Cooling assembly for refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines first and second compartments. A fan assembly is configured to direct cooled air from a cooling assembly into the first and second compartments. The fan assembly includes a housing that defines an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first outlet is in communication with the first compartment, and the second outlet is in communication with the second compartment. A fan is positioned within the housing and is configured to direct the cooled air from the inlet toward the first and second outlets. A damper assembly is configured to selectively obstruct one of the first outlet and the second outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling assembly for an appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a plurality of refrigerating compartments;   an evaporator positioned between a first refrigerating compartment and a second refrigerating compartment of the plurality of refrigerating compartments;   a housing disposed within the cabinet and defining an inlet in communication with the evaporator, a plurality of outlets that correspond to each compartment of the plurality of refrigerating compartments;   a fan positioned within the housing, wherein the fan is configured to direct cooled air through the inlet and toward the plurality of outlets;   a damper assembly configured to rotate between a plurality of rotational positions, the damper assembly including:
 a rim coupled with a plurality of gear teeth positioned circumferentially about, and extending radially from, the rim; and 
 a sidewall extending from a surface of the rim, wherein the sidewall extends circumferentially about a portion of a circumference of the rim; and 
   an actuator including an actuation gear configured to be engaged with the plurality of gear teeth, wherein the actuation gear is configured to rotate the damper assembly between the plurality of rotational positions.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first inlet line operably coupled with the evaporator and configured to provide thermal exchange media to the evaporator at a first flow rate;   a second inlet line operably coupled with the evaporator and configured to provide the thermal exchange media to the evaporator at a second flow rate.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rotational positions includes a first position and a second position, and wherein the sidewall of the damper assembly is configured to obstruct a first outlet of the plurality of outlets when the damper assembly is in the first position and is configured to obstruct a second outlet of the plurality of outlets when the damper assembly is in the second position, and wherein the first outlet and the second outlet corresponds to the first refrigerating compartment and the second refrigerating compartment, respectively, of the plurality of refrigerating compartments. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly is configured to be moved to a plurality of intermediate positions to at least partially obstruct one of the plurality of outlets when the damper assembly is in an intermediate position of the plurality of intermediate positions. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gear teeth are integrally formed with the rim. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gear teeth are defined within the surface of the rim. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is substantially circular and axially aligned with the fan. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , further including:
 a controller configured to actuate the actuator in response to a sensor input.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to actuate the actuator in response to user input.   
     
     
         10 . A cooling assembly for an appliance, comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the first outlet is defined distal from the second outlet;   a fan positioned within the housing, the fan configured to direct cooled air from the inlet and toward the first and second outlets, wherein the first outlet is in communication with a first compartment and the second outlet is in communication with a second compartment; and   a damper assembly configured to selectively obstruct one of the first and second outlets by rotating between a first position and a second position, the damper assembly including:
 a first damper having a first rim with first gear teeth and a first sidewall extending from the first rim in a direction parallel with the first gear teeth; and 
 a second damper having a second rim with second gear teeth and a second sidewall extending from the second rim in a direction parallel with the second gear teeth, wherein the first and second dampers are positioned such that the first gear teeth extend towards the second gear teeth. 
   
     
     
         11 . The cooling assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an actuator including an actuation gear configured to be engaged with the first and second gear teeth, wherein the actuation gear is positioned between the first and second dampers.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first sidewall extends circumferentially about a portion of the first rim and the second sidewall extends circumferentially about a portion of the second rim. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first damper further includes a first stop and the second damper further includes a second stop, and further wherein the first and second stops are substantially flush when the damper assembly is in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining first and second compartments; and   a fan assembly configured to direct cooled air from a cooling assembly into the first and second compartments, the fan assembly including:
 an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the first outlet is in communication with the first compartment and the second outlet is in communication with the second compartment; 
 a fan that directs the cooled air from the inlet toward the first and second outlets; and 
 a damper assembly configured to selectively and alternatively obstruct one of the first outlet and the second outlet, wherein the cooling assembly includes an evaporator positioned proximate the inlet, a first inlet line operably coupled with the evaporator and configured to provide thermal exchange media at a first flow rate, and a second inlet line operably coupled with the evaporator and configured to provide the thermal exchange media at a second flow rate. 
   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the fan assembly further includes an actuator configured to rotate the damper assembly between first and second positions, and wherein the damper assembly is configured to obstruct the first outlet in the first position and is configured to obstruct the second outlet in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the damper assembly is movable to an intermediate position between the first and second positions, and further wherein the damper assembly is configured to partially obstruct both of the first and second outlets when the damper assembly is positioned in the intermediate position. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the fan assembly further defines a receiving channel and the damper assembly is movable to a neutral position between the first and second positions, and further wherein the damper assembly is fully received by the receiving channel in the neutral position. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the damper assembly includes a first damper having a first rim with first teeth and a first sidewall extending from the first rim, and further wherein the first sidewall extends at least partially about a circumference of the first rim. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the damper assembly includes a second damper having a second rim with second teeth and a second sidewall extending from the first rim, and further wherein the second teeth extend toward the first teeth. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the first teeth extend radially from the first rim.