Whirlpool Corporation

Luiz Antonio D Lopes

Nihat O Cur

Guolian Wu

Steven John Kuehl

Alberto Regio Gomes

Andrew David Litch

Lorraine Joan Westlake

Luciana Wasnievski Da Silva

John J Vonderhaar

John Richard Wisnoski

A refrigerator is provided that includes at least one freezer compartment and at least one refrigerator compartment, wherein the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are defined by a plurality of interior surfaces. The refrigerator further includes a cooling module set (CMS) removably attached to at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces, wherein the CMS is configured to operate in any orientation of a plurality of orientations, and the CMS is further configured to be repositionable with respect to the plurality of interior surfaces to alter a shape of at least one of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

Universal and flexible cooling module set (CMS) configuration and architecture

A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating coolant. The ice making system includes a cold air loop including a plurality of fins to cool ambient air adjacent the cold air loop in the ice making system. The cooled air is passed by a fan assembly through a supply duct into an ice storage container or compartment to cool the area within the ice storage compartment, thus preventing ice cubes in the compartment from melting. The ice making system also includes a return duct for directing warm air from the ice storage compartment to the cold air loop for re-cooling and recirculation. The cold air loop may generally be a heat exchange zone for cooling the ambient air.

Direct contact icemaker with finned air cooling capacity

A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating liquid coolant. The ice making system includes a coolant loop and an air flow chamber on a portion of the loop. The air flow chamber includes channels formed by offset protrusions, which direct air back and forth over the portion of the cooling loop to cool ambient air within the ice making system. The cooled air is then directed by a fan and supply duct to an ice storage container to prevent ice cubes in the container from melting. Once the air has warmed in the container, it is directed by a return duct to the beginning of the air flow chamber to begin the process over once again, thus creating a recirculation of air within a refrigerator system to cool an ice storage container.

Direct contact icemaker with chambered air cooling system

An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vertical mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.

Higher efficiency appliance employing thermal load shifting in refrigerators having vertical mullion

A refrigerator is provided that includes a CMS adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, where the CMS has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The high pressure side includes an orientation-flexible compressor and a condenser fluidly connected with the orientation-flexible compressor. The low pressure side is fluidly connected to the high pressure side and includes an evaporator. The CMS also includes at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of the orientation-flexible compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The CMS further includes an insulating panel forming at least a portion of the at least one housing, and substantially separating the high pressure side from the low pressure side. The CMS is typically configured to operate in a plurality of orientations based upon the orientation-flexible compressor.

Flexible cooling system integration for multiple platforms

A refrigerator includes a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall that are permanently attached to define a cabinet. The cabinet includes an interior liner and an exterior wrapper. A door is pivotally connected with the cabinet and includes an interior liner and an exterior wrapper. A pocket is disposed in at least one of the rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top wall, bottom wall, and door between the interior liner and the exterior wrapper. The pocket includes an access opening disposed at an edge of one of the rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top wall, and bottom wall. A removable insulation panel is disposed in the pocket.

Insulation panels applied to or as a feature module

An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a horizontal mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.

Growing community of inventors

Peachtree City, GA, United States of America

Luiz Antonio D Lopes