Patent Publication Number: US-2023152023-A1

Title: Appliance fan assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a fan assembly for use in household appliances such as refrigerators. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Refrigerators generally may include a fan assembly that controls or regulates the amount of cooled air provided to one or more compartments of the refrigerator. The fan assembly may be disposed in a cold air passage to maintain a desired temperature of each compartment. The fan assembly may include a frame provided with one or more openings or air passages that may route cooled air to the compartments and a damper that may be rotated by a motor to selectively open or close the air passages. The damper may be coaxially arranged between the fan and the frame and may move within a gap between the fan and the frame. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, a fan assembly for use in an appliance is provided. The fan assembly may include a housing, an impeller, a first damper member, a second damper member, and an actuation assembly. The housing may define a number of outlets and the impeller may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets. The first damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller and the second damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets. 
     According to another embodiment, an air supply device for use in a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a convertible compartment. The air supply device may include an impeller, a first damper member, a second damper member, and an actuation assembly. The impeller may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis to provide direct air towards a number of outlets fluidly that may be connected to the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the convertible compartment. The first damper member may include a first sidewall that may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The second damper member may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller and may be disposed radially between the impeller and the first damper member. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block, or completely open at least one of the number of outlets. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a number of compartments, a panel, an impeller, a number of damper members, and an actuation assembly. The number of compartments may be formed by a number of mullions and walls of the refrigerator. The panel may be covered by one or more inner walls of the number of compartments. The panel may include a base surface and a number of protrusions that may collectively form a number of channels that may each be fluidly connected to one or more compartments of the number of compartments. The impeller may be rotationally coupled to the panel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis to direct air towards the number of outlets. The number of damper members may at least partially extend circumferentially about the impeller. The actuation assembly may be configured to selectively rotate the first damper member and/or the second damper member to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of channels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front-perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a first position. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a second position. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a third position. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a fourth position. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a fifth position. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a sixth position. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly provided with damper members in a seventh position. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary fan assembly. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary fan assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may 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 present invention. 
     This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way. 
     As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components. 
     The term “substantially” or “about” may be used herein to describe disclosed or claimed embodiments. The term “substantially” or “about” may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “substantially” or “about” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within ±0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
       FIG.  1    generally shows the refrigerator  100 . The refrigerator may be of the French-Door Bottom Mount type, but it is understood that this disclosure could apply to any type of refrigerator, such as a side-by-side, two-door bottom mount, or top-mount type. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the refrigerator  100  may include a number of storage compartments  102 . The storage compartments may include a first internal storage chamber or a refrigerated compartment  102   a , a convertible storage compartment  102   b , and a freezer compartment  102   c . The convertible storage compartment  102   b , may be disposed between the refrigerator compartment  102   a  and the freezer compartment  102   c . However, the compartments  102  may be arranged in a variety of arrangements. Each of the compartments  102  may be divided by a mullion or divider  104  configured to insulate the compartments from one another for independent temperature control. Additionally, one or more of the compartments  102  may be controlled to adjust in temperature such that the compartments  102  may be implemented to store frozen or fresh items. 
     Though the convertible compartment  102   b  is depicted in  FIG.  1    as being positioned between the refrigerator compartment  102   a  and the freezer compartment  102   c , a convertible compartment  102   d  may be implemented in a variety of configurations. For example, in some instances, the convertible compartment  102   d  may be arranged as a portion of the freezer compartment  102   c  and may be separated or divided by one of the mullions  104  or dividers to bisect the freezer compartment  102   c  or divide it into various proportions. In general, each of the compartments  102   a - 102   d  may be accessible via one or more doors. As shown, the fresh food compartment doors are designated  106 , and the freezer door is designated  108 . It may also be shown that the refrigerated compartment  102   a  may only have one door  106 . As example, each of the compartments  102  divided by seals that may interact with the mullions  104  to insulate the compartments  102  from each other. Accordingly, the refrigerator  100  may be flexibly implemented in a variety of configurations. 
     The temperature of the convertible compartment  102   b  may be rapidly adjusted over a number of setpoints, which may range from approximately −25 degrees centigrade to 15 degrees centigrade. Such a temperature range may correspond to temperatures that may be implemented to store a variety of goods. However, other temperatures or ranges of temperatures may be implemented and achieved via a controller provided with a memory programmed to adjust the temperature of the convertible compartment  102   b . As an example, the controller (not illustrated) may adjust one or more of the damper sidewalls to provide warm or cool air to the convertible compartment  102   b.    
