US 2020/0348076 A1 · REFRIGERATION APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF MINIMIZING NOISE IMPACT

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance may be provided that includes a housing, a first fluid-motivating unit (FMU), a second FMU, and a controller. The housing may define a chilled chamber. The first FMU may be mounted to the housing. The second FMU may be mounted to the housing apart from the first FMU. The controller may be in operable communication with the first FMU and the second FMU. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooling operation. The cooling operation may include activating the first FMU to generate a first fluid flow, increasing a speed setting of the first FMU gradually at a first predetermined ramp rate, activating the second FMU subsequent to activating the first FMU to generate a second fluid flow, and increasing a speed setting of the second FMU gradually.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a refrigeration appliance comprising a first fluid-motivating unit (FMU) and a second FMU, the method comprising:

activating the first FMU to generate a first fluid flow;
increasing a speed setting of the first FMU gradually to a first operational speed setting over a first predetermined ramp period at a first predetermined ramp rate;
activating the second FMU subsequent to activating the first FMU to generate a second fluid flow;
and
increasing a speed setting of the second FMU gradually to a second operational speed setting over a second predetermined ramp period at a second predetermined ramp rate.

2 more elements

A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a housing defining a chilled chamber;
a first fluid-motivating unit (FMU) mounted to the housing to generate a first fluid flow on the refrigeration appliance;
a second FMU mounted to the housing apart from the first FMU to generate a second fluid flow on the refrigeration appliance;
and
a controller in operable communication with the first FMU and the second FMU, the controller being configured to initiate a cooling operation, the cooling operation comprising
activating the first FMU to generate the first fluid flow,
increasing a speed setting of the first FMU gradually to a first operational speed setting over a first predetermined ramp period at a first predetermined ramp rate,
activating the second FMU subsequent to activating the first FMU to generate the second fluid flow, and
increasing a speed setting of the second FMU gradually to a second operational speed setting over a second predetermined ramp period at a second predetermined ramp rate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Refrigeration appliances and methods of minimizing noise impact

Life of this patent

Refrigeration appliances and methods of minimizing noise impact

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20