Robert C Skeele

US Patent:

43610137, Nov 30, 1982

Filed:

Mar 13, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/243553

Inventors:

Robert C. Skeele - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

F25B 4104
F25D 310

US Classification:

62223

Abstract:

A portable refrigerator 10 has a thermostat system that keeps the temperature of the refrigerator chamber 13 cool by allowing vapor to escape from an opening in a container 16 of pressurized liquid positioned inside chamber 13. A thermally expandable and contractible support in thermal communication with container 16 has a mount fixed relative to the container and a movable end disposed near the top of the container and carrying an element that opens and closes the vapor opening. The position of the movable end and the opening and closing of the vapor opening are then determined by the temperature of container 16. The vapor opening opens when chamber 13 warms container 16 and the support to an upper threshold temperature. The escaping vapor then rapidly lowers the temperature of container 16 and the support to a substantially lower threshold temperature at which the vapor opening closes.