Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator freezer having a water dispensing control including a measured fill mode of operation in which the water dispenser dispenses a predetermined amount of water and a manual fill mode of operation. The water dispensing control allows user selection of the units of measure, the type of container being filled and selection of the amount to be dispensed. A user display can display the selections and can display the amount dispensed in real time.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 4, 2004
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Ronald L. Voglewede, Marcus R. Fischer, Patrick J. Boarman, Daryl L. Harmon, Gary W. Wilson, Sr., Bradley L. Kicklighter
Abstract: A modular cabinet for a family of drawer appliances including an insulated liner defining a drawer space, a machine compartment, a wiring harness leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space, a passage leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space and an air passage leading from the machine compartment to the front of the cabinet and a drain leading from the liner space to the machine compartment. The family of drawer appliances can include refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, wine and warming drawers. A drawer can have two compartments and can be maintained at two temperatures. The drawers include an insulated front and a bin and can be slidably carried in the drawer space. The modular cabinet and control can be used for each member of the family of drawer appliances.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Douglas D. LeClear, Paul B. Allard, Karen J. Querfurth, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Michele W. Wilcox, Chad E. Lange
Abstract: A filter system for a wall mounted type microwave oven, which has an external enclosure surrounding an oven cavity. The external enclosure includes a bottom closure wall having a suction opening. The external enclosure also includes a top vent opening. An air exhaust path is formed between the external enclosure and the oven cavity wherein air drawn into the suction opening passes through the air exhaust path and is exhausted through the top vent opening. A first filter is provided on the suction side of the air exhaust path and a second filter may be provided on the exhaust side of the air exhaust path. In particular, the first filter may be provided adjacent the suction opening and a second filter may be provided adjacent the top vent opening, such that the first filter is provided at the inlet of the air exhaust path and the second filter is provided at the outlet of the air exhaust path.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Hakan Lundstrom, Per Törngren, Hans Lindgren, Alan D. Bengtson
Abstract: A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions such as in an unheated garage or outdoors on a deck or patio. The refrigerator is provided with a low ambient heater to add heat to the refrigerated space when ambient temperatures outside the refrigerator are low enough that items stored in the refrigerator could freeze. The low ambient heater is controlled by an ambient thermostat located to sense temperatures outside the refrigerator. The low ambient heater and ambient thermostat are connected in the refrigerator control so that the ambient heater can not be energized when the cooling system is operating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Brent A. Junge, Allan R. Steinkuhl, John R. Wisnoski, Ralph Tate, Jr., Marco Stura
Abstract: An appliance lift tool is provided which includes a cart having a frame includes a support platform having a horizontal orientation, a bottom frame, and a lift mechanism engaged between the support platform and the bottom frame to move the support platform toward and away from the bottom frame, while maintaining the support platform's horizontal orientation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 13, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Richard R. Blake, Jeffrey T. Russell, Charles L. Jones, Paul J. Gray, Jeffrey W. Fjelstul, Steven P. Hinrichs, Richard T. Lundy, Henry H. Wu
Abstract: An ice and water dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator positioned on a refrigerator compartment door. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin can have below 0° C. air provided to maintain the ice maker and ice cube storage bin below 0° C. Supply and return ducts can convey below 0° C. air to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin. The supply and return ducts can lead from the bottom freezer compartment or from an evaporator compartment. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin can be located in insulated sub-compartment to allow normal refrigerator compartment temperatures to be maintained in the above freezing refrigerator compartment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 13, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Jeffery J. Anselmino, Marcus R. Fischer, Tushar Kulkarni, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Frank W. Maglinger
Abstract: An ice making and dispensing system suitable for making and dispensing ice through the refrigerator compartment door of a bottom freezer refrigerator. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin are located in an insulated sub-compartment in the refrigerator compartment. The insulated sub-compartment is maintained below 0° C. for forming and storing ice cubes. The insulated sub-compartment can be positioned adjacent the freezer compartment and can be cooled by below 0° C. air from the freezer compartment or from an auxiliary evaporator.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Frank W. Maglinger, Nihat Cur, Marcus R. Fischer, Tushar Kulkarni, Jeffery J. Anselmino, Ronald L. Voglewede, James C. L. Guarino
