REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING HIGH CAPACITY ICE MAKER

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an ice service refrigerator comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an evaporator. The ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle. The refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. The refrigerator also comprises circuitry including the controller for closing the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making. The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice maker in which the ice harvesting cycles can be mold temperature initiated and wherein an increase in temperature applied to the ice maker mold during the harvesting cycle aids in the release and discharge of ice pieces therefrom. While automatic ice makers are usually provided in automatic refrigerators which also require means for cooling the evaporator to cool a food preservation compartment, the controls for timing and controlling the cooling operation of the refrigeration system have been separate from the controls for initiating and timing the ice maker in its ice harvesting cycles.

There are problems with existing ice makers, namely, low capacity and very cold air necessary to freeze water that typically requires placing the ice maker in the freezer compartment, or if in the fresh food compartment moving cold air with a special duct from the freezer. Additionally, heat (i.e. hot air) introduced at freezer evaporator defrost can cause previously harvested ice to fuse together.

Capacity issues, that is, rate of ice cube formation issues, addressed heretofore have included an airflow increase and/or an increase of the ice maker dimensions. Additional fans and damper ducts have also been installed.

Typical ice makers can include a body where water is freezing into ice having a top surface with several indentations, for example of crescent shape to freeze and store the crescent shape ice piece. The body can be made from conductive material. A rotating rake can be provided for removing ice pieces from the body. The ice maker can further include an electrical motor and a water supply system.

SUMMARY

An ice maker according to the present disclosure, to be described in more detail hereinafter, can provide high ice capacity, and be located in any place inside of freezer or fresh food compartment or ice machine. The ice maker can considerably reduce the occupied volume compared to existing ice makers and enables ice making concurrent with refrigerator cool down.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a refrigerator appliance comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an evaporator. The ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle. The refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. The refrigerator also comprises circuitry including the controller for closing the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making. The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an automatic high capacity ice service refrigerator comprising a below-freezing storage compartment containing an ice maker and a first ice storage receptacle having a first capacity and a second ice storage receptacle having a second capacity. The ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle including successive steps of discharging ice pieces from the mold and supplying water to the mold after ejection of the ice pieces. The ice service refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The ice maker coil includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. Circuitry is provided including the controller for closing the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making. The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising conducting refrigerant selectively through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The compartment is a food preservation compartment containing at least one evaporator. The method further provides for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle wherein the ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. The method further selectively connects the compressor output to the condenser for conducting the refrigerant to the ice maker coil through the conduit and the second valve in an ice making mode, and selectively connects the compressor output to the ice maker coil and the at least one evaporator for conducting the refrigerant to the ice maker coil through the conduit and the first valve in an ice harvesting mode. The method further provides for the closing of the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making and compartment cooling; and, opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting and compartment cooling.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising conducting refrigerant selectively in one direction, during an ice making mode, through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a cap tube, and an ice maker coil, and back to the compressor. A fan circulates air over the ice maker coil, then acting as an evaporator, the air is chilled thereby providing cooling to an ice storage receptacle and to the compartment. The method further provides for conducting refrigerant selectively in another direction, during an ice harvesting mode, through the refrigeration system including the ice maker coil and the evaporator, the cap tube, the compressor, without circulating air over the ice maker coil. When refrigerant is conducted in this direction, the ice maker coil acts as a condenser, removing heat from the refrigerant which is used to heat the mold to release the ice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice making/cooling according to a first arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting/cooling according to the first arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice making/cooling according to a second arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the dual evaporator refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting/cooling according to the second arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice making/freezer cooling according to a third arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting/fresh food cooling according to the third arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during fresh food cooling according to the third arrangement;

FIG. 8 illustrates certain components of an ice maker of the type employed in the practice of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an evaporator coil surrounding an ice maker body;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of an evaporator coil surrounding an ice maker body of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice making/compartment cooling according to a fourth arrangement;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting according to the fourth arrangement;

FIG. 13 displays one version of a selectively increased capacity storage container for ice; and,

FIG. 14 displays another version of a selectively increased capacity storage container for ice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In existing ice makers, ice is built with cold air flowing around the ice maker. The ice making rate, or capacity, of these ice makers is low and typically a special heater is required to harvest ice. The schematics to be described hereinafter, of the present disclosure offer a way to freeze water and harvest ice without any additional heater.

