Abstract: A temperature-regulating apparatus is provided to rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature. In some variations, the geometry of the temperature-regulating apparatus is configured to rapidly cool a beverage incorporating one or more inner portions that contain a temperature regulating material, such as a phase change material having a high heat capacity. The geometry of the interior of the container may be configured to aid in rapid heat transfer between the beverage therein and the outer shell of the inner portion and may have a length to width aspect ratio of at least 4:1. The inner portion may be formed between the exterior wall of the container and by a single piece of formed metal that extends along the length, width and base walls to form the interior for receiving a beverage. The cavity formed between the outer shell and the exterior wall may be at least 15 mm deep.

Abstract: A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes: a duct dividing the inside of a storage compartment body into a storage compartment and an air channel and having a main discharge port and a sub-discharge port; an air guide dividing the air channel into a first channel communicating with the main discharge port and a second channel guiding air in the first channel to the sub-discharge port; a heat exchanger provided in the first channel; and a fan suctioning air in the storage compartment and sending the air to the first channel. According to the refrigerator, it is possible to maximize the volume of the storage compartment and separately discharge air to the main discharge port and the sub-discharge port, using a simple structure.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an inner case defining a storage chamber, a door disposed at a front portion of the inner case and defining a storage space therein, a cool air distribution device disposed inside the inner case and defining a box inlet portion configured to receive cool air, a multi-duct disposed in the inner case and defining discharge holes configured to discharge a first portion of cool air in the cool air distribution device to the storage chamber, and a duct assembly that extends from the cool air distribution device toward the door and that is configured to carry a second portion of cool air in the cool air distribution device. The inner case defines a case inlet at the front portion of the inner case, and the case inlet is configured to communicate with the duct assembly and supply the second portion of cool air to the storage chamber.

Abstract: An insulated shipping container is provided for maintaining a substantially uniform internal temperature. The base, walls and lid of an outer box define an enclosure. An insulating body and an insulating cover are located within the enclosure and define an insulated cavity. A chamber having a plurality of chamber sides is configured to hold one or more payloads at the substantially uniform internal temperature. A temperature control material distribution structure is located within the insulated cavity for constraining motion of temperature control material units. The temperature control material distribution structure comprises at least one partitioned tray or trough. The at least one partitioned tray comprises a tray bottom; and a plurality of partition walls extending away from the tray bottom and defining a plurality of partition compartments.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and outdoor air; an indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air; a first pipe configured to provide a channel for the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger and having a first inner diameter; a second pipe configured to provide a channel for the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger; a coupling member configured to couple end portions of the first pipe and the second pipe; and a first insertion pipe inserted in the second pipe at the end portion of the second pipe and having a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter of the first pipe.

Abstract: An air conditioning appliance defining a vertical direction includes a housing comprising a wall disposed in the vertical direction, the wall defining an opening therethrough; a heat exchanger disposed in the housing; a compressor in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant through the heat exchanger; and a door assembly attached to the wall proximal to the opening. The door assembly includes a frame removably secured to the wall and surrounding the opening, the frame comprising a tab protruding from a first surface of the frame and extending in the vertical direction, and a door pivotably connected to the frame, the door defining an aperture into which the tab is received. The tab is symmetrical about a horizontal centerline of the tab.

Abstract: An ice making system and method that includes an ice formation cell, an ejector, a panel, and an evaporator tube. The ice formation cell has a first wall and a second wall. The evaporator tube that comprises a first portion and a second portion. The panel is situated between the first portion and the second portion of the evaporator tube. The ejector is situated between the first wall and the second wall, the ejector being configured to remove an ice piece from the first portion or the second portion of the evaporator tube.

Abstract: An ice cream maker fitting for a stand mixer provided with a bowl includes a double wall vessel having an outer wall and an inner wall, which are coupled so as to define between the outer wall and the inner wall a sealed space. A refrigerant fluid is arranged. The double wall vessel is sized so as to be arranged, in use, inside the bowl of the stand mixer. A fixing system is configured to fix the double wall vessel to the bowl of the stand mixer.

Abstract: A refrigerator (100) includes: a cabinet (110), in which are defined a cooling chamber (150) at a lower portion and a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment which are spaced side by side above the cooling chamber (150); and an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber (150) and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber (150) to form a cooled airflow. At least one first return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a left sidewall of the first storage compartment such that a return airflow of the first storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the first return air inlet. At least one second return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a right sidewall of the second storage compartment such that a return airflow of the second storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the second return air inlet.

Abstract: An ice cube dispensing unit comprising a housing suitable for containing at least two ice cubes, and a dispensing mechanism arranged at one end of the housing. The dispensing mechanism comprises an opening which is large enough for the ice cubes to pass through, a wall arranged near an edge of the opening, and an ice cube displacing mechanism suitable for displacing the ice cubes out of the housing through said opening. The ice cube displacing mechanism and the wall are arranged such that the ice cubes pass between the wall and the ice cube displacing mechanism on their way out of the housing. The ice cube displacing mechanism is arranged at a distance from the wall such that the minimum distance A between the wall and an outer periphery of the ice cube displacing mechanism is less than the minimum dimension of the ice cubes and either the wall and/or the outer periphery of the ice cube displacing mechanism is displaceable to allow the distance A to increase to allow ice cubes to leave the housing.

