Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110232304 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTI-SENSE CONTROL ALGORITHM FOR ATOMIZERS IN REFRIGERATORS - A method and system is provided which receives a desired humidity level from a user for the refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator, determines the current humidity level, and then activates an atomizer in the refrigeration compartment to increase the humidity level if needed. The humidity in the refrigeration compartment may be determined based at least in part on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment, the defrost timer, the door opening times, and the compressor timer. | 09-29-2011 |
20110232312 | FLEXIBLE WICK AS WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM - Certain embodiments of the presently described technology provide methods and systems for providing water for atomization in a refrigerator from a water source to an atomizer via a flexible wick. Certain embodiments provide a refrigerator for cooling and humidifying at least a portion of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main supply fluid tank, a secondary reservoir supplied with fluid from the main supply fluid tank, an atomizer provided with fluid from the secondary reservoir, and a flexible wick for providing fluid transfer from the secondary reservoir to a location proximate to the atomizer. The secondary reservoir has a maximum, controlled height of fluid. The atomizer discharges the fluid provided form the secondary reservoir in an atomized spray to at least a portion of the refrigerator. | 09-29-2011 |
20110232321 | ATOMIZATION OF FOOD PRESERVATION SOLUTION - Certain embodiments of the presently described technology provide methods and systems for providing an atomized food preservation solution to food stored in a refrigerator. Certain embodiments provide an atomization unit for a refrigerator for humidifying at least a portion of the refrigerator. The atomization unit comprises an atomizer for atomizing and dispensing fluid to at least a portion of the refrigerator, a water supply for providing water to the atomizer, the water supply providing water along a fluid supply path to the atomizer, a food preservation solute dispenser located along the fluid supply path at a location where fluid will flow over the food preservation solute dispenser. The food preservation solute dispenser provides a food preservative to be dissolved in water along the fluid supply path as fluid flows over the food preservation solute dispenser. The atomizer is provided with a solution including the food preservative and dispenses the solution to the at least a portion of the refrigerator. | 09-29-2011 |
20110233289 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ULTRASOUND-BASED ATOMIZER FOR HUMIDITY CONTROL IN REFRIGERATORS - A system and method is provided for monitoring the humidity inside a refrigerator and increasing the humidity when desired. In an embodiment, the humidifier is an ultrasonic atomizer that receives supply water from a removable tank that is refilled by a consumer. An adaptive control system monitors the humidity level inside the refrigerator and actuates the ultrasonic atomizer when an increase in humidity is desired. | 09-29-2011 |
20110233300 | ATOMIZATION UNIT WITH NEGATIVE PRESSURE ACTUATOR - An atomization unit is described that employs a negative pressure actuator to reduce the fluid pressure acting on the atomizer in order to minimize or prevent fluid leakage from the atomizer. Methods of minimizing or preventing fluid leakage from an atomizer through use of a negative pressure actuator are also described. The atomization unit is particularly suitable for use in a refrigerator to cool and humidify at least a portion of the refrigerator. | 09-29-2011 |
20110236544 | ATOMIZATION OF FOOD PRESERVATION SOLUTIONS - Certain embodiments of the presently described technology provide methods for providing an atomized food preservation solution to food stored in a refrigerator. The methods include dissolving a soluble food preservative in water to form a food preservation solution and delivering the food preservation solution to an atomizer which atomizes the food preservation solution to distribute the solution to food stored in the refrigerator. Also, described are embodiments of a food preservation solute dispenser for use in the methods. The food preservation solute dispenser is adapted for placement along an atomizer fluid supply path at a location where fluid will flow over the food preservation solute dispenser. The food preservation solute dispenser provides a food preservative to be dissolved in water along the fluid supply path as fluid flows over the food preservation solute dispenser. Food preservatives that can be dissolved and atomized include anti-microbial agents, such as citrus essential oils, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. | 09-29-2011 |
20120104028 | REFRIGERATOR BEVERAGE FLAVOR DISPENSER WITH FLAVOR STRENGTH ADJUSTMENT - A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a door for providing access to within the refrigerator cabinet, and a beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser may be positioned at the door. The beverage dispenser includes a water source for supplying water, a beverage flavor source containing a flavor medium and having a flavor source opening with and adjustable size, and a user interface. The user interface is connected to the beverage flavor source to control the amount of flavor medium dispensed by the beverage flavor source through the flavor source opening. The amount of flavor medium dispensed will determine the flavor strength of a flavored beverage after the flavor medium has mixed with water or another liquid. | 05-03-2012 |
