Patent Publication Number: US-10788254-B2

Title: Rotating heat carrier system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to heat transfer devices for appliances, such as refrigerator appliances. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Refrigerators frequently include a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, which are partitioned from each other to store various foods at appropriate low temperatures. In “bottom mount” refrigerators, the freezer compartment is arranged beneath the fresh food compartment, and an icemaker is disposed in a thermally insulated sub-compartment (also known as an “icebox”) within one of the fresh food compartment doors. Such positioning of the icebox is convenient; however, the icebox must be cooled to below the freezing temperature of water to enable the icemaker to form ice. 
     Certain bottom mount refrigerators include air ducts between the freezer compartment and the icebox. Air from freezer compartment flows through the air ducts to the icebox in order to freeze water and enable operation of the icemaker. Such air ducts can require complex routing to flow air into the fresh food compartment door. In addition, air ducts can occupy a significant volume within the refrigerators. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first example embodiment, a rotating heat carrier system includes a barrier having a first side portion and a second side portion. The first side portion is positioned opposite the second side portion on the barrier. The rotating heat carrier system also includes a shaft. A plurality of disks is mounted to the shaft such that each of the plurality of disks extends along a radial direction from the shaft. The plurality of disks is stacked on the shaft such that each of the plurality of disks is spaced from an adjacent pair of the plurality of disks along an axial direction on the shaft. A motor is coupled to the shaft. The motor is operable to rotate the shaft and the plurality of disks. The plurality of disks is at least partially positioned within the barrier. A first portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction away from the first side portion of the barrier. A second portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction away from the second side portion of the barrier. 
     In a second example embodiment, a refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet have a first chamber and a second chamber positioned within the cabinet. A rotating heat carrier system is positioned within the cabinet. The rotating heat carrier system includes a barrier positioned between the first and second chambers. The rotating heat carrier system also includes a shaft. A plurality of disks is mounted to the shaft such that each of the plurality of disks extends along a radial direction from the shaft. The plurality of disks is stacked on the shaft such that each of the plurality of disks is spaced from an adjacent pair of the plurality of disks along an axial direction on the shaft. A motor is coupled to the shaft. The motor is operable to rotate the shaft and the plurality of disks. The plurality of disks is at least partially positioned within the barrier. A first portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction into the first chamber. A second portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction into the second chamber. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a refrigerator appliance according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a rotating heat carrier system of the example refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the rotating heat carrier system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are section views of the rotating heat carrier system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an example embodiment of a refrigerator appliance  10  is depicted as an upright refrigerator having a cabinet or casing  12  that defines a number of internal storage compartments or chilled chambers. In particular, refrigerator appliance  10  includes upper fresh-food compartments  14  having doors  16  and lower freezer compartment  18  having upper drawer  20  and lower drawer  22 . The drawers  20 ,  22  are “pull-out” type drawers in that they can be manually moved into and out of the freezer compartment  18  on suitable slide mechanisms. It will be understood that doors  16  may be considered part of casing  12  in certain example embodiments. 
     Refrigerator  10  is provided by way of example only. Other configurations for a refrigerator appliance may be used as well including appliances with only freezer compartments, only chilled compartments, or other combinations thereof different from that shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, the rotating heat carrier of the present invention is not limited to appliances and may be used in other applications as well such as e.g., air-conditioning, electronics cooling devices, and others. Further, it should be understood that while the use of a rotating heat carrier to provide cooling within a refrigerator is provided by way of example herein, the present invention may also be used to provide for heating applications as well. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a rotating heat carrier system  200  of refrigerator  10 . Rotating heat carrier system  200  is operable to transfer heat between a pair of the internal storage compartments or chilled chambers of refrigerator  10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , rotating heat carrier system  200  may be positioned between a first chamber  102  and a second chamber  104  within casing  12 . During operation, rotating heat carrier system  200  may transfer heat from first chamber  102  to second chamber  104  or vice versa. 
     First and second chambers  102 ,  104  may be any suitable chambers within casing  12 . For example, first chamber  102  may be fresh-food compartment  14 , and second chamber  104  may be freezer compartment  18 . As another example, first chamber  102  may be fresh-food compartment  14 , and second chamber  104  may be an ice making chamber or icebox (not shown) within one of doors  16 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of rotating heat carrier system  200 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  are section views of rotating heat carrier system  200 . As may be seen in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , rotating heat carrier system  200  includes a barrier  210 . Barrier  210  has a first side portion  212  and a second side portion  214 . First side portion  212  may be positioned opposite second side portion  214  on barrier  210 . For example, first side portion  212  of barrier  210  may be positioned at and/or face first chamber  102 , and second side portion  214  of barrier  210  may be positioned at and/or face second chamber  104 . Barrier  210  may block or limit airflow between first and second chambers  102 ,  104 . 
     Barrier  210  may be an insulated barrier, e.g., such that insulation within barrier  210  limits heat transfer between first and second side portions  212 ,  214  of barrier  210 . As an example, barrier  210  may include suitable foam insulation, fiberglass insulation, vacuum panel insulation, etc. between first and second side portions  212 ,  214  of barrier  210 . In such a manner, barrier  210  may limit heat transfer between first and second chambers  102 ,  104 . However, as noted above and discussed in greater detail below, rotating heat carrier system  200  includes features for transferring heat through barrier  210  from first chamber  102  to second chamber  104  or vice versa. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , rotating heat carrier system  200  includes a plurality of disks  220  and a shaft  230 . Disks  220  are shown with hatch lines in  FIG. 3  to assist with distinguishing disks  220  from other components of rotating heat carrier system  200 . Disks  220  are mounted to shaft  230 . In particular, each disk  220  may extend along a radial direction R from shaft  230 . Disks  220  may also be stacked on shaft  230 . In particular, each disk  220  may be spaced from an adjacent pair of disks  220  along an axial direction A on shaft  230 . Thus, disks  220  may be distributed along the axial direction A on shaft  230 . 