With particular reference to the drawings, a refrigerator can comprise a rectangular cabinet (not shown) including insulated outer walls and a partition dividing the cabinet into a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment in side-by-side, or other, relationship. The access openings to these compartments are respectively closed by suitable doors including a freezer compartment door.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit is displayed showing a single evaporator sealed system 10 according to a first embodiment. The schematics shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 demonstrate the flow of refrigerant 16. In particular, during the ice making/cooling operation (FIG. 1), a valve 12 can be closed while a valve 14 remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 16 flows from the compressor 18 through a condenser or refrigerant liquefier 20, a cap tube or expansion device 22, an ice maker coil 24 via a conduit or flow line 25, valve 14, a freezer evaporator 26, and then back to the compressor 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, during an ice harvesting/cooling operation for the single evaporator system 10, valve 14 can be closed while valve 12 remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 16 flows from the compressor 18, through valve 12, through the ice maker 24, a cap tube 28, freezer evaporator 26, and then back to the compressor 18 bypassing condenser 20. For ice making, the ice maker coil acts as an evaporator absorbing heat from the mold partially and, evaporating the condensed relatively cold coolant as it passes through it. For ice harvesting, the ice maker coil acts as a condenser extracting heat from the relatively warm coolant which heats the mold to release the ice therein.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a dual evaporated sealed system 30 is therein shown in schematic representation according to a second embodiment. During an ice making/cooling operation, a valve 32 can be closed while a pair of valves 33, 34 remains open. It is to be appreciated that valve 33 is a three way valve. Valve 33 can have up to four positions, i.e. open to all directions, open to one direction, open to another direction, and closed to all directions. Refrigerant 36 flows from a compressor 38 through a condenser 40, valve 33, a cap tube 42, an ice maker coil 24, valve 34, a freezer evaporator 46, and then back to compressor 38. During an ice harvesting/cooling operation, as shown in FIG. 4, valve 34 can be closed while valve 32 remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 36 flows from the compressor 38 through valve 32, ice maker coil 24, a cap tube 48, freezer evaporator 46, and then back to the compressor 38, bypassing condenser 40. For ice making, the ice maker coil acts as an evaporator absorbing heat from the mold partially evaporating the condensed relatively cold coolant as it passes through it; and, for ice harvesting, the ice maker coil acts as a condenser extracting heat from the relatively warm coolant which heats the mold to release the ice therein.

A dual evaporator system 60, as shown in FIGS. 5-7 according to a third embodiment illustrates the refrigerant flow for various, ice making/harvesting and an associated freezer cooling or fresh food cooling modes of operation As illustrated in the schematic of FIG. 5, during an ice production or ice making and freezer compartment cooling operation, refrigerant 66 can flow from a compressor 68 through a condenser 70, a three way valve 63, a cap tube 72, ice maker 24, valve 64, a freezer evaporator 76, and then back to the compressor 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, during an ice harvesting and fresh food compartment cooling operation refrigerant 66 flows from the compressor 68, through valve 62, ice maker 24, a cap tube 80, a fresh food evaporator 82, and then back to the compressor 68, bypassing condenser 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the three way valve 63 and valve 64 are closed

As illustrated in FIG. 7, during a fresh food compartment cooling operation refrigerant 66 flows from the compressor 68, to condenser 70, valve 63, cap tube 80, fresh food evaporator 82, and then back to the compressor 68. As shown, valve 62 is closed. A check valve 92 prevents flow of refrigerant 66 through conduit line portion 90 and freezer evaporator 76. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 66 flows via the condenser 70 to the fresh food evaporator 82 which provides cooling to the fresh food compartment without any ice making or ice harvesting.

