Freeze-tolerant waterline valve for a refrigerator
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsJames H. Jenkins, JR., Thomas C. Anell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved refrigerator is provided with a freeze tolerant valve for the water tank assembly in the refrigerator. The valve includes a body with an internal plastic spool which minimizes the volume of water within the valve, and which provides a space in the valve to accommodate freezing water in the valve. The valve will not crack or fail in the event of a temperature control problem in the refrigerator which results in frozen water within the valve.
Claims14
An improved refrigerator comprising:
- a water tank for storing water, the water tank having an inlet line and an outlet line;
- a valve in the outlet line to control flow of water from the tank;
- and
- an annularly shaped compressible spool within the valve to absorb expansion forces in case of water freezing within the valve.
A valve for controlling a flow of water to an ice maker, the valve comprising:
- an inlet portion for receiving water, the inlet portion including an inlet passage;
- a body portion located below the inlet portion, the body portion having a hollow interior in communication with the inlet passage;
- a spool within the hollow interior of the body, the spool having an axial passage for providing water from the inlet portion to an outlet portion;
- and
- an enlarged space in communication with the inlet passage and the spool axial passage to allow for expansion of freezing water in the spool axial passage.
A method of preventing failure of a waterline valve in a refrigerator, the method comprising:
- directing water into a valve that includes a compressible spool with an axial passage;
- allowing water in the axial passage to freeze and thereby compress the spool without cracking the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.