20120324913 | ICE MAKING, TRANSFERRING, STORING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATOR - An ice making, transferring and storing system includes an icemaker located in the fresh food compartment and an ice storage bin, located in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, for receiving ice from the icemaker. A first ice transfer mechanism delivers ice from the icemaker to the ice storage bin. An ice dispenser is located in one of the fresh food and freezer doors. A second ice transfer mechanism selectively delivers ice from the ice storage bin to the ice dispenser. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324914 | WATER CIRCULATION AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR AN ICEMAKER - A refrigerator having a water circulation and drainage system includes a fresh food compartment with a liner and a drain, an icemaker system having an ice forming cavity with a draining mechanism, and an ice storage bin coupled to a drain line for draining excess liquid from the ice storage bin. The water circulation and drainage system includes a water tank having an inlet port and an overflow device for draining water. The system also includes a drainage tank having a first water tank inlet port for receiving water from the overflow device of the water tank, a second water inlet port for receiving water from the ice storage bin, and a third inlet port for receiving water from the liner. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324915 | VERTICAL ICE MAKER PRODUCING CLEAR ICE PIECES - An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324916 | CLEAR ICE MAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice tray including a plurality of ice forming cavities extending into a fluid supply cavity. Fluid supplied to the fluid supply cavity flows into each of the plurality of ice forming cavities and out through respective fluid outlets located in a bottom portion of the ice forming cavities to a fluid outlet chamber below. Cooled ice forming members extend into respective ice forming cavities. Fluid is continuously cycled through the ice forming cavities and around the ice forming members during an ice making event such that clear ice pieces gradually form on each of the ice forming members. During an ice harvest event, ice forming members are heated to release formed ice pieces, and the ice pieces are transferred from a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator to an ice storage bucket located in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324917 | VERTICAL ICE MAKER WITH MICROCHANNEL EVAPORATOR - A clear ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with a bottom fluid chamber. During an ice making event, portions of an ice forming evaporator extending through the housing are exposed to water flowing into the fluid channels from the upper fluid chamber. The ice forming evaporator is formed with microchannels through which refrigerant flows such that water flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the exposed portions of the ice forming evaporator over time, forming clear ice pieces. In a harvesting operation, the ice pieces are released from the ice forming evaporator and transferred for storage and/or dispensing. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324918 | MULTI-EVAPORATOR REFRIGERATOR - A refrigeration system for a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, an icemaker in the fresh food compartment includes distinct freezer, fresh food and icemaker evaporators and associated valving operating in conjunction with a common compressor and condenser in order to effectively regulate temperatures in specified zones of the refrigerator throughout various operational modes including at least a freezer cooling mode, a fresh food cooling mode and an ice harvesting mode. The icemaker can be serially linked with the fresh food evaporator during cooling of the fresh food compartment, while being also being selectively isolated for the ice harvesting mode. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324919 | ICEMAKER WITH SWING TRAY - A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. | 12-27-2012 |
20140145006 | FLEXIBLE WICK AS WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM - A refrigerator with a main supply fluid tank and a secondary reservoir supplied with fluid from the main supply fluid tank, with secondary reservoir having a maximum, controlled height of fluid. The refrigerator has an atomizer with fluid from the secondary reservoir which discharges the fluid provided from the secondary reservoir in an atomized spray to at least a portion of the refrigerator, and a flexible wick between the secondary reservoir and the atomizer and in fluid communication with both the secondary reservoir and the atomizer. Additionally, the atomizer has a piezo element located in a piezo reservoir to hold fluid next to the piezo element, wherein the piezo reservoir is provided with fluid from the secondary reservoir via the flexible wick. | 05-29-2014 |
20140202196 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DOOR OF AN ICE DISPENSER CHUTE - An ice dispensing system is provided that includes a motor, a processor, and a computer-readable medium. The motor is mounted to an ice chute door. The computer-readable medium is operably coupled to the processor and comprises computer-readable instructions configured to control opening of the ice chute door by energizing the motor at a first voltage for a first time period after receipt of an ice dispense request; after energizing the motor at the first voltage for the first time period, control energizing of the motor at a second voltage at least as long as the ice dispense request is received to maintain the ice chute door in the open position; and after energizing the motor at the second voltage, control de-energizing of the motor to allow the ice chute door to return to a closed position. The second voltage is less than the first voltage. | 07-24-2014 |
20140238053 | VERTICAL ICE MAKER PRODUCING CLEAR ICE PIECES - An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140298828 | SECONDARY COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A REFRIGERATOR - The present invention provides a secondary cooling apparatus and method of providing cooling to one or more features in a refrigerator. In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop in the cabinet, and a second cooling loop cooled by the first cooling loop. The secondary cooling loop is adapted to cool the one or more features in the cabinet or on the door of the refrigerator. In another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator includes providing a first cooling loop within a refrigerator, cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly with the first cooling loop, and transferring cooling from the secondary cooling loop to the one or more features in the compartment or on the door of the refrigerator. | 10-09-2014 |