It is to be appreciated that the above described embodiments provide an automatic ice service refrigerator which eliminates the use of electric mold heating means and separate defrost heating means and provides for complete control of both the ice maker and the refrigeration system through refrigeration and defrost cycles by means of a common controller or system associated with the ice maker. It is to be appreciated that the harvesting of ice, as described above, does not include an electrical heater, or any other type of heater.

In both the single and dual evaporator refrigerators (FIGS. 1-7), ice can be built and harvested with a refrigeration coil of the sealed system, namely the ice maker coil

As described above, the disclosure provides an ice service refrigerator comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an evaporator. The ice maker can include a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle. As discussed above, the refrigerator generally comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship.

Regular ice machines with water flowing on the ice making surface require either a drain to drain not frozen water or a special pump to recirculate water. Ice drops in an ice storage receptacle that is relatively warm causing thawed water which is either drained or pumped back to make new ice. Thus, existing ice machines can be inefficient either consuming large water quantities or making poor quality ice (from recirculating water).

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator can also comprise circuitry including the controller (not illustrated) for closing the first valve 12 to conduct refrigerant 16 through the condenser 20, the ice maker coil 24, and the at least one evaporator 26 during the ice making (i.e. FIG. 1). The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve 12 and closing the second valve 14 to conduct refrigerant 16 through the ice maker coil 24 and the at least one evaporator 26 during the ice harvesting (i.e. FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, an ice maker assembly including ice maker coil 24 is therein illustrated. Ice maker coil 24 attached to an ice maker mold 102 and further includes a heat exchange relationship with an ice maker body 104. Ice can be built with cooling capacity provided for the ice maker mold 102 by ice maker coil 24 attached or molded in the ice maker body 104 (FIG. 8). It is to be appreciated that the coil can be formed in conjunction with the mold body (FIG. 8-10) or can be part of the refrigerant flow tubing (FIG. 1-7). The ice maker coil can function as either an evaporator or condenser coil depending on the operating mode. As hereinbefore described during the ice making or ice building process, refrigerant from the condenser flows through ice maker coil 24 and a refrigeration evaporator(s) and back to the compressor section (FIGS. 1, 3, and 5). During harvesting operation the main condenser is bypassed and ice maker coil 24 acting as a condenser receives relatively hot gaseous refrigerant from the compressor which warms ice maker mold 102 to facilitate the ice harvesting. The refrigerant flows from the ice maker coil to a cap tube, and expands and evaporates in one of the refrigeration evaporators, providing cooling to the fresh food compartment and/or freezing compartment during the ice harvesting cycle (FIGS. 2, 4, and 6). Thus, high capacity ice makers can be installed in either single or multiple evaporator refrigerators allowing ice making and ice harvesting while providing cooling to the refrigeration and/or freezing compartments.

As shown in FIGS. 8-10, coil 24 can be attached to the ice maker mold 102 transferring freezing capacity directly through the mold 102 to the water contained in the ice maker mold 102. FIGS. 9 and 10 display one exemplary arrangement wherein the coil 24 surrounds the sides and bottom of the ice maker mold 102. In addition, as best shown in FIG. 8, an outer mold 104 can be assembled wherein the evaporating coil 24 is sandwiched between the outer mold 104 and the ice maker body 102. FIG. 10 displays the ice maker body 102 with coil 24 before the coil has been molded in. FIG. 8 displays the ice maker body 102 with the coil 24 molded into the ice maker mold. Alternatively, outer mold 104 can include a series of apertures or channels therethrough to allow flow of refrigerant around ice maker body 102 (not illustrated). This arrangement can obviate the need for coil 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternative arrangement 110 for ice production in association with compartment cooling is therein shown. For an ice maker positioned inside a fresh food compartment, the ice maker along with its coil can act as the evaporator for the entire fresh food compartment. This arrangement 110 can be particularly advantageous for a small refrigerator (i.e., dormitory refrigerator or bar refrigerator with an ice maker).

