ICE MAKING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A refrigerator including a cooling system is configured to cool at least one of a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker configured in a door of the refrigerator and configured to receive an isolated cold air supply from the cooling system. The ice maker includes a cylinder defining an extruding ice maker cavity. An extruder head is secured to the cylinder, and a plurality of cooling fins are configured radially around an outer surface of the cylinder. An insulation body is configured around the plurality of cooling fins, the insulation body and the plurality of cooling fins defining an air space for circulating the isolated cold air supply.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/724,753 filed Nov. 25, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an appliance such as a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

In order to create ice production, a low temperature must be supplied and maintained to freeze water molecules. Refrigerators circulate refrigerant and change the refrigerant from a liquid state to a gaseous state by an evaporation process in order to cool the air within the ice making compartment. This colder air produces ice that is typically in various shapes such as cubes and trapezoids, which are frozen into relatively large solid sizes, making them difficult to chew. Current chewable ice making products are directed to commercial large quantity production or counter-top ice or stand-alone ice makers.

SUMMARY

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a cooling system, and an ice maker. The cabinet defines at least one storage compartment. The cooling system is configured to supply cooling air to the at least one storage compartment. The ice maker is disposed within the refrigerator. The cooling system is further configured to supply the cooling air to the ice maker. The ice maker includes a cylinder, fins, and an insulation body. The cylinder defines an ice making cavity. The fins are disposed radially around the cylinder. The insulation body is disposed radially around the fins. The insulation body and the cylinder collectively define an air flow channel therebetween for radially circulating the cooling air around the cylinder. The fins are disposed within the air flow channel such that the cooling air is configured to circulate between adjacent fins within the air flow channel.

A refrigerator appliance includes an air cooling system and an ice maker. The air cooling system has a heat exchanger operable to cool air and a duct system operable to transport the cooled air. The ice maker is operable to receive the cooled air from the duct system to form chewable ice. The ice maker has a cylinder, an extruder die, a scraper, and an insulator. The cylinder defines a cavity. The extruder die is secured to the cylinder and is operable to form the chewable ice. The scraper is disposed within the cavity. The scraper is operable to scrape an ice accumulation formed on an interior wall of the cylinder and direct the ice accumulation to the extruder die to form the chewable ice. The insulator is disposed around the cylinder. The insulator and the cylinder collectively define an air flow path therebetween that extends radially around the cylinder. The insulator further defines an inlet to the air flow path extending inward toward the cylinder and an outlet from the air flow path extending outward from the cylinder.

A chewable nugget ice maker for a refrigerator appliance includes a cylinder, a scraper, and a housing. The cylinder defines an ice making cavity. The scraper is positioned in the ice making cavity. The scraper is operable to scrape an ice accumulation formed within the cylinder and direct the ice accumulation to an extruder die to form the chewable nugget ice. The housing is disposed radially around an outer surface of the cylinder such that an air flow path is defined between the housing and cylinder, radially outward from the cylinder, and radially inward from the housing. The air flow path is arranged to receive cooled air from a supply and direct the cooled air radially around the cylinder.

The present disclosure sets forth a refrigerator including a cooling system configured to cool at least one of a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment, and an ice maker configured in a door of the refrigerator and configured to receive an isolated cold air supply from the cooling system, wherein the ice maker includes, a cylinder defining an extruding ice maker cavity, extruder head secured to the cylinder, a plurality of cooling fins configured radially around an outer surface of the cylinder, and an insulation body configured around the plurality of cooling fins, the insulation body and the plurality of cooling fins defining an air space for circulating the isolated cold air supply.

The present disclosure further sets forth an ice extruder including a cylinder defining an ice making cavity, an axially extending auger positioned in the ice making cavity, a plurality of stacked cooling fins extending radially around the cylinder, an insulation housing configured around an outer surface of the cylinder, a cooling supply in fluid communication with the plurality of stacked cooling fans and inner surface of the insulation housing, and a drive motor rotatably connected to the screw auger, the drive motor configured to rotate the screw auger during an ice making.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a refrigerator with a chewable ice maker in phantom according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 2 is a top rear perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with an exterior wrapper removed to reveal a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, an ice maker, an evaporator housing, and a duct assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of the duct assembly of FIG. 2 as coupled to the ice maker and disposed within a sidewall shown in phantom according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an exemplary ice making system configured in a housing according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary ice maker assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary ice making extruder assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of an alternative exemplary ice making extruder assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an exemplary ice making system with the housing and a front cover removed and exposing components of the ice making extruder assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the ice making system of FIG. 8 illustrating the ice bin assembly and the ice discharge assembly according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 10A is a partial exploded front perspective view of the ice bin assembly of FIG. 9 according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 10B is a partial exploded front perspective view of the ice bin assembly of FIG. 9 according to another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the ice discharge assembly of FIG. 9 according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 12A is a front view of an exemplary “Z” shaped auger arm according to another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 12B is a front view of an exemplary “comb” auger arm according to another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 12C is a front view of an exemplary “flat beater” shaped auger arm according to another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein;

FIG. 12 D is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 12C; and

FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice maker assembly illustrating air flow path according to an aspect of the disclosure discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a. .” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Aspects of the disclosure herein relate to a refrigerator appliance that includes a chewable ice making and dispensing system configured within an exterior door of the refrigeration appliance. The refrigerator cooling system is configured to cool the chewable ice making and dispensing system. The chewable ice making system includes an ice making cavity having a screw auger disposed within. Water is injected into the ice making cavity and the cooling system supplies cooling air to a plurality of stacked fins positioned radially around the ice making cavity. An insulation housing is sealed around the plurality of stacked fins providing an isolated cooling chamber for directing the cooling air around and through the plurality of stacked fins. The cooling system continues to supply cooling air during the ice making process while the water supply is maintained to provide enough water to form ice once the water comes in contact with the chilled walls of the ice making cavity. As ice is formed, the rotating screw, driven by a drive motor, scrapes the ice off the cavity walls to form ice flakes or chips, which are carried by the screw toward an ice making extruder where the ice flakes or chips are compacted to a chewable density and forced out of the ice making cavity in the form of cylinders. The cylinders come in contact with a breaking element positioned above the extruder and configured to break the newly formed chewable ice cylinders into smaller ice pellets. The chewable ice may also be referred to as nugget ice.

