Claims:We claim:

1. A system (100) for controlling air flow in an appliance (10), said system (100) comprising:

at least one valve (102) adapted to be mounted to an air delivery member (10CF, 10CS),

wherein

said valve (102) is adapted to control air flow in the appliance (10); and

an axis (102X) of said valve (102) is at least one of parallel and coplanar to the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS).

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve (102) is adapted to facilitate uniform distribution of air flow to at least one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10). 3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an entirety of said valve (102) is perpendicular to the air flow irrespective of change in position of said valve (102); and

an entirety of said valve (102) is disposed along a widthwise direction of the appliance (10) irrespective of change in position of said valve (102).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve (102) is provided in at least an airfoil shape configuration.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system (100) comprises a control member (104) adapted to be integrated with said valve (102),

wherein

said control member (104) is adapted to move said valve (102) on movement of said control member (104) therein to at least one of vary and uniformly distribute air flow to at least one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system (100) comprises an electric motor (105) adapted to be coupled to said valve (102),

wherein

said electric motor (105) is adapted to move said valve (102) to at least one of at least one of vary and uniformly distribute air flow to at least one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10).

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an entirety of said valve (102) is parallel to at least a portion of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) the entirety of said valve (102) is disposed along a lengthwise direction of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) irrespective of change in position of said valve (102);

said valve (102) is mounted parallel with respect to the air delivery member (10F, 10CS);

said valve (102) is adapted to be mounted onto the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) through a plurality of mounting members (103, 103M, 103N); and said valve (102) is adapted to be retained in the plurality of mounting members (103, 103M, 103N) by using a plurality of holding members (106).

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said valve (102) comprises:

a shaft (102S), where one end of said shaft (102S) is adapted to be mounted onto corresponding mounting member (103, 103M, 103N) and another end of said shaft (102S) is adapted to be mounted onto corresponding another mounting member (103, 103M, 103N); and

at least one locator (102L) adapted to locate said valve (102) with respect to corresponding mounting member (103, 103M, 103N).

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control member (104) is at least a control knob;

the air delivery member (10CF) is a front coil cover;

another air delivery member (10CS) is a rear coil cover; and

the appliance (10) is at least a refrigerator.

10. A method (200) for controlling air flow in an appliance (10), said method (200) comprising: uniformly distributing air flow in the appliance (10) by mounting at least one valve (102) to an air delivery member (10CF, 10CS),

wherein

an axis (102X) of the valve (102) is at least one of parallel and coplanar to the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS)

11. The method (200) as claimed in claim 10, wherein said method (200) comprises moving by, at least one of a control member (104) and an electric motor (105), the valve (102) to control air flow in the appliance (10),

Wherein

the control member (104) is integrated with the valve (102);

an entirety of the valve (102) is perpendicular to the air flow irrespective of change in position of the valve (102);

the entirety of the valve (102) is disposed along a widthwise direction of the appliance (10) irrespective of change in position of the valve (102); and the entirety of the valve (102) is parallel to at least a portion of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS). Dated this 15th day of April 2020

Ajai Kumar Jain
For Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd

To,
The Controller of Patents The Patent Office, Mumbai , Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to an appliance and more particularly, to a system and a method for controlling air flow in the appliance such as refrigerators. 5
BACKGROUND

[002] Generally, a refrigerator is a cooling appliance which is used to cool any of eatables and drinkables placed inside the refrigerator compartments. 10
Domestic refrigerators are normally categorized into a direct cool refrigerator and a frost-free refrigerator. In direct cool refrigerators, storage area is cooled naturally with freezer as heat absorbing media. Whereas in frost free refrigerator (F), as shown in fig. 1a, air is forced to flow over evaporator coil (heat absorbing media) by using a fan (FN), as shown in fig. 1a and fig. 1b) and then the air flows 15
to a freezer compartment (FC) and partially to a main compartment (MC) of the frost free refrigerator (F). Usually, a butterfly valve (V) is used to direct the air from the fan (FN) to the main compartment (MC), where the butterfly valve (V) is perpendicularly mounted to a rear coil cover (C) of the refrigerator (F) such that an axis (VX) of rotation of the butterfly valve (V) is perpendicular to a front coil 20
cover (not shown) and the rear coil cover (C). Such butterfly valve (V) directs the air flow either to the left or right side of the air path in the main compartment (MC) which in turn leads to non-uniform air flow to the main compartment (MC). Further, the arrangement and orientation of the butterfly valve (V) in the frost free refrigerator (F) results in more air turbulence and high energy loss. 25
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a system and a method for controlling air flow in an appliance, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS 30


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[004] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide a system for controlling air flow in an appliance such as refrigerator.

[005] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a method for controlling air flow in an appliance such as refrigerator. 5


[006] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a system for controlling air flow in an appliance such as refrigerator, which induce low air turbulence and reduce energy loss. 10

[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a system for uniformly distributing air flow in at least one compartment (main compartment) of an appliance such as refrigerator.

