SPECIALTY COOLING FEATURES USING EXTRUDED EVAPORATOR
First Claim
1. An evaporator assembly for a refrigerating appliance, the evaporator assembly comprising:
- a co-extruded evaporator having a main channel and at least one support channel in direct thermal communication with the main channel, wherein a wall of the main channel comprises at least a portion of a wall of the at least one support channel, and a plurality of co-extruded cooling fins disposed proximate at least one of the main channel and the at least one support channel, wherein the plurality of cooling fins is in direct physical contact with and in thermal communication with at least one of the main channel and the at least one support channel;
a coolant fluid disposed in the main channel;
a thermally conductive media in communication with the at least one support channel, the thermally conductive media being independent and maintained separate from the coolant fluid disposed in the main channel and selectively disposed in each at least one support channel, wherein the thermally conductive media is in direct contact and in thermal communication with the main channel and in thermal communication with the coolant fluid in the main channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An appliance includes a co-extruded evaporator in thermal communication with a compartment. The co-extruded evaporator includes main and support channels in thermal communication that share a common wall. A main cooling loop is in fluid communication with the main channel. A plurality of co-extruded fins are disposed proximate and in thermal communication with the main and support channels. A coolant is disposed in the main channel and the main cooling loop. A thermally conductive media is selectively disposed in the support channel in fluid and thermal communication with the main channel. The thermally conductive media is chosen from the group consisting of a support channel coolant, wherein the appliance includes a second cooling loop in fluid communication with the support channel, a thermal storage material in thermal communication with the compartment, and a defrost fluid, wherein the appliance includes a defrost circuit in fluid communication with the support channel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An evaporator assembly for a refrigerating appliance, the evaporator assembly comprising:
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a co-extruded evaporator having a main channel and at least one support channel in direct thermal communication with the main channel, wherein a wall of the main channel comprises at least a portion of a wall of the at least one support channel, and a plurality of co-extruded cooling fins disposed proximate at least one of the main channel and the at least one support channel, wherein the plurality of cooling fins is in direct physical contact with and in thermal communication with at least one of the main channel and the at least one support channel; a coolant fluid disposed in the main channel; a thermally conductive media in communication with the at least one support channel, the thermally conductive media being independent and maintained separate from the coolant fluid disposed in the main channel and selectively disposed in each at least one support channel, wherein the thermally conductive media is in direct contact and in thermal communication with the main channel and in thermal communication with the coolant fluid in the main channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19)
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9. An evaporator assembly comprising:
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a co-extruded evaporator disposed in thermal communication with and in thermal communication of an interior compartment of an appliance such that the co-extruded evaporator provides cooling to a portion of the interior compartment, the co-extruded evaporator having a main channel in thermal communication with a main cooling loop and at least one support channel in direct thermal communication with the main channel, wherein a wall of the main channel comprises at least a portion of a wall of each at least one support channel, and a plurality of first co-extruded cooling fins disposed in direct physical contact and in thermal communication with the main channel and a plurality of second co-extruded cooling fins disposed in direct physical contact and in thermal communication with the at least one support channel; a coolant fluid disposed in the main channel, the coolant fluid in thermal communication with the main cooling loop; and a thermally conductive media selectively disposed within the at least one support channel that is independent and maintained separately from the coolant fluid disposed in the main channel, wherein the thermally conductive media and the coolant fluid are each in direct physical contact with the wall of the main channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20)
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Specification