Method of cooling a deli pan in a refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a chilled chamber, an auxiliary compartment positioned within the chilled chamber, an evaporator duct containing an evaporator, an evaporator fan for selectively urging a flow of primary air through the evaporator duct and into the chilled chamber, an auxiliary duct providing fluid communication between the evaporator duct and the auxiliary compartment, and an auxiliary fan for selectively urging a flow of auxiliary air from the evaporator duct, through the auxiliary duct, and into the auxiliary compartment. The method includes operating the evaporator fan at a first speed to provide the flow of primary air into the chilled chamber, receiving a request to cool the auxiliary compartment, operating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of auxiliary air into the auxiliary compartment, and operating the evaporator fan at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a chilled chamber defined within the cabinet;   an auxiliary compartment positioned within the chilled chamber;   an evaporator duct containing an evaporator;   an evaporator fan for selectively urging a flow of primary air through the evaporator duct and into the chilled chamber;   an auxiliary duct providing fluid communication between the evaporator duct and the auxiliary compartment;   an auxiliary fan for selectively urging a flow of auxiliary air from the evaporator duct, through the auxiliary duct, and into the auxiliary compartment; and   a controller in operative communication with the evaporator fan and the auxiliary fan, the controller being configured to:
 operate the evaporator fan at a first speed to provide the flow of primary air into the chilled chamber; 
 receive a request to cool the auxiliary compartment; 
 operate the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of auxiliary air into the auxiliary compartment; and 
 operate the evaporator fan at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed is a fixed offset relative to the first speed. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed offset is between about 100 and 400 revolutions per minute (RPM). 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed is a predetermined percentage higher than the first speed. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined percentage is between about 10% and 30%. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed is a predetermined fixed speed. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first speed is between about 1800 and 2200 RPM. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed is between about 2000 and 2400 RPM. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary duct is fluidly coupled to the evaporator duct downstream of the evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary compartment is a deli pan. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the evaporator fan is off; and   turn off the auxiliary fan.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a chilled chamber, an auxiliary compartment positioned within the chilled chamber, an evaporator duct containing an evaporator, an evaporator fan for selectively urging a flow of primary air through the evaporator duct and into the chilled chamber, an auxiliary duct providing fluid communication between the evaporator duct and the auxiliary compartment, and an auxiliary fan for selectively urging a flow of auxiliary air from the evaporator duct, through the auxiliary duct, and into the auxiliary compartment, the method comprising:
 operating the evaporator fan at a first speed to provide the flow of primary air into the chilled chamber;   receiving a request to cool the auxiliary compartment;   operating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of auxiliary air into the auxiliary compartment; and   operating the evaporator fan at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second speed is a fixed offset relative to the first speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fixed offset is between about 100 and 400 revolutions per minute (RPM). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second speed is a predetermined percentage higher than the first speed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined percentage is between about 10% and 30%. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second speed is a predetermined fixed speed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first speed is between about 1800 and 2200 RPM and the second speed is between about 2000 and 2400 RPM. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary duct is fluidly coupled to the evaporator duct downstream of the evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining that the evaporator fan is off; and   turning off the auxiliary fan.