Water supply system for a refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a door being rotatably mounted to a cabinet using a hinge, a first icemaker mounted to the door, a second icemaker mounted to the door, a water source for providing water to the first icemaker and the second icemaker, and a water supply system for supplying the water from the water source to the first icemaker and the second icemaker. The water supply system includes a main supply line passing from the water source and through the hinge, a multi-way valve fluidly coupled to the main supply line, the multi-way valve comprising a plurality of outlets, a first supply line providing fluid communication between the first icemaker and a first outlet of the plurality of outlets, and a second supply line providing fluid communication between the second icemaker and a second outlet of the plurality of outlets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;   a door being rotatably mounted to the cabinet using a hinge and being rotatable to provide selective access to the chilled chamber;   a first icemaker mounted to the door;   a second icemaker mounted to the door; and   a water supply system comprising:
 a water source for supplying water to the first icemaker and the second icemaker; 
 a main supply line passing from the water source, through the hinge, and into the door; 
 a multi-way valve fluidly coupled to the main supply line, the multi-way valve comprising a plurality of outlets; 
 a first supply line providing fluid communication between the first icemaker and a first outlet of the plurality of outlets; and 
 a second supply line providing fluid communication between the second icemaker and a second outlet of the plurality of outlets. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a water dispenser mounted to the door, wherein the water supply system further comprises:
 a third supply line providing fluid communication between the water dispenser and a third outlet of the plurality of outlets.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply system comprises:
 a junction housing mounted to the door and containing the first outlet and the second outlet.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the junction housing is positioned on a top side of the door. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the junction housing is positioned on an opposite side of the door relative to the hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the junction housing is recessed within the door and is surrounded by insulating foam. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the junction housing is mounted above an upper hinge of the door along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-way valve is a triple solenoid valve. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water tank for storing and chilling the water provided from the water source, wherein the water tank is stored within the cabinet and is fluidly coupled to the main supply line.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a water filter fluidly coupled to the water source upstream of the water tank.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance is a side-by-side refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         12 . A water supply system for supplying water to a first icemaker and a second icemaker mounted to a door of a refrigerator appliance, the water supply system comprising:
 a water source;   a main supply line passing from the water source, through a hinge of the door, and into the door;   a multi-way valve fluidly coupled to the main supply line, the multi-way valve comprising a plurality of outlets;   a first supply line providing fluid communication between the first icemaker and a first outlet of the plurality of outlets; and   a second supply line providing fluid communication between the second icemaker and a second outlet of the plurality of outlets.   
     
     
         13 . The water supply system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third supply line providing fluid communication between a third outlet of the plurality of outlets and a water dispenser mounted to the door.   
     
     
         14 . The water supply system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a junction housing mounted to the door and containing the first outlet and the second outlet.   
     
     
         15 . The water supply system of  claim 14 , wherein the junction housing is positioned on a top side of the door. 
     
     
         16 . The water supply system of  claim 14 , wherein the junction housing is positioned on an opposite side of the door relative to the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The water supply system of  claim 14 , wherein the junction housing is recessed within the door and is surrounded by insulating foam. 
     
     
         18 . The water supply system of  claim 14 , wherein the junction housing is mounted above an upper hinge along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         19 . The water supply system of  claim 12 , wherein the multi-way valve is a triple solenoid valve. 
     
     
         20 . The water supply system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a water tank for storing and chilling the water provided from the water source, wherein the water tank is stored within a cabinet of the refrigerator appliance and is fluidly coupled to the main supply line.