Maytag Corporation

William J Vestal, Ii

Sheldon Wayne Mandel

Robert Stephen Mercille

Robert L Wetekamp

Richard D Smith, Jr

Jane A Albert

A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A temperature sensor is mounted within the inner housing, with signals from the sensor being sent to a control unit used to regulate the operation of a damper for controlling the flow of cooling air into the food storage system and a fan for distributing the cooling air within the food storage system. The control system also operates the damper and fan based on signals indicative of the opening and closing of the receptacle, the opening and closing of a door associated with the fresh food compartment and also the overall operation of the refrigerator. The food storage system preferably includes a control panel for selecting a desired operating temperature within the food receptacle, with the control panel preferably including a display that provides operational information for the food storage system.

Refrigerator food storage temperature control system

A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A tunnel insert is positioned in a mullion zone defined between fresh food and freezer liners of the refrigerator, with the tunnel insert being formed with a through hole for directing the flow of cooling air into the food storage system, a channel for directing an exhaust flow of cooling air from the food storage system out of the fresh food compartment within the mullion zone and an enlarged opening defining a return air passage for the overall fresh food compartment. The tunnel insert, within the mullion zone, channels the exhaust air from the food storage system to the return air passage. The channel is preferably defined by four walls, three of which are created by a groove formed in the tunnel insert and the fourth wall being defined by a portion of the fresh food compartment liner which seats against the tunnel insert. An air inlet cover is provided to extend over supply air openings formed in a freezer liner of the refrigerator, with the inlet cover including forwardly angled louvers to assist in directing a flow of cooling air to the food storage system.

Air flow for refrigerator food storage system

A refrigerator crisper system includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air, generated by a fan mounted entirely within the enclosure, is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. The enclosure is formed with various vanes that direct the cooling air flow above, adjacent the sides and below the receptacle. In the most preferred form of the invention, a temperature sensor and a moisture permeable film are provided to further regulate the food storage environment established in the receptacle.

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Monmouth, IL, United States of America

William J Vestal, Ii