Caledonian College of Engineering Automatic Oil Dispenser Critical Analysis of Journals I need a Critical Analysis & analyzes about these 4 journals. My pr

Caledonian College of Engineering Automatic Oil Dispenser Critical Analysis of Journals I need a Critical Analysis & analyzes about these 4 journals. My project subject is automatic oil dispenser the report should consist this important point in the report Plagiarism need to be lass I need at least 10 reference Harvard style Future work should be mentioned Problem that can faced in future Problem solve or method to improve it I need 3000 to 3500 words US009085453B2
(12) United States Patent
(10) Patent No.:
McMahan et al.
(54) REFRIGERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC
LIQUID DISPENSER
(71) Applicant:
Electrolux H
Products, I
pp.11cant: Llectroux Home Products, Inc.,
Charlotte, NC (US)
(56)
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(US); Nilton Bertolini, Anderson, SC
2,031,283 A
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(Continued)
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(73) Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS,
INC., Charlotte, NC (US)
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,
102099.
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
International Search Report for PCT/US2012/070770, dated Feb. 4,
2014, 2 pages.
(Continued)
O1
Prior Publication Data
US 2013/O146.179 A1
Jun. 13, 2013
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 61/568,939, filed on Dec.
9, 2011.
51) Int. C
6 7D iMO
B67D 7/22
(52) U.S. Cl.
3.
(Continued)
(21) Appl. No.: 13/709,525
(22) Filed:
Dec. 10, 2012
(51)
A
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
U.S.C. 154(b) by 410 days.
(65)
Jul. 21, 2015
62/338,339, 377; 222/146.6, 64, 129.1;
73/290 R, 304 C: 340/620: 361/284
See application file for complete search history.
(72) Inventors: Travis McMahan, Honea Path, SC
(*) Notice:
US 9,085.453 B2
(45) Date of Patent:
Primary Examiner — Timothy L. Maust
Assistant Examiner — Timothy P Kelly
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Pearne & Gordon LLP
(57)
ABSTRACT
A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food com
partment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and
2006.O1
(2O1 0. O
( .01)
(Continued)
including an interior Surface in communication with the fresh
food compartment when the dooris closed. A liquid dispenser
is arranged on the interior Surface of the door, and a container
is Supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from
the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property
CPC ……………. B67D 7/221 (2013.01); B67D 1/124
of the container, and a control is in communication with the
(2013.01); B67D 1/1238 (2013.01);
(Continued)
(58) Field of Classification Search
CPC ………. F25D 2331/81; F25D 2331/806; F25D
sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of
liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the
container. In one example, the sensor is resiliently biased into
contact with the containerto sense a property of the container.
In another example, the control indicates a stale liquid con
dition if a timer expires before the container has been
2323/122; F25D 23/126; B67D 2210/00036;
B67D 1/1238; B67D 1/124; B67D 2001/1268:
B67D 26OO/O2
removed from the door.
15 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
USPC …….. 141/94-95, 198,351,360,375; 62/389,
28A,
US 9,085.453 B2
Page 2
(51) Int. Cl.
7,658,212
8,011,203
8,109,301
8,245,735
8,377,292
(2006.01)
(2006.01)
(52) U.S. Cl.
CPC ….. F25D 23/126 (2013.01); B67D 2001/1268
(2013.01); F25D 2323/122 (2013.01); F25D
2331/81 (2013.01); F25D 2600/02 (2013.01)
(56)
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JP
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS
International Search Report issued in Application No. PCT/US2012/
070770 dated Feb. 4, 2014.
Written Opinion issued in Application No. PCT/US2012/070770
dated Feb. 4, 2014.
* cited by examiner
U.S. Patent
Jul. 21, 2015
Sheet 1 of 8
US 9085.453 B.
U.S. Patent
Jul. 21, 2015
Sheet 2 of 8
US 9,085.453 B2
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Sheet 3 of 8
16b
r3O 28, Z2
US 9,085.453 B2
U.S. Patent
Jul. 21, 2015
Sheet 4 of 8
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32
163
YE
IE
s
2
s
A.
|
1.
s
22
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f
FG. 4
U.S. Patent
Jul. 21, 2015
Sheet 6 of 8
US 9,085.453 B2
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2
?
2-96
32
“s X.
8O-1
82
265
41
-II-
FG. (6A
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U.S. Patent
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Sheet 7 of 8
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U.S. Patent
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Sheet 8 of 8
FG, 7
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US 9,085,453 B2
1.
2
indicating a stale liquid condition if the timer expires before
REFRGERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC
the container has been removed from the door.
LIQUID DISPENSER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/568,939, filed Dec. 9, 2011, the entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by refer
CCC.
10
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates generally to a liquid dis
penser for an appliance, and more particularly, to an auto
matic liquid dispenser for an appliance.
15
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Appliances, such as refrigerators, are known to include
internal and/or external water dispensers. Additionally, appli
ances are known to include containers for holding water
within the appliance.
