Patent Publication Number: US-2023160621-A1

Title: Valve system for a refrigerator appliance

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an appliance such as a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In order to keep food fresh, a low temperature must be maintained within a refrigerator to reduce the reproduction rate of harmful bacteria. Refrigerators circulate refrigerant and change the refrigerant from a liquid state to a gas state by an evaporation process. A compressor increases the pressure, and in turn, the temperature of the gas refrigerant. This heated gas is then cooled by ambient air received from one or more vents often disposed on a rear portion of the refrigerator. 
     Refrigerators may also include systems that require a water supply. Such systems may be configured to produce ice cubes or to deliver water to a user via a dispensing device that may be located on a door of the refrigerator. 
     SUMMARY 
     A refrigerator includes a water system and a valve. The water system is configured to direct water to a dispenser or an ice maker. The valve includes a valve body, an inlet port, and a clutch. The valve is configured to connect the water system to a water source. The inlet port is configured to receive a tube to establish fluid communication with the water source and to engage a nut to secure the tube to the inlet port. The clutch is disposed between the inlet port and the valve body and is configured to slip in response to an applied torque to the inlet port exceeding a threshold. 
     An inlet water valve for a refrigerator includes a valve body, a threaded inlet, and a clutch. The threaded inlet is configured to receive a conduit to establish fluid communication between a water source and the valve body. and to engage a fastener to secure the conduit to the threaded inlet. The clutch is disposed between the threaded inlet and the valve body and is configured to slip in response to a connecting torque between the fastener and the threaded inlet exceeding a threshold. 
     A valve includes a valve body, an inlet port, and a clutch. The inlet port is configured to receive a conduit to establish fluid communication with a water source and to engage a fastener to secure the conduit to the inlet port. The clutch is disposed between the inlet port and the valve body and is configured to slip in response to a connecting torque between the fastener and the inlet port exceeding a threshold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an isometric view of a refrigerator appliance; 
         FIG.  2    is a diagrammatic view of the refrigerator appliance; 
         FIG.  3    is an isometric view of a valve assembly; 
         FIG.  4    is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG.  3   ; and 
         FIG.  5    is a partial view of the valve assembly illustrating a clutch mechanism that is configured to limit an amount of torque that may be applied to an inlet port of the valve assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a home appliance is shown as a domestic refrigerator appliance  10  (hereinafter refrigerator  10 ). The refrigerator  10  includes a cabinet  12 , a refrigerator door  14  for accessing a refrigerated compartment  16  of the refrigerator  10 , and a freezer door  18  for accessing a frozen compartment (not shown) of the refrigerator  10 . 
     The refrigerator  10  also includes a dispenser  20  coupled to the refrigerator door  14  and a water filter port  22  located inside the refrigerated compartment  16  of the cabinet  12 . A descaling cartridge  24  is sized to be received in the water filter port  22 . The dispenser  20  is configured to dispense cold water, hot water, and/or ice from the refrigerator  10 . The water filter port  22  is fluidly coupled to the dispenser  20  and is configured to receive removable water filters that filter water (both liquid and ice) dispensed through dispenser  20 . The descaling cartridge  24  is configured to be installed in the water filter port  22  to disperse descaling solution in the water lines leading to the dispenser  20  so that scale build-up in the water lines can be flushed through the dispenser  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , the refrigerator  10  includes a water system  26  and a control system  28  for controlling the water system  26 . The water system  26  directs water from a water source  27  to the dispenser  20 . The control system  28  is operable to control the various components of the water system  26  so that the dispenser  20  dispenses cold water, hot water, or ice. The control system  28  is also operable to control the water system  26  during a pre-programmed descaling cycle or other pre-programmed cycle. 
