Ice maker for french door bottom mount refrigerator
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25C-005/00
F25D-023/00
F25D-023/12
출원번호
US-0826416
(2013-03-14)
등록번호
US-9377233
(2016-06-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Boehringer, Bruno A.
Pereira, Roberto H.
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
A dedicated, hermetically sealed ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes a compartment including an ice tray and an ice bin disposed at least partially in the compartment. A dedicated ice maker circuit is disposed at least partially within the compartment and includes a microcompressor, conden
A dedicated, hermetically sealed ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes a compartment including an ice tray and an ice bin disposed at least partially in the compartment. A dedicated ice maker circuit is disposed at least partially within the compartment and includes a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporated. The dedicated circuit is used to cool air inside the ice maker compartment for forming ice in the ice tray in the compartment and for preventing melting of formed ice cubes in the ice bin. The ice maker may be used within or outside of a refrigerator. When used within the refrigerator, the ice maker will have its own dedicated hermetically sealed unit, including the plurality of thermally insulated walls. The ice maker may also be connected to a dispenser of a refrigerator for dispensing the formed ice.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet;a fresh food compartment within the cabinet;a freezer compartment within the cabinet;an ice maker compartment within either the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment;an ice maker mounted in the ice maker compartment, the ice maker comprising an ic
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet;a fresh food compartment within the cabinet;a freezer compartment within the cabinet;an ice maker compartment within either the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment;an ice maker mounted in the ice maker compartment, the ice maker comprising an ice tray and an ice bin;a water source extending at least partially through the cabinet and into the ice maker compartment;a circuit disposed within the ice maker compartment for cooling the ice maker, the circuit comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator;a first fan associated with the circuit to aid in moving air through the ice maker compartment to cool the ice maker; anda second fan associated with the circuit to remove warmed air from the ice maker;said second fan moving a portion of the warmed air back through the circuit and another portion of the air to heat an element of the ice maker compartment or refrigerator; andwherein the circuit is configured to cool air that is directed through the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker compartment further comprises an outer housing to at least partially surround the ice maker. 3. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the outer housing comprises a thermally insulated material. 4. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the circuit is positioned on a wall of the outer housing. 5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice bin comprises an auger and a chute configured to aid in dispensing formed ice from the ice bin. 6. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker compartment further comprises an intelligent control electrically connected to the ice maker and circuit to control the ice making process of the ice maker. 7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice bin is at or below 0° Fahrenheit during the ice forming process. 8. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker compartment is removable from the refrigerator. 9. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker compartment is hermetically sealed in the compartment. 10. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet;a door for providing access to a compartment within the refrigerator cabinet;a modular ice maker compartment mounted on the door, the ice maker compartment comprising a water tray and an ice bin, the ice bin having an auger;a circuit disposed within the ice maker compartment for cooling the ice maker, the circuit comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator;a first fan associated with the circuit to aid in moving air through the ice maker compartment to cool the ice maker; anda second fan associated with the circuit to remove warmed air from the ice maker;said second fan moving a portion of the warmed air back through the circuit and another portion of the air to heat an element of the ice maker compartment or refrigerator ;andwherein the ice maker compartment is operable both in the refrigerator and outside the refrigerator; andwherein the circuit is configured to cool air that is directed through the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein. 11. The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the modular ice maker compartment further comprises a thermally sealed housing at least partially surrounding the water tray, ice bin, and circuit. 12. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the circuit is mounted on a wall of the housing. 13. The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice maker compartment further comprises an intelligent control electrically connected to the ice maker and the circuit to control the operation of the ice maker compartment and circuit. 14. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the ice maker compartment further comprises an electrical connection operably connectable to a refrigerator power source to power the ice maker compartment, intelligent control, and circuit. 15. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the ice maker compartment is removable from the refrigerator to use at a location external of the refrigerator. 16. The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice maker compartment comprises a hermetically sealed unit. 17. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet;a door for providing access to a compartment within the refrigerator cabinet;an ice maker compartment mounted in the compartment, the ice maker comprising an ice tray and an ice bin and being hermetically sealed within the compartment;a circuit disposed within the ice maker compartment for cooling the ice maker, the circuit comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator;a first fan associated with the circuit to aid in moving air through the ice maker compartment to cool the ice maker; anda second fan associated with the circuit to remove warmed air from the ice maker;said second fan moving a portion of the warmed air back through the circuit and another portion of the air to heat an element of the ice maker compartment or refrigerator; andwherein the circuit is configured to cool air that is directed through the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein. 18. An ice maker, comprising: an ice maker compartment;an ice tray and ice bin disposed within the interior of the ice maker compartment;the ice bin comprising an auger and a. chute configured to aid in dispensing formed ice from the ice bin;a circuit disposed in the ice maker compartment and comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator;a first fan associated with the circuit to aid in moving air through the ice maker compartment to cool the ice maker; anda second fan associated with the circuit to remove warmed air from the ice maker;said second fan moving a portion of the warmed air back through the circuit and another portion of the air to heat an element of the ice maker compartment or refrigerator; andwherein the circuit is configured to cool air that is directed through the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein. 19. The ice maker of claim 18 further comprising an intelligent control disposed within the ice maker compartment and electrically connected to the circuit to control the operation of the circuit. 20. The ice maker of claim 18 wherein the ice maker compartment comprises at least one thermally insulated wall. 21. The ice maker of claim 18 further comprising an electrical connection to connect the ice maker to a power source. 22. The ice maker of claim 21 wherein the power source is a refrigerator and the refrigerator controls at least one function of the ice maker. 23. The ice maker of claim 22 wherein the ice maker is mounted within a compartment of a refrigerator.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Howard R. Harrison CA; Jeffrey R. Brown CA, Combination ice-maker and cooler.
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