Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080202129 | METHOD OF AND WATER-IMPERMEABLE SHEET FOR ICE RINKS - A method for increasing the ability of a water surface to cool and freeze is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate surface adapted to support a layer of ice, and providing a water-impermeable flexible sheet on top of the substrate surface which supports the flexible sheet, the sheet including at least first, second and third layers. The first layer includes a heat reflective coating for reflecting heat transmitted from the substrate back into the substrate, a second or middle layer which may be an insulative layer, and a third or uppermost layer including a non-reflective coating to reduce heat absorption, and providing a layer of water or ice on top of the water-impermeable flexible sheet whereby the flexible sheet enhances or lowers the temperature of the water on the surface by reducing the temperature transmission through the substrate surface and the upper surface or layer providing non-reflective properties to reduce heat transmission therethrough. | 08-28-2008 |
20080245079 | Method and apparatus maintaining liquid beverages in a supercooled state - Disclosed herein is a refrigerator including a device to restrain the freezing of liquid-phase beverages, thereby stably maintaining the supercooled state of the liquid-phase beverages. The refrigerator includes a main body, a supercooling chamber disposed in the main body such that cool air is supplied to the supercooling chamber, a microwave generator to oscillate microwaves to the supercooling chamber, and a control unit to control the magnitude of the microwaves oscillated from the microwave generator. The present invention has the effect of restraining the freezing of the liquid-phase beverages, thereby stably maintaining the supercooled state of the liquid-phase beverages, and therefore, increasing the supercooled degree of the liquid-phase beverages. | 10-09-2008 |
20080250796 | Methods and Apparatus for Detecting and Making Ice - Methods and apparatus for making and sensing ice. Also, apparatus and methods for sensing the change of phase of a substance. In one embodiment, a fringe-effect capacitor is placed proximate to a substance, such as water, which is undergoing a phase change, such as the change of phase from the liquid state to the solid state. During this change, the dielectric constant of the substance changes, and thereby changes the electrical flux between conductors of the fringe-effect capacitor. Also, apparatus and methods as described above, and using a capacitor but not a fringe-effect capacitor. | 10-16-2008 |
20080264074 | ICE LEVEL AND QUALITY SENSING SYSTEM EMPLOYING DIGITAL IMAGING - A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality. | 10-30-2008 |
20080282712 | Method and apparatus for lowering the temperature of a mixture of water ice and CO2 snow - A method and apparatus facilitate lowering the temperature of a cooling module positioned in heat exchange relation to a loaded container to be maintained at a low temperature. The module establishes convective air flow in heat exchange relation to the load without the use of forced air circulation. The module is self-contained and externally accessible to supply water and liquid CO | 11-20-2008 |
20080314052 | Freezing and Storage Container For Biopharmaceutical Drug Products - A container for storing a biopharmaceutical drug product is disclosed. The container includes two surface area planar walls. A plurality of smaller side walls circumscribing each of the planar walls. A method of freezing at least one biopharmaceutical product in the container is also disclosed. | 12-25-2008 |
20090013699 | DISPENSER RELATED TECHNOLOGY - A food storing apparatus dispenses a content stored in the apparatus. The food storing apparatus includes a button tray that functions as a switch to control dispensing of different contents in accordance with different moved positions of the button tray, but also functions as a tray to receive a residual content discharged after dispensing the content. | 01-15-2009 |
20090100847 | ICE MAKER FOR REFRIGERATOR AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - The ice maker for refrigerator and driving method thereof disclosed herein have advantages over a full ice level detection method using mechanical device in that an ice height can be more accurately detected by a detection signal reflected from ice, wherein an ultrasonic signal is transmitted to the ice to sense the height of ice in the ice storage bin using the reflected ultrasonic signal, enabling to precisely detect the ice height, prevent the overflow of ice, prolong the life and prevent the failure of the ice maker for refrigerator. | 04-23-2009 |
20090133412 | THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND COOLING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE COOLING LOOPS UTILIZING A COMMON EVAPORATOR COIL - Disclosed is a method and device for a refrigerant-based a thermal energy storage and cooling system with multiple condensing units utilizing a common evaporator coil. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption and ease of installation. | 05-28-2009 |
20090158755 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FREEZING, STORING AND THAWING BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MATERIALS - A system for using freezing, storing and thawing biopharmaceutical materials which includes a holder and a container for holding biopharmaceutical materials therein. The holder has a cavity and the container is received in the cavity. 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 cradle having a bottom and edges extending from the bottom. The cradle bounds the cavity. An outer rim is connected to the cradle and separated from the cavity. The bottom includes an inner surface facing the cavity receiving the container and an outer surface. The outer surface of the bottom is recessed relative to an outer surface of the outer rim. | 06-25-2009 |
20090165471 | ICE IN BUCKET DETECTION FOR AN ICEMAKER - In an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator comprising an ice storage bucket and a cooling system in thermal communication with the ice storage bucket is shown. A first transmitter is configured in the ice storage bucket. A first pulse signal is transmitted from the first transmitter. A first receiver is configured in the ice storage bucket and is further configured to receive the first pulse signal. A first pre-signal response from the first receiver is generated before the first pulse signal. A first pulse signal response from the first receiver generated during the first pulse signal. | 07-02-2009 |
20090173084 | Storing device for chunks of water ice and method for providing chunks of water ice - The invention relates to a storing device for ice chunks that includes a receiving compartment for receiving therein ice chunks and a movable stirrer for effecting displacement of ice chunks received in the receiving compartment. The movable stirrer extends in the receiving compartment and rotates about a stirrer axis with the movable stirrer being disposed relative to the receiving compartment such that its stirrer axis extends through two surfaces of the receiving compartment. The movable stirrer is drivable in a stirring movement in a manner such that the movable stirrer effects displacement of the ice chunks with a substantial portion of the ice chunks not be advanced in a either a direction toward one of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends of the other of the two surfaces through which the stirrer axis extends. | 07-09-2009 |
20090173085 | Ice-making machine with water flow sensor - The present disclosure provides an ice-making system having a control system. The control system selectively places the ice-making machine in a freeze cycle and a harvest cycle, based upon inputs from sensors that determine a flow rate of fluid out of an evaporator, and a level of fluid in a sump. The control system can further prevent a slushing condition in the ice-making machine by monitoring the temperature of the fluid in the sump. The control system can also monitor the sensors to ensure that they are providing correct signals. | 07-09-2009 |
20090193819 | Pre-chiller System for Ice Making Apparatus - A pre-chiller for an ice making system. The pre-chiller provides a coiled conductive tube mounted in an ice storage bin. Water flows through the tube and is chilled by the tube that is cold as a result of heat exchange from the ice in the ice storage bin. This chilled water is then delivered to the water inlet of the refrigeration system. The lower temperature of the chilled water compared to the typical ambient temperature of the water delivered to the refrigeration system lowers the power consumption of the refrigeration system and increases its efficiency. | 08-06-2009 |