     The water system  26  includes a number of components for conditioning water to be discharged through the dispenser  20 . In particular, the water system has a heating assembly  30 , a cold water reservoir  32 , and an icemaker  34 . The heating assembly  30  includes a flow-through heating element  31  and a thermal fuse  29  configured to cut power to the flow-through heating element  31  when the flow-through heating element  31  reaches a predetermined temperature. The heating assembly  30  is positioned between the water filter port  22  and the dispenser  20  along a hot water line  35 . The cold water reservoir  32  accumulates and cools water in the refrigerator  10  prior to the water being discharged through the dispenser  20  or supplied to the ice maker  34 . The cold water reservoir  32  is positioned between the water filter port  22  and the dispenser  20  along a cold water line  37 . The icemaker  34  receives cold water from the cold water reservoir  32  and generates ice that is discharged through the dispenser  20  via an ice line  39 . 
     One exemplary flow-through heating element  31  is a Ferro Flow Through Heater (FTH). The flow-through heating element  31  is positioned in the refrigerator door  14  below the dispenser  20  and outside a refrigerator insulation layer  33  as shown, for example, in  FIG.  1   . The flow-through heating element  31  is illustratively oriented in a flat orientation so that water flows in a substantially horizontal direction through the flow-through heating element  31 . In some embodiments, the flow-through heating element  31  may be a thermoblock element, a microwave element, or another suitable type of heating element. Additionally, the heating element may be positioned in another location in the door  14  or the cabinet  12  and may be placed in a number of orientations relative thereto. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow-through heating element  31  may be replaced or augmented by a batch heating system including a heating element and a hot water reservoir. 
     All the water (liquid or ice) dispensed by the refrigerator  10  passes through the water filter port  22 . The water system  26  includes a main valve  36  coupled to the water source  27  and the water filter port  22  is coupled to the main valve  36  via a water inlet line  41 . The hot water line  35  and the cold water line  37  extend from the water filter port  22  directing water through the rest of the water system  26 . The main valve  36  can be manually opened or closed to selectively allow water from the water source  27  to enter the water system  26  of the refrigerator  10 . 
     The water filter port  22  is configured to receive a water filter cartridge  40  or the descaling cartridge  24 . The water filter cartridge  40  is illustratively consumable and discarded after use. The water filter cartridge  40  includes an inlet  42 , an outlet  44 , and a filter media  46  as is known in the art. In other embodiments, the water filter cartridge  40 , or portions thereof, may be reusable. The descaling cartridge  24  is illustratively consumable and is charged to supply enough descaling agent  54  for one descaling cycle. In other embodiments, the descaling cartridge  24  may be refillable and/or reusable. 
     The descaling cartridge  24  includes an inlet  48 , an outlet  50 , and a descaling packet  52  containing descaling agent  54 . The inlet  48  is open to the water lines of the refrigerator  10 . The descaling packet  52  is coupled to the outlet  50  and is squeezed by water flowing into the descaling cartridge  24  so that the descaling agent  54  is dispensed through the outlet  50  into the water lines. Water ceases to flow into the descaling cartridge  24  when the descaling cartridge  24  is full of water and the descaling packet  52  is emptied. The descaling agent  54  is then advanced through the water system  26  and reacts with the scale built up in the water system  26  so that the scale can be flushed out of the water system  26  when the reacted descaling agent  54  is discharged through the dispenser  20 . In the illustrative embodiment, the descaling agent  54  is a solution with about an 8 percent concentration of acetic acid. In other embodiments, other organic acids including but not limited to sulfonic acids or carboxylic acids, in particular, lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid solutions may be used alone or mixtures thereof. It is also possible to use inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid or sulfamic acid solutions. Mixtures of various inorganic and organic acids could also conceivably be used as descaling agents in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     In other embodiments, the inlet  48  and the outlet  50  may both be open to the water lines of the refrigerator  10 . In such embodiments, the descaling packet  52  may be open inside the descaling cartridge  24  or opened when water enters the descaling cartridge  24  so that water flowing through the descaling cartridge is mixed with descaling agent. The water mixing with the descaling agent  54  dilutes and carries the descaling agent through the water lines of the refrigerator  10 . In some such embodiments, the descaling agent  54  may be a liquid descaling agent or a solid agent. 
