U.S. patent application number 16/951397 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-19 for refrigerator appliance auxiliary evaporation tray.
The applicant listed for this patent is Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ronald Anderson, Martin Busche.
Application Number | 20220154999 16/951397 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005265432 |
Filed Date | 2022-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220154999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Ronald ; et
al. |
May 19, 2022 |
REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE AUXILIARY EVAPORATION TRAY
Abstract
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a food
storage chamber. An evaporator is in fluid communication with the
food storage chamber such that cool dry air flows from the
evaporator to the food storage chamber and warm humid air flows to
the evaporator from the food storage chamber. The refrigerator
appliance also includes a meltwater conduit in fluid communication
with the evaporator downstream of the evaporator such that the
meltwater conduit receives a flow of meltwater from the evaporator.
An auxiliary evaporation tray is immediately downstream of the
meltwater conduit such that the auxiliary evaporation tray receives
the flow of meltwater directly from the meltwater conduit. A
primary evaporation tray is downstream of the auxiliary evaporation
tray.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Ronald;
(Washington Township, OH) ; Busche; Martin;
(Evansville, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005265432 |
Appl. No.: |
16/951397 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 11/02 20130101;
F25D 2321/146 20130101; F25D 2321/145 20130101; F25D 21/14
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20060101
F25D021/14; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, the
refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a food
storage chamber; an evaporator in fluid communication with the food
storage chamber whereby cool dry air flows from the evaporator to
the food storage chamber and warm humid air flows to the evaporator
from the food storage chamber; a meltwater conduit in fluid
communication with the evaporator downstream of the evaporator
whereby the meltwater conduit receives a flow of meltwater from the
evaporator; an auxiliary evaporation tray immediately downstream of
the meltwater conduit whereby the auxiliary evaporation tray
receives the flow of meltwater directly from the meltwater conduit;
and a primary evaporation tray downstream of the auxiliary
evaporation tray.
2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary
evaporation tray comprises a water trap.
3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein a downstream end
of the meltwater conduit is located within the water trap.
4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary
evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls and a bottom
wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively
defining an internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray, and
wherein the water trap is defined within the internal volume of the
auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall.
5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the partition
wall is a first partition wall, and wherein the water trap is
defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation
tray by the first partition wall, a second partition wall, and two
side walls of the plurality of side walls.
6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein each sidewall of
the plurality of sidewalls defines a height along the vertical
direction, wherein the height of each sidewall of the plurality of
sidewalls is equal to the height of every other sidewall of the
plurality of sidewalls, wherein the partition wall defines a second
height along the vertical direction, and wherein the second height
of the partition wall is less than the height of each sidewall of
the plurality of sidewalls.
7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising an
overflow conduit extending from the auxiliary evaporation tray to
the primary evaporation tray.
8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary
evaporation tray comprises a bottom wall, the overflow conduit
comprises an inlet end above the bottom wall of the auxiliary
evaporation tray along the vertical direction, and the overflow
conduit extends downward along the vertical direction from the
inlet end through the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray
and to an outlet end below the bottom wall of the auxiliary
evaporation tray.
9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary
evaporation tray comprises a water trap defined within an internal
volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall, the
inlet end of the overflow conduit positioned within the internal
volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray and outside of the water
trap, wherein the partition wall defines a height above the bottom
wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray and the height of the
partition wall above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation
tray is greater than a distance along the vertical direction from
the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray to the inlet end
of the overflow conduit.
10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary
evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls, wherein an
angled side wall of the plurality of side walls is oriented at an
oblique angle to the vertical direction.
11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the primary
evaporation tray is below the auxiliary evaporation tray along the
vertical direction, and wherein the angled side wall of the
plurality of side walls is proximate to and oriented towards a fan
of the refrigerator appliance, whereby the angled side wall of the
plurality of side walls directs a flow of air from the fan towards
the primary evaporation tray.
12. An auxiliary evaporation tray for a refrigerator appliance, the
auxiliary evaporation tray defining a vertical direction, the
auxiliary evaporation tray configured to receive a flow of
meltwater directly from a meltwater conduit of the refrigerator
appliance tray system, and configured for positioning upstream of a
primary evaporation tray of the refrigerator appliance.
13. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, wherein the
auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls and
a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall
collectively defining an internal volume of the auxiliary
evaporation tray, and a water trap is defined within the internal
volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall.
14. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 13, wherein the
partition wall is a first partition wall, and wherein the water
trap is defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary
evaporation tray by the first partition wall, a second partition
wall, and two side walls of the plurality of side walls.
15. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 13, wherein each
sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls defines a height along the
vertical direction, wherein the height of each sidewall of the
plurality of sidewalls is equal to the height of every other
sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the partition wall
defines a second height along the vertical direction, and wherein
the second height of the partition wall is less than the height of
each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.
16. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, further comprising
an overflow conduit configured to extend from the auxiliary
evaporation tray to the primary evaporation tray.
17. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 16, further comprising
a bottom wall, wherein the overflow conduit comprises an inlet end
above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray along the
vertical direction, and the overflow conduit extends downward along
the vertical direction from the inlet end through the bottom wall
of the auxiliary evaporation tray and to an outlet end below the
bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray.
18. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 17, further comprising
a water trap defined within an internal volume of the auxiliary
evaporation tray by a partition wall, the inlet end of the overflow
conduit positioned within the internal volume of the auxiliary
evaporation tray and outside of the water trap, wherein the
partition wall defines a height above the bottom wall of the
auxiliary evaporation tray and the height of the partition wall
above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray is greater
than a distance along the vertical direction from the bottom wall
of the auxiliary evaporation tray to the inlet end of the overflow
conduit
19. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, further comprising
a plurality of side walls, wherein an angled side wall of the
plurality of side walls is oriented at an oblique angle to the
vertical direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates
generally to refrigerator appliances. In particular, the present
disclosure relates to improved evaporation features for a
refrigerator appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that
defines one or more chilled chambers for receipt of food items for
storage. One or more insulated, sealing doors are provided for
selectively enclosing the chilled food storage chamber(s).
Generally, the door(s) are movable between a closed position and an
open position for accessing food items stored therein by pulling on
the door(s), such as by pulling on a handle on the door.
[0003] Refrigerator appliances typically utilize sealed systems for
cooling chilled chambers of the refrigerator appliances. A typical
sealed system includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan. The
fan generates a flow of air across the evaporator to cool the flow
of air. The cooled air is then provided through an opening into the
chilled chamber to maintain the chilled chamber at a desired set
point temperature. Air from the chilled chamber is circulated back
through a return duct to be re-cooled by the sealed system during
operation of the refrigerator appliance, maintaining the chilled
chamber at the desired temperature.
[0004] In some instances, relatively warm, moisture-laden air
enters the chilled chamber, such as when the door is opened, and
particularly when the door is opened frequently and/or left open
for an extended time. When this warm, moisture-laden air from the
ambient environment enters the chilled chamber, condensation forms
on surfaces, e.g., walls and shelves, within the chilled chamber.
The condensation then evaporates and, during operation of the
sealed cooling system, is drawn to the evaporator coil, where it
freezes. The evaporator must then be periodically defrosted. The
melt water from defrosting the evaporator is typically collected in
an evaporation tray at the bottom of the refrigerator appliance,
from which the liquid water eventually evaporates and returns to
the ambient air outside of the refrigerator appliance.
[0005] However, typical evaporation trays may have insufficient
volume to store the amount of melt water generated after heavy use,
e.g., frequent and/or prolonged door openings, especially during
warmer seasons and in warmer climates. In some cases, melt water
may accumulate in the evaporation tray faster than it evaporates to
the point that the tray may overflow.
[0006] Accordingly, a refrigerator having improved evaporation
features would be desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be apparent from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0008] In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is
provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that
defines a food storage chamber. An evaporator is in fluid
communication with the food storage chamber such that cool dry air
flows from the evaporator to the food storage chamber and warm
humid air flows to the evaporator from the food storage chamber.
The refrigerator appliance also includes a meltwater conduit in
fluid communication with the evaporator downstream of the
evaporator such that the meltwater conduit receives a flow of
meltwater from the evaporator. An auxiliary evaporation tray is
immediately downstream of the meltwater conduit such that the
auxiliary evaporation tray receives the flow of meltwater directly
from the meltwater conduit. A primary evaporation tray is
downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray.
[0009] In a second exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary evaporation
tray for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The auxiliary
evaporation tray defines a vertical direction. The auxiliary
evaporation tray is configured to receive a flow of meltwater
directly from a meltwater conduit of the refrigerator appliance
tray system. The auxiliary evaporation tray is also configured to
be positioned upstream of a primary evaporation tray of the
refrigerator appliance.
[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures.
