IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,540,761
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,761 · App. 18/288,278 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Control of cooling system with multiple cooling lines

Inventors: Richard Furberg (Stockholm, SE); Andreas Stefan Aschan (Stockholm, SE)
Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
F25B41/20F25D11/022F25B5/02F25B2600/2513F25B2700/21174F25B2700/21175
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 12,540,761
App. No.
18/288,278
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooling system includes a compressor ( 31 ), a condenser ( 32 ) and at least a first evaporator ( 34 ) and a second evaporator ( 35 ) connected in parallel with the first evaporator. A refrigerant is circulated in the cooling system. A controller ( 40 ) is provided and configured to control the flow of refrigerant to and/or from at least one of said first evaporator and second evaporator based on the superheat of said at least one of the first evaporator and second evaporator.

Claims (14)

1 . A cooling system ( 30 ) comprising a compressor ( 31 ), a condenser ( 32 ) and at least a first evaporator ( 34 ) and a second evaporator ( 35 ) connected in parallel with the first evaporator ( 34 ) wherein a refrigerant is circulated, and a controller configured to calculate a superheat of said at least one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator, and calculate a floating average of said superheat over a predetermined number of switching cycles, and control the flow of refrigerant to and/or from at least one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator based on the floating average.

2 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of refrigerant to and/or from both the first evaporator and the second evaporator based on the superheat of the first evaporator and second evaporator, respectively.

3 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of refrigerant to the first evaporator and the second evaporator based on the superheat of the first evaporator and second evaporator, respectively.

4 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator and the second evaporator based on the superheat of the first evaporator and second evaporator, respectively.

5 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling system has a valve arrangement upstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator and wherein the controller is configured to control the valve arrangement into a first state where the flow of refrigerant is directed to said first evaporator and to control the valve arrangement into a second state where the flow of refrigerant is directed to said second evaporator.

6 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve arrangement upstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator into a third state where the flow of refrigerant is stopped to both said first evaporator and to said second evaporator.

7 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve arrangement upstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator into a fourth state where the flow of refrigerant is opened to both said first evaporator and to said second evaporator.

8 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the valve arrangement upstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator comprises a three-way valve.

9 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling system has a valve arrangement downstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator and wherein the controller is configured to control the valve arrangement into a fifth state where the flow of refrigerant is let out from said first evaporator and to control the valve arrangement into a sixth state where the flow of refrigerant is let out from said second evaporator.

10 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve arrangement downstream said first evaporator and said second evaporator into a seventh state where the outflow of refrigerant is stopped from both said first evaporator and to said second evaporator.

11 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the flow of refrigerant to the first evaporator and the second evaporator in a switching cycle.

12 . The cooling system ( 30 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the switching cycle is shorter than a compressor cycle such that multiple switching cycles are executed during the compressor cycle.

13 . A refrigerator comprising the cooling system according to claim 1 .

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment and wherein the first evaporator is arranged to cool the refrigerator compartment and the second evaporator is arranged to cool the freezer compartment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: FURBERG, RICHARD; ASCHAN, ANDREAS STEFAN
To: ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AKTIEBOLAG
Reel/Frame 073387/0690 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 21170363 · Apr 26, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240210078A1 · Jun 27, 2024
References Cited (15)
US 5272884A · Cur · 1993 [cited by examiner]
US 8161763B2 · Yun et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 10539431B2 · Liu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20070089436A1 · Singh · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070119196A1 · Wellman · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20130213066A1 · Litch et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160334142A1 · Senf, Jr. · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170241687A1 · Litch et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20210381708A1 · Butler · 2021 [cited by examiner]
EP 1106943A2 · 2001 [cited by examiner]
EP 2631568 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO0194855A1 · 2001 [cited by examiner]
WO 2015105845 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2025084099A1 · 2025 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report for PCT/EP2022/059190, dated Jun. 20, 2022, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]