Abstract: A branched air supply device includes: a shell having a peripheral wall portion, with the peripheral wall portion being provided with a plurality of air supply ports; a plurality of baffles, with each of the baffles being rotatably mounted at one of the air supply ports; a plurality of transmission assemblies, with each of the transmission assemblies being provided with a rotating member and a first transmission mechanism, and each of the first transmission mechanisms being configured to transmit a rotational motion of a corresponding rotating member to one of the baffles, so that the baffle is at rest or rotates; and a driving device having a driving source and a second transmission mechanism, with the second transmission mechanism being configured to transmit one motion, output by the driving source, to the plurality of rotating members, so that each of the rotating members is at rest or rotates.

Abstract: A device for producing an elongate ingot of clear ice comprises a housing comprising at least one flume surface wall that defines at least one elongate trough; at least one fluid intake disposed to provide a flow of liquid into the at least one elongate trough; at least one drain disposed to drain liquid from at least one elongate trough; wherein the at least a portion of the at least one flume surface wall is in thermal communication with a cooling source; and wherein the at least one fluid intake and the at least one drain are adapted to provide a substantially constant flow of fluid to the at least one elongate trough during a freezing operation of the device. The cooling source can be an internal cooling cavity.

Abstract: A refrigerator include: an inner case having a storage chamber; a thermoelectric module including a thermoelectric element and a cooling sink; a fan configured to circulate air to the storage chamber; a fan cover configured to cover the fan and having an upper discharge hole, a lower discharge hole, and an inner suction hole formed between the upper discharge hole and the lower discharge hole; a first receiving member disposed in the storage chamber; and a second receiving member disposed over the first receiving member to be spaced apart from the first receiving member. At least a portion of each of the inner suction hole and the lower discharge hole faces a portion between the first receiving member and the second receiving member, and at least a portion of the upper discharge hole faces a portion between a top surface of the storage chamber and the second receiving member.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes: an evaporator housing provided behind a storage and including an evaporator for cooling the storage; a machine room disposed below the storage and provided with a discharge plug connected to the evaporator housing; a defrost tray installed in a lower portion of the machine room to collect defrost water discharged through the discharge plug; and a drain hose assembly connecting the discharge plug and the defrost water tray to allow the defrost water to flow toward the defrost water tray. The drain hose assembly includes a drain cap connected to the discharge plug and limiting introduction of external air into the evaporator housing and a drain hose having one end connected to the drain cap and another end connected to the defrost water tray, and a length of the drain hose assembly is adjustable by joining between the drain cap and the drain hose.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet. A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration system is charged with a refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a modulator having a reservoir and a supply conduit. The reservoir of the modulator is positioned on an outlet conduit of the evaporator. A first end portion of the supply conduit is coupled to an inlet conduit of the evaporator, and a second end portion of the supply conduit is coupled to the reservoir of the modulator. The refrigerant is flowable into and out of the reservoir of the modulator through the supply conduit of the modulator. An ice maker is positioned within the cabinet. The evaporator of the refrigeration system is coupled to the icemaker such that the refrigeration system is operable to chill the icemaker.

Abstract: A storage system for a house entrance includes an entrance refrigerator, a storage placed at a rear of the entrance refrigerator, and a blocking plate covering a gap formed between the entrance refrigerator and the storage. An intake hole is provided at a lower portion of the blocking plate and a discharge hole is provided at an upper portion of the blocking plate.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming a storage chamber therein and including a cooling module mounting portion, a cabinet sealing portion formed on an outer surface of the cooling module mounting portion; a cooling module detachably mounted to the cooling module mounting portion and including an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor, wherein the cooling module includes a module housing, and the module housing includes a module sealing portion facing the cabinet sealing portion, and the module sealing portion includes a module inclination portion positioned at an inclination with respect to a direction in which the cooling module is insertable into the cabinet to be mounted to the cabinet; and a sealing member positioned between the cabinet sealing portion and the module sealing portion.

Abstract: A method efficiently changes the state of an object at low cost and in a short time, in which a state change control device changes the state of an object by bringing the object into contact with an ice slurry to cause a temperature change to the object. The device includes an ice slurry contact part that brings the object and the ice slurry into contact with each other at a predetermined relative speed and changes the temperature of the object, and an ice slurry supply part that supplies the ice slurry to the ice slurry contact part.

Abstract: Example systems have a defrost system that can receive a first RF signal at a first frequency to defrost a load. An air treatment device can receive a second RF signal at a second frequency and perform an air treatment process. An RF signal source has a power output, and a switching arrangement selectively electrically connects the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. A controller can electrically connect one of the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. When the defrost system is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the first RF signal at the first frequency, and when the first air treatment device is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the second RF signal at the second frequency.