Heat Absorber With Product Remover Patents (Class 62/353)
  • Patent number: 11971204
    Abstract: The refrigerator may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of ice-making cells; and a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice-making cells. In order that ice can be produced in the direction of ice-making cells formed by any One of the first and second tray assemblies to ice-making cells formed by the other tray assembly, following the start of an ice-making process, the one tray assembly comprises a first part, and the first part comprises: a first surface forming a part of the ice-making cells; and a first deformation-resistant reinforcement part extending from the first surface in the vertical direction away from a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11940196
    Abstract: The refrigerator may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of ice-making cells; and a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice-making cells. In order that ice can be produced in the direction of ice-making cells formed by any One of the first and second tray assemblies to ice-making cells formed by the other tray assembly, following the start of an ice-making process, the one tray assembly comprises a first part, and the first part comprises: a first surface forming a part of the ice-making cells; and a first deformation-resistant reinforcement part extending from the first surface in the vertical direction away from a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11898785
    Abstract: A refrigerator may include a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell, a second tray assembly forming another part of the ice making cell, heater provided adjacent to at least one of the first or second tray assemblies, a driver connected to the second tray assembly, and a control unit to control the heater and the driver. The driving unit includes a cam capable of being connected to the second tray assembly, and a path in which a lever moves is formed inside the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11859887
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or ice making assembly, as provided herein, may include a body and an ejector. The body may include an ice mold for receiving and freezing water. The ice mold may define a discrete first compartment and second compartment within which water freezes. The first compartment may define a first cube profile. The second compartment may be axially-spaced apart from the first compartment and define a second cube profile. The second cube profile may be different from the first cube profile. The ejector may be rotatably disposed above the first cube profile and the second cube profile to motivate ice from the first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Qianmao Zhou, Yayu Song, Bo Yan, Jianwu Li, Xiaoyang Jiang, Lixin Zhou, Jun Teng, Zhongyang Sun
  • Patent number: 11774155
    Abstract: An icemaker assembly includes a housing that defines a slot. A tray is operably coupled to the housing and defines a plurality of recesses. A duct is coupled to the housing and is disposed around the slot. The duct directs cool air along the tray. A fan is operably coupled to the housing at an acute angle relative to a planar extent of the tray. The fan and the duct evenly distribute cool air along the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Louis Sigmund, Kevin Yunong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11747070
    Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a water supply to supply an ice-making water. The ice maker also includes an ice making container to be filled with the ice-making water. The ice maker further includes a cooler to provide a chill to the ice-making water. The ice maker additionally includes a water supplying-ice separator including at least one ice separating rod and a water supplying shaft. The water supplying shaft includes a water passage therein and a plurality of outlets wherein the ice-making water is discharged through the plurality of outlets to the ice making container. The at least one ice separating rod is provided on the water supplying shaft. The ice maker also includes a driver configured to rotate the water supplying-ice separator. The ice maker additionally includes a controller to control the driver, so that the at least one ice separating rod separates the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moongyo Jung
  • Patent number: 11708547
    Abstract: A beverage maker may include a tank in which a fluid, such as water may be stored, a tank case in which the tank may be separably accommodated, a lower rib that protrudes downward from a bottom surface of the tank, and at least one guide rib that protrudes upward from an inner bottom surface of the tank case. The at least one guide rib may be disposed radially outside of the lower rib. An upper end of the at least one guide rib may be inclined in a direction in which the at least one guide rib decreases in height toward an inside thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Daewoong Lee, Jungmin Moon, Shic Yoon
  • Patent number: 11598566
    Abstract: An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker including an elongated cage having a central revolving axis about which the elongated cage revolves. The elongated cage having a first end, a second end and at least one elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end. An ice tray is configured to be received in the at least one elongated slot. The ice tray includes a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A motor is coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis. A controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Carlos Trejo Olvera
  • Patent number: 11578912
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage chamber is formed, a cooler configured to cool the storage chamber, a heater configured to heat the storage chamber, a temperature sensor configured to sense a storage chamber temperature, and a controller configured to control the cooler and the heater, in which the controller selectively performs a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes include a cooling mode in which the cooler is operated or stopped, a heating mode in which the heater is operated or stopped, and a standby mode in which the cooler and the heater are stopped, and the plurality of modes are performed in the order of the cooling mode, the standby mode, and heating mode, or are performed in the order of the heating mode, the standby mode, and the cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myungjin Chung, Kyungseok Kim, Kyeongyun Kim, Giseok Seong, Seunguk Ahn, Jeongwon Park, Yonghun Suh
