Abstract: A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the condenser and the evaporator for cooling the output from the condenser before entering the evaporator, herby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.

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 split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes one or more movable dampers or movable filters positioned in the flow path between the air inlet and the outlet for selectively filtering contaminants from the air to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. The movable filters include sliding and/or pivot mounting structure which may accommodate stacking multiple filters with different filtering characteristics. The system may operate in a filtering only mode with no cooling, a cooling only mode with no filtering, or a combination of cooling and selective filtering.

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 of forming a refrigeration heat exchanger comprising a suction line and a capillary line includes juxtaposing at least a portion of the suction and capillary lines to form a juxtaposed portion, at least partially enveloping the juxtaposed portion with a metal material, and encapsulating the capillary line to the suction line along at least a portion of the juxtaposed portion.

Abstract: Methods of operation for refrigerator appliance configurations with a controller, a condenser, at least one evaporator, a compressor, and two refrigeration compartments. The configuration may be equipped with a variable-speed or variable-capacity compressor, variable speed evaporator or compartment fans, a damper, and/or a dual-temperature evaporator with a valve system to control flow of refrigerant through one or more pressure reduction devices. The methods may include synchronizing alternating cycles of cooling each compartment to a temperature approximately equal to the compartment set point temperature by operation of the compressor, fans, damper and/or valve system. The methods may also include controlling the cooling rate in one or both compartments. Refrigeration compartment cooling may begin at an interval before or after when the freezer compartment reaches its lower threshold temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator and method of supplying coolant material are provided, the refrigerator including an interior and a main cooling loop, at least a portion of the interior includes a freezer section and at least a portion of the main cooling loop includes an evaporator. The refrigerator includes at least one detachable module having at least one connector, the detachable module configured to removably attach to a surface of the refrigerator, and a secondary cooling loop having at least one connector that corresponds to the at least one detachable module's at least one connector, wherein at least a portion of the secondary cooling loop is in thermal communication with at least one of the main cooling loop, the evaporator, and the freezer section, and wherein the secondary cooling loop is configured to be in fluid communication with the at least one detachable module through the corresponding at least one connectors.

Abstract: A split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes one or more movable dampers or movable filters positioned in the flow path between the air inlet and the outlet for selectively filtering contaminants from the air to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. The movable filters include sliding and/or pivot mounting structure which may accommodate stacking multiple filters with different filtering characteristics. The system may operate in a filtering only mode with no cooling, a cooling only mode with no filtering, or a combination of cooling and selective filtering.

Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.

Abstract: A split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes a filter or a stacked filter system positioned in the flow path between an air inlet and an air outlet for filtering contaminants from the air. Movable filters are provided for selectively bypassing the filters to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. Preferably, the filters are high performance HEPA-like filter having substantially less pressure drop.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a multi-capacity compressor and a refrigerant circuit with two conduits and pressure reducing devices arranged in parallel between an evaporator and a condenser. Refrigerant can flow through one, both or none of the conduits and pressure reducing devices. The appliance also has a heat exchanger in contact with either one pressure reducing device, or one conduit between the pressure reducing device and the valve system. The appliance also includes a controller for priming the compressor above a nominal capacity for a predetermined or calculated duration at the beginning of an ON-cycle.

Abstract: A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the condenser and the evaporator for cooling the output from the condenser before entering the evaporator, herby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for retrofitting an indoor water dispenser of an existing refrigerator having a water outlet with one or more components to provide secondary water conditioning to dispense an enhanced beverage using water from the water outlet of the indoor water dispenser are provided.

Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.

Abstract: A moisture control system includes a cabinet having a mullion defining first and second compartments and openings within the mullion to provide selective communication between the compartments. An evaporator is disposed in the first compartment. A cooling bank is disposed in the second compartment in selective thermal communication with the evaporator, and includes cooling and condensing portions separated by a dividing member, and a fluid collector disposed proximate the condensing portion. A first cooling fan is disposed proximate the evaporator and configured to direct air across the evaporator and through the first compartment. A second cooling fan is disposed proximate the cooling bank and operable between an evaporator position in fluid communication with the evaporator and the cooling bank, and a bank position in fluid communication with the cooling bank. A panel assembly is disposed proximate the plurality of openings and operable between a plurality of positions.

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: A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, that includes a single outdoor unit; a refrigerant flow pathway made up of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path and a second divergent flow path and the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another; at least one throttling device; a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively where the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.

Abstract: A water filter system for an appliance includes a filter head assembly, a first appliance control unit positioned proximate the filter head assembly and a water filter having a memory storage unit. The water filter is selectively placed in communication with the first appliance control unit to define a filter use state. The filter use state is further defined by a first potential fluid-flow rate through the water filter and a predetermined lifetime fluid filtration amount. A data transfer mechanism defines a second data-transfer protocol between the memory storage unit and the first appliance control unit when an actual fluid filtration amount of the water filter reaches the predetermined lifetime fluid filtration amount. The second data transfer protocol defines a notification state defined by a second potential fluid flow rate, the second potential fluid flow rate being less than the first potential fluid flow rate.

Abstract: An ice maker is provided that includes a tray having recesses that can include ice-phobic surfaces. The ice-phobic surfaces may include ice-phobic coatings, textured metal surfaces, hydrophobic coatings or other surfaces configured to repel water and ice. The tray can be formed from metal material and may exhibit a fatigue limit greater than about 150 Megapascals (MPa) at 105 cycles. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, and a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the tray. The driving body is further adapted to rotate the tray in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise cycle such that the tray presses against the frame body in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses of the tray.

Abstract: A multi-stage home refueling appliance and method supplying compressed natural gas from a utility natural gas supply. The multi-stage home refueling appliance includes a first compressing stage having a first stage inlet fluidly coupled to the supply of natural gas and a first stage outlet, a second compressing stage having a second stage inlet fluidly coupled to the first stage outlet and a second stage outlet and a vehicle refueling dispenser fluidly coupled to the second stage outlet and configured to be selectively fluidly coupled to a storage tank of a vehicle.