Patents by Inventor Gregory Urban Schmitt

Gregory Urban Schmitt 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).

  • Patent number: 8490417
    Abstract: A method of operating an ice maker including accepting a desired ice layer thickness setting, opening a water supply inlet valve to admit water from a water supply inlet, cooling an ice forming surface below freezing, directing the admitted water into a water collecting device, sensing an admitted volume of water, closing the water supply inlet valve based upon the sensed volume of admitted water and the set desired ice layer thickness, pumping water from the water collecting device to the ice forming surface via a recirculating pump, directing unfrozen water from the ice forming surface back to the water collecting device, determining a level of water in the water collecting device with a level sensor, initiating an ice harvesting routine based on input from the level sensor, operating a drain flow control device to selectively discharge water from the water collecting device to a drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Marie Bippus, John P. Tinney, Ravindra S. Kavchale, Matthew E. Herr, Beth Michelle Gehlhausen, Gregory Urban Schmitt, Brian Joseph Beuligmann, Roger Urban Merkel
  • Publication number: 20110036103
    Abstract: A method of operating an ice maker including accepting a desired ice layer thickness setting, opening a water supply inlet valve to admit water from a water supply inlet, cooling an ice forming surface below freezing, directing the admitted water into a water collecting device, sensing an admitted volume of water, closing the water supply inlet valve based upon the sensed volume of admitted water and the set desired ice layer thickness, pumping water from the water collecting device to the ice forming surface via a recirculating pump, directing unfrozen water from the ice forming surface back to the water collecting device, determining a level of water in the water collecting device with a level sensor, initiating an ice harvesting routine based on input from the level sensor, operating a drain flow control device to selectively discharge water from the water collecting device to a drain outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MELISSA MARIE BIPPUS, JOHN P. TINNEY, RAVINDRA S. KAVCHALE, MATTHEW E. HERR, BETH MICHELLE GEHLHAUSEN, GREGORY URBAN SCHMITT, BRIAN JOSEPH BEULIGMANN, ROGER URBAN MERKEL
  • Patent number: 7841198
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface, a water supply inlet and an inlet valve arranged to selectively admit and prevent admission of water from the inlet. A flow sensor at the inlet valve determines a volume of water admitted through the water supply inlet. An operating position of the water supply inlet valve is based upon input from the flow sensor. A water collecting device receives a supply of water from the water supply inlet through the water supply inlet valve and receives a flow of water from the ice forming surface. A recirculating pump is connected to the water collecting device and to a recirculating passage arranged to direct water toward the ice forming surface. A level sensor at the water collecting device determines a level of water in the water collecting device. A discharge pump is connected to the water collecting device, and the control selectively operates the discharge pump based upon input from the level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Marie Bippus, John P. Tinney, Ravindra S. Kavchale, Matthew E. Herr, Beth Michelle Gehlhausen, Gregory Urban Schmitt, Brian Joseph Beuligmann, Roger Urban Merkel
  • Publication number: 20080016900
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface, a water supply inlet and an inlet valve arranged to selectively admit and prevent admission of water from the inlet. A flow sensor at the inlet valve determines a volume of water admitted through the water supply inlet. An operating position of the water supply inlet valve is based upon input from the flow sensor. A water collecting device receives a supply of water from the water supply inlet through the water supply inlet valve and receives a flow of water from the ice forming surface. A recirculating pump is connected to the water collecting device and to a recirculating passage arranged to direct water toward the ice forming surface. A level sensor at the water collecting device determines a level of water in the water collecting device. A discharge pump is connected to the water collecting device, and the control selectively operates the discharge pump based upon input from the level sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Melissa Marie Bippus, John P. Tinney, Ravindra S. Kavchale, Matthew E. Herr, Beth Michelle Gehlhausen, Gregory Urban Schmitt, Brian Joseph Beuligmann, Roger Urban Merkel