Dual-use cooling fan for drink maker
AssigneeSharkNinja Operating LLC
InventorsDerek Lessard, Michael Lerman, Lloyd Olson, Ryan Michienzi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drink maker includes a mixing vessel arranged to receive a drink product and a dasher, driven by a drive motor, that is arranged to mix the drink product within the mixing vessel. A refrigeration circuit is arranged to cool the drink product within the mixing vessel. The refrigeration circuit includes a condenser. A cooling fan is configured to concurrently cool the drive motor and the condenser.
Claims15
A drink maker comprising:
- a housing;
- a mixing vessel arranged to receive a drink product;
- a dasher, driven by a drive motor, arranged to mix the drink product within the mixing vessel;
- a refrigeration circuit arranged to cool the drink product within the mixing vessel, the refrigeration circuit including a condenser;
- a cooling fan;
- an air inlet;
- an air outlet;
- and
- an air channel in a portion of the housing, the air channel comprising ducting extending from the air outlet toward the condenser, wherein the air channel directs air flow through the housing, and
- wherein the cooling fan draws air flow into the drink maker and the cooling fan via the air inlet, and the cooling fan expels the air flow from the cooling fan via the air outlet, causing the air flow to flow:
- (a) over a surface of the drive motor, then (b) through the ducting of the air channel, then (c) through the condenser, to cool the drive motor and the condenser.
A cooling fan for cooling a drive motor and a condenser within a housing of a drink maker, the drive motor driving rotation of a dasher within a mixing vessel of the drink maker and the condenser cooling a refrigerant circulating within a refrigeration circuit of the drink maker, the cooling fan comprising an impeller generating an air flow, wherein the cooling fan draws the air flow into the drink maker and the cooling fan via an air inlet, and the cooling fan expels the air flow from the cooling fan via an air outlet, causing the air flow to flow:
- (a) over a surface of the drive motor, then (b) through ducting of an air channel in a portion of the housing, wherein the air channel directs air flow through the housing and the ducting extends from the air outlet toward the condenser, then (c) through the condenser, to cool the drive motor and the condenser.
A method for cooling a condenser and a drive motor within a housing of a drink maker using a cooling fan comprising:
- activating the drive motor arranged to drive rotation of a dasher within a mixing vessel of the drink maker;
- activating a compressor of a refrigeration circuit of the drink maker;
- and
- activating the cooling fan to generate air flow through the condenser and along a surface of the drive motor, wherein the cooling fan, when activated, draws the air flow into the drink maker and the cooling fan via an air inlet and expels the air flow from the cooling fan via an air outlet, causing the air flow to flow:
- (a) over a surface of the drive motor, then (b) through ducting of an air channel in a portion of the housing, wherein the air channel directs air flow through the housing and the ducting extends from the air outlet toward the condenser, then (c) through the condenser, to cool the drive motor and the condenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.