Abstract: A two piece bin for mounting to a refrigerator door having a transparent container portion and surrounding collar portion welded thereto, the collar portion having a portion on a front side being tubular for a light weight yet sturdy structure. The bin having an indented width to interfit within the vertical columns of the refrigerator door and an outwardly extending portion abutting an exposed end face of the vertical columns, the tubular portion of the collar arranged around this outward portion to be abutted to the vertical columns.

Abstract: A suspension rod assembly for a resiliently supporting a moving system of a washing machine. The suspension rod assembly includes a rod having an upper end engaging a stationary support structure and a lower end. An end cap including a washer and an annular retainer is mounted to the lower end of the rod. A friction tube is disposed about the lower portion of the rod and has a flanged bottom edge captured between the annular retainer and the washer. The friction tube extends upwardly from the end cap about the rod and a tubular cup is provided about the friction tube. The cup includes a cylindrical wall forming an elongated annular cavity between the friction tube and the cylindrical wall. A compressible friction member is disposed within the elongated annular cavity and is radially compressed between the cylindrical wall and friction tube for frictionally engaging the friction tube.

Abstract: A container for a refrigerator in which the container comprises a pan having an access opening, which is covered by a door pivotally mounted to the pan. The pan is slidably mounted within the refrigerator in a conventional manner. The door has opposing fingers extending from the side edges thereof and a hook extending from the top edge thereof. As the pan is slid outwardly from the refrigerator, the fingers abut liner studs extending from the inner liner of the refrigerator to partially rotate the door from a closed position toward an open position. On the continued sliding of the pan, the hook abuts a sloped surface of the liner to continue the rotation of the door completely into the open position.

Abstract: The invention is a cooktop having a heating element that is locked in place and held in place by a biasing force to eliminate the rattle of the heating element during normal use and the dislodgement of the heating element during shipping. The heating element comprises a heating coil which is supported on a spider having multiple legs. The heating coils has two terminals which are connected to a receptacle block in the cooktop. The spider has a nose formed on the end of the legs. A biasing device is positioned between the cooktop and the heating coil, preferably a spring mounted to the electrical terminals and abutting the cooktop. The biasing device biases the nose of the spider into a keyway formed in the cooktop to wedge the nose into a locking position relative to the cooktop.

Abstract: An atmospheric burner is associated with a flame presence sensor and an electrical-discharge ignition device. It is fed via a flow rate control device. Both the ignition device and the flow rate control device are controlled by a microcontroller. A user interface enables the user to select the desired power by sending to the microcontroller a request for altering the flow rate and hence for altering the minimum power deliverable by the burner.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance and control system for efficiently operating the evaporator and condenser fan motors of the refrigeration appliance to reduce the total energy consumed by the appliance are disclosed. The control system operates to turn the evaporator fan motor on only after the evaporator has cooled to its operating temperature to avoid premature and inefficient use of the evaporator fan motor. The control system also permits the evaporator fan motor to continue running after the compressor is turned off to utilize the residual cooling capacity of the evaporator. In an embodiment, a secondary control system also operates to turn a condenser fan motor on only after the condenser reaches its operating temperature and operates to turn the condenser fan motor off only after the compressor is turned off and the condenser cools to a shutoff temperature below its operating temperature.

Abstract: A dishwasher pump and automatic purge system which includes a wash impeller supported for rotation within a pump chamber wherein the pump chamber has a main outlet and a sample outlet port. Wash liquid pumped out through the main outlet is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber. A soil collector receives wash liquid through the sample outlet port. The soil collector includes a filter screen for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil collector. Pressure within the soil collector is sensed by a pressure sensor. The soil collector is purged by a drain pump when the pressure within the soil accumulator exceeds a predetermined limit level such that soils are cleared from the collector and the filter screen. When the pressure within the soil accumulator is reduced to below the predetermined limit level, the drain pump is deenergized.

Abstract: A varying cross-sectional area capillary tube for a refrigeration system. The capillary tube comprises at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a cross-sectional area that is effectively smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second portion. By doing so, any contaminants contained in the refrigerant will deposit themselves within the second portion of the capillary tubes, but because of the increased cross-sectional area, will not clog the capillary tube.

Abstract: The invention is an electric range with a reversible electrical element. When the electric element is positioned in its non-reversed position, it can be used as a normal electric element for traditional cooking. When the reversible element is positioned in the reversed position, the electric element can be used as a slow cooker.

Abstract: An outer shell for a refrigerator a cabinet formed from a plurality of vertically arranged panels each having opposed vertical edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. A plurality of dovetail-like, linear joints interlock the vertical edges of the vertically arranged panels without requiring additional fasteners or welding. A top panel is interconnected with the top edges of the vertically arranged panels and a bottom panel is interconnected with the bottom edges of the vertically arranged panels. Each of the linear joints comprise a channel having a fan shaped cross-section provided along one edge of a panel and a connecting flange formed along the edge of a second adjacent panel wherein the connecting flange is received into the channel such that the first and second panels are interconnected. The outer shell is easily assembled by joining adjacent panels via the interlocking joints. Moreover, the joints provide strength to the outer shell and are well suited for use in insulation foaming.