[008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a system for 15
uniform distribution of air flow in at least one compartment (main compartment) of an appliance such as refrigerator.

[009] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide an airfoil shaped valve in an appliance such as refrigerator, which uniformly distributes air flow in 20
the refrigerator and reduces turbulence and also varies air flow in the refrigerator according to the requirement.

[0010] Another object of embodiments herein is to integrate a control member (control knob) with an air flow valve provided in an appliance such as 25
refrigerator.

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[0011] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a system which controls the temperature of a freezer compartment and a main compartment of an appliance such as refrigerator, by controlling the air flow to the compartments.

[0012] These and other objects of embodiments herein will be better 5
appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with following description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments 10
herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 15
[0013] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which: 20
[0014] Fig. 1a depicts a front view of a conventional refrigerator;

[0015] Fig. 1b depicts a perspective view of a butterfly valve perpendicularly mounted to a rear coil cover of the conventional refrigerator; 25

[0016] Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of an appliance, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

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[0017] Fig. 3a depicts a perspective view of a valve mounted to an air delivery member of the appliance, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0018] Fig. 3b depicts a front view of the air delivery member, where a control member is accessible by user to move the valve to control air flow in the 5
appliance, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0019] Fig. 4a depicts a perspective view of the valve and another air delivery member in assembled condition, where the valve is adjacent to an air outlet of the air delivery member, according to another embodiments as disclosed 10
herein; [0020] Fig. 4b depicts a perspective view of the valve and the air delivery member, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0021] Fig. 5a depicts a front view of a control member (control knob) 15
integrated with the valve, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0022] Fig 5b depicts a cross-sectional view of the valve along the line AA of fig. 5a, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 20

[0023] Fig. 6a depicts a perspective view of the valve which is mounted to the air delivery member by a plurality of mounting members, according to another embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0024] Fig. 6b depicts a perspective view of the valve coupled to an 25
electric motor, according to other embodiments as disclosed herein; and

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[0025] Fig. 7 depicts a flowchart indicating a method for controlling air flow in the appliance, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0026] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous 5
details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of 10
ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. 15
[0027] The embodiments herein achieve a system and a method for controlling air flow in an appliance such as refrigerator. Further, embodiments herein achieve the system for uniformly distributing air flow in at least one compartment (main compartment) of the appliance such as refrigerator. Referring now to the drawings Figs 1 through 7, where similar reference characters denote 20
corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

[0028] Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of an appliance (10), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The appliance (10) includes a freezer 25
compartment (10FR), a fan (10FN), a plurality of air delivery members (10CF, 10CS), and at least one compartment (10MC). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the air delivery member (10CF) is considered to be a front coil cover and another air delivery member (10CS) is considered to be a rear coil cover. The plurality of air delivery members (10CF, 10CS) are adapted to 30

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allow air flow from the freezer compartment (10FR) to the compartment (10MC) and also to cover an evaporator coil (not shown) of the appliance (10). The compartment (10MC) is considered to be a main compartment. It is also within the scope of the invention to consider the compartment (10MC) as any other type of compartment according to the type and configuration of the appliance. Fig. 3a 5
depicts a perspective view of a valve (102) mounted to the air delivery member (10FC) of the appliance (10), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system (100) includes a valve (102) and a control member (104). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the system (100) is explained herein below with reference to controlling air flow to at least 10
one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10) such as a frost-free refrigerator. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to practice/ implement the components of the system (100) for controlling air flow in any of other types of refrigerators, cooling devices, chillers, steamers, food preservation appliances, any other type of appliances and any other machines, where control in air flow is 15
required, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the system (100) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. In an embodiment, the valve (102) is mounted onto the air delivery member (10CF). However, it is also within the scope of the invention to mount the valve (102) onto any air delivery elements present in an air delivery system of the appliance 20
according to the type and configuration the appliance such as but not limited to refrigerators, cooling devices, chillers, steamers and food preservation appliances.

[0029] In an embodiment, the valve (102) is adapted to be mounted to the air delivery member (10CF), where an axis (102X, as shown in fig. 4b) of the 25
valve (102) is at least one of parallel and coplanar to the air delivery member (10CF). In another embodiment, the valve (102) is mounted onto another air delivery member (10CS), as shown in fig. 4a). In an embodiment, an entirety of the valve (102) is perpendicular to the air flow irrespective of change in position of the valve (102). In an embodiment, an entirety of the valve (102) is parallel to 30
at least a portion of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS). In an embodiment, an
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entirety of the valve (102) is along a lengthwise direction of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) irrespective of change in position of the valve (102). The valve (102) is mounted onto the air delivery member (10CF) through the plurality of mounting members (103, 103M, 103N), as shown in fig. 3a, fig. 6a and fig. 6b). The valve (102) is adapted to control air flow in the appliance (10). The valve 5
(102) is mounted parallel with respect to the air delivery member (10CF). In an embodiment, the valve (102) is adapted to facilitate uniform distribution of air flow to at least one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10). For example, the valve (102) is adapted to facilitate uniform distribution of air flow to a left side and right side of an air flow path of at least one compartment (10MC) of the 10
appliance (10). In an embodiment, an entirety of the valve (102) is disposed along a widthwise direction of the appliance (10) irrespective of change in position of the valve (102). In an embodiment, the valve (102) is provided in at least an airfoil shape configuration (as shown in fig. 5b). However, it is also within the scope of this invention to provide the valve (102) in any other shape without 15
otherwise deterring the intended function of the valve (102) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. The airfoil shape of the valve (102) is adapted to reduce turbulence and uniformly distributes air flow in the appliance (10). The valve (102) includes a shaft (102S), as shown in fig. 5a) where one end of the shaft (102S) is mounted onto corresponding mounting 20
member (103) and another end of the shaft (102S) is mounted onto corresponding another mounting member (103). The valve (102) is retained in the mounting members (103) by using a plurality of holding elements (106), as shown in fig. 3a). Each holding element (106) is secured onto corresponding each mounting member (103) through fasteners such as but not limited to screws. It is also 25
within the scope of this invention to provide bolts or any other type of fasteners or any other locking means for securing the holding element (106) onto the mounting member (103) therein to secure the valve (102) onto the mounting members (103). The valve (102) includes a plurality of locators (102L), as shown in fig. 5a), where at least one locator (102L) is adapted to locate the valve (102) with respect 30
to corresponding at least one mounting member (103). In another embodiment,
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the valve (102) is adapted to be mounted and retained by a plurality of mounting members (103M), as shown in fig. 6a).

[0030] The control member (104) is adapted to move the valve (102) on movement of the control member (104) therein to at least one of vary and 5
uniformly distribute air flow to at least one compartment (10MC) of the appliance (10). In an embodiment, the control member (104) is adapted to be integrated with the valve (102). The control member (104) is provided on the shaft (102S) of the valve (102). The control member (104) is accessible to the user, where at least a portion of the control member (104) is provided external to the air delivery 10
member (10CF). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the control member (104) is considered to be at least a control knob. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to provide any of rotating members, handles, levers and any other means for moving the valve (102) without otherwise deterring the intended function of the control member (104) as can be deduced 15
from the description and corresponding drawings.

[0031] In another embodiment, the system (100) includes an electric motor (105), as shown in fig. 6b) adapted to move the valve (102) to at least one of at least one of vary and uniformly distribute air flow to at least one compartment 20
(10MC) of the appliance (10). The electric motor (105) is adapted to be coupled to the shaft (102S) of the valve (102). The valve (102) is mounted onto the air delivery member (10CF) through a plurality of mounting members (103N), as shown in fig. 6b). The electric motor (105) is mounted onto the shaft (102S) of the valve (102). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the 25
electric motor (105) is considered to be a servo motor. It is also within the scope of this invention to provide any other type of electric motors or pneumatic motors or hydraulic motors or any other type of mechanisms for moving the valve (102). The electric motor (105) receives a signal from a controller unit (not shown) of the appliance (10) and accordingly the electric motor (105) moves the valve (102). 30

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When there is a requirement to control the air flow in the appliance (10), the user operates any of buttons, knobs, levers and touchscreen to provide input to the controller unit which in turn provides signal to the electric motor (105) to move the valve (102). 5
[0032] Fig. 6 depicts a flowchart indicating a method (200) for controlling air flow in the appliance (10), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the method (200) is explained herein below with reference to controlling air flow in the appliance (10) such as refrigerator. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to 10
practice/ implement the entire steps of the method (200) in a same manner or in a different manner or with omission of at least one step to the method (200) or with any addition of at least one step to the method (200) for controlling air flow in any of any other types of refrigerators, cooling devices, chillers, steamers, food preservation appliances, any other type of appliances and any other types of 15
machines, where control in air flow is required, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the method (200) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. The method (200) includes uniformly distributing air flow in the appliance (10) by mounting at least one valve (102) to an air delivery member (10CF, 10CS), wherein an axis of the valve (102) is at least one of 20
parallel and coplanar to the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) and an entirety of the valve (102) is perpendicular to the air flow irrespective of change in position of the valve (102), step (202); and moving by, at least one of a control member (104) and an electric motor (105), the valve (102) to control air flow in the appliance (10), step (204), where the control member (104) is integrated on the 25
valve (102). The entirety of the valve (102) is disposed along a widthwise direction of the appliance (10) irrespective of change in position of the valve (102). The entirety of the valve (102) is parallel to at least a portion of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS). The entirety of the valve (102) is along a lengthwise direction of the air delivery member (10CF, 10CS) irrespective of 30
change in position of the valve (102).
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[0033] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, 5
such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will 10
recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.