Whirlpool Corporation

Incor Systems, Inc.

Paul B Chesnut

Robert H Kraemer

Michael D Cooper

Jerry A Neas

Kenneth M Lee

A connector seal arrangement having particular adaptability for use within the insulation space between the inner wall and the cabinet wall of a household refrigerator and having a portion extending into the refrigerated space. The rear seal snaps into a watertight relationship with a recess defined at the end of the connector, whereas the front seal is disposed on an upstanding plate or flange extending from the mid-region of the connector. The inner seal is, typically, overmolded on the aforesaid plate and includes a skirt or boot in engagement with the inner surface of the inner wall of the refrigerator. Introduction of insulation presents a sealing relationship between the skirt or boot and the aforesaid inside wall surface. In order to achieve more versatility, the rear seal may include an opening presenting a fracturable membrane for the selective introduction of an electrical connector(s) depending upon total needs. In another invention form, the inner seal may be hand-fitted to a use position on the upstanding flange.

Connector seal arrangement

An automatic ice maker for household refrigerator/freezers includes a mold in which water is frozen to form ice cubes which are then ejected from the mold into an ice bin. An electric heater is provided to heat the mold after the water is frozen to release the cubes for ejection. Electrical power is provided through power leads to energize the heater when the ice is frozen; and the power is subsequently interrupted after the mold heats up to a predetermined level to release the ice cubes for ejection. A heat responsive fuse is positioned as a safety protection in-line in one of the power leads to interrupt electrical power to the heater upon the occurrence of an overtemperature condition to prevent damage to the ice maker and to the refrigerator/freezer.

Ice maker with overtemperature protection

An automatic ice maker structure having a water valve and rotary switch for controlling operation of the water valve. A manually adjustable switch contact structure is associated with the rotary switch for varying the time of operation of the water valve and thereby adjusting the size of ice bodies produced in the ice maker. The switch contact structure includes a support supporting the contact for reciprocal rectilinear positioning. The support has a thread engagement portion and a screw is provided having a shank threadedly engaging the portion of the support. A control knob is rotatively mounted on a wall of the housing of the control. The control knob is connected to a noncircular end portion of the screw for rotatively fixed, axially movable association therewith. The control knob is snap-fitted to the housing wall to engage the screw end. The control knob is rotatable over approximately 350.degree. to effect a corresponding range of rectilinear reciprocation of the contact.

Adjustable ice maker control

An analog indicator for indicating the upper level of compacted trash in a trash compactor container. The indicator provides an analog indication of the travel of the ram into the container during a compaction operation and, in the illustrated embodiment, displays a bar graph having a variable vertical extent corresponding to the ram travel, thereby indicating the upper level of the compacted trash in the container relative to a preselected maximum level at the time of a compaction operation. An actuating element is mounted to the ram for operating switches associated with a plurality of lamps providing the analog indication.

Apparatus for indicating level of compacted trash in trash compactor

In a refuse compactor wherein refuse in a disposable bag within a receptacle is compacted by a ram driven by a reversible electric motor, a 'full bag' indicator lamp is energized when the refuse compacted in the receptacle is at a predetermined level. The motor drives the ram downward into the receptacle to compact the refuse, and when the ram slows in response to the reactive load of the refuse, a centrifugal switch reverses the direction of the motor to return the ram to a rest position above the receptacle. The bag is diagnosed full to energize the indicator lamp if the ram is at a predetermined level in the receptacle when the motor reverses. The indicator lamp is controlled by a latching relay that requires only one pair of contacts to energize and latch on the lamp.

Full receptacle indicator for compactor

An indicator for use in a refuse compactor for effectively indicating the need for replacement of a refuse-treating material supply as a function of the normal depletion thereof. The indicator is controlled by a timer accumulating incremental time during each operation of the compaction ram and operates a signaling indicator when the accumulated time reaches a preselected value. The indicator may be used with any form of refuse-treating material apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the refuse-treating material apparatus is an aerosol spray can of deodorizing and sanitizing material removably mounted within the refuse compactor cabinet.

Method and apparatus for indicating need for replacement of

An upper portion of each power screw of a refuse compactor is covered by a protective sleeve to insulate the threads of the screw from refuse. The upper end of the sleeve is loosely retained to the ram to move longitudinally with the ram while yielding to any pivoting of the ram during its downstroke under load. The protective sleeve additionally tends to distribute lubrication along the threads of the power screw during cycling of the ram. A protective skirt mounted to the frame of the compactor insulates a lower portion of the power screw from refuse.

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Owensboro, KY, United States of America

Paul B Chesnut