Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator

Kuehl, Steven John; Vonderhaar, John J; Wu, Guolian; Wu, Mianxue

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A - human necessities
A01 - agriculture
A21 - baking
A22 - butchering
A23 - foods or foodstuffs
A24 - tobacco
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A42 - headwear
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Title: Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance that includes a freezer compartment, a refrigeration compartment having two doors, and a mullion having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The mullion is movably coupled to, and configured to swing behind, at least one of the doors when the two doors are moved to a closed position. The exterior surface of the mullion directs condensation toward a transfer point. The exterior surface may be configured with a hydrophilic surface to direct and control the condensation. The condensation may also be directed into a receptacle or a wicking structure arranged to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted condensate.

Inventors:: Kuehl, Steven John; Vonderhaar, John J; Wu, Guolian; Wu, Mianxue

Issue Date:: 2015-01-06

Research Org.:: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1167029

Patent Number(s):: 8926032

Application Number:: 13/562,577

Assignee:: Whirlpool Corporation (Benton Harbor, MI)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25D - REFRIGERATORS

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25D - REFRIGERATORS
F25D21/14 - Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water

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DOE Contract Number:: EE0003910

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2012 Jul 31

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats


                    Kuehl, Steven John, Vonderhaar, John J, Wu, Guolian, and Wu, Mianxue. Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator.  United States: N. p., 2015. 
        Web.

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                    Kuehl, Steven John, Vonderhaar, John J, Wu, Guolian, & Wu, Mianxue. Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator.  United States.

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                    Kuehl, Steven John, Vonderhaar, John J, Wu, Guolian, and Wu, Mianxue. Tue .  
        "Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1167029.

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@article{osti_1167029,

  title        = {Hydrophilic structure for condensation management on the movable mullion of a refrigerator},

  author       = {Kuehl, Steven John and Vonderhaar, John J and Wu, Guolian and Wu, Mianxue},

  abstractNote = {A refrigerator appliance that includes a freezer compartment, a refrigeration compartment having two doors, and a mullion having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The mullion is movably coupled to, and configured to swing behind, at least one of the doors when the two doors are moved to a closed position. The exterior surface of the mullion directs condensation toward a transfer point. The exterior surface may be configured with a hydrophilic surface to direct and control the condensation. The condensation may also be directed into a receptacle or a wicking structure arranged to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted condensate.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2015},

  month        = {1}

}

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Works referencing / citing this record: