Anti-Icing System and Method for a Refrigeration Cooling Apparatus

Abstract

An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator that defines an interior area includes a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart fins operably coupled to the condenser portion and extending away therefrom. The anti-icing system includes a first fan situated in a fan housing having opposed front and rear walls, the front wall defining an aperture. The first fan is situated in the fan housing so as to transmit air through the aperture when energized. The heat exchange unit is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area such that the plurality of evaporator fins extends outwardly. The fan housing is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area perpendicular to the plurality of evaporator fins such that air is transmitted across the fins to reduce or eliminate icing.

1 . An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator having a box with a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area and at least one pivotally mounted door that is movable between open and closed positions that provides selective access to the interior area, comprising:
 a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;   wherein said cooling is electrically connected to a power source;   a first fan situated in the interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling;   wherein said first fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized; and   means connecting said first fan to a power source so as to energize said first fan.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 1 , comprising a fan housing situated in the interior area of the refrigerator that includes a plurality of walls that define an interior space, said first fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing;
 wherein:
 one of said plurality of walls is a front wall defining a first aperture; 
 said first fan is situated in said fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said first aperture of said front wall when energized. 
   
     
     
         3 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 2 , wherein said connecting means is a power cord having a first end electrically connected to said first fan and a second end that includes a plug configured to selectively connect to a DC power source so as to energize said first fan. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cooling apparatus is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior space such that said plurality of evaporator fins extend outwardly into said refrigerator interior space; and   said fan housing is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said front wall of said fan housing is perpendicular to said plurality of evaporator fins of said heat exchange unit, whereby air is transmitted across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.   
     
     
         5 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 2 , wherein said plug of said power cord includes:
 a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and   a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.   
     
     
         6 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle is configured to connect to a DC power source. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;   wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.   
     
     
         8 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said second fan is situated in said fan housing interior space;   said front wall of said fan housing defines a second aperture, said second fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said second aperture of said front wall when energized.   
     
     
         9 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 one of said plurality of walls of said fan housing is a rear wall opposite said front wall;   a fastener is coupled to opposed ends of said rear wall, respectively, to selectively attach said fan housing to a respective wall of said refrigerator.   
     
     
         10 . An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator having a box with a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area and at least one pivotally mounted door that is movable between open and closed positions that provides selective access to the interior area, comprising:
 a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;   a first fan;   a fan housing mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator box displaced from said cooling apparatus, said fan housing having a plurality of walls that define an interior space, said first fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing;   wherein:
 one of said plurality of walls is a front wall defining a first aperture; 
 said first fan is situated in said fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said first aperture of said front wall when energized; 
   wherein said first fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized; and   a power cord having a first end electrically connected to said first fan and a second end having a plug configured to selectively connect to a DC power source so as to selectively energize said first fan.   
     
     
         11 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 10 , wherein said plug of said power cord includes:
 a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and   a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.   
     
     
         12 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said cooling apparatus is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said plurality of evaporator fins extend outwardly into said refrigerator interior space; and   said fan housing is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said front wall of said fan housing is perpendicular to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus, whereby air is transmitted across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.   
     
     
         13 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 10 , comprising:
 a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;   wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.   
     
     
         14 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 10 , comprising:
 a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;   wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.   
     
     
         15 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said second fan is situated in said fan housing interior space;   said front wall of said fan housing defines a second aperture, said second fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said second aperture of said front wall when energized.   
     
     
         16 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 one of said plurality of walls of said fan housing is a rear wall opposite said front wall; and   a fastener is coupled to opposed ends of said rear wall, respectively, to selectively attach said fan housing to a respective wall of said refrigerator.   
     
     
         17 . The anti-icing system as in  claim 16 , wherein said fastener is one of hook and loop fasteners and adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . A method for preventing ice formation in a refrigerator having a refrigerator box defining a plurality of inner walls in an interior area, comprising:
 providing a cooling apparatus that includes a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;   positioning said cooling apparatus in the interior area of the refrigerator box such that the plurality of evaporator fins are directed outwardly;   providing a first fan configured to transmit air when energized, said first fan having a power cord electrically connected to a power source;   positioning said first fan in the interior area of the refrigerator box displaced from and proximate to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus;   directing ambient air from said first fan across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.   
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein said power cord includes a first end electrically to said first fan and a second plug end configured to connect to a DC power source, said second plug end including:
 a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and   a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 18 , comprising:
 providing a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus; and   positioning said second fan in the interior area of the refrigerator box spaced apart from said first fan and displaced from and proximate to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus, said second fan being configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.