ICE MAKING SYSTEM WITH SANITIZING FEATURES
An ice making system includes an ice maker configured to form ice pieces therein with a top reservoir upstream of the ice maker and an ice bucket in communication with the ice maker. The ice making system also includes a recirculation tank and a recirculation pump. An oxidizing agent generator is configured to generate one or more oxidizing agents and provide the one or more oxidizing agents to form treated water within the ice making system.
The present subject matter relates generally to ice making systems and sanitizing features for such systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious appliances, such as refrigerator appliances or stand-alone ice maker appliances, include an ice making system. To produce ice, liquid water is directed to an ice maker of the ice making system and frozen. A variety of ice types can be produced depending upon the particular ice maker used. For example, certain ice makers include a mold body for receiving liquid water. An auger within the mold body can rotate and scrape ice off an inner surface of the mold body to form ice nuggets. Such ice makers are generally referred to as nugget style ice makers. Certain consumers prefer nugget style ice makers and their associated ice nuggets.
Ice nuggets are generally stored in an ice bucket at temperatures above the freezing temperature of liquid water to maintain a texture of the ice nuggets. When stored at temperatures above freezing, ice nuggets can melt and liquid water from melted ice nuggets can collect within the ice bucket. The liquid water is typically collected and recirculated through the system back to the ice maker for making additional ice. Recirculating the water, e.g., where the water remains within the ice making system for an extended period of time such as after melting and returning to the ice maker, may lead to biological contamination and biofilm formation over time.
Accordingly, an ice making system with features for removing or reducing microbes and other contaminants that may accumulate within the system, particularly in recirculated water within the system, would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAspects 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 one exemplary embodiment, an ice making system is provided. The ice making system includes an ice maker. The ice maker is configured to form ice pieces within the ice maker. The ice making system also includes a top reservoir upstream of the ice maker whereby the ice maker is configured to receive a flow of water from the top reservoir and to form the ice pieces from the received water from the top reservoir. The ice making system further includes an ice bucket defining a storage volume. The ice bucket is in communication with the ice maker whereby the ice bucket is configured to receive the ice pieces into the storage volume. The ice making system also includes a recirculation tank in fluid communication with the ice bucket whereby the recirculation tank is configured to receive melt water from the storage volume of the ice bucket and a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the recirculation tank and the top reservoir. The recirculation pump is configured to pump the melt water from the recirculation tank to the top reservoir. The ice making system also includes an oxidizing agent generator configured to generate one or more oxidizing agents and provide the one or more oxidizing agents to form treated water within the ice making system.
In another exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a housing defining a chilled chamber and an ice making system disposed within the housing. The ice making system includes an ice maker. The ice maker is configured to form ice pieces within the ice maker. The ice making system also includes a top reservoir upstream of the ice maker whereby the ice maker is configured to receive a flow of water from the top reservoir and to form the ice pieces from the received water from the top reservoir. The ice making system further includes an ice bucket defining a storage volume. The ice bucket is in communication with the ice maker whereby the ice bucket is configured to receive the ice pieces into the storage volume. The ice making system also includes a recirculation tank in fluid communication with the ice bucket whereby the recirculation tank is configured to receive melt water from the storage volume of the ice bucket and a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the recirculation tank and the top reservoir. The recirculation pump is configured to pump the melt water from the recirculation tank to the top reservoir. The ice making system also includes an oxidizing agent generator configured to generate one or more oxidizing agents and provide the one or more oxidizing agents to form treated water within the ice making system.
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.
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.
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. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In this regard, for example, 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, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” In addition, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “an embodiment” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows.
Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 120 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. Refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 are shown in the closed configuration in
Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a dispensing assembly 140 for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly 140 includes a dispenser 142 positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance 100, e.g., on one of doors 128. Dispenser 142 includes a discharging outlet 144 for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism 146, shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet 144 for operating dispenser 142. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser 142. For example, dispenser 142 can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A user interface panel 148 is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, user interface panel 148 includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice.
Discharging outlet 144 and actuating mechanism 146 are an external part of dispenser 142 and are mounted in a dispenser recess 150. Dispenser recess 150 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open doors 128. In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess 150 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.
