US-12618612-B2 - Refrigerator appliance and valve assembly

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a door having an ice maker apparatus. A plurality of valves includes a solenoid and release fitting. A mount member couples together the plurality of valves. The release fitting is configured to articulate along a translation axis to selectively couple the plurality of valves through a valve opening to a plurality of conduits. A fluid manifold couples the plurality of valves together in fluid communication. A release plate includes an opening through which the plurality of conduits is extendable in selective fluid coupling to the plurality of valves. The release plate includes a slot into which the mount member extends to couple the mount member to the release plate. The slot extends along the translation axis to permit movement of the release plate relative to the plurality of valves.

Inventors

• Charles Benjamin Miller

Assignees

• HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240605

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet and a door attachable to the cabinet, the door configured to allow selective entry to a refrigeration compartment, a freezer compartment, or both, at the cabinet, wherein the door comprises an ice maker apparatus; a plurality of valves comprising a solenoid and release fitting, wherein a mount member forming a plate couples together the plurality of valves, and wherein the release fitting is configured to articulate along a translation axis to selectively couple the plurality of valves through a valve opening to a plurality of conduits; a fluid manifold coupling the plurality of valves together in fluid communication; and a release plate comprising an opening through which the plurality of conduits is extendable in selective fluid coupling to the plurality of valves, the release plate comprising a slot into which the mount member extends to couple the mount member to the release plate, wherein the slot extends along the translation axis to permit movement of the release plate relative to the plurality of valves.
2. 2 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the release plate comprises a base wall and a sidewall extending therefrom along the translation axis, wherein the opening at the release plate is positioned through the base wall.
3. 3 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the slot at the release plate extends through the sidewall.
4. 4 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the sidewall comprises a pair of sidewalls, and wherein the fluid manifold extends between the pair of the sidewalls extending from the base wall.
5. 5 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the mount member comprises a fastener opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough to couple the mount member to the door.
6. 6 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , the door comprising a plenum positioned at a bottom end cap, a top end cap, or the ice maker apparatus, wherein the release plate is positioned at the plenum.
7. 7 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conduits is at least partially retained at a keyway at the door, and wherein a terminal end of the plurality of conduits is positioned at a plenum positioned at the door.
8. 8 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein the door comprises a housing at which the keyway is positioned, wherein the housing comprises the plenum, and wherein the housing comprises an open face through which the release plate is receivable into the plenum and in fluid communication with the plurality of valves at the release plate.
9. 9 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of conduits extends through the keyway to position the terminal end of the plurality of conduits in the plenum in fluid communication with the plurality of valves at the release plate.
10. 10 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 9 , wherein the keyway comprises a keyway opening and a keyway slot, wherein the keyway opening permits extension of the plurality of conduits therethrough, and wherein the keyway slot is configured to retain the plurality of conduits when translated along the keyway slot.
11. 11 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , comprising: a seal positioned outside of the housing to obscure the keyway opening when the plurality of conduits is positioned in the keyway slot.
12. 12 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the seal comprises a foam body positioned adjacent to the housing outside of the plenum.
13. 13 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises a bottom end cap, and wherein the plurality of valves is positioned at the bottom end cap.
14. 14 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises a top end cap, and wherein the plurality of valves is positioned at the top end cap.
15. 15 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves is positioned at the ice maker apparatus.
16. 16 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves is fluidly coupled to a dispenser supply conduit of the plurality of conduits, wherein the dispenser supply conduit is configured in fluid communication from the plurality of valves to the ice maker apparatus.
17. 17 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves is fluidly coupled to an ice maker supply conduit of the plurality of conduits, wherein the ice maker supply conduit is configured in fluid communication from the plurality of valves to the ice maker apparatus.
18. 18 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves is fluidly coupled to a second ice maker supply conduit of the plurality of conduits.
19. 19 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet and a door attachable to the cabinet, the door configured to allow selective entry to a refrigeration compartment, a freezer compartment, or both, at the cabinet, wherein the door comprises an ice maker apparatus; a plurality of valves comprising a solenoid and release fitting, wherein a mount member couples together the plurality of valves, and wherein the release fitting is configured to articulate along a translation axis to selectively couple the plurality of valves through a valve opening to a plurality of conduits; a fluid manifold coupling the plurality of valves together in fluid communication; and a release plate comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of valves, wherein the plurality of conduits are extendable through the plurality of openings in selective fluid coupling to the plurality of valves, the release plate comprising a slot into which the mount member extends to couple the mount member to the release plate, wherein the slot extends along the translation axis to permit movement of the release plate relative to the plurality of valves.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is related generally to refrigerator appliances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Refrigerator appliances generally include a refrigeration chamber and a freezer chamber. A dispenser may be included and configured to dispense ice and/or water to a user, such as a user's container. Dispensers may be positioned at a door or a panel at a refrigerator appliance casing. Dispensers may generally be recessed into the door or the panel. In side-by-side refrigerators, the ice maker and the water dispenser are often mounted in the freezer door. The water valves that supply the ice maker and the water dispenser are typically mounted in the cabinet of the refrigerator, which generally requires each water supply and drain line to pass into the door. For instance, the water supply line may pass through door hinges. However, such arrangement is cumbersome, increases installation time through the doors and cabinet, and may limit a quantity of water lines that may pass between the door and cabinet. A refrigerator appliance that addresses one or more of these issues would be beneficial and advantageous. 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. An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a refrigerator appliance including a cabinet and a door attachable to the cabinet. The door is configured to allow selective entry to a refrigeration compartment, a freezer compartment, or both, at the cabinet. The door includes an ice maker apparatus. A plurality of valves includes a solenoid and release fitting. A mount member couples together the plurality of valves. The release fitting is configured to articulate along a translation axis to selectively couple the plurality of valves through a valve opening to a plurality of conduits. A fluid manifold couples the plurality of valves together in fluid communication. A release plate includes an opening through which the plurality of conduits is extendable in selective fluid coupling to the plurality of valves. The release plate includes a slot into which the mount member extends to couple the mount member to the release plate. The slot extends along the translation axis to permit movement of the release plate relative to the plurality of valves. 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 perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with doors of the example refrigerator appliance shown closed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance with doors shown open. FIG. 3A is an internal view of an exemplary door of a refrigerator appliance including an embodiment of a valve assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B is an external view of the exemplary door of FIG. 3A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 3C is a side view of the exemplary door of FIG. 3A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A is an internal view of an exemplary door of a refrigerator appliance including an embodiment of a valve assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B is an external view of the exemplary door of FIG. 4A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C is a side view of the exemplary door of FIG. 4A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 5A is an internal view of an exemplary door of a refrigerator appliance including an embodiment of a valve assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is an external view of the exemplary door of FIG. 5A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 5C is a side view of the exemplary door of FIG. 5A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a valve assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the valve assembly of FIG. 6 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 8A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the valve assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 8B is a side cross-sectional view of an e