EP-3853536-A1 - PRECISE FILL DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR AN APPLIANCE

EP3853536A1EP 3853536 A1EP3853536 A1EP 3853536A1EP-3853536-A1

Abstract

A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

Inventors

MITCHELL ALAN JOSEPH
BESORE JOHN KEITH
JUNGE BRENT ALDEN
KYRIACOU STEPHANOS

Assignees

Qingdao haier refrigerator co ltd
HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD
HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

Dates

Publication Date: 20210728
Application Date: 20191022
Priority Date: 20191022

Claims (20)

A dispensing system for dispensing fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance, the dispensing system comprising: a housing defining a chamber; a piston movable within the chamber of the housing between a first position and a second position, the piston fluidly separating a first reservoir and a second reservoir of the chamber; a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with a water supply and the first reservoir of the chamber; a first valve positioned along the first inlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the first valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the first reservoir of the chamber; a second inlet conduit in fluid communication with the water supply and the second reservoir of the chamber; a second valve positioned along the second inlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the second valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the second reservoir of the chamber; a first outlet conduit in fluid communication with the first reservoir of the chamber and the downstream assembly; a third valve positioned along the first outlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the third valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the downstream assembly; a second outlet conduit in fluid communication with the second reservoir of the chamber and the downstream assembly; and a fourth valve positioned along the second outlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the fourth valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the second reservoir to the downstream assembly.
The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising: a first stop positioned within the first reservoir of the chamber, the first stop operable to stop the piston in the first position; and a second stop positioned within the second reservoir of the chamber, the second stop operable to stop the piston in the second position.
The dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the chamber of the housing extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the first inlet conduit and the first outlet conduit both fluidly connect with the first reservoir of the chamber between the first end and the first stop and the second inlet conduit and the second outlet conduit both fluidly connect with the second reservoir of the chamber between the second end and the second stop.
The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the chamber of the housing extends between a first end and a second end along an axial direction, and wherein the dispensing system further comprises: a sensor positioned at or proximate one of the first position and the second position along the axial direction, the sensor operable to detect the piston when the piston is in the one of the first position and the second position within the chamber.
The dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the piston has a magnet and the sensor is a hall-effect sensor operable to detect the magnet when the piston is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.
The dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is a first sensor positioned at the first position along the axial direction and wherein the dispensing system further comprises: a second sensor positioned at the second position along the axial direction.
The dispensing system of claim 4, further comprising: a controller communicatively coupled with the first valve, the second valve, the third valve, the fourth valve, and the sensor, the controller configured to: receive a fill command signal; receive a location signal from the sensor indicating a position of the piston; control the first valve to the open position to allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the first reservoir of the chamber, wherein the piston is moved from the first position to the second position when the first valve is moved to the open position; and control the fourth valve to the open position to allow fluid to flow from the second reservoir of the chamber to the downstream assembly.
The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a location signal from the sensor indicating that the piston is in the second position; control the first valve to the closed position and the fourth valve to the closed position; control the second valve to the open position to allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the second reservoir of the chamber, wherein the piston is moved from the second position to the first position when the second valve is moved to the open position; and control the third valve to the open position to allow fluid to flow from the first reservoir of the chamber to the downstream assembly.
The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first valve, the second valve, the third valve, and the fourth valve are normally closed valves.
The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the downstream assembly is an ice making assembly and the appliance is a refrigerator appliance.
The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the piston has an annular elastomer seal that fluidly separates the first reservoir from the second reservoir of the chamber.
A dispensing system for dispensing fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance, the dispensing system comprising: a housing defining a chamber; a piston movable within the chamber of the housing between a first position and a second position, the piston fluidly separating a first reservoir and a second reservoir of the chamber; an inlet supply conduit in fluid communication with a water supply; a first inlet conduit a second inlet conduit; an inlet valve in fluid communication with the inlet supply conduit and movable between a first open position and a second open position, wherein in the first open position the inlet valve selectively allows fluid to flow from the water supply to the first reservoir along the first inlet conduit, and wherein in the second open position the inlet valve selectively allows fluid to flow from the water supply to the second reservoir along the second inlet conduit; an outlet supply conduit in fluid communication with the downstream assembly; a first outlet conduit in fluid communication with the first reservoir of the chamber; a second outlet conduit in fluid communication with the second reservoir of the chamber; and an outlet valve in fluid communication with the outlet supply conduit and movable between a first open position and a second open position, and wherein in the first open position the outlet valve selectively allows fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the downstream assembly, and wherein in the second open position the outlet valve selectively allows fluid to flow from the second reservoir to the downstream assembly.
The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein in the first open position the inlet valve prevents fluid from flowing from the water supply to the second reservoir along the second inlet conduit and wherein in the second open position the inlet valve prevents fluid from flowing from the water supply to the first reservoir along the first inlet conduit.
The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein in the first open position the outlet valve prevents fluid from flowing from the second reservoir to the downstream assembly and wherein in the second open position the outlet valve prevents fluid from flowing from the first reservoir to the downstream assembly.
The dispensing system of claim 12, further comprising: a sensor operable to detect whether the sensor is in the first position or the second position; a controller communicatively coupled with the inlet valve, the outlet valve, and the sensor, the controller configured to: receive a fill command signal; receive a location signal from the sensor indicating a position of the piston; control the inlet valve to the first open position to allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the first reservoir of the chamber; control the outlet valve to the second open position to allow fluid to flow from the second reservoir of the chamber to the downstream assembly; wherein, when the inlet valve is moved to the first open position and the outlet valve is moved to the second open position, the piston is moved from the first position to the second position.
The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the chamber of the housing extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the dispensing system further comprises: a first stop positioned within the first reservoir of the chamber, the first stop operable to stop the piston in the first position; and a second stop positioned within the second reservoir of the chamber, the second stop operable to stop the piston in the second position; wherein the first inlet conduit and the first outlet conduit both fluidly connect with the first reservoir of the chamber between the first end and the first stop and the second inlet conduit and the second outlet conduit both fluidly connect with the second reservoir of the chamber between the second end and the second stop.
A dispensing system for dispensing fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance, the dispensing system defining an axial direction, the dispensing system comprising: a housing defining a chamber; a piston movable within the chamber of the housing between a fill position and a discharge position along the axial direction; an inlet supply conduit in fluid communication with a water supply; a water fill reservoir in fluid communication with the water supply via the inlet supply conduit and with the chamber of the housing; a water valve positioned along the inlet supply conduit and movable between a closed position and an open position, the water valve configured to allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the water fill reservoir when in the open position; an outlet supply conduit in fluid communication with the chamber of the housing and the downstream assembly; and a drive motor operatively coupled with the piston for driving the piston from the fill position to the discharge position along the axial direction such that fluid is dispensed from the chamber to the downstream assembly and for moving the piston from the discharge position to the fill position.
The dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising: an inlet check valve positioned at an inlet of the chamber where the water fill reservoir and the chamber fluidly connect, the inlet check valve operable to prevent water backflow from the chamber into the water fill reservoir; and an outlet check valve positioned at an outlet of the chamber where the chamber and the outlet supply conduit fluidly connect, the outlet check valve operable to prevent water backflow from the outlet supply conduit into the chamber.
The dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the piston is connected to a drive shaft that extends out of the chamber of the housing, and wherein the drive shaft is operatively coupled with the drive motor.
The dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising: a sensor operable to detect a water level of water within the water fill reservoir; a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor, the drive motor, and the water valve, the controller configured to: receive, from the sensor, a signal indicating whether the water level within the water fill reservoir has reached a predetermined water level; activate, based on whether the water level within the water fill reservoir has reached the predetermined water level, the drive motor to move the piston from the fill position to the discharge position such that water is dispensed from the chamber to the downstream assembly via the outlet supply conduit; and activate the drive motor to move the piston from the discharge position to the fill position.

