Device for fixing and supporting the fan motor in forced-air circulation refrigerators
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsCesare Gorini, Eddie Teoh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support arrangement for a fan motor in a refrigerator. The fan motor includes first and second axial damper elements which extend from opposite sides of the fan motor, respectively. A cavity is provided in the inner liner of the refrigerator for forming a seat to receive one of the damper elements of the fan motor. A bracket is attached to the inner liner and has a cavity forming a seat for the other damper element such that the fan motor is captured between the bracket and the inner liner. The bracket further includes end projections to which a volute casing can be attached such that the volute casing is positioned in correspondence with the fan motor.
Claims4
A mounting arrangement for a fan motor having opposite ends and a first damper element extending from one end of the fan motor and a second damper element extending from the opposite end of the fan motor, said motor of the type found in a forced-air circulation refrigerator having a liner forming an inner wall of the refrigerator, the mounting arrangement comprising:
- a bracket having a seat for the first damper element, and
- a cavity adapted to be formed in the liner for defining a seat for the second damper element,
- wherein the bracket is adapted to be attached to the liner of the refrigerator substantially enclosing and capturing the fan motor between the bracket and the liner.
A support system for a fan motor of the type having opposite ends and a first damper element extending from one end of the fan motor and a second damper element extending from the opposite end of the fan motor and of the type found in a forced-air circulation refrigerator having a liner forming an inner wall of the refrigerator, the support system consisting of:
- a bracket adapted to be fixedly attached to the liner of the refrigerator, the bracket having a seat for the first damper element, and
- a cavity adapted to be formed in the liner for defining a seat for the second damper element,
- wherein the two seats substantially capture the fan motor between the bracket and the liner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.