Referring to FIG. 11, the schematic illustrates the operating mode for ice building (making) and compartment cooling. Namely, refrigerant 116 flows through a compressor 118, built in wall condenser 131, a cap tube 122, and an ice maker coil 124 or equivalent fluid flow path formed in the ice maker mold, and recirculated back to the compressor 118. As shown in FIG. 11, a cooling fan 125 (via motor M) can be turned on forcing air 127 over the ice maker coil 124 thereby chilling the air 129 and providing cooling to the ice storage 119 and/or refrigeration compartment.

FIG. 12, illustrates the ice harvesting operating mode. In this mode the flow of refrigerant 116 is reversed wherein the refrigerant 116 flows through the ice maker coil 124 (that now works as condenser), cap tube 122, built in wall coil 131, through the compressor 118 and back again. During the ice harvesting, the cooling fan 125 is off.

It is to be appreciated that an ice maker 124 with a coil for receiving refrigerant attached or molded into the ice maker body can provide increased ice capacity and with developed surface of the ice maker body (FIGS. 8-10) and fan 125 flowing air across this body, will provide cooling to an ice storage 119 and/or refrigeration compartment.

The ice maker 124 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can include a regular multi cube ice maker with a rake to remove cubes and an evaporating coil that is a part of a refrigeration circuit and attached or molded into or otherwise coupled to the ice maker body in heat exchange relationship, to provide cooling capacity to freeze water (not illustrated). Ice maker body and/or the evaporating coil can have a developed surface to enhance heat transfer from the evaporating coil to air 127 pumping around ice maker body by fan 125. This air 127 provides cooling capacity either to ice storage 119 or to refrigerated compartment or to both (FIG. 11). The arrangement 110 further includes compressor 118, regular condenser coil or hot wall condenser 131, a 4-way reversing valve 33 to switch compressor 118 discharge and suction to harvest ice (FIG. 12), a control system that can stop the fan 125 either when ice storage/refrigerating compartment reaches required temperature or during ice harvesting.

Existing ice makers in refrigerators having relatively low and/or fixed ice capacity can satisfy typical everyday needs. In case of parties or outdoor events (i.e. high volume demand), the fixed ice capacity/production is not enough and results in either use of special ice machines or buying ice from the grocery stores in 5-10 lb. bags.

Having a high capacity ice maker to build large amounts of ice (as described above) can include a much larger volume of ice storage to accommodate the larger volume ice production.

The aforementioned problems have not existed heretofore because low capacity ice makers don't require large ice storage. The present disclosure considers increased ice storage capacity to store ice from high capacity ice makers 10, for example.

The present disclosure provides two ways (FIGS. 13-14) to increase ice storage capacity. FIG. 13 displays an alternative arrangement 210 for increased ice storage. As displayed, an ice bin 212 receiving ice I from ice maker 224 can have a slot 214 in the bottom that can be kept closed or open, depending on the ice usage. A pan 213 under the bin can be used either for food storage when the ice bucket slot 214 is closed, or as additional ice storage when the slot 214 is open. The ice bin 212 can be equipped with slides, hinges, etc. for a door 215 to close or open the bottom slot 214. FIG. 13 displays one exemplary embodiment of a large ice storage receptacle 210 wherein an ice storage (i.e. auger) bin 212 includes a selectively mountable pan or bucket 213 that can be mounted under the selectively openable bin 212.

FIG. 14 displays an alternative arrangement 310 for increased ice storage wherein a larger volume second ice bucket 313, mounted to receive ice I from ice maker 224 can be selectively mounted to replace the first ice bin 212 shown in FIG. 13. In this arrangement, a shelf under the regular ice bucket can be used for storing frozen food. The larger ice bucket 313 can selectively replace the regular storage bin 212, thus, considerably increasing the ice storage volume. In both embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, ice I can be scooped out from ice storage bucket 213, 313 or the storage bucket 213, 313 itself can be removed from the refrigerator.

