Internal control systems of evaporator and condenser fan motor assemblies of a refrigeration system in a refrigerator unit

Abstract

A refrigeration system for use in a refrigerator unit, the refrigeration system including a compressor having an ON state and an OFF state, a condenser, a temperature sensor, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan motor assembly. The evaporator fan motor assembly has an evaporator fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system. The internal control system of the evaporator fan motor assembly is adapted to sense the compressor state and is further adapted to operate the evaporator fan motor in response to the sensed compressor state. The refrigeration system may further include a condenser fan motor assembly. The condenser fan motor assembly has a condenser fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system. The internal control system of the condenser fan motor is adapted to sense the compressor state and is further adapted to operate the condenser fan motor in response to the sensed compressor state.

1 . A refrigeration system for use in a refrigerator unit, the refrigeration system comprising:
 (i) a compressor having an ON state and an OFF state;   (ii) a condenser;   (iii) a thermostat;   (iv) an evaporator; and   (v) an evaporator fan motor assembly comprising an evaporator fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system, wherein the internal control system is adapted to sense the compressor state and is further adapted to operate the evaporator fan motor in response to the sensed compressor state.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the refrigerator unit is a merchandiser. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the thermostat comprises a mechanical thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical thermostat comprises a capillary tube and a relay. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal control system of the evaporator fan motor assembly is adapted to repeatedly cycle the evaporator fan motor between an ON state and an OFF state when the compressor is in the OFF state. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the evaporator fan motor is adapted to be in the OFF state for a third time interval and the evaporator fan motor is adapted to be in the ON state for a fourth time interval. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser fan motor assembly comprising a condenser fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system, wherein the internal control system is adapted to sense the compressor state and is further adapted to operate the condenser fan motor in response to the sensed compressor state. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 7 , wherein the internal control system of the condenser fan motor assembly is adapted to operate the condenser fan motor in a reverse direction during a first time interval after the compressor has turned to the ON state, and is adapted to operate the condenser fan motor in a forward direction after the first time interval. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a refrigeration system for use in a refrigerator unit, wherein the refrigeration system comprises a compressor having an ON state and an OFF state, a condenser, a thermostat, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan motor assembly comprising an evaporator fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system, wherein the internal control system is adapted to repeatedly cycle the evaporator fan motor between an ON state and an OFF state when the compressor is in the OFF state, the method comprising the steps of:
 turning the compressor to the ON state;   sensing by the internal control system of the evaporator fan motor assembly that the compressor is in the ON state and turning the evaporator fan motor to the ON state;   turning the compressor to the OFF state;   sensing by the internal control system of the evaporator fan motor assembly that the compressor is in the OFF state and repeatedly cycling the evaporator fan motor between the ON state and the OFF state.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the refrigerator unit is a merchandiser. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the thermostat comprises a mechanical thermostat. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mechanical thermostat comprises a capillary tube and a relay. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporator fan motor is in the OFF state for a third time interval and the evaporator fan motor is in the ON state for a fourth time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a condenser fan motor assembly comprising a condenser fan motor, a fan blade, and an internal control system, wherein the internal control system is adapted to operate the condenser fan motor in response to the sensed compressor state and the method further comprises the steps of:
 sensing by the internal control system of the condenser fan motor assembly that the compressor is in the ON state and during a first time interval after the compressor has turned to the ON state, operating the condenser fan motor in a reverse direction; 
 after the first time interval and while the compressor is in the ON state, operating the condenser fan motor in a forward direction; 
 sensing by the internal control system of the condenser fan motor assembly that the compressor is in the OFF state and turning the condenser fan motor to an OFF state.