Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and apparatus for spraying water in a dishwasher. A dishwasher may include a wash chamber and at least one dish rack. The dishwasher may include a water inlet selectively connected to a dish spray device, which may connect a dish spray conduit with the wash chamber. The dish spray device may be oriented towards the at least one dish rack, such that the spray device may be configured to direct water onto the dishes for washing. The water inlet may be selectively connected to a fill device, which may connect the fill conduit with the wash chamber. The fill device may be configured to provide water to the circulation assembly without impinging the at least one dish rack. The one or more valves may selectively direct water from the water inlet to one or both of the dish spray device and the fill device.

Abstract: A storage system and a refrigeration appliance includes the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a rail attached to a liner panel. The rail includes at least one mounting structure that is partially embedded within the liner panel. The storage system further includes an accessory. The accessory has an arm extending from a rear surface of the accessory. The accessory is placed in a storage position. The arm is placed between the rail and the liner panel when the accessory is placed in the storage position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump plate (60) for conditioning the flow of a fluid before the fluid enters an inlet (51) of a circulation pump (50) of a dishwasher. The pump plate (60) may have a plate portion with a number of holes (62) dispersed across its surface such that fluid may flow through the holes (62). The pump plate (60) may also include one or more upper guide vanes (63) extending outwardly from the plate portion and configured to reduce the turbulence in the fluid flow. A dishwasher (10) including a pump plate (60) and a method for manufacturing such a dishwasher are also provided. A dishwasher (10) that includes a pump plate (60) to condition the fluid flow within the dishwasher may be configured to function efficiently while requiring less water to complete a rinse or wash cycle than a dishwasher that does not include a pump plate.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker with an ice mold is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. A refrigeration system includes a system evaporator and an ice maker evaporator dedicated to cooling the ice mold. A frame rotatably supports the ice mold within the fresh food compartment between an ice-forming position and an ice-harvesting position. The frame supports the ice maker evaporator at a stationary position that serves as a pivot axis for the ice mold so the ice mold can rotate around the ice maker evaporator between the ice-forming position and the ice-harvesting position, while the ice maker evaporator remains stationary. In one example, a heater is rotatable with the ice mold, and a drip tray is located underneath ice mold and rotatable with the ice mold.

Abstract: A vent outlet for an appliance having an adjustable kick plate configured to enclose a base portion of the appliance is provided. In an example embodiment, the vent outlet comprises a top portion, a vent cover, a bottom portion, and a conduit portion. The top portion comprises a planar portion and an angled portion. The front surface of the vent cover is coplanar with the front surface of the planar portion. The bottom portion that is recessed with respect to the front surface of vent cover. The planar portion, the vent cover, and the bottom portion are generally aligned along a first axis. The conduit portion extends backward from a plane defined by the vent cover and is configured to secure the vent outlet to a vent conduit of the appliance.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product for customizing an appliance display are disclosed. A method may include receiving an indication of a selected image and an indication of a target appliance on which the selected image is to be displayed. The method may additionally include determining one or more display characteristics of a display of the target appliance. The method may also include processing the selected image based on the one or more display characteristics to generate a customized image formatted for display as a background image on the display of the target appliance. The method may further include configuring the target appliance, via a network, to display the customized image as a background image underlying a graphical user interface that may be displayed on the display during operation of the target appliance.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a storage compartment. A door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet and is movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment. The door includes an inner surface and an outer surface. An opening extends between the inner surface and the outer surface. A window is disposed within the opening. The window optionally includes a lower portion that is non-transparent. A storage bin is attachable to a lower portion of the inner surface of the door wherein the non-transparent portion of the window obstructs viewing of the storage bin when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A heat pump laundry dryer or a heat pump washing machine having a drying function, includes a control unit controlling an operation of the laundry treatment apparatus. A laundry treatment chamber treats laundry using process air circulated in a process air circuit. A heat pump system has a refrigerant loop in which refrigerant fluid is circulated through a first and a second heat exchanger. A compressor circulates the refrigerant fluid through the refrigerant loop, and a cooling fan unit cools the compressor. During the operation, a conveyance capacity of the cooling fan unit is varied. A detector unit detects an operation parameter indicating a state of at least one electronic board. A method of operation includes operating the cooling fan unit based upon the electronic board operation parameter, and controlling the compressor operation output based upon the electronic board operation parameter, wherein the compressor is a variable speed compressor.

Abstract: A dishwasher, a door assembly for the dishwasher and a method of drying the dishware in the dishwasher are provided. The dishwasher may include a tub portion adapted to hold dishware. The dishwasher may also include a duct having an inlet proximate to the top of the tub portion. The duct may be configured to receive warm air and vaporized water from within the tub portion. The dishwasher may further include a single blower configured to direct the warm air and vaporized water into the duct during a drying cycle. The blower may be configured to operate in a cyclic manner. In various embodiments, the blower may be configured to operate in a reverse direction for at least a portion of the drying cycle.

