Patent Application
20250164174
The present disclosure relates to an appliance such as a refrigerator.
In order to keep food fresh, a low temperature must be maintained within a refrigerator to reduce the reproduction rate of harmful bacteria. Refrigerators circulate refrigerant and change the refrigerant from a liquid state to a gas state by an evaporation process in order cool the air within the refrigerator. During the evaporation process, heat is transferred to the refrigerant. After evaporating, a compressor increases the pressure, and in turn, the temperature of the refrigerant. The gas refrigerant is then condensed into a liquid and the excess heat is rejected to the ambient surroundings. The process then repeats.
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a drawer receptacle, an assembly, and a drawer. The cabinet defines an internal cavity. The drawer receptacle is disposed within the internal cavity. The drawer receptacle defines an opening along a forward end of the drawer receptacle and a cutout along a rearward end of the drawer receptacle. The assembly has a panel, an air duct, and an air damper. The panel is secured to the drawer receptacle. The panel is disposed over the cutout such that a front side of the panel faces internally and into the drawer receptacle and a rear side of the panel faces externally and away from the drawer receptacle. The air duct is secured to the panel, extends between the front and rear sides of the panel, and is configured to direct air into the drawer receptacle. The air damper is disposed within the air duct and is configured to control airflow through the air duct. The drawer is slidable into and out of the drawer receptacle along the opening.
A refrigerated pantry includes a receptacle, a panel, and a damper box. The receptacle defines a first opening configured to receive a drawer and a second opening. The panel is secured to the receptacle. The panel is disposed over the second opening such that a first side of the panel faces into the receptacle and a second side of the panel faces away from the receptacle. The damper box is secured to the panel and extends between the first and second sides of the panel. The damper box is configured to route air into the receptacle. The damper box houses a damper configured to control an airflow quantity into the receptacle.
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first receptacle, and an assembly. The first receptacle is disposed within the cabinet and is configured to slidably receive a drawer. The first receptacle defines a cutout. The assembly includes a panel and a second receptacle. The panel is secured to the first receptacle. The panel is disposed over the cutout such that a front side of the panel faces into the first receptacle and a rear side of the panel faces away from the first receptacle. The second receptacle is secured to the panel and is configured to receive a damper. The second receptacle defines openings. The second receptacle is configured to direct air from the rear side of the panel toward the front side of the panel and into the first receptacle via the openings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could 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 embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
Referring to
The refrigerator 10 includes a cabinet 17 that includes walls 18 that define an internal cavity 11. The internal cavity may be further divided into the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and the convertible compartment 16. The refrigerator 10 may have one or more doors 22, 24, 26 that provide selective access to the interior volume (e.g., the fresh food compartment 12, freezer compartment 14, or convertible compartment 16) of the refrigerator 10 where consumables may be stored. As shown, the fresh food compartment 12 doors are designated 22, the freezer compartment 14 door is designated 24, and the convertible compartment 16 door is designated as 26. It may also be shown that the fresh food compartment 12 may only have one door 22. The doors 22 may be rotatably secured to the walls by one or more hinges. Doors 24, 26 may be slidable into and out of the interior volume of the refrigerator 10 along direction 28 via tracks. Direction 28 may be a horizontal direction.
The refrigerator 10, or more specifically the cabinet 17, includes an outer shell, frame, or housing that comprises several exterior panels or walls. The outer shell, frame, or housing that comprises several exterior panels or walls may also be referred to as the refrigerator cabinet wrapper. The exterior walls may include a rear or back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls. An insulating material, such as an insulating foam, may be disposed between each exterior wall and an adjacent corresponding interior wall in order reduce the heat transfer from the ambient surroundings to the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and convertible compartment 16 which increases the efficiency of the refrigerator 10. Each exterior wall, adjacent corresponding interior wall, and the insulating material disposed between each exterior wall and adjacent corresponding interior wall may collectively be referred to as a single wall of the cabinet 17 of the refrigerator 10.
The doors 22 may each include an exterior panel and an interior panel that is disposed on an internal side of the respective exterior panel of each door 22. The interior panels may be configured to face the fresh food 12 compartment when the doors 22 are in closed positions. The interior panel may more specifically be a door liner. An insulating material, such as an insulating foam, may be disposed between the exterior panel and interior panel of each door 22 in order reduce the heat transfer from the ambient surroundings and increase the efficiency of the refrigerator.
The doors 22 may also include storage bins that are able to hold smaller food items or containers. The storage bins may be secured to the interior panels of each door 22. Alternatively, the storage bins may be integrally formed within or defined by the interior panels of each door 22. In yet another alternative, a portion of the storage bins may be secured to the interior panels of each door, while another portion of the storage bins may be integrally formed within or defined by the interior panels of each door 22. The storage bins may include shelves (e.g., a lower surface upon, which a food item or container may rest upon) that extend from back surfaces of the interior panels of each door 22.
It is generally known that the freezer compartment 14 is typically kept at a temperature below the freezing point of water, and the fresh food compartment 12 is typically kept at a temperature above the freezing point of water and generally below a temperature of from about 35° F. to about 50° F., more typically below about 38° F. The convertible compartment 16 is convertible between being kept at the same or similar temperature as the fresh food compartment 12 or at the same or similar temperature as the freezer compartment 14.
The refrigerator 10 may also have a water inlet that is fastened to and in fluid communication with a household water supply of potable water. Typically, the household water supply connects to a municipal water source or a well. The water inlet may be fluidly engaged with one or more of a water filter, a water reservoir, and a refrigerator water supply line. The refrigerator water supply line may include one or more nozzles and one or more valves. The refrigerator water supply line may supply water to one or more water outlets; typically one outlet for water is in the dispensing area 30 and another to an ice tray. The refrigerator 10 may also have a control board or controller that sends electrical signals to the one or more valves when prompted by a user that water is desired or if an ice making cycle is required.
The refrigerator 10 includes a refrigeration loop or circuit that is configured to cool the air the within the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and convertible compartment 16. The refrigeration loop or circuit may also be referred to as a refrigerant loop or circuit. The refrigeration loop or circuit includes at least a compressor, an evaporator that cools air being delivered to the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and convertible compartment 16, a condenser that rejects heat to ambient surroundings, and an expansion device, such as a thermal expansion valve. The refrigeration loop or circuit may also include an accumulator. The accumulator may be located between the evaporator and the compressor. The accumulator prevents liquid refrigerant that did not evaporate in the evaporator from flowing into the compressor. The refrigeration loop or circuit includes lines or tubes that are configured to transport the refrigerant between the evaporator, compressor, condenser, thermal expansion valve, and accumulator. The evaporator and condenser are each heat exchangers (e.g., tube and fin heat exchangers).
Fans may be utilized to direct air across the evaporator and the condenser to facilitate exchanging heat. The compressor and the fans may be connected to a controller. Sensors that measure the air temperature and/or humidity within the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and convertible compartment 16 may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be configured to operate the compressor, fans, etc. in response to the air temperature and/or humidity within the within the fresh food compartment 12, the freezer compartment 14, and convertible compartment 16 being less than a threshold.
The controller may be part of a larger control system and may be controlled by various other controllers throughout the refrigerator 10, and one or more other controllers can collectively be referred to as a “controller” that controls various functions of the refrigerator 10 in response to inputs or signals to control functions of the refrigerator 10. The controller may include a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. Computer readable storage devices or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the CPU is powered down. Computer-readable storage devices or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the controller in controlling the refrigerator 10.
Control logic or functions performed by the controller may be represented by flow charts or similar diagrams in one or more figures. These figures provide representative control strategies and/or logic that may be implemented using one or more processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven, multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like. As such, various steps or functions illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Although not always explicitly illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more of the illustrated steps or functions may be repeatedly performed depending upon the particular processing strategy being used. Similarly, the order of processing is not necessarily required to achieve the features and advantages described herein, but is provided for ease of illustration and description. The control logic may be implemented primarily in software executed by a microprocessor-based controller. Of course, the control logic may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware in one or more controllers depending upon the particular application. When implemented in software, the control logic may be provided in one or more computer-readable storage devices or media having stored data representing code or instructions executed by a computer to control the refrigerator 10 or subsystems of the refrigerator 10. The computer-readable storage devices or media may include one or more of a number of known physical devices which utilize electric, magnetic, and/or optical storage to keep executable instructions and associated calibration information, operating variables, and the like.
