By Heating Patents (Class 62/73)
  • Patent number: 11906229
    Abstract: An ice machine includes: an ice maker including: an ultrasonic bin sensor mounted to a body; and a controller in electrical communication with the ultrasonic bin sensor and configured to control the ultrasonic bin sensor; and a storage bin coupled to the ice maker and sized to receive a mound of ice, a lens of the ultrasonic bin sensor facing a bottom of an interior cavity of the storage bin, the controller configured to process a return signal of the ultrasonic bin sensor to control a level of ice stored inside the storage bin, the controller further configured to apply a predetermined time delay to filter out a portion of the return signal that exceeds a threshold voltage but does not exceed the time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hoshizaki America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11906231
    Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
  • Patent number: 11874050
    Abstract: An ice maker of the present invention comprises: an upper tray defining an upper chamber that is a portion of an ice chamber, wherein an upper opening is provided in an upper side of the upper tray; a lower tray defining a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber; a lower support supporting the lower tray and provided with a lower heater; and a control unit configured to operate the lower heater in an ice making process, wherein the control unit variably controls an output of the lower heater so that bubbles included in water in the ice chamber are gathered in a lowermost section in the ice making process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong
  • Patent number: 11864573
    Abstract: A meat preservation apparatus and method allowed to broaden the ice temperature are provided. The second conveyor mesh belt is equipped with an ice temperature device, the right end of the second conveyor mesh belt is equipped with an ice temperature device, the ice temperature device comprises a base, a spinning disk is arranged above the base, and four moving plates that can move inside and outside are evenly arranged above the spinning disk, two first linear actuators are vertically arranged above each moving plate, an ice temperature box can move up and down between the two first linear actuators, conveyor belts are arranged in the ice temperature box, and the conveyor belts are driven by the first motor, a box door is set on an outside of the ice temperature box, and the box door is driven by a second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HEFEI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Baocai Xu, Zhaoming Wang, Hui Zhou, Kezhou Cai, Yuanbo Hu, Yunhao Ma, Wei Cui
  • Patent number: 11619434
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice tray, a motor configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray, an ejector configured to cause rotation of an ice piece, the ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, a heater configured to selectively supply heat to the ice tray, and a first sensor unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the protrusion pin about an axis of the rotary shaft. The first sensor unit is further configured to, before discharge of the ice piece from the ice tray, detect whether the protrusion pin has rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis of the rotary shaft, and the heater is further configured to be turned off based on the first sensor unit detecting that the protrusion pin has rotated by the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11519649
    Abstract: An ice maker of the present invention comprises: an upper tray defining an upper chamber that is a portion of an ice chamber, wherein an upper opening is provided in an upper side of the upper tray; a lower tray defining a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber; a lower support supporting the lower tray and provided with a lower heater; and a control unit configured to operate the lower heater in an ice making process, wherein the control unit variably controls an output of the lower heater so that bubbles included in water in the ice chamber are gathered in a lowermost section in the ice making process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong
  • Patent number: 11506444
    Abstract: An ice machine includes a housing including a front panel, a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and an opening. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend away from the front panel. The ice machine also includes a guide at or adjacent to an inner surface of the first sidewall, an inner surface of the second sidewall, or an inner surface of the front panel. The ice machine includes a door movably coupled to the guide. From a first position of the door, the door is pivotable away from the opening and translatable along the guide down into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mile High Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Lee Shultz, Colin Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 11378322
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage compartment, an ice making device, and an ice bucket to store the generated ice. The ice bucket includes an ice bucket body, an ice storage space inside the ice bucket body, and a spacing member to allow ice to be spaced apart from the ice bucket body toward the ice storage space to secure a flow path of cool air, so that the cool air smoothly flows inside the ice bucket body. A full-ice detecting sensor having an emitter and a receiver to receive optical signals is provided. A control unit determines a full-ice status by receiving an output value of signals received from the full-ice detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Yeon Woo Cho
  • Patent number: 11280532
    Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporator assembly for a horizontal type ice making machine. The evaporator assembly includes a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant; a plurality of conductive protrusions, which are thermally coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of tubes; and a non-conductive plate, which is arranged adjacent to the plurality of tubes. The non-conductive plate is defined with a plurality of moulds, wherein each of the plurality of moulds is defined with a provision to receive one of the plurality of conductive protrusions. Each of the plurality of tubes includes a hemispherical structure, configured to enclose a top portion of the mould. The configuration of the evaporator assembly facilitates fast and efficient formation of ice, and there improves the efficiency of the ice making machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Ram Prakash Sharma
  • Patent number: 11105547
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ice making device that is able to selectively make ices having different transparencies from each other. The ice making device includes: an ice making chamber including an ice making container to accommodate ice making water therein; a cooler configured to supply cool air to the ice making chamber to cool the ice making water; an ice making fan configured to circulate the supplied cool air; an ice making heater configured to supply heat to the ice making water when the ice making water is cooled; and a controller configured to control at least one of the cooling unit, the ice making fan and the ice making heater to adjust a rate of change of temperature of the ice making container to generate one of two types of ice having different transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myungseob Song, Minsoo Kim, Jinkook Yoon, Jinseung Choi
  • Patent number: 11079154
    Abstract: An ice machine, comprising a pressure source configured to provide a gas above ambient pressure. The ice machine comprises an evaporator grid comprising a evaporator back board and an elastic substrate disposed over the evaporator back board, configured to elastically contract in thickness towards the evaporator back board. The evaporator grid comprises a gas valve in fluid communication with the pressure source. The ice machine comprises one or more controllers configured to initiate separation between the elastic substrate and an ice block that is formed in the evaporator grid. The gas valve is configured to inject the gas into a space formed by the separation, where the gas has a pressure above ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ICEBOW LTD.