Once the chewable ice pellets are separated, the process of making ice continues to force more chewable ice cylinders out of the extruder and the abundance is slid down a sloped ice chute and into a storage bin. The storage bin is configured to rotate an auger arm to keep the chewable ice pellets from clumping prior to dispensing through the dispenser. The storage bin may include apertures or slots to direct a supply of cold air across the ice keeping it cool and frozen. However, since chewable ice is less dense creating a lower melt temp as compared to regular ice cubes, stored chewable ice results in melt water forming in the base of the storage bin.

In another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein a water recirculation system is included to capture and reuse the melt water. A filtration and sanitizer may be included to prevent contaminants from being introduced into the ice making process from the melted ice. Additionally, an ultraviolet light may be used within the water recirculation system and the ice storage bin to further sanitize the ice before use. The water recirculation system may include a melt water sump fluidly connected to a valve and a pump, to move the water to refill the ice making water storage tank. A separate pump and valve may be used to fill the ice making chamber from the ice making water storage tank. Alternatively, the melt water may be sent to the evaporator via a drain line.

A controller can be configured to receive information related to a request for ice production by a user selecting the contacting paddle or push button positioned at the front of the refrigerator door and sending a signal to the controller to request ice. Once the controller receives the ice request and receives a signal from a presence sensor or a command for automatic fill, ice will be dispensed. Once ice is dispensed, thereby lowering the level of ice in the storage bin below a predetermined level, a sensor notifies the controller, and the controller activates the ice maker to start the process of making ice over. Additionally, since chewable ice is softer, and a percentage will melt during storage, the ice maker may be activated based on the volume of ice melt detected by the level sensors. Alternatively, activation may also be calculated based on time of flow rates out of the ice dispenser and refill activated by those control calculations. Alternatively, the controller may activate the water source based on availability and volume of water sensed in the melt water sump and provided a constant pressure is maintained as the water is introduced into the ice making chamber.

In another aspect of the disclosure discussed herein the controller may receive a signal from a variety of temperature sensors, presence sensors or other sensors positioned along the ice making process, these sensors communicate parameters for requesting cool air from the cooling system or additional water for the ice making cavity to allow for proper ice cooling and compaction.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a refrigerator having a cabinet structure 13 with a front surface 14 opening into a refrigerator compartment 12. The cabinet structure 13 may include a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, as further described below. The refrigerator compartment 12 is contemplated to be an insulated portion of the cabinet structure 13 for storing fresh food items. First and second doors 18, 20 are rotatably coupled to the cabinet structure 13 near the front surface 14 thereof for selectively providing access to the refrigerator compartment 12 by pivoting movement between open and closed positions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a freezer drawer 22 is configured to selectively provide access to a freezer compartment 24 disposed below the refrigerator compartment 12. The refrigerator 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a refrigerator for use with the present concept and is not meant to limit the scope of the present concept in any manner.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the first door 18 includes a dispensing station 2 which may include one or more paddles 4, 6 which are configured to initiate the dispensing of water and/or ice from outlets disposed within the dispensing station 2. Alternatively, a push button or a sensor system (not illustrated) may be utilized for the dispensing of ice and/or water in place of the paddles 4, 6, as well as any combination thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing station 2 is shown as being accessible from outside of the refrigerator 10 on an exterior portion of the first door 18 but may also be provided along any portion of the refrigerator 10, including an interior of the refrigerator compartment 12, for dispensing ice and/or water. The dispensing station 2 is contemplated to be coupled to a chewable ice making system 200, which is shown in phantom in FIG. 1. The chewable ice making system 200 may be referred to as the chewable ice maker or the chewable nugget ice maker. It is contemplated that the chewable ice making system 200 may be operably coupled to the first door 18 to pivotally move with the first door 18 between open and closed positions. As further shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet structure 13 of the refrigerator 10 includes an exterior wrapper 32 which includes first and second sidewalls 34, 36, a top wall 38 and a rear wall 40. The exterior wrapper 32 is contemplated to be a metal component formed of a sheet metal material. The cabinet structure 13, or more specifically the exterior wrapper 32 of the cabinet structure 13, defines an internal cavity 41 that houses all of the internal components of the refrigerator 10. The refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 24 may be considered to be portions of the internal cavity 41.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the refrigerator 10 is shown with the cabinet structure 13 removed to reveal the refrigerator compartment 12 disposed over the freezer compartment 24. The components illustrated in FIG. 2, other than the exterior facing portions of the doors 18, 20, 22 are disposed within the internal cavity 41. The refrigerator compartment 12 is generally defined by a refrigerator liner 42 which includes first and second sidewalls 44, 46, a top wall 48, a rear wall 50 and a bottom wall 52. The freezer compartment 24 also includes a freezer liner 53 having first and second sidewalls 54, 56, a top wall 58, a rear wall 60 and a bottom wall 62. The refrigerator liner 42 and freezer liner 53 may be composed of a sheet metal material or a polymeric material. As encapsulated by the exterior wrapper 32, the refrigerator liner 42 and the freezer liner 53 are spaced-apart from the exterior wrapper 32 to define an insulating space 66 (FIG. 3) therebetween, which may include a vacuum insulated space. The combination of the first sidewall 44 of the refrigerator liner 42 and the first sidewall 54 of the freezer liner 53 is represented by reference numeral 35 for ease in defining the internal parameter of the insulating space 66. Thus, the exterior wrapper 32 and the refrigerator liner 42 and freezer liner 53 may be interconnected by a trim breaker to define the overall cabinet structure 13 of the refrigerator 10.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a cooling system 67, or air cooling system, is shown that is operable to provide cold air to the refrigerator compartment 12, the freezer compartment 24, and the chewable ice making system 200. An evaporator housing 64 is shown disposed on or adjacent to the rear wall 60 of the freezer liner 53. The evaporator housing 64 houses a heat exchanger, such as an evaporator 69, that is part of the cooling system 67, that cools and provides cold air to the chewable ice making system 200. In FIG. 2, the evaporator 69 is concealed by an evaporator housing cover 65. It is contemplated that cold air may be drawn from the evaporator housing 64 for cooling the refrigerator compartment 12 and/or freezer compartment 24 as well. As positioned on this side of the cabinet structure 13, the insulating space 66 is configured to house a duct system or duct assembly 70 of the cooling system 67 that interconnects the chewable ice making system 200 and an evaporator housing 64. The duct assembly 70 is configured to be concealed within the insulating space 66, as best shown in FIG. 3. The duct assembly 70 includes an ice maker feed duct 72 having first and second ends 74, 76 with a body portion 78 disposed therebetween. The body portion 78 is a substantially linear body portion that defines an ascending airway between the evaporator housing 64 and the chewable ice making system 200. The duct assembly 70 further includes an ice maker return duct 82. The ice maker return duct 82 includes a first end 84 coupled to the chewable ice making system 200, and a second end 86 coupled to the evaporator housing 64. The ice maker return duct 82 further includes a body portion 88 disposed between the first and second ends 84, 86 that defines a substantially linear descending airway between the chewable ice making system 200 and the evaporator housing 64. The ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 may be referred to as first and second ducts, respectively, or vice versa. The ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 may also be referred to as primary ducts.

As used herein, the terms “substantial,” “substantially,” and variations thereof are intended to note that a described feature is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a “substantially linear” feature is intended to denote a feature that is linear or approximately linear. Moreover, “substantially” is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, “substantially” may denote values within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other. As such, the substantially linear body portions 78, 88 of the ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82, respectively, are contemplated to be substantially straight or linear body portions that interconnect the evaporator housing 64 with the chewable ice making system 200 in a direct and un-convoluted manner.

The duct assembly 70 is shown disposed within the insulating space 66 of the cabinet structure 13. The duct assembly 70, including ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82, may be disposed within a single sidewall of the cabinet structure 13. This configuration helps to directly feed cold air from the evaporator housing 64 to the chewable ice making system 200. In FIG. 3, the evaporator housing cover 65 (FIG. 2) has been removed from the evaporator housing 64 to reveal first and second portions 64A, 64B of the evaporator housing 64. In the second portion 64B of the evaporator housing 64, the evaporator (not illustrated) is disposed and concealed by an evaporator plate 81. In the first portion 64A of the evaporator housing 64, first and second fans 100, 102 of the cooling system 67 are shown. The first fan 100 is configured to feed cold air to the freezer compartment 24 during a freezer compartment cooling cycle. As such, the first fan 100 may be referred to herein as a freezer compartment fan. The first fan 100 is connected in-series to the second fan 102, as further described below. Thus, the first fan 100 provides cold air not only to the freezer compartment 24, but also provides cold air from the evaporator (not illustrated) to the second fan 102 as well. The second fan 102 provides cold air from the first fan 100 to the chewable ice making system 200 via the duct assembly 70 during an ice making cycle. As such, the second fan 102 may be referred to herein as an ice maker fan. Thus, the first and second fans 100, 102 are operable between active and at-rest conditions, and the fans 100, 102 are running in the active condition and are not running in the at-rest condition. The condition of the first and second fans 100, 102 is controlled by a controller of the refrigerator 10, as further described below, which also controls the various cycles of the refrigerator 10 and an ice making process and distribution process.

As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the chewable ice making system 200 includes an air supply inlet 104 and a return air outlet 106. As illustrated, the ice maker feed duct 72 is interconnected between the evaporator housing first portion 64A, at the first end 74 of the ice maker feed duct 72, and the chewable ice making system 200, at the air supply inlet 104, at the second end 76 of the ice maker feed duct 72. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the ice maker return duct 82 is interconnected between the chewable ice making system 200, at the return air outlet 106, at the first end 84 of the ice maker return duct 82, and evaporator housing 64, at the second portion 64B thereof, at the second end 86 of the ice maker return duct 82. Thus, it is contemplated that the second fan 102 supplies cold air from the evaporator housing 64 to the chewable ice making system 200 via the ice maker feed duct 72 of the duct assembly 70. The cold air powered by the second fan 102 is fed into the air supply inlet 104 of the chewable ice making system 200 by the ice maker feed duct 72. Cooling air or cold air 114 is sent around a plurality of cooling fins 291 configured on an outside of an ice making cylinder 244 (which will be described in greater detail below) and through the return air outlet 106 and returned to the second portion 64B of the evaporator housing 64 by the ice maker return duct 82 for recycling. In this way, the ice maker return duct 82 provides cold air to the evaporator housing 64 near the evaporator (not illustrated), such that the evaporator can use the cold air leftover from an ice making process when providing cold air to the first fan 100. This results in an overall energy savings for the cold air producing process of the evaporator (not illustrated). Both the ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 are contemplated to be insulated ducts, as they are configured to carry much colder air as compared to cold air provided to the refrigerator compartment 12 (FIGS. 1-2). The ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 are contemplated to be insulated by a gas impervious barrier having an insulating material, such that the super cooled air carried in the ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 is not diffused into other components of the refrigerator 10 along the travel path between the evaporator housing 64 and the chewable ice making system 200.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an exemplary chewable ice making system 200 is illustrated with a door liner 210 (FIG. 3), which is typically disposed around an outer periphery of a housing 202 of the ice making system 200, and door 18 removed. The housing 202 contains an ice maker assembly 204, an ice bin assembly 206, and an ice discharge assembly 208. The ice making system 200 is configured to be positioned within the first door 18 as a single unit and is removably connected to a cavity positioned in the door liner 210. The removability provides access to the ice making system 200 for maintenance of the components of the ice making system 200. An ice maker door 212 (FIG. 3) is included to seal off the ice making system 200 from the refrigerator compartment 12 when the door 18 is in the closed position and from the outside air when the door is in the open position. The ice maker door 212 includes a seal (not illustrated) and a latch 214, to close off the ice making system 200 to further limit temperature fluctuations due to the delta between the super cooled air in the ice maker assembly 204 and the higher temperatures in the ambient air of the refrigerator compartment 12 or the outside air.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the ice maker assembly 204 and the ice bin assembly 206 positioned within the housing 202 while the ice discharge assembly 208 is positioned beneath the housing 202. An inlet water line 216 has a water supply end 218 and a tank end 220. The inlet water line 216 extends above and through the housing 202 to supply water to a primary or first water storage tank 222 (FIG. 5). The inlet water line 216 may extend from a refrigerator water supply line fluidically coupled at the water supply end 218 and extending from a filter system (not illustrated) to supply filtered water to the first water storage tank 222 coupled and fluidically coupled to the tank end 220. Alternatively, the filter system may provide filtered water to a refrigerator water tank (not illustrated) that is fluidically coupled through the inlet water line 216 water supply end 218 to provide filtered water to the first water storage tank 222. This may help to maintain a steady flow of water to the first water storage tank 222. Additionally, the inlet water line 216 may include a separate filter assembly (not illustrated) to provide an additional filtering of the water entering the first water storage tank 222. The inlet water line and the refrigerator water tank may be configured in the insulating space 66 (FIG. 3) with the water line 216 exiting through an aperture (not illustrated) in the refrigerator top wall 38 and extending through a door hinge 221 (FIG. 1) and into the door liner 210 before extending through the housing 202 and into the first water storage tank 222.