[0012] FIG. 1 provides a front elevation view of a refrigerator
appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter with a door of the refrigerator appliance shown in
the closed position.
[0013] FIG. 2 provides a front elevation view of the exemplary
refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1 with the door shown in an open
position.
[0014] FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of certain components of
the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of an auxiliary
evaporation tray according to one or more exemplary embodiments
which may be incorporated into a refrigerator appliance such as the
exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 provides a side view of the exemplary auxiliary
evaporation tray of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 provides a top-down view of the exemplary auxiliary
evaporation tray of FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 7 provides a cross-section view of the exemplary
auxiliary evaporation tray of FIG. 4 in combination with
neighboring components of an exemplary refrigerator appliance such
as the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter
designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar
designations in the drawings and description have been used to
refer to like or similar parts of the disclosure. Each example is
provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of
the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that various modifications and variations can be made in the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part
of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a
still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present
invention covers such modifications and variations as come within
the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0020] As used herein, the terms "first," "second," and "third" may
be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another
and are not intended to signify location or importance of the
individual components. Terms such as "inner" and "outer" refer to
relative directions with respect to the interior and exterior of
the refrigerator appliance, and in particular the food storage
chamber(s) defined therein. For example, "inner" or "inward" refers
to the direction towards the interior of the refrigerator
appliance. Terms such as "left," "right," "front," "back," "top,"
or "bottom" are used with reference to the perspective of a user
accessing the refrigerator appliance. For example, a user stands in
front of the refrigerator to open the door(s) and reaches into the
food storage chamber(s) to access items therein.
[0021] As used herein, terms of approximation, such as "generally,"
or "about" include values within ten percent greater or less than
the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or
direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less
than the stated angle or direction. For example, "generally
vertical" includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any
direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.
[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary refrigerator
appliance 100 has an insulated housing or cabinet 120 that defines
a food storage chamber 122. A door 124 is provided to selectively
sealingly enclose the food storage chamber 122 when in a closed
position (FIG. 1) and provide access to the food storage chamber
122 when in an open position (FIG. 2). The door 124 is rotatably
mounted to the cabinet 120, such as by one or more hinges 126 (FIG.
2), to rotate between the open position and the closed
position.
[0023] Refrigerator appliance 100 defines a vertical direction V, a
lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T (e.g., FIG. 7),
each mutually perpendicular to one another. As may be seen in FIGS.
1 and 2, the cabinet or housing 120 extends between a top 101 and a
bottom 102 along the vertical direction V, between a left side 104
and a right side 106 along the lateral direction L, and between a
front 108 (FIG. 2) and a rear 110 (FIG. 7) along the transverse
direction T. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the food storage chamber 122
includes a front portion 134. The front portion 134 of the food
storage chamber 122 defines an opening 136 for receipt of food
items. The food storage chamber 122 is a chilled chamber 122 for
receipt of food items for storage. As used herein, the chamber may
be "chilled" in that the chamber is operable at temperatures below
room temperature, e.g., less than about seventy-five degrees
Fahrenheit (75.degree. F.). One of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that the food storage chamber 122 may be chilled by a
sealed refrigeration system, such that the food storage chamber 122
may be operable at or about the temperatures described herein by
providing chilled air from the sealed system. The structure and
function of such sealed systems are understood by those of ordinary
skill in the art and are not described in further detail herein for
the sake of brevity and clarity.
[0024] Refrigerator door 124 is rotatably mounted, e.g., hinged, to
an edge of cabinet 120 for selectively accessing the fresh food
storage chamber 122 within the cabinet 120. Refrigerator door 124
may be mounted to the cabinet 120 at or near the front portion 134
of the food storage chamber 122 such that the door 124 moves, e.g.,
rotates via hinges 126, between the closed position (FIG. 1) and
the open position (FIG. 2). In the closed position of FIG. 1, the
door 124 sealingly encloses the food storage chamber 122.
Additionally, one or more gaskets and other sealing devices, which
are not shown but will be understood by one of ordinary skill in
the art, may be provided to promote sealing between the door 124
and the cabinet 120. In the open position of FIG. 2, the door 124
permits access to the fresh food storage chamber 122.
[0025] As shown for example in FIG. 2, various storage components
may be mounted within the food storage chamber 122 to facilitate
storage of food items therein as will be understood by those
skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components include
bins 116, drawers 117, and shelves 118 that are mounted within
fresh food chamber 122. Bins 116, drawers 117, and shelves 118 are
configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid
food items) and may assist with organizing such food items.
