Connector for increasing heat transfer between a refrigerant loop and a refrigerator appliance casing
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRyan Thomas, Jeffrey Colyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator appliance includes a casing forming a receiving space, the casing defining a contact surface that contacts a door of the refrigerator appliance, and a sealed refrigerant system provided within the casing. The sealed refrigerant system includes a hot fluid portion positioned adjacent to the contact surface. The hot fluid portion includes a connector forming a planar heat transfer surface to transfer heat from the hot fluid portion to the contact surface.
Claims20
A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a casing defining a contact surface, the casing at least partially forming a receiving space therein;
- a door movable between an open position and a closed position, the door selectively abutting an outer face of the contact surface while in the closed position;
- a sealed system comprising at least a first tube section and a second tube section, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section are positioned adjacent the contact surface;
- and
- a thermally conductive connector provided around the first tube section and the second tube section collectively, the thermally conductive connector adjoining the first tube section to the second tube section and forming a planar contact area abutting an inner face of the contact surface.
A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a casing defining a contact surface, the casing at least partially forming a receiving space therein;
- a door movable between an open position and a closed position, the door selectively abutting an outer face of the contact surface while in the closed position;
- a sealed refrigerating system provided within the receiving space of the casing, the sealed refrigerating system comprising a hot fluid portion positioned adjacent the contact surface, wherein the hot fluid portion comprises a first tube section and a second tube section parallel to the first tube section;
- and
- a thermally conductive fin provided around the first tube section and the second tube section, the thermally conductive fin comprising a first fin and a second fin sandwiched around the first tube section and the second tube section and forming a planar contact area abutting an inner face of the contact surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.