Whirlpool Corporation

Jeremiah S Papke

Scott M Wesbrook

Kyle B Van Meter

Adam Gary

Raghu Muddasani

Keeley Michael Kabala

Axel Julio Ramm

Gerald S Szczech

Brian Grimm

Keeley Kabala

Geraldo Luiz Thomaz

A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment fluidly coupled to an ice maker compartment via an ice maker return duct. An internal sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and configured to sense a first condition within the freezer compartment. An external sensor is coupled to said refrigeration appliance and configured to sense a second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. A return fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct. A controller is operably coupled to the internal and external sensors to receive sensed first and second conditions. The controller is configured to determine a differential between the sensed first condition within the freezer compartment and the sensed second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. The controller activates the return fan to blow air from the ice maker compartment into the freezer compartment in response to the differential.

Refrigeration appliance fan

A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment. An ice maker return duct fluidly couples an ice maker compartment and the freezer compartment. A pressure sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and is configured to detect a pressure differential between the freezer compartment and an external environment. A fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct and is configured to be activated when the pressure within the freezer compartment is lower than the external environment.

An appliance includes a cabinet having first and second sidewalls and an interior mullion extending therebetween, wherein the first and second sidewalls and the interior mullion define a plurality of interior compartments. First and second stanchions define vertical structural members of the first and second sidewalls, respectively. The first stanchion includes a first medial flange that extends partially into the interior mullion. The first medial flange defines a first hinge attachment point, and a distal end of the first medial flange is positioned proximate a first hinge.

Structural stanchion for a cabinet of an appliance

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North Liberty, IA, United States of America

Jeremiah S Papke