Whirlpool Corporation

Stephen W Paddock

Ralph Tate

Andrew T Tershak

Donald E Knoop

Clarence C Clarke

A wiring structure for a refrigeration apparatus having a plurality of electrical components. A plurality of multiple terminal connectors each receive at least two of selected leads from various ones of the electrical components and are received in a terminal block having a plurality of side-by-side, elongated connection stations. A plurality of electrically separated busses in the terminal block extend linearly between various ones of the stations. Use of the structure minimizes assembly labor and prevents wiring errors.

Wiring for refrigeration apparatus

An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axle. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangment of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means. The assembled support and control mechanism may be removed as a unit from the mold to provide access to the mold heater and thermostat for facilitated replacement.

Ice maker assembly and method of assembly

An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axis. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangement of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means. The assembled support and control mechanism may be removed as a unit from the mold to provide access to the mold heater and thermostat for facilitated replacement.

A sensing and display system for a refrigerator includes a plurality of sensors which are sequentially monitored at a first rate in order to determine whether certain conditions in the refrigerator are within predetermined ranges. If the sensed conditions are within their ranges, a first plurality of visual indicators are sequentially energized at a second rate and a separate indicator is continuously energized to indicate normal operating conditions. If the system detects that one or more of the sensed conditions are not within their ranges, the first plurality of indicators and the separate indicator are de-energized, and one or more of a second plurality of indicators are energized to inform the user of the existence of one or more abnormal operating conditions. The system delays an abnormal condition indication, such as an overtemperature condition, until the condition has existed for a predetermined period of time. The system also provides separate and distinct indications for a presently existing overtemperature condition and a previous overtemperature condition which has since disappeared.

Electronic sensing and display system for a refrigerator

A temperature sensing means for a refrigeration apparatus including sensing means responsive to the temperature within a refrigerated space and to an ambient temperature condition for signalling the temperature condition of the refrigeration apparatus. In the disclosed embodiment, the sensing means is mounted in the access door of the refrigeration apparatus and the temperature sensors are mounted within a single housing. The sensor for sensing the ambient temperature is effectively insulated from the refrigerated space and senses the ambient temperature through a portion of the housing and door. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensing means is used to provide an ambient temperature compensated over-temperature alarm for the refrigeration apparatus.

Temperature sensing means for refrigerator

A door mounted electronic control assembly for a refrigeration apparatus, including a housing, an electronic circuit, structure for preventing the condensation of moisture on the circuit, and structure for mounting electrical components such as a temperature sensor for exposure to air within the refrigeration apparatus. The housing defines a heat retaining space in which the electronic circuit having heat generating components is disposed. Structure is provided to prevent heat from the heat retaining space from adversely affecting the operation of a temperature sensor that is carried on a spaced portion of the housing.

Door mounted electronic housing assembly for a refrigerator

A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a temperature sensing circuit which includes a thermistor located to sense the average temperature of the cabinet air and a potentiometer manually adjustable to a desired temperature set point. The temperature sensing circuit also includes a first comparator stage which indicates whether the average temperature of the cabinet air is above or below a first value, the first comparator having little or no hysteresis in its response so that small changes in temperature can be detected. A second comparator stage indicates whether a signal at its input is greater or less than a second value, the second comparator stage having substantial hysteresis in its response to provide high noise immunity. An integrator is interposed between the first comparator stage and the second comparator stage to further enhance noise suppression.

Temperature sensing circuit with high noise immunity

A refrigerator includes a compressor, an evaporator fan, a condensor fan and a defrost heater which are controlled by a defrost control system. The control senses the number and duration of freezer and fresh food compartment openings, the duration of the previous defrost operation, and the total accumulated compressor run time since the previous defrosting operation. A stored count is decremented by weighting functions which are adaptably varied in accordance with the number and duration of compartment door openings and the duration of the previous defrosting operation. When the stored count is decremented to zero, the defrosting operation may be initiated, unless inhibited. The defrosting operation is inhibited if the total accumulated compressor run time is less than a predetermined amount. The control is reset to a point just short of a defrosting operation if a power outage occurs.

Adaptive defrost control system

A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser fan, and an evaporator fan simultaneously energized by a temperature control system which includes a thermistor located to sense the average temperature of the cabinet air and a potentiometer manually adjustable to a desired temperature set point. The on or run time of the compressor and fans is controlled by the thermistor sensed temperature with respect to the set point. The duration of the run time is measured by a resettable counter. The off time is adaptively controlled within a predetermined range which minimizes energy consumption while maintaining good temperature control. An off time counter, which is used to determine the duration of the off cycle, is incremented when the measured run time is less than a desired minimum, is decremented when the measured run time is greater than a desired maximum, and maintains the prior off time when the measured run time is within a desired range.

Growing community of inventors

Knight Township, Vanderburgh County, IN, United States of America

Stephen W Paddock