     Referring generally to the figures, a fan assembly  110  for use in the refrigerator  100  is provided. The fan assembly include a base member  112  that may be disposed on a wall  114  disposed behind or below one or more of the compartments  102 . The base member  112  may define an opening in which a fan or impeller  120  extends through. The impeller  120  may be configured to rotate about a rotational axis R to direct warm or cool air to a number of outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128  that may each be fluidly connected to the compartments  102 . 
     A number of deflectors  122  may extend from the base member  112  to form one or more ducts or outlets. As an example, the number of outlets may include a refrigerator outlet  124 , that may be fluidly connected to the refrigerator compartment  102   a  to supply air from the impeller  120  to the refrigerator compartment  102   a , a convertible compartment outlet  126 , that may be fluidly connected to the convertible compartment  102   b  to supply air from the impeller  120  to the convertible compartment  102   b , and a freezer outlet  128  that may be fluidly connected to the freezer compartment  102   c  to supply air from the impeller  120  to the freezer compartment  102   c.    
     The fan assembly  110  may include a first damper member  116  and a second damper member  118 . The first and second damper members  116 ,  118  may circumferentially extend about the impeller  120  and an actuation assembly  130  may be operatively connected to the first damper member  116 , the second damper member  118 , or both. The actuation assembly  130  may be configured to selectively rotate the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  to partially block, completely block, or completely open at least one of the number of outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128 . Blocking one or more of the outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128 , while opening the other outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128 , may permit a volume of air that would have been otherwise provided to the other outlets so that the temperature of the compartments  102  fluidly connected to the outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128  may raised or lowered as desired in a relatively short period of time. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first damper member  116  may include a first annular ring  132  and a first damper sidewall  134  that may extend from the first annular ring  132  and the second damper member  118  may include a second annular ring  136  and a second damper sidewall  138  that may extend from the second annular ring  136 . As an example, the first annular ring  132  may be spaced apart from the base member  112  and the second annular ring may lie along or move along the base member  112 . The impeller  120  may include a number of vanes  140  and a band  142  that may extend between distal ends of each of the vanes  140  The distal ends of the vanes  140  and/or the band  142  may form an outer periphery of the impeller  120 . The first sidewall  134  may be radially spaced apart from the outer periphery of the impeller  120  and the second sidewall  138  may be disposed radially between the first sidewall  134  and the impeller  120 . 
     The first sidewall  134  may include a first circumferential portion  144  and a first tangential portion  146 . The first circumferential portion  144  may be curved and may extend circumferentially about the outer periphery of the impeller  120  and the first tangential portion  146  may be substantially straight and extend in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the first circumferential portion  144 . The second sidewall may include a second circumferential portion  148  and a second tangential portion  150 . The second circumferential portion  148  may be curved and extend circumferentially about the outer periphery of the impeller  120  and the second tangential portion  150  may be substantially straight and extend in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the second circumferential portion  148 . The first and second tangential portions  146 ,  150   
     The fan assembly  110  may include the number of deflectors  122  that may include a first deflector  122   a , a second deflector  122   b , and a third deflector  122   c . The first deflector  122   a  and the second deflector  122   b  may form the refrigerator outlet  124 . The first deflector  122   a  and a first end of the third deflector  122   c  may form the convertible compartment outlet  126  and a second end of the third deflector  122   c  and the second deflector  122   b  may form the freezer compartment outlet  128 . The first and second deflectors  122   a ,  122   b  may be V-shaped and may include first and second arms  152 ,  154  that may be connected to one another by a curved portion  156 . Alternatively or additionally, the third deflector may include a first distal portion  160 , a second distal portion  162 , and a medial portion  164  extending therebetween. As an example, the first and second distal portions  160 ,  162  may each be substantially straight and the medial portion  164  may be curved so as to circumferentially extend about an outer periphery of the impeller  120 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  may be adjusted by one or more actuation assemblies. A first actuation assembly may include a first motor  226  and a first gear  228  that may be operatively coupled to the first motor  226 . The first gear  228  may be spaced apart from the base member  112  and configured to engage one or more teeth  234  that may be formed by the first annular ring  132 . A second actuation assembly may include a second motor  230  and a second gear  232  that may be operatively coupled to the second motor  230  and configured to engage one or more teeth  236  of the second annular ring  136 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of the fan assembly  110  according to one or more embodiments. The fan assembly  110  may include the impeller  120  and the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  may be disposed in a first position in which the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  do not block the refrigerator outlet  124 , the convertible compartment outlet  126 , or the freezer outlet  128  so that each of the outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128  are opened. In one or more embodiments, the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  may be arranged coaxial to one another, or concentric to one another, or both. The first damper member  116  may include the first annular ring  132  and the first sidewall  134  and the second damper member  118  may include the second annular ring  136  and the second sidewall  138 . The annular rings  132 ,  136  may each have a rectangular shape that is bent to extend in the circumferential direction. 
     When the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  are in the first position, the first sidewall  134  may cover the second sidewall  138  in the radial direction. Alternatively or additionally, the first sidewall  134  and the second sidewall  138  may each cover the medial portion  164  in the radial direction. As an example, the first tangential portion  146  may lie against or be adjacent to the second distal portion  162  of the third deflector and the second tangential portion  150  may lie against or be adjacent to the first distal portion  160 . In one or more embodiments, the first annular ring  132  may be disposed above the second distal portion  162  and the second annular ring  136  may extend below the second distal portion  162 . As another example, the second distal portion  162  may define a slot  158  and the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  including the first annular ring  132 , the first sidewall  134 , the second annular ring  136 , and the second sidewall  138  move in and out of. In one or more embodiments, the first distal portion  160  of the third deflector  122   c  may define a slot  166  and the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  including the first annular ring  132 , the first sidewall  134 , the second annular ring  136 , and the second sidewall  138  may move in and out of the slot  166 . 
     The first motor  226  and the first gear  228  and the second motor  230  and the second gear  232  may each be disposed adjacent to the third deflector  122   c . However, the first and second motors  226 ,  230  and the first and second gears  228 ,  232  may each be coupled to the base member  112  in one or more other suitable positions so that the first and second gears  228 ,  232  may engage the teeth  234 ,  236  of the first and second annular rings  132 ,  136 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a plan view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a second position, in which the convertible compartment outlet  126  is closed and the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  and freezer compartment outlet  128  are each open. When the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  are in the second position, portions of the first sidewall  134  may at least partially overlap or cover the second sidewall  138 . The first annular ring  132  may be disposed above, such as in the axial direction, and radially inward with respect to the second sidewall  138 . The first tangential portion  146  may extend in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first deflection member  122   a  to direct air towards the second arm  154  and the refrigerator outlet  124 . The first tangential portion  146  may be positioned to prevent or block air flowing to the convertible compartment outlet  126 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a plan view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a third position, in which the freezer compartment outlet  128  is open and the refrigerator outlet  124  and the convertible compartment  126  are closed. When the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  are in the third position, the first tangential portion  146  and the second tangential portion  150  may contact one another to close a gap disposed between the first circumferential portion  144  and the second circumferential portion  148 . As an example, the second sidewall  138  may block the freezer compartment outlet  128  and the first sidewall  134  may block the convertible compartment outlet  126 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a plan view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a fourth position, in which the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  is open and the convertible compartment  126  and the freezer outlet  128  are each closed. As an example, the second sidewall  138  may block the freezer compartment outlet  127  and the first sidewall  134  may block the convertible compartment  126 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a plan view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a fifth position, in which the convertible compartment outlet  126  is open and the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  and the freezer outlet  128  are each closed. As an example, the second sidewall  138  may block the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  and the first sidewall  134  may block the freezer compartment outlet  128 . The second tangential portion  150  may extend towards the curved portion  156  of the first deflector  122   a . The second tangential portion  150  may be configured to direct air towards the first deflector  122   a  and the freezer compartment outlet  128 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a perspective view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a sixth position, in which the convertible compartment outlet  126  and the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  are each open and the freezer compartment outlet  128  is closed. As an example, the second sidewall  138  may block the freezer compartment outlet  128  and the first sidewall  134  may be positioned to radially cover or overlap portions of the third deflector  122   c . The second tangential portion  150  of the second sidewall  138  may extend towards the second arm  154  of the second deflector  122   b  so that air is directed towards the second deflector  122   b  and the refrigerator outlet  124 . 
