it cools the foods in the special purpose freezer compartment (4) and reaches the Ian (9) passing through the second air suction channel (13). Circulation of the air blown by the Ian (9) in only the special purpose freezer compartment (4), accelerates the cooling process in this compartment (4).

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a second shutter (15) situated at the outlet of the second air suction channel (13) (Figure

2). In this embodiment, when only the special purpose freezer compartment (4) is desired to be cooled, the orifice of the first air distribution channel (11) is closed by the first shutter (12) and the outlet of second air suction channel (13) is opened by the second shutter (15). In this case, the air blown by the fan (9) reaches the special purpose freezer compartment (4) passing through the second air distribution channel (14). After the air is cooled by being passed over the second evaporator (8), it cools the foods in the special purpose freezer compartment (4) and reaches the fan (9) from the second air suction channel (13).

[0020] In this embodiment , if only the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) are to be cooled, air is allowed to pass into the first air distribution channel (11) by the first shutter (12). Simultaneously, the outlet of the second air suction channel (13) is closed by the second shutter (15). In this case, suction cannot be made from the second air suction channel (13). The air blown by the fan (9) reaches the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) passing through the first air distribution channel (11).

[0021] In this embodiment, when the cooling and the freezer compartments (2 and 3) and the special purpose freezer compartment (4) are desired to be cooled all at the same time, air is allowed to pass into the first air distribution channel (11) by the first shutter (12). Simultaneously the outlet of the second air suction channel (13) is opened by the second shutter (15) and the fan (9) is provided to also suck the air from the second air suction channel (13).

[0022] By way of the special purpose freezer compartment (4), the duration of the fast freezing process is reduced by delivering the cooled air directly to the foods that will be subjected to the fast freezing process. By accelerating the freezing process, the foods are provided to be frozen in the appropriate manner for long term storage without losing their vitamin and mineral values.