     The water system  26  further includes a number of electronically controlled valves that can be operated to supply hot or cold water to the dispenser  20  or to supply cold water to the icemaker  34 . Specifically, the water system includes a hot water valve  62 , a cold water valve  64 , a cold water dispenser valve  66 , and an icemaker valve  68 . The hot water valve  62  is coupled between the water filter port  22  and the dispenser  20  along the hot water line  35 . The cold water valve  64  is coupled between the water filter port  22  and the dispenser  20  along the cold water line  37 . The cold water dispenser valve  66  is coupled between the cold water reservoir  32  and the dispenser  20  along the cold water line  37 . The icemaker valve  68  is coupled between the cold water reservoir  32  and the icemaker  34  along the cold water line  37 . 
     In operation, the hot water valve  62  can be opened to advance water from the water source  27  through the heating assembly  30  to the dispenser  20 . The cold water valve  64  can be opened to advance water from the water source  27  to the cold water reservoir  32 . The cold water dispenser valve  66  can be opened to advance cold water from the cold water reservoir  32  to the dispenser  20 . The icemaker valve  68  can be opened to advance water from the cold water reservoir  32  to the icemaker  34 . Otherwise, each of the valves  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are biased closed to prevent water from being advanced through the water system  26 . 
     The control system  28  of the refrigerator  10  illustratively includes a controller  70 , a user interface  72 , and a number of sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85 . The controller  70  is configured to operate the components of the water system  26  in response to inputs from the user interface  72  and the sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85 . The user interface  72  is configured to display information and to receive user inputs. The sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85  detect information and communicate information to the controller  70 . 
     The controller  70  includes a number of electronic components commonly associated with electronic units which are utilized in the control of electromechanical systems. For example, the controller  70  may include, amongst other components customarily included in such devices, a processor such as a microprocessor  84  and a memory device  86  such as a programmable read-only memory device (“PROM”) including erasable PROM&#39;s (EPROM&#39;s or EEPROM&#39;s). The memory device  86  is provided to store, amongst other things, instructions in the form of, for example, a software routine (or routines) which, when executed by the processor, allows the controller  70  to control operation of the water system  26  and other systems included in the refrigerator  10 . 
     The user interface  72  is illustratively coupled to the controller  70  for two way communication via a signal line as shown in  FIG.  2   . User interface  72  includes buttons  88 , paddles  90 ,  91 , and indicator lights  92  as shown in  FIG.  1   . The buttons  88  may be pressed to receive user inputs requesting that water dispensed be cold or hot, that ice dispensed be cubed or crushed, or that pre-programmed cycles (such as the descaling cycle) be performed by the refrigerator  10 . The paddles  90 ,  91  may be pressed so that the controller  70  receives inputs requesting that water or ice be discharged by the dispenser  20 . The indicator lights  92  may be used to indicate the temperature of water to be dispensed, the type of ice to be dispensed, the status of the water filter cartridge  40 , the need for a descaling cycle, the availability of one or more functions of the refrigerator  10 , or other information. In some embodiments, the user interface  72  may include a graphic display, a touch screen, or other interface operable to display information and to receive user inputs. 
     The controller  70  is electrically coupled to each of the sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85  to receive inputs from each of the sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85  as shown in  FIG.  2   . In particular, the sensors  74 ,  76 ,  80 ,  82 ,  83 ,  85  include an ice level sensor  74 , a reservoir sensor  76 , temperature sensors  83 ,  85 , a pressure sensor  80 , and a filter port sensor  82 . The ice level sensor  74  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line and is configured to detect if an ice bucket (not shown) included in the ice maker  34  is full. The reservoir sensor  76  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line and is configured to detect if the cold water reservoir  32  is full or the water level in the cold water reservoir  32 . In the illustrative embodiment, water discharged through the dispenser  20  after being heated in the heating assembly  30  may be between 175-185° F., and may be typically be about 180° F. In other embodiments, water discharged through the dispenser  20  after being heated in the heating assembly  30  may be hotter or cooler. The pressure sensor  80  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line and is configured to detect back pressure applied to the heating assembly  30  through the hot water valve  62 . In some embodiments, the hot water valve  62  may be configured to regulate the pressure being supplied to the heater assembly  30 . The filter port sensor  82  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line and is configured to detect the presence of the water filter cartridge  40  or the descaling cartridge  24 . The temperature sensors  83 ,  85  are coupled to the controller  70  and are configured to monitor the temperature of water entering and exiting the heating assembly  30 . If the temperature difference between the sensors  83 ,  85  across the heating assembly  30  is determined by the controller  70  to be outside a predetermined range, the controller  70  may disable the heating assembly  30 . 