20090199577 | Quick Freezing Apparatus and Quick Freezing Method - [Object] To provide a quick freezing apparatus and method making it possible to prevent a subtle reaction between an object-to-be-preserved and a gas inside its freezing store to prevent deformation and deterioration of the object-to-be-preserved as much as possible and freeze-preserve the object maintaining its freshness and quality at a high standard for a long term, and thereby applicable to a long-term preservation of a living tissue. | 08-13-2009 |
20090211266 | Method of controlling ice making assembly for refrigerator - Controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator such that the ice making assembly produces transparent ice. Transparent ice can be produced even if the space containing the ice making assembly is kept at a temperature lower than 0° C. This is achieved, in part, by maintaining the ice tray at a temperature at or above freezing. | 08-27-2009 |
20090211267 | Ice making assembly for refrigerator and method for controlling the same - An ice making assembly for a refrigerator and a method for controlling the ice making assembly are provided. The ice making assembly and the method of controlling the ice making assembly provides a constant amount of water supply for each ice making cycle regardless of environmental conditions such as the varying water supply pressure of different installation locations. Furthermore, overflowing can be prevented during water supply with the use of a capacitance water level sensor. | 08-27-2009 |
20090211268 | Defrost indicator - A defrost indicator is configured such that the process of freezing and defrosting the defrost indicator places the defrost indicator into a state that is not completely reversed by refreezing, so that one can detect whether the defrost indicator defrosted and refroze or never defrosted by observing its current state. In an embodiment, the defrost indicator is initially placed in a first state before being frozen (e.g., upside down with fluid in an upper chamber). Freezing the defrost indicator places it in a second state (e.g., with the fluid frozen in the upper chamber). Then when the defrost indicator is defrosted, the defrost indicator is placed into a third state that is different than the first state (e.g., right-side-up with liquid fluid in the lower chamber). If the defrost indicator is again frozen, the defrost indicator is placed into a fourth state (e.g., the fluid frozen in the lower chamber). | 08-27-2009 |
20090217677 | FREEZING AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR BIOPHARMACEUTICAL DRUG PRODUCTS - A container for storing a biopharmaceutical drug product is disclosed. The container includes two surface area planar walls. A plurality of smaller side walls circumscribing each, of the planar walls. The container may also include a plurality of members extending between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and located at spaced apart locations on each of the first and second planar surfaces. A method of freezing at least one biopharmaceutical product in the container is also disclosed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090241559 | METHOD OF PRESENTING BEER - A method for serving beer from a font includes the steps of first chilling a glass for the beer to a temperature of below, at least, −5° C. and then filling the glass with beer from the font, so that crystals of frozen beer are present in the drink below the head of foam on the beer that is created when the beer is poured. | 10-01-2009 |
20090255275 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING RESIDUAL STRESS IN PIPE AND APPARATUS - An method for converting tensile residual stress on an inner surface of a welded part of a pipe to compressive residual stress with use of ice plugs formed by cooling the pipe from the outer surface, comprises the steps of: placing refrigerant containers for forming the ice plugs in the upstream and downstream of a butt-welded part; cooling the outer surface of the pipe to form the ice plugs; and then cooling the outer surface of the pipe with use of at least one refrigerant container for expanding the pipe arranged between the refrigerant containers for forming the ice plugs. When the method is applied to a pipe with a large inside diameter, the method comprises forming the ice plugs at a curved pipe, an elbow or a branch pipe in the upstream and downstream of the butt-welded part. | 10-15-2009 |
20090272130 | ICE DETECTING APPARATUS OF ICE MAKER FOR REFRIGERATOR AND ICE DETECTING METHOD THEREOF - An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator comprising and ice maker, a storage container to collect ice from the ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor provided at the ice maker including a transmitting unit to transmit one or more pulses, and a receiving unit to detect the pulses transmitted from the transmitting unit. A controller to determine whether the storage container is full or nearly full based on the pulses detected by the receiving unit among one or more pulses transmitted by the transmitting unit. | 11-05-2009 |
20090277191 | Ice Preparation Device, Corresponding Tray and Method for Preparing Ice | 11-12-2009 |
20090282844 | ICE PRODUCING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method of producing ice in a refrigerator includes flowing a refrigerant through a cooling system to cool an interior compartment of the refrigerator, flowing a cooling medium different than the refrigerant through a first heat exchanger to decrease a temperature of the cooling medium, and flowing the cooling medium through a second heat exchanger to freeze water that is disposed in an ice mold adjacent the second heat exchanger. | 11-19-2009 |
20090288428 | ICEMAKER SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATOR - An icemaker system provided in a refrigerator is designed to reduce an amount of time required to produce ice. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration system including a number of refrigeration components and a refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop includes an icemaker section that carries a flow of refrigerant to an ice mold portion of the icemaker system and a bypass section that isolates the icemaker system from the flow of refrigerant. A control system automatically activates the icemaker system regardless of a need for cooling. That is, upon sensing a demand for ice, the control system opens a valve to cause refrigerant to flow through the icemaker section and activates the refrigeration components to speed ice production whether or not additional cooling is required in fresh food and/or freezer compartments. | 11-26-2009 |
20090293508 | REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING HIGH CAPACITY ICE MAKER - In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an ice service refrigerator comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an evaporator. The ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle. The refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. The refrigerator also comprises circuitry including the controller for closing the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making. The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting. | 12-03-2009 |
20090301105 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ICE SURFACE FOR ICE RINKS - A method for producing an ice surface for an ice rink by freezing water to which an inorganic substance is added is characterized in that the inorganic substance is ammonia, an alkali hydroxide or alkaline earth hydroxide, a hydrogen halide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, an alkali salt, alkaline earth salt or ammonium salt of said acids, or ammonium-bicarbonate, or a mixture of several of said substances. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301106 | BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING - A method of regulating the refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, including a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage, operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow the refrigerant through the refrigeration system of the beverage machine and cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser. The method may also include controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser or the speed of the at least one compressor. | 12-10-2009 |
20090314011 | Product Cooling - A cooling system for beverage dispense has a circuit | 12-24-2009 |
20090314012 | Refrigerator with supercooled beverage dispenser and method for controlling the same - A refrigerator that allows a user to receive supercooled beverage through a dispenser in the refrigerator door. The refrigerator includes a main body having a compartment and a door opening and closing the compartment, a supercooling compartment in the main body to supercool a beverage, and a dispenser in the door to dispense supercooled liquid from the supercooling compartment without opening the door. A supercooled liquid tank is detachably installed in the supercooling compartment to supercool beverage. The supercooling compartment is installed in the rear side of the door such that a supercooling compartment door may be installed in the front side of the door to open and close the supercooling compartment in front of the door. | 12-24-2009 |
20090320501 | Automatic ice making machine and operation method therefor - To restrict the deposition of stain on an ice making unit, and prevent damage to resin components or the like. The above problems are solved by the followings. Ice making water is supplied to the front surface of an ice making plate cooled by refrigerant supplied to an evaporation tube during an ice making cycle to produce ice blocks. During a deicing cycle, deicing water is supplied by opening a water feed valve WV to the rear surface of the ice making plate to be heated by hot gas supplied to the evaporation tube. When a water feed time has elapsed, the water feed valve WV is closed to temporarily stop deicing water supply. After the water feed time elapsed, a cycle, in which the water feed valve WV is opened as much as an intermittent water supply time every time an intermittent stopping time has elapsed to intermittently supply deicing water, is repeated until a deicing cycle completes. | 12-31-2009 |
20100024442 | ICEMAKER REFRIGERATOR PROVIDED THEREWITH AND ICE MAKING METHOD - An icemaker for a refrigerator is provided that includes a mold container which may be filled with water, an air space adjacent to a water level in the mold container, and an air humidifying device for increasing the level of humidity in the air above the water level. Water is administered to the mold container and is cooled and ice crystals form when a given crystallization temperature of the water of below zero degrees C is reached. | 02-04-2010 |
20100037631 | ICE MAKER AND METHOD, AND REFRIGERATOR HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are an ice maker and method including an ice container to store ice, and a refrigerator having the same. The ice maker includes an ice making unit that receives water and produces ice from the water, a first ice container that receives the ice separated from the ice making unit, and an ice forwarding unit disposed at one side of the first ice container to guide the ice to be discharged to the outside. | 02-18-2010 |
20100050663 | ICE PRODUCING METHOD - 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. | 03-04-2010 |
20100077773 | RAPID FLUID FREEZING DEVICE - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for freezing an alcoholic beverage, including placing an alcoholic beverage into a beverage receptacle; dispensing a predetermined amount of the alcoholic beverage into a plurality of freezing cavities; transferring liquid nitrogen from a coolant reservoir to a plurality of coolant chambers; exposing the plurality of freezing cavities to the liquid nitrogen to freeze the alcoholic beverage; and removing the frozen alcoholic beverage from the freezing chamber. | 04-01-2010 |
20100077774 | Abnormality detecting method for automatic ice making machine - Disclosed is an abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine that can quickly detect an abnormality to delay an ice-making time or an abnormality to shorten the ice-making time, if occurred. A down flow type ice making machine includes two ice making units, one control means, and an ice storage room. Each ice making unit has an ice making part, an ice-making water tank that stores ice-making water, a circulation pump that feeds the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank to the ice making part, and a float switch that detects the amount of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank. Upon elapse of a preset first abnormality occurring time from a time of first detection of an ice-making complete water level by the float switch in any one of the ice making units, when the float switch in any one of the other ice making units has not detected the ice-making complete water level, the control means decides that an abnormality has occurred in the ice making unit. | 04-01-2010 |
20100089075 | Refrigerator with icemaker and control method thereof - A refrigerator to provide information of completion of an ice making operation performed in an ice making container or ice separating information via an electric unit thereof is provided. Completion of the ice making operation is determined based on a temperature of a storage compartment and/or an ice making time. Providing information of completion of the ice making operation or ice separating information allows a user to easily know completion of the ice making operation so that the user can conveniently separate ice cubes from the ice making container at an appropriate time, and prevents unwanted conglomeration of ice cubes stored in an ice storage container due to insufficient ice making. Further, when the ice cubes are automatically separated from the ice making container, the electric unit of the refrigerator provides information informing the user that an ice separating operation is being performed. | 04-15-2010 |
20100101244 | METHOD OF OPERATING ICE MAKING MACHINE - A method of operating an ice making machine efficiently provides clean ice blocks. A special water-discharge operation which is performed when an ice storage switch (TS) provided at an ice storage chamber ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100180608 | ICE STORAGE BIN AND ICEMAKER APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATOR - An ice storage bin and an icemaker apparatus are disclosed. The ice storage bin has a body for defining an ice collection cavity and a channel surrounding at least a substantial portion of the body for permitting fluid flow through the channel. The icemaker apparatus is disposed in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. The icemaker apparatus has an ice maker, above the ice storage bin, and an icemaking compartment for accommodating the ice maker and the ice storage bin. | 07-22-2010 |
20100186429 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CIRCULATING AIR WITHIN AN ICEMAKER COMPARTMENT OF A REFRIGERATOR - A method and apparatus for circulating air within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator are disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating the icemaker, filling the ice cavities with water, and activating the fan after a predetermined time after the ice cavities are filled with water. The apparatus includes a food storage compartment, an access door operable to selectively close the food storage compartment, an icemaker compartment on the access door, an icemaker disposed in the icemaker compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold body defining a plurality of ice cavities, an ice storage bin disposed in the icemaker compartment, a fan for distributing cold air within the icemaker compartment, at least one heating element attached to the ice mold body, a coolant pump, and a controller for regulating the fan and the coolant pump. | 07-29-2010 |
20100218517 | CASCADING ICE LUGE, APPARATUS, AND METHODS THEREFORE - Embodiments of cascading ice luges and embodiments of apparatuses and methods for making cascading ice luges are disclosed. One apparatus embodying the principles of the invention features shelves and attached brackets in stepwise configuration. The shelves are affixed to a scaffold. Ice blocks can be frozen in trays such that pre-formed lanes are formed in the ice blocks. The trays can be of convenient size that can be placed in a conventional household freezer. Ice blocks can be arranged on the shelves in stepwise configuration and oriented so that a liquid or beverage placed on the uppermost ice block will flow in the pre-formed lanes in a cascading manner thereby rapidly cooling the beverage with minimal dilution. | 09-02-2010 |
20100218518 | ICE MAKER CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker. | 09-02-2010 |
20100281889 | METHOD OF CONTROL OF THERMAL ENERGY MODULE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION - A control system measures the pressure/temperature of the refrigerant within a Thermal Energy Module having a heat exchanger and calculates the thickness of ice within the Thermal Energy Module. A controller calculates an integral starting from the moment when ice accumulation begins: I(t)=∫Tr(τ)*dτ where Tr is the refrigerant saturation temperature changing with time t. The thickness of the ice on one side of the heat exchanger can be calculated using the following formula: X=√(2*I*K*Ui/ρi/ci) where Ui is the thermal conductance of ice ρi is the density of the ice Ci is the latent heat of the ice K is a correction coefficient associated with the type of the heat exchanger. | 11-11-2010 |
20100326093 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE FOR FORMING ICE WITHIN AN ICEMAKER COMPARTMENT OF A REFRIGERATOR - 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. | 12-30-2010 |