Abstract: A refrigerator/freezer with an ice maker having an ice cube tray in which are formed multiple ice cube recesses. The ice cube tray is movable between a fill position and a harvest position. The ice cube tray has a composite construction comprising a base layer and a top layer, with the base layer being made of a flexible material and the top layer being made of a low friction material. The ice cubes are harvested by deflecting or deforming the ice cube recesses to expel the ice cube therefrom when the tray is moved into the harvest position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2007
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Ronald L. Voglewede, Jerry M. Visin, Douglas D. LeClear
Abstract: A refrigerator with a water treatment system including a head connecting a water supply to a water-using accessory. An end piece is provided for connecting a treatment cartridge to the head. The end piece comprises an inlet fitting having a cam that contacts a follower of a valve located in the head to open the valve when the end piece is mounted to the head and connects the treatment cartridge to the water treatment system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 25, 2003
Date of Patent:
December 12, 2006
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Alan Joseph Mitchell, Todd Lawrence Rose, Judd Dylan Olson, David James Emmons, John Paul Boros, Donald Stephen Bretl
Abstract: A refrigerator with an evaporator and at least one preservation compartment, in which the evaporator is formed from extendable spiral-wound tube of engineering polymer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 21, 2004
Date of Patent:
October 3, 2006
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Riccardo Soldinger, Enrica Monticelli, Roberta Bernasconi
Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having a variable speed compressor and at least two compartments (FR, FZ) cooled to respective temperatures and comprising sensor devices (TR, TZ) for generating control signal responsive to cooling demands of the respective compartments comprises the step of providing the control system with a signal indicative of the total cooling demand on the basis of the sum of each compartment cooling demand, such signal being used to drive the variable speed compressor according to said total cooling demand.
Abstract: A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid onto the dish rack to effect the cleaning of any dishes along the rack. The lid is mounted to the sink and is movable to selectively cover the open top of the bowl. A latch is provided to hold the lid in the closed position. The latch comprises a catch and a strike, with the strike having an integrated handle resulting in a small form factor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 3, 2002
Date of Patent:
August 15, 2006
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
John M. DeBoer, Larry D. Marks, Ryan K. Roth
Abstract: A refrigerator having a compressor and a control unit for selectively activating and deactivating the compressor in response to the temperature inside the refrigerator. The selective activation and deactivation of the compressor being carried out at predetermined cut-on and cut-off temperatures. The control unit being adapted to detect how the actual temperature inside the refrigerator increases above the cut-on value due to a special event, and to adjust the cut-off temperature of the refrigerator accordingly, in order to keep the temperature of stored food substantially constant.
Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a refrigerator housing having a compartment, this latter presenting side walls having brackets for at least one removable element for supporting products to be preserved and separating the compartment into separate zones, the compartment having a rear wall in correspondence with which an evaporator is present, in the rear wall there being provided a plurality of apertures disposed in overlying planes and communicating with the evaporator, an electronic circuit being provided for measuring the internal temperature of the compartment. The evaporator is located in correspondence with rear wall apertures of the compartment, on these latter there being disposed motor-driven fans, the fans being mutually independent to enable different independent temperatures to be created within the different compartment zones.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
April 25, 2006
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Daniela Dentella, Fabio Gastaldello, Marco Signa, Davide Braggion
Abstract: A domestic refrigerator or freezer has a food storage compartment delimited by insulated walls and by one or more access doors to the compartment. One or more walls or doors are provided with a metallic film, preferably a metallised polymeric film, capable of enhancing the performance of the refrigerator with regard to energy saving.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2002
Date of Patent:
February 21, 2006
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Luca Gamberoni, Jutta Ziermaier, Roberta Bernasconi