Refrigerator having two evaporators

Abstract

A refrigerator with first and second chambers includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant while cooling the refrigerant, a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the first chamber, a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the second chamber, and a valve mechanism connected to control a flow of the refrigerant relative to the evaporators in three different modes. The valve mechanism is configured to provide the refrigerant to the first evaporator and not the second evaporator in a first mode, to provide the refrigerant to the second evaporator and not the first evaporator in a second mode, and to provide the refrigerant to the first and second evaporators in a third mode. In the third mode, the refrigerant may pass the first and second evaporators sequentially or in parallel.

1 . A refrigerator with first and second chambers, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;    a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant while cooling the refrigerant;    a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the first chamber;    a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the second chamber; and    a valve mechanism connected to control a flow of the refrigerant relative to the evaporators in three different modes.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to provide the refrigerant to the first evaporator and not the second evaporator in a first mode, to provide the refrigerant to the second evaporator and not the first evaporator in a second mode, and to provide the refrigerant to the first and second evaporators in a third mode.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to pass the refrigerant through the first and second evaporators sequentially in the third mode.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to pass the refrigerant to the first and second evaporators in parallel in the third mode.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure of either the first evaporator or the second evaporator.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure at an outlet of the first evaporator.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure at an outlet of the second evaporator.  
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the mode of the valve mechanism is determined based on temperatures of the first and second chambers.  
   
   
       9 . A refrigerator with first and second chambers, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;    a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant while cooling the refrigerant;    a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the first chamber;    a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the second chamber;    a first valve configured to control a flow of the refrigerant from the condenser; and    a second valve configured to control a flow of the refrigerant from the first evaporator.    
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second valves are configured to operate in three different modes.  
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the first valve is configured to provide the refrigerant from the condenser to the first evaporator in a first mode and in a third mode, and to provide the refrigerant from the condenser to the second evaporator in a second mode, and wherein the second valve is configured to provide the refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor in the first mode, and to provide the refrigerant from the first evaporator to the second evaporator in the third mode.  
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the mode of the first and second valves is determined based on temperatures of the first and second chambers.  
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator with first and second chambers, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;    a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant while cooling the refrigerant;    a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the first chamber;    a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the second chamber; and    a valve configured to control a flow of the refrigerant relative to the evaporators in three different modes.    
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the valve is configured to provide the refrigerant from the condenser to the first evaporator and not the second evaporator in a first mode, to provide the refrigerant from the condenser to the second evaporator and not the first evaporator in a second mode, and to provide the refrigerant from the condenser to the first and second evaporators in parallel in a third mode.  
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the mode of the valve is determined based on temperatures of the first and second chambers.  
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure of either the first evaporator or the second evaporator.  
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure at an outlet of the first evaporator.  
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a regulator configured to control refrigerant pressure at an outlet of the second evaporator.  
   
   
       19 . A method of manufacturing a refrigerator, comprising: 
 providing a cabinet with first and second chambers;    installing a first evaporator to cool the first chamber;    installing a second evaporator to cool the second chamber; and    installing a valve mechanism to control a flow of a refrigerant relative to the evaporators in three different modes.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to provide the refrigerant to the first evaporator and not the second evaporator in a first mode, to provide the refrigerant to the second evaporator and not the first evaporator in a second mode, and to provide the refrigerant to the first and second evaporators in a third mode.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising installing a regulator to control refrigerant pressure of either the first evaporator or the second evaporator.