As used herein, the terms “fluidically coupled”, “fluidically connected”, “fluidically interconnected”, “fluidly coupled”, “fluidly connected” or “fluidly interconnected” indicate that two or more structures are connected to one another in such a way as to provide for fluid air flow or water flow between the two or more structures. Said differently, an airway interconnects the two or more structures, such as the duct assembly 70 fluidically interconnecting the ice making system 200 and the evaporator housing 64. Also as used herein, the term “in-series” indicates two or more structures that are serially aligned along an airway, such as the first and second fans 100, 102. Additionally, a waterline interconnects the two or more structures, such as the inlet water line 216 fluidically interconnecting the refrigerator water filtration and storage system (not illustrated) and the first water storage tank 222, and an ice maker water line 228 fluidically interconnecting the first water storage tank 222 at a first end 230 to the ice maker assembly 204 at a second end 232. The second end 232 is fluidically coupled to a water inlet 240 (FIG. 8) extending from at least a portion of an ice making cylinder base 242.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary ice maker assembly 204 is illustrated in a partial exploded view. The components of the ice maker assembly 204 may include an ice maker assembly frame 266, configured to receive an ice making extruder assembly 268 and the first water storage tank 222. The assembly frame 266 is configured to provide support and structure for the ice making extruder assembly 268 and the water supply system connected to the first water storage tank 222, which will be discussed in greater detail below. The assembly frame 266 also provides a support wall 267 for mounting an air duct housing 92 that is attached to a surface of the support wall 267, the air duct housing 92 is configured to receive and provide a sealing surface for the ice maker feed duct 72, and the ice maker return duct 82 to mount to, as discussed above. Alternatively, the air duct housing 92 may mount directly to the housing 202 and a conduit may be configured between the housing 202 and the support wall 267 to create a sealed flow path for the super cold treated air to flow into the ice making extruder assembly 268.

Turning now to FIG. 6 a partial exploded view of another configuration of the ice making extruder assembly 268 is illustrated. It is noted that the ice making extruder assembly 268 as illustrated in FIG. 7 may have the same elements and structure the as ice making extruder assembly 268 illustrated in FIG. 6, unless otherwise stated or illustrated herein. The components of the ice making extruder assembly 268 may include an ice making drive motor 248 that is configured to be positioned on and removably affixed to the ice maker assembly frame 266. The assembly frame 266 provides rigidity and support to the ice maker extruder assembly 268 when assembled. As further illustrated, the ice maker extruder assembly 268 may include the ice making cylinder base 242 configured to couple with the drive motor 248 on a first side and the ice making cylinder 244 on an opposite second side. The cylinder base 242 may include a bearing assembly 278 and the water inlet 240. By way of a non-limiting example, the bearing assembly 278 may include an axial bearing, a thrust bearing or other similar bearing. The bearing assembly may also include a plurality of seals 190, O-rings 191, and distance rings 192 to provide a sealing engagement between the bearing assembly and the other ice making extruder assembly 268 components. Additionally, seals, O-rings and distance rings may also be used when assembling the ice making extruder assembly 268 to further align the components, maintaining an axial gap and creating a watertight assembly. It should be understood that the water inlet 240 may also be configured in a wall, outer surface, or external surface 245 of the ice making cylinder 244.

Next the ice making scraper, auger, or screw 246 is inserted into an internal cavity 247 defined by the ice making cylinder 244. The internal cavity 247 may be referred to as the extruding ice maker cavity or as the ice making cavity. The ice maker screw 246 may include a first end 272, a screw body 274, and a second end 276. The first end 272 is configured to be inserted into the bearing assembly 278 and is configured to couple to the drive motor 248, so that the drive motor 248 may rotate the ice maker screw 246 during the ice making process to transition the ice making water across an ice making zone (e.g., an inner surface 282 of the ice making cylinder 244 or a portion of the inner surface 282) to form ice crystals or flakes. The ice maker screw 246 second end 276 may also include a bushing or bush bearing 280. The bush bearing 280 is configured to be received in an extruder head 254 to further aid in the smooth rotation of the ice making screw 246. The extruder head 254 may also be referred to as the extruder body, extruder plate, extruder die, die, or extruder. The extruder head 254 includes a plurality of extrusion apertures or through extrusion apertures 255. The extruder head 254 may comprise a die that is operable to form a material (e.g., the chewable ice 270) so that the material has a desired shape along a cross-section that is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the material as the material moves through the extruder head 254.

It should be understood that when the ice making screw 246 is assembled with the ice making cylinder 244, water is stored/held in a clearance space configured between the inner surface 282 of the ice making cylinder 244 and an outer surface 284 of the ice making screw 246. Additionally, the ice making cylinder inner surface 282 may include left-handed spirals 286 along a central longitudinal axis 110 of the cylinder 244. The longitudinal axis 110 of the cylinder 244 may be generally referred to as the cylindrical axis of the cylinder 244. The ice making screw 246 may include edges 288 configured to scrape away an ice accumulation formed in the ice making zone (e.g., an interior wall or an inner surface 282 of the ice making cylinder 244 or a portion of the inner surface 282) to break the layer ice into the ice flakes for transitioning into a compaction area 252. The compaction area 252 is configured at a base of the extruder head 254 and rotation of the ice making screw 246 forces the compacted and chewable ice 270 through the extrusion apertures 255 forming cylinders or nuggets of chewable ice 270. The chewable ice 270 may be referred to as nugget ice or chewable nugget ice. The cylinders of chewable ice 270 collide with an extruder head surface 253 to shear the cylinders into smaller chewable ice nuggets or chewable ice pellets 271. Merely by way of a non-limiting example, the extruder head surface 253 is illustrated as being angled. Alternatively, instead of angled the surface could be rounded, concave, convex, T-shaped or any other known geometry configured to shear the cylinders into smaller chewable ice pellets 271 while directing the ice pellets 271 toward the ice bin assembly 206.

To further aid in the cooling for ice production a plurality of fins 291 may be included on the external surface 245 of the ice making cylinder 244. The fins 291 are configured radially around and in direct contact with the external surface 245 of the ice making cylinder 244. The fins 291 may be constructed as a plurality of single discs having a central aperture 292 and slid over the ice making cylinder 244 to create a stacked configuration. The fins 291 may be stacked in a direction along an axis of the ice making cylinder 244 (e.g., the central longitudinal axis 110 of the cylinder 244). Alternatively, the fins 291 may be cast as a single tube fin assembly also having the central aperture 292 that is configured to slide over and receive the ice making cylinder 244. The configuration of fins 291, whether comprising stacked single discs or a single cast, is illustrated in FIG. 7. Turning back to FIG. 6, another alternative fin assembly 293 including the plurality of fins 291 is illustrated. Fin assembly 293 is an alternative configuration where the fins 291 are formed on a single tube fin assembly that is split along the long axis plane to divide the single cylinder of fins into a fin assembly first half 294 and a fin assembly second half 296, the first half 294 and the second half 296 are configured to act as a clam shell to encase the ice making cylinder 244 external surface 245, thereby creating a set of continuous fins extending radially around the external surface 245.

Additionally, an insulation housing or insulation body 300 is included. The insulation body is configured to surround the plurality of fins 291, in any configuration described herein, to help maintain the ice making temperatures and prevent heat loss. The insulation body 300 may be referred to as the insulator. The insulation body 300 may define a gap between an internal or inner surface 302 of the insulation body 300 and a fin outer surface 298, which may include the outer surfaces 298 of one, some, or all of the fins 291. Alternatively, the insulation body 300 inner surface 302 may fit tightly against the fin outer surface 298 such that the fins 291 engage the inner surface 302 on opposing side of the fins 291 relative to the ice making cylinder 244, and radially outward from the ice making cylinder 244, to force the cooling air to flow across each individual fin 291. It should be understood that the insulation body 300 may include an open inlet side or inlet aperture 304 that is fluidically connected to the cold air supply through the ice maker feed duct 72. The insulation body 300 may also include a return air opening or return air aperture 306 that is fluidically connected to the ice maker return air duct 82. The return air aperture 306 may also be referred to as the outlet aperture. The inlet aperture 304 and the return air aperture 306 may be formed as a single opening in the insulation body 300 as shown in FIG. 7 or as separate openings in the insulation body 300. The positions of the inlet aperture 304 and the return air aperture 306 may be swapped in FIG. 6. Additionally, a damper 308 (FIG. 13) may be included in at least one of the inlet aperture 304 and the return air aperture 306. The damper 308 may include a damper housing 310 (FIG. 13) with a damper flap 312 (FIG. 13) positioned within the housing 310 and rotatably connected to a stepper motor 314 (FIG. 13), the stepper motor 314 is configured to selectively transition between an open position to supply cold air and a closed position to seal and prevent the ice making extruder assembly 268 from receiving cold air.

Turning back to FIG. 6, merely by way of illustrating a non-limiting example, the insulation body 300 is configured to separate along an axial parting line into two separate pieces. Similar to the fin assembly 293, which is split along the long axis plane to divide the single cylinder of fins into the fin assembly first half 294 and the fin assembly second half 296, the insulation body 300 is split along the long axis plane to divide the insulation body 300 into a first insulation body half 316 and a second insulation body half 318. The first body half 316 and the second body half 318 are configured to act as a clam shell to encase the fin outer surface 298 thereby creating a closed cooling chamber around and encapsulating the continuous fins 291 extending radially around the surface 245.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first water storage tank 222 is illustrated in phantom and/or as transparent to further illustrate the internal components, such as the level sensor 226. By way of a non-limiting example the level sensor 226 is a float sensor that measures low and high levels within the first water storage tank 222. Alternatively, the level sensor 226 may be of any known liquid level sensor, including, but not limited to light, resistive strip sensors and infrared that are configured to receive a depth measurement and send a signal back to the controller to operate an inlet water valve 234. The first water storage tank 222 may also include a sanitization element 264A to kill bacteria in the stored water, the sanitization element 264A may include but is not limited to an ultra-violet light or other such sanitizing device. A filtration element may also be used such as a water filter (not illustrated) fluidically connected to the ice making water line 228.

Additionally, the water system may include an overflow water line 236 that extends from the top of the first water storage tank 222 down to a secondary or second water storage tank 238. The second water storage tank 238 is configured to receive and store melt water that results from the chewable ice pellets 271 melting or partially melting while being stored in the ice bin assembly 206. The second water storage tank 238 may also collect any other water resulting from the ice making process. The second water storage tank 238 may be fluidly connected to a pump 256 via a storage tank water line 258 extending from the second water storage tank 238 to the pump 256. The pump 256 further includes and/or is connected to a recycled water line 260 extending from the pump 256 and to a recycled water line inlet 262 configured on the first water storage tank 222. The second water storage tank 238, storage tank water line 258, pump 256, and recycled water line 260 may collectively form a water recycling system that collects melt water from the ice bin assembly 206 and delivers the melt water back to the first water storage tank 222. The first water storage tank 222 is fluidly connected to a refrigerator water source (e.g., a domestic water supply that is connected to the inlet water line 216 at the water supply end 218) and the water recycling system. The first water storage tank 222 is configured to selectively switch between the refrigerator water source and the water recycling system.

The second water storage tank 238 may also include a sanitization element 264B to kill bacteria in the stored water, the sanitization element may include but is not limited to an ultra-violet light or other such sanitizing device. It should be understood that anyone or a combination of filtration elements, screens, and strainers may be fluidically coupled to along the water path between the second water storage tank 238 and the first water storage tank 222 and ultimately the water inlet 240 to filter and remove any contaminants that may be in the ice making water prior to introduction into the ice making cylinder 244. Additionally, the sanitation elements 264A, 264B may also be positioned in the same flow path to remove bacteria prior to introduction into the ice making cylinder 244.

