Moisture control system for an appliance and method for controlling moisture within an appliance
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-017/06
F25D-017/08
F25D-017/04
출원번호
US-0686963
(2015-04-15)
등록번호
US-9625203
(2017-04-18)
발명자
/ 주소
Kuehl, Steven J.
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
19
초록▼
A moisture control system includes a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments and openings within the mullion to provide selective communication between the compartments. An evaporator is disposed in the first compartment. A cooling bank is disposed in the second compartment i
A moisture control system includes a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments and openings within the mullion to provide selective communication between the compartments. An evaporator is disposed in the first compartment. A cooling bank is disposed in the second compartment in selective thermal communication with the evaporator, and includes cooling and condensing portions separated by a dividing member, and a fluid collector disposed proximate the condensing portion. A first cooling fan is disposed proximate the evaporator and configured to direct air across the evaporator and through the first compartment. A second cooling fan is disposed proximate the cooling bank and operable between an evaporator position in fluid communication with the evaporator and the cooling bank, and a bank position in fluid communication with the cooling bank. A panel assembly is disposed proximate the plurality of openings and operable between a plurality of positions.
대표청구항▼
1. A moisture control system for an appliance comprising: a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments of an interior of the cabinet and at least one opening defined within the mullion configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first and second compartments;
1. A moisture control system for an appliance comprising: a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments of an interior of the cabinet and at least one opening defined within the mullion configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first and second compartments;an evaporator disposed in the first compartment proximate the at least one opening, wherein the evaporator is in thermal communication with a refrigeration system;a cooling bank disposed in the second compartment proximate the at least one opening and configured to be in selective thermal communication with the evaporator;a first cooling fan disposed proximate the evaporator and configured to direct air across the evaporator to circulate chilled air within the first compartment when air is selectively and independently circulated in each of the first and second compartments; anda second cooling fan disposed proximate the cooling bank and the at least one opening of the mullion, wherein the second cooling fan is operable between a first state and a second state, wherein the second cooling fan is in fluid communication with the evaporator and the cooling bank in the first state, and wherein the second cooling fan is in fluid communication with the cooling bank in the second state. 2. The moisture control system of claim 1, wherein the second cooling fan is configured to direct air through a cooling portion of the cooling bank when air is circulated independently within the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the second cooling fan is further configured to direct air proximate a fluid collector pan disposed proximate a condensing portion of the cooling bank, wherein moisture is transferred to the air independently circulated within the second compartment. 3. The moisture control system of claim 1, wherein the cooling bank includes a plurality of cooling fins, and wherein a dividing member of the cooling bank divides the plurality of cooling fins into a cooling portion and a condensing portion. 4. The moisture control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening includes a cooling opening, and wherein a movable panel assembly is disposed proximate the cooling opening and the first and second cooling fans, wherein the movable panel assembly is operable between at least two positions to further define the first and second states, and wherein the first state is partially defined by the movable panel assembly disposed in an open position, wherein the second cooling fan moves air across the evaporator from the second compartment through the cooling opening and into the second compartment, wherein cooling from the evaporator is at least partially transferred from the evaporator to the cooling bank, and wherein the movable panel assembly is operable between the open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position at least partially defines the second state. 5. The moisture control system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator and the cooling bank are disposed within a housing proximate an upper portion of the cabinet, wherein a cooling portion of the cooling bank is disposed within a cooling channel extending from the second cooling fan to a cooling outlet, wherein air is circulated through the cooling channel and through the cooling portion when air is selectively and independently circulated in the first and second compartments. 6. The moisture control system of claim 4, wherein the at least one opening includes a return opening disposed proximate a condensing portion of the cooling bank, wherein the condensing portion is disposed within a condensate channel extending from the return opening to a condensate intake, wherein air is circulated from the second compartment through the condensate intake, across the condensing portion and through the return opening into the first compartment when the movable panel assembly is disposed in the open position, and wherein air circulated through the condensing portion when the movable panel assembly is in the open position is at least partially cooled and at least partially dehumidified. 7. The moisture control system of claim 4, wherein the movable panel assembly includes a plurality of operable panels including an evaporator panel disposed proximate the evaporator, a cooling panel disposed proximate the second cooling fan, and a return panel disposed proximate the at least one opening wherein the plurality of operable panels are in operable communication to at least partially define the first and second states. 8. The moisture control system of claim 7, wherein the cooling panel is disposed proximate the second cooling fan and in operable communication with the second cooling fan, wherein the open position of the cooling panel defines an evaporator position of the second cooling fan, and the closed position of the cooling panel defines a bank position of the second cooling fan. 9. A moisture control system for an appliance, the moisture control system comprising: a housing configured to be disposed within an appliance, wherein the housing includes an evaporator portion, and a cooling bank portion and a mullion wall separating the evaporator portion from the cooling bank portion, the mullion wall including at least one opening;an evaporator disposed proximate the evaporator portion of the housing proximate the at least one opening;a cooling bank disposed proximate the cooling bank portion of the housing proximate the at least one opening and configured to be in selective thermal communication with the evaporator;a first cooling fan disposed proximate the evaporator and configured to direct air across the evaporator to circulate cooling within only a first location when the at least one opening is in a closed position;a second cooling fan disposed proximate the cooling bank, wherein the second cooling fan is operable between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state is defined by the second cooling fan selectively disposed proximate the at least one opening and in fluid communication with the evaporator and the cooling bank, and wherein the second state is defined by the second cooling fan selectively disposed distal from the at least one opening and in fluid communication with the cooling bank; anda movable panel assembly disposed within the housing proximate the at least one opening and the first and second cooling fans wherein the movable panel assembly is operable relative to the at least one opening between at least two positions to further define the first and second states. 10. The moisture control system of claim 9, wherein the cooling bank is divided into a cooling portion and a condensing portion, and wherein the second cooling fan is configured to direct air through the cooling portion. 11. The moisture control system of claim 10, wherein the cooling bank further includes a plurality of cooling fins, wherein the cooling portion is disposed above the condensing portion. 12. The moisture control system of claim 11, wherein the evaporator and the cooling bank are configured to be in thermal communication when the movable panel assembly is disposed in an open position, and wherein the second cooling fan is disposed in the first state to draw air across the evaporator through the at least one opening in the mullion wall, wherein cooling from the evaporator is at least partially transferred from the evaporator to the cooling bank. 13. The moisture control system of claim 12, wherein the cooling portion of the cooling bank is disposed within a cooling channel of the housing extending from the second cooling fan to a cooling outlet, wherein air is circulated through the cooling channel and through the cooling portion when the second cooling fan is in the second state. 14. The moisture control system of claim 13, wherein the condensing portion is disposed within a condensate channel of the housing extending from a return opening of the at least one opening to a condensate intake, wherein air is circulated through the condensate intake, across the condensing portion and through the return opening when the movable panel assembly is disposed in the open position, and wherein air circulated through the condensing portion when the movable panel assembly is in the open position is at least partially cooled and at least partially dehumidified, wherein condensate is gravity fed into a fluid collector pan. 15. The moisture control system of claim 9, wherein the movable panel assembly includes a plurality of operable panels including an evaporator panel disposed proximate the evaporator, a cooling panel disposed proximate the second cooling fan, and a return panel disposed proximate the at least one opening, wherein the plurality of operable panels are in operable communication to define an open position, wherein the evaporator is in thermal communication with the cooling bank, and a closed position. 16. The moisture control system of claim 10, wherein the cooling bank includes a dividing member that physically divides the cooling bank into the cooling portion and the condensing portion. 17. A method for controlling moisture levels within an appliance comprising steps of: providing a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments of an interior of the cabinet, and at least one opening defined within the mullion configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first and second compartments;providing an evaporator disposed in the first compartment proximate the at least one opening, wherein the evaporator is in fluid communication with a coolant fluid;providing a cooling bank disposed in the second compartment proximate the at least one opening and configured to be in selective thermal communication with the evaporator;providing a first cooling fan disposed proximate the evaporator;providing a second cooling fan disposed proximate the cooling bank and the at least one opening;operating the second cooling fan between a first state, wherein the second cooling fan is in fluid communication with the evaporator and the cooling bank, and a second state, wherein the second cooling fan is in fluid communication with the cooling bank;disposing a movable panel assembly proximate the at least one opening and the first and second cooling fans wherein the movable panel assembly is operable between a plurality of positions; andselectively operating the movable panel assembly between an open position and a closed position. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: selectively operating the first cooling fan to circulate air within the first compartment when the movable panel assembly is disposed in the closed position, wherein the second cooling fan is disposed in the second state and air is circulated independently within the first compartment and the second compartment. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: selectively disposing the movable panel assembly to the open position wherein the evaporator and the cooling bank are in thermal communication and air is substantially circulated through the first and second compartments collectively, and wherein cooling from the evaporator is selectively transferred from the evaporator to the cooling bank. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising steps of: providing a fluid collector proximate the cooling bank and configured to receive moisture from the cooling bank;selectively transferring moisture from the fluid collector to the air being independently circulated through the second compartment, wherein the second cooling fan is configured to direct air proximate the fluid collector, and wherein the second cooling fan includes a predetermined moisture-delivery speed.
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