Means Producing Shaped Or Modified Congealed Product Patents (Class 62/340)
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Publication number: 20120017627Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water comprises: a cold water unit configured to store cold water therein; an ice making unit configured to make the cold water into ice cubes; a first heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit; and a second heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit. Since the heat exchangers are individually disposed at the cold water unit and the ice making unit, the temperature of the cold water supplied from the cold water unit may be easily controlled. Furthermore, this may allow the cold water to be supplied to a user with a uniform temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2009Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Kyung-Han Jeong, Kwang-Ha Suh
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Patent number: 8099975Abstract: An icemaker having a mold comprising at least one cavity and a cooling system. The cooling system has a first heat exchanger configured to have a medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the mold to reduce the temperature of the mold below a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alexander Pinkus Rafalovich, Omar Haidar, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Solomon Muthumani, Ronald Scott Tarr, Stephen Bischoff, Alvaro Delgado
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Publication number: 20120011877Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a water supply unit connected to a water supply passage to temporarily store the supplied water, thereby stably supplying water is disposed above an ice making apparatus. Also, since water having a reduced pressure is supplied into the ice making apparatus, the water may be stably supplied into the ice making apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Yonghyun KIM, Ilwook JOUNG, Siyeon AN, Byoungjun LEE
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Patent number: 8096142Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis, Jim J. Pastryk, Shawn F. Olsson
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Publication number: 20120000234Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
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Publication number: 20110302951Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigerator and a method for making ice are provided. The ice maker includes an ice-making tray configured to be disposed at one side of a refrigerating chamber, that stores water to be used to make ice, and an ice-making pipe that freezes the water stored in the ice-making tray. In an ice-releasing process, the ice-making tray is instantly heated by applying power thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Inventors: Jong Min SHIN, Ju Hyun Kim
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Publication number: 20110302935Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a refrigerator including a door, a liquid reservoir, a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, and a pump in communication with the dispenser. Further provided is a method of operating a refrigerator including the steps of providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, a liquid reservoir, and a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid through the door, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, providing a pump having an inlet in communication with the liquid in the liquid reservoir and an outlet in communication with the dispenser, and providing a user interface in communication with the pump, whereby selectively entering a dispensing function input into the interface actuates the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: NIHAT CUR, GREGORY G. HORTIN, DEBRA E. STEEL
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Publication number: 20110296863Abstract: Ice maker comprising a mould (10, 110) forming at a number of mould cavities (11, 111a, 11b) for receiving water and forming a respective piece of ice (41, 42,141), which number of mould cavities are arranged in at least one column defining a longitudinal direction; a first (2, 102) and a second shaft (3, 103); an endless conveyor (100), which is arranged to convey the mould in the longitudinal direction around at least the first shaft; and drive means (8) connected to at least one of the first and second shafts for driving the conveyor. The mould (10, 110) is formed of an elastic material and arranged to be elastically deformed as the mould passes over the first shaft (2, 102). Longitudinal communication channels (13a, 113a) are arranged between consecutive mould cavities (11, 111a) arranged in one column, for allowing water to flow between mould cavities in one column. A method of fabricating pieces of ice is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: DOMETIC SWEDEN ABInventors: Anders Bergqvist, Per Wedby, Björn Flemsäter, Jan Rickman, Ingemar Hallin
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Publication number: 20110271705Abstract: A household appliance, in particular a refrigeration device, in which ice bodies can be made of supplied water, includes a hose and/or tube assembly for supply of water to a receiving container, and a valve connected to the hose and/or tube assembly and constructed to release or suppress the water supply to the receiving container. The hose and/or tube assembly has zones in which a physical condition changes, wherein the valve is disposed in the hose and/or tube assembly in a region which has not yet encountered a change in the physical condition after water has been supplied into the hose and/or tube assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBHInventors: Athanasios Athanasiou, Hans Ihle, Frank Schaefer