20110000233 | CONTROL MODULE FOR AUTOMATIC ICE MAKERS - 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. The cam gear may also have at least one cam surface projecting from a face of the cam gear which interacts with a lever pivotally mounted within the housing and coupled to a wire bail arm extending into the freezer section, the lever also having a projecting cam which interacts when rotated with a switch mounted within the control module to prevent initiation of an ice ejection/water fill cycle when the wire bail arm and coupled lever are prevented from returning to their starting position by ice bodies in an ice receptacle in the freezer section. Features of the control module and ice maker, which may be activated, deactivated or sequentially controlled by the interacting cam projections and switches within the control module, include motor operation, activation and deactivation of thermostatically controlled motor initiation and mold heating element for ice bodies release, water fill and ice level detection. | 01-06-2011 |
20110005242 | Ice Mold - An ice mold includes a container having a bottom surface, a pair of end walls, a pair of sidewalls and an open top in communication with an interior chamber. The bottom surface includes a plurality of integral ridges with integral grooves formed therebetween that extend from one end wall to the other. Preferably, the sidewalls and end walls extend outwardly slightly relative to a vertical plane to facilitate removal of an ice block. The open top is bordered by a lip having an inverted U-shaped cross-section that may be grasped to lift or contort the container. | 01-13-2011 |
20110120151 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN FREEZING, THAWING, AND STORING BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MATERIALS - 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. | 05-26-2011 |
20110146303 | Refrigerator and method of controlling operation thereof - A refrigerator in which an evaporator is separately installed in each of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber such that operations of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are independently controlled, and a method of controlling an operation thereof. An operation of the freezing chamber is performed first when the refrigerator starts to be operated in a parallel cycle to convert a flow of a refrigerant such that operations of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are independently performed using a 3-way valve, thereby achieving energy savings. Further, a check valve to prevent the refrigerant from flowing to a freezing chamber evaporator is omitted, thereby achieving production cost reduction. | 06-23-2011 |
20110162392 | Control method of refrigerator - A control method of a refrigerator to prevent frost from being formed in an ice making chamber. The refrigerator includes an ice making chamber refrigerant pipe to supply a refrigerant to make ice in a direct cooling manner and an ice making chamber circulation fan to create a forced air stream to circulate air in the ice making chamber. The control method includes determining whether temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than a predetermined temperature and driving the ice making chamber circulation fan in a state in which the temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than the predetermined temperature and the refrigerant flows in the ice making chamber refrigerant pipe or when flow of the refrigerant in the ice making chamber refrigerant pipe is interrupted in a state in which the temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than the predetermined temperature. | 07-07-2011 |
20110209483 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLEAR ICE - 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. | 09-01-2011 |
20110302935 | LIQUID DISPENSING AND AUTOMATIC ICEMAKING ON NON-PLUMBED REFRIGERATOR - The present invention is directed towards a refrigerator including a door, a liquid reservoir, a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, and a pump in communication with the dispenser. Further provided is a method of operating a refrigerator including the steps of providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, a liquid reservoir, and a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid through the door, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, providing a pump having an inlet in communication with the liquid in the liquid reservoir and an outlet in communication with the dispenser, and providing a user interface in communication with the pump, whereby selectively entering a dispensing function input into the interface actuates the pump. | 12-15-2011 |
20110308260 | BEVERAGE COOLER, A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING SUCH A BEVERAGE COOLER AND A METHOD FOR COOLING BEVERAGE - The invention relates to a beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container ( | 12-22-2011 |
20120000214 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FREEZING CAPACITY OF A FIXED-FREQUENCY FREEZING AC ICE-WATER SYSTEM - A method for controlling the freezing capacity of a fixed-frequency freezing AC ice-water system, by using temperature buffer difference of individual requirement ends to control the number of operating compressors in a fixed-frequency chiller and make each of the operating compressors have a usage rate close to 100%. Further, various operating procedures are defined for the requirement ends and each of the operating procedures has an individually defined high-low temperature range such that the freezing capacity supply cycle or startup cycle of the fixed-frequency chiller can be adjusted by using the high-low temperature ranges of the operating procedures as temperature buffer strips, thereby allowing the compressors in the fixed-frequency chiller to operate collectively in order to save energy. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000215 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FREEZING CAPACITY OF A VARIABLE-FREQUENCY FREEZING AC ICE-WATER SYSTEM - A method for controlling freezing capacity of a variable-frequency freezing AC ice-water system separates the freezing capacity of each individual requirement end so as to reduce sudden or peak concentrating freezing demand and relieve variable-frequency load demand, and defines operating procedures corresponding to different requirement ends, respectively, wherein each of the operating procedures has a corresponding high-low temperature range that can be used as a temperature buffer zone so as to redistribute supply of the freezing capacity to each requirement end, thereby allowing the compressors thereof to operate smoothly and thus achieve energy saving as a result. The drawbacks of damaged pipelines are overcome that cause deficiency in freezing capacity as encountered in prior techniques. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000216 | ICE MAKER OF REFRIGERATOR AND POWER SAVING METHOD OF ICE MAKER - An ice maker for a refrigerator and a power saving method of an ice maker are provided. The ice maker includes: an ice tray for making ice; an ejector for removing the ice from the ice tray; an storage unit for dispensing and storing the removed ice; and a controller for controlling an ice making operation for making ice, an ice removing operation for removing generated ice, and a dispensing operation of dispensing removed ice, and providing control to cut off power supply during the ice making operation. While an ice making operation is being performed, an ice making elapsed-time and an ice making temperature are measured to determine whether or not the ice making operation has been completed, and while the ice making operation is being performed, power supplied to the ice maker is cut off, thus reducing unnecessary power consumption. | 01-05-2012 |
20120031113 | Method and apparatus for regeneration water - 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. | 02-09-2012 |
20120031114 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CLEAR ICE - A method for making clear ice comprising: filling a water sump to a predetermined level; contacting a refrigerant to an evaporator; circulating water from the sump over the evaporator to form ice on the evaporator; monitoring the water level in the sump; and monitoring the conductivity of the water in the sump to determine if the conductivity of the water is equal to or greater than a predetermined conductivity valve, (i) if the conductivity is not equal to or greater than the predetermined conductivity valve and if the water level reaches a predetermined lower water level, then complete the ice making cycle and initiate the harvest cycle; or (ii) if the conductivity is equal to or greater than the predetermined conductivity valve and if the water level has not reached a predetermined lower water level, then add additional water to the water sump. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036871 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING ICE BEADS FROM AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE - The present invention relates to a device ( | 02-16-2012 |
