REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE WITH ACCELERATED DISPENSING

• US 20190315617A1
• Filed: 04/17/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Chernov, Gregory Sergeevich, Krause, Andrew Reinhard
• Granted Patent: US 10,730,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0238 utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on liquids in storage containers for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/14 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/122 the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a water supply system with a supply conduit connectable to a pressurized water supply such that a flow of water is flowable through the supply conduit to an exit of the supply conduit positioned at a dispenser recess. A dispensing valve is coupled to the supply conduit downstream of a flow restriction. A water tank is connected to the supply conduit downstream of the flow restriction and upstream of the dispensing valve. The water tank is configured such that a compressible medium within the water tank is compressed by water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;

a door mounted to the cabinet such that the door provides selective access to the chilled chamber of the cabinet, the door defining a dispenser recess; and

a water supply system comprising

a supply conduit connectable to a pressurized water supply such that a flow of water is flowable through the supply conduit to an exit of the supply conduit positioned at the dispenser recess on the door;

a flow restriction coupled to the supply conduit;

a dispensing valve coupled to the supply conduit downstream of the flow restriction;

a supply conduit branch extending from the supply conduit, the supply conduit branch positioned downstream of the flow restriction and upstream of the dispensing valve; and

a water tank connected to the supply conduit branch, the water tank at least partially filled with air, the water tank configured such that air within the water tank is compressed by water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a compressor connected to the water tank such that the compressor is operable to flow compressed air into the water tank.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the water tank is a bladder tank or a diaphragm tank.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the water tank comprises a closed shell and an elastic membrane disposed within the closed shell, the elastic membrane configured such that the elastic membrane is positioned between the air and the water within the closed shell.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein further comprising a controller in operative communication with the dispensing valve, the controller configured for opening the dispensing valve in response to a signal from an actuating mechanism in the dispenser recess.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 5, wherein water from the water tank flows from the water tank to the exit of the supply conduit when the controller opens the dispensing valve.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 6, wherein a maximum flow rate of the water from the water tank is no less than two gallons per minute after the controller opens the dispensing valve.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the flow restriction comprises one or more of a water filter, a solenoid valve and a flow control washer.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the water tank is sized to contain no less than one liter and no more than two liters of water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the water supply system further comprises an aerator mounted to the supply conduit at the exit of the supply conduit.

11. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; and

a water supply system comprising

a supply conduit connectable to a pressurized water supply such that a flow of water is flowable through the supply conduit to an exit of the supply conduit positioned at a dispenser;

a water filter coupled to the supply conduit;

a dispensing valve coupled to the supply conduit downstream of the water filter; and

a water tank connected to the supply conduit downstream of the water filter and upstream of the dispensing valve, the water tank at least partially filled with a compressible medium, the water tank configured such that the compressible medium within the water tank is compressed by water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, further comprising a compressor connected to the water tank such that the compressor is operable to flow compressed air into the water tank.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the water tank is a bladder tank or a diaphragm tank.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein further comprising a controller in operative communication with the dispensing valve, the controller configured for opening the dispensing valve in response to a signal from an actuating mechanism in the dispenser recess.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein water from the water tank flows from the water tank to the exit of the supply conduit when the controller opens the dispensing valve.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 15, wherein a maximum flow rate of the water from the water tank is no less than two gallons per minute after the controller opens the dispensing valve.

17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the water tank is sized to contain no less than one liter and no more than two liters of water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

18. A water dispensing system, comprising:

a supply conduit connectable to a pressurized water supply such that a flow of water is flowable through the supply conduit to an exit of the supply conduit;

a water filter coupled to the supply conduit;

a dispensing valve coupled to the supply conduit downstream of the water filter; and

a water tank connected to the supply conduit downstream of the water filter and upstream of the dispensing valve, the water tank at least partially filled with a compressible medium, the water tank configured such that the compressible medium within the water tank is compressed by water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.

19. The water dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the water tank is a bladder tank or a diaphragm tank.

20. The water dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the water tank is sized to contain no less than one liter and no more than two liters of water from the supply conduit when the dispensing valve is closed.