Patents Represented by Attorney Steven C. Schnedler
  • Patent number: 4043432
    Abstract: An offset center of gravity type vibration damper for dampening vibrations of the exhaust gas conduit of a refrigerant compressor. The damper comprises an annular body of elastomeric material sized for encircling a portion of the conduit intermediate the ends thereof, and a unitary element having clamping and mass portions. The clamping portion is generally cylindrical and clamps about the elastomeric body. The mass portion is longitudinally extended and semi-cylindrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Owen H. Scheldorf
  • Patent number: 4035787
    Abstract: Food temperature responsive apparatus for controlling an oven. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing thermistor which may be included in a probe adapted for insertion into food being cooked in an oven. The apparatus includes simplified and effective means, in the form of voltage dividers and comparators, for performing the functions of de-energizing the oven heating means and energizing an audible alarm when interior food temperature reaches a preset temperature, protecting against an open-circuited or a short-circuited condition in a sensing circuit which includes the thermistor, guarding against responding to transient electrical noise, and latching the oven heating means in a de-energized condition once it has been de-energized. Even though the thermistor has a non-linear resistance versus temperature characteristic, the apparatus provides a linear temperature presetting scale and includes a linear temperature presetting potentiometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Hornung
  • Patent number: 4017702
    Abstract: Apparatus for varying microwave power level is included in a microwave oven. The microwave oven includes a magnetron for producing microwaves used for heating and a half-wave voltage doubler for supplying half-wave pulsating DC voltage to the magnetron. In order to vary voltage and thus power output of the magnetron, the charging of the capacitor in the half-wave voltage doubler is controlled by a variable resistance connected in series with the rectifier in the otherwise conventional half-wave voltage doubler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry R. Harmon, Donald J. Simon
  • Patent number: 4015442
    Abstract: A household refrigerator having a door and a cooling compartment has a heat exchange transfer medium circulatory system associated with the door. The circulatory system has a probe extending into the cooling compartment in the closed position of the door and a serpentine portion positioned within the door and extending along an inner wall of the door. The circulatory system is a closed system that is movable with the door and contains a heat transfer medium for cooling the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frank A. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 4009591
    Abstract: A single evaporator, single fan combination refrigerator includes a temperature control system which thermostatically maintains the fresh food compartment at a desired temperature by cycling the refrigerator system on and off as required, and which controls freezer compartment temperature by varying airflow through a duct conducting refrigerated air from the evaporator chamber to the fresh food compartment. Variable airflow control apparatus comprising a mechanical summer operating an air valve varies airflow through the duct as a function of the settings of both the fresh food control and the freezer control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William F. Hester
  • Patent number: 4009590
    Abstract: A single evaporator, single fan combination refrigerator includes a temperature control system which thermostatically maintains the fresh food compartment at a desired temperature by cycling the refrigeration system on and off as required, and which controls freezer compartment temperature by varying the airflow through a duct conducting refrigerated air from the evaporator chamber to the fresh food compartment. In order to compensate for variations in freezer compartment temperature which would otherwise result when the setting of the fresh food control is changed, the airflow through the duct is varied as a funtion of the setting of the fresh food control, as well as of the freezer control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William M. Webb, William F. Hester
  • Patent number: 4009589
    Abstract: A single evaporator, single fan combination refrigerator includes a temperature control system which thermostatically maintains the fresh food compartment at a desired temperature by cycling the refrigerator system on and off as required, and which controls freezer compartment temperature by varying airfow through a pair of ducts conducting refrigerated air from the evaporator chamber to the fresh food compartment. The freezer control operates a pair of main dampers disposed in the ducts. In order to compensate for variations in freezer compartment temperature which would otherwise result when the setting of the thermostatic fresh food control is changed, a pair of compensating dampers are also disposed in the ducts and operatively connected to the fresh food control for ganged operation with the thermostatic control. The dampers are constructed to only partially block airflow when in the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William M. Webb, Stephen G. Boughton
  • Patent number: 4008579
    Abstract: A heat pipe for controlling the temperature of a refrigeration system of a refrigerator is of a general "U" configuration. A means is provided within the heat pipe to terminate the passage of gas and/or liquid through the heat pipe when the ambient temperature of the second end of the heat pipe is greater than the temperature of the portion of the refrigerator contacting the first end of the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Julius B. Horvay
  • Patent number: 4003214