20120096875 | CONTAINER FOR A DEVICE FOR PREPARING A FROZEN CONFECTION AND DEVICE FOR PREPARING A FROZEN CONFECTION - The present invention relates to a container ( | 04-26-2012 |
20120111031 | REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - 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 ( | 05-10-2012 |
20120125018 | ICE DISPENSER SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE, REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE, AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE - 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. | 05-24-2012 |
20120186276 | ICE AND CHILLED WATER PRODUCING AND DISPENSING MACHINE - 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. | 07-26-2012 |
20120192575 | ICE MACHINE SAFE MODE FREEZE AND HARVEST CONTROL AND METHOD - 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. | 08-02-2012 |
20120222432 | DIRECT CONTACT ICEMAKER WITH CHAMBERED AIR COOLING SYSTEM - 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. | 09-06-2012 |
20120222433 | ICEMAKER FOR REFRIGERATORS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - 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. | 09-06-2012 |
20120222434 | Adaptive Beater and Scraper Speed Control for Frozen Product Dispensers - 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. | 09-06-2012 |
20120227420 | SNOW CONE AND SLUSHY DISPENSER - A frozen treat dispenser ( | 09-13-2012 |
20120227421 | REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - 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. | 09-13-2012 |
20120304671 | MIXED-PHASE GENERATOR AND USE THEREOF - 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. | 12-06-2012 |
20120324913 | ICE MAKING, TRANSFERRING, STORING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATOR - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324914 | WATER CIRCULATION AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR AN ICEMAKER - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324915 | VERTICAL ICE MAKER PRODUCING CLEAR ICE PIECES - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20120324916 | CLEAR ICE MAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20130014519 | METHOD AND CUP FOR OPERATION OF FROZEN BEVERAGE DEVICEAANM Bucceri; AlfioAACI HamiltonAACO AUAAGP Bucceri; Alfio Hamilton AU - 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. | 01-17-2013 |
20130042634 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING ICE - 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. | 02-21-2013 |
20130047634 | COOLING CUBE ASSEMBLY - 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. | 02-28-2013 |
20130133343 | SECONDARY COOLING PATH IN REFRIGERATOR - 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. | 05-30-2013 |
20130145777 | CLEAR ICE MAKING MACHINE - 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. | 06-13-2013 |
20130152610 | Refrigeration Systems Having Prescriptive Refrigerant Flow Control - 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. | 06-20-2013 |
20130167563 | APPARATUS FOR STORING ICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - In order to accomplish the objective of the present invention, according to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for storing ice comprises: a housing which has heat insulation characteristics and the interior of which has a storage space; an ice maker which is accommodated in the housing, and which contains an ice tray for making ice; an ice bin arranged below the ice maker to store the ice made by the ice maker; a transfer member arranged within the ice bin to discharge the ice to the outside of the ice bin; a refrigerating cycle which extends into the housing, and which includes an evaporation unit attached to the outer surface of the ice tray to cool the ice tray; and a control unit which controls the operation of the refrigerating cycle and of the transfer member. Air in the storage space is directly cooled by being in contact with the evaporation unit and/or the ice tray, and the control unit operates the refrigerating cycle to cool the storage space when the temperature of the ice tray and/or of the evaporation unit becomes higher than a preset temperature (Ta). | 07-04-2013 |
20130180268 | LOW REFRIGERANT VOLUME CONDENSER FOR HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANT AND ICE MAKING MACHINE USING SAME - An ice making machine using hydrocarbon (HC), and particularly propane, as the refrigerant is disclosed. The ice making machine has components which have been modified in size, type and operation to accommodate the use of HCs, and particularly propane, in the ice making machine refrigerant system. Also disclosed is a low volume condenser especially designed for HCs, and in particular propane, to minimize the volume of flammable/explosive HC in the ice making machine refrigerant system. | 07-18-2013 |
20130186113 | Method and Apparatus for Ice Harvesting - A mold defines a first volume for an ice cube, the mold comprising a bottom face having an inner perimeter and side faces. Each side face has an inner perimeter, top edge, and bottom edge. The top edge of each side face may be longer than the bottom edge. Each side face may extend inward from the top edge to the bottom edge. The mold may comprise a three-dimensional shape within the first volume, the three-dimensional shape comprising a second volume. The second volume may be defined by a top outer perimeter, a bottom outer perimeter, and at least a bulge of the three-dimensional shape. The bulge may extend upwardly and taper between the bottom outer perimeter and the top outer perimeter. The mold may further define a third volume between the first and second volumes, with the mold configured to receive water within the third volume. | 07-25-2013 |
20130192279 | ICE MAKER FOR A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator. | 08-01-2013 |
20130199213 | REFRIGERATOR WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL - 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. | 08-08-2013 |
20130199214 | ICE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATOR - 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. | 08-08-2013 |
20130327068 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REFRIGERATOR - A method for controlling a refrigerator includes starting water supply to an ice making device in a refrigerator. The ice making device includes a flow sensor configured to detect water supply flow to the ice making device by using a pulse value according to rotation of an impeller. The method also includes operating the flow sensor to detect a pulse value, determining whether the pulse value has reached a target pulse value within a preset time, and, based on a determination that the detected pulse value has not reached the target pulse value within the preset time, determining that water supply to the ice making device is in a low water-pressure state and performing a water supply control process according to the low water-pressure state. | 12-12-2013 |
20130340446 | POSITIVE AIR PRESSURE ICE MAKING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM - An aseptic ice making system includes an ice making system to receive water from a water supply. The ice making system includes an ice producing subsystem to produce ice and a positive air pressure subsystem to maintain a positive air pressure environment within the ice making system. | 12-26-2013 |
20140013781 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING ICE SLAB BRIDGE THICKNESS AND INITIATE ICE HARVEST FOLLOWING THE FREEZE CYCLE - A method and apparatus for adjusting and controlling ice bridge slab thickness and/or initiation of ice harvest following a freeze cycle. This adjusting and controlling is performed through the use of adjustable float clip assemblies which set the amount of water available for ice making in a batch process. The adjustable float clip assemblies provide an ice machine user with the ability to easily adjust the ice slab bridge thickness to a single or plurality of settings, and allow for changes in ice bridge slab thickness at the site of installation. | 01-16-2014 |
