The present disclosure generally relates to a tube routing system for a cooling appliance, and more specifically, to a tube routing system for refrigerant tubes for a cooling appliance.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor and the condenser. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A shroud bracket is located between the compressor and the condenser and defines at least one slot that retains the at least one coolant tube.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor and the condenser. A drainage routing tube extends from the cooling device to a drain tube mount and the drain tube mount includes a retention feature connected to a drainage receptacle.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor and the condenser. A shroud bracket is located between the compressor and the condenser and defines at least one slot that retains the at least one coolant tube. A drainage routing tube extends from the cooling device to a drain tube mount and the drain tube mount includes a retention feature connected to a drainage receptacle.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a tube routing system for refrigerant tubes for a cooling appliance. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Referring to
With reference now to
With continued reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
It should be appreciated that the location of the various components is illustrated in
The invention disclosed herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs and is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor and the condenser. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A shroud bracket is located between the compressor and the condenser and defines at least one slot that retains the at least one coolant tube.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, an at least one slot includes a port for inserting an at least one coolant tube and each port defines an outward taper to facilitate insertion of the at least one coolant tube.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the outward taper terminates at a collar portion that retains the at least one coolant tube within the at least one slot.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a shroud bracket defines a bay that retains a conduit.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, an air separator plate is connected to a shroud bracket over an outer perimeter of a bay.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, an air separator plate defines an opening smaller than a bay and a conduit extends through the opening.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the opening includes a slit portion to facilitate insertion of the conduit and an aperture portion that retains the conduit.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a shroud bracket is formed of a first material and an air separator plate is formed of a second material that is more flexible than the first material.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a bay extends vertically from an upper perimeter surface of a shroud bracket and an at least one slot extends horizontally from a side perimeter surface of the shroud bracket.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the vacuum-insulated chamber includes a freezer vacuum-insulated chamber and a refrigeration vacuum-insulated chamber and an at least one coolant tube includes a first coolant tube routed to a freezer vacuum-insulated chamber and a second coolant tube routed to a refrigeration vacuum-insulated chamber.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one slot includes a first slot and a second slot and the first coolant tube is located in the first slot and the second coolant tube is located in the second slot.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, each of the first and second slots extend horizontally and are vertically spaced.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor and the condenser. A drainage routing tube extends from the cooling device to a drain tube mount and the drain tube mount includes a retention feature connected to a drainage receptacle.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a drain tube mount includes a cup defining a top surface and a bottom surface, the cup includes a stepped region defining a retention feature.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a retention feature includes a flange and at least one tab spaced from the flange.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a drainage receptacle is located adjacent to a drain tube mount and defines an upwardly extending rim located between a flange and a at least one tab via press-fit engagement.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a drainage release tube is in fluid communication with a drainage routing tube and defines a duckbill opening for releasing drainage into a drainage receptacle.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling appliance includes a body defining a vacuum-insulated chamber. A cooling device is configured to regulate a temperature in the vacuum-insulated chamber. A partition is adjacent to the vacuum-insulated chamber and a compartment is spaced from the vacuum-insulated chamber by the partition. A compressor and a condenser are located in the compartment and at least one coolant tube is in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser, and the cooling device. A conduit provides power to and extends between the compressor and the condenser. A shroud bracket is located between the compressor and the condenser and defines at least one slot that retains the at least one coolant tube. A drainage routing tube extends from the cooling device to a drain tube mount and the drain tube mount includes a retention feature connected to a drainage receptacle.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a three-way valve is mounted to an interior surface of a compartment by a valve bracket, the valve bracket is connected to the interior surface of a compartment and extends to a clip that connects to an underside connection plate of the three-way valve.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a valve bracket is connected to an interior ceiling of a compartment with connection rods.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, and the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.