Method for Operating a Fan Within a Refrigerator Appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191733-A1
Application number	US-201614987043-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating a fan within a refrigerator appliance includes initiating a defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance, monitoring an output of a temperature sensor of the fan during the defrost cycle, and terminating the defrost cycle when the output of the temperature sensor reaches or exceeds a threshold temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a fan within a refrigerator appliance, the fan comprising a temperature sensor positioned proximate an impeller of the fan, the method comprising:
initiating a defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance; monitoring an output of the temperature sensor of the fan during the defrost cycle; and terminating the defrost cycle when the output of the temperature sensor reaches a threshold temperature.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fan further comprises a motor coupled to the impeller and a control board in operative communication with the motor, the temperature sensor positioned on the control board of the fan.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises an evaporator and a defrost heating element, the fan positioned adjacent at least one of the evaporator or the defrost heating element.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of terminating the defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance comprises deactivating the defrost heating element.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of initiating the defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance comprises terminating a flow of refrigerant through the evaporator.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fan further comprises a motor coupled to the impeller, the motor of the fan being deactivated during said step of monitoring.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of initiating comprises initiating the defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance when the output of the temperature sensor of the fan is less than the freezing temperature of water for a predetermined period of time prior to said step of initiating.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the fan of the refrigerator appliance is inoperative if the output of the temperature sensor of the fan is greater than the freezing temperature of water and a speed of the fan is less than a threshold speed.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fan is positioned at a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber or an ice box of the refrigerator appliance.

11 . A method for operating a fan within a refrigerator appliance, the fan comprising a temperature sensor positioned proximate an impeller of the fan, the method comprising:
initiating a defrost cycle when a temperature measurement of the temperature sensor of the fan is less than the freezing temperature of water for a predetermined period of time; monitoring the temperature measurement of the temperature sensor of the fan during the defrost cycle; and terminating the defrost cycle when the temperature measurement of the temperature sensor exceeds a threshold temperature.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fan further comprises a motor coupled to the impeller and a control board in operative communication with the motor, the temperature sensor positioned on the control board of the fan.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises an evaporator and a defrost heating element, the fan positioned adjacent at least one of the evaporator or the defrost heating element.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of terminating the defrost cycle of the refrigerator appliance comprises deactivating the defrost heating element.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fan further comprises a motor coupled to the impeller, the motor of the fan being deactivated during said step of monitoring.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the fan of the refrigerator appliance is inoperative if the output of the temperature sensor of the fan is greater than the freezing temperature of water and a speed of the fan is less than a threshold speed.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fan is positioned at a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber or an ice box of the refrigerator appliance.

19 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising
a casing defining a chilled chamber; a fan disposed within the casing, the fan comprising
a motor;
an impeller coupled to the motor such that the impeller is rotatable with the motor;
a control board in operative communication with the motor; and
a temperature sensor positioned proximate the impeller.

20 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 19 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on the control board.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Li Jianwu

Classifications

• F25D21/02 Primary

  Detecting the presence of frost or condensate · CPC title

• F25D21/08

  by electric heating · CPC title

• F25D29/005

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title

• F25D2317/0681

  Details thereof · CPC title

• F25B2700/21174

  of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator · CPC title