Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet which defines a fresh food storage chamber, a frozen food storage chamber, and a variable food storage chamber positioned between the fresh food storage chamber and the frozen food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance includes a wall which at least partially defines the variable food storage chamber. The wall includes an outer surface facing an ambient environment around the refrigerator appliance and an inner surface positioned opposite the outer surface. The refrigerator appliance also includes insulation extending between the outer surface of the wall and the variable food storage chamber. The insulation includes a plurality of movable segments. The movable segments are movable between a first position and a second position. A thermal conductivity of the wall is greater when the movable segments are in the second position than when the movable segments are in the first position.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method for making clear ice utilizing an ice making appliance are provided herein. The ice making appliance may include a cabinet, an ice mold, a heating element, and a controller. The ice mold may be positioned within the freezer chamber and define a mold cavity. The heating element may be mounted within the ice mold in conductive thermal communication with the mold cavity. The controller may be configured to initiate an ice making operation. The ice making operation may include maintaining the freezer chamber below a first sub-freezing during an ice formation cycle subsequent to a volume of water being received within the mold cavity, and heating the ice mold during the ice formation cycle at the heating element as a portion of the volume of water freezes to a frozen volume.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold body with two rows of mold cavities defined in the mold body. The ice maker also includes an ejector assembly having a plurality of ejector pads corresponding to the mold cavities. The ejector pads are movable between a low position proximate to the floor of a corresponding mold cavity and a high position proximate the opening of each corresponding mold cavity. The ejector pads are operable to eject ice from the mold cavities when the ejector assembly moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: An inventory system for a refrigerator appliance includes an inventory plate which is operably coupled to a load cell and positioned within a chilled chamber. The inventory plate may be a fixed shelf or a portable coaster on which food items may be placed. A controller is configured for monitoring a weight of the food items over time using the load cell and/or a moisture content using a moisture sensor and providing an indication of food quality based at least in part on the weight and/or moisture content of the food items.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and an arc-resistant heating assembly are provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a sealed system, and an electrical heater. The electrical heater may include a resistive element, a sheath, a thermally conductive electrical insulation, and an internal insulator. The sheath may be disposed about the resistive element from a first end portion to a second end portion. The thermally conductive electrical insulation may be radially positioned between the resistive element and the sheath. The internal insulator may be radially positioned between the resistive element and the thermally conductive electrical insulation.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance with a freezer chamber divided into multiple compartments and features for selectively adjusting the temperature within one of the compartments while maintaining the temperature within the other compartment(s). The refrigerator can include evaporator including a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section, the first evaporator section positioned in a first evaporator chamber and the second evaporator section positioned in a second evaporator chamber. An evaporator shutoff valve is positioned along at least one of the first or second evaporator sections for selectively allowing fluid communication therebetween.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber including a fresh food portion a freezer portion. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. The door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses the fresh food portion and the freezer portion of the chilled chamber and an open position to permit access to the fresh food portion and the freezer portion of the chilled chamber. The door also includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall that defines a freezer chamber and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the freezer chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes drawer assembly for a chilled chamber of the appliance. The drawer assembly includes a storage bin positioned within the chilled chamber and one or more adjustable dividers slidably mounted within the storage bin. The adjustable dividers include a top support arm, a window that acts as a light guide or diffuser, and a light source mounted to the adjustable divider for illuminating the storage bin. The drawer assembly further includes a power supply, such as a bus bar assembly having parallel positive and negative strip terminals that remain connected with spring terminals on the adjustable dividers to ensure the light source remains illuminated when the adjustable dividers are moved within the storage bin.

Abstract: A beverage container is provided herein. The beverage container may include a container body, a thermo-electric heat exchanger, and a conduction pipe. The container body may include an inner shell, a conduction wall, and a plurality of fins. The inner shell may define a fluid cavity. The conduction wall may be spaced apart from the fluid cavity outward along a radial direction. The plurality of fins may extend radially outward from the conduction wall. The thermo-electric heat exchanger may be mounted within the container body in thermal communication with the fluid cavity. The conduction pipe may extend from the thermo-electric heat exchanger within the container body. At least a portion of the conduction pipe may be positioned between the inner shell and the plurality of fins along the radial direction.

Abstract: An ejector for a sealed system includes a motive liquid passage with a converging section, a throat and a diverging section. The throat of the motive liquid passage is disposed between the converging section of the motive liquid passage and the diverging section of the motive liquid passage. The ejector also includes a plurality of nucleation sites at the converging section of the motive liquid passage.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold cavity. The mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. A first arm and a second arm are connected to opposite sides of an ejector pad and extend upward from the ejector pad. The ejector pad is movable via the first and second arms between a low position and a high position and can eject ice from the mold cavity when the ejector pad moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a drawer assembly is included herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, as well as a door attached to the cabinet movable between a closed position and an open position. The drawer assembly may be disposed within the chilled chamber. Moreover, the drawer assembly may include a drawer frame and a forward panel, as described herein.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold cavity. The mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. A first arm and a second arm are connected to opposite sides of an ejector pad and extend upward from the ejector pad. The ejector pad is movable via the first and second arms between a low position and a high position and can eject ice from the mold cavity when the ejector pad moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber below the fresh food chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes an ice maker disposed within the cabinet outside of the freezer chamber and proximate to the fresh food chamber. The ice maker is in thermal communication with a freezer evaporator via a fan, a supply duct, and a return duct. The ice maker includes a harvest heater and the freezer evaporator is deactivated while the harvest heater is active.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a plurality of fingers extending into a tub. A manifold has a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets is positioned below the plurality of fingers within the tub. A multi-speed pump is operable to flow liquid water from a reservoir to the manifold such that the liquid water exits the manifold at each outlet of the plurality of outlets and flows upwardly towards the plurality of fingers. A controller is configured for changing a speed of the multi-speed pump during an ice making cycle of the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided including a freezer chamber divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a removable mullion. A refrigeration system includes a single evaporator coil having a first evaporator section in series with a second evaporator section. The first evaporator section is positioned in the first freezer compartment to maintain the temperature in that compartment at a fixed, low temperature (e.g., 0° F.). The second evaporator section is positioned in the second freezer compartment which is a “convertible” compartment capable of maintaining temperatures between the freezer and fresh food compartment temperatures (e.g., between about 0° F. and 37° F.).

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet which defines a fresh food storage chamber, a frozen food storage chamber, and a variable food storage chamber positioned between the fresh food storage chamber and the frozen food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance includes a wall which at least partially defines the variable food storage chamber. The wall includes an outer surface facing an ambient environment around the refrigerator appliance and an inner surface positioned opposite the outer surface. The refrigerator appliance also includes insulation extending between the outer surface of the wall and the variable food storage chamber. The insulation includes a plurality of movable segments. The movable segments are movable between a first position and a second position. A thermal conductivity of the wall is greater when the movable segments are in the second position than when the movable segments are in the first position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a drawer assembly is included herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, as well as a door attached to the cabinet movable between a closed position and an open position. The drawer assembly may be disposed within the chilled chamber. Moreover, the drawer assembly may include a drawer frame and a forward panel, as described herein.

Abstract: A refrigeration heating assembly and method of operation are generally provided herein. The heating assembly may include an inner glass tube, a resistive heating element, an outer glass tube, a first end cap, a second end cap, and a sensor assembly. The inner glass tube may include a continuous inner wall defining a central passage. The resistive heating element may be disposed within the central passage. The outer glass tube may include a continuous outer wall disposed about the inner glass tube. A radial gap may be defined between the glass tubes. The first end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a first end. The second end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a second end. The sensor assembly may be disposed in fluid communication with the radial gap.