Appliance with timed preheating for dispensed fluids

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is provided that includes a hot water dispenser and/or hot beverage dispenser. The appliance can provide the hot water at a particular time selected by the user. In addition, the appliance can also be equipped to provide the hot water over a particular period of time. As such, the user can avoid an undesirable or inconvenient waiting period for dispensing hot water and certain energy efficiencies can be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing fluid into a container;   receiving a first temperature, TEMP-1, to which the fluid is to be heated;   providing a first time, TIME-1, by which the fluid is to be ready at first temperature, TEMP-1;   ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , required to heat the fluid in the container to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; and   operating a heater for at least the first time period, Δt 1 , before first time, TIME-1, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about first temperature, TEMP-1, by the first time, TIME-1.   
     
     
         2 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 maintaining the fluid in the container at about the first temperature, TEMP-1, for a second time period, Δt 2 .   
     
     
         3 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the appliance.   
     
     
         4 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving first temperature, TEMP-1, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.   
     
     
         5 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container; and   determining first time period, Δt 1 , using the measured temperature of the fluid in the container.   
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 ascertaining a second temperature, TEMP-2, to which fluid in the container is to be heated;   providing a second time, TIME-2, by which the fluid is to be ready at the second temperature, TEMP-2; and   operating the heater at a second time period, Δt 2 , before second TIME-2, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about second temperature, TEMP-2, by second time, TIME-2.   
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving second temperature, TEMP-2, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the refrigerator appliance.   
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater after second time period, Δt 2 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater after the first time period, Δt 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein the step of ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , further comprises measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of the fluid in the container during the step of operating the heater. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater once the temperature of the fluid in the container is heated to about the first temperature, TEMP-1. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 one or more refrigerated chambers;   a dispenser for providing a heated fluid;   a fluid heating assembly configured to provide heated fluid to the dispenser, the fluid heating assembly comprising
 a container for the receipt of a fluid to be heated; 
 a heater for heating fluid in the container; 
 a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container; 
   a controller in communication with the heater and the temperature sensor, the controller configured for
 receiving a first temperature, TEMP-1, to which the fluid in the container is to be heated; 
 receiving a first time, TIME-1, by which the fluid is to be ready at first temperature, TEMP-1; 
 ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , required to heat the fluid in the container to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; and 
 operating the heater for at least the first time period, Δt 1 , before first time, TIME-1, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about first temperature, TEMP-1, by about the first time, TIME-1. 
   
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator appliance as in  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured for maintaining the fluid in the container at about the first temperature, TEMP-1, for a second time period, Δt 2 . 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator appliance as in  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to deactivate the heater after second time period, Δt 2 . 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator appliance as in  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the appliance. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator appliance as in  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive first temperature, TEMP-1, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.