    Abstract: An automatic ice maker includes a heat pipe in the form of a sealed tube containing a refrigerant which extends from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment of a household refrigerator. Positioned within the heat pipe and located intermediate the freezer and fresh food compartment is a valve preferably in the form of a steel ball which is periodically unseated from an annular valve seat by a rotating magnet actuator mechanism. The portion of the heat pipe within the fresh food compartment is positioned within a water reservoir and is also insulated but for an ice-making surface thereof. When the check valve of the heat pipe is open, heat transfer thereto to the freezer compartment is enhanced to cause a clear ice cube to be formed on the uninsulated ice-making surface of the submersed heat pipe. When the check valve closes, the heat of the surrounding water will harvest the ice cube by releasing same to float to the top of the reservoir for collection and storage by conventional means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frank A. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 3991615
    Abstract: A food temperature-sensing probe assembly for monitoring the internal temperature of food while it is being cooked in a microwave oven includes a disc-like reflector mounted at a fixed position on the probe housing a predetermined distance from the tip of the probe housing. The probe housing is adapted to be driven into the food so that the reflector is adjacent to, but spaced from, the food. The reflector serves to prevent overcooking of the food in a region immediately adjacent the probe. An indicator on the probe housing shows the minimum recommended insertion depth of the probe into the food, and therefore the maximum reflector-to-food spacing, for effective shielding. The reflector and the handle may be formed as a single assembly held together by insert molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Hornung
  • Patent number: 3990262
    Abstract: A natural draft refrigerator includes a condenser holding element which permits the condenser to move between a shipping and storage position, in which the condenser is held closely adjacent the outer rear wall of the refrigerator, and an in-use position, in which the condenser is spaced from the refrigerator rear wall. The refrigerator, therefore, occupies less space during shipping and storage than when in use. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding element includes means for biasing the condenser toward the in-use position and the condenser is releasably held in the shipping and storage position by tape so that, upon installation, the installer simply cuts or removes the shipping tape and the condenser automatically moves rearwardly toward the in-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 3988929
    Abstract: A disc-like reflector, in addition to preventing excessive cooking of the food in a region immediately adjacent the probe housing, functions as a spring to hold the handle and reflector assembly together. The assembly remains tightly together despite different coefficients of thermal expansion of the various component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James A. White, Richard E. Hornung
  • Patent number: 3988930
    Abstract: A food temperature-sensing probe assembly for monitoring the internal temperature of food while it is being cooked in a microwave oven includes a disc-like reflector mounted on the probe housing at a predetermined distance from the tip of the probe housing. The probe housing is adapted to be driven into the food so that the reflector is adjacent to the food. The reflector serves to prevent overcooking of the food in a region immediately adjacent the probe. A spacer is mounted adjacent the reflector and extends toward the tip of the probe housing to space the reflector away from the food at least a predetermined minimum distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Louis H. Fitzmayer, Richard E. Hornung
  • Patent number: 3984163
    Abstract: A shelf assembly particularly adapted for use in a household refrigerator comprises a cantilever supported frame and a sliding shelf which may easily be removed from the frame. The frame includes a pair of shelf guides or tracks which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, are inwardly extending horizontal flanges attached to frame side members. The shelf includes a pair of shelf side members which are slidably supported on the cooperating upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges. Attached near the rear corners of the shelf are outwardly extending projections which ride against the lower surfaces of the flanges to prevent the rear of the shelf from moving upwardly. A stop prevents the shelf from being pulled out farther than the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Earl D. Boorman, Jr., Donald H. Kolseth
  • Patent number: 3975720
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the internal temperature of food being cooked in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven with microwaves of a predetermined frequency having a predetermined wavelength .lambda.. The apparatus includes a needle-like temperature-sensing probe adapted for insertion into the food being cooked, the probe including a thermally-responsive electrical element positioned internally of the probe housing near the tip end. A flexible shielded cable connects the probe to circuitry responsive to thermally-induced changes in a characteristic of the electrical element, the cable shield being connected at one end to the probe housing and at the other end to a wall of the cooking cavity. The total effective electrical length of the probe and the cable, measured along the cable and probe from the cooking cavity wall to the distal end of the probe, is selected to be an integer multiple of one-half the predetermined wavelength .lambda..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Y. Chen, Louis H. Fitzmayer
  • Patent number: 3974696
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the internal temperature of food being cooked in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven with microwaves of a predetermined frequency having a predetermined wavelength .lambda. . The apparatus includes a needle-like temperature-sensing probe adapted for insertion into the food being cooked, the probe including a thermally-responsive electrical element positioned internally of the probe housing near the tip end. A flexible shielded cable having first and second ends and generally extending between the probe and the cooking cavity wall connects the probe to circuitry responsive to thermally-induced changes in a characteristic of the electrical element, and includes chokes at either or both ends of the cable, the chokes presenting a high impedance to microwave energy of wavelength .lambda. . The cable length is selected to be approximately equal to n .lambda./2, where n is any integer, when one choke is used, and approximately equal to n .lambda.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Louis H. Fitzmayer