Patent Application
20230152023
The present disclosure relates to a fan assembly for use in household appliances such as refrigerators.
Refrigerators generally may include a fan assembly that controls or regulates the amount of cooled air provided to one or more compartments of the refrigerator. The fan assembly may be disposed in a cold air passage to maintain a desired temperature of each compartment. The fan assembly may include a frame provided with one or more openings or air passages that may route cooled air to the compartments and a damper that may be rotated by a motor to selectively open or close the air passages. The damper may be coaxially arranged between the fan and the frame and may move within a gap between the fan and the frame.
According to one embodiment, a fan assembly for use in an appliance is provided. The fan assembly may include a housing, an impeller, a first damper member, a second damper member, and an actuation assembly. The housing may define a number of outlets and the impeller may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets. The first damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller and the second damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets.
According to another embodiment, an air supply device for use in a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a convertible compartment. The air supply device may include an impeller, a first damper member, a second damper member, and an actuation assembly. The impeller may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis to provide direct air towards a number of outlets fluidly that may be connected to the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the convertible compartment. The first damper member may include a first sidewall that may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The second damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller and may be disposed radially between the impeller and the first damper member. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block, or completely open at least one of the number of outlets.
According to yet another embodiment, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a number of compartments, a panel, an impeller, a number of damper members, and an actuation assembly. The number of compartments may be formed by a number of mullions and walls of the refrigerator. The panel may be covered by one or more inner walls of the number of compartments. The panel may include a base surface and a number of protrusions that may collectively form a number of channels that may each be fluidly connected to one or more compartments of the number of compartments. The impeller may be rotationally coupled to the panel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets. The number of damper members may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of channels.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.
The term “substantially” or “about” may be used herein to describe disclosed or claimed embodiments. The term “substantially” or “about” may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “substantially” or “about” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within ±0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Though the convertible compartment 102b is depicted in
The temperature of the convertible compartment 102b may be rapidly adjusted over a number of setpoints, which may range from approximately −25 degrees centigrade to 15 degrees centigrade. Such a temperature range may correspond to temperatures that may be implemented to store a variety of goods. However, other temperatures or ranges of temperatures may be implemented and achieved via a controller provided with a memory programmed to adjust the temperature of the convertible compartment 102b. As an example, the controller (not illustrated) may adjust one or more of the damper sidewalls to provide warm or cool air to the convertible compartment 102b.
Referring generally to the figures, a fan assembly 110 for use in the refrigerator 100 is provided. The fan assembly include a base member 112 that may be disposed on a wall 114 disposed behind or below one or more of the compartments 102. The base member 112 may define an opening in which a fan or impeller 120 extends through. The impeller 120 may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis R to direct warm or cool air to a number of outlets 124, 126, 128 that may each be fluidly connected to the compartments 102.
A number of deflectors 122 may extend from the base member 112 to form one or more ducts or outlets. As an example, the number of outlets may include a refrigerator outlet 124, that may be fluidly connected to the refrigerator compartment 102a to supply air from the impeller 120 to the refrigerator compartment 102a, a convertible compartment outlet 126, that may be fluidly connected to the convertible compartment 102b to supply air from the impeller 120 to the convertible compartment 102b, and a freezer outlet 128 that may be fluidly connected to the freezer compartment 102c to supply air from the impeller 120 to the freezer compartment 102c.
The fan assembly 110 may include a first damper member 116 and a second damper member 118. The first and second damper members 116, 118 may circumferentially extend about the impeller 120 and an actuation assembly 130 may be operatively connected to the first damper member 116, the second damper member 118, or both. The actuation assembly 130 may be configured to selectively rotate the first and second damper members 116, 118 to partially block, completely block, or completely open at least one of the number of outlets 124, 126, 128. Blocking one or more of the outlets 124, 126, 128, while opening the other outlets 124, 126, 128, may permit a volume of air that would have been otherwise provided to the other outlets so that the temperature of the compartments 102 fluidly connected to the outlets 124, 126, 128 may raised or lowered as desired in a relatively short period of time.
In one or more embodiments, the first damper member 116 may include a first annular ring 132 and a first damper sidewall 134 that may extend from the first annular ring 132 and the second damper member 118 may include a second annular ring 136 and a second damper sidewall 138 that may extend from the second annular ring 136. As an example, the first annular ring 132 may be spaced apart from the base member 112 and the second annular ring may lie along or move along the base member 112. The impeller 120 may include a number of vanes 140 and a band 142 that may extend between distal ends of each of the vanes 140 The distal ends of the vanes 140 and/or the band 142 may form an outer periphery of the impeller 120. The first sidewall 134 may be radially spaced apart from the outer periphery of the impeller 120 and the second sidewall 138 may be disposed radially between the first sidewall 134 and the impeller 120.
