Abstract: A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication with one another, such that a latching mechanism of the manifold secures the filter cartridge within a manifold sump when the filter cartridge is inserted therein. The magnetic communication is formed between two complementary coded polymagnets capable of producing a magnetic shear force when in close proximity to one another. The magnetic shear force removes a latch blocking structure from interfering with the latch, allowing the latch to secure the filter cartridge. Movement of the latch blocking structure coded polymagnet relative to the filter cartridge coded polymagnet may be perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other such that a shear force is generated therebetween, allowing for actuation of the latch blocking mechanism against a biasing force, and allowing the latch to move radially inwards against a separate biasing force.

Abstract: A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication with one another, such that a latching mechanism and latch blocking structure in the manifold secures the filter cartridge with a manifold sump when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump. The magnetic communication is formed between two complementary coded magnets capable of producing a magnetic shear force when in close proximity to one another. The magnetic shear force removes the latching blocking structure from interfering with the latch, allowing the latch to secure the filter cartridge. Movement of the latching blocking structure coded magnet relative to the filter cartridge coded magnet may be perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other.

Abstract: A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication with one another, such that a latching mechanism and latch blocking structure in the manifold secures the filter cartridge with a manifold sump when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump. The magnetic communication is formed between two complementary coded magnets capable of producing a magnetic shear force when in close proximity to one another. The magnetic shear force removes the latching blocking structure from interfering with the latch, allowing the latch to secure the filter cartridge. Movement of the latching blocking structure coded magnet relative to the filter cartridge coded magnet may be perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other.

Abstract: A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication with one another, such that a latching mechanism and latch blocking structure in the manifold secures the filter cartridge with a manifold sump when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump. The magnetic communication is formed between two complementary coded magnets capable of producing a magnetic shear force when in close proximity to one another. The magnetic shear force removes the latching blocking structure from interfering with the latch, allowing the latch to secure the filter cartridge. Movement of the latching blocking structure coded magnet relative to the filter cartridge coded magnet may be perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cooling application, a heating application, and a thermoelectric device having a warm side and a cold side is disclosed. The refrigerator has a first fluid supply pathway in communication between the cold side and the cooling application, and a second fluid supply pathway in communication between the warm side and the heating application. The refrigerator has a first fan positioned to move air through the first fluid supply pathway to the cooling application, a flow pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the freezer compartment, and an air return pathway in communication between the fresh food compartment and at least one of the cooling application and the heating application for exhausting air to the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator may include a refrigerator cabinet and at least one compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker for making wet ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a bucket for storing the ice, the bucket positioned to receive the wet ice from the ice maker, and a drain in the bucket for draining water from the bucket. A method of making ice in a refrigerator includes making ice using an ice maker of the refrigerator, conveying the ice from the ice maker to a bucket having a drain, maintaining the ice in the bucket at a temperature above freezing to allow the ice to melt to water, and draining the water from the bucket.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cooling application, a heating application, and a thermoelectric device having a warm side and a cold side is disclosed. The refrigerator has a first fluid supply pathway in communication between the cold side and the cooling application, and a second fluid supply pathway in communication between the warm side and the heating application. The refrigerator has a first fan positioned to move air through the first fluid supply pathway to the cooling application, a flow pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the freezer compartment, and an air return pathway in communication between the fresh food compartment and at least one of the cooling application and the heating application for exhausting air to the fresh food compartment.

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 flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. A fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from the refrigerator compartment, is used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment door for providing access to the refrigerator compartment, an ice maker on the refrigerator compartment door, a thermoelectric cooler associated with the ice maker and operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door, the thermoelectric cooler having a first side and an opposite second side, and a cooling loop operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door and configured for cooling the thermoelectric cooler.

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.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment door for providing access to the refrigerator compartment, an ice maker on the refrigerator compartment door, a thermoelectric cooler associated with the ice maker and operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door, the thermoelectric cooler having a first side and an opposite second side, and a cooling loop operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door and configured for cooling the thermoelectric cooler.

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. The icemaker is thermally influenced by the cold side of the thermoelectric device. Air or fluid may be moved from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. Cold air or fluid, such as from the refrigerator compartment, is used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.

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.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump.

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.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first compartment, a second compartment, a first door providing access to the first compartment, a second door providing access to the second compartment, and a beverage dispensing system operatively connected the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet, the user interface having a display and being configured to identify a user of the beverage dispensing system and customize beverage settings and preferences associated with the user.

Abstract: A unitary clear ice sheet is formed from a plurality of individual clear ice sheets which are fused together to give the unitary ice sheet a predetermined thickness. The fused unitary ice sheet is a clear unitary ice sheet due to the formation of the plurality of individual clear ice sheets by running water over a cold plate apparatus or evaporator mechanism to form the ice sheets in a gradual layer-by-layer process. The fused unitary clear ice sheet is used to mold or shape clear ice structure therefrom, such as clear ice spheres in a mold apparatus.

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.

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.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main refrigeration loop and a canister configured in a parallel circuit with the main refrigeration loop between the compressor and evaporator, with a liquid-filled bladder within the canister. The canister is pressurized by high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor, which forces the liquid within the bladder out of the bladder and to a pressurized water reservoir in fluid communication with the bladder and configured to house the evaporator and then out to a dispenser.