US20220154999A1

US20220154999A1 - Refrigerator appliance auxiliary evaporation tray

Info

Publication number: US20220154999A1
Application number: US16/951,397
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald Anderson; Martin Busche
Original assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2020-11-18
Filing date: 2020-11-18
Publication date: 2022-05-19
Also published as: WO2022105744A1; CN116547487A

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a food storage chamber. An evaporator is in fluid communication with the food storage chamber such that cool dry air flows from the evaporator to the food storage chamber and warm humid air flows to the evaporator from the food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes a meltwater conduit in fluid communication with the evaporator downstream of the evaporator such that the meltwater conduit receives a flow of meltwater from the evaporator. An auxiliary evaporation tray is immediately downstream of the meltwater conduit such that the auxiliary evaporation tray receives the flow of meltwater directly from the meltwater conduit. A primary evaporation tray is downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to refrigerator appliances. In particular, the present disclosure relates to improved evaporation features for a refrigerator appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines one or more chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. One or more insulated, sealing doors are provided for selectively enclosing the chilled food storage chamber(s). Generally, the door(s) are movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing food items stored therein by pulling on the door(s), such as by pulling on a handle on the door.
Refrigerator appliances typically utilize sealed systems for cooling chilled chambers of the refrigerator appliances. A typical sealed system includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan. The fan generates a flow of air across the evaporator to cool the flow of air. The cooled air is then provided through an opening into the chilled chamber to maintain the chilled chamber at a desired set point temperature. Air from the chilled chamber is circulated back through a return duct to be re-cooled by the sealed system during operation of the refrigerator appliance, maintaining the chilled chamber at the desired temperature.
In some instances, relatively warm, moisture-laden air enters the chilled chamber, such as when the door is opened, and particularly when the door is opened frequently and/or left open for an extended time. When this warm, moisture-laden air from the ambient environment enters the chilled chamber, condensation forms on surfaces, e.g., walls and shelves, within the chilled chamber. The condensation then evaporates and, during operation of the sealed cooling system, is drawn to the evaporator coil, where it freezes. The evaporator must then be periodically defrosted. The melt water from defrosting the evaporator is typically collected in an evaporation tray at the bottom of the refrigerator appliance, from which the liquid water eventually evaporates and returns to the ambient air outside of the refrigerator appliance.
However, typical evaporation trays may have insufficient volume to store the amount of melt water generated after heavy use, e.g., frequent and/or prolonged door openings, especially during warmer seasons and in warmer climates. In some cases, melt water may accumulate in the evaporation tray faster than it evaporates to the point that the tray may overflow.
Accordingly, a refrigerator having improved evaporation features would be desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a food storage chamber. An evaporator is in fluid communication with the food storage chamber such that cool dry air flows from the evaporator to the food storage chamber and warm humid air flows to the evaporator from the food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes a meltwater conduit in fluid communication with the evaporator downstream of the evaporator such that the meltwater conduit receives a flow of meltwater from the evaporator. An auxiliary evaporation tray is immediately downstream of the meltwater conduit such that the auxiliary evaporation tray receives the flow of meltwater directly from the meltwater conduit. A primary evaporation tray is downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray.
In a second exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary evaporation tray for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The auxiliary evaporation tray defines a vertical direction. The auxiliary evaporation tray is configured to receive a flow of meltwater directly from a meltwater conduit of the refrigerator appliance tray system. The auxiliary evaporation tray is also configured to be positioned upstream of a primary evaporation tray of the refrigerator appliance.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front elevation view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with a door of the refrigerator appliance shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 provides a front elevation view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1 with the door shown in an open position.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of certain components of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of an auxiliary evaporation tray according to one or more exemplary embodiments which may be incorporated into a refrigerator appliance such as the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 provides a side view of the exemplary auxiliary evaporation tray of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 provides a top-down view of the exemplary auxiliary evaporation tray of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 provides a cross-section view of the exemplary auxiliary evaporation tray of FIG. 4 in combination with neighboring components of an exemplary refrigerator appliance such as the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the disclosure. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. Terms such as “inner” and “outer” refer to relative directions with respect to the interior and exterior of the refrigerator appliance, and in particular the food storage chamber(s) defined therein. For example, “inner” or “inward” refers to the direction towards the interior of the refrigerator appliance. Terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the refrigerator appliance. For example, a user stands in front of the refrigerator to open the door(s) and reaches into the food storage chamber(s) to access items therein.
