Water dispenser assembly and method of assembling same

• US 7,475,555 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hanley, Kenneth, Janardhanam, Ramesh, Tummala, Anil Kumar, Hooker, John Kenneth, Hamad, Abdel, Johnson, Eric Scott, Paez, Eric, Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E
• Application Number:
  US11/258,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 62337-356, 62389-400, 2221461-1466
• US Class Current: 62/89
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/14 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2600/04 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler

Abstract

A water dispenser assembly used for a dispensing system includes an inlet configured to receive water from a water supply, and a flow meter in communication with the inlet. The flow meter is configured to measure an amount of water passing therethrough. A first valve is arranged in communication with the flow meter, and the first valve is configured to enable and restrict water flow to an outlet. A controller is operatively coupled to the flow meter and the first valve. The controller is configured to control the dispensing of water based on the measured amount of water passing through the flow meter and based upon a volume error factor correction.

Claims

1. A water dispenser assembly used for a dispensing system, said water dispensing assembly comprising:

an inlet configured to receive water from a water supply;

a flow meter in communication with said inlet, said flow meter configured to measure a volume of water passing therethrough;

a first valve arranged in communication with said flow meter, said first valve configured to enable and restrict water flow to an outlet; and

a controller operatively coupled to said flow meter and said first valve, said controller programmed to control said first valve to dispense an adjusted volume of water from said outlet by compensating for the measured volume of water passing through said flow meter with a volume error factor correction.

2. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the volume error factor correction is based upon at least one of a pressure, a flowrate, and a system reaction time.

3. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of water within said dispensing system, said pressure sensor operatively coupled to said controller, said volume error factor correction based upon the measured pressure of the water.

4. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second valve arranged in communication with one of said flow meter and a second flow meter, said second valve operatively coupled to said controller, said second valve configured to enable and restrict the water to flow to a second outlet.

5. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the dispensing system is coupled to a refrigerator comprising a first through-the-door dispenser configured to deliver ice from an ice maker to a user and a second through-the-door dispenser configured to deliver water to a user, wherein said outlet is configured to deliver water to the ice maker, said second outlet is configured to deliver water to said second through-the-door dispenser.

6. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second water dispenser operatively coupled to said flow meter.

7. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second water dispenser comprising a second flow meter operatively coupled to the controller and configured to measure a volume of water passing through the second flow meter, the controller further programmed to control a second valve to dispense water.

8. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to said controller and configured to receive an input from a user.

9. The water dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said user interface comprises a plurality of tactile buttons configured to allow a user to select different amounts of water to be dispensed.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;

an ice maker arranged within said cabinet, said ice maker configured to produce ice;

a water dispenser arranged within said cabinet and in communication with said ice maker, said water dispenser configured to dispense a volume of water into said ice maker;

a flow meter operatively coupled to said water dispenser, said flow meter configured to accurately detect the volume of water dispensed into said ice maker; and

a controller operatively coupled to said flow meter and said water dispenser, said controller programmed to control a valve to dispense an adjusted volume of water into said ice maker by compensating for the measured volume of water passing through said flow meter with a volume error factor correction.

11. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 wherein the volume error factor correction is based upon at least one of a pressure, a flowrate, and a system reaction time.

12. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of water within said dispensing system, said pressure sensor operatively coupled to said controller, said volume error factor correction based upon the measured pressure of the water.

13. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a second water dispenser operatively coupled to said flow meter.

14. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a second water dispenser comprising a second flow meter.

15. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a first valve and a second valve, said first valve configured to control passage of water flowing into said ice maker, said second valve configured to control passage of water flowing outside said cabinet of the refrigerator, said first and second valves operatively coupled to said controller and controlled based upon an amount of water dispensed therefrom.

16. The refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to said controller and configured to receive an input from a user, wherein said user interface comprises a plurality of tactile buttons configured to allow a user to select different amounts of water to be dispensed.

17. A method of assembling a water dispenser assembly used for a dispensing system, said method comprising:

providing an inlet configured to receive water;

providing a flow meter in communication with the inlet, the flow meter configured to measure a volume of water passing therethrough;

providing a first valve arranged in communication with the flow meter, the first valve being configured to enable and restrict water flow to an outlet; and

coupling a controller to the flow meter and the first valve, the controller programmed to control the first valve to dispense an adjusted volume of water by compensating for the measured volume of water passing through the flow meter with a volume error factor correction.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said coupling a controller to the flow meter and the first valve further comprises coupling a controller to the flow meter and the first valve, the controller programmed to control the first valve based upon at least one of a pressure, a flowrate, and a system reaction time.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising providing a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of water within the dispensing system, said coupling a controller to the flow meter and the first valve further comprises coupling a controller to the flow meter and the first valve, the controller programmed to control the first valve based upon the measured pressure of the water.

20. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising:

providing a second valve arranged in communication with one of the flow meter and a second flow meter;

operatively coupling the second valve to the controller, the second valve being configured to enable and restrict the water to flow to a second outlet.