Congealing Flowable Material, E.g., Ice Making Patents (Class 62/66)
  • Publication number: 20130152610
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a frozen product dispenser is controlled to have a variable cooling capacity that is determined by variable cooling load demands of the dispenser. This is accomplished, in part, by providing the refrigeration system with a variable speed compressor and one or more adjustable expansion valves for metering refrigerant to associated evaporators that are heat exchange coupled to associated freeze barrels of the dispenser, and by controlling the metering setting of the expansion valves and the speed of operation of the compressor in accordance with the cooling load demands of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for efficient operation of the refrigeration system from an energy standpoint and for a reduction in on/off cycling of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Leaver, Gregory M. Billman
  • Publication number: 20130145777
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: William G. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8459047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Hall, James Scoville
  • Patent number: 8453475
    Abstract: A system and method for making ice is provided. The system may include a tray for containing a water to be used for making ice, and a refrigerant pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the refrigerant pipe to cause ice to be formed on surfaces thereof. A heater may be provided on the refrigerant pipe and operated during an ice-releasing process. This system and method may eliminate the need for an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker, thus simplifying a manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ju Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20130133343
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a secondary cooling path for circulating liquid coolant through the refrigerator wherein the liquid coolant is cooled by the freezer compartment and wherein the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path. A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path. A tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere may control suction pressure associated with the pump. The refrigerator reduces frost build up through configuration of the secondary cooling path or performing ice harvesting operations which melt frost. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating hot liquid. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating liquid coolant during a power outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Whirlpool Corporation
  • Patent number: 8448457
    Abstract: A system for use in freezing, thawing, transporting or storing biopharmaceutical materials which includes a container, a holder and plurality of heat transfer members. The container is configured to hold biopharmaceutical materials therein. The holder has a cavity for receiving the container and includes an interior surface bounding the cavity. A plurality of pockets contact outer surfaces of the container and is received in the cavity. Each pocket of the plurality of pockets includes a pocket cavity. A heat transfer member actively controls the temperature of biopharmaceutical materials held in the container and is received in the pocket cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sartorius Stedim North America Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Cutting, Isabelle Gay, Oscar Werner Reif
  • Patent number: 8434318
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a body defining a storage space; a door selectively shielding the storage space; a container connecting part disposed in the storage space or the door; a water supply container separably coupled to the container connecting part, the water supply container including an opening for injecting water; an ice making device for making ice using the water supplied from the water supply container; a water supply passage fluidly connecting the water supply container to the ice making device, the water supply passage extending in an inside direction of the water supply container; and a pump connected to the water supply passage to supply the water within the water supply container into the ice making device. According to the refrigerator, installation cost is reduced, and quality and reliability are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Kyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8408017
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a frozen product dispenser is controlled to have a variable cooling capacity that is determined by variable cooling load demands of the dispenser. This is accomplished, in part, by providing the refrigeration system with a variable speed compressor and one or more adjustable expansion valves for metering refrigerant to associated evaporators that are heat exchange coupled to associated freeze barrels of the dispenser, and by controlling the metering setting of the expansion valves and the speed of operation of the compressor in accordance with the cooling load demands of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for efficient operation of the refrigeration system from an energy standpoint and for a reduction in on/off cycling of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Leaver, Gregory M. Billman
  • Patent number: 8397521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supercooling recognition method and a supercooling apparatus which can rapidly and precisely judge whether a stored object is maintained in a supercooled state on the basis of a temperature thereof. A supercooling recognition method according to the present invention includes the steps of: cooling a stored object to below a temperature of a maximum ice crystal formation zone thereof; and judging whether the stored object is maintained in a supercooled state on the basis of a temperature thereof during the cooling step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim, Jong-Min Shin, Deok-Hyun Youn, Jae-Hyun Soh, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Won-Young Chung, Hoon-Bong Lee
  • Publication number: 20130047634
    Abstract: A cooling cube assembly for cooling a liquid contained within a beverage container. The cooling cube assembly includes a cooling element containing a cooling solution, and an insertion and extraction filament attached to the cooling element for inserting and extracting the cooling element from the liquid within the beverage. The insertion and extraction filament is an elongated flexible filament connected at a first end to the cooling element and at a second end to a tag for inserting and extracting the cooling element from the liquid within the beverage. The cooling element is inserted into the liquid to be cooled while the tag remains outside of the liquid. The cooling element is extracted from the liquid by pulling on the elongated filament with the tag after the liquid is cooled to a desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Cory James Harsh, Kim Marie Block, Robert Eliot Block, Andrew Michael Harsh
  • Patent number: 8381535
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hankscraft Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Rybaski, Ryan M. Subera
  • Publication number: 20130042634
    Abstract: An ice machine includes an insulated compartment to store ice, a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment, a card reader, and a controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser. The controller stores permission settings including a public setting and a private setting. The controller is to receive a card number from the card reader. The controller is to determine whether to initiate ice dispensing using the dispenser based on the card number, the public setting and the private setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: David W. Tenberg, JR.
  • Patent number: 8371131
    Abstract: Heterogeneous surface with polar functional groups as nucleation points. These nucleation points cause precipitation of a substance, for example ice or salt, in a fluid at these nucleation points under suitable physical conditions because the Gibbs free energy of the system is lower at the nucleation points than between the nucleation points, where said system comprises said surface and said fluid with said substance near said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Danish Technological Institute Industry, Materials Testing
    Inventor: Thomas Zwieg
  • Patent number: 8371136
    Abstract: A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Patent number: 8371132
    Abstract: A system for use in freezing, thawing, transporting or storing biopharmaceutical materials which includes a container, a holder and plurality of heat transfer members. The container is configured to hold biopharmaceutical materials therein. The holder has a cavity for receiving the container and includes an interior surface bounding the cavity. A plurality of pockets contact outer surfaces of the container and is received in the cavity. Each pocket of the plurality of pockets includes a pocket cavity. A heat transfer member actively controls the temperature of biopharmaceutical materials held in the container and is received in the pocket cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sartorius Stedim North America Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Cutting, Isabelle Gay, Oscar Werner Reif
  • Publication number: 20130014519
    Abstract: A frozen beverage device to convert a liquid beverage into a semi-frozen or frozen form has inner and outer walls forming a refrigerant cavity containing a refrigerant material with a freezing point below the freezing point of the liquid, the refrigerant material occupying at least 80% of the volume of the refrigerant cavity. The outer wall has a base portion which can be moved from a first position, where the liquid is at least semi-frozen, to a second position where the internal pressure in the refrigerant cavity urges the inner wall outwardly towards the outer wall so that the refrigerant material contacts a maximum area of the surface of the inner wall in the refrigerant cavity for maximum heat transfer and to minimise constriction of access to the frozen beverage. Alternative methods to seal the inner and outer walls to close the refrigerant cavity are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRO-TURBINE DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Patent number: 8353178
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Kim, Young-gwi Park
  • Publication number: 20120324919
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, KEVIN M. CHASE, TONY L. KOENIGSKNECHT, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE, MATTHEW E. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20120325737
    Abstract: A polymer or polymer composite membrane having through-thickness micropores and a method of preparing the same are provided. More particularly, a polymer or polymer composite membrane having a pore structure such that micropores are aligned in a mesh structure in the thickness direction of the polymer or polymer composite membrane due to unidirectional freezing in the thickness direction of a solvent. The membrane has through-thickness micropores, and thus has improved permeability in the thickness direction and superior uniformity in size of the micropores and wall thickness between the micropores. For these reasons, the membrane can be used for a porous membrane substrate, microfiltration membrane, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Jong Hwi Lee, Min Kyung Lee
  • Publication number: 20120324917
    Abstract: A clear ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with a bottom fluid chamber. During an ice making event, portions of an ice forming evaporator extending through the housing are exposed to water flowing into the fluid channels from the upper fluid chamber. The ice forming evaporator is formed with microchannels through which refrigerant flows such that water flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the exposed portions of the ice forming evaporator over time, forming clear ice pieces. In a harvesting operation, the ice pieces are released from the ice forming evaporator and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, NIHAT CUR, DOUGLAS D. LECLEAR, ANDREW M. TENBARGE, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE
  • Publication number: 20120324914
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a water circulation and drainage system includes a fresh food compartment with a liner and a drain, an icemaker system having an ice forming cavity with a draining mechanism, and an ice storage bin coupled to a drain line for draining excess liquid from the ice storage bin. The water circulation and drainage system includes a water tank having an inlet port and an overflow device for draining water. The system also includes a drainage tank having a first water tank inlet port for receiving water from the overflow device of the water tank, a second water inlet port for receiving water from the ice storage bin, and a third inlet port for receiving water from the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, ROGERIO SOARES BRISOLA, FERNANDO LUIZ FREITAS FILHO, WILLIAM SILVA, VANESSA CHRISTINA RIBERIO, SIMONE M. VIDAL, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE
  • Publication number: 20120324913
    Abstract: An ice making, transferring and storing system includes an icemaker located in the fresh food compartment and an ice storage bin, located in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, for receiving ice from the icemaker. A first ice transfer mechanism delivers ice from the icemaker to the ice storage bin. An ice dispenser is located in one of the fresh food and freezer doors. A second ice transfer mechanism selectively delivers ice from the ice storage bin to the ice dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, NIHAT CUR, JAMES C.L. GUARINO, TONY L. KOENIGSKNECHT, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE, MATTHEW E. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20120324916
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice tray including a plurality of ice forming cavities extending into a fluid supply cavity. Fluid supplied to the fluid supply cavity flows into each of the plurality of ice forming cavities and out through respective fluid outlets located in a bottom portion of the ice forming cavities to a fluid outlet chamber below. Cooled ice forming members extend into respective ice forming cavities. Fluid is continuously cycled through the ice forming cavities and around the ice forming members during an ice making event such that clear ice pieces gradually form on each of the ice forming members. During an ice harvest event, ice forming members are heated to release formed ice pieces, and the ice pieces are transferred from a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator to an ice storage bucket located in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, ROGERIO SOARES BRISOLA, DOUGLAS D. LECLEAR, JAMES PETERSON, FABIO E. ROSA, VANESSA CHRISTINA RIBERIO, SIMONE M. VIDAL, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE
  • Publication number: 20120324915
    Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, NIHAT CUR, DOUGLAS D. LECLEAR, ANDREW M. TENBARGE, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE
  • Publication number: 20120304671
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing a mixed-phase environment. A plurality of supercooled liquid particles are dispersed into a fluid to form a first stream. A plurality of ice particles are dispersed into a fluid to form a second stream. The first and second streams are mixed to form a third stream. The present disclosure also provides a system for producing a mixed-phase environment. The system includes an ice generator, an ice disperser, a water disperser, a first fluid source coupled to the water dispenser, a second fluid source fluidly coupled to the ice disperser, a first flow chamber fluidly coupled to the first fluid source and having an outlet, a second flow chamber fluidly coupled to the second fluid source and having an outlet, and a third flow chamber that includes an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlets of the first and second flow chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: John Hallett
  • Patent number: 8272226
    Abstract: A method for producing clumped frozen food products includes the steps of forming a plurality of cryogenically manufactured ice cream units; conveying the units along a conveyor to a rotating container; disposing a liquid on the units while the units are within the rotating container, wherein the liquid hardens into a binder that facilitates fusion of individual units with one another to form a plurality of clumps, each of the clumps respectively comprising a plurality of fused units coupled with the binder. After forming into clumps, the clumps may be removed from the rotating container and stored in a frozen form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Stan Jones
  • Publication number: 20120227420
    Abstract: A frozen treat dispenser (11) dispenses a snow cone and/or a slushy, and has at least an ice storage bin (14) for storing ice (10), a cup de-nesting mechanism (49) to separate a cup from a stack having a plurality of cups, an ice grinder (21) to grind ice from the ice storage bin to produce snow (82), a flavor dispenser (25), a cup transport mechanism (23) to move the cup to a first position (40A) whereby the ice grinder can at least partially fill the cup with the snow and to a second position (40B) whereby the flavor dispenser can dispense at least one flavor onto the snow in the cup, and a processor (152) to control the operation of at least one of the cup de-nesting mechanism, the ice grinder, the flavor dispenser, or the indexer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Richard J. Soderman
  • Publication number: 20120227421
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body provided with a refrigerating chamber at an upper section and with a freezing chamber at a lower section, an ice making tray disposed in an upper space of an ice making chamber defined in the refrigerating chamber, a first storage container disposed in a lower space of the ice making chamber to store ice falling down from the ice making tray, and a second storage container disposed in a freezing chamber to store ice transferred from the ice making tray. The main body includes a guide channel to guide, when the first storage container reaches an ice-full state, ice falling from the ice making tray to the second storage container in the freezing chamber. The size of the ice making chamber is greatly reduced while a sufficient amount of the ice may be stored, thus securing a larger available space in the refrigerating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do Hyung KIM, Jin JEONG, Sang Hyun PARK, Yong Sung YOON, KHANQASIM, Seung Ah JOO
  • Publication number: 20120222432
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating liquid coolant. The ice making system includes a coolant loop and an air flow chamber on a portion of the loop. The air flow chamber includes channels formed by offset protrusions, which direct air back and forth over the portion of the cooling loop to cool ambient air within the ice making system. The cooled air is then directed by a fan and supply duct to an ice storage container to prevent ice cubes in the container from melting. Once the air has warmed in the container, it is directed by a return duct to the beginning of the air flow chamber to begin the process over once again, thus creating a recirculation of air within a refrigerator system to cool an ice storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, LORRAINE J. WESTLAKE
  • Publication number: 20120222434
    Abstract: A controller for a drive motor for a scraper of a frozen product dispenser operates the drive motor to rotate the scraper at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds within a freeze barrel of the dispenser, in accordance with the values of sensed operating parameters of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for rotation of the scraper at speeds appropriate for, but no greater than required for, the then existent operating condition of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: David B. Gist, Gregory M. Billman, Santhosh Kumar, Kyle Elsom, Nikolay Popov
  • Publication number: 20120222433
    Abstract: A control method includes receiving an output value from an optical sensor to determine whether an ice bank is full of ice, driving the sensor heater for a first drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the ice bank is full of ice, driving the optical sensor to receive an output value from the optical sensor after lapse of the first drive time, comparing the output value with the output value received to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice to calculate variation of the output value, and driving the sensor heater for a second drive time to heat the optical sensor so that the optical sensor is defrosted if the calculated variation of the output value is equal to or greater than a reference variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun PARK, Do Hyung Kim, Jin Jeong, Yong Sung Yoon, Khan Qasim, Seung Ah Joo
  • Patent number: 8256233
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Daniel B. Cook, Roderick A. Hyde, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8256232
    Abstract: An ultra-rapid freezing device (100) adapted for cooling a sample (1), includes a substrate chip (10) being adapted for cooling the sample (1), and at least one sample carrier (20) being adapted for accommodating the sample (1) and including at least one heatable support (21), through which the at least one sample carrier (20) is attached to the substrate chip (10). Preferably, the at least one sample carrier (20) is attached to the substrate chip (10) in a suspended manner. Furthermore, a method of ultra-rapid freezing a sample (1) is described. The at least one sample carrier (20) can be switched between a heated state at which a thermal gradient is formed relative to the substrate chip (10) and a cooled state at which a thermal equilibrium is formed relative to the substrate chip (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften, e.V.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Burg
  • Patent number: 8240156
    Abstract: An ice-making device that includes a duct through which ice is dispensed and a duct-covering part for opening and closing the duct. An ice conveying part conveys the ice dispensed through the duct. A driving speed of the ice conveying part increases for a previously set initial driving time when the dispensing of the ice starts, and the ice conveying part is driven at a previously set target speed when the initial driving time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Do Han, Ho Youn Lee, Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Sung Yong Shin
  • Publication number: 20120192575
    Abstract: A controller continues to operate an ice making machine in a safe mode when a failure of a component is detected. While in the safe mode due to failure of an ice thickness probe, the freeze cycle freeze time is based on an average freeze time of a predetermined number of the most previous freeze cycles prior to the failure. While in the safe mode due to failure of a water level probe, the water valve on time is based on an average water valve on time of a predetermined number of the most previous freeze cycles prior to the failure. If the failure is uncured after a predetermined time, the controller causes the ice making machine to enter a standby mode or disables the ice making machine from making ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Ramesh B. Tirumala, William Roy York, JR., Lee Gerard Mueller, Raymond R. Haack, Daryl G. Erbs
  • Publication number: 20120186276
    Abstract: An ice producing and dispensing machine for delivering ice on demand to a consumer with a housing containing an ice maker having a discharge outlet for discharging ice. An ice bin is disposed below the ice maker having an open top for receiving ice from the ice maker and a bottom opening for discharging ice therefrom; a substantially vertical tube in communication with the bottom opening for receiving discharged ice with an auger or the like in the tube for driving the ice directly vertically in the tube; and a discharge opening in communication with the tube for conveying the ice to the discharge outlet either in a bag or as free ice cubes. Melted water and ice chips from the ice production are recycled and used to cool the water that is fed to the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Kerry R. Seymour
  • Publication number: 20120167618
    Abstract: As described herein, a method and system for operating a refrigeration system are provided. In the present methods and systems, a portion of the refrigerant from the refrigeration system is used for reducing the temperature of inlet air entering the gas turbine. The refrigeration system disclosed herein can be used for LNG production, air separation, food storage, or ice-making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley H. Huang, Robert C. Havlik
  • Publication number: 20120125018
    Abstract: An ice dispenser system for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker located within the refrigeration appliance for making ice cubes. The ice maker has an ice making state and a paused state. An ice bucket is located within the refrigeration appliance located so as to receive the ice cubes from the ice maker. The ice bucket is removably securable in the refrigeration appliance in an ice-making position. A sensor is located within the refrigeration appliance, the sensor sensing and providing a signal as to whether the ice bucket is in the ice making position. The ice maker is placed in the ice making state only when the sensor provides a signal that the ice bucket is in the ice making position. A related refrigeration appliance and method of making ice are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bipin Shaha, Arun Talegaonkar, Umakant Suresh Katu
  • Patent number: 8176930
    Abstract: A water supply apparatus (1) for an automatic ice maker comprises: a water supply tank (10); an air pump (70); an air supply pipe (60); and a water supply channel, disposed between the water supply tank and an ice tray (80), for supplying water to the ice tray by using the air pump which feeds air into the water supply tank and through a pressure of the air sending the water outside of the water supply tank. The water supply channel includes a pressure adjusting chamber (40) for adjusting a pressure in the water supply channel and a water supply pipe (50) for causing the water to flow into the ice tray. The water supply pipe includes first and second water supply pipe parts (51), (52) that are attachable and detachable. The air supply pipe includes first and second air supply pipe parts (61), (62) that are attachable and detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Takagi, Yoshikazu Inoue
  • Patent number: 8177123
    Abstract: A system for use in storing biopharmaceutical materials includes a holder and a container for holding biopharmaceutical materials therein. The container includes a storage portion and a sampling portion connected to each other by a connecting portion. The holder has a storage cavity receiving the storage portion and a sampling cavity receiving the sampling portion. The holder includes a first portion and second portion. The container is received between the first portion and the second portion to connect the container to the holder. The holder includes an interior storage cradle bounding the storage cavity of the holder. The holder includes an interior sampling cradle bounding the sampling cavity. The sampling cradle is separated from the storage cradle and connected to the storage cradle by a passage receiving the connecting portion connecting the storage portion to the sampling portion. An outer rim of the holder is connected to the cradle and separated from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sartorius Stedim North America Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Voute, Jonathan Cutting, Isabelle Gay
  • Publication number: 20120111031
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator in which an amount of water supply to an ice maker can be controlled accurately, and a method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes an ice maker, a dispenser for dispensing water, a flow passage control valve (33) for guiding the water to the ice maker and the dispenser selectively, a flow amount sensor (100), and a controller connected to the flow amount sensor (100) for controlling a water supply amount to the ice maker taking a water supply amount sensed by the flow amount sensor (100) into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Lee, Tae Hee Lee, Donghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8171744
    Abstract: A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Matthew William Davis, Omar Haidar, Ronald Scott Tarr, Joseph Waugh
  • Publication number: 20120096875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (20) designed for being inserted into a device (1) for preparing a frozen confection (17), said container (20) comprising a sealed flexible casing (25) and said container (20) containing ingredients (15) for producing a frozen confection (17) when being cooled and mechanically forced. The present invention further relates to a device (1) for preparing a frozen confection (17) from a container (20) inserted into the device (1). The present invention further relates to a method for preparing a frozen confection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Sejal Jayantilal Ravji, Thomas Koob, Sven Zwicker
  • Patent number: 8151576
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator including a liquid, cool air supplied to supercool the liquid, and a preventing means for preventing the liquid from existing as a solid phase, and a method of operating the refrigerator. The preventing means is at least one of an energy generator for supplying energy to the liquid supplied with the cool air to maintain the liquid in the supercooled state, a restricting member for interrupting the motion of the liquid, and a heater for converting the liquid converted into a solid phase into the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim, Jong-Min Shin, Su-Won Lee, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Yong-Chol Kwon, Ku-Young Son
  • Patent number: 8151577
    Abstract: A frozen beverage device (10) has a container (20) and sealable cover (30) to convert a liquid (60), such as a non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage into an at least semi-frozen slurry containing ice crystals (61). Freezing device(s) (50), which may have a range of shapes, contain refrigerant to from a thin layer of ice/ice crystals on the deformable wall(s) of the freezing device(s) (50), the ice crystals (61) being released therefrom due to agitation of the liquid (60) by shaking/rotation and/or squeezing on the container (20) and/or cover (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Turbine Developments Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Patent number: 8136368
    Abstract: A modular evaporator which can be assembled from a number of standard modules is provided. Depending on the requirements, the modular evaporator can be assembled to meet a wide range of design cooling loads. Additionally, the modular evaporator is capable of generating and holding ice for thermal storage purposes, eliminating the need for external ice storage tanks. Furthermore, the heat transfer and thermal storage fluid for the evaporator can simply be water which considerably simplifies the system, lowers the cost, and increases the efficiency of the heat transfer loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Reich, Michael Paul Burdett, Vladimir D. Reich
  • Publication number: 20120047917
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a sealed system, a cooling recipient, and a heat pipe. To transport cooling capacity to the cooling recipient, evaporator in the sealed system includes a cold plate section with heat transfer surface. A cold end of the heat pipe is attached to the cold plate section of the evaporator. An internal refrigerating or freezing compartment, an external compartment, an ice maker, or an ice-making cabinet could be a recipient of cooling capacity. Air flowing around a warm end of the heat pipe brings cooling potential to the internal and/or external compartments. Icemaker and/or ice-making cabinet can be located in the freezing compartment, in the freezing compartment door, in refrigerating compartment, or in refrigerating compartment door. To facilitate heat transfer the warm end of the heat pipe is in heat transfer contact with an ice making cavity that receives and freezes water to ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander Rafalovich
  • Publication number: 20120036871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for producing ice beads (10). The device (1) comprises at least one cooling device (18) for cooling a hydrophobic liquid (20) to a temperature of at least ?5° C. and a receiving vessel (2, 102) having the hydrophobic liquid (20). Furthermore, the device (1) comprises a pipetting device (3) situated on the receiving vessel (2, 102), which comprises a vessel (4) for an aqueous mixture (11). A plurality of tapering outlet tubes (5) extends therefrom, which is situated in a vessel wall (4?), into the receiving vessel (2, 102). An outlet end of an outlet tube (5) is situated spaced apart in the range of 3 cm to 10 cm from a surface (20?) of the hydrophobic liquid (20). Furthermore, the device (1) comprises at least one apparatus for providing a relative velocity between the pipetting device (3) and the hydrophobic liquid (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Wolfgang Folger
  • Patent number: 8113248
    Abstract: A food storing apparatus capable of dispensing a content stored in the apparatus is disclosed. The food storing apparatus includes a button tray composite device configured to function as a switch to control the dispensation of the content, but also configured to function as a tray for receiving a residual content discharged after the content dispensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nam Gi Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Dong Jeong Kim
  • Publication number: 20120031113
    Abstract: Ice condensed in a portion in a case in which a cryogenic refrigerator is installed, which is cooled by the cryogenic refrigerator, is melted by increasing a temperature of the ice to a melting point of the ice or higher. Then, while the temperature of the melted ice and a pressure thereof are kept to be equal to or higher than a freezing point of water, the pressure is reduced by rough evacuation so as to vaporize water. At a time at which the water is discharged, the pressure is further reduced so as to discharge water vapor. In this manner, regeneration of water is performed in accordance with a state of the water (i.e., a solid state, a liquid state, and a gas state), thereby shortening a regeneration time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Tsuyuki