By Accumulation Of Product Patents (Class 62/137)
-
Patent number: 12228325Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice tray, a motor, an ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, and a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray. A control method of the refrigerator includes a first step of sensing whether the ejector is rotated to reach a first setup position; a second step of driving the heater and stopping driving of an ice making compartment fan if the first step is satisfied; a third step of determining whether the ejector is rotated to reach a second setup position; and a fourth step of stopping driving of the heater if the third step is satisfied, and wherein the ejector continues to be rotated while the second to fourth steps are implemented.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
-
Patent number: 12050044Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an ice making room, a cool air supply duct connecting the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, an ice maker, a cool air guide duct that guides cool air from the ice making room toward the ice maker, and an ice bin below the ice maker to store ice. The ice maker includes an ice tray including cool air guide ribs, and an ice separating guide covering a front surface of the ice tray and a portion of a top surface thereof in which the cool air guide ribs extend from one side of the ice tray toward the other side and are spaced apart from a front surface of a tray body toward a rear surface, and bottom parts of the cool air guide ribs are spaced apart from a bottom part of the cool air guide duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2023Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
-
Patent number: 11852395Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and an energy-saving control method and apparatus therefor. The refrigerator includes an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice discharge electric motor (1), an ice storage bin (2) and an ice storage bin position switch (3). The method includes: detecting and determining that the ice storage bin (2) is in a full ice state; controlling the ice maker so that same stops making ice, and acquiring the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3); and according to the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3), determining that the ice maker needs to do heating and ice detection actions.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignees: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD, HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventors: Jincai Wang, Yang Shao, Guangqing Yang, Zengqiang Si, Yabing Wu
-
Patent number: 11573043Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a door rotatably coupled to the main body, and an ice making chamber provided in the door and into which the ice maker is assembled. The ice making chamber includes an ice making chamber wall and an ice making space having an open front surface, and the ice making chamber wall includes a guide rib protruding toward the ice making space. The ice maker includes an ice making tray having an ice making cell for storing water, an ejector rotatable to separate ice from the ice making cell, and a motor box coupled to one side of the ice making tray in a longitudinal direction to accommodate an ice separation motor for rotating the ejector. The ice making tray is supported on the guide rib, and the motor box and the ice making chamber wall is fastened through a fastening member.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Seok Jun Yoon, Do Yun Jang, Yeon Woo Cho, Kook Jeong Seo
-
Patent number: 11391500Abstract: An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.Inventors: Kevin Knatt, Curt Cayemberg
-
Patent number: 11313602Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice-making apparatus, the ice-making apparatus including: an ice tray in which ice is made; a water supply device which supplies water to the ice tray from an upper side of the ice tray; a drive unit which is coupled with the ice tray and rotates the ice tray so as to separate ice made in the ice tray; and an ice-fullness detecting lever which is coupled with the drive unit below the ice tray and is rotated in the same direction as that of the ice tray to detect ice-fullness of the ice bank, in which a tray rotation shaft for rotation of the ice tray and a lever rotation shaft for rotation of the ice-fullness detecting lever are provided in the same surface of the drive unit, and in which the lever rotation shaft is positioned below the tray rotation shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Jongho Yun
-
Patent number: 11231217Abstract: An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a resilient silicone mold defining a mold cavity and a lifter mechanism positioned below the resilient mold for selectively deforming the mold and raising the ice cubes formed therein. A sweep assembly is positioned over the resilient mold and moves to an extended position after the cubes are raised to discharge the ice cubes at a top of the ice making assembly. A fill cup is positioned above the resilient mold for selectively filling the mold cavity with water and a heating element in thermal communication with the fill cup for selectively heating the fill cup to prevent ice jams or clogging.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
-
Patent number: 11209201Abstract: An ice maker for a household refrigeration apparatus has a housing with an opening, through which ice is transportable from an interior of the housing out of the housing, a flap, which is movably arranged in the housing and adjustable for closing or opening the opening, and a drive unit, which is coupled to the flap by a coupling device of the ice maker, to move the flap. The drive unit is formed as a separate module and the entire module of the drive unit is arranged adjacent to the opening in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Prashantagouda Hosamani, Robert Stahl, Mathias Sigl, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
-
Patent number: 11181309Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice tray assembly disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice tray assembly includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction and a cover having a water fill cup integrated into the cover and an outlet aligned with an inlet of the ice mold.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Thomas W. McCollough
-
Patent number: 11112158Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, includes a storage chamber which can be cooled to below 0° C. A water supply feeding into the storage chamber is formed by a resiliently expandable pipeline, at least inside the storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Klaus Pfeiffer, Karl-Friedrich Laible, Eugen Gaplikow
-
Patent number: 11064715Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a housing having a base configured to support a blender cup, a dispensing chamber disposed above the blender cup and configured to support a frozen beverage container containing frozen ingredients suitable for preparing a frozen drink, at least one dispensing mechanism configured to move from a pre-dispense position to a dispense position in which the dispensing mechanism drives the frozen ingredients from the frozen beverage container into the blender cup, and a drive mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to drive the movement of the dispensing mechanism from the pre-dispense position to the dispense position. A method of preparing a frozen drink is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Island Oasis Frozen Cocktail Company, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Herbert, Bryan Hotaling, Matthew Naples, Patrick Devine
-
Patent number: 11022358Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Thomas McCollough
-
Patent number: 10982894Abstract: An ice storage includes a storage body having a storage space for storing ice and a discharge port for discharging ice to the outside, a transferring and breaking part which, by having at least a part thereof provided in the storage space, transfers the ice in the storage space to the discharge port, and if necessary, breaks the transferred ice, and a door part allowing the ice to be discharged through the discharge port as unbroken ice or broken ice unbroken or broken up by the transferring and breaking part. The transferring and breaking part includes a transferring member for transferring ice and a breaking member for breaking ice, and the transferring member and the breaking member are configured such that ice is not stuck therebetween while being transferred.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Inventors: Young-Hoon Hong, Jung-Hwan Lee, Hyun-Seok Moon, Kyu-Jun Kim, Gyeong-Min Lee, Jong-Min Kim, Han-Soo Kim, Dong-Min Oh
-
Patent number: 10935296Abstract: An ice making machine may include an ice tray, a drive unit that turns the ice tray, a frame body supporting the ice tray and the drive unit, a cold air guide part integrally formed with the frame body, and a cold air duct connecting an opening in the frame body with a cold air supply port. The frame body includes a wall part at an end of the ice tray, the wall part is formed with the opening and the cold air guide part, and the cold air guide part flows cold air through the opening toward the ice tray. The cold air guide part is a frame body side inclined wall and the cold air duct includes a duct side inclined wall facing the frame body side inclined wall and a cold air blowing outlet includes the frame body side inclined wall and the duct side inclined wall.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignees: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION, WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Shunji Saito, Satoshi Tanimura, David Vega
-
Patent number: 10928114Abstract: An ice maker provided in a refrigerator is provided. The ice maker includes: first and second ice making units configured to include ice making trays, heaters heating the ice making trays for deicing, and ejectors ejecting made ice from the ice making trays, respectively, wherein a plurality of first ice making grooves are formed in the ice making tray of the first ice making unit, and a plurality of second ice making grooves are formed in the ice making tray of the second ice making unit, the plurality of second ice making grooves having a shape different from that of the plurality of first ice making grooves.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hye-kyoung An, Kwan-yeol Lee, Jae-koog An, Ho-cheol Cho
-
Patent number: 10845112Abstract: A container arrangement for use in an interior (2) of a refrigeration device (1) includes a box-shaped container (40) with a bottom part (41) surrounded or enclosed by peripheral side walls (42) and with a loading opening (46) with an opening edge (43) defining a free end of the side walls (42), and an insert tray (50) for positioning in the container (40). The opening edge (43) includes a receiving shape (45) which interacts with a corresponding positioning device (55) on the tray (50) to define a predetermined inserted position of the insert tray (50) relative to the opening (46). The container arrangement (4) is configured for being pushed into and pulled out of the interior (2).Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignees: Miele & Cie. KG, BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Frank Placke, Daniel Baßler, Herbert Cizik, Jessica Dittman