       FIG.  8    illustrates a perspective view of the fan assembly  110  provided with the first and second damper members  116 ,  118  in a seventh position, in which the convertible compartment outlet  126  and the freezer compartment outlet  128  are each open and the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  is closed. As an example, the second sidewall  138  may block the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  and the first sidewall  134  may be positioned to radially cover or overlap portions of the third deflector  122   c . The second tangential portion  150  of the second sidewall  138  may extend towards or parallel to the first leg  153  of the first deflector  122   a  so that air is directed towards the first deflector  122   a  and the convertible compartment outlet  126 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the second sidewall  138  may be spaced apart from an inner periphery  168  of the second annular ring  136 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator  100  that includes a panel  170  and an exemplary fan assembly  210 . The base member  112  may be disposed on the panel  170  and the impeller  120  may be rotationally coupled to the panel  170  and extend through the base member  112 . A number of deflectors  172  may be fixed to the base member  112  to form the refrigerator compartment outlet  124 , the convertible compartment outlet  126 , and the freezer compartment outlet  128 . As an example, the number of deflectors  172  may include a first deflector  172   a , a second deflector  172   b , and a third deflector  172   c.    
     The panel  170  may include a number of protrusions  174  and the number of protrusions  174  and the number of deflectors  172  may collectively form the refrigerator compartment outlet  124 , the convertible compartment outlet  126 , and the freezer compartment outlet  128 . As an example, the number of protrusions may include a first protrusion  174   a  that may include a first segment  176  and a second segment  178  that may be arranged substantially orthogonally to the first segment  176 . The first segment  176  may form an inner periphery of the refrigerator outlet compartment  126  and may include an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface spaced closer to the impeller  120  than the outer surface. As an example, the outer surface may be curved, and the inner surface may be relatively straight. The curved outer surface may be configured to mitigate or prevent turbulent air flow through the refrigerator compartment outlet  126 . 
     A second protrusion  174   b  may be disposed between the first deflector  172   a  and the first protrusion  174   a . For example, the second protrusion  174   b  may be connected e.g., integrally formed to the first protrusion  174   a . The second protrusion  174   b  may include a curved surface  180  that may be adjacent to or contact the first deflector  172   a . The first and second protrusions  174   a ,  174   b  may be spaced on a first side of the refrigerator compartment outlet  124  and a third protrusion  174   c  may be disposed on a second side of the refrigerator compartment outlet  124 . The third protrusion  174   c  may have a flat-bottom airfoil shape provided with a curved inner surface,  182  that may face the impeller  120 , and a flat surface that may form or face an outer periphery  186  of the panel  170 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the panel  170  may include a fourth protrusion  174   d  that may be spaced apart from the third protrusion  174   c  away from the outer periphery  186 . As an example, the fourth protrusion may have a substantially triangular shape including a vertex  188  and a base  190 . The vertex  188  may be disposed closer to the impeller  120  than the base  190 . The panel  170  may include a fifth protrusion  174   e  that may be spaced apart from the first protrusion  174   a  on the other side of the convertible compartment outlet  126 . As an example, the fifth protrusion  174   e  may include a first section  192 , that may extend in a direction that is parallel to the second section  178  of the first protrusion  174   a , and a second section  194  that may extend substantially orthogonally to the first section  194 . 
     The protrusions  174  may form one or more channels  181 ,  182 ,  195  that may be fluidly connected to the outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128 . The third protrusion  174   c  and the fourth protrusion  174   d  may form a first channel  181  that may be fluidly connected to the freezer compartment outlet  126 . The second protrusion  174   b  and the third protrusion  174   c  may collectively form a second channel that may be fluidly connected to the refrigerant compartment outlet  124 . The first protrusion  174   a  and the fifth protrusion  174   e  may form a third channel  182  that may be fluidly connected to the convertible compartment outlet  126 . 
     A damper member  196  may be rotationally fixed to the base  112  and configured to selectively rotate to partially block, completely block or completely open the number of outlets  124 ,  126 ,  128 . The damper member  196  may include an annular ring  198  and a sidewall  200  that may extend from an inner periphery  202  of the annular ring. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator  100  that includes an exemplary panel  204  and an exemplary fan assembly  212 . One or more deflectors  206  may extend from the base member  112 , including a first deflector  206   a , a second deflector  206   b , and a third deflector  206   c . As an example, the first deflector  206   a  may include a first leg  208  and a second leg  209  that may extend orthogonally the first leg  208 . The second deflector  206   b  may include a curved portion  214 , a first radial extending portion  216 , and a second radial extending portion  218 . The first and second radial extending portions  216 ,  218  may each extend from ends of the curved portion  214 . The third deflector  206   c  may include a first radial extending portion  220 , a second radial extending portion  224 , and a curved portion  222  that may extend therebetween. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, 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 invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.