France/scott Fetzer Company

David R Whited

James D Edwards

Paul R Staples

A control circuit for supplying current from an electrical power source to a damper motor and an evaporator fan motor of a two compartment refrigeration unit. The control circuit includes a first and second thermostatic switches to regulate the temperature in respective first and second refrigeration compartments. The control circuit further includes a first mechanically actuated switch having a first common contact electrically connected to the damper motor. A first contact of the first switch connects the damper motor to the power source via the second thermostatic switch in response to a decrease in temperature in the second compartment. A second contact of the first switch connects the damper motor to the power source via the second thermostatic switch in response to an increase in temperature in the second compartment. The control circuit further has a second mechanically actuated switch with a second common contact connected to the evaporator fan motor. A first contact of the second switch connects the evaporator fan motor to the power source via the first thermostatic switch in response to an increase in temperature of the first compartment. A second contact in the second switch connects the power source to the evaporator fan motor via the second thermostatic switch in response to an increase in temperature of the second compartment.

Refrigerator damper door circuit

The drive train of an appliance timer includes a slip clutch formed of a triangular spring meshing with the outer flat surfaces of a hexagonal drive shaft. The slip clutch is incorporated into a drive pinion in the appliance timer drive train. Excessive torque causes the walls of the triangular spring to resiliently bend outward under rotational pressure from the drive shaft, permitting the drive shaft to rotate without rotating the drive pinion. When used in an icemaker, the slip provided by the clutch alleviates the need for an expensive, stallable motor.

Time switch with clutch mechanism and cam operated contacts

An improved icemaker having a number of features, including: a dual-activated feeler bar switch which combines the motion of two cams to operate a single switch; an adjustable-duration water fill switch which is closed by rotating a connector between two contacts; switches mounted to make wiping contact so as to clean the contact area; a combination deflector which not only deflects ice removed by the ejector from the ice mold, but also supports and lifts a feeler bar to determine whether the ice storage bin is full; a clutch mounted between the motor and ejector bar to permit slip therebetween so as to avoid stalling the motor as the ejector bar presses upon ice in the mold; a manual start button for starting the motor, simplifying installation; and an anti-back mechanism in the icemaker drive train to prevent an installer from damaging the icemaker by rotating it backwards.

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Brentwood, TN, United States of America

David R Whited