Water Reservoir Assembly and a Refrigerator Appliance
A water reservoir includes a casing that defines a water chamber. A cover is disposed around a portion of the casing. The cover defines an air chamber. An air handler is operable to urge of a flow of air through the air chamber of the cover. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.
1 . A water reservoir, comprising:
a casing defining a water chamber;
an inlet conduit mounted to the casing;
an inlet valve coupled to the inlet conduit and configured for regulating a flow of water into the water chamber of the casing through the inlet conduit;
an outlet conduit mounted to the casing;
an outlet valve coupled to the outlet conduit and configured for regulating a flow of water out of the water chamber of the casing through the outlet conduit;
a cover disposed around a portion of the casing, the cover defining an air chamber; and
an air handler operable to urge of a flow of air through the air chamber of the cover.
2 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , wherein an exit of the inlet conduit is contiguous with the water chamber of the casing, the exit of the inlet conduit positioned above the air chamber of the cover.
3 . The water reservoir of claim 2 , wherein an entrance of the outlet conduit is contiguous with the water chamber of the casing, the entrance of the outlet conduit positioned below the air chamber of the cover.
4 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the air chamber of the casing extends around the casing at a middle portion of the casing.
5 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the air chamber of the casing is contiguous with an outer surface of the casing.
6 . The water reservoir of claim 5 , wherein the casing comprises a plurality of projections, the projections of the plurality of projections extending from the outer surface of the casing into the air chamber of the cover.
7 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , further comprising a water level sensor operable to detect a level of water within the water chamber of the casing, the water level sensor being in communication with the inlet valve such that the inlet valve closes and terminates the flow of water into the water chamber of the casing through the inlet conduit when the water level sensor detects that the level of water within the water chamber of the casing is above a first threshold level.
8 . The water reservoir of claim 7 , wherein the water level sensor is also in communication with the air handler such that the air handler deactivates and terminates the flow of air through the air chamber of the cover when the water level sensor detects that the level of water within the water chamber of the casing is above a second threshold level, the second threshold level being higher than the first threshold level.
9 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , further comprising a baffle disposed within the water chamber of the casing, the baffle positioned and oriented for deflecting water flow through the water chamber of the casing towards an inner surface of the casing.
10 . The water reservoir of claim 1 , further comprising a relief conduit mounted to the casing above the air chamber of the cover, the relief conduit contiguous with ambient air about the casing.
11 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a housing defining a chilled chamber;
a water reservoir disposed within the housing, the water reservoir comprising
a casing defining a water chamber;
an inlet conduit mounted to the casing;
an inlet valve coupled to the inlet conduit and configured for regulating
a flow of water into the water chamber of the casing through the inlet conduit;
an outlet conduit mounted to the casing;
an outlet valve coupled to the outlet conduit and configured for regulating a flow of water out of the water chamber of the casing through the outlet conduit;
a cover disposed around a portion of the casing, the cover defining an air chamber; and
an air handler operable to urge of a flow of air through the air chamber of the cover.
12 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein an exit of the inlet conduit is contiguous with the water chamber of the casing, the exit of the inlet conduit positioned above the air chamber of the cover.
13 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein an entrance of the outlet conduit is contiguous with the water chamber of the casing, the entrance of the outlet conduit positioned below the air chamber of the cover.
14 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the air chamber of the casing extends around the casing at a middle portion of the casing.
15 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the air chamber of the casing is contiguous with an outer surface of the casing.
16 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 15 , wherein the casing comprises a plurality of projections, the projections of the plurality of projections extending from the outer surface of the casing into the air chamber of the cover.
17 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the water reservoir further comprises a water level sensor operable to detect a level of water within the water chamber of the casing, the water level sensor being in communication with the inlet valve such that the inlet valve closes and terminates the flow of water into the water chamber of the casing through the inlet conduit when the water level sensor detects that the level of water within the water chamber of the casing is above a first threshold level.
18 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 17 , wherein the water level sensor is also in communication with the air handler such that the air handler deactivates and terminates the flow of air through the air chamber of the cover when the water level sensor detects that the level of water within the water chamber of the casing is above a second threshold level, the second threshold level being higher than the first threshold level.
19 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the water reservoir further comprises a baffle disposed within the water chamber of the casing, the baffle positioned and oriented for deflecting water flow through the water chamber of the casing towards an inner surface of the casing.
20 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the water reservoir further comprises a relief conduit mounted to the casing above the air chamber of the cover, the relief conduit contiguous with ambient air about the casing.