Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6428130
-
Patent Number
6,428,130
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 27, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 6, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 116
- 312 296
- 312 400
- 312 401
- 312 406
- 312 407
- 312 4071
- 062 441
- 062 447
- 220 59201
- 220 59202
- 220 59209
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A mullion assembly for a refrigerator cabinet has a pair of adjacent edge wall insulating gasket members extending toward the open side of the cabinet. The edge wall members each have a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side. One of the edge wall members has a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members. A metallic mullion bar extends between the pair of edge wall members and has a flat wall portion against which seals another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet. The mullion bar has rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members. A block of fiberglass insulation is mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities. The insulation member is held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member. This assembly has reduced thermal transfer from outside ambient to the interior cavity of the cabinet through the metallic mullion bar.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinets and in particular relates to a mullion assembly having an enhanced energy saving construction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the construction of a refrigerator cabinet, it is typical to include a metal mullion bar position between side walls of a horizontally disposed freezer and fresh food compartment or between the top and bottom walls of side-by-side freezer and fresh food compartment. The purpose of the mullion bar or rail is well known to provide support between the side walls of the refrigerator and to provide a load bearing structure about which the liners of the freezer and fresh food compartment are constructed.
The mullion rails or bars are located across the open front of the refrigerator cabinet exposed to the ambient atmosphere and at least a portion of the interior liner of the freezer compartment and/or the fresh food compartment. Typically, the mullion bar provides a structural support to which a partition for the freezer and fresh food compartments are constructed. Since the mullion bar is a metallic material, the mullion is a good heat transfer medium between the ambient atmosphere and the freezer compartment and/or the fresh food compartment. When the ambient is humid, condensation appears on the face of the mullion bar when mullion temperature is below dew point temperature. To prevent sweating the mullion bar typically has a heater which warms the mullion surface exposed to the ambient. However these heaters also heat the fresh food compartment and/or freezer compartment raising the energy requirements needed to maintain operation of the refrigerator.
The mullion bar also provides a reinforced surface against which the doors may close. Each door includes a gasket having magnets which are attracted to the metal mullion bar to effect a seal against the mullion bar. Thus the mullion bar is required to provide an effective seal against the door gaskets which must withstand the stresses of repeated door closure and provide a magnetic attracting medium.
There is a need however for a mullion bar assembly for use in a refrigerator where the metallic bar exposed to the ambient contacts only a portion of the door seal and another portion of the door seal further engages a portion of the interior cabinet or gasket associated therewith that is insulated from the metallic mullion bar. There is a further need to provide a mullion bar assembly that has improved thermal insulation characteristics that inhibit thermal transfer between the fresh food or freezer compartments and the ambient exposed mullion bar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet having improved heat transfer characteristics associated with the mullion. Preferably, a metallic reinforcing mullion rail or bar is located between the freezer compartment and fresh food compartment of an interior plastic liner. The metallic mullion bar is held in place by plastic insulated edge wall gasket members which together with the mullion bar form the front wall of the mullion assembly. The edge wall gasket members have an additional function of holding a block of insulation behind the mullion strap to further reduce thermal heat transfer to the mullion bar.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprises an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side. The cabinet has an interior liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell. The interior liner defines two interior cavities with a space therebetween. The cabinet has an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side. The mullion assembly comprises the interior cavities each having adjacent edge wall members extending toward the open side of the cabinet. The edge wall members each have a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket. The edge wall members each has a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side. At least one of the edge wall members has a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members. A metallic mullion bar extends between the pair of edge wall members and has a flat wall portion against which seals another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet. The mullion bar has rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members. The mullion assembly further includes an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities. The insulation member is held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member.
By locating the insulation member between and by the insulating gaskets, thermal transfer is reduced from the interior cavities of the cabinet to the metallic mullion bar. Further, by supporting the mullion bar separate of the interior cavities, there is a reduction of heat transfer.
Preferably, the mullion assembly further includes a layer of mastic material positioned between the metal mullion flat wall portion and the insulation member and refrigerant tubing extending within the mastic material and into the insulation member for distributing and maintaining temperature of the metallic mullion flat wall portion above the dew point.
