Abstract: A vacuum panel cabinet structure comprising a frame having side and back framing members defining a frame opening and panel receptacles, framing edges, at least one outwardly expanded framing member, and an inner surface. A plurality of vacuum panels disposed in the panel receptacles. A barrier layer disposed on the vacuum panels. An outer enclosure having at least one extruded channel engaging the at least one outwardly expanded framing member, at least one outwardly contoured hinge, and an inward surface defining a frame receptacle into which the frame is disposed. A liner having at least four sidewalls, a back panel, a liner outer facing surface, and a liner perimetrical flange, wherein the liner outer facing surface is disposed within the frame opening proximate the frame inner surface. The liner perimetrical flange is disposed to the outer enclosure and includes a hermetically sealed infrastructure notch.

Abstract: A clear ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with a bottom fluid chamber. During an ice making event, portions of an ice forming evaporator extending through the housing are exposed to water flowing into the fluid channels from the upper fluid chamber. The ice forming evaporator is formed with microchannels through which refrigerant flows such that water flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the exposed portions of the ice forming evaporator over time, forming clear ice pieces. In a harvesting operation, the ice pieces are released from the ice forming evaporator and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus including a storage tank. At least one ice body is formed proximate the top portion of the storage tank. The ice body is formed in an icemaker configured to produce an ice body through direct contact with an evaporator coil and does not use cold air, or formed directly on a portion of the top portion of the storage tank using evaporator coils extending around a perimeter of the storage tank. The water is then configured to be carbonated and then dispensed to a user upon a user command.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a CMS adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, where the CMS has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The high pressure side includes an orientation-flexible compressor and a condenser fluidly connected with the orientation-flexible compressor. The low pressure side is fluidly connected to the high pressure side and includes an evaporator. The CMS also includes at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of the orientation-flexible compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The CMS further includes an insulating panel forming at least a portion of the at least one housing, and substantially separating the high pressure side from the low pressure side. The CMS is typically configured to operate in a plurality of orientations based upon the orientation-flexible compressor.

Abstract: An appliance employing a coolant system that includes a compressor having a housing, a cooling capacity, and operably connected to typically two evaporators for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment; a shared coolant fluid connection system; a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system; and a switching mechanism operably connected to a first fluid conduit that provides shared coolant fluid to the compressor at a first pressure level and a second fluid conduit that provides shared coolant fluid to the compressor at a second pressure level where the second pressure level is less than the first pressure level wherein the switching mechanism is capable of regulating and switching shared coolant flow to the compressor from the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: A refrigerator that has a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment. A refrigerating compartment door covers at least a portion of the refrigerating compartment. An ice compartment located in the refrigerating compartment is located on the refrigerating compartment door. An ice maker is located in the ice compartment and a dispenser is located on the refrigerating compartment door.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a horizontal mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.

Abstract: A refrigerator which has a refrigerating section maintained above 0 degrees C., and a freezer section located below the refrigerating section maintained below 0 degrees C. A refrigerating section door covers at least a portion of the refrigerating section. An ice compartment is located on the refrigerating section door. An ice is located in the ice compartment with an ice storage bin located in the ice compartment below the ice maker. A dispenser located on the refrigerating section door can dispense ice from the ice storage bin.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure for refrigerators and the like includes a plurality of vacuum insulated panels. The cabinet structure may include an “O” or “U” structure that is formed by folding a large panel assembly. The panels may comprise side walls that are heat-sealed together around the perimeters of the panels to form air-tight spaces having a vacuum.

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising providing first and second sheets of material. The first sheet of material is thermoformed over a first forming tool forming a first intermediate structure. The first intermediate structure is then thermoformed over a second forming mold to create a second intermediate structure. The second sheet of material is then sealing connected with the second intermediate structure forming an annular space. A vacuum is created in the annular space creating a vacuum insulated cabinet.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated door structure comprises a first wall having a first edge, outer sidewalls that extend from the first edge to a perimetrical lip, a first inner surface and a first outer surface. A second wall has a second inner surface, a second outer surface and a second edge coupled to the perimetrical lip forming a cavity volume. The second wall includes inner sidewalls defining a second wall opening. The inner sidewalls extend to a back wall and define a second wall offset. A tubular member includes a first end coupled to a first conduit opening in the first wall and a second end coupled to a second conduit opening in the second wall offset. A barrier layer is disposed on the first and second walls and the tubular member. A cavity insulation material is disposed within the cavity volume which is hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A high-efficiency air conditioning system for chilling an interior of a building that includes: a compressor; a condenser having a condenser fan associated with the condenser that moves air to cool the condenser; at least two evaporator sections wherein a first evaporator section operates at a first evaporator pressure and a second evaporator section operates at a second evaporator pressure that is different than the first evaporator pressure; at least a first throttling device and a second throttling device having different throttling characteristics with the first throttling device being less restrictive than the second throttling device; and a plurality of refrigerant conduits.

Abstract: A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume that includes at least the steps of: (1) providing a building structure air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure and (2) adjusting a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator such that coolant flows through the first evaporator for more time than the second evaporator when more latent heat is removed from the air and more coolant flows through the second evaporator for more time than the first evaporator when more sensible heat is removed from the air.

Abstract: An evaporator system that includes: a first evaporator coil at a first evaporator temperature and pressure; a second evaporator coil at a second evaporator temperature and pressure that is less than the first evaporator temperature and pressure where the first evaporator and second evaporator are configured to be thermally disjointed; and a plurality of thermally conductive spaced apart evaporator fins having a plurality of spaced apart thermal break portions positioned between the first evaporator coil and the second evaporator coil that thermally disjoin the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

Abstract: A vacuum panel cabinet structure comprising a frame having side and back framing members defining a frame opening and panel receptacles, framing edges, at least one outwardly expanded framing member, and an inner surface. A plurality of vacuum panels disposed in the panel receptacles. A barrier layer disposed on the vacuum panels. An outer enclosure having at least one extruded channel engaging the at least one outwardly expanded framing member, at least one outwardly contoured hinge, and an inward surface defining a frame receptacle into which the frame is disposed. A liner having at least four sidewalls, a back panel, a liner outer facing surface, and a liner perimetrical flange, wherein the liner outer facing surface is disposed within the frame opening proximate the frame inner surface. The liner perimetrical flange is disposed to the outer enclosure and includes a hermetically sealed infrastructure notch.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an “O” shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

Abstract: A method to form a vacuum insulated cabinet including forming a first basin having a first basin flange extending from a first basin opening and comprising a front surface, and forming a second basin having a second basin flange extending away from a second basin opening and comprising a rear surface. A barrier film and a heat sealing layer are disposed onto the first and second basins. The front surface of the first basin flange is disposed to the rear surface of the second flange to form a core cavity volume between the first and second basins. A core cavity material is disposing within the core cavity volume. The first and second basin flanges are sealed together, and gas is extracted from the core cavity volume through at least one port. The core cavity volume is hermetically sealed to form a vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vertical mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.