25
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified Summary of the inven
tion in order to provide a basic understanding of some
example aspects of the invention. This Summary is not an
extensive overview of the invention. Moreover, this summary
is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention
nor delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of
the Summary is to present some concepts of the invention in
simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description
that is presented later.
In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator comprises a
cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivot
ally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior Surface
in communication with the fresh food compartment when the
door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior
Surface of the door, and a container is Supported on the door
and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A
sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and
a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is
configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container
based upon the sensed property of the container.
In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator comprises
a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door piv
otally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior
Surface in communication with the fresh food compartment
when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the
interior Surface of the door comprising a spout and a Support
shelf arranged below the spout, and a container is Supported
on the support shelf of the door and configured to receive
liquid from the spout. A sensor is resiliently biased into con
tact with the container and configured to sense a property of
30
35
The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the
present invention relates upon reading the following descrip
tion with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example refrigerator;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one example refrigerator
door with an example water pitcher,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example refrigera
tor door with an example water pitcher;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator door of FIG. 3
without the water pitcher;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an example sensing circuit;
FIG. 6A is a side view of the refrigerator door and sensing
circuit without the water pitcher;
pitcher; and
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the refrigerator door and
water pitcher of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
40
45
50
55
60
container.
In accordance with another aspect, a method of dispensing
a liquid from a refrigerator comprises the step of sensing a
presence of a container on an interior Surface of a door in
communication with a fresh food compartment of the refrig
erator. The method further comprises the steps of sensing a
presence of liquid within the container, initiating a timer, and
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 6B is similar to FIG. 6A, but includes the water
the container. A control is in communication with the sensor
and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the con
tainer via the spout based upon the sensed property of the
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description present
example and explanatory embodiments of the invention, and
are intended to provide an overview or framework for under
standing the nature and character of the invention as it is
claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide
a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated
into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings
illustrate various example embodiments of the invention, and
together with the description, serve to explain the principles
and operations of the invention.
65
Example embodiments that incorporate one or more
aspects of the present invention are described and illustrated
in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended
to be a limitation on the present invention. For example, one
or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in
other embodiments and even other types of devices. More
over, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only
and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.
Still further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are
employed for designating the same elements.
Described herein is an apparatus and method for dispens
ing liquid for filling a water pitcher or carafe automatically
within an appliance. Such as within a refrigerator compart
ment. The apparatus is used to Supply a user with a full pitcher
of liquid when the user opens the refrigerator door. For
example, the pitcher can fill automatically when the door
shuts. As will be described herein, it is contemplated that the
term “full is intended to mean filled to a predetermined level
that may be fixed or alterable. Additionally, although the term
“water is used herein as an example, it is contemplated that
apparatus could be used with various other liquids.
Conventional refrigeration appliances, such as domestic
refrigerators, typically have both a fresh food compartment
and a freezer compartment or section. The fresh food com
partment is where food items such as fruits, vegetables, and
beverages are stored and the freezer compartment is where
food items that are to be kept in a frozen condition are stored.
The refrigerators are provided with a refrigeration system that
US 9,085,453 B2
3
maintains the fresh food compartment attemperatures above
0° C. and the freezer compartments attemperatures below 0°
C.
Turning to the shown example of FIG. 1, a refrigeration
appliance is illustrated in the form of a domestic refrigerator,
indicated generally at 10. Although the detailed description of
an embodiment of the present invention that follows concerns
a domestic refrigerator 10, the invention can be embodied by
refrigeration appliances other than with a domestic refrigera
tor 10. Further, an embodiment is described in detail below,
and shown in the figures as a “bottom-mount” configuration
of a refrigerator 10, including a cabinet defining a fresh-food
compartment 14 disposed vertically above a freezer compart
ment 12. Still, the cabinet can define the fresh-food compart
ment 14 laterally beside the freezer compartment 12 (i.e., a
“side-by-side’ refrigerator) or freezer compartment 12 above
the fresh-food compartment 14 (i.e., a “top-mount” refrigera
tor).
One or more doors 16 shown in FIG. 1 are pivotally
coupled to a cabinet of the refrigerator 10 to restrict and grant
access to the fresh food compartment 14. The door 16 can
include a single door that spans the entire lateral distance
across the entrance to the fresh food compartment 14 (see
FIG. 3), or can include a pair of French-type doors 16 as
shown in FIG. 1 that collectively span the entire lateral dis
tance of the entrance to the fresh food compartment 14 to
enclose the fresh food compartment 14. For the latter con
figuration, a center mullion coupled to at least one of the
doors 16 to establish a surface against which the doors 16 can
seal the entrance to the fresh food compartment 14 at a loca
tion between opposing side Surfaces of the doors 16.