  • Patent number: 11555641
    Abstract: Provided is an ice-maker including an upper tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of lower chambers defined therein in contact with the plurality of upper chambers to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, respectively, each ejector-receiving opening defined in the upper tray and opened to each of the plurality of upper chambers, an upper ejector disposed above the upper tray, wherein the upper ejector is configured to pass through the ejector-receiving opening and remove each ice from each ice chamber, a water supply for supplying water for ice-making through the ejector-receiving opening, and a driver for pivoting the lower tray, wherein a side wall extending upward along a perimeter of the plurality of lower chambers is formed on top portions of the plurality of lower chambers, wherein a chamber wall extending downward along a perimeter of the plurality of upper chambers is formed o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park
  • Patent number: 11525613
    Abstract: An ice making machine may include an ice tray comprising a water storage recessed part in which water supplied from a water supply pipe is stored, a drive part structured to reverse the ice tray around an axial line passing the ice tray between a water storage position where the water storage recessed part faces an upper side and an ice separation position where the water storage recessed part faces a lower side, and a frame which supports the ice tray and the drive part. The frame includes a frame portion which is separated to a side from a turning locus formed by turning of the ice tray, and a water pouring part which is protruded from the frame portion to a side of the turning locus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11402146
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body including an inner case and an outer case, a storage compartment defined by the inner case, a door configured to open and close the storage compartment, an ice making chamber disposed on a rear surface of the door, a fan configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment and the ice making chamber, and a guide passage formed by being recessed into the inner case to guide cold air supplied by the fan to the ice making chamber. The inner case includes an upper wall, and the guide passage is formed by being recessed into the upper wall of the inner case to be exposed to the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Woo Jeon, Il Sung Bae, Joo Hee Song, Ki-Hyun Kim, Byung Kwan Yang
  • Patent number: 11397036
    Abstract: An ice maker and a refrigerator are provided The ice maker has an ice making tray having a plurality of ice making spaces, a motor assembly for driving the ice making tray, and a bracket, the motor assembly is connected to the bracket, and the ice making tray has one end rotationally supported at the bracket; the ice maker further has a fan mounted at the bracket, the bracket has a top plate located at an upper portion of an opening of the ice making space and a side plate located at one side of the top plate, one end of the ice making tray is supported at the side plate, a supporting plate extends from a side edge of the side plate relative to the ice making tray, and the fan is connected to the supporting plate and has an air guide direction towards the ice making tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianjun Xue, Qihai Du, Yanqing Zhang, Xiaobing Zhu
  • Patent number: 11255590
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body provided with a refrigerating compartment, an ice maker, an ice-making air duct, a first fan assembly disposed in the ice-making air duct and an ice maker evaporator is disclosed. The ice-making air duct comprises an air inlet duct and an air return duct, which are both disposed in a foaming layer of the refrigerating compartment, and one ends thereof close to the ice maker extend into a foaming layer on a door body of the ice maker. The first fan assembly is detachably disposed in the air return duct, and may be integrally disassembled from and installed in the air return duct. The ice maker evaporator is disposed between the air inlet duct and the air return duct and at the side far away from the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD., HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhengguang Lv, Yang Shao, Zengqiang Si, Guangqing Yang, Jincai Wang
  • Patent number: 11209203
    Abstract: To provide an ice making device including an ice making tray, a drive unit configured to turn over the ice making tray, a frame including a frame body, the frame configured to support the ice making tray, and a fan motor configured to send wind to the ice making tray. The frame includes a block unit configured to contact a part of the ice making tray turning over to partially disturb the turning over of the ice making tray, and the fan motor is fixed only to a first frame part including one of a plurality of frame parts constituting sides surrounding a periphery of the ice making tray in a plan view of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Saito, Akihiro Ito, Takaji Harata
  • Patent number: 11136747
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system for cooling a water-cooled apparatus having a water inlet and a water outlet. The system has: a circuit in fluid communication with the water inlet and the water outlet, the circuit having a valve upstream of the water inlet connected to a source of water, and an outlet in fluid communication with a sewer; an air-cooled cooling unit in heat exchange relationship with water in the circuit; and a pump fluidly connected to the circuit; the system operable between a closed-loop configuration and an open configuration, the valve being closed and the pump circulating water between the water-cooled apparatus and the air-cooled cooling unit in the closed-loop configuration, and the valve being open and water in the circuit circulating from the source of water, through the water-cooled apparatus, and to the sewer in the open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SYSTEMES MCED INC.