    Inventor: Elad Mor
  • Patent number: 11002472
    Abstract: An ice cube tray assembly having an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box having a base and an upstanding structure, with a cavity. A top surface has an inner and outer perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining the opening of the cavity. The lower chamber includes an upper deck portion and container structure depending therefrom. The upper chamber includes a top wall and an inner container structure depending from the top wall. The upper and lower chambers are positioned in sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Crystal Cubes LLC
    Inventors: John Joseph Baumbach, Douglas Carl Allan, Brendan Hingston Lake, Justin Eakes
  • Patent number: 10995975
    Abstract: An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Azuma Kondou, Takeo Ueno, Kouichi Kita, Ryouji Matsue, Satoru Ohkura
  • Patent number: 10775089
    Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: True Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
  • Patent number: 9395123
    Abstract: A portable thermal-control system adapted to support space-related research and exploration. Embodiments of the present invention assist in preventing overheating of small payloads being transported from an orbiting space vehicle to a planetary surface by small atmospheric-entry vehicles. Other embodiments of the present invention provide thermal control within an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit. Each embodiment utilizes at least one phase-change material, cooled significantly below the freezing temperature, to absorb heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Paragon Space Development Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Orville Leimkuehler, Thomas William Morin, Grant A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9316426
    Abstract: Articulated water curtains for ice making machines include two portions, an upper portion hingedly connected to the upper portion of the machine, and a lower portion that includes a bottom edge of the two-piece water curtain and that is pivotally-mounted to a lower portion of the machine or to the lower portion of the water curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Scotsman Group LLC
    Inventor: Jay Martin Almblad
  • Publication number: 20150096310
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly and a method for operating an ice maker are provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of the ice maker and determining a first derivative of the temperature of the ice maker with respect to time. An operating state of the ice maker is established based at least in part on the temperature of the ice maker and the first derivative of the temperature of the ice maker with respect to time. Knowledge of the operating state of the ice maker can assist with preventing damage to a motor of the ice maker and with detecting super-cooled liquid water in a mold body of the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith Wesley Wait, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20150075191
    Abstract: An ice piece release system that includes a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C., a warm section at a temperature above 0° C., and a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment. The tray includes a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The ice piece release system also includes a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray. The ice piece release system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below that of water, and the fluid resides in the primary reservoir assembly and the cavity of the tray. The primary reservoir assembly is further adapted to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in the reservoir assembly into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: COREY M. GOODEN, STEVEN JOHN KUEHL
  • Patent number: 8959939
    Abstract: An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator the apparatus includes an ice maker, an ice container to collect ice made by the ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the ice container. The ice detecting sensor has a transmitter module provided on one side of the ice maker and a receiver module provided on another side of the ice maker. The transmitter module is separated by a prescribed distance from the receiver module. At least one of the transmitter module or receiver module includes at least one optical element and at least one heater, and the heater is made of an electroconductive heating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Su Kim, Dong-Hoon Lee, Kyung-Han Jeong, Kwang-Ha Suh
  • Patent number: 8950197
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Kevin M. Chase, Tony L. Koenigsknecht, Ronald L. Voglewede, Matthew E. Young
  • Patent number: 8925335
    Abstract: An ice piece release and formation system (and associated methods) including a chilled compartment, a warm section, a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, and a reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section. The tray includes ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The reservoir assembly includes chambers in fluid communication with the cavity and a driving body for moving the chambers. The system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid that resides in the chambers and the cavity of the tray. The driving body and the reservoir assembly are further adapted to move each of the chambers to a position above the cavity, and the other of the chambers to a position below the cavity, such that the fluid within the chamber positioned above the cavity flows into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Corey M. Gooden, Steven John Kuehl
  • Publication number: 20150000311