-
Patent number: 10833565Abstract: A drive unit for an ice making device comprises a partition member formed with a penetration part, a circuit board disposed on one side with respect to the partition member, a drive mechanism disposed on the other side with respect to the partition member, and a terminal holder disposed on an inner side of the penetration part. The partition member comprises a first holder support part which supports a first side face of the terminal holder with elasticity, and a second holder support part which supports a second side face of the terminal holder. The terminal holder comprises a first engaging protruded part which is engaged with an end part of the first holder support part, and the first holder support part comprises a first guide groove which guides the first engaging protruded part when the terminal holder is inserted into the penetration part.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventor: Shunji Saito
-
Patent number: 10714911Abstract: A submersible electrical enclosure is for a switchgear assembly. The switchgear assembly includes a number of electrical switching apparatus. The submersible electrical enclosure includes: a plurality of sides defining an interior, the interior receiving each of the electrical switching apparatus, each side including: a conductive polymeric layer facing away from the interior, and an insulative polymeric layer molded to the conductive polymeric layer. The insulative polymeric layer faces the interior and substantially overlays the conductive polymeric layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Mark Faulkner, Michael Davis Pearce, Travis Spoone
-
Patent number: 10697685Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an ice making room, a cool air supply duct connecting the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, an ice maker, a cool air guide duct that guides cool air from the ice making room toward the ice maker, and an ice bin below the ice maker to store ice. The ice maker includes an ice tray including cool air guide ribs, and an ice separating guide covering a front surface of the ice tray and a portion of a top surface thereof in which the cool air guide ribs extend from one side of the ice tray toward the other side and are spaced apart from a front surface of a tray body toward a rear surface, and bottom parts of the cool air guide ribs are spaced apart from a bottom part of the cool air guide duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
-
Patent number: 10605513Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly, to an ice maker with an adjusting apparatus for water supply, which can easily change a position of an adjusting micro switch for adjusting a water supply time, thereby conveniently and accurately adjusting the water supply time and simplifying the configuration of the ice maker, the ice maker including a driver that drives an operation cam, an operation lever driven in contact with the operation cam, a plate-shaped bracket having the operation lever installed therein and provided inside an inner housing, a holder movably installed in the bracket and having the adjusting micro switch fixed thereto, and a control screw penetrating the inner housing and threaded on the holder.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Inventor: Byung Wook Jeong
-
Patent number: 10605511Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; a clear ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make clear ice pieces; and an ice bucket configured to store the clear ice pieces made by the clear ice maker assembly. The clear ice maker assembly includes an ice maker tray portion having a plurality of cavities for forming clear ice pieces; a water distribution assembly configured to distribute a non-pressurized, even flow of water to each of the cavities of the ice maker tray portion; a water reservoir tank and a pump for supplying water to the water distribution assembly; and a water collection and return duct that is disposed below and extends along an edge of the ice maker tray portion to collect and return excess water to the water reservoir tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Nilton Bertolini, Silas Patrick Mallon, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez, Vishal Vekariya
-
Patent number: 10539354Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Thomas McCullough
-
Patent number: 10539355Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, and an ice maker provided in the storage compartment to make ice. The ice maker includes a cooling device to provide cold air, an ice-making tray movably provided between a first position adjacent to the cooling device and a second position spaced farther from the cooling device than the first position, and an ejector is configured to move the ice-making tray. The ejector includes a driving portion to separate the ice produced in the ice-making tray.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Do Yun Jang, Bong Su Son
-
Patent number: 10451328Abstract: A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Thomas McCollough, Travis McMahan, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
-
Patent number: 10401072Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and an evaporation chamber, a first door, a housing in the first door, an ice making room defining a cool air inflow hole and a cool air discharge hole, a chiller room defining a cool air discharge hole, a second door connected to the first door, a partition wall defining the ice making room, the chiller room, and a communication hole, a damper opening and closing the communication hole, a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber and the cool air inflow hole to supply cool air of the evaporation chamber to the ice making room and a cool air return duct having a first inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the ice making chamber and a second inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the chiller room.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
-
Patent number: 10345024Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold cavity. The mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. A first arm and a second arm are connected to opposite sides of an ejector pad and extend upward from the ejector pad. The ejector pad is movable via the first and second arms between a low position and a high position and can eject ice from the mold cavity when the ejector pad moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: John Keith Besore, Brent Alden Junge
-
Patent number: 10274240Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice tray with partitioned spaces for receiving ice-making water, an ejector for ice-separating an ice in the ice tray, a detector unit for detecting at least one of a position of the ejector and a temperature of the ice tray, a control box provided to be opposite to the ice tray and including a printed circuit board and a motor for driving the ejector therein, and a planar heater provided in the ice tray and including a heating element of a metal thin film and an insulating member to wrap the heating element such that the planar heater is pressured by virtue of an instrument provided in the ice tray to be bonded to or in closely contacted with the ice tray.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: DAECHANG CO., LTD.Inventors: Jun Dong Ji, Jung Woo Lee
-
Patent number: 10267551Abstract: An ice maker includes: an ice tray having partitioned spaces for receiving ice-making water; an ejector for separating ice in the ice tray; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a position of the ejector and a temperature of the ice tray; a control box provided to face the ice tray and including a motor operating the ejector and a printed circuit board provided therein; and a surface type heater provided in the ice tray and including a heating element of a metal thin film or a heat wire and an insulating member surrounding the heating element. The surface type heater is adhered to the ice tray by being pressed by an instrument provided in the ice tray or adhered to the ice tray by being bonded thereto.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: DAE CHANG CO., LTD.Inventors: Jun Dong Ji, Jung Woo Lee, Jong Myung Kim
-
Patent number: 10240841Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor, an input current detector to detect input current of alternating current (AC) power inputted to the refrigerator, a converter to convert the inputted AC power into direct current (DC) power, a capacitor to store the converted DC power, an inverter to output AC power using the converted DC power for driving of the compressor, a DC terminal voltage detector to detect voltage at two terminals of the capacitor, and a compressor microcomputer to control the inverter and to calculate refrigerator power consumption based on the detected input current and the detected DC terminal voltage. The refrigerator enables simplified power consumption calculation.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Sangbok Choi, Kibae Lee
-
Patent number: 10139146Abstract: An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: SCD CO., LTD.Inventor: Jin Sung Park
-
Patent number: 10126046Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and a method for controlling the same. The method for controlling the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes turning on the refrigerator, and starting a compressor; setting a predetermined power-consuming factor to a basic value; measuring a power consumption within a setting period, while the refrigerator is operated; recognizing whether the measured power consumption is smaller than a previous power consumption; and changing a value of the power-consuming factor, when the measured power consumption is greater than the previous power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Sangwook Seo
-
Patent number: 10047994Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body configured to have a storage space for storing food, a cooling part provided in the main body and comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator which constitute a cooling/freezing cycle, a refrigerant pipe for circulating refrigerant based on the refrigerating cycle, and an ice machine in the storage space. The ice machine includes a case providing an ice-making space, an ice-making pipe extending from the refrigerant pipe to the case, a cooling plate on a surface of the case and configured to be in contact with the ice-making pipe, and an ice-making tray on the cooling plate so as to be cooled by the cooling plate, and configured to accommodate water for generating ice.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics CorporationInventor: Sung Jin Yang
-
Patent number: 9995523Abstract: A refrigerator includes an icemaker, an ice bank that is configured to store ice released from the icemaker, a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of the ice bank, and a controller configured to determine, based on weight measurements measured by the weight sensor, a variation in amount of ice stored in the ice bank during a set time period, and adjust an ice determination reference value based on the determined variation in the amount of ice stored in the ice bank during the set time period.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Junsoo Park, Jiyeong Ku, Jiyoon Lee, Jiyoung Yoon
-
Patent number: 9976786Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brian J. Beuligman, Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, William C. Montgomery
-
Patent number: 9958175Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus that is safer and has small conveying power for such as water at the indoor unit side can be made small. It is characterized in that a compressor 10 and a heat source side heat exchanger 12 are accommodated in a heat source apparatus 1, an intermediate heat exchanger 15 and a pump 21 in a relay unit 3, a use side heat exchanger 26 in an indoor unit 2, respectively, and when a controller 60 makes the compressor 10 stop based on the thermo-off due to decrease in the heat load in the use side heat exchanger 26 or an operation stop instruction, the controller 60 makes the pump 21 stop after the compressor 10 is stopped or almost at the same time as the stop.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura
-
Patent number: 9939186Abstract: An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Scotsman Group LLCInventors: Keith H. Roth, Chris J. Salatino, Jonathan V. Stockton
-
Patent number: 9933195Abstract: An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Scotsman Group LLCInventors: Keith H. Roth, Chris J. Salatino, Jonathan V. Stockton
-
Patent number: 9863686Abstract: A device for adjusting a full-ice level includes: an ice making tray for making ice; an ice making tray fixing unit positioned on both sides of the ice making tray to support the ice making tray; an ice storage unit positioned below the ice making tray and for storing ice that is separated from and drops from the ice making tray; a full-ice level sensor for sensing the highest level of ice stored in the ice storage unit; a sensor guide on which the full-ice level sensor is installed, and positioned in the ice storage unit; and a motor on one side of the ice making tray fixing unit and coupled with the sensor guide, and for moving the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics CorporationInventor: Won Gu Park
-
Patent number: 9845982Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice during a cooling cycle, the ice maker having a variable-speed compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, wherein the variable-speed compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator are in fluid communication by one or more refrigerant lines. The ice maker further includes a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator, a water pump, a sensing device for identifying a state of the cooling cycle, and a controller adapted to control the speed of the variable-speed compressor based on the identified state of the cooling cycle. The ice maker may also include a variable-speed condenser fan which may be controlled by the controller based on the identified state of the cooling cycle. Additionally, the water pump may be a variable-speed water pump which may be controlled by the controller based on the identified state of the cooling cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Kevin Knatt
-
Patent number: 9784491Abstract: Provided is a driving device for an automatic ice-making machine, the driving device including: a cam gear that rotates a tray; and an operating lever that organically operates along a cam plane for an ice-cube quantity detecting arm formed at the cam gear and allows the ice-cube quantity detecting arm to rotate downward into an ice-cube storage bin, wherein a cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm is formed in the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm of the cam gear and allows the operating level to descend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin, and a protrusion is formed between the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and the cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and allows the operating lever to ascend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm that rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin rotates upward.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: SCD CO., LTD.Inventor: Jae Hyeong Choi
-
Patent number: 9759470Abstract: A portable apparatus for rapidly freezing a freezable liquid to form at least one frozen object includes a fluid intake in which the freezable liquid is introduced and a freeze chamber that receives the freezable liquid from the fluid intake. The freeze chamber includes a freeze block that includes at least one cell in which the at least one frozen object is formed. A cooling system circulates refrigerant to the freeze block to facilitate cooling of the freeze block. The freeze block is formed of a heat transfer material such that heat from the freezable liquid added to the at least one cell is transferred to the freeze block whereupon said heat is transferred to the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil of the freeze block, thereby resulting in cooling of the freeze block. The freeze block is configured and the refrigerant is selected such that the freeze chamber is maintained at a temperature of below 0° F. and preferably below at least about ?10.0° F. or ?20° F.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: SWEET ICE, INC.Inventors: Evan Zisholtz, Steven Hamblin, Tod Riggan
-
Patent number: 9759471Abstract: An ice collection area is disposed inside the cabinet proximate an ice maker. An ice storage area is disposed inside the cabinet. A first relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The first relocatable ice bin is disposed in one of the ice collection area and the ice storage area. A second relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The second relocatable ice bin is disposed in the other of the ice collection area and the ice storage area.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas D. Leclear, Thomas L. Jueller, Jr., Ronald L. Voglewede
-
Patent number: 9709312Abstract: A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Thomas McCollough, Travis McMahan, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
-
Patent number: 9651290Abstract: An ice maker has a mold with a first piece and a second piece. A cavity within the mold includes a first reservoir in the first piece and a second reservoir in the second piece that align to substantially enclose the cavity. A fluid intake aperture in the first piece extends to the cavity for injecting water therein. A thermoelectric device has a cold side thermally coupled to the exterior surface of the second piece. The thermoelectric device transfers heat from the cold side to a hot side to provide a first temperature to the mold. A removable cooling source is thermally coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling source is configured to reduce the temperature of the hot side to allow the cold side to provide a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature to freeze the water in the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley
-
Patent number: 9599385Abstract: An ice tray may include a substantially planar body portion with a plurality of cavities that are not interconnected by weirs. The ice tray may include a body having raised portions between adjacent cavities to alleviate stress that may otherwise form in these areas. A water distribution system may be utilized to provide specified volumes of water in the cavities to prevent overflowing of the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: James C.L. Guarino, Lindsey Ann Wohlgamuth
-
Patent number: 9593875Abstract: An icemaking compartment is provided in the refrigerator compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. An icemaker is within the icemaking compartment. A cold air duct supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaker. The cold air duct is formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator. A fan controls the flow of air through the cold air duct. A return air duct is provided to direct a portion of the air from the icemaker back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaker directs another portion of air into the refrigerator compartment.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Kyle B. Van Meter, Dean A. Martin, Xia Yong Fu
-
Patent number: 9448003Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigeration cycle including a refrigerant pipe to supply cooling energy to an ice making compartment, an ice making tray, on which at least a portion of the refrigerant pipe is seated, a drainage duct to collect condensed water falling from the ice making tray or from at least a portion of the refrigerant pipe, and to drain the collected water, and at least one fixer to fix at least a portion of the refrigerant pipe to the ice making tray. The fixer is protruded from the drainage duct.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Shik Shin, Chang Hak Lim, Jin Jeong, Sang Hyun Park
-
Patent number: 9377234Abstract: A refrigerator including an icemaker and an ice bucket provided at a door, a feeding unit to feed ice cubes stored in the ice bucket, a driving motor provided at a main body to drive the feeding unit, and a coupling device to transmit driving force from the driving motor to the feeding unit. When the door is closed, the driving motor is connected to the feeding unit. When the door is opened, the driving motor is disconnected from the feeding unit. Accordingly, the door has a simple structure, the ice bucket has an increased capacity, repair or replacement of the driving motor is easily achieved. The coupling device includes a first coupling unit and a second coupling unit which is engaged with the first coupling unit to receive driving force. The coupling device is configured to hide the coupling units when the door is opened.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Kyoung Ki Park, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Jae Koog An, Bu Kil Jeong
-
Patent number: 9291381Abstract: An ice making machine includes a heat pipe that extends between a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The heat pipe has a first end in the freezer compartment and a second end in the refrigerator compartment. A heat exchanger is located in the freezer compartment and is in contact with the first end of the heat pipe. A heat block is located in the refrigerator compartment and is in contact with the second end of the heat pipe. A removable ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block with a surface in contact with the heat block such that when the removable ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the removable ice cube tray in contact with the block.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Inventor: William G. Nelson
-
Patent number: 9259114Abstract: An integrated beverage blending system comprising: a controller for menu selection; an ice portion control module; an ingredient module; a dispensing apparatus in communication with the ice portion control module and the ingredient module, wherein the ice and the ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via the dispensing apparatus; and at least one blender module which blends and/or mixes the ice and the ingredient in the beverage container, thereby producing the beverage; wherein, upon removal of the beverage container from the blender module, the blender module initiates a cleaning mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Enodis CorporationInventors: Roberto Nevarez, William E. Smith, Jan Claesson