     Additionally, the controller  70  is electrically coupled to the electrically controlled valves  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and the heating assembly  30  as shown in  FIG.  2   . Specifically, the cold water valve  64  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line so that the controller  70  can direct the cold water valve  64  to open or close. The hot water valve  62  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line so that the controller  70  can direct the hot water valve  62  to open or close. The icemaker valve  68  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line so that the controller  70  can direct the icemaker valve  68  to open or close. The cold water dispenser valve  66  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line so that the controller  70  can direct the cold water dispense valve  66  to open or close. The heating assembly  30  is coupled to the controller  70  via a signal line so that the controller  70  can direct the heating assembly  30  to activate or deactivate the flow-through heating element  31 . 
     Hence, the control system  28  including the controller  70  may be operated to control operation of the refrigerator  10 . In particular, the controller  70  executes a routine including, among other things, a control scheme in which the controller  70  monitors outputs of the sensors  80 ,  85  in order to inform a user of detected scale build-up and to control the availability of hot water when water system  26  contains built up scale. To do so, the controller  70  communicates with the sensors  80 ,  85  in order to determine, among other things, if the water system  26 , (and more particularly, if the components of the hot water line  35  that conducts water for the hot water function) is likely to contain a predetermined amount of scale build-up as indicated by an elevated temperature or pressure of water flowing through the dispenser  20 . In some embodiments, the controller may communicate with both temperature sensors  83 ,  85  and compare the temperature rise across the heating assembly  30  to determine scale build up. Armed with this data, the controller  70  determines if a descaling cycle is desirable and if continued operation of the hot water function is allowable. Once it is determined if a descaling cycle is found to be desirable, the controller  70  can direct the user interface  72  to display a request for a user to initiate the descaling cycle. If the controller  70  determines that the continued operation of the hot water function is not allowable, the controller  70  can disable the water system  26  from providing hot water to the dispenser  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 5   , a valve assembly  100  is illustrated. The valve assembly  100  may represent any of the valves described herein (e.g., valves  36 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 , or  68 ). However, the valve assembly  100  may particularly represent the main valve  36  or an inlet valve to the water system  26 , which a user may need to connect to the water source  27  upon installation of the refrigerator  10 . 
     The user may over tighten a connection between the water source  27  and the main valve  36 . The connection may comprise a tube or conduit and a fastener (e.g., a nut) that secures the tube or conduit to an inlet port of the main valve  36 . Over tightening the connection may lead to breaking the neck of an inlet port. On the other hand, the user may not tighten the connection properly, which could lead to water leaks around the inlet port of the main valve  36 . The valve assembly  100  described herein allows a user to tighten a connection from the water source  27  to the valve assembly  100  with the appropriate amount of torque. The system utilizes sound and tactile feedback to indicate to the user that an appropriate amount of torque has been applied to secure the connection from the water source  27  to the valve assembly  100 . Therefore, the system allows the user to apply the appropriate amount of torque to the connection between the water source  27  and the valve assembly  100  with ease and without the need of a special tool, such as a torque wrench, which users, and even installation specialists, rarely keep in their inventory. Therefore, anyone who currently connects an inlet valve of a refrigerator to a water source typically makes a guess as to whether or not the appropriate amount of torque is applied. 
