The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2016
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2013
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Robert Charles Beilfuss, Fisherville, KY (US);
Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing two energy level settings for a refrigerator hot water heater are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a refrigeration system that includes an evaporator. The refrigerator includes a defrost assembly for defrosting one or more of the evaporator or a freezer compartment. The refrigerator includes a water dispensing assembly that includes a heating element for heating a volume of water. The refrigerator includes a controller configured to operate the heating element at a first energy level when the defrost assembly is not operating and to operate the heating element at a second energy level when the defrost assembly is operating. An exemplary method includes detecting that the refrigerator is performing an energy critical task. The method includes enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by a heating element included in a water dispensing assembly of the refrigerator when the refrigerator is performing the energy critical task.