The first sidewall 134 may include a first circumferential portion 144 and a first tangential portion 146. The first circumferential portion 144 may be curved and may extend circumferentially about the outer periphery of the impeller 120 and the first tangential portion 146 may be substantially straight and extend in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the first circumferential portion 144. The second sidewall may include a second circumferential portion 148 and a second tangential portion 150. The second circumferential portion 148 may be curved and extend circumferentially about the outer periphery of the impeller 120 and the second tangential portion 150 may be substantially straight and extend in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the second circumferential portion 148. The first and second tangential portions 146, 150
The fan assembly 110 may include the number of deflectors 122 that may include a first deflector 122a, a second deflector 122b, and a third deflector 122c. The first deflector 122a and the second deflector 122b may form the refrigerator outlet 124. The first deflector 122a and a first end of the third deflector 122c may form the convertible compartment outlet 126 and a second end of the third deflector 122c and the second deflector 122b may form the freezer compartment outlet 128. The first and second deflectors 122a, 122b may be V-shaped and may include first and second arms 152, 154 that may be connected to one another by a curved portion 156. Alternatively or additionally, the third deflector may include a first distal portion 160, a second distal portion 162, and a medial portion 164 extending therebetween. As an example, the first and second distal portions 160, 162 may each be substantially straight and the medial portion 164 may be curved so as to circumferentially extend about an outer periphery of the impeller 120.
In one or more embodiments, the first and second damper members 116, 118 may be adjusted by one or more actuation assemblies. A first actuation assembly may include a first motor 226 and a first gear 228 that may be operatively coupled to the first motor 226. The first gear 228 may be spaced apart from the base member 112 and configured to engage one or more teeth 234 that may be formed by the first annular ring 132. A second actuation assembly may include a second motor 230 and a second gear 232 that may be operatively coupled to the second motor 230 and configured to engage one or more teeth 236 of the second annular ring 136.
When the first and second damper members 116, 118 are in the first position, the first sidewall 134 may cover the second sidewall 138 in the radial direction. Alternatively or additionally, the first sidewall 134 and the second sidewall 138 may each cover the medial portion 164 in the radial direction. As an example, the first tangential portion 146 may lie against or be adjacent to the second distal portion 162 of the third deflector and the second tangential portion 150 may lie against or be adjacent to the first distal portion 160. In one or more embodiments, the first annular ring 132 may be disposed above the second distal portion 162 and the second annular ring 136 may extend below the second distal portion 162. As another example, the second distal portion 162 may define a slot 158 and the first and second damper members 116, 118 including the first annular ring 132, the first sidewall 134, the second annular ring 136, and the second sidewall 138 move in and out of. In one or more embodiments, the first distal portion 160 of the third deflector 122c may define a slot 166 and the first and second damper members 116, 118 including the first annular ring 132, the first sidewall 134, the second annular ring 136, and the second sidewall 138 may move in and out of the slot 166.
The first motor 226 and the first gear 228 and the second motor 230 and the second gear 232 may each be disposed adjacent to the third deflector 122c. However, the first and second motors 226, 230 and the first and second gears 228, 232 may each be coupled to the base member 112 in one or more other suitable positions so that the first and second gears 228, 232 may engage the teeth 234, 236 of the first and second annular rings 132, 136.
In one or more embodiments, the second sidewall 138 may be spaced apart from an inner periphery 168 of the second annular ring 136.
The panel 170 may include a number of protrusions 174 and the number of protrusions 174 and the number of deflectors 172 may collectively form the refrigerator compartment outlet 124, the convertible compartment outlet 126, and the freezer compartment outlet 128. As an example, the number of protrusions may include a first protrusion 174a that may include a first segment 176 and a second segment 178 that may be arranged substantially orthogonally to the first segment 176. The first segment 176 may form an inner periphery of the refrigerator outlet compartment 126 and may include an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface spaced closer to the impeller 120 than the outer surface. As an example, the outer surface may be curved, and the inner surface may be relatively straight. The curved outer surface may be configured to mitigate or prevent turbulent air flow through the refrigerator compartment outlet 126.
A second protrusion 174b may be disposed between the first deflector 172a and the first protrusion 174a. For example, the second protrusion 174b may be connected e.g., integrally formed to the first protrusion 174a. The second protrusion 174b may include a curved surface 180 that may be adjacent to or contact the first deflector 172a. The first and second protrusions 174a, 174b may be spaced on a first side of the refrigerator compartment outlet 124 and a third protrusion 174c may be disposed on a second side of the refrigerator compartment outlet 124. The third protrusion 174c may have a flat-bottom airfoil shape provided with a curved inner surface, 182 that may face the impeller 120, and a flat surface that may form or face an outer periphery 186 of the panel 170.
In one or more embodiments, the panel 170 may include a fourth protrusion 174d that may be spaced apart from the third protrusion 174c away from the outer periphery 186. As an example, the fourth protrusion may have a substantially triangular shape including a vertex 188 and a base 190. The vertex 188 may be disposed closer to the impeller 120 than the base 190. The panel 170 may include a fifth protrusion 174e that may be spaced apart from the first protrusion 174a on the other side of the convertible compartment outlet 126. As an example, the fifth protrusion 174e may include a first section 192, that may extend in a direction that is parallel to the second section 178 of the first protrusion 174a, and a second section 194 that may extend substantially orthogonally to the first section 194.
The protrusions 174 may form one or more channels 181, 182, 195 that may be fluidly connected to the outlets 124, 126, 128. The third protrusion 174c and the fourth protrusion 174d may form a first channel 181 that may be fluidly connected to the freezer compartment outlet 126. The second protrusion 174b and the third protrusion 174c may collectively form a second channel that may be fluidly connected to the refrigerant compartment outlet 124. The first protrusion 174a and the fifth protrusion 174e may form a third channel 182 that may be fluidly connected to the convertible compartment outlet 126.
A damper member 196 may be rotationally fixed to the base 112 and configured to selectively rotate to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets 124, 126, 128. The damper member 196 may include an annular ring 198 and a sidewall 200 that may extend from an inner periphery 202 of the annular ring.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
