Heat Absorber With Product Remover Patents (Class 62/353)
  • Patent number: 7665316
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic icemaker has a rotatably supported ice making portion having first and second ice making trays arranged in a back-to-back manner, a motor for rotating the ice making portion, a first and a second temperature detecting sensors for detecting the temperature of the first and second ice making tray or the temperature of ice within a compartment of the first and second ice making tray, and a signal processor for controlling the motor to turn over the ice making portion after the temperature of the first or second ice making tray, or the temperature of ice within a compartment of the first or second ice making tray, looking upward, detected by the first temperature detecting sensor or the second temperature detecting sensor has become stabilized in the vicinity of 0° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ito, Naotaka Sasaki, Kenji Sugaya
  • Publication number: 20100031675
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a refrigerant pipe, through which low temperature and low pressure refrigerant flows, directly on a tray, allowing for quick ice formation even when an ice maker is installed in a refrigeration compartment, and allowing for transparent chunks of ice to be made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ju-Hyun Kim, Jong-Min Shin
  • Patent number: 7654105
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7624591
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7617693
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are water purifying system and apparatus for simultaneously making ice and cold water using one evaporator, which can make cold water in various forms only by changing the system and make ice of a predetermined amount by using cold water of less than a predetermined temperature as raw water for ice-making, thereby saving energy. The water purifying system and apparatus can rapidly provide cold water by the simple operation of the water gutter of the ice-making unit and the circulation of water contained in the cold water tank to the water gutter by the circulation pump, and provide ice of the predetermined amount by making ice using the cold water without regard to the changes of the temperature of raw water and the surrounding temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Chung Ho Nais Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soon-Se Lee
  • Patent number: 7614244
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment defining a first interior volume. A first evaporator is disposed in a first evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the first interior volume. A second storage compartment defines a second interior volume, the second interior volume configured to be cooled by cool air received from the first interior volume. A door is positionable to permit and prohibit access to the second interior volume through a front of the second interior volume. A third interior volume is defined in an interior of the door. A second evaporator is disposed in a second evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the third interior volume. An air flow channel extends from the second evaporator compartment to the third interior volume. A fan is disposed in the third interior volume. A mold is disposed in the third interior volume and is configured to receive water and to retain the water during cooling of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Publication number: 20090255276
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the preparation of sterile medical ice slurry, for example having ice loadings of greater than approximately 50%. An integrated-operation ice slurry blender-based production and delivery system methods for monitoring cooling capacity of the produced and delivered slurry. All individual medical ice slurry production and delivery steps are integrated into one tightly coupled precisely sequenced and timed system. The novel procedure and equipment is simple to use and makes sterile slurry, which is ready to deliver to patients, for example, in less than 2 minutes after adding predetermined thermally preconditioned ingredient modules to a blender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, Farah J. Shareef, Brandon L. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20090217678
    Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator, which is designed to separate ice through a simple process is provided. The ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice tray defining an ice-making space, an ice core member that is partly received in the ice-making space to make ice at an end thereof, a driving unit moving and rotating at least one of the ice tray and the ice core member, and a power transmission unit for transferring power from the driving unit to the ice core member. The ice on the ice core member starts being separated in a state where the ice is spaced apart from an outer surface of the ice tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • Publication number: 20090211271
    Abstract: Ice making assembly for a refrigerator and a method for controlling the ice making assembly. The ice making assembly and method capable of more effectively providing transparent ice. The ice making assembly and method also capable of preventing water overflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Ho
  • Patent number: 7568359
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A heater is controlled by the control system to increase energy efficiency of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan G. Tarrant, Ryan D. Schuchart, Mauro M. Oliveira, Alvin V. Miller, Brent A. Koppenhaver, Carl J. Franken, Nelson J. Ferragut, Tim L. Coulter, Greg Berardi, Thomas Carl Anell
  • Patent number: 7552594
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 7552597
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090145159