An access door 166 is hinged to refrigerator door 128. Access door 166 permits selective access to sub-compartment 162. Any manner of suitable latch 168 is configured with sub-compartment 162 to maintain access door 166 in a closed position. As an example, latch 168 may be actuated by a consumer in order to open access door 166 for providing access into sub-compartment 162. Access door 166 can also assist with insulating sub-compartment 162, e.g., by thermally isolating or insulating sub-compartment 162 from fresh food chamber 122.
From ice bucket 164, the ice nuggets can enter dispensing assembly 140 and be accessed by a user as discussed above. In such a manner, ice making assembly 158 can produce or generate ice nuggets and supply the same to the dispensing assembly 140. For example, an agitator (not shown) may be disposed within the ice bucket 164 for urging ice nuggets from the ice bucket 164 to the dispensing outlet 144. A dispenser motor 182 may be in mechanical communication with, e.g., operatively coupled to, the dispenser agitator such that the dispenser motor 182 can drive the dispenser agitator to promote movement of ice nuggets from the ice bucket 164 to the dispensing outlet 144.
Referring again to
Operation of ice making assembly 158 is controlled by a processing device or controller 600, e.g., that may be operatively coupled to control panel 148 for user manipulation to select features and operations of ice making assembly 158. Controller 600 can operate various components of ice making assembly 158 to execute selected system cycles and features. For example, controller 600 is in operative communication with the dispenser motor 182, ice maker motor 174, fan 176 and heater 180. Thus, controller 600 can selectively activate and operate dispenser motor 182, ice maker motor 174, fan 176 and heater 180.
Controller 600 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of ice making assembly 158. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 600 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. Motor 174, fan 176 and heater 180 may be in communication with controller 600 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
Ice maker 160 also includes a temperature sensor 178. Temperature sensor 178 is configured for measuring a temperature of casing 170 and/or liquids, such as liquid water, within casing 170. Temperature sensor 178 can be any suitable device for measuring the temperature of casing 170 and/or liquids therein. For example, temperature sensor 178 may be a thermistor or a thermocouple. Controller 600 can receive a signal, such as a voltage or a current, from temperature sensor 178 that corresponds to the temperature of the temperature of casing 170 and/or liquids therein. In such a manner, the temperature of casing 170 and/or liquids therein can be monitored and/or recorded with controller 600.
As may be seen generally in
The ice making system 186 generally defines a water circulation path, at least a portion of which is a closed loop whereby at least a portion of water within the ice making system 186 recirculates through the system. The sanitizing system, e.g., oxidizing agent generator 200 and oxidizing agent injector 212, in embodiments which include the injector 212, treats the recirculated water in the closed loop portion of the ice making system 186. The sanitizing system treats the recirculated water by providing, e.g. generating and/or injecting, oxidizing agent to the recirculated water, thereby forming treated water. As shown in
In various embodiments, examples of which will be described in more detail below, the treated water may flow through the entire recirculation loop (closed loop portion) of the ice making system 186 or the one or more oxidizing agents may be at least partially removed from a portion of the recirculation loop by a filter 214, e.g., the filter 214 may reduce the concentration of the oxidizing agent(s) in the recirculated water, such as to zero or to below a threshold which is greater than zero, such as about one part per million (1 ppm) or less, such as about 0.5 ppm or less, such as about 0.4 ppm or less, such as between about 0.4 ppm and about 0.1 ppm. The filter 214 may be, for example, a carbon filter, e.g., may include a carbon filter media such as activated carbon, e.g., granular activated carbon or powdered activated carbon, etc.
Also, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that oxidizing agents discussed herein, e.g., reactive oxygen species, have a short residence time in water, whereby embodiments of the ice making system 186 that do not include the filter 214 provide water to the consumer, e.g., in the form of ice from ice maker 160, that includes acceptably low levels of the one or more oxidizing agents by treating the water with a small dose of oxidizing agents, whereby the oxidizing agents in the treated water will naturally decay to within or below the acceptable limits before reaching the consumer. The small dose of oxidizing agents may be about one milligram per liter (1 mg/L), e.g., one thousand micrograms per liter (1000 μg/L) or less, such as about 800 μg/L or less, such as about 600 μg/L or less, such as about 500 μg/L or less, such as about 400 μg/L or less. In particular, the small dose may be provided as part of a continuous treatment to prevent fouling or contamination within the ice making system 186, such as to prevent biofilm formation.