As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “generally,” or “about” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary refrigerator appliance 100 has an insulated housing or cabinet 120 that defines a food storage chamber 122. A door 124 is provided to selectively sealingly enclose the food storage chamber 122 when in a closed position (FIG. 1) and provide access to the food storage chamber 122 when in an open position (FIG. 2). The door 124 is rotatably mounted to the cabinet 120, such as by one or more hinges 126 (FIG. 2), to rotate between the open position and the closed position.
Refrigerator appliance 100 defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T (e.g., FIG. 7), each mutually perpendicular to one another. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet or housing 120 extends between a top 101 and a bottom 102 along the vertical direction V, between a left side 104 and a right side 106 along the lateral direction L, and between a front 108 (FIG. 2) and a rear 110 (FIG. 7) along the transverse direction T. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the food storage chamber 122 includes a front portion 134. The front portion 134 of the food storage chamber 122 defines an opening 136 for receipt of food items. The food storage chamber 122 is a chilled chamber 122 for receipt of food items for storage. As used herein, the chamber may be “chilled” in that the chamber is operable at temperatures below room temperature, e.g., less than about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit (75° F.). One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the food storage chamber 122 may be chilled by a sealed refrigeration system, such that the food storage chamber 122 may be operable at or about the temperatures described herein by providing chilled air from the sealed system. The structure and function of such sealed systems are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and are not described in further detail herein for the sake of brevity and clarity.
Refrigerator door 124 is rotatably mounted, e.g., hinged, to an edge of cabinet 120 for selectively accessing the fresh food storage chamber 122 within the cabinet 120. Refrigerator door 124 may be mounted to the cabinet 120 at or near the front portion 134 of the food storage chamber 122 such that the door 124 moves, e.g., rotates via hinges 126, between the closed position (FIG. 1) and the open position (FIG. 2). In the closed position of FIG. 1, the door 124 sealingly encloses the food storage chamber 122. Additionally, one or more gaskets and other sealing devices, which are not shown but will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, may be provided to promote sealing between the door 124 and the cabinet 120. In the open position of FIG. 2, the door 124 permits access to the fresh food storage chamber 122.
As shown for example in FIG. 2, various storage components may be mounted within the food storage chamber 122 to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components include bins 116, drawers 117, and shelves 118 that are mounted within fresh food chamber 122. Bins 116, drawers 117, and shelves 118 are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items.
As depicted, cabinet 120 defines a single chilled chamber 122 for receipt of food items for storage. In the present example, the single chilled chamber 122 is a fresh food chamber 122. In some embodiments, the chilled chamber may be a freezer chamber and/or the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more additional chilled chambers for receipt of various food items and storage of such items at various different temperatures as desired. For example, the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more chilled chambers configured for deep freeze (e.g., at about 0° F. or less) storage, or configured for chilling, e.g., produce or wine, at relatively warmer temperatures such as about 60° F. or more, as well as any suitable temperatures between the stated examples. In various exemplary embodiments, the chilled chamber 122 may be selectively operable at any number of various temperatures and/or temperature ranges as desired or required per application, and/or the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more additional chambers selectively operable at any suitable food storage temperature.
The illustrated exemplary refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a single-door or single-purpose refrigerator, sometimes also referred to as a column refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such as, for example, a bottom mount refrigerator, a top mount refrigerator, a side-by-side style refrigerator, or a freezer appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect, e.g., is not intended to be limited to a particular refrigerator chamber configuration. As another example, the term “refrigerator appliance” is not intended to be limited to an appliance which only provides fresh food storage, or which provides fresh food storage at all. The term “refrigerator appliance” as used herein also includes appliances which provide both fresh food storage and freezer storage, or which provide freezer storage only
As depicted in the schematic illustration in FIG. 3, the refrigerator appliance 100 may include an evaporator 70. The evaporator 70 may be in fluid communication with the food storage chamber 122 whereby cool dry air 1002 flows from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 and warm humid air 1000 flows to the evaporator 70 from the food storage chamber 122. As those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, the evaporator 70 may be a component of a sealed refrigeration system which provides chilled air to the food storage chamber 122, as mentioned above. The structure and function of such refrigeration systems are generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and, as such, the evaporator 70 is only illustrated schematically and the remaining components of the sealed refrigeration system are not specifically illustrated or described in further detail herein for the sake of brevity and clarity.
It should be understood that the terms “cool” and “warm” and “dry” and “humid” are each defined with respect to the corresponding other. For example, the air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 is cooler than the air 1000 from the food storage chamber 122 to the evaporator 70, and the air 1000 from the food storage chamber 122 to the evaporator 70 has a higher moisture content, e.g., is more humid, than the air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122, etc. As an additional example, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be cooler than ambient air, e.g., air in the ambient environment around, e.g., immediately external to, the refrigerator appliance 100. For example, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature which is less than room temperature, where room temperature is generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as including a range from about sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (65° F.) to about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit (75° F.), and the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature of about fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50° F.) or less, such as about forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45° F.) or less. For example, in embodiments where the food storage chamber 122 is a fresh food storage chamber, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature generally above the freezing point of water, such as between about thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit (35° F.) and about fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50° F.), such as between about forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F.) and about forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45° F.). As another example, in embodiments where the food storage chamber 122 is a freezer compartment or freezer chamber, the cool dry air 1002 from the evaporator 70 to the food storage chamber 122 may be at a temperature generally below the freezing point of water, such as between about twenty degrees Fahrenheit (20° F.) and about negative fifteen degrees Fahrenheit (−15° F.), such as between about five degrees Fahrenheit (5° F.) and about negative ten degrees Fahrenheit (−10° F.), such as about zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.).
Referring again to FIG. 3, the refrigerator appliance 100 may also include a meltwater conduit 200. As illustrated, the meltwater conduit 200 may extend from the evaporator 70 to an auxiliary evaporation tray 202 of the refrigerator appliance 100. Thus, in some embodiments, the meltwater conduit 200 may be in fluid communication with the evaporator 70 and may be downstream of the evaporator 70, as a result of which the meltwater conduit 200 may receive a flow of meltwater from the evaporator 70, e.g., directly from the evaporator 70 with no intervening structures between the evaporator 70 and the meltwater conduit 200. For example, moisture contained in the warm, humid air 1000 may cause frost to form, e.g., by sublimation and/or condensation followed by freezing, on the coils of the evaporator 70 (the coils are not specifically illustrated herein but are generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art). Thus, the refrigerator appliance 100 may include a defrost cycle or operation and/or the frost may melt over time, thereby generating meltwater. The meltwater may be collected in and/or channeled to the meltwater conduit 200. The auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be downstream of the meltwater conduit 200, such as immediately downstream of the meltwater conduit 202. As a result, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 receives the flow of meltwater from the meltwater conduit 200, such as directly from the meltwater conduit 200. As shown in FIG. 7 and described in more detail below, the refrigerator appliance 100 may also include a primary evaporation tray 302, and the primary evaporation tray 302 may be downstream (with respect to the flow of meltwater from the meltwater conduit 200) of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202.
FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 and a portion of the meltwater conduit 200, including a downstream end 201 (FIG. 7) of the meltwater conduit 200. FIG. 5 provides a side view of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 (the meltwater conduit 200 is omitted in FIG. 5). FIG. 6 provides a top-down view of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, viewed from a plane which intersects the meltwater conduit 200, such that the meltwater conduit 200 is illustrated in section in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 provides a partial section view of the refrigerator appliance 100, in particular a lower rear portion of the refrigerator appliance 100, including the meltwater conduit 200, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, and a primary evaporation tray 302 therein. In particular, FIG. 7 includes a portion of the meltwater conduit 200, a sectional view the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, and a portion of the primary evaporation tray 302. As may be seen in FIG. 7, the primary evaporation tray 302 is positioned vertically below, e.g., below along the vertical direction V, and downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 within the refrigerator appliance 100.
In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a water trap 216. For example, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall 212 which collectively define an internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. For example, the plurality of side walls may include a front wall 206 (e.g., which faces towards the front 108 (FIG. 2) of the refrigerator appliance 100) and a rear wall 210 (e.g., which faces towards the rear 110 (FIG. 7) of the refrigerator appliance 100) which are spaced apart along the transverse direction T, and a left wall 204 and a right wall 208 which are spaced apart along the lateral direction L. Thus, in some embodiments, the side walls 206, 210, 204, and 208 in combination with the bottom wall 212 may collectively define the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. As discussed below, the internal volume 214 may be open, e.g., the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may omit an upper wall or top wall, in order to promote evaporation of liquid (meltwater from the evaporator 70) in the auxiliary evaporation tray 202.
In some embodiments, the water trap 216 may be defined within the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, e.g., between the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 and above the bottom wall 212 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. For example, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a first partition 218 and a second partition 220 within the internal volume 214. Thus, the water trap 216 may be defined by and between the first and second partitions 218 and 220 and two adjacent side walls of the plurality of side walls, such as the right wall 208 and the rear wall 210, as in the illustrated embodiment.
