Abstract: An inventory system for a refrigerator appliance includes an inventory plate which is operably coupled to a load cell and positioned within a chilled chamber. The inventory plate may be a fixed shelf or a portable coaster on which food items may be placed. A controller is configured for monitoring a weight of the food items over time using the load cell and/or a moisture content using a moisture sensor and providing an indication of food quality based at least in part on the weight and/or moisture content of the food items.

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: An ice maker includes a mold body with two rows of mold cavities defined in the mold body. The ice maker also includes an ejector assembly having a plurality of ejector pads corresponding to the mold cavities. The ejector pads are movable between a low position proximate to the floor of a corresponding mold cavity and a high position proximate the opening of each corresponding mold cavity. The ejector pads are operable to eject ice from the mold cavities when the ejector assembly moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

Abstract: An electric ice press is provided herein and may be utilized to reshape an initial ice billet into a sculpted ice nugget. The electric ice press may include a mold body having a first mold segment and a second mold segment movable relative to each other. A heated guide rail extends between the first mold segment and the second mold segment to transfer heat from the first mold segment to the second mold segment. The heated guide rail may be a heat pipe for transferring heat generated by a base heater in the first mold segment or an electrical resistance heating rod for generating heat, either of which requires only a single power cord electrically coupled to only the first mold segment.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold defining a mold cavity and a refrigeration loop having an evaporator in thermal communication with the ice mold. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant loop to cool the evaporator and the ice mold. After ice is formed, a flow regulating device may divert a portion of the flow of refrigerant around the condenser through a bypass conduit to slowly increase a temperature of the refrigerant within the evaporator to release formed ice from the ice mold while preventing thermal shock and cracking.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. A plurality of flexible chambers are defined within the door. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sealed system configured for generating chilled air. The sealed system is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of flexible chambers to selectively provide the chilled air to at least one of the plurality of flexible chambers.

Abstract: A bottle support assembly positioned within a chilled chamber of a refrigerator appliance includes a support panel, a first support, and a second support. Each of the first support and the second support are pivotally mounted to the support panel and are movable between a collapsed position and a raised position. In addition, the first support and the second support each define concave support surfaces which may be positioned at different heights and may have different radiuses of curvature for supporting bottles having any size and at any angle.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold body. A plurality of mold cavities are defined in the mold body. Each mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. Each mold cavity is enclosed by at least one sidewall between the floor and the opening. The longitudinal axis of each mold cavity is oriented generally along the vertical direction. The ice maker also includes a heater in thermal communication with the floor of each mold cavity of the plurality of mold cavities. The heater is configured to maintain water within a lower portion of each mold cavity in a liquid state. The ice maker further includes a drain conduit in fluid communication with the mold body and configured to receive a flow of liquid water from the mold cavities. A related refrigerator appliance and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method for making clear ice utilizing an ice making appliance are provided herein. The ice making appliance may include a cabinet, an ice mold, a heating element, and a controller. The ice mold may be positioned within the freezer chamber and define a mold cavity. The heating element may be mounted within the ice mold in conductive thermal communication with the mold cavity. The controller may be configured to initiate an ice making operation. The ice making operation may include maintaining the freezer chamber below a first sub-freezing during an ice formation cycle subsequent to a volume of water being received within the mold cavity, and heating the ice mold during the ice formation cycle at the heating element as a portion of the volume of water freezes to a frozen volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ternary natural refrigerant mixture containing R-600a (isobutane), R-600 (isobutane), and R-290 (propane) that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for more energy efficient cooling than a single refrigerant such as R-134a without having to change the compressor design, which can add to manufacturing costs. For example, the ternary natural refrigerant mixture can be used in a refrigeration system that uses dual evaporators to provide more efficient cooling. The refrigeration system can be used in, e.g., a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment and a frozen food compartment to provide separate cooling to each compartment simultaneously.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided having a fresh food chamber, a convertible chamber, and a freezer chamber. A fan urges a flow of cooled air from an evaporator chamber into a freezer supply duct and a secondary supply duct. A damper housing defines an inlet in fluid communication with the secondary supply duct, a first outlet in fluid communication with the convertible chamber, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the fresh food chamber. A rotary damper is mounted within the damper housing and is selectively rotated to block the flow of cooling air or to supply the flow of cooling air to one or both of the convertible chamber and the fresh food chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and an arc-resistant heating assembly are provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a sealed system, and an electrical heater. The electrical heater may include a resistive element, a sheath, a thermally conductive electrical insulation, and an internal insulator. The sheath may be disposed about the resistive element from a first end portion to a second end portion. The thermally conductive electrical insulation may be radially positioned between the resistive element and the sheath. The internal insulator may be radially positioned between the resistive element and the thermally conductive electrical insulation.

Abstract: A bottle support assembly positioned within a chilled chamber of a refrigerator appliance includes a support panel, a first support, and a second support. Each of the first support and the second support are pivotally mounted to the support panel and are movable between a collapsed position and a raised position. In addition, the first support and the second support each define concave support surfaces which may be positioned at different heights and may have different radiuses of curvature for supporting bottles having any size and at any angle.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. A plurality of flexible chambers are defined within the door. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sealed system configured for generating chilled air. The sealed system is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of flexible chambers to selectively provide the chilled air to at least one of the plurality of flexible chambers.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold body. A plurality of mold cavities are defined in the mold body. Each mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. Each mold cavity is enclosed by at least one sidewall between the floor and the opening. The longitudinal axis of each mold cavity is oriented generally along the vertical direction. The ice maker also includes a heater in thermal communication with the floor of each mold cavity of the plurality of mold cavities. The heater is configured to maintain water within a lower portion of each mold cavity in a liquid state. The ice maker further includes a drain conduit in fluid communication with the mold body and configured to receive a flow of liquid water from the mold cavities. A related refrigerator appliance and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet which defines a fresh food storage chamber, a frozen food storage chamber, and a variable food storage chamber positioned between the fresh food storage chamber and the frozen food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance includes a wall which at least partially defines the variable food storage chamber. The wall includes an outer surface facing an ambient environment around the refrigerator appliance and an inner surface positioned opposite the outer surface. The refrigerator appliance also includes insulation extending between the outer surface of the wall and the variable food storage chamber. The insulation includes a plurality of movable segments. The movable segments are movable between a first position and a second position. A thermal conductivity of the wall is greater when the movable segments are in the second position than when the movable segments are in the first position.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.