Patents by Inventor E. C. Pickles

E. C. Pickles 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: 11768029
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an icemaker that is selectively closeable by a door. An outer gasket is positioned about an edge of the door and a sealing gasket is positioned around a center portion of the door inside the outer gasket. A plurality of protrusions extend from a rim of the icemaker. A liner is aligned with and spaced apart from the rim. A first gasket and a second gasket are positioned between the rim and the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jose R. Aranda, Alexa N. Brown, Jackson Felipe Karl, Dakota E. Kosek, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. C. Pickles, Antonio Sanchez, Richard A. Spletzer
  • Patent number: 11698223
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a refrigeration appliance includes controlling a first cooling routine for a first compartment via a flow of a thermal exchange media to a first evaporator. The method further includes controlling a heating routine in response to a setpoint temperature being greater than the temperature of the first compartment. The heating routine includes activating a heating element and a fan in the first compartment over a first interval and deactivating the heating element and the fan over a second interval. The heating routine continues by activating the first interval and the second interval over alternating time periods. In response to the temperature of the first compartment being greater than or equal to a target temperature associated with the setpoint, the method may control the operation of the appliance by returning to the cooling routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, Mahendra Patil, E. C. Pickles, Daniel N. Maas, Murthy Raju V.S.N. Jaina
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220042737
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an icemaker that is selectively closeable by a door. An outer gasket is positioned about an edge of the door and a sealing gasket is positioned around a center portion of the door inside the outer gasket. A plurality of protrusions extend from a rim of the icemaker. A liner is aligned with and spaced apart from the rim. A first gasket and a second gasket are positioned between the box and the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose R. Aranda, Alexa N. Brown, Jackson Felipe Karl, Dakota E. Kosek, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E.C. Pickles, Antonio Sanchez, Richard A. Spletzer
  • Patent number: 11162731
    Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The icemaker includes an icemaker box selectively closeable by a door. An outer gasket is positioned about an inner edge of the door. A sealing gasket is positioned around a center portion of the door. A plurality of protrusions extend from a box rim of the icemaker box. A liner is aligned with and spaced apart from the box rim. A first gasket and a second gasket are positioned between the box rim and the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corportation
    Inventors: Jose R. Aranda, Alexa N. Brown, Jackson Felipe Karl, Dakota E. Kosek, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. C. Pickles, Antonio Sanchez, Richard A. Spletzer
  • Publication number: 20210262718
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet structure having a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. An evaporator is positioned in the freezer compartment within an evaporator housing. A door is pivotally coupled to the cabinet structure for selectively providing access to the refrigerator compartment and includes an ice maker. A duct assembly includes an ice maker feed duct operably coupled to the evaporator housing at a first end, and further coupled to the ice maker at a second end. The duct assembly further includes an ice maker return duct operably coupled to the ice maker at a first end and further coupled to the evaporator housing at a second end. First and second fans are provided in-series, wherein the first fan provides cooled air to the freezer compartment, and the second fan provides cooled air from the first fan to the ice maker during an ice making cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel W. Burlingham, Chao-Yi Chen, Milind Devle, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, Mahalingappa Mulimani, E. C. Pickles, Richard A. Spletzer, Yan Zhang, Benjamin G. Jimenez, Vishal S. Marathe
  • Publication number: 20210222946
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a refrigeration appliance comprises controlling a first cooling routine for a first compartment via a flow of a thermal exchange media to a first evaporator. The method further comprises controlling a heating routine in response to a setpoint temperature being greater than the temperature of the first compartment. The heating routine comprises activating a heating element and a fan in the first compartment over a first interval and deactivating the heating element and the fan over a second interval. The heating routine continues by activating the first interval and the second interval over alternating time periods. In response to the temperature of the first compartment being greater than or equal to a target temperature associated with the setpoint, the method may control the operation of the appliance by returning to the cooling routine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, Mahendra Patil, E. C. Pickles, Daniel N. Maas, Murthy Raju V.S.N. Jaina
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200284500
    Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The icemaker includes an icemaker box selectively closeable by a door. An outer gasket is positioned about an inner edge of the door. A sealing gasket is positioned around a center portion of the door. A plurality of protrusions extend from a box rim of the icemaker box. A liner is aligned with and spaced apart from the box rim. A first gasket and a second gasket are positioned between the box rim and the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose R. Aranda, Alexa N. Brown, Jackson Felipe Karl, Dakota E. Kosek, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, E. C. Pickles, Antonio Sanchez, Richard A. Spletzer
  • 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
  • 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: 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