Abstract: An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray having at least one ice forming compartment. The ice forming compartment includes (i) a first planar lateral side surface, (ii) a second planar lateral side surface, and (iii) an arcuate bottom surface between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface are positioned relative to each other so that (i) the first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from the second planar lateral side surface at a downstream end of the ice forming compartment by a distance D1 relative to the ejection path of movement, (ii) the first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from the second planar lateral side surface at an upstream end of the ice forming compartment by a distance D2 relative to the ejection path of movement, and (iii) D2 is greater than D1.

Abstract: An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray having an ice forming compartment, a water line configured to advance water from a water source to the ice tray, a valve operable to selectively block advancement of water through the water line while an actuation signal is generated, a control system operable to generate the actuation signal for a water advancement period, a water level detection system for determining if a level of water in the ice forming compartment is below a threshold value and generating a control signal in response thereto. The control system is further operable to alter a magnitude of the water advancement period in response to generation of the control signal. Water is initially advanced into the ice forming compartment for a first period of time during a first ice making cycle by opening the valve.

Abstract: A water control system for an ice maker includes a capacitive sensor located within a compartment of an ice tray in an ice maker. The capacitive sensor generates a water fill signal corresponding to dielectric changes in the sensor as water fills the compartment of the ice tray. A controller coupled to the sensor generates a water valve control signal in response to the water fill signal received from the capacitive sensor. The controller may initiate a water fill cycle and then close the water valve in response to the water fill signal indicating a change in dielectric caused by the rising water reaching an electrode of the capacitive sensor. Thus, the system of the present invention enables the controller to accurately control the flow of water into the ice tray without reference to a predetermined fill time.

Abstract: A method and device for making ice is disclosed. The icemaker assembly comprises an ice tray and an ice ejector. The ice tray has at least (i) a first ice forming compartment defining a first space, and (ii) a second ice forming compartment defining a second space. The ice ejector is positionable at a first position and a second position. The ice ejector has at least (i) a first ejector member, and (ii) a second ejector member. When the ice ejector is positioned at the first position, (i) the first ejector member is positioned in the first space and in contact with a first quantity of water, (ii) the second ejector member is positioned in the second space and in contact with a second quantity of water, and (iii) the first quantity of water is positioned in fluid communication with the second quantity of water.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Abstract: A timer for controlling an appliance includes a bell chime assembly having a striker, a torsion spring, and a bell. The striker is secured to the torsion spring. The timer further includes a cam follower operatively coupled to the torsion spring. The cam follower is operatively associated with a cam assembly which includes a first cam and a second cam. The first cam and the second cam are configured such that during manual setting of the timer, the torsion spring is prevented from deflecting by an amount sufficient to cause the striker to contact the bell whereby relatively quiet manual setting of the timer is enabled.

Abstract: An apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer is disclosed. The apparatus has an appliance control cam which has a first cam surface defined on a first side thereof and a second cam surface defined on a second side thereof. The apparatus includes a rocker arm positionable between a first cam reading mode of operation and a first idle mode of operation. The rocker arm contacts the first cam surface when the rocker arm is positioned in the first cam reading mode of operation. The rocker arm is spaced apart from the first cam surface when the rocker arm is positioned in the first idle mode of operation. The apparatus also includes a cam follower arm positionable between a second cam reading mode of operation and a second idle mode of operation. The cam follower arm contacts the second cam surface when the cam follower arm is positioned in the second cam reading mode of operation.

Abstract: An appliance timer includes a motor, a first gear assembly which is mechanically coupled to the motor, and a second gear assembly which is also mechanically coupled to the motor. The appliance timer further includes a cam which is driven by (1) the first gear assembly during a first period of time, and (2) the second gear assembly during a second period of time. The cam is decoupled from the first and second gear assemblies during a third period of time. The cam is rotated at a first speed during the first period of time, at a second speed during the second period of time, and is stopped during the third period of time. A method of operating an appliance timer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A household appliance operated by electromechanical controls has a control console that contains a light source to project light onto selected portions of a plastic control console faceplate to illuminate data such as appliance functions and control settings. Data on the control console plastic faceplate can be illuminated upon the occurrance of a predetermined event and in different colors. Control knobs carry a plastic disk that has illuminated data, a clear selection window, and a translucent portion which aligns with illuminated data on the plastic control console faceplate.