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fast ice making device for quickly producing ice cubes. The fast ice making device includes a mold body having a plurality of ice forming cavities adapted to hold fluid. In an ice making cycle, a vacuum system evacuates air from the cavities, thereby depressurizing the cavities. Then, a liquid delivery system delivers liquid to the depressurized cavities, whereby an initial portion of the liquid bubbles up within the respective cavities. Overall, a cooler fluid is established at the beginning of an ice making cycle, thus accelerating the rate at which ice cubes are formed within the fast ice making device. Once ice cubes have been formed within the cavities, a heat transfer system is utilized to heat the cavities, thereby slightly melting the ice cubes and aiding in the expulsion of ice cubes from the cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALEXANDRE D. GROSSE, ADRIANA SYLIVA GUILLEN
  • Publication number: 20140202181
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a fluid supply inlet, a fluid reservoir that is configured to receive a fluid from the fluid supply inlet, a cooling plate that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, a refrigeration device in thermal contact with the cooling plate that is configured to freeze a predetermined amount of fluid to form a section of ice, a cutter grid configured adjacent the cooling plate to divide the section of ice, wherein at least a portion of the ice produces an excess fluid, an ice storage area in communication with the cutter grid where the storage area has at least one vertical wall, and a fluid diverter configured adjacent the cutter grid that is configured to direct the excess fluid toward the at least one vertical wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: SCOTT DANIEL BOYD, TREVOR HAWKINS, STEVEN L. PROCTOR, CHAD J. ROTTER, MICHAEL A. BOWEN
  • Publication number: 20140182315
    Abstract: An icemaker includes an ice tray configured to receive water, an ejector configured to rotate to eject ice made in the ice tray, and a heater arranged to contact the ice tray and configured to facilitate separation of ice from the ice tray by selectively heating the ice tray. The icemaker also includes a case mounted to a side of the ice tray and a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor mounted in the case and configured to selectively rotate the ejector in forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun KIM, Jimin YOU, Siyeon AN, Sungkyoung KIM
  • Publication number: 20140137577
    Abstract: An ice piece release and formation system (and associated methods) including a chilled compartment, a warm section, a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, and a reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section. The tray includes ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The reservoir assembly includes chambers in fluid communication with the cavity and a driving body for moving the chambers. The system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid that resides in the chambers and the cavity of the tray. The driving body and the reservoir assembly are further adapted to move each of the chambers to a position above the cavity, and the other of the chambers to a position below the cavity, such that the fluid within the chamber positioned above the cavity flows into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: COREY M. GOODEN, STEVEN JOHN KUEHL
  • Patent number: 8590327
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus for keeping an inside of a storage at a predetermined low-temperature state includes first and second refrigerant circuits including compressors, condensers, decompressors, and evaporators, connected circularly with pipings to form refrigerating cycles, the circuit having a first or second refrigerant sealed therein as a working refrigerant, a first sensor which detects a temperature of a cascade condenser constituted by integrating the evaporator of the first refrigerant circuit and the condenser of the second refrigerant circuit in a heat exchangeable manner, first and second controllers which control operation performances of the first and second compressors in a variable manner based on first and second sensor detected temperatures in order that the first and second sensor detected temperatures are first and second temperatures, respectively, and a second sensor which detects a temperature inside the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Tobe, Tetsuo Sakurai, Ryuichi Tsuruma
  • Patent number: 8584474
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8578721
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker including a mold with two or more cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A bracket defines a track establishing a range of travel of the mold during an ice making cycle and a removable pin projects outwardly from the mold, extending into the track defined by the bracket to support the mold within the ice maker. The mold can be provided with a partition separating the cavities, the partition including an aperture for establishing a substantially-even water level in the cavities below the partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David R. Ducharme, Gerald Maxie
  • Patent number: 8539780
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carlos A. Herrera, Russell James Fallon, Ronald Gary Foster, William Newton
  • Publication number: 20130239594
    Abstract: An ice maker of a domestic refrigerator that includes an ice mold having an electrically-conductive polymeric body and a plurality of cavities defined in the polymeric body. Each cavity is sized to receive a quantity of fluid corresponding to a single ice cube. A pair of electrodes is engaged with a bottom surface of the polymeric body. The polymeric body has a first electrical conductivity at a first operating temperature and a second electrical conductivity that is less than the first electrical conductivity at a second operating temperature. The second operating temperature is greater than the first operating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: YEN HSI LIN, CRISTIAN A. SOTO, ANDREW M. TENBARGE