Description

PRECISE FILL DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR AN APPLIANCE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to consumer appliances, such as e.g., refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to precise fill dispensing systems for consumer appliances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines one or more chilled chambers for receipt of food articles for storage. Typically, one or more doors are rotatably hinged to the cabinet to permit selective access to food items stored in the chilled chamber. Further, refrigerator appliances commonly include ice making assemblies mounted within an icebox on one of the doors or in a freezer compartment. The ice is stored in a storage bin and may be accessible from within the freezer chamber or may be discharged through a dispenser recess defined on a front of the refrigerator door. Ice making assemblies generally require accurate water fill volumes. That is, ice making assemblies require precise amounts of water so that ice cubes can be formed. Conventionally, flow control devices have been used to deliver a volume of water to the ice making assembly. The flow control device is typically positioned along a supply conduit that fluidly connects a water supply and the ice making assembly. The volume of water dispensed to the ice making assembly is controlled by the “on” time of the flow control device. In other instances, a flow control meter may be used to meter the volume of water dispensed to the ice making assembly. Such conventional approaches are not very accurate and thus have proved to be unsatisfactory. Accordingly, a dispensing system for an appliance that is operable to dispense a precise or controlled volume of water to a downstream assembly, such as e.g., an ice making assembly of a refrigerator appliance, would be desirable. 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 one exemplary embodiment, a dispensing system for dispensing fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. The dispensing system includes a housing defining a chamber. The dispensing system also includes a piston movable within the chamber of the housing between a first position and a second position, the piston fluidly separating a first reservoir and a second reservoir of the chamber. Further, the dispensing system includes a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with a water supply and the first reservoir of the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a first valve positioned along the first inlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the first valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the first reservoir of the chamber. The dispensing system further includes a second inlet conduit in fluid communication with the water supply and the second reservoir of the chamber. Moreover, the dispensing system includes a second valve positioned along the second inlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the second valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the water supply to the second reservoir of the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a first outlet conduit in fluid communication with the first reservoir of the chamber and the downstream assembly. In addition, the dispensing system includes a third valve positioned along the first outlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the third valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the first reservoir to the downstream assembly. Furthermore, the dispensing system includes a second outlet conduit in fluid communication with the second reservoir of the chamber and the downstream assembly. The dispensing system further includes a fourth valve positioned along the second outlet conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the fourth valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the second reservoir to the downstream assembly. In another exemplary embodiment, a dispensing system for dispensing fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. The dispensing system includes a housing defining a chamber. The dispensing system also includes a piston movable within the chamber of the housing between a first position and a second position, the piston fluidly separating a first reservoir and a second reservoir of the chamber. Further, the dispensing system includes an inlet supply conduit in fluid communication with a water supply. The dispensing system also includes a first inlet conduit and a second inlet conduit. Moreover, the dispensing system includes an inlet valve in fluid communication with the inlet supply conduit and movable between a first open position and a second open position, wherein i