20140047851 | BULK FREEZING OF BIOPHARMACEUTICALS - A system and method for bulk freezing is provided. In one embodiment, the system and method for bulk freezing includes a bulk freezing container adapted to hold at least one and preferably a plurality of bags holding a biopharmaceutical liquid. The bulk freezing container includes at least a first and second shelf having corrugations wherein the second shelf is vertically arranged above the first shelf with the bags disposed between the shelves. The bags and the corrugations of the first and second shelves define a plurality of substantially parallel flow channels through which a cryogenic cold fluid or a warming fluid is passed to freeze and/or thaw the biopharmaceutical fluid. In another embodiment, the bulk freezing system and method includes a bulk freezing container with a plurality of adjacent elongated chambers adapted for holding the biopharmaceutical fluid. The adjacent elongated chambers have side walls defining a plurality of substantially parallel flow channels between the plurality of adjacent elongated chambers through which a heat transfer medium is passed for heat exchange through the side walls of the elongated chambers to the fluid within the elongated chambers. | 02-20-2014 |
20140053578 | INTEGRATED ICE MAKER PUMP - A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump. | 02-27-2014 |
20140060089 | LOW COST HIGH EFFICIENCY ICE MACHINE - Disclosed are ice making machines which use aluminum as an alternative to copper in the ice making machine evaporator and also use an alternate coolant/refrigerant specifically targeted to provide improved heat transfer transport properties and higher heat capacitance than conventional HFC coolant/refrigerants. Optionally, rotary compressors are used in place of conventional reciprocating compressors, further enhancing performance for the ice making machine. The disclosed ice making machines maintain high efficiency and ice output, and provide equal or better energy efficiency than comparative ice making machines. At the same time, savings are realized in the material cost for the evaporator, and resulting from the combined effects of lower density and lower metal cost/unit weight offered by aluminum as compared to copper. | 03-06-2014 |
20140102118 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A GLASS WITH AN ICE LINING - An ice mold configured to be placed into a glass or cup such that a side wall void is created between the outer wall of the ice mold and the interior wall of the glass or cup. The exterior shape of the ice mold generally mirrors the interior shape of the cup or glass. Liquid such as water or juice is placed into the glass or cup after the ice mold is inserted, thereby forcing the liquid into the side wall void, following which the combination of the ice mold and glass or cup are frozen. Once the liquid freezes, the ice mold is then removed leaving an ice wall on the interior wall of the glass or cup. The ice mold may feature one or more attachment mechanisms or an outer rim in order to secure the mold to an upper rim of the glass or cup. | 04-17-2014 |
20140150473 | REFRIGERATOR PROVIDING AIR FLOW TO DOOR - A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet below the fresh food compartment, and first and second French doors operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide access to the fresh food compartment. There is also a mullion between the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, an air inlet and an air outlet proximate a bottom of the first French door, and an air outlet and an air inlet on a front face of the mullion. When the first French door is in a closed position, the air inlet proximate the bottom of the first French door aligns with the air outlet on the front face of the mullion and the air outlet proximate the bottom of the first French door aligns with the air inlet on the front face of the mullion. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150474 | CUSTOM LOCATION ICE MAKER - A method of configuring an ice maker within a refrigerator includes providing the refrigerator, the refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, the ice maker having a fluid line extending to a fluid supply within the refrigerator, and a door providing access to within the refrigerator cabinet. The method further includes configuring the refrigerator for relocation by positioning the ice maker in a first position within the refrigerator cabinet without disconnecting the fluid line from the ice maker; relocating the refrigerator. The method further includes installing the refrigerator by moving the ice maker from the first position within the refrigerator cabinet to a second position within the refrigerator cabinet without disconnecting or connecting the fluid line to the ice maker. | 06-05-2014 |
20140165615 | ICE CUBE SHAPE MANIPULATION VIA HEAT - An ice making device includes heating and cooling elements that control the formation of ice within a cavity. The ice making device may include one or more fluid inlets that supply liquid water to the cavity, and one or more fluid outlets that drain water from the cavity after formation of ice having a desired shape. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165616 | AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WITH ICE STORAGE - An air conditioning system includes a condenser and an evaporator configured to remove thermal energy from a water flow through the evaporator via a refrigerant flow through the evaporator. A refrigerant conduit is configured to convey a refrigerant flow through the evaporator and the condenser. An ice storage tank is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit such that the refrigerant flow is flowable through the ice storage tank to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant flow and a volume of frozen water disposed in the ice storage tank. | 06-19-2014 |
20140190188 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE - A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker having a mold body. A temperature sensor is positioned adjacent the mold body of the ice maker. Utilizing measurements from the temperature sensor, a temperature of air within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance and a temperature of the mold body can both be determined, and the use of multiple temperature sensors within the chilled chamber can thereby be eliminated. | 07-10-2014 |
20140196476 | THROUGH-FLOW FREEZER AND A METHOD FOR STARTING UP THE SAME - A through-flow freezer is disclosed comprising a freezing cylinder, an inlet pipe, an inlet blocking device, an air inlet, an outlet pipe and an outlet blocking device, wherein, at least in one operational mode of the through-flow freezer, the inlet blocking device and the outlet blocking device are closed such that a certain amount of mix and a certain amount of air substantially corresponding to a desired overrun in the freezing cylinder can be entrapped in the freezing cylinder by introducing air via the air inlet. Furthermore, a method for starting up a through-flow freezer is disclosed comprising the step of adding air through the air inlet until a certain amount of mix and a certain amount of air substantially corresponding to a desired overrun is entrapped in the freezing cylinder and a certain cylinder pressure is reached in the freezing cylinder before starting the cooling of the freezing cylinder. | 07-17-2014 |
20140196477 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WATER STORAGE AND TRANSPORT - A method and apparatus for water storage and transport uses a container constructed from one of more flexible plastic sheets. A number of chambers for holding water are formed within the container. Each chamber is separated from an adjacent chamber by a web of the flexible plastic sheet. The web of the flexible plastic sheet is perforated to allow adjacent chambers to be separated from one another. In use, the water in the chambers may be liquid or frozen. | 07-17-2014 |
20140202180 | ICE MAKER - A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level. | 07-24-2014 |
20140208781 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING ICE THICKNESS AND DETECTING FAILURE MODES OF AN ICE MAKER - An ice maker comprising a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed in the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller comprising a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level. | 07-31-2014 |
20140216071 | CONTROLLING REFRIGERATION APPLIANCES WITH A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method of interacting with a refrigeration appliance using a portable electronic device, wherein the refrigeration appliance comprises a refrigeration system comprising one or more refrigeration components and a controller adapted to control the one or more refrigeration components and wherein the portable electronic device comprises an application for interacting with the controller of the refrigeration appliance. The method comprising the steps of positioning the portable electronic device in proximity to the refrigeration appliance, establishing a wireless communication connection between the refrigeration appliance and the portable electronic device, and displaying information on the portable electronic device corresponding to the refrigeration appliance to which the portable electronic device is connected. | 08-07-2014 |
20140238053 | VERTICAL ICE MAKER PRODUCING CLEAR ICE PIECES - 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. | 08-28-2014 |