[0026] As depicted, cabinet 120 defines a single chilled chamber
122 for receipt of food items for storage. In the present example,
the single chilled chamber 122 is a fresh food chamber 122. In some
embodiments, the chilled chamber may be a freezer chamber and/or
the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more additional
chilled chambers for receipt of various food items and storage of
such items at various different temperatures as desired. For
example, the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more
chilled chambers configured for deep freeze (e.g., at about
0.degree. F. or less) storage, or configured for chilling, e.g.,
produce or wine, at relatively warmer temperatures such as about
60.degree. F. or more, as well as any suitable temperatures between
the stated examples. In various exemplary embodiments, the chilled
chamber 122 may be selectively operable at any number of various
temperatures and/or temperature ranges as desired or required per
application, and/or the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one
or more additional chambers selectively operable at any suitable
food storage temperature.
[0027] The illustrated exemplary refrigerator appliance 100 is
generally referred to as a single-door or single-purpose
refrigerator, sometimes also referred to as a column refrigerator.
It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present
disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such
as, for example, a bottom mount refrigerator, a top mount
refrigerator, a side-by-side style refrigerator, or a freezer
appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for
illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in
any aspect, e.g., is not intended to be limited to a particular
refrigerator chamber configuration. As another example, the term
"refrigerator appliance" is not intended to be limited to an
appliance which only provides fresh food storage, or which provides
fresh food storage at all. The term "refrigerator appliance" as
used herein also includes appliances which provide both fresh food
storage and freezer storage, or which provide freezer storage
only
[0028] As depicted in the schematic illustration in FIG. 3, the
refrigerator appliance 100 may include an evaporator 70. The
evaporator 70 may be in fluid communication with the food storage
chamber 122 whereby cool dry air 1002 flows from the evaporator 70
to the food storage chamber 122 and warm humid air 1000 flows to
the evaporator 70 from the food storage chamber 122. As those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize, the evaporator 70 may be
a component of a sealed refrigeration system which provides chilled
air to the food storage chamber 122, as mentioned above. The
structure and function of such refrigeration systems are generally
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and, as such, the
evaporator 70 is only illustrated schematically and the remaining
components of the sealed refrigeration system are not specifically
illustrated or described in further detail herein for the sake of
brevity and clarity.
[0029] It should be understood that the terms "cool" and "warm" and
"dry" and "humid" are each defined with respect to the
corresponding other. For example, the air 1002 from the evaporator
70 to the food storage chamber 122 is cooler than the air 1000 from
the food storage chamber 122 to the evaporator 70, and the air 1000
from the food storage chamber 122 to the evaporator 70 has a higher
moisture content, e.g., is more humid, than the air 1002 from the
evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122, etc. As an
additional example, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to
the food storage chamber 122 may be cooler than ambient air, e.g.,
air in the ambient environment around, e.g., immediately external
to, the refrigerator appliance 100. For example, the cool dry air
1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be
at a temperature which is less than room temperature, where room
temperature is generally understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art as including a range from about sixty-five degrees
Fahrenheit (65.degree. F.) to about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit
(75.degree. F.), and the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70
to the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature of about
fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50.degree. F.) or less, such as about
forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45.degree. F.) or less. For example,
in embodiments where the food storage chamber 122 is a fresh food
storage chamber, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to
the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature generally
above the freezing point of water, such as between about
thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit (35.degree. F.) and about fifty
degrees Fahrenheit (50.degree. F.), such as between about forty
degrees Fahrenheit (40.degree. F.) and about forty-five degrees
Fahrenheit (45.degree. F.). As another example, in embodiments
where the food storage chamber 122 is a freezer compartment or
freezer chamber, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to
the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature generally
below the freezing point of water, such as between about twenty
degrees Fahrenheit (20.degree. F.) and about negative fifteen
degrees Fahrenheit (-15.degree. F.), such as between about five
degrees Fahrenheit (5.degree. F.) and about negative ten degrees
Fahrenheit (-10.degree. F.), such as about zero degrees Fahrenheit
(0.degree. F.).
[0030] Referring again to FIG. 3, the refrigerator appliance 100
may also include a meltwater conduit 200. As illustrated, the
meltwater conduit 200 may extend from the evaporator 70 to an
auxiliary evaporation tray 202 of the refrigerator appliance 100.