Turning to FIGS. 9-11, the ice bin assembly 206 and the ice discharge assembly 208 may include an ice chute cover 330. The ice chute cover 330 has been removed from the ice discharge assembly 208 in FIGS. 10A-11 for illustrative purposes. Additionally, the process and parts used for transferring the chewable ice 270, or more specifically the chewable ice pellets 271, to the ice bin 350 and then exiting the ice bin 350 and out the ice chute 332 will also be discussed. As illustrated the ice bin 350 is a cube housing with solid walls. However, the ice bin 350 shape is not limiting and is merely the most efficient for the space inside the door 18. It should be understood that the ice bin 350 may include perforated walls with apertures and slots configured to guide cooling air into the interior of the ice bin 350 thereby providing cooling air to the stored chewable ice 270, or more specifically the chewable ice pellets 271. Turning specifically to FIG. 9, the top of the ice maker assembly 204 includes a top cover or cap 320 positioned over the extruder head 254 and may direct the chewable ice pellets 271 toward the ice bin 350. The cap 320 may also direct any cold air coming from the ice making extruder assembly 268 through a slot and toward the ice bin 350 to help cool any stored chewable ice pellets 271. The cap 320 may be mated to a lower cap 322 positioned beneath the cap 320 surrounding the extruder head 254 with an ice landing surface 324 for catching the ice pellets 271 pushed out of the extrusion apertures 255. The ice landing surface 324 includes a downwardly sloped ramp 326 for transitioning the ice pellets 271 from the extruder head 254 sliding down the ramp 326 emptying into the ice bin 350. A pair of sensors 328 may be included at a bottom of the ramp 326, the sensors 328 may create a light curtain that sends a signal if ice pellets 271 are blocking the end of the ramp 326 indicating a possible over full ice bin 350 or the sensors 328 may be configured to send a signal to the controller if no ice pellets 271 are leaving the ice extruder assembly 268.

Additionally, it is contemplated and merely by way of non-limiting example that the lower cap 322 may be configured to provide mounting points and support for other components of the ice maker assembly 204, such as, but not limited to supporting level sensors 226, damper stepper motor 314, and damper 308, and a junction box (not illustrated) for connecting electronic components with the controller. The lower cap 322 may also be configured to connect and support the ice maker feed duct 72 and the ice maker return duct 82 to provide the air path to the ice making extruder assembly 268, in place of in combination with the assembly frame 266 and corresponding support wall 267.

The ice bin assembly 206 is selectively removable with a latch 354 and may include the ice bin 350 positioned over and mated to a lower ice bin 352. The latch 354 is slidingly engaged with the lower ice bin 352 and configured to selectively engage a plurality of latch toggles 355 protruding from a top surface 344 of a chute plate 334. The chute plate 334 provides a base for mounting and supporting the ice maker assembly 204 and the ice bin assembly 206 on the top surface 344. A bottom surface 346 of the chute plate 334 is configured to support an auger drive motor 372 mounted to the bottom surface 346 and including an auger drive motor shaft 374 extending through the chute plate 334. The auger drive motor shaft 374 is configured to couple to an auger assembly 356, the auger assembly including an auger coupling socket 358, an ice wheel 360, bottom plate 362 and an auger arm 364. The auger coupling socket 358 is connected to the auger arm 364 and at least one ice wheel 360. The bottom plate 362 may be affixed to the bottom of the lower ice bin 352 and includes an ice ejection aperture 370. The ice ejection aperture 370 is configured to align with an ice aperture (not illustrated) configured in the bottom of the lower ice bin 352. The ice ejection aperture 370 and the ice aperture are aligned with the ice chute 332 extending through the chute plate 334 and into the ice dispensing station 2 positioned in the front of the first door 18 to provide chewable ice pellets 271 to a user by rotating the auger drive motor 372, resulting in the ice wheel 360 and the auger arm 364 rotating to break up any ice clumps and push the ice pellets 271 into the ice chute 332.

Additionally, to aid in the positioning of the ice bin 350, a lower bin alignment channel 366 (or channels) is configured on the sides of the lower ice bin 352. Corresponding projections are configured on a wall of the housing 202 and the assembly frame 266, adjacent the ice bin assembly 206. A reed switch 368 or reed switch magnet may be used to send a presence detection signal to the controller when the ice bin assembly 206 is not in place to prevent ice from being ejected into the housing 202 when the ice bin 350 is not present. It should be understood that the auger assembly 356 is a mechanism for redistributing ice and breaking clumping bonds in ice that occur due to the melting and refreezing of the ice pellets 271 during storage in the ice bin 350.

Moreover, as the ice is stored in fresh conditions, it can melt over time due to the heat gain from the external environment. Therefore, the ice bin 350 also includes a melt water drain and ice bin check valve 338. Once the melt water starts to collect at the base of the ice bin 350 the water will flow through the check valve 338 and through an ice bin drain channel housing 340 or alternatively through a channel (not illustrated) cut into the chute plate top surface 344. This melt water exits the ice bin drain channel housing 340 into the second water storage tank 238 for recycling, as previously discussed. Additionally, in some cases the melt water may be drained directly into the ice chute cover 330. The ice chute cover 330 is configured with a drain line 342 positioned at a bottom most point to allow melt water to flow naturally down. The drain line 342 may be fluidically connected to a defrost water tray configured in a machine compartment of the refrigerator 10 where the melt water may evaporate. The second water storage tank 238 is mounted to the chute plate bottom surface 346 and includes a second water storage tank cover 348 configured on the chute plate top surface 344 where the water lines 258, 260 and pump 256 are connected to move the melt water as previously discussed.

Turning to FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C, various alternative and non-limiting auger examples are illustrated and disclosed. Specifically, FIG. 12A illustrates a “Z” shaped rod type auger arm 464 configured to be received in an auger assembly (not illustrated) similar to the auger assembly 356, discussed above. The auger arm 464 has a circular cross-section, which avoids the crushing of the chewable ice pellets 271 while rotating. This auger arm 464 has a first bottom bend 465, and a second top bend 466. The first and second bends 465, 466 provide a de-clumping of nuggets at the top & bottom side respectively. The middle part 467 of the auger arm 464 can be constructed as planar or a spiral, as illustrated. The design having a number of bending radii decides the effectiveness of the auger arm 464 to de-clump the ice. The symmetrical design of the auger arm 464 ensures de-clumping of the ice pellets 271 while the auger arm 464 rotates in a dispensing mode. It dispenses all ice pellets 271 without a bigger chunk leftover in the lower ice bin 352.

Alternatively, FIG. 12B illustrates a comb auger 564, the comb auger 564 includes a plurality of horizontal teeth 565 and a plurality of vertical teeth 566, the teeth 565, 566 extending from a plurality of radially projecting arms 567 extending from an auger arm shaft 568. The teeth 565, 566 ensure the effective de-clumping (e.g., two-clumped pellet ice 271 over three-clumped pellet ice 271) of pellet ice 271 over the period of a short time span. The number of teeth 565, 566 and their spacing decides the effectiveness of de-clumping. Less spacing leads to the breaking of the pellet ice 271 instead of breaking the bonding between them, which forms the clumps. More spacing reduces the effectiveness of de-clumping. Sharp edges may be avoided throughout the auger arm 564, otherwise, it can lead to the crushing of ice.

Additionally, a flat beater auger arm 664 is disclosed in FIG. 12C. The flat beater auger arm 664 includes a central auger arm shaft 665 with a plurality of arms 666 configured on lateral sides of the central auger shaft 665. The arms 666 are arranged in a staggered fashion with constant spacing and having a loop 667 extending around and outer periphery of the arms 666. The cross-section of the arms 666 (FIG. 12D) includes a diamond shape 668 having four corners with radii providing more de-clumping pressure with less contact surface.

In operation, the ice making water is supplied utilizing a refrigerator water supply having a standard line water pressure from the user's municipal water supply. The water supply is fluidically interconnected between the refrigerator filter water system (not illustrated) through the inlet water line 216, routed through the refrigerator door hinge 224 and extending into the first water storage tank 222, as discussed above. The inlet water line 216 includes the inlet water valve 234 to meter the volume supplied to the first water storage tank 222 based at least on the signal received from the level sensor 226. The water then flows out of the first water storage tank 222, through the ice maker water line 228 and into the ice making cylinder 244 to assume the ice making space configured between the ice making cylinder inner surface 282 and the ice making screw outer surface 284. The first water storage tank 222 may be a referred to as the water supply tank since it supplies water to the ice making cylinder 244. A constant supply of water is provided to the ice making cylinder 244 by pressure head equalization based on the level of water in the first water storage tank 222. The ice making screw 246 is coupled to the ice making drive motor 248 that drives rotation of the screw 246 pushing the water up from the ice making cylinder base 242 through an ice making zone (e.g., an inner surface 282 of the ice making cylinder 244 or a portion of the inner surface 282). As the ice making screw 246 rotates and ice starts to form on the walls the screw edges 288 scrape the cylinder inner surface 282 to flake the ice crystals and push them toward the compaction area 252 where crystalized or frozen water flakes are compacted against an extruder head 254 and pushed out to make the ice cylinders before ultimately breaking into chewable ice pellets 271 from contact with the extruder head surface 253.

As discussed above, air flow around the ice making extruder assembly 268 is an essential part of the ice making process for forming the ice crystals and ice flakes on the cylinder inner surface 282. Referring now to FIG. 13, a top isometric cross-sectional view of the ice maker assembly 204 is illustrated. This view provides a detail of a cold air flow 114 entering the ice maker air supply inlet 104 and a return air flow 116 exiting the ice maker return air outlet 106. Cold air 114, is air below 0° C., entering through the air inlet duct 104 from the ice maker feed duct 72 and circulating around the fins 291 and flowing above and below each individual fin 291.

The insulation body 300 and the ice making cylinder 244 define an air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 301 therebetween for circulating the cold air 114. More specifically, the insulation body 300 is disposed radially around the outer or external surface 245 of the ice making cylinder 244 such that the air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 301 is defined between the insulation body 300 and ice making cylinder 244, radially outward from the ice making cylinder 244, and radially inward from the insulation body 300. The air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 301 is operable or arranged to receive cooling or cooled air from a supply (e.g., the cooling system 67 via the duct assembly 70) and direct the cooling or cooled air radially around the ice making cylinder 244. The insulation body 300 further defines an inlet (e.g., inlet aperture 304) to the air flow space 301 extending inward toward the ice making cylinder 244. The insulation body 300 further defines an outlet (e.g., return air aperture 306) from the air flow space 301. extending outward from the ice making cylinder 244.

The fins 291 are disposed within the air flow space 301 such that the cooling air is configured to circulate radially around the cylinder and between adjacent fins 291, as illustrated by arrows 303. The fins 291 may be stacked along the central longitudinal axis 110 of the cylinder 244 such that the fins 291 divide the air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 301 into a plurality of air flow channels, air flow paths, air spaces, or air flow spaces 305 wherein each air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 305 (other than the upper most and lower most air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 305) is divided by a pair of adjacent fins 291. Each air flow channel, air flow path, air space, or air flow space 305 divided by the fins 291 may be operable or arranged to receive cooling or cooled air from a supply (e.g., the cooling system 67 via the duct assembly) and direct the cooling or cooled air radially around the ice making cylinder 244 from the inlet aperture 304 to the return air aperture 306.

Cold air 114 flow over and around the annular fins 291 will freeze the ice by convective cooling inside the ice making extruder assembly 268. Ice pellets 271 made will get dispensed from extruder head 254 and into the ice bin 350 as discussed above. Once the air flows around the annular fins 291 the air is directed into the return air outlet 106 by a divider wall or partition 118 allowing the return air flow 116 to escape through the outlet air duct 106. The fins 291 are made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as, but not limited to aluminum, steel, copper or other high thermal conductivity metal, which is important to increase the heat transfer area between the ice making cylinder 244 walls and the surrounding air.

The fins 291 are enclosed by the insulation body 300, such as, but not limited to Styrofoam or other insulative material. Heat transfer occurs primarily between the ice-making cylinder 244 and the cold air 114, and not necessarily with the ambient external environment. As the cold air is in contact with the fins 291 the cooling is transferred to the ice making cylinder inner surface 282 (e.g., heat is transferred away from the ice making cylinder inner surface 282), cooling down the water inside the ice making cylinder 244, and starting a phase change in the water, which turns the water into ice layers, so the harvesting process can be started. It is important to mention that the air flow 114 to the fins 291 may be controlled by the fans 100, 102 and the damper 308.