Abstract: A refrigerator (2) comprising a refrigeration system (4) being at least intermittently flowed through by a refrigerant and a first compartment (6) cooled by the refrigeration system (4) is provided. System components comprise a single compressor (10), a condenser (12), a first expansion arrangement (14), a second expansion arrangement (16), a first evaporator (18), and a sub-cooler (20) comprising a first refrigerant channel (22) and a second refrigerant channel (24). The refrigeration system (4) comprises a first conduit path (26) and a second conduit path (28), the first conduit path (26) comprising the first refrigerant channel (22), the first expansion arrangement (14), and the first evaporator (18), and the second conduit path (28) comprising the second expansion arrangement (16) and the second refrigerant channel (24). A flow control device (30) for alternately directing refrigerant through the first conduit path (26) and the second conduit path (28) is arranged in the refrigeration system (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a arrangement of at least two glass panels (12, 14, 16) for a heat insulated oven door (10) of a cooking oven. The arrangement of the glass panels (12, 14, 16) is provided as or for a window of the oven door (10). The large-area sides of said glass panels (12, 14, 16) are arranged in parallel. Two neighbored glass panels (12, 14, 16) are arranged with a predetermined distance from each other, so that an intermediate space (24, 24?, 24?) is formed between said neighbored glass panels (12, 14, 16).

Abstract: A deflecting element is arranged in an oven door and aligned adjacent the ventilation openings to inhibit accidental spills through the openings from fouling interior door components. The deflecting element can have a plurality of tiered blades with associated respective channels for guiding and accumulating spills. One or several of the blades can have an angled deflector portion for guiding overflow liquid to a subjacent blade, away from interior glass panels. When the oven door is rotated into an upright position, closed position, liquid accumulated in the respective channels is conducted to the lateral edges of the door, where it can be guided via ducts out the base of the door or otherwise collected in removable reservoirs.

Abstract: A fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes a fan for circulating air within a compartment of the refrigeration appliance. The fan includes a frame. A housing is provided for mounting the fan. The housing includes a plate with an opening extending through the plate. A plurality of walls extends from a surface of the plate. A first retaining member extends in a direction generally parallel to a surface of the plate and is disposed proximate the opening for hindering movement of the fan in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of the plate. The plurality of walls and the first retaining member define a pocket for receiving the frame. A vibration damping member is provided for allowing the fan to vibrate relative to the housing and for hindering the transmission of vibrations from the fan to the housing.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanism for a rotatable shaft includes first and second centering members. Each centering member defines a first and second arcuate slot. A stationary pin extends through the first arcuate slots of the centering members. A rotatable shaft member extends through the centers of the centering members and is disposed between the first and second arcuate slots. A support member extends radially from and is fixed to the shaft member so as to be rotatable therewith. An actuating pin extends from the support member and through the second arcuate slots, and engages the second arcuate slots to rotate one of the first and second centering members. At least one biasing member is in communication with an anchoring structure and rotationally biases at least one of the first and second centering members to a registration position upon release of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and a device (40) for, detecting an operational state of a dishwasher (10), in particular activation of extra wash zones and overfill situations. The device (40) is arranged to operate a motor (22) driving a dishwasher circulation pump (21) at at least one rotational speed differing from a nominal rotational speed and measure operating current of the motor (22) driving the dishwasher circulation pump (21). Further, the device is arranged to determine whether the dishwasher (10) operates in an operational state differing from a nominal operational state based on the measured circulation pump motor operating current.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cooking hob with one or more induction coils covered by a cookware and forming a cooking zone. All induction coils of the cooking zone are alternately activated. The method includes setting an average power to be transferred to the cookware by a user, determining a frequency, estimating a maximum average power if all induction coils of the cooking zone would be activated with said frequency, estimating a percentage power defined as quotient between the set average power and the estimated maximum average power, estimating a calculated number of coils defined as product of the number of coils within the cooking zone and the percentage power, defining a minimum number of simultaneously activated coils within the cooking zone by an integer value of the calculated number, and defining a temporal activation of a further one of the coils by a fractional part of the calculated number.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: Provided is a door for a cooking appliance, such as an oven range, with multiple spaced apart glass panels. An interlocking mechanism promotes a proper installation of the glass panels, and interferes with the installation of the glass panels or with operation of the appliance if at least one of the panels is not properly installed. A switch with a plunger can be installed in the door, which allows the appliance to operate only when a failsafe electrical circuit is closed corresponding to a selected position of the plunger when the door is closed. The plunger is prevented from retaining that selected position if at least one of the glass panels is improperly installed or if a top cap is not properly seated or installed above the glass panels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of handling process water in a household appliance (1) and to a household appliance, for example a dish washer. The household appliance comprises a wash tub (3) for performing wash program cycles and a tank (5) for storing process water to be re-used in a following program cycle, the method comprising the steps of: determining (101) the type of detergent used in the household appliance with a sensor unit (7), measuring (102) the amount of detergent in the process water with the sensor unit, comparing (105) at least one sensor unit output value with a predetermined threshold value to define the quality of the process water, and storing (106) at least a part of the process water from a rinse cycle in the tank (5) when the sensor unit output value complies with the predetermined threshold value related to the quality of the process water.

Abstract: An enclosure includes an enclosure interior and an enclosure opening through which air passes from outside the enclosure into the enclosure interior. An evaporator located at the enclosure interior is positioned so that at least some of the air that passes through the enclosure opening flows in a direct and uninterrupted path to the evaporator. A shield within the enclosure interior is interposed between the enclosure opening and the evaporator and is positioned so as to deflect at least a part of the air flowing from that direct and uninterrupted path. The shield provides a site at which moisture contained within at least some of the air passing through the enclosure opening can collect. The enclosure can comprise the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, and the enclosure opening can be in fluid communication with an interior of a fresh food compartment of the refrigerator.