    Inventors: Guillaume Prevost, Eric Debonville, Mathieu Castonguay
  • Patent number: 11098939
    Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance has an ice tray with at least one cavity for holding and freezing liquids to form a shaped ice element. An ejection unit ejects the shaped ice element from the cavity. A drive apparatus performs a relative rotational movement between the ice tray and the ejection unit to eject the shaped ice element from the cavity. The ice maker has a twisting apparatus that is coupled to the ice tray and that can be used to twist the ice tray around to release a frozen shaped ice element in the cavity. There is also described a domestic refrigeration appliance with the ice maker and a method for ejecting shaped ice elements from the ice tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Pfeiffer, Hans Gerd Keller
  • Patent number: 11002476
    Abstract: An ice maker may include an assembly frame, an ice tray, a cam, a splash cover, and a biasing spring. The ice tray may define a cell for receipt of water for freezing and may be rotatably attached to the assembly frame to rotate about an axial direction. The cam may be attached to the ice tray and extend along the axial direction. The splash cover may be slidably attached to the assembly frame in mechanical communication with the cam to move between an elevated position and a lowered position according to a rotational position of the cam. The biasing spring may be disposed on the splash cover and urge the splash cover to the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yan, Daqing Gong, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng
  • Patent number: 10883751
    Abstract: An ice making machine may include an ice tray having a plurality of recessed parts and a cold air duct having a cold air inflow port connected with a cold air supply port and one cold air outlet port facing the ice tray on an upper side. A size of the cold air outlet port is smaller than a size of an ice making face of the ice tray having a contour which includes the plurality of the ice making recessed parts along edges of openings of the plurality of the ice making recessed parts, and the cold air outlet port faces a center portion of the ice making face. It is preferable that an opening area of the cold air outlet port is 50% or less of an area of the ice making face and/or is smaller than an opening area of the cold air inflow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION, WHIRI POOI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Saito, David Vega
  • Patent number: 10663206
    Abstract: A household cooling appliance includes an outer housing, a cooling compartment in the outer housing, and an ice maker unit, which is arranged in the cooling compartment. The ice maker unit includes a first sub-unit, which is configured for making crushed ice from ice form elements. The first sub-unit has a housing. A crusher device for crushing the ice form element is arranged in the housing. A cooling device cools the first sub-unit with cold air. The cooling device has an air duct. The air duct ends at the housing of the first sub-unit and at least partly is configured to extend along an outer side of the housing so that the cold air for cooling the housing flows along the outer side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Sigl, Karl-Friedrich Laible
  • Patent number: 10408520
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice maker in the door, an ice maker air duct in the ice compartment door, and an inlet and a plurality of flutes. The inlet is in fluid communication with the duct outlet and the flutes are configured to separate an air flow through the ice maker air duct into substantially evenly distributed air flows. Each of the plurality of flutes terminate proximate a row of ice wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Jerry M. Visin
  • Patent number: 10386105
    Abstract: An apparatus for making ice cubes includes a plurality of elongated elements (1, 2). A plurality of mold parts (3, 4, 5, 6) are movable with respect to the elongated elements (1, 2). The plurality of mold parts are movable to form a mold (7) around a first elongated element (1) of the elongated elements. A control unit is configured to control a movement of the plurality of mold parts with respect to the elongated elements to move the mold parts (3, 5) forming the mold (7) around the first elongated element (1) apart once a first ice column (201) has been formed in the mold (7), and form a mold (8) around a second elongated element (2) of the elongated elements. An ice remover (202) is configured to remove the first ice column (201).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: W. SCHOONEN BEHEER B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Franciskus Schoonen
  • Patent number: 10208996
    Abstract: A tray assembly for a device for freezing a liquid, the assembly includes a frame defining an aperture. A thermally conductive tray is sized to be received within the aperture, the thermally conductive tray having a body and a lip circumferentially disposed about the body, the thermally conductive tray being seated within the aperture and defining a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface defining a recess and the second surface defining a plurality of receptacles. A gasket is included and sized to surround the body and to be disposed between the lip and the frame. An insulation chamber is coupled to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Beyond Zero, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason S. Sherman, D. Paul Haviland, Grayson P. Newland, L. Dennis Hall, Jr., G. Andrew Wiehebrink
