IP Library Granted Patent US 12674614
Granted Patent B2
US 12674614 · App. 18/293,879 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Cooling device with a condenser fan and method for operating a cooling device with a condenser fan

Inventors: Alex Sperling (Augsburg, DE); Sebastian Wohnberger (Giengen a.d. Brenz, DE); Ming Zhang (Ulm, DE)
Assignee: BSH Hausgeráte GmbH
F25D17/067
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674614
App. No.
18/293,879
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a cooling device having at least one storage compartment which is accessible via a door, and also having a coolant circuit and a control unit. The coolant circuit has a compressor, a force-cooled condenser with a condenser fan, and at least one evaporator. The control unit is configured so that, in a first operating mode with a closed door, the control unit operates the condenser fan at a first rotational speed, and in a second operating mode it operates the evaporator and operates the condenser fan at a second rotational speed. The second rotational speed is substantially lower than the first rotational speed and the second operating mode begins after the door has closed.

Claims (37)

1 . A refrigeration appliance, comprising:

at least one storage compartment which is accessible via a door;

a coolant circuit having a compressor, a forced draft air cooled condenser with a condenser fan, and at least one evaporator;

a control unit configured:

in a first operating mode with the door closed, to drive said condenser fan at a first rotational speed; and

in a second operating mode, to operate said evaporator and to drive said condenser fan at a second rotational speed that is significantly lower than the first rotational speed; and

wherein the second operating mode begins when, after the door has been opened, the control unit has determined that the door has been closed.

2 . The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one storage compartment is one of a plurality of storage compartments, each with a different setpoint temperature and a door, and said control unit is configured such that at least one of the second rotational speed or a duration of the second operating mode of said storage compartment depends on the closure of the respective door.

3 . The refrigeration appliance according to claim 2 , wherein said control unit is configured to start the second operating mode for a given duration when any given one of the doors has been closed.

4 . The refrigeration appliance according to claim 2 , wherein said evaporator is a fin evaporator.

5 . The refrigeration appliance according to claim 2 , wherein a compartment fan is assigned to a respective evaporator.

6 . The refrigeration appliance according to claim 2 , wherein said condenser is a multi-channel-extruded type condenser or a wire tube condenser.

7 . A method of operating a refrigeration appliance with at least one storage compartment, which is accessible via a door, and a coolant circuit having a compressor, a forced draft air cooled condenser with a condenser fan, and at least one evaporator, the method comprising the following steps:

a) in a first operating mode with a closed door, operating the condenser fan at a first rotational speed;

b) determining a door closure;

c) in a second operating mode, based on the door closure having been determined, operating the evaporator and driving the condenser fan at a second rotational speed that is lower than the first rotational speed.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the second rotational speed is lower than the first rotational speed by at least 30%.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the second rotational speed is lower than the first rotational speed by at least 60%.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the second operating mode has a predetermined duration.

11 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, upon detecting the door closure,

b1) switching off the condenser fan.

12 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, as a further method step in the second operating mode,

c1) operating the compressor.

13 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, as a further method step in the second operating mode,

c2) slowly increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan or increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan on a step-by-step basis.

14 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, as a further method step in the second operating mode,

c3) increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan with a delay by a predetermined delay time.

15 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, as a further method step in the second operating mode,

c4) ending the second operating mode after a predetermined time.

16 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, as a further method step in the second operating mode,

c5) ending the second operating mode on reaching a predetermined temperature or a predetermined pressure of the condenser.

17 . The method according to claim 7 , which comprises, selectively performing any of the following further method steps in the second operating mode,

c1) operating the compressor;

c2) slowly increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan or increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan on a step-by-step basis;

c3) increasing the rotational speed of the condenser fan with a delay by a predetermined delay time;

c4) ending the second operating mode after a predetermined time; or

c5) ending the second operating mode on reaching a predetermined temperature or a predetermined pressure of the condenser.