Proposed is a refrigerator in which the internal air of a first storage compartment of two storage compartments whose temperatures are controlled by an evaporator is reintroduced into the evaporator by a circulating air path guide to be circulated, whereby even if an evaporator having small capacity is applied, freezing or refrigeration temperature may be freely embodied, and the circulation of cold air can be efficiently performed without interference.

A locker for unattended storage and automated access of stored goods including a locker housing having at least one environmentally controlled compartment with an environmentally controlled access opening, an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct; a door sealingly engaging the environmentally controlled access opening; an automated latch engaging the door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; an access control unit in communication with the automated latch; and an environmental control unit removably housed in the locker housing, the environmental control unit having duct interfaces engagable with the air inlet duct and with the air outlet duct for circulating air between the at least one environmentally controlled compartment and the environmental control unit, and the environmental control unit having an electric power connector engagable with an electric power outlet in the locker housing in communication with a source of electric power.

An insulation system for an appliance includes a first vacuum insulated structure having a first set of sidewalls that define a first refrigerating compartment, a second vacuum insulated structure having a second set of sidewalls that define a second refrigerating compartment and a medial insulation structure having a rigid perimeter wall. The rigid perimeter wall includes a front portion that defines at least one hinge support adapted to support an appliance door. The rigid perimeter wall defines an insulating cavity that is filled with an insulating material. The first vacuum insulated structure engages a first edge of the perimeter wall and the second vacuum insulated structure engages a second edge of the perimeter wall.

A vacuum adiabatic body according to the present invention includes at least one reinforcing frame which is installed along a corner of at least one of a first plate member and a second plate member constituting an inner wall and an outer wall of the vacuum adiabatic body and is provided as one body for reinforcing the strength, thereby being capable of reinforcing the strength of the vacuum adiabatic body which is applied to the three-dimensional structure.

A refrigeration device includes a cabinet surrounded by a thermally-insulated housing having a sidewall facing outside and an inner liner spaced apart from the sidewall. At least one door is hinged to the housing by at least one hinge element and a front frame part is provided at a side of the housing facing the door. The housing includes a reinforcing member provided at a region of the housing adjacent a respective hinge element, so as to connect a pair of frame parts extending vertically between the sidewall and the inner liner to each other and to the respective hinge element and sidewall.

A refrigerated device includes a compartment including an access door. A refrigeration circuit for cooling the compartment includes an evaporator coil with an associated evaporator fan and a condenser with an associated condenser fan. A temperature sensor is provided for indicating a compartment temperature within the compartment. A controller is configured to: (i) monitor the compartment temperature in order to approximate a number of door openings, (ii) compare the approximated number of door openings to a data point and (iii) take a control action based upon a certain result of the comparison.

A refrigerated device includes a compartment including an access door, and a door sensor for identifying an open condition of the access door. A refrigeration circuit for cooling the compartment includes an evaporator coil with an associated evaporator fan and a condenser with an associated condenser fan. At least one heat source is selectively activatable to provide heat. A controller is configured to selectively activate the heat source based upon an approximated an amount of water that enters the compartment during door open conditions.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment therein, a door that provides selective access to the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided in the door. An air duct directs a flow of air from an insulated chamber to the ice maker. An air cooling system cools air inside the insulated chamber and comprises a first non-evaporative heat exchanger positioned independent of and adjacent to an evaporator, a second non-evaporative heat exchanger provided within the insulated chamber, and a fluid line that directs a circulation of fluid between the first and second non-evaporative heat exchangers. The first non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the evaporator to cool the fluid positioned in the first non-evaporative heat exchanger, and the second non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the air inside the insulated chamber to cool the air therein.

Present embodiments relate to an appliance. More specifically, but without limitation, the present embodiments relate to a modular compressor cooling unit for a kitchen appliance, and a method therefore which allows a single cabinet to be utilized for two types of appliance cooling systems.

A cabinet of an appliance includes an outer wrapper defining opposing first and second sidewalls, a rear wall coupling the first and second sidewalls and an access opening and an inner liner defining an interior. The outer wrapper and the inner liner may define a sealed insulating cavity therebetween that is under vacuum. A plurality of reinforcement brackets may be disposed on the outer wrapper. The plurality of reinforcement brackets are configured to prevent deformation of the cabinet during application of the vacuum to the insulating cavity.