대표
청구항
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1. An appliance comprising: an appliance cabinet comprising at least one freezer compartment;at least one refrigerator compartment; anda cooling module set containing mullion adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment, wherein said cooling module set is configured to cool at least one of the at least one freezer compartment and the at least one refrigerator compartment using convective cooling, wherein the containing mullion comprises a cooling module set housing that ...
1. An appliance comprising: an appliance cabinet comprising at least one freezer compartment;at least one refrigerator compartment; anda cooling module set containing mullion adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment, wherein said cooling module set is configured to cool at least one of the at least one freezer compartment and the at least one refrigerator compartment using convective cooling, wherein the containing mullion comprises a cooling module set housing that comprises: a high pressure side comprising a condenser;a low pressure side fluidly connected to said high pressure side, said low pressure side comprising an evaporator;at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of said condenser and said evaporator; andan insulating panel forming at least a portion of said at least one housing, and separating said high pressure side from said low pressure side;wherein said cooling module set containing mullion is configured to operate in a plurality of orientations including at least both a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation without affecting the operation of the orientation flexible compressor. 2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator and wherein the cooling module set is configured to operate when positioned in approximately a vertical position in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to the normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees) (90°) (e.g., +/−90° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees) (180°) (e.g., +/−180° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately two hundred seventy degrees (270°) (e.g., +/−270° from an axis of origin), or a combination thereof. 3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein said orientation-flexible compressor is an oil-less compressor and wherein the cooling module set further comprises a condenser fan configured to move air across the condenser and an evaporator fan configured to move air across the evaporator and wherein both the condenser fan and the evaporator fan are within the cooling module set housing. 4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein said evaporator comprises an evaporator coil housing a plurality of V-shaped fins configured to have a contour allowing moisture to move across said contour and off of said fins when said cooling module set is in the plurality of orientations. 5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator and wherein said cooling module set is configured to operate when positioned at least one of approximately vertically in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to said normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees) (90°) about an x-axis, and rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees (180°) about a z-axis. 6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a mullion configured to define at least a portion of at least one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment, said mullion is further configured to be positioned and extend one of approximately vertical with respect to a normal operating position of the refrigerator and approximately horizontal with respect to a normal operating position of the refrigerator, wherein at least a portion of said low pressure side is integrated with said mullion. 7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said insulated panel defines a substantial portion of a wall section of at least one of said refrigerator compartment and said freezer compartment. 8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein said insulated wall section is substantially comprised of a vacuum panel insulated wall section. 9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said insulated panel defines a substantial portion of a door section of one of said refrigerator compartment and said freezer compartment. 10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said insulated panel is configured to insulate against heat gain from external conditions with respect to said low side. 11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one housing comprises first and second housings that are operably connected, and said first housing encloses at least the orientation-flexible compressor, the condenser, and a condenser fan, and said second housing encloses at least an evaporator coil, an evaporator fan, and a defroster device. 12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein said operable connection of said first and second housings is a rotatable connection. 13. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising the mullion configured as a structural member with a first integrated air conduit for supplying chilled air to one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment, and a second integrated air conduit for return air. 14. A appliance comprising: at least one freezer compartment;at least one refrigerator compartment; anda cooling module set adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment wherein said cooling module set comprises: a high pressure side comprising: an orientation-flexible compressor configured to be mounted in a plurality of orientations including at least both a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation without affecting the operation of the orientation-flexible compressor;a condenser fluidly connected with said orientation-flexible compressor; anda condenser fan;a low pressure side fluidly connected to said high pressure side, said low pressure side comprising: an evaporator comprising: a defroster device;an evaporator fan; andan evaporator coil that comprises a plurality of fins configured to have a contour allowing moisture to move across said contour and off of said fins when said cooling module set is in one of a plurality of orientations;at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of said orientation-flexible compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator; andan insulating panel forming at least a portion of said at least one housing, and substantially separating said high pressure side from said low pressure side, and configured to insulate against heat gain from external conditions with respect to said low pressure side; andwherein said cooling module set is configured to operate in said plurality of orientations based upon of said orientation-flexible compressor and said evaporator coil, said plurality of orientations comprising approximately vertically in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to said normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees (90°) about an x-axis, rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees (180°) about a z-axis. 15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein said insulated panel defines a substantial portion of a wall section of at least one of said refrigerator compartment and said freezer compartment. 