Alternatively, a specific ice making fan (not illustrated) may be placed in one of the air ducts 72, 82 to push or pull the air flow moving more air across the individual fins 291. Any time the ice making is activated, the fans 100, 102 is turned on and the damper 308 is open, allowing the cold air to flow through each individual fin 291. Once the ice making is deactivated, the damper 308 is closed and the fans 100, 102 is turned off. That is an important measure since when the ice making is off, there should be no cold air supply to the fins and cylinder allowing the water remaining in the ice making cylinder 244 to remain liquid inside the cylinder. Once the chewable ice pellets 271 are harvested and stored in the ice bin 350, as discussed above. The ice pellets 271 are manipulated using the auger assembly 356 to redistribute the ice pellets 271 within the ice bin 350 thereby breaking up any clumps or fused ice.

While disclosed as one controller, the controller may be part of a larger control system and may be controlled by various other controllers throughout the refrigerator 10. It should therefore be understood that the controller and one or more other controllers can collectively be referred to as a “controller” that controls various actuators in response to signals from various sensors to control functions the refrigerator 10 or refrigerator subsystems. The controller may include a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. Computer readable storage devices or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the CPU is powered down. Computer-readable storage devices or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the controller in controlling the refrigerator 10 or refrigerator subsystems.

Control logic or functions performed by the may be represented by flow charts or similar diagrams in one or more figures. These figures provide representative control strategies and/or logic that may be implemented using one or more processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven, multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like. As such, various steps or functions illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Although not always explicitly illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more of the illustrated steps or functions may be repeatedly performed depending upon the particular processing strategy being used. Similarly, the order of processing is not necessarily required to achieve the features and advantages described herein but is provided for ease of illustration and description. The control logic may be implemented primarily in software executed by a microprocessor-based controller, such as controller. Of course, the control logic may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware in one or more controllers depending upon the particular application. When implemented in software, the control logic may be provided in one or more computer-readable storage devices or media having stored data representing code or instructions executed by a computer to control the refrigerator 10 or its subsystems. The computer-readable storage devices or media may include one or more of a number of known physical devices which utilize electric, magnetic, and/or optical storage to keep executable instructions and associated calibration information, operating variables, and the like.

It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that any component, state, or condition described herein that does not have a numerical designation may be given a designation of first, second, third, fourth, etc. in the claims if one or more of the specific component, state, or condition are claimed.

The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet defining at least one storage compartment;

a cooling system configured to supply cooling air to the at least one storage compartment; and

an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator, wherein the cooling system is further configured to supply the cooling air to the ice maker, and wherein the ice maker includes, a cylinder defining an ice making cavity, fins disposed radially around the cylinder, and an insulation body disposed radially around the fins, wherein the insulation body and the cylinder collectively define an air flow channel therebetween for radially circulating the cooling air around the cylinder, and wherein the fins are disposed within the air flow channel such that the cooling air is configured to circulate between adjacent fins within the air flow channel.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice maker includes a water supply tank fluidly connected to and operable to deliver water to the ice making cavity.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the ice maker further comprises a water recycling system fluidly connected to the water supply tank, wherein the water recycling system is operable to collect melt water from a bin that stores chewable ice nuggets produced by the ice maker and deliver the melt water to the water supply tank.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the water supply tank is fluidly connected to a refrigerator water source and is configured to selectively switch between the refrigerator water source and the water recycling system.

5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the water supply tank and the water recycling system includes at least one of an ultraviolet light, a filter, or a screen.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the fins collectively define a central aperture, and wherein the cylinder is disposed within the central aperture.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising an auger disposed within the ice making cavity, wherein the auger includes at least one scraping edge configured to scrape an ice accumulation formed on an interior wall of the cylinder and direct the ice accumulation to an extruder die to form chewable ice nuggets.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an ice storage bin, wherein the ice storage bin is positioned adjacent to the ice maker and is configured to store the chewable ice nuggets extruded from the ice maker.

9. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

an air cooling system having a heat exchanger operable to cool air and a duct system operable to transport the cooled air; and

an ice maker operable to receive the cooled air from the duct system to form chewable ice, the ice maker having a cylinder defining a cavity, an extruder die secured to the cylinder and operable to form the chewable ice, a scraper disposed within the cavity and operable to scrape an ice accumulation formed on an interior wall of the cylinder and direct the ice accumulation to the extruder die to form the chewable ice, and an insulator disposed around the cylinder, wherein the insulator and the cylinder collectively define an air flow path therebetween that extends radially around the cylinder, wherein the insulator further defines an inlet to the air flow path extending inward toward the cylinder, and an outlet from the air flow path extending outward from the cylinder.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the cylinder, toward the insulator, and into the air flow path such that the cooled air is configured to circulate radially around the cylinder and between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the plurality of fins is stacked in a direction along a cylindrical axis of the cylinder.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the plurality of fins engages an internal surface of the insulator on an opposing side of the plurality of fins relative to the cylinder.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 9, wherein the ice maker includes a primary water tank fluidly connected to and operable to deliver water to the cylinder.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 13, wherein the ice maker further comprises a secondary water tank operable to collect melt water from a bin that stores the chewable ice.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein the secondary water tank is fluidly connected to the primary water tank, and further comprising a pump operable to direct the melt water from the secondary water tank to the primary water tank.

16. A chewable nugget ice maker for a refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cylinder defining an ice making cavity;

a scraper positioned in the ice making cavity and operable to scrape an ice accumulation formed within the cylinder and direct the ice accumulation to an extruder die to form the chewable nugget ice; and

a housing disposed radially around an outer surface of the cylinder such that an air flow path is defined between the housing and cylinder, radially outward from the cylinder, and radially inward from the housing, wherein the air flow path is arranged to receive cooled air from a supply and direct the cooled air radially around the cylinder.

17. The chewable nugget ice maker of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the cylinder, toward the housing, and into the air flow path such that the cooled air is configured to circulate radially around the cylinder and between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins.

18. The chewable nugget ice maker of claim 17, wherein the plurality of fins is stacked in a direction along a cylindrical axis of the cylinder.

19. The chewable nugget ice maker of claim 17, wherein the plurality of fins engages an internal surface of the housing on an opposing side of the plurality of fins relative to the cylinder.

20. The chewable nugget ice maker of claim 17 further comprising a drive motor rotatably connected to the scraper, the drive motor configured to rotate the scraper during an ice making process.