Abstract: A housing that includes a cup shaped member and a cover carries a printed circuit board through a plurality of posts. Openings in the housing permit lead wires to be fed to the printed circuit board. The lead wires are leak tightly sealed in the openings by way of shouldered plugs which carry the lead wires. The plugs are sealed with respect to the housing through pliable sealing rings and E-rings secure the plug axially at their shoulders. Locator tabs insure that the plugs engage the openings in a proper orientation. The cover of the housing is sealed with respect to the cup shaped member through a sealing ring carried in a groove of the cup shaped member with pressure being applied through an interference fit with the ring. A leak tight window in the housing permits viewing from the outside. The shouldered plug holding the window is sealed with respect to the housing by a sealing ring and is held axially by the plug being threaded to the housing.

Abstract: A u-shaped timer housing body has a pair of elongated legs, a closed end, an open end, and a pair of open sides. There are a plurality of electrical switches, each switch including a pair of contacts, one of which comprises a terminal-switch blade combination passing through and secured to the closed end of the housing body. A cylindrical cam assembly, including a cam shaft, is rotatably supported by a pair of side panels, one end of the shaft mounted in a bearing in each of the panels. The panels and the housing body have a tongue and groove construction which permits the panels to be slid into the housing body along the legs, the panels closing the open sides and the cam assembly entering the housing through the open end, in a direction along a radius of the cam axis. A cover plate snaps onto the housing body, closing the open end and locking the panels and the cam assembly in place.

Abstract: An electromechanical timer includes a motor-driven cam, and electrical switches responsive to the cam supported in a housing. An array of rows and columns of electrical terminals are connected to the switches and extend from one end of the housing. First electrical busses of corrugated form fit into similarly shaped first channels parallel to each row of terminals and c-shaped second electrical busses fit into similarly shaped channels connecting the first channels and the terminals. The first and second busses are compressed between opposing walls of the first and second channels to provide a first bias force which holds the busses in place. The second busses are also compressed between their corresponding terminal and an opposing wall of the corresponding second channel to provide a second bias force in a direction perpendicular to the first bias force, which second bias force provides the force for electrically contacting the terminals.

Abstract: An electromechanical timer includes a motor-driven cam and electrical switches responsive to the cam supported in a housing. An array of rows and columns of electrical terminals are connected to the switches and extend from one end of the housing. First electrical busses of corrugated form fit into similarly shaped channels parallel to each row or column of terminals the corrugations being arranged so that the portions of the busses between the terminals is closer to a line passing through the row or column of terminals than the portion adjacent the terminals. Second C-shaped second busses fit into similarly shaped channels between the first busses and the terminals to connect the terminals to each other. The corrugated shape of the first channels and the C-shape of the second channels result in the air paths between a first bus and an adjacent terminal is not connected to it being three or more times as long as the straight-line distance between them.

Abstract: An appliance timer includes a motor-driven cam, a plurality of electrical switches responsive to the cam, and a plurality of electrical terminals electrically connected to the switches, all of which are supported in a housing. The terminals are arranged on one end of the housing in n rows, and bussing between the terminals is provided so that all terminals to which external electrical connection is to be made are in one of m rows, with m being less than n. An insulating maze structure is provided in the housing within which the terminals are mounted so that the air path distance between terminals connected to differing electrical polarities is greater than the straight line path. The terminals to be connected to are longer than the other terminals. A terminal cover is snapped onto the housing and covers all of the terminals in the rows other than the m rows while leaving the longer terminals in the m rows exposed for connection to an external connector.

Abstract: A timer includes a motor-driven cam, switches responsive to the cam, and terminals connected to the switches, all supported in a housing. The housing includes slots to receive the terminal blades and cavities communicating with the slots. The blades of the terminals include a notch with one side perpendicular to the axis of the blade to form a stop and the other side forming a first ramp at an acute angle to the perpendicular. The first ramp is bent out of the plane of the blade to form a second ramp. As a blade is inserted into a slot, the second ramp forces the first ramp into the plane of the blade as it passes through the slot. After passing through the slot, the first ramp snaps into the cavity along a scissoring intersection until the stop engages the housing, at which point the housing is gripped between the first ramp and the stop, thus securing the blade in the housing.

Abstract: A timing mechanism controls various functions of an ice maker through cams carried on a camshaft. A harvest rake that removes ice from a receptacle is coupled to the camshaft to be rotated thereby. The camshaft is driven by a motor which is coupled to the timing mechanism through a pair of non-circular meshing gears. The gears are programmed such that a slower speed is imparted to the camshaft when ice is being removed from the receptacle by the harvest rake. This provides a slower speed but higher torque to the harvest rake during ice removal and a faster, more accurate timing rate during filling of the receptacle.