Preferably, the edge wall members are separate gaskets attached to a wall of the interior cavities. Preferably, the recess channels extend rearwardly at 90 degrees from the front forward surface. The recess channels are preferably defined by an outer wall adjacent the respective interior cabinet and an inner wall adjacent the insulation member and wherein one of the inner walls includes the locating flange member edge portion.
The insulation member preferably comprises a block of fiberglass insulation and foamed-in-place insulation is further provided within the space between the two interior cavities and rearwardly of the insulation member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be had by way of example to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a refrigerator;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the refrigerator cabinet of the present invention with the doors removed;
FIG. 3
a sectional view of the mullion construction of the present invention as seen along section IIIāIII of
FIG. 1
; and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, there is shown a domestic refrigerator
10
having an exterior cabinet shell
12
. The refrigerator
10
includes an interior liner
14
. Interior liner
14
includes two bubble sections or cavities (
16
,
18
) defining an upper freezer compartment
16
and a lower fresh food compartment
18
. Access to the freezer compartment
16
and the fresh food compartment
18
is permitted at the front of the refrigerator
10
by opening doors
20
. Doors
20
have handles
22
which facilitate opening of the doors
20
which swing open. The bottom of the refrigerator
10
has a decorative kick plate
25
. It should be understood that while
FIGS. 1 and 2
relate to a top mount refrigerator having an upper freezer compartment and lower food compartment, the present invention may be used in different types of refrigerator constructions, such as, for example, bottom mount refrigerators or side-by-side refrigerators having swinging or pull-out doors.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the exterior cabinet shell
12
has a shell edge flange
32
extending around the open side
28
of the top wall
29
, bottom wall
31
and side walls
33
towards the opening of the open side
28
. The exterior cabinet shell
12
is usually made from sheet metal.
The interior liner
14
is adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell
12
. The interior liner includes a liner flange
34
extending outwardly of said liner. The liner flange
34
is shown to extend outwardly of the top, bottom and side walls of the liner
14
. The liner
14
is preferably a plastic material made from a mold. A breaker strip
36
interconnects the interior liner
14
with the exterior cabinet shell
12
. Preferably, however, the plastic liner is inserted inside a recess in the flange
32
without the use of a breaker strip. The cabinet flange and the liner further include openings through which hinges
38
(see
FIG. 2
) extend for the mounting of the refrigerator doors
20
. Separating the fresh food compartment
18
from the freezer compartment
16
of the liner
14
is the mullion assembly
40
as shown in FIG.
2
.
In accordance with the novel features of the present invention, reference is now made to
FIG. 3
of the drawings for a complete description of the mullion assembly
40
. The mullion assembly
40
has a pair of edge wall insulated members
42
,
44
each connected to a respective interior cavity
16
,
18
adjacent the mullion assembly
40
. The edge wall members
42
,
44
each extend forward toward the open side
28
of the cabinet
12
and each have a forward surface
46
extending flush to the open side
28
for supporting a portion
52
of a door sealing gasket
54
. The plastic wall members
42
,
44
have a recessed channel
48
extending rearwardly of the open side
28
. The recess channels
48
are defined by an outer wall
60
adjacent the respective interior cabinet
48
and an inner wall
62
. The recess channels
48
extend rearwardly at 90 degrees from the open side
28
.
The upper most edge wall member
42
has a locating flange member
64
with an edge portion
66
extending toward the other one of the edge wall members
44
.
The mullion assembly
40
has a metallic mullion bar
50
extending between the pair of edge wall members
42
,
44
. The mullion bar
50
has a flat wall portion
70
against which seals another portion
56
of the door sealing gasket
54
carrying a magnet. The mullion bar
50
also has rearwardly extending flanges
72
extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels
48
of the edge wall members
42
,
44
. The flanges
72
are inserted into the recess channels
48
and form an interference fit therewith.
A layer of mastic material
80
is applied to the inner surface of the mullion bar
50
. The mastic material
80
is a thermal mass that maintains and evenly distributes heat between the metallic mullion flat wall portion
70
and insulation member
82
. The heat is generated from refrigerant tubing
102
extending within the mastic material
80
and into the insulation member
82
for maintaining temperature of the metallic mullion flat wall portion
70
above the dew point. The tubes
102
are wrapped in aluminum or copper foil
89
to enhance heat transfer from tubes to mullion flat surface.