Conventionally, a dispenser 18 for dispensing at least ice
pieces, and optionally water can be provided to one of the
doors 16 that restricts access to the fresh food compartment
14 shown in FIG.1. Generally, the dispenser 18 can include a
lever, Switch, proximity sensor or other device that a user can
interact with to cause frozen ice pieces to be dispensed from
an ice bin (not shown) provided to an ice maker (not shown)
disposed within the fresh food compartment 14 through the
door 16. Ice pieces from the ice bin can be delivered to the
dispenser via an ice chute or the like that extends at least
partially through the door 16 between the dispenser 18 and the
5
10
15
embodiments include a user interface 19 that is not necessar
30
ily flush with the side portion 17, but is recessed into the side
portion 17 and set back from the side portion 17. According to
other embodiments, the user interface 19 can project out
wardly from the side portion 17, but to a lesser extent than the
distance separating the side portions of the doors 16A, pro
viding enough clearance to allow the doors 16A to Swing
closed without contacting each other. In still other embodi
35
food compartment 14 and/or freezer compartment 12.
A door bin system can be provided for retaining the water
pitcher 20 or carafe within the interior of the refrigerator. For
example, the water pitcher 20 can be supported on a movable
25
ments, the user interface 19 can be located within the fresh
or non-movable shelf 24. The shelf 24 can have a recessed
40
ice bin.
However, it is contemplated that the subject application
can be used with a refrigerator that does not include a dis
penser on a front exterior surface of the door 16 to provide a
particular aesthetic look to the refrigerator. Instead, as shown
in FIGS. 2-3, the refrigerator 10 can include a container for
storing liquid. Such as a water pitcher 20 or carafe, located
within an interior compartment. Although the term “water
pitcher is used herein as an example, it is contemplated that
apparatus could be used with various other containers and
liquids. Preferably, the water pitcher 20 is located within the
fresh food compartment. The water pitcher 20 can be sup
ported on an interior surface 22 of the refrigerator door 16A,
16B that is in communication with the fresh food compart
45
50
configuration providing a recess 25 or well to receive and
retain the water pitcher 20. In addition or alternatively, the
door bin system can include mating structure to assist in
properly locating the water pitcher 20 within the door bin
system, and/or various retaining or even locking structure to
inhibit inadvertent removal of the water pitcher 20, while
permitting purposeful removal. The water pitcher 20 can
include various geometries, such as Square, rectangular,
curved, oval, triangular, polygonal, etc. In one example, the
water pitcher 20 can have a generally square or rectangular
geometry that corresponds generally with the bounded geom
etry of the shelf 24 and recess 25 so that the water pitcher 20
nests and fits Snugly therein.
The support shelf could provide for various methods of
removing the water pitcher 20 therefrom, such as vertical
removal, front or side lateral removal. The shelf 24 can
55
ment 14 when the door 16A, 16B is closed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator door 16A can be
configured for use as one of a pair of French-type doors. Such
as for use in a “bottom mount’-style refrigerator. Alterna
tively, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator door 16B can be
configured for use as a single door that spans the entire lateral
distance of the entrance to the fresh food compartment. Such
as for use in a “top mount’-style refrigerator. It is understood
that the water pitcher 20 and associated filling structure and
methodology discussed herein can be similar, or even differ
ent, on the various types of refrigerator doors 16A, 16B.
4
Each refrigerator door is insulated to minimize the escape
of heat from the fresh food compartment 14, and thus have a
depth dimension that includes Substantially-planar side por
tions 17 extending at least a part of the way between an
exterior face exposed to an ambient environment of the refrig
erator 10 and the interior surface 22 that is exposed to an
interior of the fresh food compartment 14 while the doors are
closed. With reference to the French door configuration 16A
of FIGS. 1-2, substantially-planar side portions 17 generally
oppose each other when the doors 16A are in their closed
positions. A user interface 19 can be at least partially recessed
within the side portion 17 of at least one of the doors 16A such
that an exterior surface of the user interface 19 is substantially
flush with the side portion 17 of the door 16A. When the doors
16A are in their closed positions, the user interface 19 can be
substantially hidden from view when the refrigerator 10 is
viewed from the front. By substantially hidden from view it is
meant that the user interface 19 faces the side portion 17 of the
other door, and does not have a noticeable outward appear
ance, thereby giving the refrigerator 10 a clean look without
requiring the user interface 19 to be disposed within the fresh
food compartment 14 or freezer compartment 12. Other
60
65
include a movable (or even removable) front surface 26A (see
FIG. 2), such as a pivotable door (or removable panel), to
facilitate front or side lateral removal of the water pitcher 20.
Front or side removal of the water pitcher 20 may permit an
additional refrigerator shelf to be positioned above the water
pitcher 20. In addition or alternatively, removal of the water
pitcher 20 may deactivate the filling mechanism until the
water pitcher 20 is replaced. Alternatively, the shelf 24 can
include a non-movable front surface 26B (see FIG. 3), such
that the water pitcher 20 is lifted vertically for removal from
the shelf 24. The water pitcher 20 can include various other
features, such as one or more handles 27 configured to be
grasped by a user. The water pitcher 20 can further include a
removable or non-removable top cover 28 or lid that can
include an opening or pour spout 29 to permit a user to pour
US 9,085,453 B2
5
water into a glass or other vessel, and/or the pour spout may
further pr…
Purchase answer to see full
attachment