Thus, in some embodiments, the meltwater conduit 200 may be in
fluid communication with the evaporator 70 and may be downstream of
the evaporator 70, as a result of which the meltwater conduit 200
may receive a flow of meltwater from the evaporator 70, e.g.,
directly from the evaporator 70 with no intervening structures
between the evaporator 70 and the meltwater conduit 200. For
example, moisture contained in the warm, humid air 1000 may cause
frost to form, e.g., by sublimation and/or condensation followed by
freezing, on the coils of the evaporator 70 (the coils are not
specifically illustrated herein but are generally understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art). Thus, the refrigerator
appliance 100 may include a defrost cycle or operation and/or the
frost may melt over time, thereby generating meltwater. The
meltwater may be collected in and/or channeled to the meltwater
conduit 200. The auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be downstream
of the meltwater conduit 200, such as immediately downstream of the
meltwater conduit 202. As a result, the auxiliary evaporation tray
202 receives the flow of meltwater from the meltwater conduit 200,
such as directly from the meltwater conduit 200. As shown in FIG. 7
and described in more detail below, the refrigerator appliance 100
may also include a primary evaporation tray 302, and the primary
evaporation tray 302 may be downstream (with respect to the flow of
meltwater from the meltwater conduit 200) of the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202.
[0031] FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202 and a portion of the meltwater conduit 200,
including a downstream end 201 (FIG. 7) of the meltwater conduit
200. FIG. 5 provides a side view of the auxiliary evaporation tray
202 (the meltwater conduit 200 is omitted in FIG. 5). FIG. 6
provides a top-down view of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202,
viewed from a plane which intersects the meltwater conduit 200,
such that the meltwater conduit 200 is illustrated in section in
FIG. 6. FIG. 7 provides a partial section view of the refrigerator
appliance 100, in particular a lower rear portion of the
refrigerator appliance 100, including the meltwater conduit 200,
the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, and a primary evaporation tray
302 therein. In particular, FIG. 7 includes a portion of the
meltwater conduit 200, a sectional view the auxiliary evaporation
tray 202, and a portion of the primary evaporation tray 302. As may
be seen in FIG. 7, the primary evaporation tray 302 is positioned
vertically below, e.g., below along the vertical direction V, and
downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 within the
refrigerator appliance 100.
[0032] In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 4 through
7, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a water trap 216.
For example, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a
plurality of side walls and a bottom wall 212 which collectively
define an internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray
202. For example, the plurality of side walls may include a front
wall 206 (e.g., which faces towards the front 108 (FIG. 2) of the
refrigerator appliance 100) and a rear wall 210 (e.g., which faces
towards the rear 110 (FIG. 7) of the refrigerator appliance 100)
which are spaced apart along the transverse direction T, and a left
wall 204 and a right wall 208 which are spaced apart along the
lateral direction L. Thus, in some embodiments, the side walls 206,
210, 204, and 208 in combination with the bottom wall 212 may
collectively define the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202. As discussed below, the internal volume 214
may be open, e.g., the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may omit an
upper wall or top wall, in order to promote evaporation of liquid
(meltwater from the evaporator 70) in the auxiliary evaporation
tray 202.
[0033] In some embodiments, the water trap 216 may be defined
within the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray
202, e.g., between the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and
208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 and above the bottom wall
212 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. For example, the
auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a first partition 218
and a second partition 220 within the internal volume 214. Thus,
the water trap 216 may be defined by and between the first and
second partitions 218 and 220 and two adjacent side walls of the
plurality of side walls, such as the right wall 208 and the rear
wall 210, as in the illustrated embodiment.
[0034] In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, and
7, the meltwater conduit 200 may extend into the water trap 216.
For example, as best seen in FIG. 7, the meltwater conduit 200 may
terminate at a downstream end 201, and the downstream end 201 of
the meltwater conduit 200 may be positioned within the water trap
216. In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 4, the
meltwater conduit 200 may include a fitting, such as the elbow
fitting illustrated in the example embodiments of FIG. 4, upstream
of the water trap 216 in order to align the downstream end 201
(FIG. 7) of the meltwater conduit 200 with the water trap 216. In
other embodiments, the meltwater conduit 200 may omit any such
fittings, for example, the meltwater conduit 200 may extend
generally in a continuous and uninterrupted straight line from the
evaporator 70 to the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. Thus, when
meltwater flows through the meltwater conduit 200 and into the
auxiliary evaporation tray 202, the meltwater first enters the
water trap 216 and a predetermined amount of water, e.g., up to the
height of the first partition 218 and/or second partition 220, is
retained within the water trap 216 while the remainder of the
meltwater or any additional meltwater flows over the top of the
first partition 218 and/or second partition 220 and into the
internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. The
predetermined amount of water that is retained in the water trap
216 may be defined in part by the height of the first partition 218
and/or the second partition 220, e.g., whichever is lower in
embodiments where the heights are unequal, or of both when the
heights are equal. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the height of the
first partition 218 and the second partition 220, or the height of
the shorter of the two, may be selected such that the downstream
end 201 of the meltwater conduit 200 is below the top of the first
partition 218 and the second partition 220, whereby the downstream
end 201 may remain submerged in order to reduce or prevent air
entering the meltwater conduit 200.