  • Patent number: 9982932
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance has a refrigerator compartment container and an ice container for providing ice. The refrigerator compartment container delimits a refrigerator compartment. A receiving niche for receiving the ice container is formed in an exterior of the refrigerator compartment container. The receiving niche has an opening to the refrigerator compartment, wherein an opening of the ice container and the opening of the receiving niche are aligned flush with one another. The ice container has a container outer wall, a container inner wall and a thermal insulation, which is arranged between the container inner wall and the container outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lindel, Karl-Friedrich Laible, Thomas Bischofberger, Felix Wiedenmann
  • Patent number: 9903631
    Abstract: A refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice and a method thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an ice tray of the ice making device may include at least one receiving part that receives water for freezing into the clear ice, the at least one receiving part having an opening provided at a top portion thereof through which the water is supplied and the clear ice is discharged from the at least one receiving part. At least one oscillator may be disposed on the ice tray, the at least one oscillator structured to keep the water moving during the ice production process. The at least one oscillator may also be used to vibrate the ice tray to release the clear ice into a collection tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Sascha Buehrle, Manfred W. Staebler
  • Patent number: 9890985
    Abstract: A refrigeration device has an ice maker with an ice cube tray that is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis. The ice maker includes two stops for limiting the rotational movement of the ice cube tray about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Bauriedl, Gerald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9791199
    Abstract: An ice maker for refrigerator includes a case that encloses and protects a cooling space into which cold air is supplied, an ice making assembly for making ice using cold air supplied to the cooling space, an ice bucket for containing the ice made by the ice making assembly in the cooling space, and a cold air ventilation path for guiding cold air to flow along the outer circumferential surface of the ice bucket in the cooling space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Wang Goo Lee
  • Patent number: 9766005
    Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A fluid pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. A pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold fluid or air may be taken from the freezer compartment to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold or cool/warm fluid to other cooling or warming applications in the refrigerator compartment or on the refrigerator compartment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin
  • Patent number: 9746229
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a harvest motor and an ice tray operably coupled to the harvest motor. The ice tray has a plurality of heat sinks coupled to a bottom section of ice forming cavities on the ice tray. The harvest motor is operable to twist the ice tray for causing the plurality of heat sinks to move relative to each other for releasing ice pieces from the ice forming cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Whilpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Visin, Lindsey Wohlgamuth
  • Patent number: 9683769
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 9587871
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly is provided that includes a tray having a plurality of ice-phobic recesses. The recesses may possess a total water volume of 70 cc or greater. The tray comprises metal material and can be formed with a substantially uniform strain distribution. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the ice-forming tray, and a processor that is operatively coupled to the driving body. The processor controls the driving body to rotate the tray in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cox, Gregory Gene Hortin, Yen-Hsi Lin, Clayton A. Maas, Xi Shan, Cristian Soto, Andrew M. Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 9581363
    Abstract: An ice maker having an ice tray horizontally suspended within a housing and a drive body rotatably coupled to a transverse axis of the ice tray and configured to oscillate the ice tray about the transverse axis. The cold side of a thermoelectric device is thermally coupled with a bottom surface of the ice tray, and a hot side opposes the cold side. A barrier extends around the periphery of the ice tray within the housing, and separates the housing into a first chamber and a second air chamber. A heat sink is thermally coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric device and extends into the second air chamber. An intake duct member is coupled with the housing proximate the second air chamber, and is configured to dispense a cold air flow over the heat sink. The barrier restricts the cold air flow from entering the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Mark E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9518771
