Secondary cooling path in refrigerator
First Claim
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment;
a fresh food compartment door for providing access to the fresh food compartment;
a compartment positioned remotely from the freezer compartment, the compartment comprising an icemaker and an ice storage area;
a secondary cooling path in thermal contact with the icemaker and a heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment, the secondary cooling path comprising a liquid coolant, wherein the liquid coolant removes heat from the icemaker via thermal contact, and wherein the heat exchanger removes heat from the liquid coolant; and
a venting conduit connected to the secondary cooling path downstream of the heat exchanger wherein the venting conduit has a first end disposed within the freezer compartment and a second end exposed to an atmosphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a secondary cooling path for circulating liquid coolant through the refrigerator wherein the liquid coolant is cooled by the freezer compartment and wherein the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path. A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path. A tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere may control suction pressure associated with the pump. The refrigerator reduces frost build up through configuration of the secondary cooling path or performing ice harvesting operations which melt frost. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating hot liquid. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating liquid coolant during a power outage.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a fresh food compartment door for providing access to the fresh food compartment; a compartment positioned remotely from the freezer compartment, the compartment comprising an icemaker and an ice storage area; a secondary cooling path in thermal contact with the icemaker and a heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment, the secondary cooling path comprising a liquid coolant, wherein the liquid coolant removes heat from the icemaker via thermal contact, and wherein the heat exchanger removes heat from the liquid coolant; and a venting conduit connected to the secondary cooling path downstream of the heat exchanger wherein the venting conduit has a first end disposed within the freezer compartment and a second end exposed to an atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An appliance comprising:
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a cabinet comprising a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, the fresh food compartment having a fresh food compartment door; a compartment positioned outside of the freezer compartment, the compartment comprising an icemaker and an ice storage area; a secondary cooling path in thermal contact with the icemaker and a heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment, the secondary cooling path comprising liquid coolant, wherein the liquid coolant removes heat from the icemaker via thermal contact, and wherein the heat exchanger removes heat from the liquid coolant; and a venting conduit connected to the secondary cooling path downstream of the heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment wherein the venting conduit has a first end disposed within the freezer compartment and a second end exposed to an atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An appliance comprising:
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a refrigerator cabinet comprising a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a fresh food compartment door for providing access to the fresh food compartment; a compartment positioned remotely from the freezer compartment, the compartment comprising an icemaker; a secondary cooling path in thermal contact with the icemaker and a heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment, the secondary cooling path comprising liquid coolant configured to flow within the secondary cooling path such that the liquid coolant removes heat from the icemaker via thermal contact and the heat exchanger removes heat from the liquid coolant; and a venting conduit connected to the secondary cooling path and downstream of the heat exchanger disposed within the freezer compartment wherein the venting conduit has a first end disposed within the freezer compartment and a second end exposed to an atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification