Whirlpool Corporation

Stephen G Williams

Ronald Wayne Guess

Lori A Cook

Greg A Bradley

Michael W Greenwood

David L Schwartz

Lori Ann Hagemeyer Cook

A low cost, flexible lighting apparatus and method is provided. A light source and at least one extruded optical fiber having a first end and a second end are provided. The first end is arranged so that light from the light source enters the first end and is transmitted through the optical fiber so that it exits the second end. The second end is arranged so as to illuminate an indicator with light transmitted from the light source via the extruded optical fiber. This arrangement is advantageously used in an appliance such as a refrigerator to illuminate the control panel dials with the optical fibers in a high quality, cost effective method.

Low cost flexible lighting method for appliances

A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. A baffle is positioned within the air passage and is positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage. A motor drives a cam which is coupled to the baffle such that rotation of the cam operates to selectively move the baffle to the open or closed position. A thermostat senses temperature within the fresh food compartment. First and second switches selectively energize the motor such that the baffle may be opened when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment requires cooling and closed when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment does not require cooling, respectively. The baffle of the present invention further includes a first plate having an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass, and a second plate movable relative to the first plate and including an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass. Both the second plate and first plate aperture includes chamfered edges for forming a sharp edge periphery on the facing plate surfaces such that frost build up on the baffle may be removed by the chamfered edges provided on the periphery of the apertures.

Air baffle for a refrigerator

A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator disposed in the first compartment, a compressor fluidly connected with the evaporator for moving refrigerant therethrough, and an evaporator fan for moving air over the evaporator. A first thermostat senses temperature within the first compartment and a second thermostat senses temperature within the second compartment. An evaporator fan and baffle control system is provided including a baffle disposed within the air passage and being positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage. A switch is operatively associated with the baffle for connecting the first thermostat and the evaporator fan in series with a power supply when the baffle is in the closed position and for further connecting the second thermostat and the evaporator fan in series with the power supply when the baffle is in the open position. The baffle control system includes a cam driven by a baffle motor wherein the cam is coupled to a baffle for moving the baffle between an open and closed position. A plurality of switches, operated by the cam, are provided for controlling the energization of the motor such that the baffle is opened when the fresh food compartment requires cooling and the baffle is closed when the fresh food compartment does not require cooling.

Evaporator fan control for a refrigerator

Plaques are formed on the sidewalls of the liner in a refrigerator to reduce thermally induced bowing of the cabinet. The plaques may consist of indentations in the liner, which in a preferred form are rectangular, or arrays of multiplanar indentations. The plaques provide increased surface area in the liner to permit thermal expansion without bowing, and also increase the structural rigidity of the liner to resist bowing. Thermal bowing is encountered where there are long unsupported wall surfaces and high temperature gradients across the wall. Therefore the plaques are very effective in the freezer compartment of a side-by-side refrigerator, where bowing can be severe in the absence of the disclosed corrective measure.

Method and apparatus for maunfacture of plastic refrigerator liners

A mullion assembly includes a mullion rail and hot gas tube for preventing condensation on the mullion of a refrigerator/freezer. The mullion rail is rollformed of steel and includes complementary channels for retaining refrigerator and freezer liners. One of the channels includes an additional formed portion to accept and positively retain a hot gas tube in surface contact with a rear surface of a front wall of the mullion rail to provide acceptable heat transfer from the tube to the steel along the entire length of the mullion rail.

Growing community of inventors

Ohio Township, IN, United States of America

Stephen G Williams