Refrigerator assembly having features for improved air circulation through a machine compartment thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator assembly, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a louver panel, and a plurality of laterally-spaced vanes. The cabinet may extend along a lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber and a machine compartment. The machine compartment may have an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet. The louver panel may be mounted to the cabinet in front of the machine compartment. The louver panel may define a plurality of lateral apertures spaced apart along a vertical direction. The plurality of lateral apertures may extend along the lateral direction in front of the air inlet and the air outlet from a first end to a second end. The plurality of laterally-spaced vanes may extend rearward from the louver panel at the air outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator assembly defining a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction, the refrigerator assembly comprising:
 a cabinet extending along the lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a machine compartment, the machine compartment having an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet;   a louver panel mounted to the cabinet in front of the machine compartment, the louver panel defining a plurality of lateral apertures spaced apart along the vertical direction, the plurality of lateral apertures extending along the lateral direction in front of the air inlet and the air outlet from a first end to a second end; and   a plurality of laterally-spaced vanes extending rearward from the louver panel at the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a door rotatably mounted on the cabinet forward from the louver panel, the door being movable between on open position and a closed position, the open position permitting access to the chilled chamber and the louver panel, the closed position restricting access to the chilled chamber and covering the louver panel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a compartment wall extending along the transverse direction within the machine compartment between the air inlet and the air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressor housed within the machine compartment to motivate a refrigerant through a sealed system. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising an air handler housed within the machine compartment to motivate an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor as part of the sealed system, the condenser being housed within the machine compartment behind the compressor and the air handler, wherein the air handler is positioned between condenser and the compressor along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is located proximal to the second end, wherein the air outlet is located proximal to the first end, and wherein at least one vane of the plurality of laterally-spaced vanes defines a flow angle directed away from the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is located proximal to the second end, wherein the air outlet is located proximal to the first end, and wherein at least one vane of the plurality of laterally-spaced vanes defines a flow angle directed away from the first end. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the chilled chamber extends along the lateral direction above the louver panel, between the first lateral side and the second lateral side. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is a primary cabinet, wherein the refrigeration assembly further comprises:
 a secondary cabinet extending along the lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the secondary cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a machine compartment, the machine compartment of the secondary cabinet having an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet of the secondary cabinet,   
       wherein the second lateral side of the secondary cabinet is positioned against the first lateral side of the primary cabinet, and 
       wherein the air inlet of the machine compartment of the secondary cabinet is located proximal to the air outlet of the machine compartment of the primary cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator assembly defining a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction, the refrigerator assembly comprising:
 a cabinet extending along the lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a machine compartment, the machine compartment having an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet;   a louver panel mounted to the cabinet in front of the machine compartment, the louver panel defining a plurality of lateral apertures spaced apart along the vertical direction, the plurality of lateral apertures extending along the lateral direction in front of the air inlet and the air outlet from a first end to a second end; and   a plurality of laterally-spaced vanes extending rearward from the louver panel at the air outlet, the plurality of laterally-spaced vanes being directed away from the panel inlet.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a door rotatably mounted on the cabinet forward from the louver panel, the door being movable between on open position and a closed position, the open position permitting access to the chilled chamber and the louver panel, the closed position restricting access to the chilled chamber and covering the louver panel. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a compartment wall extending along the transverse direction within the machine compartment between the air inlet and the air outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a compressor housed within the machine compartment to motivate a refrigerant through a sealed system. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising an air handler housed within the machine compartment to motivate an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor as part of the sealed system, the condenser being housed within the machine compartment behind the compressor and the air handler, wherein the air handler is positioned between condenser and the compressor along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet is located proximal to the second end, wherein the air outlet is located proximal to the first end, and wherein at least one vane of the plurality of laterally-spaced vanes defines a flow angle directed away from the second end. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet is located proximal to the second end, wherein the air outlet is located proximal to the first end, wherein the plurality of laterally-spaced vanes is a first vane set, and further comprising a second vane set comprising at one vane defining a flow angle directed away from the first end. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the chilled chamber extends along the lateral direction above the louver panel, between the first lateral side and the second lateral side. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cabinet is a primary cabinet, wherein the refrigeration assembly further comprises:
 a secondary cabinet extending along the lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the secondary cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a machine compartment, the machine compartment of the secondary cabinet having an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet of the secondary cabinet,   
       wherein the second lateral side of the secondary cabinet is positioned against the first lateral side of the primary cabinet, and 
       wherein the air inlet of the machine compartment of the secondary cabinet is located proximal to the air outlet of the machine compartment of the primary cabinet.