Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module rotatably mounted within a liner to at least partially define a first grow chamber and a second grow chamber. A climate control system includes an evaporator plenum housing an evaporator, a fan assembly for urging air through the evaporator plenum, recirculation ducts for independently circulating air through the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber, and ambient duct systems for independently circulating fresh ambient air through the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber. A system of dampers selectively opens or closes each respective recirculation duct and ambient duct system for independent climate control of the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A recirculation duct is in fluid communication with the grow chamber and a fan assembly circulates a flow of air through the recirculation duct and the grow chamber. A gas sensing assembly includes a gas sensor positioned within the recirculation duct for detecting the concentration of a gas within the flow of air and a flow stabilization device at least partially surrounding the gas sensor for reducing pressure fluctuations in the flow of air and improving gas sensor accuracy.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance with sensing for load determination including a shelf and shelf support with a resilient member positioned so as to be compressed by the weight of food items placed on the shelf. Changes in pressure or flowrate of a fluid in the resilient member are used to detect changes in the weight of food items. The appliance can be configured to execute one or more events based on the detected changes.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet. A fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber are defined in the cabinet. The fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber are mutually separated by a mullion. The refrigerator appliance also includes an articulating lip coupled to the mullion. The articulating lip is movable relative to the mullion between a sealing position and an open position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance with sensing for load determination including a shelf and shelf support with a resilient member positioned so as to be compressed by the weight of food items placed on the shelf. Changes in pressure or flowrate of a fluid in the resilient member are used to detect changes in the weight of food items. The appliance can be configured to execute one or more events based on the detected changes.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet. A fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber are defined in the cabinet. The fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber are mutually separated by a mullion. The refrigerator appliance also includes an articulating lip coupled to the mullion. The articulating lip is movable relative to the mullion between a sealing position and an open position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber, and a flexible chamber defined in a door of the refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cooling system configured to provide cooled air to the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber, and the flexible chamber. The sealed cooling system includes a fresh food fan configured to urge air from at least a first part of the cooling system to the fresh food chamber, a door-in-door fan configured to urge air from at least a second part of the cooling system to the flexible chamber, and a freezer fan configured to urge air from a third part of the cooling system to the freezer chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-evaporator sealed vapor compression system for an appliance are provided. In one example aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in series. A flash tank is positioned between the evaporators. One or more valves are fluidly coupled with and positioned downstream of the flash tank and the second evaporator. The valves are operable to selectively switch the flow of refrigerant fluid between the two evaporators at a frequency such that the temperature rise in the evaporators is negligible. In another aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in parallel. One or more valves positioned upstream of the evaporators and one or more valves are positioned downstream of the evaporators for controlling the refrigerant flow through the sealed system.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a first liner, a second liner, a first fan, a second fan, and a return line. The cabinet may define an evaporator chamber. The first liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a first chilled chamber having a primary air inlet, a secondary air inlet, and an air outlet. The second liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a second chilled chamber spaced apart from the first chilled chamber, the second chilled chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The return line may extend in fluid communication from the air outlet of the second chilled chamber to the secondary air inlet of the first chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and heating assembly, as provided herein, may include a sheath, a resistive wire, and a hydrophobic layer. The sheath may define an enclosed volume along a length between a first end portion and a second end portion. The resistive wire may be disposed within the enclosed volume to generate heat in response to an electrical current. The hydrophobic layer may be formed on the sheath along the length from the first end portion to the second end portion.

Abstract: A delivery retrieval station, as provided herein, may include a delivery base and a destination container. The delivery base may include a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform. The conditioning assembly may be disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform. The destination container may be selectively mounted to the base station. The destination container may include a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber. The base wall may be selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber, and a flexible chamber defined in a door of the refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cooling system configured to provide cooled air to the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber, and the flexible chamber. The sealed cooling system includes a fresh food fan configured to urge air from at least a first part of the cooling system to the fresh food chamber, a door-in-door fan configured to urge air from at least a second part of the cooling system to the flexible chamber, and a freezer fan configured to urge air from a third part of the cooling system to the freezer chamber.

Abstract: A delivery retrieval station, as provided herein, may include a delivery base and a destination container. The delivery base may include a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform. The conditioning assembly may be disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform. The destination container may be selectively mounted to the base station. The destination container may include a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber. The base wall may be selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a first liner, a second liner, a first fan, a second fan, and a return line. The cabinet may define an evaporator chamber. The first liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a first chilled chamber having a primary air inlet, a secondary air inlet, and an air outlet. The second liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a second chilled chamber spaced apart from the first chilled chamber, the second chilled chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The return line may extend in fluid communication from the air outlet of the second chilled chamber to the secondary air inlet of the first chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet defining a fresh food (FF) chamber and a freezer (Fz) chamber, a liner, and a sealed system. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. The sealed system may include a compressor, a condenser, a multi-path valve, a first expansion device, a second expansion device, a FF evaporator, an IB evaporator, and a Fz evaporator. The multi-path valve may be downstream from the condenser to selectively direct refrigerant between a fluid-parallel first restrictor path and second restrictor path. The first expansion device may be mounted in fluid communication along the first restrictor path. The second expansion device may be mounted in fluid communication along the second restrictor path. The FF evaporator may be downstream from the first restrictor path. The IB evaporator may be downstream from the FF evaporator. The Fz evaporator may be downstream from the IB evaporator.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-evaporator sealed vapor compression system for an appliance are provided. In one example aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in series. A flash tank is positioned between the evaporators. One or more valves are fluidly coupled with and positioned downstream of the flash tank and the second evaporator. The valves are operable to selectively switch the flow of refrigerant fluid between the two evaporators at a frequency such that the temperature rise in the evaporators is negligible. In another aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in parallel. One or more valves positioned upstream of the evaporators and one or more valves are positioned downstream of the evaporators for controlling the refrigerant flow through the sealed system.

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 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 refrigeration heating assembly and method of operation are generally provided herein. The heating assembly may include an inner glass tube, a resistive heating element, an outer glass tube, a first end cap, a second end cap, and a sensor assembly. The inner glass tube may include a continuous inner wall defining a central passage. The resistive heating element may be disposed within the central passage. The outer glass tube may include a continuous outer wall disposed about the inner glass tube. A radial gap may be defined between the glass tubes. The first end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a first end. The second end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a second end. The sensor assembly may be disposed in fluid communication with the radial gap.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration system and heating assembly is generally provided herein. The electrical heater may generally include a conductive sheath, a resistive wire, a thermally conductive electrical insulation, and an electrically-insulating layer. The conductive sheath may define an enclosed volume along a length between a first end portion and a second end portion. The resistive wire may be disposed within the enclosed volume. The thermally conductive electrical insulation may be radially positioned between the resistive wire and the conductive sheath. The electrically-insulating layer may extend along at least a portion of the length. Moreover, the electrically-insulating layer may be radially positioned outward from the conductive sheath.