Air flow system for appliances

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a body defining a refrigerated compartment and an air duct, and an airflow system configured to circulate air between the refrigerated compartment and the air duct. The air flow system includes a fan configured to move air between the refrigerated compartment and the air duct, an evaporator configured to cool air passing through the air duct, and an air diverter assembly. The air diverter assembly includes a diverter provided at least partially within the air duct and configured to divert at least a portion of the air within the air duct into the refrigerated compartment, and a baffle provided at least partially within the refrigerated compartment and configured to direct air upward within the refrigerated compartment.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body defining a refrigerated compartment and an air duct; and   an airflow system configured to circulate air between the refrigerated compartment and the air duct, the air flow system comprising:
 a fan configured to move air between the refrigerated compartment and the air duct; 
 an evaporator configured to cool air passing through the air duct; and 
 an air diverter assembly comprising:
 a diverter provided at least partially within the air duct and configured to divert at least a portion of the air within the air duct into the refrigerated compartment; and 
 a baffle provided at least partially within the refrigerated compartment and configured to direct air upward within the refrigerated compartment. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the fan and evaporator are positioned such that a static pressure column of air is formed above the evaporator. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is configured to pull air upward through the refrigerated compartment and push the air downward through the air duct and past the evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the air diverter assembly is provided below the evaporator assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the diverter extends downward within the air duct and at least a portion of the baffle extends upward within the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of air is directed out of a first outlet by the diverter and a second portion of air flows downward from the diverter through the air duct and exits the air duct at a second outlet at a bottom portion of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional baffle provided within the air duct and proximate the evaporator, the at least one additional baffle configured to direct the air within the air duct such that substantially all of the air flowing through the air duct passes over the evaporator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is provided above the refrigerated compartment and the air duct is provided in a rear wall of the body of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter and the baffle each extend along substantially all of a width of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A method of circulating air within a refrigerated appliance, comprising:
 directing air upward to a top portion of a refrigerated compartment;   directing the air downward through an air duct in fluid communication with the refrigerated compartment;   directing substantially all of the air over an evaporator to cool the air within the air duct;   directing a first portion of the air out of the air duct and back into the refrigerated compartment; and   directing the first portion of the air upward within the refrigerated compartment upon the air exiting the air duct.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein directing the first portion of the air out of the air duct comprises providing a diverter within the air duct; and
 wherein directing the first portion of the air upward within the refrigerated compartment comprises providing a baffle within the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the diverter extends downward within the air duct; and
 wherein at least a portion of the baffle extends upward within the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a static pressure column of air within the air duct and above the evaporator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a second portion of the air in the air duct moves downward past the diverter and exits the air duct at a bottom portion of the air duct. 
     
     
         15 . An air flow system for an appliance having a refrigerated compartment and an air duct in fluid communication with the refrigerated compartment, the air flow system comprising:
 a fan configured to direct air upward through the refrigerated compartment and downward through the air duct;   an evaporator provided within the air duct and configured to cool the air passing through the air duct; and   an air diverter assembly provided at least partially within the air duct and configured to divide the air within the air duct into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of air exiting the air duct via a first outlet and the second portion of air exiting a second outlet below the first outlet;   wherein the evaporator is positioned below the fan and a static pressure column is formed within the air duct above the evaporator.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the air diverter assembly comprises a diverter provided at least partially within the air duct and a baffle provided at least partially within the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the diverter extends downward within the air duct and is configured to direct air out of the air duct via the first outlet; and
 wherein at least a portion of the baffle extends upward within the refrigerated compartment and is configured to direct the first portion of air upward through the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one additional baffle is provided within the air duct and at least partially above the evaporator, the at least one additional baffle directing the air within the air duct such that substantially all of the air flowing through the air duct passes over the evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second outlets extend along substantially all of a width of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the fan is positioned above the refrigerated compartment and wherein the air diverter assembly is provided proximate to and below the evaporator.