Freezer case including self-conforming baffles

Abstract

A freezer includes a freezer compartment in which frozen items are stored and frozen. Air from the freezer compartment is drawn into a fan panel by a fan. The air is cooled in an evaporator and then returned to the freezer compartment. Flexible baffles are provided in the fan panel. During normal operation, the airflow created by the fan deflects the baffles, allowing the air to flow through the fan panel unhindered. When ice and frost forms on the evaporator, a defrost mode is initiated to melt the ice with heat generated by a heater. The fan is turned off, and the baffles drop to a straight vertical position due to gravity. The vertical baffles create resistance in the airflow and prevent the heated air and moisture generated by the heater from entering the freezer compartment and forming frost on the frozen items.

1 . A freezer comprising: 
 a fan chamber;    a fan in said fan chamber that draws air into said fan chamber; and    at least one flexible baffle in said fan chamber moveable between a flexed position when said fan is active and a non-flexed position when said fan is inactive.    
   
   
       2 . The freezer as recited in  claim 1  further including a door pivotally attached to the freezer between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The freezer as recited in  claim 1  further including a freezer chamber and an evaporator in said fan chamber and said fan draws said air into said evaporator, and wherein said air flowing through said evaporator rejects heat to a fluid medium, and said air cooled in said evaporator is provided to said freezer chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The freezer as recited in  claim 3  wherein said fan chamber includes an inlet and an outlet, and said at least one baffle comprises a first baffle and a second baffle, and said first baffle is located between said inlet and said fan and said second baffle is located between said evaporator and said outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The freezer as recited in  claim 3  wherein said fluid medium is air.  
   
   
       6 . The freezer as recited in  claim 3  further including a heater, and wherein said heater operates to generate heat when said fan is inactive.  
   
   
       7 . The freezer as recited in  claim 6  wherein said at least one baffle is in said straight position when said heater operates to prevent moisture from entering said freezer chamber from said fan chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The freezer as recited in  claim 6  further including a defrost sensor, and said heater operates to generate heat when said defrost sensor detects a defrosting condition of said evaporator.  
   
   
       9 . The freezer as recited in  claim 8  wherein said defrosting condition is frost on said evaporator.  
   
   
       10 . The freezer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said fan creates an airflow when active, and said airflow deflects said at least one baffle to said flexed position.  
   
   
       11 . The freezer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one baffle is in said straight position when said fan is inactive due to gravity.  
   
   
       12 . The freezer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffle segments attached to a baffle structure, and said plurality of baffle segments are pivotable between said flexed position and said non-flexed position.  
   
   
       13 . A freezer comprising: 
 a freezer chamber;    a fan chamber having an inlet and an outlet;    a fan in said fan chamber that draws air into said inlet of said fan chamber;    an evaporator in said fan chamber and said fan draws said air into said evaporator, and wherein said air flowing through said evaporator rejects heat to a fluid medium, and said air cooled in said evaporator exits said fan chamber through said outlet and is provided to said freezer chamber; and    a heater that operates when said fan is inactive; and    at least one flexible baffle in said fan chamber moveable between a flexed position when said fan is active and a non-flexed position when said fan is inactive.    
   
   
       14 . The freezer as recited in  claim 13  further including a heater that operates to generate heat when said fan is inactive.  
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling an airflow comprising the steps of: 
 activating a fan to deflect at least one baffle to a flexed position;    sensing a defrosting condition; and    deactivating the fan when the step of sensing detects the defrosting condition to undeflect the at least one baffle to a non-flexed position.    
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further including the step of cooling air in an evaporator, and the step of sensing includes sensing a defrosting condition of the evaporator.