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Patent number: 8047015Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigerator. The present invention provides an ice maker for a refrigerator, which is provided at one side of the refrigerator to make ice. The ice maker comprises an ice maker body provided with an ice-making tray for making ice; an ejector rotatably mounted at one side of the ice maker body so as to eject ice made in the ice-making tray to the outside; a water supply hopper provided at one side of the ice maker body and having at least an open portion so that the water supply hopper is supplied with water from a water supply source through a water supply tube and then transfers the water to the ice-making tray; and a hopper cover coupled to the water supply hopper so as to selectively open and close the open portion of the water supply hopper. According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which water supplied from an outer water supply source to the water supply hopper splashes to the outside.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Si-Yeon An, Seong-Wook Kim, Joo-Won Park
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Publication number: 20110259034Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice maker (211) comprises a freezing chamber (3), a refrigerating chamber (2), door bodies (21, 31) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and an ice maker (211) provided in the freezing chamber (3), the refrigerating chamber (2) or the door body (21, 31) for making ice. The ice maker (211) is connected with a refrigerating system independent from the freezing chamber (3) and the refrigerating chamber (2) so that the ice maker (211) is not affected by the refrigerating conditions of other chambers and can make ice independently.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: Haier Group & Qingdao Haier Joint Stock Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dongning Wang, Minghua Zhao, Jie Ma, Lei Chen, Hongyan Yang
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Publication number: 20110259035Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a shell body (1) divided into a refrigerating chamber (2) and a freezing chamber (3), and a door body (20) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and further comprises an ice-making chamber (21) and movable supporting mechanisms (213, 214) connecting the ice-making chamber (21) and the inner wall of the shell body (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicants: Qingdao Haier Joint Stock Co., Ltd., Haier GroupInventors: Dongning Wang, Minghua Zhao, Jie Ma, Lei Chen, Hongyan Yang
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Publication number: 20110259036Abstract: A refrigerator having a drawer to be pushed into or pulled out of a storage compartment. An ice-making unit is integrally mounted in the drawer so as to be pushed into or pulled out of the drawer through an opening perforated in a front wall of the drawer, resulting in improved use convenience and space utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Dae Jin Hong, Sung Il Park, Ji Sick Hwang
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Patent number: 8042344Abstract: To restrict the deposition of stain on an ice making unit, and prevent damage to resin components or the like. The above problems are solved by the followings. Ice making water is supplied to the front surface of an ice making plate cooled by refrigerant supplied to an evaporation tube during an ice making cycle to produce ice blocks. During a deicing cycle, deicing water is supplied by opening a water feed valve WV to the rear surface of the ice making plate to be heated by hot gas supplied to the evaporation tube. When a water feed time has elapsed, the water feed valve WV is closed to temporarily stop deicing water supply. After the water feed time elapsed, a cycle, in which the water feed valve WV is opened as much as an intermittent water supply time every time an intermittent stopping time has elapsed to intermittently supply deicing water, is repeated until a deicing cycle completes.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryoji Morimoto, Tomohiro Takagi
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Publication number: 20110239686Abstract: An ice maker comprises a box body (1) which stores water for making ice, a rotating mechanism (3) which drives the box body (1) to rotate, a bracket (2) for supporting the box body (1) and the rotating mechanism (3), and baffles (21, 22) located above the box body (1). When water spills out due to shaking, it will be blocked and prevented by the baffles (21, 22) from spilling into the ice storage box. Moreover, the present invention further discloses a refrigerator comprising the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicants: Haier Industrial Complex No. l Haier Road, Quindao Haier Joint Stock Co. LTdInventors: Kui Zhang, Minghua Zhao, Lei Chen, Jie Ma
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Publication number: 20110239687Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body provided with a freezing chamber, a freezing chamber door to open and close the freezing chamber, a subsidiary door to open and close an opening provided on the freezing chamber door, and an ice maker installed on the rear surface of the subsidiary door to manufacture ice. As the opening is opened by the subsidiary door, the ice maker is drawn out of the freezing chamber, thereby enabling a user to conveniently supply water to the inside of the ice maker or to conveniently use the ice manufactured by the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, So Hyun Min, Myung Ju Sim
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Patent number: 8028534Abstract: An improved refrigerator is provided with a freeze tolerant valve for the water tank assembly in the refrigerator. The valve includes a body with an internal plastic spool which minimizes the volume of water within the valve, and which provides a space in the valve to accommodate freezing water in the valve. The valve will not crack or fail in the event of a temperature control problem in the refrigerator which results in frozen water within the valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: James H. Jenkins, Jr., Thomas C. Anell
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Publication number: 20110234074Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Stevan R. DOLINSEK, Timothy A. FULTON, Daryl L. HARMON, Chad J. ROTTER, David A. STAUFFER
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Publication number: 20110214447Abstract: The present invention refers to an ice-making machine provided with an ice formation reservoir (2), an auxiliary tank (6) and an ice storage region (5). Inner part of reservoir (2) is provided with a transport element (16), a shovel (4) with angular movement and a finger-type evaporator (3) forming ice pieces. During ice manufacturing process, shovel (4) moves periodically at low frequencies so as to attract impurity particles and water salts, leaving them far from ice piece formation regions. Through the machine of the present invention, impurity-free ice pieces are produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: Whirlpool S.A.Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Vanessa Christina Ribeiro, Fernando Luiz Freitas Filho, Rogério Soares Brisola, Felipe Cristiano
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Publication number: 20110209483Abstract: Provided are a method and refrigeration appliance for making substantially-transparent ice. The refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment in which a refrigeration temperature that is greater than 32° F. and less than 55° F. is maintained, and a water tray disposed within the fresh food compartment and including a bottom surface and an upwardly extending wall forming a reservoir for holding a volume of water. A plurality of fingers are supported adjacent to the water tray to be at least partially submerged in water within the water tray, and an evaporator is in thermal communication with the fingers for chilling an exposed surface of the fingers to a finger temperature that is less than 32° F. Water is introduced into the water tray, and an extent to which the fingers are submerged in the water is repeatedly adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: David L. Hall, James Scoville
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Publication number: 20110185759Abstract: A water funnel and an ice maker for a refrigerator, the water funnel including a water collecting portion having a discharge hole through which water is collected and discharged; and a drain tube having a path therein, the path downwardly extending to be communicated with the discharge hole and having a uniform cross section or a cross section increasing toward a lower side thereof, whereby a blockage of the path is prevented and thusly water is smoothly supplied to the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2008Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Byeong-Gyu Kang, Jae-Youl Lee, Jeong-Youl Lee
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Publication number: 20110185760Abstract: Disclosed is an ice maker for a refrigerator. The ice maker is further provided with an ice making evaporator in addition to an evaporator for cooling a refrigerating chamber of a freezing chamber, and the ice making evaporator is sunk in water to generate ice, thereby quickly creating transparent ice. The ice maker can also be disposed in the refrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door, thus to prevent ice from being formed with air bubble remaining in water, resulting in enhancing transparency of ice. In addition, even if the ice maker is disposed in the refrigerating chamber door, cold air is not needed to be induced from the freezing chamber, which allows independent operations of the freezing chamber and the ice maker, thereby increasing energy efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Kwang-Ha Suh, Tae-Hee Lee, Hong-Hee Park, Joon-Hwan Oh
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Patent number: 7984622Abstract: Disclosed herein is an icemaker of a refrigerator including an ice dispersing unit to disperse ice for uniform distribution of ice in an ice making container. The icemaker includes an ice making unit to make ice, and an ice making container to receive ice separated from the ice making unit. The icemaker further includes an ice dispersing unit arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container. The ice dispersing unit serves to guide the ice moving from the ice making unit to the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Won Jae Yoon, Kook Jeong Seo
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Publication number: 20110162404Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice making unit. The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration cycle including a refrigerant pipe to supply cooling energy to an ice making compartment, and a fixing member to fix a first portion of the refrigerant pipe, at least a second portion of the refrigerant pipe supported by and inserted into the ice making compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Shik Shin, Sang Hyun Park, Jin Jeong
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Publication number: 20110162406Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Shik Shin, Chang Hak Lim, Jin Jeong, Sang Hyun Park
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Publication number: 20110162405Abstract: An ice making unit and a refrigerator having the same are discussed. The refrigerator includes an ice making unit arranged in the ice making compartment, to produce ice, and a refrigeration cycle comprising a refrigerant pipe to supply cooling energy to the ice making compartment. Air present in the ice making compartment is cooled while undergoing direct heat exchange with at least one of the ice making unit and the refrigerant pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Jae Hoon Lim, Jae Seung Lee, Seong Ki Jeong, Young Shik Shin, Jae Koog An, Chang Hak Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Khan Qa Sim
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Publication number: 20110146323Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator that includes a cabinet and a refrigerator door. The cabinet defining a storage compartment. The refrigerator door opens and closes the storage compartment. The refrigerator door includes a door liner defining an ice compartment, an ice compartment door opening and closing the ice compartment, and a handle provided to the ice compartment door. The ice compartment door includes a dike protruding from the ice compartment door. The handle and the dike are disposed on an identical line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Sang Phil CHOI
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Publication number: 20110138841Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigerator is provided. The ice dispenser includes an ice storage container housing and an ice generator having a hollow mold which is filled with water. The ice storage container housing and the ice generator are combined into one modular unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBHInventors: Songtao Lu, Alexander Rupp, Lisheng Zhang
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Publication number: 20110113811Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Myung Ryul LEE, Seong Jae KIM, Chang Ho SEO, Sung Hoon CHUNG
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Publication number: 20110113810Abstract: An automatic ice maker for a refrigerator includes an ice mold body, an ice stripper and an ice rake. The ice mold body has front, back, and end sides, a top peripheral rim and a plurality of ice chambers. Each ice chamber has a top opening having a frontal portion adjacent the front side and a back portion adjacent the back side. The ice stripper is sealingly disposed on the top peripheral rim, has a unitary one-piece construction and forms extensions of the front, back and end sides. The ice stripper extends over the frontal portion of the top openings and extends over the back portion of the top openings to prevent spillage. The ice rake is disposed between the front and back sides and includes a rotatable shaft, and rake fingers extending outward from the shaft for moving ice cubes out of the respective ice chambers and onto the ice stripper.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Alan Joseph MITCHELL, Wayne E. Lawson
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Patent number: 7942016Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet having at least one door, an ice dispenser operatively connected to one of the at least one door having an opening for dispensing ice, an ice storage receptacle for storing ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice crusher, an ice transfer mechanism for moving ice from the ice storage receptacle to the ice crusher, an ice chute for conveying ice from the ice crusher to the ice dispenser, and an intrusion barrier positioned within the ice chute to assist in preventing objects entering the ice chute through the ice dispenser from reaching the ice crusher without stopping ice flow through the ice chute. The ice dispenser may include a first switch and a second switch, the first switch being spaced apart from the second switch, and the ice dispenser adapted to require simultaneous activation of the first switch and the second switch to dispense ice.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Daniel L. Johnson, Brian M. Midlang, Robert Wetekamp
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Publication number: 20110107784Abstract: Apparatus for blast freezing palletized products is disclosed in which tall racks have openings on at least one side that connect to a plenum chamber, against which stacked pallets can be placed one above another as well as beside one another adjacent the plenum openings, but with the rack providing only one pallet depth to optimize circulation of regular warehouse freezing air through the pallets at a rapid rate for rapid blast freezing. As another example, there are vertically adjustable panels in a tall rack to accommodate different height palletized products stacked one above another, in a way that allows for sealing between the plenum chamber and the palletized products on one side of the palletized product without either substantial blockage of air flow through the side of the palletized product and without allowing a substantial gap between the palletized product and the plenum that would allow a substantial bypass of flow through the palletized product.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Daniel Joseph Tippmann, Steve Tippmann, Andrew Bobay, Dale E. Budzon
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Publication number: 20110100047Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice-making chamber, and the refrigerator may include a refrigerator body and an ice-making chamber, and the ice-making chamber may include an ice-making chamber body one side of which is opened, a connecting duct provided in a first sidewall of the ice-making chamber to be connected to the refrigerator body, an ice-making chamber door provided at a second sidewall of the ice-making chamber to open and close the ice-making chamber, and a protrusion portion formed to be protruded at the first sidewall. Accordingly, the thickness of the ice-making chamber door can be secured without changing a cool air channel of the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing a cooling chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Dongjeong KIM, Wookyong LEE, Changho SEO
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Patent number: 7934389Abstract: An ice tray assembly for a refrigerator is provided, which includes a case; at least one ice tray disposed in the case; a water box provided at a lateral surface of the ice trays to supply water to the ice trays; and at least one discharge hole provided at the water box corresponding to the number of the ice trays. According to the present invention, the ice tray assembly for the refrigerator is capable of supplying water to the plurality of ice trays at once, of easily supplying water to the ice trays disposed at an upper layer portion in general, as the water box is disposed at the lateral surface of the ice trays, and of uniformly supplying water to each of the plurality of the ice trays.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jong-Seok Yoon, Byeong-Gyu Kang, Jae-Youl Lee
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Publication number: 20110088413Abstract: The invention provides systems and devices for producing two-phase coolants such as an ice slurry. Also provided are methods for producing two-phase coolants, and methods for using the two-phase coolants to lower the temperature or maintain a low temperature in any subject, system, object, device, or application where particular low temperatures are desired. Also provided are systems for determining the cooling capacity of two-phase coolants.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAInventors: Joshua W. Lampe, Lance B. Becker, Diana Bull
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Publication number: 20110091711Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming carbon nanostructures from a polymer mixture. The methods include the steps of mixing the pre-formed polymer with a liquid to form a polymer mixture, freezing the polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within the frozen liquid, separating the polymer cast from the frozen liquid by sublimating the frozen liquid, and carbonizing the polymer cast to form a carbon nanostructure. Variations of these methods are included in the scope of the invention and produce materials with varying properties. Through control of the freezing process, the nanomorphology of the resultant structure may be modulated. Nanostructures formed according to these methods are also claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: University of Maine System Board of TrusteesInventors: David J. Neivandt, Jonathan Mark Spender, Xinfeng Xie, Lucas D. Ellis
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Patent number: 7921668Abstract: A refrigerator has a freezing chamber at the bottom, and a refrigerating chamber over the freezing chamber. The refrigerator includes an ice making unit and an ice dispenser mounted in a refrigerating chamber door that allows ice to be dispensed without opening the door. A sub-PCB is mounted in the refrigerating chamber door for controlling operations of the ice making unit and the dispenser. A cold air supply duct supplies cold air from a cold air supply unit to the ice making unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Mok Lee, Sam Kyu Park
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Patent number: 7921667Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer comprising an ice-cube maker with an ice-cube tray and with means by which the ice-cube tray can be moved out of its operating position into a cleaning position, wherein the refrigerator and/or freezer has a replication unit by means of which an option relating to the cleaning of the ice-cube tray can be replicated; wherein a selection unit is provided by means of which the replicated option can be selected; and wherein a control is provided by means of which the means of moving the ice-cube tray out of its operating position into a cleaning position are activated after selection of the option.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeraete Lienz GmbHInventors: Manfred Gradl, Bernd Fuetsch, Roland Schelodetz
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Publication number: 20110072842Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a lighting device therefor. Since an optical source, an LED is installed at a height to overlap a guide member, light emitted from the LED is widely dispersed through the guide member. This may allow a user to easily check a discharged degree of ice cubes or water, and to have sophisticated aesthetic feeling. Furthermore, since the optical source is fixed to an optical source accommodation portion by being encompassed thereby, a water leakage prevention function may be enhanced, and an additional coupling member for coupling the optical source may not be required. This may allow the number of components and assembly processes to be decreased, and the production costs to be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Jin-Woo PARK
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Patent number: 7913510Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis
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Patent number: 7895843Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, a door providing access to the refrigerator, and an ice making compartment. The ice making compartment includes an assembly including a fan, bracket, grommet, and motor. The bracket is configured to receive the grommet, fan, and motor without separate securing means. A method of manufacturing a refrigerator includes providing a refrigerator with an ice making compartment and an assembly consisting of a fan, bracket, grommet, and motor. The fan, grommet, and motor are attached to the bracket through the use of latches, which hold the components in place. The assembly is then installed into the ice making compartment, such that the fan assists in cooling the ice making compartment.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Trevor L. Hawkins, Derek T. Lehman
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Publication number: 20110041543Abstract: To provide a beverage dispenser capable of appropriately and smoothly supplying a supercooled beverage. According to the present invention, there is disclosed a beverage dispenser including a beverage supply circuit 7 which supplies a carbonated beverage to the outside a primary cooling device 13, a secondary cooling device 30, and a heat exchanger 16 for supercooling which allows these components to cool the carbonated beverage flowing through the beverage supply circuit 7 into a supercooled state at a temperature of a solidifying point or less. The heat exchanger 16 supplies the carbonated beverage in the supercooled state to release the supercooled state in the outside, and the carbonated beverage on standby for serving in a portion of the beverage supply circuit 7 cooled by at least the heat exchanger 16 for supercooling is maintained in an unsaturated state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Yoshihisa Tachibana, Takashi Nishiyama, Kazuhide Saito, Kazuaki Mizukami, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, Hiroshi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7891290Abstract: A machine for making yoghurt without requiring active bacterial cultures includes a milk dispenser, an ingredient dispenser, a heating unit and a cooling unit. In particular, a vending machine further includes a credit entry component. The ingredient dispenser system releases at least one salt of a non-toxic divalent cation and at least one non-toxic acidulating agent.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Integrated Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Chinmay Chatterjee, Nilu Prasad Chatterjee
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Patent number: 7891207Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis, Jim J. Pastryk
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Publication number: 20110039009Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a tea-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer until desired and then reconstituted into a tea beverage base as needed. In particular, a warm or cold tea-based beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Curt Jones, Robert Lynn
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Publication number: 20110023519Abstract: A direct expansion evaporator for making a frozen product from raw material includes a feeding channel, a heat exchange channel thermally communicating with the feeding channel, and a refrigerant flowing within the heat exchange channel for exchanging heat between the raw material within the feeding channel and the refrigerant within the heat exchange channel in an expanded evaporation manner. Therefore, the refrigerant releases the thermal energy via the phase changing from liquid to gaseous state of the refrigerant. The heat exchange channel has a pre-cooling portion for pre-cooling the raw material at a predetermined temperature and a freezing portion for freezing the raw material to a final predetermined temperature of the frozen product in two-stage evaporation manner. Thus, the direction expansion evaporator provides a relatively more efficient way for making the frozen product, so as to increase the quality of the frozen product.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventor: Lingyu Dong
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Publication number: 20110016905Abstract: An ice-making assembly for a refrigerator is provided. The ice-making assembly includes a tray for making ice, a handling member for rotating the tray, a first rotation member rotatable with the handling member, a second rotation member rotating the tray, and a transmission member for transmitting rotation of the first rotation member to the second rotation member. An end of the transmission member is fixed to first rotation member, and the other end of the transmission member is fixed to the second rotation member. A force is transmitted from the handling member (a lever) to the tray through the transmission member, which has a strip shape and is coupled to or wound around the rotation member. Therefore, freezing between the transmission member and the rotation member can be minimized, and the lever can be smoothly handled. Thus, a force applied to the lever can be smoothly transmitted to the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2008Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Byeong-Gyu Kang, Jae-Youl Lee, Sang-Ho Park
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Publication number: 20110011106Abstract: A refrigerator having a refrigerator body including a first cooling chamber and a second cooling chamber, a barrier wall located between the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber, an evaporator configured to provide cooling air, a first cooling fan configured to provide cooling air of the evaporator to the first cooling chamber, and a second cooling fan configured to provide cooling air of the evaporator to the second cooling chamber is provided. A method of providing cooling air flow in a refrigerator is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventors: Kwang-Woon AHN, Young-Jin Kim, Yeon-Woo Cho, Gye-Young Song
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Patent number: 7866167Abstract: An icemaker system provided in a refrigerator is designed to reduce an amount of time required to produce ice. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration system including a number of refrigeration components and a refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop includes an icemaker section that carries a flow of refrigerant to an ice mold portion of the icemaker system and a bypass section that isolates the icemaker system from the flow of refrigerant. A control system automatically activates the icemaker system regardless of a need for cooling. That is, upon sensing a demand for ice, the control system opens a valve to cause refrigerant to flow through the icemaker section and activates the refrigeration components to speed ice production whether or not additional cooling is required in fresh food and/or freezer compartments.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Bruce A. Kopf
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Publication number: 20110000233Abstract: A control module for a refrigerator/freezer wherein the control module drives a rotatable ice ejector for removing ice bodies from a mold of an automatic ice maker in the freezer section of the refrigerator/freezer. The control module has a motor which drives a cam gear which drives the ice ejector. The cam gear comprises a circular gear with a first face and a second face. Once or more cam projections on at least one of the first and second faces are positioned to selectively interact with one or more switches fixedly supported within the control module housing to activate at least one feature of the control module or automatic ice maker rotation of the cam gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: Hankscraft Inc.Inventors: John M. Rybaski, Ryan M. Subera