While there has been shown and described what is believed to be several embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle;

an ice maker;

a food preservation compartment containing at least one evaporator;

said ice maker including a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold;

a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve flow restrictor, a second valve flow restrictor, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship;

said ice maker coil arranged in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold;

said conduit including said first valve for selectively connecting the compressor output to said condenser for conducting refrigerant to said ice maker coil;

said conduit including said second valve for selectively connecting said ice maker coil and said at least one evaporator;

said controller being operative to close said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making cycle; and,

said controller being operative to open said first valve and close said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting cycle.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein during said ice harvesting cycle, said refrigerant flows to said second cap tube, expands and evaporates in said at least one evaporator for cooling down of said compartment.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein ice maker includes an outer mold having channels therethrough in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold.

4. An automatic ice service refrigerator comprising:

a storage compartment containing an ice maker;

said ice maker including a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold;

a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle including successive steps of discharging ice pieces from the mold and supplying water to said mold after ejection of the ice pieces;

a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship;

said ice maker coil in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold;

said conduit, said first valve, and said second valve being operatively arranged for selective fluid communication of compressor output to said condenser for conducting refrigerant to said ice maker coil;

said controller being operative to close said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making cycle; and,

said controller being operative to open said first valve and close said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting cycle.

5. The automatic ice service refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said ice maker stores a first ice capacity when a first ice storage receptacle is retained therewith and said ice maker stores a second ice capacity when a second ice receptacle is retained therewith.

6. The automatic ice service refrigerator according to claim 5, said second ice storage receptacle is interchangeable with said first ice storage receptacle and said second ice capacity is greater than said first ice capacity.

7. The automatic ice service refrigerator according to claim 5, said first ice storage receptacle is selectively openable to said second ice storage receptacle for combining said first ice capacity and said second ice capacity.

8. The automatic ice service refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said controller is a thermostat.

9. A method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising:

conducting refrigerant selectively through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship, wherein the compartment is a food preservation compartment containing said at least one evaporator;

periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle wherein said ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold and a controller, wherein said ice maker coil attached to said ice maker mold includes a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold;

selectively connecting the compressor output to said condenser for conducting said refrigerant to said ice maker coil through said conduit and said second valve flow restrictor in an ice making mode;

selectively connecting the compressor output to said ice maker coil and said at least one evaporator for conducting said refrigerant to said ice maker coil through said conduit and said first valve in an ice harvesting mode;

closing said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making and compartment cooling; and,

opening said first valve and closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said food preservation compartment is a freezer compartment and said at least one evaporator is a freezer evaporator.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said food preservation compartment is a fresh food compartment and said at least one evaporator is a fresh food evaporator for cooling down of said fresh food compartment.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said food preservation compartment is selectively a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment and said at least one evaporator is selectively a fresh food evaporator or a freezer evaporator for cooling down of said freezer compartment.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

conducting refrigerant selectively through the refrigeration system including a three way valve, a third cap tube, and at least another evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship; and,

opening said first valve and closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, one of said cap tubes, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

conducting refrigerant selectively through the refrigeration system including a third valve, a check valve, and at least another evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship; and,

opening said first valve while closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said check valve, one of said cap tubes, and at least another evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein said third valve is a multiple way valve for conducting said refrigerant selectively through said ice maker coil and selectively through said at least one evaporator during said ice making and selectively through said at least another evaporator during said ice harvesting.

16. A method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising:

conducting refrigerant selectively in one direction, during an ice making mode, through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a cap tube, and an ice maker coil, and back to said compressor;

circulating air over said ice maker coil, wherein said ice maker coil is in heat exchange relationship with an ice maker body, thereby

chilling said air and providing cooling to an ice storage area and said compartment; and,

conducting refrigerant selectively in another direction, during an ice harvesting mode, through said refrigeration system including said ice maker coil and said evaporator, said cap tube, said condenser, said compressor, without circulating air.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein during ice harvesting said flow of said refrigerant is through said ice maker coil, wherein said ice maker coil functions as a condenser.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said compartment is a fresh food compartment and said evaporator is a fresh food evaporator.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

Interchanging a first ice storage receptacle with a second ice storage receptacle for increasing ice storage volume therein.