Ice cube release and rapid freeze using fluid exchange apparatus and methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25C-005/10
F25C-001/24
F25C-005/00
F25C-005/08
F25D-011/02
출원번호
US-0551157
(2014-11-24)
등록번호
US-9534824
(2017-01-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Gooden, Corey M.
Kuehl, Steven John
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
9
초록▼
An ice piece release system that includes a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C., a warm section at a temperature above 0° C., and a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment. The tray includes a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal comm
An ice piece release system that includes a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C., a warm section at a temperature above 0° C., and a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment. The tray includes a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The ice piece release system also includes a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray. The ice piece release system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below that of water, and the fluid resides in the primary reservoir assembly and the cavity of the tray. The primary reservoir assembly is further adapted to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in the reservoir assembly into the cavity.
대표청구항▼
1. An ice piece release system, comprising: a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C.;a warm section at a temperature above 0° C.;a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, the tray having a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communicat
1. An ice piece release system, comprising: a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C.;a warm section at a temperature above 0° C.;a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, the tray having a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles;a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray; anda heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below that of water, the fluid residing in the primary reservoir assembly and the cavity of the tray,wherein the primary reservoir assembly is further adapted to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in the reservoir assembly into the cavity, andfurther wherein primary reservoir assembly further comprises a pair of chambers, each chamber separately in fluid communication with the cavity of the tray, and the heat-exchanging fluid resides in the chambers. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the primary reservoir assembly further comprises a driving body configured to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in either of the pair of chambers into the cavity. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the warm section is an interior portion of an exterior door of the chilled compartment. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the warm section is a fresh food compartment. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging fluid comprises water and a food-safe additive to depress the freezing point of the fluid below that of water. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tray is further adapted to eject ice pieces in the tray at least in part by a mechanical action. 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerator appliance in a French-door bottom mount configuration, the appliance housing the chilled compartment and the warm section. 8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerator appliance in a side-by-side configuration, the appliance housing the chilled compartment and the warm section. 9. An ice piece release system, comprising: a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C.;a fresh food compartment set at a temperature above 0° C.;a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, the tray having a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles;a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the fresh food compartment and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray; anda heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below that of water, the fluid residing in the primary reservoir assembly and the cavity of the tray,wherein the primary reservoir assembly is further adapted to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in the reservoir assembly into the cavity at least in part by the force of gravity, andfurther wherein the primary reservoir assembly further comprises a pair of chambers, each chamber separately in fluid communication with the cavity of the tray and the heat-exchanging fluid resides in the chambers. 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the primary reservoir assembly further comprises a driving body configured to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in either of the pair of chambers into the cavity at least in part by the force of gravity. 11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the fresh food compartment comprises an exterior door having an interior portion, and further wherein the primary reservoir assembly is in thermal communication with the interior portion. 12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the heat exchanging fluid comprises water and a food-safe additive to depress the freezing point of the fluid below that of water. 13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the tray is further adapted to eject ice pieces in the tray at least in part by a mechanical action. 14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the tray and the primary reservoir assembly are configured such that at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid that flows into the cavity assists in ice piece release from the receptacles. 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the tray and the primary reservoir assembly are configured such that another portion of the heat-exchanging fluid that flows into the cavity assists in ice piece formation in the receptacles. 16. An ice piece tray assembly, comprising: a heat exchanging fluid;a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles;a cavity in direct thermal communication with the receptacles; anda membrane that separates the cavity from the receptacles,wherein the cavity is configured to receive the heat exchanging fluid to aid in the release of ice pieces that are formed in the receptacles. 17. The tray assembly of claim 16, wherein the cavity is configured with a plurality of ports for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid to aid in the release of ice pieces that are formed in the receptacles. 18. The tray assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a mechanical apparatus to aid in the release of ice pieces that are formed in the receptacles.
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