The insulation member
82
is mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar
50
and mastic material
80
within the space
90
between the interior cavities. The insulation member
82
is preferably a block of fiberglass insulation and is held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members
42
,
44
by the locating flange member edge portion
66
urging the insulation member against the inner wall
62
of the other edge wall member
44
.
Lastly, the construction of the mullion assembly
40
may preferably include foamed-in-place insulation
92
within the space
90
between the two interior cavities
16
,
18
and rearwardly of the insulation member
82
or could be made of an extruded expanded polystyrene as an insulator between interior cabinets
16
and
18
.
In
FIG. 3
, the doors
20
are shown to comprise an exterior shell
90
having an inturned flange
92
. Within the door
20
is insulating foam
94
. The inside of the door is provided with a door liner
96
having an outwardly turned flange
98
. The outwardly turned flange
98
is provided with a hook
100
for effecting a clasping motion with a door sealing
54
. This hook in an alternative embodiments is formed as an integral part of the edge of door liner. The gasket
54
is provided with a web which holds an elongate magnet
58
in an elongated magnet chamber. Adjacent the magnet chamber is a second air chamber
104
.
Claims
- 1. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprising:(a) an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side; (b) an interior liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell, said interior liner defining two interior cavities with a space therebetween, (c) an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side, the mullion assembly comprising: (i) the interior cavities each having adjacent edge wall members extending toward the open side of the cabinet, the edge wall members each having a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and each having a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side, and at least one of the edge wall members having a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members; (ii) a metallic mullion bar extending between the pair of edge wall members having a flat wall portion against which another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet seals, the mullion bar having rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members; and, (iii) an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities, the insulation member being held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member.
- 2. The refrigerator of claim 1 further including a layer of mastic material positioned between the metal mullion flat wall portion and the insulation member, and refrigerant tubing extending within the mastic material and having a foil wrapped about the tubing in contact with the mullion flat wall portion and the mastic material co-operating to maintain temperature of the metallic mullion flat wall portion above the dew point.
- 3. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the recess channels extend rearwardly at 90 degrees from the front forward surface.
- 4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the recess channels are defined by an outer wall adjacent the respective interior cavities and an inner wall adjacent the insulation member and wherein one of the inner walls includes the locating flange member edge portion.
- 5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the insulation member comprises a block of fiberglass insulation.
- 6. The refrigerator of claim 1 further including a selected one of foamed-in-place insulation and expanded polystyrene within the space between the two interior cavities and rearwardly of the insulation member.
- 7. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprising:(a) an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side; (b) an interior plastic liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell, said interior liner defining two interior cavities with a space therebetween, (c) an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side, the mullion assembly comprising: (i) a pair of edge wall insulated gasket members each connected to a corresponding interior cavity adjacent the mullion assembly; the edge wall gasket members each extending forward toward the open side of the cabinet and each having a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and each having a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side, and at least one of the edge wall members having a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members; (ii) a metallic mullion bar extending between the pair of edge wall members having a flat wall portion against which another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet seals, the mullion bar having rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by interference fit with a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members; and, (iii) an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities, the insulation member being held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member.
- 8. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the recess channels are defined by an outer wall adjacent the respective interior cavities cabinet and an inner wall adjacent the insulation member and wherein one of the inner walls includes locating flange member edge portion.
- 9. The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the recess channels extend rearwardly at 90 degrees from the open side.
- 10. The refrigerator of claim 8 further including a layer of mastic material positioned between the metallic mullion flat wall portion and the insulation member, and refrigerant tubing extending within the mastic material and having a foil wrap in contact with the mullion flat wall portion and the mastic material for maintaining the temperature of the metallic mullion flat wall portion above the dew point.
- 11. The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the insulation member comprises a block of fiberglass insulation.
- 12. The refrigerator of claim 11 further including a selected one of foamed-in-place insulation and expanded polystyrene within the space between the two interior cavities and rearwardly of the insulation member.
- 13. The refrigerator of claim 7 further including a pair of doors mounted to the cabinet for movement relative thereto and each of the doors adapted to close the open side of one of the interior cavities, each door carrying a seal with the one portion adapted to engage the forward surface of one of the edge wall members and the other portion carrying the magnet portion for engaging the metallic mullion flat portion.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2338807 |
Feb 2001 |
CA |
|
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