20150027142 | Device and Method for Producing Clear Ice Spheres - Exemplary embodiments of a device and method for making clear ice spheres employing a large half mold ( | 01-29-2015 |
20150040587 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTANT ICE MAKING - A portable apparatus for rapidly freezing a freezable liquid to form at least one frozen object includes a fluid intake in which the freezable liquid is introduced and a freeze chamber that receives the freezable liquid from the fluid intake. The freeze chamber includes a freeze block that includes at least one cell in which the at least one frozen object is formed. A cooling system circulates refrigerant to the freeze block to facilitate cooling of the freeze block. The freeze block is formed of a heat transfer material such that heat from the freezable liquid added to the at least one cell is transferred to the freeze block whereupon said heat is transferred to the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil of the freeze block, thereby resulting in cooling of the freeze block. The freeze block is configured and the refrigerant is selected such that the freeze chamber is maintained at a temperature of below 0° F. and preferably below at least about −10.0° F. or −20° F. | 02-12-2015 |
20150059366 | STIR STICK AND BREAKER WALLS FOR AN ICE CONTAINER - A refrigerator is provided comprising a cabinet, a door for providing access within the cabinet, an ice maker for making ice operably connected to the cabinet, an ice bin comprising a pair of opposite-facing walls and a bottom wall, disposed within the cabinet and located adjacent the ice maker, and a stir assembly positioned within the ice bin, comprising a stir stick, a cam rod, and a pair of breaker walls; wherein the stir stick is configured to oscillate about an axis of rotation, the cam rod is coupled to the stir stick; and the pair of breaker walls are engaged with the cam rod near the bottom of the breaker walls, and hingedly attached to the pair of opposite-facing walls. | 03-05-2015 |
20150068224 | ENERGY SAVING ICEMAKER SYSTEM AND CONTROL MODULE - A control system for an automatic icemaker including an icemaker module and a control module. The icemaker module includes a DC motor to drive rotation of a twist-type ice cube tray. The control module incorporates an integrated circuit with a programmable digital microprocessor for controlling the functions of the icemaker module. The control module accesses AC power and converts the AC power to DC power for powering a DC motor, an integrated circuit, and a microprocessor. | 03-12-2015 |
20150082816 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING ICEMAKER OF REFRIGERATOR - An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied. | 03-26-2015 |
20150096310 | ICE MAKER ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - 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. | 04-09-2015 |
20150114012 | Ice Making and Harvesting - An ice making and harvesting apparatus comprises a mold, and bottom and top plates. The mold comprises a plurality of cells. Each cell comprises side walls and defines bottom and top openings. The bottom plate is configured to move relative to a bottom surface of the mold. An upper surface of the bottom plate comprises a first sealing component. A bottom side of the mold comprises a second sealing component. The second sealing component is configured to form a seal with the first sealing component of the bottom plate. The bottom plate comprises an inlet and a plurality of channels. Each channel is configured to supply water from the bottom plate to a corresponding cell of the mold. The top plate comprises a plurality of pushing rods, each rod configured to move relative to the top opening of a corresponding cell. | 04-30-2015 |
20150135738 | ICE BIN AND METHOD OF TRANSFERRING ICE USING THE SAME - An ice bin and a method of transferring ice using the same include a case having an upper portion configured to store ice produced by an ice maker, and a dispensing port at one side of a lower end of the case configured to dispense ice to the outside; a transferring unit that transfers ice from a lower portion of the case to the upper portion of the case; and a crushing unit configured to crush ice transferred by the transferring unit, and discharge the crushed ice to the dispensing port. | 05-21-2015 |
20150135739 | ICE BIN AND METHOD OF CRUSHING ICE USING THE SAME - An ice bin and a method of crushing ice using the same, in which the ice bin includes a case having an upper portion configured to store ice produced by an ice maker, and a dispensing port at one side of a lower end or surface of the case configured to dispense the ice; a transferring unit that transfers the ice from a lower portion of the case to the upper portion of the case; and a crushing unit configured to crush the ice transferred by the transferring unit and discharge the ice to the dispensing port, wherein the crushing unit selectively discharges the ice as ice cubes or as crushed ice. | 05-21-2015 |
20150323237 | SUPERCOOLING FREEZER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUPERCOOLING FREEZER - Provided is a supercooling refrigerator including, so as to supercool foods such as fish or meat and more uniformly and stably maintain a temperature in a storage chamber supercooling the foods, a body including a storage chamber storing goods such as the fish or meat in a supercooled state, a door installed in the body, a plurality of shelves installed in the storage chamber, on which the goods are stored, a cooling unit cooling internal air of the storage chamber, a cooling air supplying unit circulating the air cooled by the cooling unit into the storage chamber, and a cool air controlling unit controlling the temperature of the cool air supplied from the cool air supplying unit in a supercooling temperature range of the stored goods. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323238 | CONTROL METHOD OF REFRIGERATOR - A refrigerator includes an ice making chamber having an ice making tray, an ice making chamber refrigerant pipe to supply cool air to the ice making tray, and an ice making chamber circulation fan to circulate air in the ice making chamber. A control method to prevent frost from being formed in the ice making chamber includes determining whether temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than a predetermined temperature; and driving the ice making chamber circulation fan to prevent frost from being formed in the ice making chamber upon determining that the temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than the predetermined temperature. Driving the ice making chamber circulation fan to prevent frost includes driving the ice making chamber circulation fan for a predetermined period of time when the temperature of the ice making chamber is lower than the predetermined temperature. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323239 | METHOD OF FREEZING AND PRESERVING DRINK - A method of freezing and preserving a drink comprising steps of obtaining the drink, putting the drink in a container, and pouring liquid nitrogen into the container from an opening of the container, so that the liquid nitrogen spreading to a surface of the drink, wherein the surface of the drink is frozen and becomes a frozen layer due to low boiling point of the liquid nitrogen, and the drink under the frozen layer remains liquid which can be preserved in a low temperature under the frozen layer. | 11-12-2015 |
20150330695 | ICE MAKING APPLIANCE - An ice making appliance is provided. The ice making appliance includes a first ice maker and a second ice maker. The first and second ice makers generate different types of ice. The ice making appliance also includes supply ducts for receiving chilled air from an evaporator and directing the chilled air to the first and second ice makers. | 11-19-2015 |
20150374583 | FREEZER BAG, STORAGE SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF FREEZING - A freezer bag, a storage system, and a method of freezing are provided. The freezer bag includes a pliable housing having opposing sides and bounding a cavity at least partially disposed between the opposing sides, each opposing side having an interior surface communicating with the cavity and an opposing exterior surface that is openly exposed, the pliable housing including a first panel and a seam. A first tufting couples together the opposing sides of the pliable housing at a distance spaced apart from the seam so that the cavity encircles the first tufting. A first port is connected to the pliable housing and communicates with the cavity. | 12-31-2015 |
