Dual temperature zone storage unit

Abstract

A temperature controlled storage cabinet, such as for wine, includes two temperature controlled compartments. A door is provided for accessing the compartments. The cabinet includes a single heat exchanger for cooling both of the compartments and a heater for each of the two compartments. The cabinet includes a controller for independently selecting and maintaining a desired temperature in each of the respective compartments.

1 . A temperature controlled storage cabinet, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   a divider for separating said chamber into at least two compartments;   a door, wherein said door is adapted to provide access to said at least two compartments;   a heat exchanger for cooling said at least two compartments;   a heating element for heating each of said at least two compartments, wherein each compartment includes one of said heating elements; and   a controller for selecting and maintaining a desired temperature in each of said at least two compartments.   
   
   
       2 . The storage cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising a thermometer in each of said at least two compartments, wherein said thermometers provide said controller with a detected temperature in each of said compartments. 
   
   
       3 . The storage cabinet of  claim 2  wherein said controller is adapted to selectively activate at least one of said heating elements and said heat exchanger in response to said detected temperatures. 
   
   
       4 . The storage cabinet of  claim 3  wherein said controller is adapted to selectively activate said heating element in one of said compartments when a detected temperature in said compartment is lower than a selected temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The storage cabinet of  claim 4  wherein said controller includes a selector for selecting a desired temperature for each of said at least two compartments. 
   
   
       6 . The storage cabinet of  claim 5  further comprising a supply air fan in each of said at least two compartments for circulating air from said heat exchanger into said compartments. 
   
   
       7 . The storage cabinet of  claim 6  wherein said controller is adapted to selectively operate said supply air fans in response to said detected temperatures. 
   
   
       8 . The storage cabinet of  claim 7  further comprising an air vent in each of said at least two compartments for returning air from said compartments to said heat exchanger. 
   
   
       9 . The storage cabinet of  claim 7  further comprising and at least one air duct for transferring air through said air vent to said heat exchanger, wherein said air duct is thermoformed in a liner in said housing. 
   
   
       10 . The storage cabinet of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
   
   
       11 . The storage cabinet of  claim 10  further comprising a condenser and a compressor. 
   
   
       12 . The storage cabinet of  claim 11  further comprising a tray for supporting said compressor and said condenser in said housing, wherein said tray is adapted to slide out of said housing to provide access to said compressor and said condenser. 
   
   
       13 . The storage cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein said evaporator controls the humidity level in each of said compartments. 
   
   
       14 . The storage cabinet of  claim 1  wherein said door includes a seal for engaging said divider when said door is closed. 
   
   
       15 . The storage cabinet of  claim 14  wherein said at least two compartments are thermally insulated from one another when said door is closed. 
   
   
       16 . The storage cabinet of  claim 14 , wherein said seal is formed from a dual durometer extrusion. 
   
   
       17 . A wine storage unit comprising:
 first and second storage compartments; and   a temperature control system adapted to independently control the temperature of the first and second storage compartments, the temperature control system including a cooling portion adapted to cool the first and second storage compartments, the temperature control system further including first and second heating portions adapted to independently heat the first and second control compartments.   
   
   
       18 . A wine storage unit as defined in  claim 17  wherein the temperature control system includes a temperature selector for selecting independent first and second desired temperatures for the first and second storage compartments respectively. 
   
   
       19 . A wine storage unit as defined in  claim 17  wherein the temperature control system is further adapted to control the humidity in the first and second compartments.