In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the meltwater conduit 200 may extend into the water trap 216. For example, as best seen in FIG. 7, the meltwater conduit 200 may terminate at a downstream end 201, and the downstream end 201 of the meltwater conduit 200 may be positioned within the water trap 216. In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 4, the meltwater conduit 200 may include a fitting, such as the elbow fitting illustrated in the example embodiments of FIG. 4, upstream of the water trap 216 in order to align the downstream end 201 (FIG. 7) of the meltwater conduit 200 with the water trap 216. In other embodiments, the meltwater conduit 200 may omit any such fittings, for example, the meltwater conduit 200 may extend generally in a continuous and uninterrupted straight line from the evaporator 70 to the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. Thus, when meltwater flows through the meltwater conduit 200 and into the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, the meltwater first enters the water trap 216 and a predetermined amount of water, e.g., up to the height of the first partition 218 and/or second partition 220, is retained within the water trap 216 while the remainder of the meltwater or any additional meltwater flows over the top of the first partition 218 and/or second partition 220 and into the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. The predetermined amount of water that is retained in the water trap 216 may be defined in part by the height of the first partition 218 and/or the second partition 220, e.g., whichever is lower in embodiments where the heights are unequal, or of both when the heights are equal. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the height of the first partition 218 and the second partition 220, or the height of the shorter of the two, may be selected such that the downstream end 201 of the meltwater conduit 200 is below the top of the first partition 218 and the second partition 220, whereby the downstream end 201 may remain submerged in order to reduce or prevent air entering the meltwater conduit 200.
In particular, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may define a height along the vertical direction V, and the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 may be equal to the height of every other sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208, e.g., as may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 7. In such embodiments, one or both of the first partition 218 and the second partition 220 may define a second height along the vertical direction V, and the second height may be less than the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208. Thus, meltwater may overflow the water trap 216 as described while also being retained within the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 by the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208.
When the meltwater reaches the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, e.g., the remainder of the internal volume 214 outside of the water trap 216, the meltwater may be retained in the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 until the meltwater reaches an overflow conduit 222. For example, the overflow conduit 222 may extend generally along the vertical direction V and may extend through the bottom wall 212 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. In particular, the overflow conduit 222 may extend from an inlet end 224 within the internal volume 214 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202, above the bottom wall 212 and below the tops of the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 to an outlet end 226 outside of, e.g., below, the internal volume 214 and/or below the bottom wall 212 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202.
As generally illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may include a plurality of legs 228 which extend from the bottom wall 212 and/or sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202. In the illustrated example embodiment, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 includes three legs 228, one extending from the left sidewall 204 and two extending from the right sidewall 208. In other embodiments, different numbers and/or locations of legs 228 may be provided, e.g., four legs 228 or more, or two legs 228 on the left side and one leg 228 on the right side, etc. As illustrated, in some embodiments, the legs 228 extend generally along the vertical direction V such that the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be spaced apart from, e.g., above, the primary evaporation tray 302. In some embodiments, the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 may be positioned within the primary evaporation tray 302, e.g., lowermost ends of the legs 228 may be received within the primary evaporation tray 302, such that the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 is positioned partially within and partially above the primary evaporation tray 302. Thus, meltwater may flow by gravity from the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 to the primary evaporation tray 302.
For example, the meltwater may flow from the auxiliary tray 202 via the overflow conduit 222 to the primary evaporation tray 302. As may be seen, e.g., in FIGS. 5 and 7, when meltwater within the internal volume 214 reaches a level at and/or above the inlet end 224 of the overflow conduit 222, the meltwater will flow into the overflow conduit 222, then flow by gravity to the outlet end 226 of the overflow conduit 222 and from the outlet end 226 of the overflow conduit 222 to the primary evaporation tray 302 (FIG. 7).
As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the internal volume 214 of the evaporation tray 202 may be open at the top of the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 to allow contact between liquid, e.g., meltwater, stored or retained in the internal volume 214 and air over and around the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 to promote evaporation of the liquid (e.g., meltwater). For example, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the refrigerator appliance 100 may, in some embodiments, include an evaporation fan 300 which urges air around and over the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 and the primary evaporation tray 302 to further promote evaporation of meltwater from the evaporation trays 202 and 302.
In some embodiments, the plurality of sidewalls 206, 210, 204, and 208 may include an angled sidewall which is oriented at an angle that is oblique to, e.g., the vertical direction V and/or the transverse direction T. For example, as may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the rear wall 210 may be oriented at an oblique angle to the vertical direction V. The rear wall 210 may, in such embodiments, extend back and down. Thus, when the auxiliary evaporation tray 202 is installed within refrigerator appliance 100 as illustrated in FIG. 7, the angled sidewall, e.g., rear wall 210, may direct or divert air flow from the evaporation fan 300 to or towards the primary evaporation tray 302, and meltwater retained therein.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a food storage chamber;