Referring to
An air inlet assembly 50 is configured to control the inflow of cooled air into the drawer receptacle 32. The air inlet assembly 50 may also be referred to as the damper box assembly. The air inlet assembly 50 includes a base or panel 52. The panel 52 is secured to the drawer receptacle 32 and is disposed over the cutout 40. The panel 52 includes snaps or clips 54 that engage the walls 34 of the drawer receptacle 32 to secure the panel 52, and ultimately the air inlet assembly 50, to the drawer receptacle 32. A first or front side 56 of the panel 52 faces internally and into the drawer receptacle 32. A second or rear side 58 of the panel 52 faces externally and away from the drawer receptacle 32.
The air inlet assembly 50 includes a first air guide 60. The first air guide 60, an air damper assembly 62, and a second air guide 64 (which may also operate as a heat insulator) may be sandwiched between a front cover 66 and a rear cover 68. Snaps or clips 70 on the rear cover 68 may engage the front cover 66 to secure the rear cover 68 to the front cover 66 and to retain the first air guide 60, air damper assembly 62, and second air guide 64 within the space defined between the front cover 66 and the rear cover 68. Alternatively, the snaps or clips 70 may be on the front cover 66 and may engage the rear cover 68.
The first air guide 60, second air guide 64, front cover 66, rear cover 68, and a protruding region 72 of the panel 52 extending from the rear side 58 of the panel 52 may collectively form an air duct or air duct system 74. The air duct system 74 may also be referred to as a damper box or a second receptacle that receives and houses the air damper assembly 62. Stated in other terms the air damper assembly 62 may be disposed within the air duct system 74. The air duct system 74 extends from the rear side 58 to the front side 56 of the panel 52 and into the drawer receptacle 32. A portion of air duct system 74 (e.g., the protruding region 72 of the panel 52) may extend outward from the rear side 58 of the panel 52 and away from the drawer receptacle 32. The air duct system 74 is secured to the panel 52. More specifically, the air duct system 74 (other than the protruding region 72 which is integral to the panel 52) may be secured to the panel 52 via fasteners 76. The fasteners 76 may extend through posts or protrusions 77 extending from the front cover 66 and may engage posts or protrusions 79 extending from the panel 52. The protrusions 77 extending from the front cover 66 may be hollow and may be configured receive the protrusions 79 extending from the panel 52 to properly align the front cover 66 with the panel 52.
One or more of the first air guide 60, second air guide 64, front cover 66, rear cover 68, and protruding region 72 in any combination may be said to collectively define an air duct or an air duct system, and such an air duct or air duct system does not necessarily require each of the first air guide 60, second air guide 64, front cover 66, rear cover 68, and protruding region 72. For example, the air duct system 74 may exclude the protruding region 72 or may only include the first air guide 60 and second air guide 64.
The air duct system 74 is configured to route or direct air into the drawer receptacle 32. More specifically, the air duct system 74 is configured to receive cooled air (e.g., air that has been directed across an evaporator) from a secondary duct 78 that is connected to the air duct system 74 and route or direct the cooled air into the drawer receptacle 32. The air duct system 74 defines openings 80. Such openings 80 may be aligned. The air duct system 74 may more specifically be configured to direct the cooled air from the rear side 58 of the panel 52 (e.g., from the secondary duct 78) toward the front side 56 of the panel 52 and into the drawer receptacle 32 via the openings 80.
The air damper assembly 62 is configured to control an airflow through the air duct system 74. More specifically, the air damper assembly 62 may be configured to control an airflow quantity into the drawer receptacle 32 (e.g., the air damper assembly 62 may increase or decrease the quantity of air flowing from the secondary duct 78 and into the drawer receptacle 32 via the air duct system 74). The air damper assembly 62 include one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 that are configured to adjust airflow through the air duct system 74. The one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 may be configured to open to allow airflow through the air duct system 74, close to restrict airflow through the air duct system 74, or transition to intermediate partially opened positions to either increase or decrease airflow through the air duct system 74. For example, a transition of the one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 to a partially opened position that is towards a fully opened position may increase airflow through the air duct system 74 while a transition of the one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 to a partially opened position that is towards a fully closed position may decrease airflow through the air duct system 74.
The air damper assembly 62 may further include an actuator 84 that is configured to adjust a position of the air damper assembly 62. More specifically, the actuator 84 may be configured to adjust the position one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 between the fully opened position, fully closed position, and intermediate partially opened positions. The actuator 84 may be an electric motor, a servo motor, an electrical solenoid, an electrical cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or any other actuator known in the art that is configured to operate an air damper assembly 62 (e.g., that is configured to adjust the position one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82).
