Patents by Inventor Andrei Tchougounov
Andrei Tchougounov has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6640565Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold having at least one cavity configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. An auger extends substantially vertically through the at least one mold cavity. The auger is configured for rotating to thereby push the ice out of the at least one mold cavity. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold for sensing a temperature of the mold. A heat transfer member is metallurgically coupled with the auger and extends downwardly from the mold.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Patent number: 6526763Abstract: A method of making ice in an automatic ice maker includes the steps of: providing a mold including one cavity; filling the at least one mold cavity at least partially with water; providing an ice removal device at least partly within the at least one mold cavity; coupling a mechanical drive with the ice removal device; coupling a controller with the drive; measuring a temperature of the mold; measuring an ambient temperature associated with the mold; and controlling operation of the drive using the controller, dependent upon the measured temperature of the mold and the measured ambient pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Terry L Hygema, Steven M. Nimtz
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Patent number: 6490873Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold with least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold and provides an output signal. An auger is positioned partly within the at least one mold cavity. A mechanical drive rotatably drives the auger. A controller is coupled with the sensor and the drive, and controls operation of the drive depending upon the output signal from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Patent number: 6470701Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold with at least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice. Each cavity has a plurality of side walls. An ice removal device is positioned at least partly within the at least one mold cavity. A fill tube is positioned in association with the at least one mold cavity. The fill tube includes an outlet from which water is expelled at an impingement angle against at least one side wall of at least one mold cavity. The impingement angle is between about 10° and 60° relative to a horizontal reference.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. De Witt
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Publication number: 20020108383Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold having at least one cavity configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. An auger extends substantially vertically through the at least one mold cavity. The auger is configured for rotating to thereby push the ice out of the at least one mold cavity. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold for sensing a temperature of the mold. A heat transfer member is metallurgically coupled with the auger and extends downwardly from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Patent number: 6370904Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold having at least one cavity configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. An auger extends substantially vertically through the at least one mold cavity. The auger is configured for rotating to thereby push the ice out of the at least one mold cavity. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold for sensing a temperature of the mold. A heat transfer member is metallurgically coupled with the auger and extends downwardly from the mold.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Dekko Heating TechnologiesInventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Publication number: 20020007638Abstract: A method of making ice in an automatic ice maker includes the steps of: providing a mold including one cavity; filling the at least one mold cavity at least partially with water; providing an ice removal device at least partly within the at least one mold cavity; coupling a mechanical drive with the ice removal device; coupling a controller with the drive; measuring a temperature of the mold; measuring an ambient temperature associated with the mold; and controlling operation of the drive using the controller, dependent upon the measured temperature of the mold and the measured ambient pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Terry L. Hygema, Steven M. Nimtz
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Publication number: 20010037648Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold having at least one cavity configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. An auger extends substantially vertically through the at least one mold cavity. The auger is configured for rotating to thereby push the ice out of the at least one mold cavity. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold for sensing a temperature of the mold. A heat transfer member is metallurgically coupled with the auger and extends downwardly from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2000Publication date: November 8, 2001Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Publication number: 20010011461Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold with at least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice. Each cavity has a plurality of side walls. An ice removal device is positioned at least partly within the at least one mold cavity. A fill tube is positioned in association with the at least one mold cavity. The fill tube includes an outlet from which water is expelled at an impingement angle against at least one side wall of at least one mold cavity. The impingement angle is between about 10° and 60° relative to a horizontal reference.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Publication number: 20010011460Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold with least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold and provides an output signal. An auger is positioned partly within the at least one mold cavity. A mechanical drive rotatably drives the auger. A controller is coupled with the sensor and the drive, and controls operation of the drive depending upon the output signal from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2000Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
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Patent number: 6223550Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold and an auger. The mold has at least one cavity with a bottom surface, and is configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. The auger has a shaft with at least one flight attached thereto, the shaft including a top end and a base end with the base end being rotatably mounted in the bottom surface of the at least one mold cavity. The shaft extends substantially vertically through the mold cavity and is configured to rotate and thereby push the ice out of the mold cavity. The shaft and/or at least one flight has an inward taper in a direction heading from the base end to the top end of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Group Dekko Services, LLCInventors: John K. Marsh, Donald E. DeWitt, Andrei Tchougounov
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Patent number: 6220038Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold and an auger. The mold has at least one cavity with a bottom surface, and is configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. The auger has a shaft with at least one flight attached thereto, the shaft including a top end and a base end with the base end being rotatably mounted in the bottom surface of the at least one mold cavity. The shaft extends substantially vertically through the mold cavity and is configured to rotate and thereby push the ice out of the mold cavity. The shaft and/or at least one flight has an inward taper in a direction heading from the base end to the top end of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Group Dekko Services, LLCInventors: John K. Marsh, Donald E. Dewitt, Andrei Tchougounov