an evaporator in fluid communication with the food storage chamber whereby cool dry air flows from the evaporator to the food storage chamber and warm humid air flows to the evaporator from the food storage chamber;

a meltwater conduit in fluid communication with the evaporator downstream of the evaporator whereby the meltwater conduit receives a flow of meltwater from the evaporator;

an auxiliary evaporation tray immediately downstream of the meltwater conduit whereby the auxiliary evaporation tray receives the flow of meltwater directly from the meltwater conduit; and

a primary evaporation tray downstream of the auxiliary evaporation tray.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a water trap.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein a downstream end of the meltwater conduit is located within the water trap.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively defining an internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray, and wherein the water trap is defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the partition wall is a first partition wall, and wherein the water trap is defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by the first partition wall, a second partition wall, and two side walls of the plurality of side walls.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls defines a height along the vertical direction, wherein the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is equal to the height of every other sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the partition wall defines a second height along the vertical direction, and wherein the second height of the partition wall is less than the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising an overflow conduit extending from the auxiliary evaporation tray to the primary evaporation tray.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a bottom wall, the overflow conduit comprises an inlet end above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray along the vertical direction, and the overflow conduit extends downward along the vertical direction from the inlet end through the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray and to an outlet end below the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a water trap defined within an internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall, the inlet end of the overflow conduit positioned within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray and outside of the water trap, wherein the partition wall defines a height above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray and the height of the partition wall above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray is greater than a distance along the vertical direction from the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray to the inlet end of the overflow conduit.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls, wherein an angled side wall of the plurality of side walls is oriented at an oblique angle to the vertical direction.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the primary evaporation tray is below the auxiliary evaporation tray along the vertical direction, and wherein the angled side wall of the plurality of side walls is proximate to and oriented towards a fan of the refrigerator appliance, whereby the angled side wall of the plurality of side walls directs a flow of air from the fan towards the primary evaporation tray.

12. An auxiliary evaporation tray for a refrigerator appliance, the auxiliary evaporation tray defining a vertical direction, the auxiliary evaporation tray configured to receive a flow of meltwater directly from a meltwater conduit of the refrigerator appliance tray system, and configured for positioning upstream of a primary evaporation tray of the refrigerator appliance.

13. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary evaporation tray comprises a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively defining an internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray, and a water trap is defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall.

14. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 13, wherein the partition wall is a first partition wall, and wherein the water trap is defined within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by the first partition wall, a second partition wall, and two side walls of the plurality of side walls.

15. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 13, wherein each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls defines a height along the vertical direction, wherein the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is equal to the height of every other sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the partition wall defines a second height along the vertical direction, and wherein the second height of the partition wall is less than the height of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

16. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, further comprising an overflow conduit configured to extend from the auxiliary evaporation tray to the primary evaporation tray.

17. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 16, further comprising a bottom wall, wherein the overflow conduit comprises an inlet end above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray along the vertical direction, and the overflow conduit extends downward along the vertical direction from the inlet end through the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray and to an outlet end below the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray.

18. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 17, further comprising a water trap defined within an internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray by a partition wall, the inlet end of the overflow conduit positioned within the internal volume of the auxiliary evaporation tray and outside of the water trap, wherein the partition wall defines a height above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray and the height of the partition wall above the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray is greater than a distance along the vertical direction from the bottom wall of the auxiliary evaporation tray to the inlet end of the overflow conduit

19. The auxiliary evaporation tray of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of side walls, wherein an angled side wall of the plurality of side walls is oriented at an oblique angle to the vertical direction.