  • Patent number: 8534088
    Abstract: A method of controlling an ice maker is provided that minimizes generation of excess water and reduces energy consumption. The method allows for uniform heat to be generated and distributed throughout the ice tray during an ice separation process. Consequently, the ice separating process may be consistently performed irrespective of the shape of the ice tray and its surroundings, thereby minimizing generation of excess water, and reducing energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Joon Hwan Oh, Young Jin Kim, Kwang Ha Suh
  • Patent number: 8534087
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice maker positioned in the refrigerator and configured to make ice. The refrigerator also includes a plate positioned at an open side of the ice making tray and configured to reduce water overflow. The refrigerator further includes a cool air inlet passage configured to allow cool air to be introduced to an area inside of the plate. In addition, the refrigerator includes a cool air outlet passage that is separate from the cool air inlet passage, and configured to allow release of cool air from the area inside of the plate to an exterior of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Lee, Dong-Hoon Lee, Tae-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8516835
    Abstract: An ice tray in accordance with the present disclosure has an ice cavity formed on a first side for receiving water and creating an ice cube and a water cavity formed on a second side, the water cavity adjacent the ice cavity such that when warm water is poured in the water cavity, heat transfers to the ice cavity and melts the ice cube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Edward Carl Holter
  • Publication number: 20130174587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling an icemaker for a refrigerator, and more particularly to a method of controlling an icemaker for a refrigerator which can automatically determine a water shortage situation during water supplying, ice making, and ice separating processes of the icemaker, can prevent production of imperfect ice pieces, and can solve an ice separating defect, thereby smoothly performing an operation of the icemaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung Owan Lee
  • Publication number: 20130081412
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker, which includes an upper tray, a lower tray, and a rotation shaft. Upper cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the upper tray. Lower cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The rotation shaft is connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray to rotate the lower tray relative to the upper tray. A rotation guide part rounded with a predetermined curvature is disposed in a region where the lower tray contacts the upper tray while the lower tray is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Juhyun Son, Wookyong Lee, Donghoon Lee, Dongjeong Kim
  • Publication number: 20130074521
    Abstract: There is provided an ice making method capable of forming ice to an intended level although a sensing unit configured to sense whether or not a formation of ice has reached the intended level malfunctions. The ice making method includes: an ice making initiation step S100 of forming ice by an ice formation unit; an ice release time determining step S200 of determining a point in time at which ice is to be released in consideration of a signal from a detection unit for detecting whether the formation of ice has reached an intended level and an ice making lapse time which has lapsed after the formation of ice was initiated by the ice formation unit; and an ice releasing step S300 of releasing the formed ice when a point in time at which ice is to be released is determined in the ice releasing time determining step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Jin-Kyu Joung, You-Shin Kim, Chul-Sun Dan
  • Patent number: 8393164
    Abstract: A method of detecting an amount of ice stored in a storage bin made by an ice maker of a refrigerator, the method comprises applying heat to the ice detecting sensor of the ice maker, detecting an amount stored in the storage bin, and controlling heat application according to the detected amount. The ice maker has an ice detecting sensor attached thereto. A sensor heater provides the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Su Kim, Dong-Hoon Lee, Kyung-Han Jeong, Kwang-Ha Suh
  • Patent number: 8375734
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided with an ice maker chamber within a fresh food compartment. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration path and an ice maker path. The ice maker path includes an electronic expansion valve for controlling the refrigerant entering an ice maker evaporator and an evaporator pressure regulator. Controlling the refrigeration system includes the steps of sensing a first refrigerant temperature at an exit of the ice maker evaporator and controlling a first control of the electronic expansion valve until the temperature reaches a temperature target. The method of controlling can further include comparing a slope of the temperature to at least one of a minimum, a target, or a maximum setting to adjust the control. Subsequently, a second control for the electronic expansion valve can be repeatedly adjusted by evaluating the first refrigerant temperature and the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Hall, James Scoville
  • Patent number: 8371133
    Abstract: Ice maker including an ice making container (100) having a plurality of cavities (120) for forming ice, a heater body (210) on one side of the ice making container for selective generation of heat, and heating bars (220) each extended from the heater body to the cavity by a predetermined length with a profile in conformity with a bottom surface profile of the cavity (120) with a gap to the bottom surface such that the heating bar (220) is submerged under water in the cavity for causing a temperature gradient during ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Hong Hee Park, Kwang Ha Suh, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • 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: 20120324918