     The valve assembly  100  include a valve body  102 , an inlet port  104 , and a clutch  106 . The inlet port  104  may include threading  108 . The inlet port  104  in configured to receive a tube or conduit  110  to establish fluid communication between the valve assembly  100  and the water source  27 , or more specifically to establish fluid communication between the valve body  102  and the water source  27 . The inlet port  104 , or more specifically the threading of the inlet port  104 , may be configured to engage a fastener  112  to secure the conduit  110  to the inlet port  104 . The fastener  112  may more specifically be a nut that defines an opening so that the conduit  110  may extend through the nut. A fitting  114  (e.g., a brass fitting) may be secured to the conduit  110 . The fitting  114  may be conical-shaped and may be press-fit onto the conduit  110 . An internal surface  116  along the top of the fastener  112  may engage the fitting  114  to secure the conduit  110  to the inlet port  104 . A seal  118  may be disposed between the top of the inlet port  104 , the internal surface  116  along the top of the fastener  112 , and the conduit  110  in order to prevent water from leaking from the connection formed by the inlet port  104 , fastener  112 , and conduit  110 . 
     The clutch  106  is disposed between the inlet port  104  and the valve body  102 . The clutch  106  is configured to slip in response to an applied torque to the inlet port  104  exceeding a threshold. More specifically, the clutch  106  is configured to slip in response to a connecting torque between the fastener  112  and the inlet port  104  exceeding the threshold. The clutch  106  may more specifically be a one-way clutch that is configured to slip in a first direction  122  in response to the applied torque to the inlet port  104  exceeding the threshold in the first direction  122 . More specifically, the clutch  102  may be configured to slip in the first direction  122  in response to the connecting torque between the fastener  112  and the inlet port  104  exceeding the threshold exceeding the threshold in the first direction  122 . 
     The clutch  106  may comprise a ratcheting mechanism or a ratchet. The clutch  106  may include one or more flexible arms  124  that are secured to the inlet port  104  and one or more ramping features or ramps  126  that are secured the valve body  102 . The flexible arms  124  may each include a complimentary ramping feature or ramp at the end of each flexible arm  124  that engage the ramping features or ramps  126 . Engagement between the one or more flexible arms  124  (or more specifically the complimentary ramping features or ramps at the ends of the flexible arms  124 ) and the one or more ramps  126  prevents or inhibits slip in the first direction  122  in response to the applied torque to the inlet port  104  being less than the threshold in the first direction  122 . More specifically, the engagement between the one or more flexible arms  124  and the one or more ramps  126  prevents or inhibits slip in the first direction  122  in response to the connecting torque between the fastener  112  and the inlet port  104  being less than the threshold in the first direction  122 . 
     The interaction between the one or more flexible arms  124  and the one or more ramps  126  in the first direction  122  allows for the tightening of the fastener  112  over the threading  108 . Once the torque limit is reached, the one or more flexible arms  124  skip over the one or more ramps  126  creating a clicking sound and/or providing a tactile feedback. This indicates to the user that an appropriate or desired amount of torque has been applied to fastener  112  to the inlet port  104 . No additional torque can be applied at this point, which helps to prevent damaging the fastener  112  or inlet port  104  (e.g., breaking the neck of an inlet port  104 ) during installation. 
     Each of one or more flexible arms  124  includes a first stop  128  and each of the one or more ramps  126  includes a second stop  130 . Each of the first stops are configured to engage one of the second stops  130  to prevent rotation of the inlet port  104  in a second direction  132 , which is opposite to the first direction  122 , in order facilitate removal of the fastener  112  and conduit  110 . Applying torque in the second direction  132  results in the clutch  106  locking, which allows the user to unscrew the fastener  112  from the inlet port  104  (e.g., for servicing purposes). 
     A second seal  134  may be disposed between the valve body  102  and the inlet port  104  to prevent water from leaking between the valve body  102  and the inlet port  104 . A bracket  136  may be utilized to secure the valve assembly  100  to a frame structure of the refrigerator appliance  10 . A top plate  138  of the bracket  136  may trap and secure the inlet port  104  and the one or more flexible arms  124  to the valve body  102  and within a pocket  140  defined by the valve body  102 . The inlet port  104  may include wrench flats  142 , which may form a hexagon shape. A tool such as a wrench or socket may engage the wrench flats  142  to secure the position of the inlet port  104  while securing or removing the fastener  112  to or from the inlet port  104  in the event the clutch  106  has been damaged. 
     It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that any component, state, or condition described herein that does not have a numerical designation may be given a designation of first, second, third, fourth, etc. in the claims if one or more of the specific component, state, or condition are claimed. 
     The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.