16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein said insulated wall section is substantially comprised of a vacuum panel insulated wall section and wherein the plurality of fins are V-shaped and configured to allow frost on the fins to melt and drop from the fins and the evaporator coil by gravity. 17. The appliance of claim 14, wherein said at least one housing comprises first and second housings that are hingedly connected and wherein the cooling module set is configured to operate can be configured to operate when positioned in approximately a vertical position in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to the normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees (90°) (e.g., +/−90° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees (180°) (e.g., +/−180° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately two hundred seventy degrees (270°) (e.g., +/−270° from an axis of origin), or a combination thereof. 18. The appliance of claim 14 further comprising a mullion configured to be positioned and extend one of approximately vertical with respect to a normal operating position of the refrigerator and approximately horizontal with respect to a normal operating position of the refrigerator, wherein at least a portion of said low pressure side is integrated with said mullion, the mullion is further configured to define at least a portion of at least one of said freezer compartment and said refrigerator compartment. 19. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the orientation-flexible compressor is an oil-less, orientation-flexible compressor. 20. A cooling module set adapted to define at least a portion of at least one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment in a refrigerator, wherein said cooling module set comprises: a high pressure side comprising: an orientation-flexible compressor configured to be mounted in a plurality of orientations including at least both a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation without effecting the operation of the orientation-flexible compressor; anda condenser fluidly connected with said orientation-flexible compressor;a low pressure side fluidly connected to said high pressure side, said low pressure side comprising: an evaporator comprising: an evaporator fan; andan evaporator coil that comprises a plurality of V-shaped fins configured to have a contour allowing moisture to move across said contour and off of said fins when said cooling module set is in one of a plurality of orientations;at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of said orientation-flexible compressor, said condenser, said evaporator fan, and said evaporator coil; andan insulating panel forming at least a portion of said at least one housing, and substantially separating said high pressure side from said low pressure side; andwherein said cooling module set is configured to operate in said plurality of orientations based upon said orientation-flexible compressor and said evaporator coil, said plurality of orientations comprising approximately vertically in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to said normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees (90°) about an x-axis, and rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees (180°) about a z-axis. 21. The cooling module set of claim 20, wherein the orientation-flexible compressor is an oil-less, orientation-flexible compressor. 22. A method of producing an appliance comprising the steps of: forming an insulated appliance cabinet having an interior and an exterior defined by walls; andinstalling a cooling module set comprising: at least one cooling module set housing containing a low pressure side and a high pressure side capable of operation sufficient to allow the cooling module set to perform its cooling function within a plurality of orientations including at least when an orientation flexible compressor is oriented vertically or when the orientation flexible compressor is oriented horizontally without modification to the orientation flexible compressor, wherein the at least one cooling module set is installed such that the cooling module set housing forms at least one of the following structures chosen from the group consisting of: at least a portion of a vertical mullion within the interior and defining at least a portion of the appliance cabinet walls. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cooling module set further comprises an orientation-flexible compressor capable of operation in a plurality of orientations, without any modifications being made to the cooling modules set including when the cooling module set is horizontally position and when the cooling module set is positioned vertically wherein the low pressure side and the high pressure side are with a cooling module set housing and an insulating panel is positioned within the cooling module set housing and configured to insulate the low pressure side from the high pressure side. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the insulated cabinet further comprises at least one configuration access port that is operably connected to the at least one cooling module set housing to allow for the egress of heat from the cooling module set to the environment outside of the insulated appliance cabinet and wherein the cooling module set is configured to operate can be configured to operate when positioned in approximately a vertical position in parallel with a normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, approximately horizontally with respect to the normal operating orientation of the refrigerator, rotated approximately ninety degrees (90°) (e.g., +/−90° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees (180°) (e.g., +/−180° from an axis of origin), rotated approximately two hundred seventy degrees (270°) (e.g., +/−270° from an axis of origin), or a combination thereof. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the insulated appliance cabinet further comprises a plurality of configuration access ports that are each capable of operably connecting to the cooling module set to allow for the egress of heat from the cooling module set to the environment outside of the insulated appliance cabinet.
