A brew module for use with a refrigerator appliance is provided. The brew module includes a brewing body and a pivotally attached lid that together define a brew chamber configured to receive a brew pod. A lower needle is positioned at the bottom of the brew chamber and an upper needle is slidably received within the lid. Pivoting the lid to the closed position forces the lower needle to pierce the brew pod first, thereby relieving any built up pressure. Thereafter, a moving water supply tube drives the upper needle downward to pierce a top cover of the brew pod along a substantially vertical direction, thus minimizing the size of the pierced hole in the top cover. The brew module thus facilitates an improved seal with the brew pod, reduces the risk of clogging the upper needle, and prevents the ejection of brew pod contents.

A performance indication device for a filter is provided. The performance indication device includes a water metering device to convert the energy of water flowing through the filter into mechanical rotation of a drive gear. A gear reduction assembly operably couples the drive gear to a valve gear and reduces the rotational speed of the valve gear relative to the drive gear. A flow controlling device is operably coupled to the valve gear and is configured to reduce or terminate the flow of water through the performance indication device and the filter when a target flow capacity is reached. The performance indication device thus provides an accurate indication to the user as to when the filter capacity has been expended without the need for a complex control system or communication link or any modification of the appliance in which the filter is installed.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an upper storage space, a lower storage space and a machine room provided at a lower end of the cabinet. A dispenser is provided in an upper door of the upper storage space to dispense water or liquid, and an ice maker is provided inside the upper door to make ice. A pump assembly is provided inside the machine room to pump water through a water supply passage from a water tank to the dispenser and the ice maker. The water supply passage extends downward from the water tank after passing through a rear surface of the cabinet to connect to the pump assembly inside the machine room and extends upward from the pump assembly and passes through an upper surface of the cabinet to connect to the dispenser and the ice maker.

An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

A storage apparatus, comprising a compartment; and a box assembly, which is arranged in the compartment. The box assembly comprises: a first side wall; a second side wall arranged opposite the first side wall; a first conductive layer arranged on the second side wall; a first electret membrane, which is arranged on the first side wall, located between the first side wall and the first conductive layer and arranged parallel to the first conductive layer; and an adjusting component, which is used for adjusting the electric field intensity between the first conductive layer and the first electret membrane.

A home appliance includes a refrigerator. The home appliance includes a cabinet configured to define a storage space with a front surface opened, a door configured to open and close the storage space, and a speaker disposed on a top surface of the cabinet and configured to communicate with an external device, where the speaker includes a sound output portion configured to output sound. The sound output portion is inclined with respect to the top surface of the cabinet.

The invention relates to a thermal control system for an electric vehicle comprising: a high voltage battery; a first heat exchanger adapted to be in contact with the ambient for circulating a heat exchange medium in thermal contact with the ambient; a second heat exchanger in thermal contact with the battery; a heat transport system for transporting the heat exchange medium from the first heat exchanger to an evaporator/condenser assembly that is in thermal contact with the second heat exchanger for transfer of heat to the battery and for transporting the heat exchange medium back to the first heat exchanger. At least one of the first and second heat exchangers is provided with a vibration device, such as an ultrasonic transducer, for releasing of ice formed on the at least one heat exchanger.

A refrigerator appliance or door assembly may include an enclosing body, a liquid reservoir, a level sensor, a water valve, and a liquid dispenser. The enclosing body may define an exterior surface and an interior surface. The liquid reservoir may be defined within the enclosing body between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The level sensor may be mounted to the liquid reservoir. The level sensor may be configured to detect a water volume within the liquid reservoir. The water valve may be mounted upstream from the liquid reservoir to selectively direct water thereto based on the detected water volume. The liquid dispenser may extend from the liquid reservoir and through the interior surface to an outlet aperture to selectively dispense water from the liquid reservoir.

An electret membrane, a preparation method, a refrigerator body assembly, and a refrigeration apparatus. The electret membrane includes: an electret material matrix; and a metal electrode, which is arranged on one side of the electret material matrix and is attached to the electret material matrix. The electret membrane can be electrically polarized insofar as the electret membrane is not externally connected to a power source, and can form an electrostatic field; and when the electret membrane is applied to a fresh keeping function of apparatuses, such as a refrigerator, the fresh-keeping structure of the electrostatic field can be simplified, thereby reducing the costs for generating the electrostatic field, and facilitating the realization of low-cost and high-reliability electrostatic field fresh keeping for fresh-keeping apparatuses, such as the refrigerator.

A movable controlled atmosphere store for fruits and vegetables, including: a store body in rectangular container structure and successively provided with an equipment room and a storage room along length direction; the equipment room is provided with an equipment door respectively on left and right sides; the storage room is in thermal insulation and sealing structure and provided with a sealing door at an end far away from the equipment room, and is provided with a sampling door on a side which is provided with a sealing film connected around a frame thereof, and a sampling assembly connected with the sealing film in cylindrical structure; a controlled atmosphere control system, including a control panel, as well as a refrigerator, a humidifier, a sterilizer, a nitrogen generator, a carbon dioxide adsorber, an ethylene adsorber, a temperature and humidity sensor and a gas concentration sensing device connected with the control panel.