The air inlet assembly 50 further includes a temperature sensor 86 (e.g., a thermistor) that is secured to the front side 56 of the panel 52. The temperature sensor 86 faces into the drawer receptacle 32 along the front side 56 of the panel 52. An electrical wire 88 extends from the temperature sensor 86. The electrical wire 88 may connect the temperature sensor 86 to the controller and/or a power source. The electric wire 88 also extends along the front side 56 of the panel 52 and within the drawer receptacle 32.
A post or receiver 89 extending from the front side 56 of the panel 52 may be configured to support an electrical connector 91 that is disposed on an opposing side of the electrical wire 88 relative to the temperature sensor 86. The receiver 89 may define an opening or orifice and the electrical connector 91 may be disposed in the opening or orifice defined by the receiver 89. The electrical connector 91 may include snaps or clips that engage the receiver 89 within the orifice defined by the receiver 89 to secure the electrical connector 91 to the receiver 89.
The front cover 66 is disposed over the damper assembly 62 from within the drawer receptacle 32 such that the front cover faces into the drawer receptacle 32. The front cover 66 is removably secured to the front side 56 of the panel 52 (e.g., the front cover 66 is removably secured to the front side 56 of the panel 52 via the fasteners 76) so that access may be provided to the damper assembly 62 within the drawer receptacle 32 via removing the front cover 66. An electrical wire 90 extends from the actuator 84, through an orifice or aperture 92 defined by the front cover 66, along the front side 56 of the panel 52, and within the drawer receptacle 32. Electrical wire 90 may connect the actuator 84 to the controller and/or a power source. The controller may operate the actuator 84 to adjust the position of the one or more flaps, vanes, or louvres 82 based on a temperature reading from the temperature sensor 86.
A receiver 93 on from the front side 56 of the panel 52 may be configured to support an electrical connector 95 that is disposed on an opposing side of the electrical wire 90 relative to the actuator 84. The receiver 93 may define an opening or orifice and the electrical connector 95 may be disposed in the opening or orifice defined by the receiver 93. The electrical connector 95 may include snaps or clips that engage the receiver 93 within the orifice defined by the receiver 93 to secure the electrical connector 95 to the receiver 93.
An insulating material 94 (e.g., an insulating foam such as polyurethane) is disposed along the exterior of the drawer receptacle 32 and on the rear side 58 of the panel 52. Positioning the temperature sensor 86, front cover 66, electrical wire 88, and electrical wire 90 along the front side 56 of the panel 52 as opposed to the rear side 58 of the panel 52 allows for access to the temperature sensor 86, damper assembly 62 (via removing the front cover 66), electrical wire 88, and electrical wire 90 for maintenance of such components by removing the drawer 44. If the temperature sensor 86, front cover 66, electrical wire 88, and electrical wire 90 were to be positioned along the rear side 58 of the panel 52 and covered by the insulating material 94 the components would be less accessible. Furthermore, assembly of the temperature sensor 86, front cover 66, electrical wire 88, and electrical wire 90 would have to occur prior to spaying the insulating material 94 onto the exterior of the drawer receptacle 32.
An outer periphery 96 of the panel 52 overlaps an external surface 98 of the drawer receptacle 32 along and outward from an outer periphery 100 of the cutout 40. A seal or gasket 102 is disposed between the outer periphery 96 of the panel 52 and the drawer receptacle 32 along and outward from the outer periphery 100 of the cutout 40. The gasket 102 operates to prevent the ingress of insulating material 94 into the drawer receptacle 32 during the manufacturing process where the insulating material is being sprayed onto the exterior of the drawer receptacle 32 and onto the rear side 58 of the panel 52.
The configuration described herein could be used in a fresh food compartment (e.g., fresh food compartment 12) or a freezer compartment (e.g., freezer compartment 14) as opposed to the convertible compartment 16. Therefore, it should be understood the drawer receptacle 32 and the corresponding air inlet assembly 50 should not be construed as only being applicable to systems that have refrigerated compartments that are convertible between fresh food compartments and freezer compartments.
It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that any component, state, or condition described herein that does not have a numerical designation may be given a designation of first, second, third, fourth, etc. in the claims if one or more of the specific component, state, or condition are claimed.
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 disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.
