Refrigeration device, arrangement, and use of controller thereof

Abstract

A refrigeration device has a body having an interior, a first cooling device adapted to cool the interior of the body, a second cooling device adapted to cool the interior of the body using a cooling source, and a temperature controller adapted to participate in activating the first cooling device on the basis of availability of the cooling source and adapted to participate in activating the second cooling device on the basis of the availability of the cooling source. The second the cooling source may be exterior air from outdoors. In some embodiments, the second cooling device is used in lieu of the first cooling device when the exterior air is cold enough to cool the interior of the refrigeration device. In some embodiments, the refrigeration device has only one cooling device adapted to cool the interior using exterior air.

1 . An arrangement for a refrigeration device comprising: 
 a first cooling device;    a second cooling device; and    a controller having a control function adapted to participate in activating the first cooling device based on availability of a cooling source for the second cooling device and adapted to participate in activating the second cooling device based on said availability of the cooling source.    
   
   
       2 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the second the cooling source is exterior air from outdoors.  
   
   
       3 . An arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is coupled to a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the exterior air, the control function being adapted to participate in activating the first cooling device when the temperature inside the refrigeration device is greater than a first pre-determined temperature and when the temperature of the exterior air is above a second pre-determined temperature and adapted to participate in activating the second cooling device when the temperature inside the refrigeration device is greater than the first pre-determined temperature and when the temperature of the exterior air is below a third pre-determined temperature, the second pre-determined temperature being less than or equal to the first pre-determined temperature and the third pre-determined temperature being less than or equal to the second pre-determined temperature.  
   
   
       4 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling device comprises an evaporator, the arrangement comprising a compressor and condenser arrangement coupled to the evaporator, and the control function being adapted to participate in activating the first cooling device by activating the compressor and condenser arrangement.  
   
   
       5 . A refrigeration device comprising the arrangement of  claim 1 , the refrigeration device further comprising a body having an interior, the first cooling device and the second cooling device being adapted to cool the interior of the body.  
   
   
       6 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second the cooling source is exterior air from outdoors.  
   
   
       7 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the exterior air, the control function being adapted to participate in activating the first cooling device when the temperature inside the refrigeration device is greater than a first pre-determined temperature and when the temperature of the exterior air is above a second pre-determined temperature and adapted to participate in activating the second cooling device when the temperature inside the refrigeration device is greater than the first pre-determined temperature and when the temperature of the exterior air is below a third pre-determined temperature, the second pre-determined temperature being less than or equal to the first pre-determined temperature and the third pre-determined temperature being less than or equal to the second pre-determined temperature.  
   
   
       8 . A refrigeration device comprising: 
 a body having an interior; and    a cooling device adapted to cool the interior of the body using an exterior air from outdoor as a cooling source.    
   
   
       9 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 8  comprising a controller coupled to a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the exterior air, the controller having a control function adapted to activate the cooling device only if the temperature of the exterior air is below a pre-determined temperature.  
   
   
       10 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 9  comprising an other cooling device adapted to cool the interior of the body, the control function being adapted to participate in activating the other cooling device only if the temperature of the exterior air is above an other pre-determined temperature, the other pre-determined temperature being less than or equal to the pre-determined temperature.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling device comprises at least one of a fan and a blower for directing the exterior air into the refrigeration device.  
   
   
       12 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling device comprises a coil adapted to receive the exterior air for circulation through the coil.  
   
   
       13 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling device comprises at least one fan or blower for circulating air in the interior of the body across the coil.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 8  comprising a filter for filtering the exterior air.  
   
   
       15 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 10  comprising a compressor and condenser arrangement, the other cooling device comprising an evaporator coupled to the compressor and condenser arrangement, and the control function being adapted to participate in activating the other cooling device by activating the compressor and condenser arrangement.  
   
   
       16 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 8 , wherein the refrigeration device is one of a refrigerator, a freezer, a cooler, a walk-in cooler, a walk-in freezer, a home appliance refrigerator, a home appliance freezer, a home appliance refrigerator and freezer, an open refrigeration device, a closed refrigeration device, an open freezer counter, an open cooler counter, a tractor trailer freezer, and a tractor trailer cooler.  
   
   
       17 . A refrigeration device according to  claim 8  comprising an exhaust unit for directing air in the refrigeration device out of the refrigeration device.  
   
   
       18 . Use of a controller in activating a first cooling device of a refrigeration device on the basis of availability of a cooling source for the first cooling device and in activating a second cooling device of the refrigeration device on the basis of said availability of the cooling source for the first cooling device.  
   
   
       19 . The use according to  claim 18  wherein the cooling source is cold exterior air from outdoor.  
   
   
       20 . The use according to  claim 18 , wherein the controller is a single pole double throw temperature control.