Abstract: A refrigerator having a defrostable evaporator disposed in a food storage compartment wherein a drain system is provided for disposing of the defrost water dripping from the evaporator during a defrost operation. The drain system includes a drip tray disposed within the food storage compartment below the evaporator and an evaporator pan mounted below the food storage compartment. A drain tube is provided having a first end positioned below the drip tray for receiving the defrost water and having a second end positioned over the evaporator pan such that the drain tube drains the defrost water from the drip tray into the evaporator pan. The drain tube further includes a drain trap portion and a vent disposed upstream of the drain trap portion. The vent includes a valve for allowing air flow into the drain tube for equalizing the air pressure in the food storage compartment with the ambient air pressure but prevents air flow out of the drain tube such that no thermal leakage occurs through the drain tube.

Abstract: A defrost cycle controller for modifying the total length of time a compressor operates before a defrost cycle is initiated, wherein the time the compressor is on between defrost cycles is referred to herein as a frost accumulation period. A microprocessor includes means for deenergizing the compressor and coupling the defrost heater to a power supply when a continuous compressor run time exceeds a predetermined demand defrost time. The microprocessor further includes means for determining the time required to actually defrost the evaporator during a defrost operation, referred to herein as a defrost time, and means for modifying the frost accumulation period in response to the time to complete the defrost operation.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. A baffle is positioned within the air passage and is positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage. A motor drives a cam which is coupled to the baffle such that rotation of the cam operates to selectively move the baffle to the open or closed position. A thermostat senses temperature within the fresh food compartment. First and second switches selectively energize the motor such that the baffle may be opened when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment requires cooling and closed when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment does not require cooling, respectively.

Abstract: A device for controlling the operation of a household electrical appliance such as a washing machine, dish-washer, cooking hob, oven or the like including an electronic circuit arranged to control the operation of the electrical appliance in accordance with predetermined program steps selected via a selector. This selector is a knob connected to a position sensing element associated with the electronic circuit and arranged to generate an electrical signal (V.sub.A) on the basis of the angular position of the knob relative to an initial position or zero point. The electrical signal (V.sub.A) is used by the electronic circuit in known manner to execute a predetermine wash program or the like or to control the operation of the electrical appliance. The electronic circuit further controls an actuator for moving the knob, so that the knob is made to move during the execution of the selected operating program and hence display the progress of the program.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator disposed in the first compartment, a compressor fluidly connected with the evaporator for moving refrigerant therethrough, and an evaporator fan for moving air over the evaporator. A first thermostat senses temperature within the first compartment and a second thermostat senses temperature within the second compartment. An evaporator fan and baffle control system is provided including a baffle disposed within the air passage and being positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage.

Abstract: A manually adjustable support assembly for movably supporting an upper dishrack within a dishwasher. A plurality of support assemblies are provided for each dishrack and permit manual adjustments of the dishrack between predetermined vertically spaced positions. Each of the adjustable support assemblies comprise a housing for interconnection with the dishrack. A flex plate is disposed adjacent the housing and slidably interconnects with the housing. A wheel rotatably interconnects with the flex plate and is rotatably received into a track supported on the sidewall of the dishwasher tub. The flex plate includes a positioning rib which is received into one of a plurality of receiving slots formed into the housing. By flexing the flex plate, the positioning rib may be disengaged from one of the receiving slots and the flex plate moved longitudinally relative to the housing. By relaxing the flex plate, the positioning rib is engaged into the adjacent-most receiving slot.

Abstract: In an automatic washer, a system of automatically positioning and holding a cylindrical basket having an opening provided with door flaps within a tub having a tub access opening such that the basket doors and tub access opening are aligned for loading and unloading clothes to and from the basket. The basket includes a stop opening disposed on the periphery wall of the basket. A motor is drivingly connected to a pulley which is drivingly connected to the wash basket such that the wash basket may be rotated about its horizontal axis. A control shaft is provided rotatably supported by the tub and having a main portion disposed adjacent the basket and an end extending external of the tub. A holding arm is supported adjacent the basket by the main portion of the control rod such that rotation of the control shaft moves the holding arm into the outer surface of the wash basket for engagement with the stop opening for rotationally positioning and holding the wash basket.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance having at least two refrigeration compartments, each compartment having its own access door, is provided wherein there is a first evaporator for the first compartment, the first evaporator operating at a first pressure level and a second evaporator for the second compartment, the second evaporator operating at a pressure level higher than the first pressure level. There is a single condenser, a single compressor, a refrigerant circuit having a series of conduits with different flow control capabilities for providing a flow of refrigerant sequentially, that is, not simultaneously, to the first and second evaporators, the condenser and compressor, and various valves in the refrigerant circuit for directing refrigerant to a selected one of the evaporators from the condenser and for preventing a flow of refrigerant into the first evaporator when refrigerant is being directed into the second evaporator to cool the second compartment.

Abstract: An automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. A motor is selectively interconnected with the basket and bottom plate for rotating the basket and the bottom plate together and for wobbling the bottom plate relative to the wash basket while the basket is held stationary such that the clothes items are agitated within the wash basket. A controlled rotation device is provided for driving the bottom plate in a wobbling motion while rotating the bottom plate, at a reduced rate, within the bottom of the wash basket. In a second embodiment, the wobble plate is supported and constrained to be driven in a wobbling motion while experiencing no rotation within the basket.