Abstract: A room dehumidifier includes a closed refrigerant cycle apparatus with an evaporator coil inclined at 20 from vertical on an air inlet side of the dehumidifier, which also includes openings in the cabinetry to allow a substantial portion of inlet air to bypass the evaporator coil, a fan and orifice plate arranged downstream of the evaporator coil, bypass openings to draw air through the cabinet, and a condenser coil arranged vertically on an outlet side of said fan. The fan blows air through the condenser coil and out back side louvers of the cabinet. A drip bucket is located beneath the evaporator coils and a compressor is located beneath the condenser coils.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a middle fresh food compartment and a relatively large bottom freezer compartment arranged below the fresh food compartment and a relatively small freezer compartment arranged above the fresh food compartment. The bottom freezer compartment preferably supports a drawer including a frame and a removable bin. Cool air can be supplied to the compartments of the refrigerator by employing a two fan control system such that no electromechanical baffles are required. Alternatively, cool air can be directed to the compartments of the refrigerator by use of a baffle which requires only a single electromechanical device to control air flow into three different compartments. The baffle includes a main rotary damper which can be positioned to provide proportional amounts of chilled air to the three separate compartments based on the degree of cooling required.

Abstract: A thermal input system is provided for a dishwasher having an interior wash chamber receiving soiled dishes and wash liquid. A heater is disposed in a sump region of the wash chamber along with a wash pump which operates to recirculate wash liquid through out the wash chamber. A soil collection chamber receives a portion of recirculating wash liquid from the wash pump wherein soils entrained in the wash liquid are captured within the soil collection chamber. A pressure sensor senses fluid pressure within the soil collection chamber. Control means are provided for energizing the heater during a thermal hold period in response to the pressure within the soil collector exceeding a predetermined limit pressure. In particular, the control means operates to sequence the dishwasher through a predetermined period of operation but bypasses the thermal hold cycle when the pressure within the soil collector does not exceed the predetermined limit pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microwave oven having an oven cavity which is split into a movable cavity part (4) integrated into the oven door (2) and a stationary cavity part (5), sectioning the cavity when the oven door (2) is opened. The oven comprises a load carrier (6) supporting a food stuff or beverage being heated in the oven the load carrier (6) is provided in either of said cavity parts such that it protrudes from the same. Thereby access to a foodstuff or beverage in the oven is facilitated without requiring a displacement of the same.

Abstract: Method and microwave oven for controlled boiling of a foodpiece. The foodpiece is heated rapidly into reliable boiling by a supply of maximum microwave power, thereafter a desirable degree of boiling (H.sub.eb) is carried out during a predetermined boiling time (T.sub.b) while controlling the supplied microwave power level dependent on feed-back information (HUM) from a sensor. The boiling procedure is carried out fully automatically with consequently increased user security, decreased energy consumption and improved boiling quality.

Abstract: The invention is a dehumidifier comprising an adjustable float with a variable height cam surface that is in contact with the actuator of an interlock switch, which controls the supply of power to the refrigeration system of the dehumidifier. The float is rotatably mounted to the collection bucket of the dehumidifier and rotates as the bucket fills with liquid. At a sufficient amount of rotation, the cam surface will no longer be in contact with the actuator of the interlock switch, resulting in the removal of power from the refrigeration system. The float can be laterally adjusted so that a variable height cam surface is aligned with the actuator of the interlock switch to permit the user to vary the liquid level at which the interlock switch is activated to cut off power to the refrigeration system.

Abstract: The invention is an oven door construction and assembly in which the oven door construction and its part count are greatly reduced and simplified as is the method of assembly in the door. The door is assembled by placing interior door elements on an inner liner and using the hinges of the door to compressively mount the interior door elements to the liner to thereby eliminate a great number of fasteners typically used in this type of door construction.

Abstract: A silverware basket for use in a dishwashing machine, the basket having a bottom wall disposed along the basket bottom. The bottom wall being an offset grid type structure formed by a plurality of parallel longitudinal ribs extending lengthwise across the basket bottom in a first plane and a plurality of parallel, transverse ribs extending across the width of the basket bottom in second plane spaced a predetermined distance below and parallel to the first plane. A plurality of connecting ribs connect the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs at the projected intersection points between the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs. A plurality of projections extend from the transverse ribs downwardly away from the longitudinal ribs for providing drip off tips for the bottom wall. The plurality of projections align with the plurality of connecting ribs and each of the projections comprise a generally inverted frustoconical body having a fully radiused bottom tip.

Abstract: A plate and tube condenser for a refrigerating apparatus, the plate sized to encompass the entire bottom region of a refrigerating cabinet to structurally stiffen the cabinet, the plate serving as an extended heat transfer surface for a serpentine tube applied thereto either by fixation thereto. An air flow baffle is arranged to divide the plate into inlet air and outlet air sections both opening to a front of the cabinet behind the air grill. Perforations are applied through the plate on the inlet section to allow incoming air to pass both below and above the plate.

Abstract: A wash additive dispensing system for an automatic washer wherein the wash additive dispenser system includes a cup for receiving the additive, a tray pivotally supporting the cup for movement between an upright orientation for retaining the wash additive in the cup and a dumping orientation in which the additive in the cup is dispensed. The tray is disposed along the rear portion of an access opening provided in the cabinet enclosure and is slidable supported by a housing between a first position for adding wash additive to the cup and a second position for dispensing wash additive from the cup. When disposed in the second position, a handle portion of the tray forms part of the rear surface of the washer access opening.