     Disks  220  are at least partially positioned within barrier  210 . For example, barrier  210  may define a passage  216 . Passage  216  may extend through barrier  210 , e.g., between first and second side portions  212 ,  214  of barrier  210 , and disks  220  may be at least partially positioned within barrier  210  at passage  216  of barrier  210 . Disks  220  may carry heat through passage  216  between first and second chambers  102 ,  104 , as discussed in greater detail below. 
     A first portion  222  of each disk  220  may extend along the radial direction R away from first side portion  212  of barrier  210 . Thus, first portion  222  of each disk  220  may extend into and be positioned within first chamber  102 . Conversely, a second portion  224  of each disk  220  may extend along the radial direction R away from second side portion  214  of barrier  210 . Thus, second portion  224  of each disk  220  may extend into and be positioned within second chamber  104 . 
     A motor  240  is coupled to shaft  230 . Motor  240  is operable to rotate shaft  230 . Thus, due to the connection between shaft  230  and disks  220 , motor  240  is also operable to rotate disks  220 . During operation of motor  240 , disks  220  may rotate relative to barrier  210 . Thus, e.g., disks  220  may rotate through barrier  210  between first and second chambers  102 ,  104  during operation of motor  240 . Thus, it will be understood that the portion of each disk  220  corresponding to first portion  222  within first chamber  102  and the portion of each disk  220  corresponding to second portion  224  within second chamber  104  changes during operation of motor  240  due to rotation of disks  220 . 
     Shaft  230  may be mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a vertical axis or a suitable angle between horizontal and vertical depending upon the arrangement of rotating heat carrier system  200 . Motor  240  may also be spaced from first and second chambers  102 ,  104 , e.g., to limit heating of first and second chambers  102 ,  104  during operation of motor  240 . Thus, motor  240  may be located remote from first and second chambers  102 ,  104 , and shaft  230  may couple motor  240  to disks  220 . 
     Disks  220  are configured to transfer heat through barrier  210  when motor  240  rotates disks  220 . Various heat transfer mechanism assists disks  220  with transferring heat through barrier  210 . As an example, convection heat transfer between air within first chamber  102  and disks  220  may cool first portions  222  of disks  220 . As motor  240  rotates disks  220 , the cooled portion of disks  220  rotates through barrier  210  into second chamber  104 . In turn, convection heat transfer between air within second chamber  104  and disks  220  may cool the air within second chamber  104 . As another example, convection heat transfer between air within first chamber  102  and disks  220  may heat first portions  222  of disks  220 . As motor  240  rotates disks  220 , the heated portion of disks  220  rotates through barrier  210  into second chamber  104 . In turn, convection heat transfer between air within second chamber  104  and disks  220  may heat the air within second chamber  104 . 
     As may be seen from the above, rotating heat carrier system  200  may transfer energy across an air barrier, such as barrier  210 . In particular, rotation of disks  220  transports thermal energy between locations on either side of barrier  210 . Rotating heat carrier system  200  may efficiently and/or quietly operate within an associated appliance to transfer heat between two separate chambers. 
     To assist with blocking fluid flow and thus undesired heat transfer through passage  216 , barrier  210  may include a plurality of fingers  218 . Fingers  218  are positioned at passage  216  of barrier  210 , and each finger  218  may be positioned between a respective pair of disks  220 . In particular, fingers  218  may be sized such that the width of fingers  218  along the axial direction A results in only a small gap along the axial direction A between fingers  218  and disks  220 . In addition, fingers  218  may be sized such that the length of fingers  218  along the radial direction R results in only a small gap along the radial direction R between fingers  218  and shaft  230 . Thus, fingers  218  may be configured to block fluid flow through barrier  210  via passage  216 . In particular, fingers  218  and disks  220  may collectively form a loose air seal within passage  216  to limit or block airflow between first and second chambers  102 ,  104  through passage  216 . 
     Disks  220  may include a suitable number of disks. For example, disks  220  may include no less than four disks. Such number of disks  220  may efficiently transfer heat during operation of rotating heat carrier system  200 . Disks  220  may also be constructed of a suitable material. For example, disks  220  may be metal disks in certain example embodiments, e.g., to facilitate efficient heat transfer during operation of rotating heat carrier system  200 . Conversely, disks  220  may be plastic disks in alternative example embodiments, e.g., to limit conductive heat transfer through disks  220  when rotating heat carrier system  200  is inactive. 
     The sizing of disks  220  may also be selected to facilitate heat transfer with air. For example, a thickness of each disk  220  along the axial direction R may be greater than a diameter of each disk  220  along the axial direction A. For example, the thickness of disks  220  may be no greater than a tenth of the diameter of disks  220 . As another example, the thickness of disks  220  may be no greater than a twentieth of the diameter of disks  220 . Such sizing of disks  220  may provide a large surface air for convective heat transfer with air while limiting a total mass of disks  220 . 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.