    Abstract: An ice making housing which is mounted in a refrigerator door and forms an ice making chamber including an ice making tray which has a rotational shaft to be rotatably accommodated in the ice making housing, and an ice generating unit to freeze supplied water; an ice separating unit which is mounted in the ice making housing and separates ice cubes from the ice making tray; an overflow preventing member which is rotatably coupled to the ice making housing along a lengthwise direction of the ice making tray and prevents overflow of water accommodated in the ice making tray; and a driving unit which is provided in the ice making tray and the overflow preventing member and allows the overflow preventing member to reciprocate between an ice separating position separating ice cubes from the ice generating unit and a cover position covering the ice generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Kim, Young-gwi Park
  • Patent number: 7520138
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7520139
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7509818
    Abstract: An dispensing system suitable for lifting and dispensing ice through the refrigerator compartment door of a bottom-mount refrigerator or lifting and dispensing ice from an undercounter ice maker to a dispenser on the countertop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery J. Anselmino, Jim J. Pastryk, Nihat Cur, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Karen J. Querfurth, Douglas D. Leclear
  • Patent number: 7493777
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cold chamber; a cold chamber door for covering the cold chamber; a freezing chamber; a thermal insulation case on the cold chamber door; an ice-making chamber located on an inner side of the cold chamber door and covered by the thermal insulation case; an ice-making unit installed in the ice-making chamber for making ice using ice-making cold air supplied from the freezing chamber; and a cold air guide structure including: a cold air inlet port for supplying the ice-making cold air into the ice-making chamber; a cold air outlet port for exhausting the ice-making cold air from the ice-making chamber; a cold air supply passage along a wall of the refrigerator to supply the ice-making cold air from the freezing chamber to the cold air inlet port; and a cold air return passage along the wall of the refrigerator to discharge the exhausted ice-making cold air from the cold air outlet port to the freezing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Myung Ryul Lee, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7487645
    Abstract: An automatic icemaker according to the invention can be disposed in one part of a freezer and automatically make ice pieces, and is provided with temperature distribution forming means which forms a temperature distribution in which freezing progresses from the open side of ice partitions of an ice-tray and is completed near the bottom side of the ice partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Sasaki, Kenji Sugaya, Hideaki Ito
  • Patent number: 7484382
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a refrigerator. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by means of insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker, a first heat exchanger for generating cold air to regulate the temperature in the ice-making chamber, and a second heat exchanger for generating cold air to regulate the temperature in the freezing and refrigerating chambers, wherein the first and second heat exchangers are components of a heat exchange cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Il-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090007585
    Abstract: A food storage apparatus enables dispensation of contents (e.g., ice and/or water) stored in the food storage apparatus and collects residual contents after the dispensation of the contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seong Jae KIM, Nam Gi LEE
  • Patent number: 7458230
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with an airflow passage for an ice making compartment of the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a main body has an opened side, and a door selectively closes the opened side of the main body. An ice making compartment is formed in the door, the ice making compartment being insulated from the outside and being kept at a low temperature. A duct is formed in the main body for exchanging cooling air with the ice making compartment, and a cooling air passage is formed at an outer surface of the ice making compartment to connect the duct with the ice making compartment. A switching unit closes the cooling air passage when the door is opened, and opens the cooling air passage when the door is closed. With this arrangement, the cooling air can be sufficiently supplied to the ice making compartment without the penetration of foreign substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Sung Hoon Chung, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 7437885
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Guolian Wu, Kevin M. Chase, Marcus R. Fischer, Jim J. Pastryk, Shawn F. Olsson, Michele E. Wilcox, Jerry M. Visin, Martin D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7434417
    Abstract: A cooling air flow passage of a refrigerator is provided. The cooling air not only flows through the passage so as to make ice in an ice making chamber but is also sent so as to cool water in a water storage tank. Therefore, the cooling air flow passage of the refrigerator and the overall structure of the refrigerator are simplified, which increases the efficiency of the refrigerator and reduces the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Wook Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7430873
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7426838
    Abstract: An icemaker assembly is disposed within a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment and respective freezer and fresh food door assemblies. The icemaker assembly comprises a conveyor assembly positioned within the freezer compartment having a flexible conveyor belt with a multiplicity of individual ice cube molds for creation of individual ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin is positioned below the conveyor assembly for storing the ice cubes and a fullness sensor is positioned for determining the fill level of ice cubes within the ice cube storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Jerome Johnson Tiemann, Walter Whipple, Timothy Scott Shaffer, William Merritt Nall, Jr., Eayre Bruce Voorhees, Steven Paraszczak
  • Publication number: 20080156000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker and a method for making ice, and more particularly, to an ice maker provided in a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator and an ice making method. According to an ice maker and an ice making method, there is no need for forming an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker in order to make ice, whereby it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process of a refrigerator and to reduce manufacturing costs of a refrigerator. In addition, since a portion of refrigerant used in a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is used for making ice, no additional energy is required for making ice, thereby reducing energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jong Min SHIN, Ju Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20080156026
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator and an ice maker thereof, and more particularly, to an ice maker provided in a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator. An ice maker according to the present invention comprises a tray for storing a drinkable water to be used for making ice, an ejector for separating ice formed in the tray, an ice-making pipe provided in the tray, and a heating member provided in the tray. According to a refrigerator and an ice maker thereof according to the present invention, there is no need for forming an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker in order to make ice, whereby it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process of a refrigerator and to reduce manufacturing costs of a refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ju Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7392665
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7386992
    Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an ice dispenser in the fresh food door to dispense ice from a sealed ice making compartment within the fresh food compartment. A conveyor carries ice from a storage bin in the ice compartment to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7386993
    Abstract: An ice-cube making device for use in a refrigerated cabinet is provided. The ice-cube making device is attachable to a freezer liner and thus makes efficient use of the space in the freezer cavity. The ice-cube making device includes a mechanism for extracting ice by applying a twisting torque to one or more ice-cube trays therein. The ice-cube making device may also include mechanisms for refilling the ice trays with water and for providing a user-friendly installation. Aspects of the present invention may be performed either manually or may be automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: MABE Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Inventors: Martha Alejandra Azcárate Castrellón, José Carlos Trejo Olvera, Jorge Alberto Alfaro Jima, Claudia Evelia Moysen Romero
  • Publication number: 20080098765
    Abstract: A slush drink maker for household use is described. It includes a base housing a motor, a mixing chamber removably mounted on the base, an ice canister and auger assembly disposed substantially horizontally inside the mixing chamber, and a cover for covering the mixing chamber. The ice canister and auger assembly include a cylindrical ice canister, an auger disposed around the ice canister, and a gearbox which drives the auger to rotate in a first direction and drive the ice canister to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. The ice canister has a divider that divides an interior space of the ice canister into two or more compartments parallel to a rotation axis of the ice canister. In addition, the auger and the front end of the mixing chamber have improved shapes which facilitate the dispensing of the content from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Gregg Alan Bond
  • Publication number: 20080092580
    Abstract: An automated machine for making semi-frozen beverages includes a bowl system with a chamber and a dispensing assembly. A mixing system includes an auger rotatably received in said chamber and a dispensing assembly. A drive assembly includes a motor drivingly connected to a flexible drive belt connected to and adapted for driving the auger. A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator cylinder for receiving refrigerant from a compressor. The evaporator cylinder is located within the auger. A consistency control mechanism controls a valve for discontinuing the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator cylinder when the product reaches a desired consistency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Vasilios Mavridis, Theoharis Georgiadis, Harry E. Haas, Kenneth A. Miller
  • Patent number: 7337620
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Publication number: 20080034780
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus capable of reducing an ice making time be rapid cooling of an ice making tray thereof while guaranteeing the making of transparent ice and a refrigerating having the ice making apparatus. The ice making apparatus includes the ice making tray to freeze water filled therein so as to make ice, and a cold air guiding device to guide cold air to a lower surface of the ice making tray. The cold air guiding device includes a cold air guiding plate installed below the ice making tray to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the ice making tray, and a plurality of protrusions provided at an upper surface of the cold air guiding plate to guide the cold air flowing along the upper surface of the cold air guiding plate in a direction toward the lower surface of the ice making tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Jong Dal Lee, Dong Nyeol Ryu, Myung Hoon Cho, Seung Tae Lim
  • Patent number: 7284392
    Abstract: An improved icemaker is provided for a refrigerator. The improvements include tilting the ice mold to assure that the ice cavity nearest the thermostat is filled with water; controlling air flow to the mold to promote rapid freezing of water in the mold cavities; raising the perimeter walls of the mold to minimize water spillage; and providing hooks on the mold for routing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald K. Anderson, Troy Michael Anderson, Thomas Carl Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bruce Arthur Kopf, Ryan D. Schuchart, Andrew G. Strohm, Scott Robert Voll, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7266973
    Abstract: An improved icemaker is provided for a refrigerator. The improvements include tilting the ice mold to assure that the ice cavity nearest the thermostat is filled with water; controlling air flow to the mold to promote rapid freezing of water in the mold cavities; raising the perimeter walls of the mold to minimize water spillage; and providing hooks on the mold for routing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald K. Anderson, Troy Michael Anderson, Thomas Carl Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bruce Arthur Kopf, Ryan D. Schuchart, Andrew G. Strohm, Scott Robert Voll, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7263854
    Abstract: An icemaker for an ice supply system for preventing water from overflowing from the ice tray by vibration and/or shaking of the surrounding structure includes an icemaker, a container provided at a lower part of the icemaker and an ice chute for supplying the ice stored in the ice container. An ejector in the ice tray of the icemaker and a dropper device having an inclined upper surface at a side of the open top of the ice tray are provided for dropping the ice discharged upwardly by the ejector. The dropper has no gap or slot through which the ejector passes to prevent water overflow through the dropper. An overflow prevention device is provided at another side of the open top of the ice tray for preventing water filled in the ice tray from overflowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wook Yong Lee, Myung Ryul Lee, Seung Hwan Oh, Eui Yeop Chung
  • Patent number: 7257962
    Abstract: An ice transfer device for a refrigerator is provided. An ice-making part is provided at an upper portion of an ice maker of the refrigerator, and a storage container is provided below the ice-making part. Both edges of a bottom surface of the storage container are rounded, and a transfer member for transferring ice is provided within the storage container. Further, a motor is installed in the vicinity of one of the rounded edges of the storage container and has a motor shaft protruding toward the rear of the ice maker. A gearbox provided at the rear of the storage container has a driving shaft protruding toward the front of the ice maker. With this construction, the inner space of the refrigerator can be efficiently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Koo Son
  • Patent number: 7240512
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including an adiabatic space formed on an inner surface of a chilling chamber door and an ice machine disposed inside the adiabatic space, thereby enabling a more efficient usage of an inner space of the refrigerator. Also, the present invention provides a cooling air passage structure of a refrigerator for properly supplying cooling air for freezing to an inside of the refrigerator having an ice machine disposed on an inner surface of a chilling chamber door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wook Yong Lee, Eui Yeop Chung, Seung Hwan Oh, Myung Ryul Lee, Ill Shin Kim, Seong Ook Kim, Yong Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7240511
    Abstract: A cold air path structure of a refrigerator is provided. The cold air path structure defines a passage from an ice machine installed in a freezing chamber to a chilling chamber in order to discharge an cold air used to freeze water of the ice machine to the chilling chamber, such that new cold air can be smoothly supplied to the ice machine, thereby increasing the efficiency of the ice machine. Further, an additional air passage is not required to supply the cold air to the chilling chamber, thereby simplifying the structure of the refrigerator and decreasing power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Sung Hoon Chung, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 7240510
    Abstract: There is provided a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a blower fan is installed in a refrigerant body to blow a cold air, a barrier partitions an inner space of the refrigerator body into a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber, an ice machine is installed in the chilling chamber, a freezing air duct is connected with the ice machine for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan, a chilling air duct is connected with the chilling chamber for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan, and a cold air return duct is provided to pass the cold air discharged from the ice machine toward an evaporator where the cold air is cooled by exchanging heat with a refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Sung Hoon Chung, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 7237393
    Abstract: An ice-full state sensing device for an ice making apparatus is provided. A panel disposed at a side of an ice maker to support components. An ejection unit includes an ejector supported by the panel to eject ice made by the ice maker. A driving unit rotates the ejection unit clockwise or counterclockwise within a predetermined angle range. A link unit operates in relation to the ejection unit. An ice-full state sensing lever is connected to an end portion of the link unit to sense an ice-full state of an ice bank during a vertical movement thereof by the link unit. Accordingly, the device can perform an ice-full state sensing operation in a narrow space, and the apparatus can be installed in a narrow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Chung, Myung Ryul Lee
  • Patent number: 7228703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold air guide structure of an ice-making chamber of a cold chamber door. The structure including: the cold chamber door; an insulation case disposed inside of the cold chamber door, thermally insulated and having an ice-making chamber therein; an ice-making unit installed in the ice-making chamber of the insulation case, for icing a supplied water by an ice-making cold air and housing pieces of ice; an insulation cover for opening and closing the ice-making chamber of the insulation case; a cold air inlet port for sucking the ice-making cold air into the ice-making chamber; a cold air outlet port for exhausting the ice-making cold air from the ice-making chamber; and an ice-making cold air guide unit for guiding the ice-making cold air to a predetermined air passage to suck or exhaust the ice-making cold air into or from the ice-making chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Myung Ryul Lee, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7222498
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7222497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker having a fan assembly. The ice maker 30 of the present invention comprises a main body 40 and a fan assembly 60 mounted to the main body 40 by means of resilient mounting hooks. A housing 62 defines an external appearance of the fan assembly 60, and comprises first and second housing portions 62a and 62b. The first and second housing portions 62a and 62b are provided with concavo-convex coupling portions 63 and 63? at positions corresponding to each other so that the housing portions can be provisionally assembled by coupling the concavo-convex coupling portions to each other. The interiors of the first and second housing 62a and 62b are partitioned by partition plates 64 to define a cold air flow passage 64f, and a discharge duct 66 is formed integrally to communicate with the cold air flow passage 64f.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Si-Yoen An, Bom-Sik Lee, Oh-Chul Kwon, Ill-Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 7210299
    Abstract: Disclosed are a rotary type ice maker and a method for making ice using the same. The rotary type ice maker comprises an ice making mold having ice making cavities in upper and lower sides thereof, respectively, a rotating shaft for supporting the ice making mold so that the ice making mold is rotated by its own weight or by the weight of ice cubes in the ice making cavities, and a mold position fixing device for fixing or releasing the ice making mold by engaging with the ice making mold or separating from the ice making mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Nam Yang
  • Patent number: 7204092
    Abstract: An ice-cube making device for use in a refrigerated cabinet is provided. The ice-cube making device is attachable to a freezer liner and thus makes efficient use of the space in the freezer cavity. The ice-cube making device includes a mechanism for extracting ice by applying a twisting torque to one or more ice-cube trays therein. The ice-cube making device may also include mechanisms for refilling the ice trays with water and for providing a user-friendly installation. Aspects of the present invention may be performed either manually or may be automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Mabe Mexico S.de R.L de C.V.
    Inventors: Martha Alejandra Azcárate Castrellón, José Carlos Trejo Olvera, Jorge Alberto Alfaro Luna, Claudia Evelia Moysen Romero
  • Patent number: 7201007
    Abstract: The automatic ice making device includes ice sensor for detecting ice-making in ice chill tray, heater for heating ice to separate the ice from ice chill tray, motor rotating discharging member for discharging ice from ice chill tray, position detecting switch for detecting rotating position of discharging member, ice storage amount detecting switch for detecting overs and shorts of discharged and stored ice, water supply valve for supplying water to ice chill tray, and controller for controlling electric conduction to heater and motor. When power supply to controller is once interrupted and re-started, ice storage amount detecting switch detects shortage of ice so as to hold motor not to drive until ice sensor detects temperature below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shoukyuu, Ichiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 7201014
    Abstract: An ice-maker for producing transparent ice cubes has a refrigerating assembly, an ice cube making tub, and a feeding tank for filling the ice cube making tub in a common housing. The ice cube making tub is movable between a first position, wherein cooling fingers of the refrigerating assembly engage into the ice cube making tub, and a second position away from the cooling fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Hornung
  • Patent number: 7185508
    Abstract: A refrigerator/freezer with an ice maker having an ice cube tray in which are formed multiple ice cube recesses. The ice cube tray is movable between a fill position and a harvest position. The ice cube tray has a composite construction comprising a base layer and a top layer, with the base layer being made of a flexible material and the top layer being made of a low friction material. The ice cubes are harvested by deflecting or deforming the ice cube recesses to expel the ice cube therefrom when the tray is moved into the harvest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Voglewede, Jerry M. Visin, Douglas D. LeClear