    Abstract: An ice maker is provided that includes a tray having recesses that can include ice-phobic surfaces. The ice-phobic surfaces may include ice-phobic coatings, textured metal surfaces, hydrophobic coatings or other surfaces configured to repel water and ice. The tray can be formed from metal material and may exhibit a fatigue limit greater than about 150 Megapascals (MPa) at 105 cycles. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, and a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the tray. The driving body is further adapted to rotate the tray in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise cycle such that the tray presses against the frame body in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Bauman, James C. Guarino, Steven J. Kuehl, Yen-Hsi Lin
  • Patent number: 9513045
    Abstract: An ice maker is provided that includes a tray having recesses that can include ice-phobic surfaces. The ice-phobic surfaces may include ice-phobic coatings, textured metal surfaces, hydrophobic coatings or other surfaces configured to repel water and ice. The tray can be formed from metal material and may exhibit a fatigue limit greater than about 150 Megapascals (MPa) at 105 cycles. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, and a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the tray. The driving body is further adapted to rotate the tray in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise cycle such that the tray presses against the frame body in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cox, Gregory Gene Hortin, Yen-Hsi Lin, Clayton A. Maas, Xi Shan, Cristian Soto, Andrew M. Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 9482455
    Abstract: A system comprising a gear having at least one slot, wherein the gear is connected to an icetray and a motor so that when the motor rotates the gear, the icetray twists, and an optical sensor that detects when the gear has rotated the slot over the optical sensor. The icetray twists while the gear is rotated in a first direction away from a home position to a reverse twist position. The rotation of gear then reverses to twist the icetray to a harvest position in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction until ice in the icetray is dislodged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ENVOLVE ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Gene Hortin, Kyle Carter Edmondson, Patrick J. Boarman, Michael Edward Stagg, Li Yi Situ
  • Patent number: 9239181
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a refrigerating compartment door opening or closing the refrigerating compartment, a dispenser disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to dispense water or ice pieces, and an ice bank disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to define an insulation space for storing the ice pieces dispensed by the dispenser. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment to make the ice pieces, a transfer device disposed in the freezing compartment to transfer the ice pieces supplied from the ice maker into the ice bank, and an ice chute connecting the transfer device to the ice bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juhyun Son, Wookyong Lee, Donghoon Lee, Dongjeong Kim
  • Patent number: 9054562
    Abstract: A geared motor may include a motor and a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor. The gear mechanism includes an output gear which outputs rotation of the motor and a gear in a preceding stage which is connected with the output gear through another gear and the output gear is formed with a first positioning part showing an angular position of the output gear and the gear in the preceding stage is formed with a second positioning part showing an angular position of the gear in the preceding stage. After an assembling angular position of the output gear and an assembling angular position of the gear in the preceding stage have been determined, another gear is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mamoru Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 9021827
    Abstract: An ice maker including a heating type ice-making tray capable of securing ice ejecting and a refrigerator including the ice maker are disclosed. According to a refrigerator including the ice maker, the ice may be securely ejected from the ice-making tray. As a result, reliability of ice ejecting may be improved. The water generated when the ice is ejected in the ice maker may be prevented from falling to an ice container efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Gi Lee
  • Patent number: 9021828
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a refrigerated cabinet with a cooled storage compartment, a door movable between a closed position closing the cooled storage compartment and an opened position allowing access to an interior of the cooled storage compartment, the door having an outer panel and a thermoformed liner attached to an inside of the outer panel, and an ice box frame attached to the thermoformed liner, the ice box frame being formed of injection molded plastic more rigid than the thermoformed liner and defining an ice compartment therein. At least one of an ice maker, an ice storage bin, and a motor for driving an ice storage bin auger is located in the ice compartment and attached to the door via the ice box frame. A related refrigeration appliance is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Robert Vitan, Umakant Suresh Katu, Steven D. Paul, Eric Lloyd Scalf, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Edward Philip Strauss, Danister Abeygunawardana
  • Publication number: 20140360219
