Modular cooling and low energy ice
a module cooling and low energy consumption technology, applied in the field of refrigerators, can solve the problems of reducing the energy efficiency of the refrigerator, and the significant energy expenditure of the motor to provide the twisting motion to the ice tray, so as to facilitate energy efficient removal of ice, and the effect of facilitating the harvesting of i
Inactive Publication Date: 2014-06-05
WHIRLPOOL CORP
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Benefits of technology
The present invention provides improved methods and apparatuses for making and removing ice from an ice mold of a refrigerator. The invention includes a thermoelectric device positioned below the ice mold to provide cooling liquid during freezing of water to make ice, and to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice. The ice maker is disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and may be configured to make clear ice. The refrigerator may also include a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) associated with the ice maker to cool the liquid along the bottom side of the ice mold during the freezing of the water to make ice, and to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice using the TEC. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency in making and removing ice, and energy-efficient removal of ice.
Problems solved by technology
The making of ice can be an energy intensive function which can reduce the energy efficiency of the refrigerator.
Using a motor to provide this twisting motion to the ice tray can be a significant expenditure of energy.
Method used
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[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a refrigerator of the present invention. In FIG. 1 a refrigerator 10 has a bottom mount freezer with French doors. It is should be understood that the present invention may be used in other configurations including side-by-side refrigerator configurations and other types of configurations, especially where an ice maker and / or ice storage is on a door providing access to a fresh food compartment. The refrigerator 10 has a refrigerator cabinet 12. One or more compartments are disposed within the refrigerator cabinet 12. As shown in FIG. 1, an example of a refrigerator 10 has a fresh food compartment 14 is shown with French doors 16, 18 providing access to the fresh food compartment 14. Mounted on the door 16 is a water and ice dispenser 20. Below the fresh food compartment 14 is a freezer compartment 22 which may be accessed by pulling drawer 24 outwardly.
[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates the refrigerator 10 of FIG. 1 with French doors 16, 18 in an op...
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A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice mold in the ice maker, and a thermoelectric device positioned below the ice mold and configured to provide cooling liquid along a bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice. The ice maker is further configured to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice. The ice maker may be disposed within a refrigeration compartment and may be configured to make clear ice. The ice mold may be fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice. The ice maker may be further configured to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice by providing warming liquid along the bottom side of the ice mold.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a refrigerator which includes an ice maker with a fixed tray.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Refrigerators often include ice makers for making ice. The making of ice can be an energy intensive function which can reduce the energy efficiency of the refrigerator. In some refrigerators, ice is made in an ice tray and then the ice removed from the ice tray through a twisting motion applied to the ice tray. Using a motor to provide this twisting motion to the ice tray can be a significant expenditure of energy. One alternative is to use heaters to heat the ice mold in order to release the ice. This is another example of a method which uses high energy. What is needed is improved ways of making ice and removing ice from an ice mold.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): F25C5/08
CPCF25C5/08F25C1/04
Inventor BOARMAN, PATRICK J.
Owner WHIRLPOOL CORP