# US 11,994,333 B2 · Appliance fan assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,333 B2 - Document ID: US11994333B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/528,449 - Filed: 2021-11-17 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-17 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Daniele Liberati; Matteo Parnisari; Alessandro Mansutti; Dennis Ilare - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994333B2 ## CPC - F25D 17/062: {in household refrigerators} - F04D 29/4246: {comprising more than one outlet} - F25D 17/045: {Air flow control arrangements} - F25D 2317/0681: Details thereof - F25D 2323/00282: the fans not of the axial type - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract A fan assembly including a housing, an impeller, a first damper member, a second damper member, and an actuation assembly. The housing defining a number of outlets and the impeller being configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets. The first damper member at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller and the second damper member at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The actuation assembly is configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fan assembly for use in an appliance including a housing defining a number of outlets, the fan assembly comprising: an impeller configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets; a first damper member at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller; a second damper member at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller; an actuation assembly configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets; and a base member, wherein the impeller is disposed on the base member and the first damper member includes a first annular ring and a first sidewall, wherein the first annular ring is spaced apart from the base member and the first sidewall extends from the first annular ring towards the base member, wherein the second damper member includes a second annular ring and a second sidewall and wherein the second sidewall is disposed radially inward from the first sidewall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the second annular ring lies along the base member and the second sidewall extends from the second annular ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the first sidewall is radially spaced apart from an outer periphery of the impeller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the first damper member and the second damper member to an open position, in which the second sidewall radially covers the first sidewall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein the first sidewall includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends in a circumferential direction with respect to an outer periphery of the impeller and the second portion extends in a first tangential direction tangential to the circumferential direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the second sidewall includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends in the circumferential direction and the second portion extends in a second tangential direction tangential to the circumferential direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the first damper member and the second damper member to a first position, in which the first damper member blocks a first outlet of the number of outlets and the second damper member blocks a second outlet of the number of outlets, and the second portion of the first sidewall and the second portion of the second sidewall contact one another. ### Claim 8 An air supply device for use in a refrigerator including a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a convertible compartment, the air supply device comprising: an impeller configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards a number of outlets fluidly connected to the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the convertible compartment; a first damper member including a first sidewall at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller; a second damper member at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller and disposed radially between the impeller and the first damper member; and an actuation assembly configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open at least one of the number of outlets; and a base member, wherein the impeller is disposed on the base member, and the first damper member includes a first annular ring spaced apart from the base member, and wherein the first sidewall extends from the first annular ring towards the base member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The air supply device of claim 8, wherein the second damper member includes a second annular ring and a second sidewall, wherein the second annular ring lies along the base member and the second sidewall extends from the second annular ring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The air supply device of claim 8, further comprising: a number of deflectors collectively arranged to form the number of outlets, wherein a first deflector of the number of deflectors defines a slot in which the first sidewall moves along as the first damper member rotates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The air supply device of claim 10, wherein the first deflector includes a first distal portion, a second distal portion, and a medial portion extending therebetween, wherein one of the first or second distal portions define the slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The air supply device of claim 11, wherein the medial portion is curved and the first and second distal portions are substantially straight. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The air supply device of claim 8, wherein the first damper member extends circumferentially about an entire circumference of the impeller. ### Claim 14 A refrigerator comprising: a number of compartments formed by a number of mullions and walls of the refrigerator; a panel covered by one or more inner walls of the number of compartments, wherein the panel includes a base surface and a number of protrusions collectively forming a number of channels each fluidly connected to one or more compartments of the number of compartments; an impeller rotationally coupled to the panel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets; and a first damper member and a second damper member, each at least partially extending circumferentially about the impeller; an actuation assembly configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of channels; and a base member, wherein the impeller is disposed on the base member, and the first damper member includes a first annular ring and a first sidewall, the first annular ring spaced apart from the base member, and wherein the first sidewall extends from the first annular ring towards the base member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein a first protrusion and a second protrusion of the number of protrusions collectively form a first channel of the number of channels, wherein the first and second protrusions each have flat portion and a curved portion collectively forming a flat-bottom airfoil shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the second protrusion and a third protrusion form a second channel of the number of channels, wherein the second protrusion has a substantially triangular shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the third protrusion includes a vertex and a base, and the vertex is disposed closer to the impeller than the base.