AUTO WATER DISPENSER CUTOFF

• US 20140224375A1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Willis, Timothy E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0014 the beverage being supplied from water mains
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1247 Means for detecting the presence or absence of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/16 Devices for collecting spilled beverages
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment and a door to open and close at least a portion of the refrigerated compartment. A dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense content into a receiver vessel. The dispenser includes a control unit, an actuation system controlled by the control unit, and a dispensing outlet through which the content flows from the dispenser and into the receiver vessel. The dispenser further includes a trough located below the dispensing outlet for collecting overflow content from at least one of the receiver vessel and the dispensing outlet. The dispenser further includes a sensor coupled to the trough and in electrical communication with the control unit. The sensor is configured to detect overflow content contained within the trough. A method for controlling the dispensing of content from a dispenser is also described.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerated compartment;

a door to open and close at least a portion of the refrigerated compartment;

a dispenser positioned on the door that is configured to dispense content into a receiver vessel, the dispenser comprising;

a control unit;

an actuation system controlled by the control unit;

a dispensing outlet through which the content flows from the dispenser and into the receiver vessel;

a trough located below the dispensing outlet for collecting overflow content from at least one of the receiver vessel and the dispensing outlet; and

a sensor coupled to the trough and in electrical communication with the control unit, the sensor configured to detect overflow content contained within the trough.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the actuation system comprises a valve.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the trough has a generally concave geometry.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the trough comprises a dielectric material.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one capacitive sensor coupled to the trough.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to measure a sensed capacitance of the overflow content contained within the trough and communicate the sensed capacitance to the control unit.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the control unit determines that an overflow condition exists when the sensed capacitance exceeds a reference capacitance by a predetermined amount.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the reference capacitance is a predetermined static capacitance, and the sensed capacitance is a capacitance measured in the trough at least once while content is being dispensed.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to the trough.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of capacitive sensors are configured to measure a plurality of sensed capacitances of the overflow content contained within the trough and communicate the plurality of sensed capacitances to the control unit.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the control unit determines that an overflow condition exists when at least one of the plurality of sensed capacitances differs from a reference capacitance by a predetermined amount.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the reference capacitance is a predetermined reference capacitance, and at least one of the plurality of sensed capacitances is a capacitance measured in the trough at least once while content is being dispensed.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the reference capacitance is a variable reference capacitance measured in the trough prior to content being dispensed, and at least one of the plurality sensed capacitances is a capacitance measured in the trough at least once while content is being dispensed.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to terminate dispensing of content when an overflow condition exists.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises:

a pressure transducer;

a capillary tube; and

a hole at a predetermined location of the trough, wherein the pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the hole via the capillary tube.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the pressure transducer is configured to sense a fluid pressure of the overflow content contained within the trough and communicate the sensed pressure to the control unit.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the control unit determines that an overflow condition exists when the sensed pressure exceeds a reference pressure by a predetermined amount.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the reference pressure is a pressure measured by the pressure transducer prior to content being dispensed, and the sensed pressure is measured by the pressure transducer at least twice while content is being dispensed.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the pressure transducer is configured to sense the fluid pressure of either a gas or a liquid.

20. A method for controlling the dispensing of content from a dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:

dispensing content into a receiver vessel via a dispensing outlet;

measuring a sensed value in a trough located below the dispensing outlet during the dispensing of content, said sensed value representing an overflow content level contained within the trough;

comparing the sensed value to a reference value; and

terminating the dispensing of content from the dispensing outlet when the sensed value differs from the reference value by a predetermined amount.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said sensed value is at least one sensed capacitance measured by at least one capacitive sensor.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said sensed value is at least one sensed fluid pressure measured by at least one pressure transducer.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of setting the reference value prior to the dispensing of content, wherein the reference value represents at least one of an instant residual content level contained within a trough and a full-trough value.