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, an icemaker in the fresh food compartment includes distinct freezer, fresh food and icemaker evaporators and associated valving operating in conjunction with a common compressor and condenser in order to effectively regulate temperatures in specified zones of the refrigerator throughout various operational modes including at least a freezer cooling mode, a fresh food cooling mode and an ice harvesting mode. The icemaker can be serially linked with the fresh food evaporator during cooling of the fresh food compartment, while being also being selectively isolated for the ice harvesting mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, NIHAT CUR, TONY L. KOENIGSKNECHT, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE, MATTHEW E. YOUNG
  • 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: 20120318004
    Abstract: Disclosed are an ice maker, a refrigerator having the ice maker, and a method for supplying ice of the refrigerator. An ice making container long in a vertical direction is installed on a side wall surface of a refrigerator door, makes ice, and pushes up the ice by screws to release the ice, whereby the size of the ice maker can be reduced, the area occupied by the ice maker can be reduced, and a refrigerator having the ice maker can become slimmer. Also, because an installation height of the ice maker is lowered to shorten a cold air supply path and prevent a loss in the process of supplying cold air to the ice making chamber. Also, because a cutting operation is performed simultaneously when the ice is lifted, a fabrication cost can be reduced and a defective state due to malfunction can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bongjin Kim, Seongjae Kim, Moongyo Jung
  • Patent number: 8322148
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8256234
    Abstract: A method for cooling an icemaker is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold body having a channel for transport of coolant and a plurality of ice cavities. The method includes the steps of injecting a coolant into the channel, adding water to the ice cavities, forming ice cubes in the ice cavities, removing coolant from the channel, heating the ice mold body, and ejecting the ice cubes from the ice mold body. The removal step is performed by reversing direction of a coolant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Omar Haidar, Matthew William Davis, Ronald Scott Tarr
  • Publication number: 20120036872
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the step of, in a harvesting cycle of an ice maker system wherein a heating element is turned on at a first time instance to generate heat to separate ice from an ice mold body formed in the ice mold body during a preceding ice formation cycle, and turned off at a second time instance to allow the ice mold body to cool so that a next ice formation cycle can begin, controlling an amount of heat generated by the heating element between the first time instance and the second time instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Joseph Thomas Waugh, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20120031115
    Abstract: A method of making ice in an ice making machine comprising: (a) compressing vaporized refrigerant, cooling the compressed refrigerant to condense it into a liquid, feeding the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device and vaporizing the refrigerant in an evaporator to create freezing temperatures in an ice-forming mold to freeze water into ice in the shape of mold cavities during an ice making mode; (b) heating the ice making mold to release the ice therefrom in a harvest mode by separating vaporous and liquid refrigerant within a receiver interconnected between the condenser and the expansion device and feeding vapor from the receiver to the evaporator, wherein the ice-forming mold, evaporator and receiver are disposed in an ice machine unit, and the compressor and condenser are disposed in a condensing unit; (c) determining if the ice making machine is on and if an ice bin switch is closed: if the ice machine is on and the bin switch is closed, then check a low pressure switch: if the low pressure s
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Lee Gerard Mueller, Daryl G. Erbs
  • Patent number: 8104297
    Abstract: An ice-maker tray (1) has several compartments (4), which each have the form of a segment of a body of rotation. When the content of the compartments (4) is frozen, the tray (1) suspended in a frame (15) of an ice maker is pivoted about an axis, which is parallel to the axes of the segments of the body of rotation, until the openings of the compartments (4) face downwardly and the pieces of ice thawed by heating can slide out of the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Heger, Nathan Wrench
  • Publication number: 20110314842
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Carlos A. Herrera, Russell James Fallon, Ronald Gary Foster, William Newton
  • Patent number: 8051667
    Abstract: An icemaker control module for controlling an icemaker making ice bodies in a freezer has a base with snap fit components including an insert molded circuit board, a motor assembly, an ice level sensing system using a bail arm or a paddle, and a water fill system. Lance features in the circuit board connect switch and motor leads. The thermostat, ground wire, and heater of the icemaker electrically couple to the insert molded circuit board when the ice maker control module is joined to the ice maker. Energy may be conserved by pausing rotation and turning off the heater. There is a method for manufacturing the insert molded circuit board in a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel K. Amonett, Kevin Mumpower