    Abstract: A driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator may include: a driving device case coupled to an ice-making tray having an ejector rotating shaft coupled thereto; and a driving module housed in the driving device case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SCD CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Ho LEE
  • Patent number: 8844309
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fast ice making device for quickly producing ice cubes. The fast ice making device includes a mold body having a plurality of ice forming cavities adapted to hold fluid. In an ice making cycle, a vacuum system evacuates air from the cavities, thereby depressurizing the cavities. Then, a liquid delivery system delivers liquid to the depressurized cavities, whereby an initial portion of the liquid bubbles up within the respective cavities. Overall, a cooler fluid is established at the beginning of an ice making cycle, thus accelerating the rate at which ice cubes are formed within the fast ice making device. Once ice cubes have been formed within the cavities, a heat transfer system is utilized to heat the cavities, thereby slightly melting the ice cubes and aiding in the expulsion of ice cubes from the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre D. Grosse, Adriana S. Guillen
  • Patent number: 8844314
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice tray including a plurality of ice forming cavities extending into a fluid supply cavity. Fluid supplied to the fluid supply cavity flows into each of the plurality of ice forming cavities and out through respective fluid outlets located in a bottom portion of the ice forming cavities to a fluid outlet chamber below. Cooled ice forming members extend into respective ice forming cavities. Fluid is continuously cycled through the ice forming cavities and around the ice forming members during an ice making event such that clear ice pieces gradually form on each of the ice forming members. During an ice harvest event, ice forming members are heated to release formed ice pieces, and the ice pieces are transferred from a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator to an ice storage bucket located in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Rogerio Soares Brisola, Douglas D. Leclear, James Peterson, Fabio E. Rosa, Vanessa Christina Riberio, Simone M. Vidal, Ronald L. Voglewede
  • Patent number: 8800316
    Abstract: An icemaker is provided. The icemaker includes a water overflowing member capable of rotating together with a tray. With this structure, the overflowing of the water can be prevented, when the door is opened and closed and ice is discharged from the tray as the tray rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Lee, Wook-Yong Lee, Sung-Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 8733113
    Abstract: A refrigerator has an icemaker that includes a partition arm extending from the outside of the ice making tray into the ice making tray, the partition arm constituting a part of an ice compartment structure to define ice making cells. When the ice making tray is rotated in a given direction, the ice making tray allows ice to be separated from the ice making cells by being twisted by the partition arm. When the ice making tray is rotated in an opposite direction, the ice making tray allows the ice still present in the ice making cells to fall from the ice making cells by interference with a rotation stopper formed at the partition arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Koog An, Sung Cheol Kang, Chang Uo Hong, Young Il Song, Hae Ryong Jeon, Se Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 8726686
    Abstract: An ice-making device and a refrigerator having the ice-making device are provided. The ice-making device includes an ice-making housing defining a predetermined ice-making space therein, an ice tray rotatably installed in the ice-making space and provided with a plurality of ice-making grooves, and a protruding rib that is formed on the ice tray to prevent water from being splashed out of the ice-making grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong-Seok Yoon, Byeong-Gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 8707724
    Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice making chamber is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body that defines a cooling chamber, and lateral wall passages formed at a lateral wall of the cooling chamber. A door that is rotatably coupled to the cooling chamber may be provided with an ice making chamber installed on an interior side thereof, and a connection duct part that connects the ice making chamber to the lateral wall passages. The connection duct part may include passage forming members that define a cold air passage therein, and insulation portion formed around the passage forming members, whereby components of the duct may be quickly and easily assembled at correct positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Jeong Kim, Chang-Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 8650901
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tray having an icemaker as well as having a holder to fix the icemaker to the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerate Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Gottschling, Volker Friedmann
  • Patent number: 8601830
    Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 8584474
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8567210
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Hee Park, Tae-Hee Lee, Joon-Hwan Oh, Young-Jin Kim, Ho-Youn Lee