[0035] In particular, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls
206, 210, 204, and 208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may
define a height along the vertical direction V, and the height of
each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208
may be equal to the height of every other sidewall of the plurality
of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208, e.g., as may be seen in FIGS.
4 and 7. In such embodiments, one or both of the first partition
218 and the second partition 220 may define a second height along
the vertical direction V, and the second height may be less than
the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210,
204, and 208. Thus, meltwater may overflow the water trap 216 as
described while also being retained within the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202 by the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204,
and 208.
[0036] When the meltwater reaches the internal volume 214 of the
auxiliary evaporation tray 202, e.g., the remainder of the internal
volume 214 outside of the water trap 216, the meltwater may be
retained in the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 until the meltwater
reaches an overflow conduit 222. For example, the overflow conduit
222 may extend generally along the vertical direction V and may
extend through the bottom wall 212 of the auxiliary evaporation
tray 202. In particular, the overflow conduit 222 may extend from
an inlet end 224 within the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202, above the bottom wall 212 and below the tops
of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 to an outlet
end 226 outside of, e.g., below, the internal volume 214 and/or
below the bottom wall 212 of the auxiliary evaporation tray
202.
[0037] As generally illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, the auxiliary
evaporation tray 202 may include a plurality of legs 228 which
extend from the bottom wall 212 and/or sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and
208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. In the illustrated
example embodiment, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 includes
three legs 228, one extending from the left sidewall 204 and two
extending from the right sidewall 208. In other embodiments,
different numbers and/or locations of legs 228 may be provided,
e.g., four legs 228 or more, or two legs 228 on the left side and
one leg 228 on the right side, etc. As illustrated, in some
embodiments, the legs 228 extend generally along the vertical
direction V such that the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be
spaced apart from, e.g., above, the primary evaporation tray 302.
In some embodiments, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be
positioned within the primary evaporation tray 302, e.g., lowermost
ends of the legs 228 may be received within the primary evaporation
tray 302, such that the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 is
positioned partially within and partially above the primary
evaporation tray 302. Thus, meltwater may flow by gravity from the
auxiliary evaporation tray 202 to the primary evaporation tray
302.
[0038] For example, the meltwater may flow from the auxiliary tray
202 via the overflow conduit 222 to the primary evaporation tray
302. As may be seen, e.g., in FIGS. 5 and 7, when meltwater within
the internal volume 214 reaches a level at and/or above the inlet
end 224 of the overflow conduit 222, the meltwater will flow into
the overflow conduit 222, then flow by gravity to the outlet end
226 of the overflow conduit 222 and from the outlet end 226 of the
overflow conduit 222 to the primary evaporation tray 302 (FIG.
7).
[0039] As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,
the internal volume 214 of the evaporation tray 202 may be open at
the top of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 to allow contact
between liquid, e.g., meltwater, stored or retained in the internal
volume 214 and air over and around the auxiliary evaporation tray
202 to promote evaporation of the liquid (e.g., meltwater). For
example, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the refrigerator appliance 100
may, in some embodiments, include an evaporation fan 300 which
urges air around and over the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 and
the primary evaporation tray 302 to further promote evaporation of
meltwater from the evaporation trays 202 and 302.
[0040] In some embodiments, the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210,
204, and 208 may include an angled sidewall which is oriented at an
angle that is oblique to, e.g., the vertical direction V and/or the
transverse direction T. For example, as may be seen in FIGS. 4 and
7, the rear wall 210 may be oriented at an oblique angle to the
vertical direction V. The rear wall 210 may, in such embodiments,
extend back and down. Thus, when the auxiliary evaporation tray 202
is installed within refrigerator appliance 100 as illustrated in
FIG. 7, the angled sidewall, e.g., rear wall 210, may direct or
divert air flow from the evaporation fan 300 to or towards the
primary evaporation tray 302, and meltwater retained therein.
[0041] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
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