Water delivery system for a refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining one or more chilled chambers. The refrigerator appliance may include a water delivery system. The water delivery system may include a chilled water tank provided within the one or more chilled chambers. The chilled water tank may include an outer wall that may define a water compartment for containing a volume of water. The water delivery system may include a dispenser assembly in downstream fluid communication with the chilled water tank for dispensing ice or water. The water delivery system may include a peristaltic metering pump in fluid communication between the chilled water tank and the dispenser assembly. The peristaltic metering pump may include a housing, a dispensing tube, and a rotor assembly. The housing may define a dosing chamber. The dispensing tube may be disposed within the dosing chamber between the rotor assembly and an inner wall of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining one or more chilled chambers; and   a water delivery system comprising:
 a chilled water tank provided within the one or more chilled chambers, the chilled water tank comprising an outer wall, the outer wall defining a water compartment for containing a volume of water, 
 a dispenser assembly in downstream fluid communication with the chilled water tank for dispensing ice or water, and 
 a peristaltic metering pump in fluid communication between the chilled water tank and the dispenser assembly, the peristaltic metering pump comprising a housing, a dispensing tube, and a rotor assembly, the housing defining a dosing chamber, the dispensing tube being disposed within the dosing chamber between the rotor assembly and an inner wall of the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the peristaltic metering pump comprises a motor coupled to the rotor assembly, and wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing tube comprises an inlet portion and an outlet portion,
 wherein the outlet portion is positioned downstream of the inlet,   wherein the inlet portion is in direct fluid communication with the chilled water tank, and   wherein the outlet is in direct fluid communication with the dispenser assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser assembly comprises a water dispenser and an ice maker assembly,
 wherein water delivery system further comprises a liquid valve and an ice valve,   wherein the liquid valve is in fluid communication between the peristaltic metering pump and the water dispenser, and   wherein the ice valve is in fluid communication between the peristaltic metering pump and the ice maker assembly and in fluid parallel with the liquid valve.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid valve comprises a first solenoid valve,
 wherein the ice valve comprises a second solenoid valve,   wherein the first solenoid valve is in operative communication with a controller associated with the water delivery system,   wherein the first solenoid valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the peristaltic metering pump to the water dispenser,   wherein the second solenoid valve in operative communication with the controller associated with the water delivery system, and   wherein the second solenoid valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the peristaltic metering pump to the ice maker assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water delivery system comprises a water source in upstream fluid communication with chilled water tank,
 wherein the water source comprises a supply valve, and   wherein the supply valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the water source to the chilled water tank.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the water delivery system further comprises a sensor provided within the water compartment,
 wherein a water level of a volume of water within the water compartment is measured via the sensor, and   wherein the sensor is in operative communication with the supply valve of the water source.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the chilled water tank defines an air vent therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed within the housing, and
 wherein a segment of the dispensing tube is provided between the plurality of rollers and an inner wall of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises a freezer liner and a fresh food liner,
 wherein the freezer liner defines a freezer chamber of the one or more chilled chambers,   wherein the fresh food liner defines a fresh food chamber of the one or more chilled chambers, and   wherein the chilled water tank is provided within the fresh food chamber.   
     
     
         11 . A water delivery system for a refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet, the cabinet defining one or more chilled chambers, the water delivery system comprising:
 a chilled water tank provided within the one or more chilled chambers, the chilled water tank comprising an outer wall, the outer wall defining a water compartment for containing a volume of water;   a dispenser assembly in downstream fluid communication with the chilled water tank for dispensing ice or water; and   a peristaltic metering pump in fluid communication between the chilled water tank and the dispenser assembly, the peristaltic metering pump comprising a housing, a dispensing tube, and a rotor assembly, the housing defining a dosing chamber, the dispensing tube being disposed within the dosing chamber between the rotor assembly and an inner wall of the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the peristaltic metering pump comprises a motor coupled to the rotor assembly, and wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor. 
     
     
         13 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the dispensing tube comprises an inlet portion and an outlet portion,
 wherein the outlet portion is positioned downstream of the inlet,   wherein the inlet portion is in direct fluid communication with the chilled water tank, and   wherein the outlet is in direct fluid communication with the dispenser assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the dispenser assembly comprises a water dispenser and an ice maker assembly,
 wherein water delivery system further comprises a liquid valve and an ice valve,   wherein the liquid valve is in fluid communication between the peristaltic metering pump and the water dispenser, and   wherein the ice valve is in fluid communication between the peristaltic metering pump and the ice maker assembly and in fluid parallel with the liquid valve.   
     
     
         15 . The water delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid valve comprises a first solenoid valve,
 wherein the ice valve comprises a second solenoid valve,   wherein the first solenoid valve is in operative communication with a controller associated with the water delivery system,   wherein the first solenoid valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the peristaltic metering pump to the water dispenser,   wherein the second solenoid valve in operative communication with the controller associated with the water delivery system, and   wherein the second solenoid valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the peristaltic metering pump to the ice maker assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a water source in upstream fluid communication with chilled water tank,   wherein the water source comprises a supply valve, and   wherein the supply valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit a flow of water from the water source to the chilled water tank.   
     
     
         17 . The water delivery system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a sensor provided within the water compartment,   wherein a water level of a volume of water within the water compartment is measured via the sensor, and   wherein the sensor is in operative communication with the supply valve of the water source.   
     
     
         18 . The water delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises a float switch. 
     
     
         19 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the outer wall of the chilled water tank defines an air vent therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . The water delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed within the housing, and
 wherein a segment of the dispensing tube is provided between the plurality of rollers and an inner wall of the housing.