Abstract: A system for automatically opening basket doors of an automatic washer. The automatic washer includes an enclosure having an opening provided with a lid hingedly connected to the enclosure for selectively covering the enclosure opening. An imperforate tub disposed within the enclosure surrounds a rotatable perforate wash basket having an opening for accessing the interior of the basket. A first door flap having an engagement opening and a second door flap having a catch portion extending therefrom are provided being hingedly mounted on opposite rims of the basket opening and being biased toward their open position and further being adapted to partially overlap one another in a closed position such that the catch portion engages the engagement opening for locking the first door flap and the second door flap in a closed position. A tab extends from the second door flap generally opposite the main portion of the second door flap beyond the hinged connection with the basket.

Abstract: A top-loading horizontal axis automatic washer with improved accessibility to the wash basket interior and improved operating convenience of the basket doors. The washer cabinet is provided with an access opening extending partially along the front surface and top surface of the washer cabinet, providing the operator with improved access to the basket interior through an aligned tub opening and basket opening. A lid is provided on the cabinet top for selectively opening and closing the access opening. First and second door flaps are provided on the back and front edges, respectively, of the basket opening, serving as doors for selectively opening or closing the basket opening. The second door flap has an arc length approximately one-third the size of the first door flap. Both flaps are arranged so that, when opened, they are out of the path of loading and unloading clothes items from the basket.

Abstract: A shipping support system for moveable articles within a refrigerator having an interior compartment containing a plurality of movable articles such as shelves and the like, wherein the packing support system includes a conformable bag containing expandable foam material. A shipping support is formed by dispensing the expandable foam into an open receiving end of the conformable bag and then the receiving end is sealed closed. Upon forming the shipping support, the conformable bag is secured to a door hingedly mounted to the refrigerator before the expandable foam has completely expanded and formed. Subsequently, the door is closed, capturing the conformable bag between the door and the moveable articles within the refrigerator. As the expandable foam expands, the conformable bag conforms to the configuration of the moveable articles such that the moveable articles are securely supported within the refrigerator cabinet.

Abstract: An electronic control mounting system for a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a freezer compartment is defined by a freezer liner, a fresh food compartment is defined by a fresh food liner and a partition wall is disposed between the compartments. A mounting plate is disposed between the freezer liner and fresh food liner within the partition wall and includes a mounting boss and a conduit boss. The conduit boss joins a first opening provided in the freezer liner and a second opening provided in the fresh food liner such that a channel is formed between the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A housing member, supporting a control printed circuit board (PC board), is secured to the bottom surface of the partition wall by attachment to the mounting boss provided on the mounting plate. The PC board further includes a first temperature sensor having a pair of extending electrical leads directly soldered or mounted onto the PC board.

Abstract: A motion control apparatus for stabilizing the motion of a dishrack mounted within a tub of a dishwasher such that yawing of the dishrack relative to the tub during movement of the dishrack in and out of the tub is prevented. The motion control apparatus includes a mounting mechanism for mounting the dishrack within the tub such that the dishrack is supported within the tub and allowed in and out movement within the tub. A torque shaft is rotatably interconnected with the mounting mechanism such that the torque shaft is disposed transversely within the tub, while gear wheels are rigidly interconnected with the torque shaft at the opposite ends of the torque shaft. Gear tracks are provided along a horizontal top inner surface of the tub corresponding to the gear wheels wherein the gear wheels are operatively meshed with the gear tracks during the in and out movement of the dishrack within the tub.

Abstract: A pulley system for an automatic washer wherein the automatic washer includes a wash basket rotatably disposed within a tub and a motor having a motor shaft for selectively rotating the wash basket about a horizontal axis. The pulley system is disposed between the motor and the basket for drivingly connecting the motor with the basket and includes a drive hub disposed external of the tub drivingly interconnected with the wash basket. A pulley having an inner surface slidably disposed about the outer diameter of the drive hub is provided such that the pulley may rotate a predetermined angular distance about the hub before drivingly engaging the drive hub for co-rotation. A trip arm is interconnected with the drive hub and the pulley and is adapted for selective partial extension beyond the outer periphery of the pulley in response to the direction of wash basket rotation. A belt is drivingly disposed about the motor shaft and the pulley for drivingly interconnecting the motor with the pulley.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a refrigeration appliance having a plurality of compartments in direct communication with a single evaporator wherein the evaporator operates at a plurality of different evaporating pressures for controlling temperature and humidity within each of the plurality of compartments. By controlling the temperature of the evaporator used for cooling a compartment, relative control of humidity within each compartment selected for operation at a temperature greater than substantially below freezing may be obtained. In this fashion, high humidity compartments operating at a freezing temperature may be provided as well as high humidity compartments operating at somewhat above freezing. Furthermore, all compartments, regardless of their selected temperature, may be operated at a relatively low humidity if desired.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the stationary tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket further includes a cylindrical outer wall having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outer wall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. An annular core member is disposed within the base of the plastic wash basket such that the base encapsules and interlocks with the annular core member. In addition, a hub member is disposed centrally in the annular core member and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for drivingly rotating said rotatable wash basket. The annular core member has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base is optimally configured to form a solid triangular radial cross-section for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket.

Abstract: A refrigerator door includes an outer metal shell having an outer rectangular panel connected to four inwardly turned side panels connected to an inwardly facing peripheral flange. An inner liner has a peripheral flange in registry with the outer door shell flange, a central wall and a pair of vertical, inwardly projecting sidewalls connecting the central wall to the liner flange. Each sidewall includes a scallop in the form of an inwardly opening notch at a select aligned longitudinal position of the inner liner. The central wall includes a transverse inwardly opening recess groove extending between the sidewalls at the select longitudinal position to provide an expansion joint to prevent bowing when an insulation cures in the space between the liner and the shell and when the refrigerator is in operation, thus cooling the door. Moreover, C-shaped beams in the door aid in providing strength to further prevent bowing.