Patents by Inventor Amit A. Avhale

Amit A. Avhale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11536508
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of a first door and a second door. The mullion assembly includes a cavity with an insulating member disposed therein. One or more sensor assemblies are coupled to the mullion assembly and configured to collect data sufficient to calculate a dew point temperature of the mullion assembly and an actual temperature of the mullion assembly. A heating element is coupled to the mullion assembly and is selectively activated by a controller based on information provided from the one or more sensor assemblies. The heating element is powered using a modulated power level that is inversely proportionate to the difference in temperature between the mullion assembly and the calculated dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Kapil Ayyawar, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E C. Pickles, Yan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11320188
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outer wrapper, a fresh food compartment defined by a liner within the wrapper and separated from an interior of the outer wrapper at least along a first side wall of the fresh food compartment to define a void, and a door at least partially enclosing an opening to the fresh food compartment when in a closed position. A door compartment is positioned along the door. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator compartment positioned at least partially within the fresh food compartment and a duct in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment at a first end thereof and in communication with the door compartment a second end thereof. The duct has a first portion that extends laterally from the first end along a portion of the evaporator compartment and a second portion extending through the void along the first side wall of the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Taylor Clark, Benjamin G. Jimenez, E. Calvin Pickles, Richard Spletzer, David Walter, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210095911
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of a first door and a second door. The mullion assembly includes a cavity with an insulating member disposed therein. One or more sensor assemblies are coupled to the mullion assembly and configured to collect data sufficient to calculate a dew point temperature of the mullion assembly and an actual temperature of the mullion assembly. A heating element is coupled to the mullion assembly and is selectively activated by a controller based on information provided from the one or more sensor assemblies. The heating element is powered using a modulated power level that is inversely proportionate to the difference in temperature between the mullion assembly and the calculated dew point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Kapil Ayyawar, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E C. Pickles, Yan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10907880
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of a first door and a second door. The mullion assembly includes a cavity with an insulating member disposed therein. One or more sensor assemblies are coupled to the mullion assembly and configured to collect data sufficient to calculate a dew point temperature of the mullion assembly and an actual temperature of the mullion assembly. A heating element is coupled to the mullion assembly and is selectively activated by a controller based on information provided from the one or more sensor assemblies. The heating element is powered using a modulated power level that is inversely proportionate to the difference in temperature between the mullion assembly and the calculated dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Kapil Ayyawar, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E C. Pickles, Yan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10823479
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser and through the refrigerant line to at least a freezer evaporator of a plurality of evaporators, wherein the thermal exchange media leaving the freezer evaporator defines spent media that is returned to the compressor. A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator of the plurality of evaporators to define a partially-spent media that is delivered to the freezer evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. Calvin Pickles, Yan Zhang, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Publication number: 20200191464
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of a first door and a second door. The mullion assembly includes a cavity with an insulating member disposed therein. One or more sensor assemblies are coupled to the mullion assembly and configured to collect data sufficient to calculate a dew point temperature of the mullion assembly and an actual temperature of the mullion assembly. A heating element is coupled to the mullion assembly and is selectively activated by a controller based on information provided from the one or more sensor assemblies. The heating element is powered using a modulated power level that is inversely proportionate to the difference in temperature between the mullion assembly and the calculated dew point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Kapil Ayyawar, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E C. Pickles, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200080761
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser and through the refrigerant line to at least a freezer evaporator of a plurality of evaporators, wherein the thermal exchange media leaving the freezer evaporator defines spent media that is returned to the compressor. A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator of the plurality of evaporators to define a partially-spent media that is delivered to the freezer evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. Calvin Pickles, Yan Zhang, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Patent number: 10514194
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser and through the refrigerant line to at least a freezer evaporator of a plurality of evaporators, wherein the thermal exchange media leaving the freezer evaporator defines spent media that is returned to the compressor. A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator of the plurality of evaporators to define a partially-spent media that is delivered to the freezer evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. Calvin Pickles, Yan Zhang, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Patent number: 10502478
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerated compartment and a machine compartment. A compressor is disposed within the machine compartment and is adapted to compress a refrigerant within a refrigerant line. A micro-channel condenser is positioned in communication with the compressor and adapted to selectively reject heat from the refrigerant into the machine compartment. A condenser fan is positioned within the machine compartment between the condenser and compressor. The fan is adapted to draw heated air through the condenser and also draw fresh air from an area adjacent the machine compartment and beneath the refrigerated compartment. The heated air and fresh air combine to define mixed air that is directed toward the compressor for cooling the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Bruno Boehringer, Darci Cavali, E. C. Pickles, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi, Lihan Xu, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190204002
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outer wrapper, a fresh food compartment defined by a liner within the wrapper and separated from an interior of the outer wrapper at least along a first side wall of the fresh food compartment to define a void, and a door at least partially enclosing an opening to the fresh food compartment when in a closed position. A door compartment is positioned along the door. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator compartment positioned at least partially within the fresh food compartment and a duct in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment at a first end thereof and in communication with the door compartment a second end thereof. The duct has a first portion that extends laterally from the first end along a portion of the evaporator compartment and a second portion extending through the void along the first side wall of the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Taylor Clark, Benjamin G. Jimenez, E. Calvin Pickles, Richard Spletzer, David Walter, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180347885
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser and through the refrigerant line to at least a freezer evaporator of a plurality of evaporators, wherein the thermal exchange media leaving the freezer evaporator defines spent media that is returned to the compressor. A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator of the plurality of evaporators to define a partially-spent media that is delivered to the freezer evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. Calvin Pickles, Yan Zhang, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Publication number: 20180172335
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerated compartment and a machine compartment. A compressor is disposed within the machine compartment and is adapted to compress a refrigerant within a refrigerant line. A micro-channel condenser is positioned in communication with the compressor and adapted to selectively reject heat from the refrigerant into the machine compartment. A condenser fan is positioned within the machine compartment between the condenser and compressor. The fan is adapted to draw heated air through the condenser and also draw fresh air from an area adjacent the machine compartment and beneath the refrigerated compartment. The heated air and fresh air combine to define mixed air that is directed toward the compressor for cooling the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit A. Avhale, Bruno Boehringer, Darci Cavali, E. C. Pickles, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi, Lihan Xu, Yan Zhang