As mentioned above, the ice making system 186 generally defines a water flow path. As may be seen in
As mentioned, the recirculation loop flows through the tee 196. For example, as illustrated in
Referring now specifically to
Referring now specifically to
Still with reference to
Embodiments which do not include the filter 214, such as the exemplary embodiments illustrated in
Referring specifically to
In additional embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in
The sanitizing system according to the present disclosure provides several advantages which will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the sanitizing system may provide both continuous treatment of water flowing, e.g., recirculating, through the ice making system and higher dose, shock, treatment of the ice making system with a single sanitizing system and a single treatment point or injection point. Additionally, the sanitizing system and/or ice making system having sanitizing features or components as disclosed herein may also advantageously reduce or remove additional contaminants or undesired constituents from the recirculated water, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Accordingly, “sanitizing” is used herein to refer to removing any one or more of several possible contaminants from water, and is not necessarily limited to removing microbes or biofilms.
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
1. An ice making system, comprising:
- an ice maker configured to form ice pieces within the ice maker;
- a top reservoir upstream of the ice maker whereby the ice maker is configured to receive a flow of water from the top reservoir and to form the ice pieces from the received water from the top reservoir;
- an ice bucket defining a storage volume, the ice bucket in communication with the ice maker whereby the ice bucket is configured to receive the ice pieces into the storage volume;
- a recirculation tank in fluid communication with the ice bucket whereby the recirculation tank is configured to receive melt water from the storage volume of the ice bucket;
- a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the recirculation tank and the top reservoir, the recirculation pump configured to pump the melt water from the recirculation tank to the top reservoir; and
- an oxidizing agent generator configured to generate one or more oxidizing agents and provide the one or more oxidizing agents to form treated water within the ice making system.
2. The ice making system of claim 1, further comprising an oxidizing agent injector coupled to the oxidizing agent generator, wherein the oxidizing agent injector is configured to inject the one or more oxidizing agents into the treated water.
3. The ice making system of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the top reservoir.
4. The ice making system of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the recirculation tank.
5. The ice making assembly of claim 1, further comprising an oxidizing agent reduction filter configured to reduce a concentration of the one or more oxidizing agents in water flowing through the oxidizing agent reduction filter.
6. The ice making assembly of claim 5, wherein the oxidizing agent reduction filter is between the top reservoir and the ice maker, whereby the oxidizing agent reduction filter is configured to reduce the concentration of the one or more oxidizing agents in the flow of water from the top reservoir.
7. The ice making assembly of claim 5, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the recirculation tank.
8. The ice making assembly of claim 5, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the top reservoir.
9. The ice making system of claim 1, further comprising an ion exchange filter, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is downstream of the ion exchange filter.
10. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a housing defining a chilled chamber;
- an ice making system disposed within the housing, the ice making system comprising: an ice maker configured to form ice pieces within the ice maker; a top reservoir upstream of the ice maker whereby the ice maker is configured to receive a flow of water from the top reservoir and to form the ice pieces from the received water from the top reservoir; an ice bucket defining a storage volume, the ice bucket in communication with the ice maker to receive the ice pieces into the storage volume; a recirculation tank in fluid communication with the ice bucket whereby the recirculation tank is configured to receive melt water from the storage volume of the ice bucket; a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the recirculation tank and the top reservoir, the recirculation pump configured to pump the melt water from the recirculation tank to the top reservoir; and an oxidizing agent generator configured to generate one or more oxidizing agents and provide the one or more oxidizing agents to form treated water within the ice making system.
11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, further comprising an oxidizing agent injector coupled to the oxidizing agent generator, wherein the oxidizing agent injector is configured to inject the one or more oxidizing agents into the treated water.
12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the top reservoir.
13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the recirculation tank.
14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, further comprising an oxidizing agent reduction filter configured to reduce a concentration of the one or more oxidizing agents in water flowing through the oxidizing agent reduction filter.
15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein the oxidizing agent reduction filter is between the top reservoir and the ice maker, whereby the oxidizing agent reduction filter is configured to reduce the concentration of the one or more oxidizing agents in the flow of water from the top reservoir.
16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the recirculation tank.
17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is immediately upstream of the top reservoir.
18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, further comprising an ion exchange filter, wherein the oxidizing agent generator is downstream of the ion exchange filter.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 11, 2021
Publication Date: Dec 15, 2022
Inventors: Gregory Sergeevich Chernov (Louisville, KY), Habib Baydoun (Dearborn Heights, MI)
Application Number: 17/345,374