Tankless evaporators, refrigeration circuits, and water coolers use a drum as a thermal mass without using one or more tanks for storing water. Water coolers can include a tankless evaporator. Also described are refrigeration circuits suitable for a water cooler and which include a tankless evaporator. An evaporator for use in a fluid chiller includes a drum of heat conductive material defining a thermal mass, a water coil disposed adjacent around the drum, an evaporator coil configured around the drum and adjacent to the water coil, in which the evaporator coil is operative to cool the water coil.

A cold water production apparatus and method are provided. A cold water production apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise: an apparatus body; a water tank which is provided in the apparatus body and which accommodates water flowing in from a water supply source; a cold water production pipe which is provided in the apparatus body so as to be connected to the water tank, and which allows the water accommodated in the water tank to flow thereto, move therein and then be discharged; and a cooling unit which is mounted on the outer surface of the apparatus body, and which cools the apparatus body so that the water accommodated in the water tank and the water flowing in the cold water production pipe is cooled.

A refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a dispenser recess with a flexible hose that is in fluid communication with a water supply to deliver water to the dispenser recess. The dispensing assembly also includes an actuating mechanism in operative communication with the water supply to cause the water supply to deliver a flow of water to the flexible hose when the actuating mechanism is activated. The dispensing assembly further includes a vibration generator coupled to the flexible hose and in operative communication with the actuating mechanism such that the vibration generator is activated when the actuating mechanism is activated. The vibration generator moves the flexible hose relative to the dispenser recess when the vibration generator is activated, thereby providing a wave pattern flow of water from the flexible hose.

A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system which can supply a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid, and can dispense the liquid to a drinking container. The liquid quality management device includes an actual flow rate preparation unit including a flow rate sensor for determining an actual measured flow rate of the liquid; a dispensing liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container; and a determination unit electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor, for determining an integrated flow rate of the liquid when the liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a set temperature, and for determining whether or not coolability of the dispensing device is suitable by comparing the integrated flow rate with a determination value.

A stand-alone ice and beverage dispenser is provided. Appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a bottom portion and a countertop. Appliance includes an ice maker assembly mounted on the countertop, a liquid dispenser assembly mounted on the countertop, and a sealed refrigeration system. Sealed refrigeration system includes a compressor, condenser, chamber evaporator, and an ice maker assembly evaporator fluidly coupled through a refrigerant conduit. The compressor is operably coupled to the refrigerant conduit for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant conduit. Appliance also includes refrigerant valve assembly including one or more valves. Refrigerant valve assembly is configured to selectively provide refrigerant to chamber evaporator to refrigerate chilled chamber and selectively provide refrigerant to the ice maker assembly evaporator for ice production.

Provided is a thermoelectric cooling device comprising: a thermoelectric module; a heat sink having a body, which has on one side a contact surface coming into contact with a heating side of the thermoelectric module, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins, and emitting the heat transferred from the heating side of the thermoelectric module; a heat pipe coupled to a mounting groove which is formed on the contact surface of the heat sink, and for transferring heat by means of a working fluid stored therein; and a cooling fan for forming the airflow to the heat sink, wherein the heat pipe comprises a plurality of corner-extension heat pipes extending to a corner area of the heat sink from the central part of the heat sink on which the thermoelectric module is installed, and the shape of the mounting groove corresponds to the shape of the corner-extension heat pipes.

A fluid or gas cooling and/or condensing apparatus, system and method provides a cooling apparatus for cooling and condensing material, such as, for example, refrigerant from air conditioners, refrigerators, and other like mechanical cooling devices for collecting the same, and/or other gases and/or fluids, such as wine, for example.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.

An assembly for frothing a fluid having an air channel with a controllable air valve and having a fluid channel with an air inlet emanation point in which the air channel emanates, a pump, a fluid restriction, a heater, and a valve assembly having a first state in which fluid is channeled to a fluid outlet of the fluid channel and a second state in which the fluid is diverted from the fluid channel to a second fluid outlet. A water supply channel is connected to the fluid channel. The assembly also includes a cleaning reservoir and a return channel that is connected to the second fluid outlet of the valve assembly and that emanates in the cleaning reservoir. An electronic controller assembly is configured to control at least the pump, the heater, and the valve assembly, and to operate the assembly in a production mode and a cleaning mode.