20150377538 | WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR ICE-MAKING MACHINE - The assembly of the present disclosure includes a one-piece, molded or formed water distribution tube and an evaporator component or top. The tube connects to the evaporator component without the use of any additional fasteners such as metal screws. A protrusion or tab formed in the tube effects the connection to the evaporator component. Water is introduced to the tuba via an inlet, where the water flow is evened out partially with a divider within the tube. The water exits through drainage holes in the tube, and passes over an evaporator to be frozen into ice. | 12-31-2015 |
20160025398 | ICE AND CHILLED WATER PRODUCING AND DISPENSING MACHINE - 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. | 01-28-2016 |
20160047585 | Skating Rink Markings and Related Methods - This disclosure relates to a skating rink that includes a skating area, a wall at least partially surrounding the skating area, and a visible mark extending along a perimeter region of the skating area to indicate to a skater traveling head first toward the wall that the skater should look up and to related methods. | 02-18-2016 |
20160054043 | DRAINING THE SUMP OF AN ICE MAKER TO PREVENT GROWTH OF HARMFUL BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL - An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water. This reduces or prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, parasites, organisms, and/or other biological material in the water reservoir. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054044 | REFRIGERATOR - 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. | 02-25-2016 |
20160069601 | Ice Maker - A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level. | 03-10-2016 |
20160084559 | AUTOMATIC TURNING ICE BLOCK APPARATUS AND METHOD - An evaporator apparatus comprising at least one container configured to maintain liquid for freezing and a plurality of heat transfer compartments configured around the at least one container to allow for the flow of cold anti-freeze in order to freeze the liquid and warm anti-freeze in order to thaw frozen blocks of ice contained within the evaporator apparatus. A lever integrated into the body of the evaporator to allow for rotation of the evaporation in order to harvest the frozen blocks of ice. The evaporator further including, at least one inlet opening to allow for the inflow of anti-freeze into the plurality of heat transfer compartments and at least one outlet opening to allow for the discharge of anti-freeze from the evaporator apparatus. | 03-24-2016 |
20160084561 | ICE MAKER FOR A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator. | 03-24-2016 |
20160091242 | CONVERTIBLE SYSTEM FOR FREEZING AND DEFROSTING FOOD PRODUCTS IN ELECTRICAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - The present invention relates to the technological field of electrical household appliance, and refers to a system comprising basically an compartment cooperating with a refrigerator appliance, but having external access and in which is possible defrost, keep cooled or freeze food products, totally unpublished before and versatile when compared to similar known on the prior art. Said system comprises also means for providing information about the total estimate time of defrosting, remaining processing time for finishing the process or about the process end, said means comprising at least one user interface cooperating with at least one controller board and at least one electronic device cooperating with the at least one user interface. | 03-31-2016 |
20160097576 | MOLD FOR MAKING TOOL OUT OF ICE - The present invention relates to an elastic mold for holding and freezing a liquid. The mold is constructed of unitary construction and comprises of one or more walls and a base, wherein said one or more walls form a compartment. A plurality of protrusions extend upwards from said base. The liquid held in said elastic is frozen into the shape of a test tube rack. | 04-07-2016 |
20160102798 | METHOD FOR RAPIDLY FREEZING PIPE - A rapid pipe freezing method including a process of wrapping the pipe with a cooling coil along the outer circumference surface of the pipe rapidly is disclosed. The method includes bending the cooling coil not to be blocked by itself so that a refrigerant flow through the inside thereof and arranging the cooling coil to form a freezing area, fixing the cooling coil to fix the cooling coil on one surface of the cover sheet such that at least one part of the freezing area may be overlapped with the cover sheet, installing the cover sheet wrapping the outer circumference surface of the pipe with the cover sheet such that the cooling coil of the freezing area may face the outer circumference surface of the pipe, and flowing a refrigerant by connecting a refrigerant cooling device to the one end of the cooling coil and the other end of the same and flowing a refrigerant through the inside of the cooling coil to freeze the inside of the pipe where the freezing area is overlapped. | 04-14-2016 |
20160116198 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING RATE OF ICE PRODUCTION IN AN AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER - A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an interior volume and a door for accessing the interior volume. An ice maker is disposed within the interior volume harvesting ice. The ice maker includes a frame and a motor. An ice tray includes a first end engaged with the motor, a second end engaged to the frame and a plurality ice wells defined by a plurality of weirs including first and second sets of weirs positioned proximate the first and second ends respectively, and interior weirs positioned therebetween. Each of the first and second sets of weirs and the internal weirs include a passage bifurcating each weir into first and second weir portions. Each of the passages defined by the first and second sets of weirs have a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of any one of the passages defined by the internal weirs. | 04-28-2016 |
20160131406 | ICE CUBE MAKER - An apparatus for making ice cubes includes a plurality of elongated elements ( | 05-12-2016 |
20160131407 | MODULAR BUCKET AND DOOR ARCHITECTURE TO DELIVER THREE ICE FUNCTIONS - An appliance including an ice manipulation reservoir capable of receiving ice having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, with the first level descending gradually to the second level. A first ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the first level of the base, and a second ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the plurality of ice modification members, with the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation. | 05-12-2016 |
20160138844 | ROTATIONAL ICE MAKER - An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece. | 05-19-2016 |
20160161167 | Control System for Bottom Freezer Refrigerator with Ice Maker in Upper Door - A refrigerator includes a main body defining a compartment, the compartment having an access opening and a first wall, a door supported by the main body for selectively closing at least part of the access opening, a sub-compartment on the door, the sub-compartment including a second wall having an opening, a heat exchanger supported by the first wall and positioned so that when the door is closed the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging plate. A sealed refrigeration system contains a working medium for cooling the heat exchanger and has one or more segments attached to the heat exchanging plate. A fan is configured to force air over the heat exchanging plate and into the interior of the sub-compartment. A thermistor is coupled to the heat exchanging plate for monitoring a temperature of the heat exchanging plate. A controller is configured to adjust a speed of the fan in dependence of the temperature of the heat-exchanging plate detected by the thermistor. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161169 | DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH A CONTROL UNIT FOR SPECIFIC CONTROL OF AN ICE AND/OR WATER-DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - A domestic refrigeration appliance includes an ice and/or water-dispensing device for non-crushed ice pieces or ice flakes created therefrom by crushing or water created in the appliance, depending on an operational setting of a medium creation facility. The dispensing device has a user-actuatable dispensing lever movable to start dispensing. An adjustment facility adjusts an operational setting of the creation facility. An input facility has user-actuated controls selecting a medium dispensing type before actuating the lever. A control unit adjusts the adjustment facility depending on a signal created by actuation of a control and associated medium dispensing type, before actuating the lever to change the operational setting of the creation facility if the creation facility coupled with the adjustment facility is positioned in an operational setting different from that required for the selected medium dispensing type. A method of operating the appliance is also provided. | 06-09-2016 |
20160201980 | REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR | 07-14-2016 |