Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING HIGH CAPACITY ICE MAKER
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator equipped with an
automatic ice maker in which the ice harvesting cycles can be mold
temperature initiated and wherein an increase in temperature applied to the
ice maker mold during the harvesting cycle aids in the release and discharge
of ice pieces therefrom. While automatic ice makers are usually provided in
automatic refrigerators which also require means for cooling the evaporator to
cool a food preservation compartment, the controls for timing and controlling
the cooling operation of the refrigeration system have been separate from the
controls for initiating and timing the ice maker in its ice harvesting cycles.
There are problems with existing ice makers, namely, low capacity and
very cold air necessary to freeze water that typically requires placing the
ice
maker in the freezer compartment, or if in the fresh food compartment moving
cold air with a special duct from the freezer. Additionally, heat (i.e. hot
air)
introduced at freezer evaporator defrost can cause previously harvested ice to
fuse together.
Capacity issues, that is, rate of ice cube formation issues, addressed
heretofore have included an airflow increase and/or an increase of the ice
maker dimensions. Additional fans and damper ducts have also been
installed.
Typical ice makers can include a body where water is freezing into ice
having a top surface with several indentations, for example of crescent shape
to freeze and store the crescent shape ice piece. The body can be made from
conductive material. A rotating rake can be provided for removing ice pieces
from the body. The ice maker can further include an electrical motor and a
water supply system.
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SUMMARY
An ice maker according to the present disclosure, to be described in
more detail hereinafter, can provide high ice capacity, and be located in any
place inside of freezer or fresh food compartment or ice machine. The ice
maker can considerably reduce the occupied volume compared to existing ice
makers and enables ice making concurrent with refrigerator cool down.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a
refrigerator appliance 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.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided
an automatic high capacity ice service refrigerator comprising a below-
freezing storage compartment containing an ice maker and a first ice storage
receptacle having a first capacity and a second ice storage receptacle having
a second capacity. 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
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including successive steps of discharging ice pieces from the mold and
supplying water to the mold after ejection of the ice pieces. The ice service
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 includes a
heat
exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. Circuitry is provided 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.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure there is
provided a method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising
conducting refrigerant selectively through 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
compartment is a food preservation compartment containing at least one
evaporator. The method further provides for periodically initiating operation
of
the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle
wherein the ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces
from the mold and a controller. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice
maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker
mold. The method further selectively connects the compressor output to the
condenser for conducting the refrigerant to the ice maker coil through the
conduit and the second valve in an ice making mode, and selectively connects
the compressor output to the ice maker coil and the at least one evaporator
for conducting the refrigerant to the ice maker coil through the conduit and
the
first valve in an ice harvesting mode. The method further provides for the
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closing of 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 and compartment cooling; and, 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 and
compartment cooling.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure there is
provided a method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising
conducting refrigerant selectively in one direction, during an ice making
mode,
through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a cap
tube, and an ice maker coil, and back to the compressor. A fan circulates air
over the ice maker coil, then acting as an evaporator, the air is chilled
thereby
providing cooling to an ice storage receptacle and to the compartment. The
method further provides for conducting refrigerant selectively in another
direction, during an ice harvesting mode, through the refrigeration system
including the ice maker coil and the evaporator, the cap tube, , the
compressor, without circulating air over the ice maker coil. When refrigerant
is conducted in this direction, the ice maker coil acts as a condenser,
removing heat from the refrigerant which is used to heat the mold to release
the ice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during ice making/cooling according to a
first arrangement;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting/cooling according to
the first arrangement;
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FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during ice making/cooling according to a
second arrangement;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the dual evaporator refrigerant circuit
employed in the practice of the present disclosure during ice
harvesting/cooling according to the second arrangement;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during ice making/freezer cooling according
to a third arrangement;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting/fresh food cooling
according to the third arrangement;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in the
practice of the present disclosure during fresh food cooling according to the
third arrangement;
FIG. 8 illustrates certain components of an ice maker of the type
employed in the practice of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a side view of an evaporator coil surrounding an ice maker
body;
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of an evaporator coil surrounding an ice
maker body of Fig. 9;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in
the practice of the present disclosure during ice making/compartment cooling
according to a fourth arrangement;
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circuit employed in
the practice of the present disclosure during ice harvesting according to the
fourth arrangement;
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FIG. 13 displays one version of a selectively increased capacity
storage container for ice; and,
FIG. 14 displays another version of a selectively increased capacity
storage container for ice.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In existing ice makers, ice is built with cold air flowing around the ice
maker. The ice making rate, or capacity, of these ice makers is low and
typically a special heater is required to harvest ice. The schematics to be
described hereinafter, of the present disclosure offer a way to freeze water
and harvest ice without any additional heater.
With particular reference to the drawings, a refrigerator can comprise a
rectangular cabinet (not shown) including insulated outer walls and a
partition
dividing the cabinet into a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment
in side-by-side, or other, relationship. The access openings to these
compartments are respectively closed by suitable doors including a freezer
compartment door.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, an exemplary schematic diagram of
a refrigerant circuit is displayed showing a single evaporator sealed system
10
according to a first embodiment. The schematics shown in Figures 1 and 2
demonstrate the flow of refrigerant 16. In particular, during the ice
making/cooling operation (Fig. 1), a valve 12 can be closed while a valve 14
remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 16 flows from the
compressor 18 through a condenser or refrigerant liquefier 20, a cap tube or
expansion device 22, an ice maker coil 24 via a conduit or flow line 25, valve
14, a freezer evaporator 26, and then back to the compressor 18.
Referring now to Fig. 2, during an ice harvesting/cooling operation for
the single evaporator system 10, valve 14 can be closed while valve 12
remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 16 flows from the
compressor 18, through valve 12, through the ice maker 24, a cap tube 28,
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freezer evaporator 26, and then back to the compressor 18 bypassing
condenser 20. For ice making, the ice maker coil acts as an evaporator
absorbing heat from the mold partially and, evaporating the condensed
relatively cold coolant as it passes through it. For ice harvesting, the ice
maker coil acts as a condenser extracting heat from the relatively warm
coolant which heats the mold to release the ice therein.
Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, a dual evaporated sealed system 30 is
therein shown in schematic representation according to a second
embodiment. During an ice making/cooling operation, a valve 32 can be
closed while a pair of valves 33, 34 remains open. It is to be appreciated
that
valve 33 is a three way valve. Valve 33 can have up to four positions, i.e.
open to all directions, open to one direction, open to another direction, and
closed to all directions. Refrigerant 36 flows from a compressor 38 through a
condenser 40, valve 33, a cap tube 42, an ice maker coil 24, valve 34, a
freezer evaporator 46, and then back to compressor 38. During an ice
harvesting/cooling operation, as shown in Figure 4, valve 34 can be closed
while valve 32 remains open. In this arrangement, the refrigerant 36 flows
from the compressor 38 through valve 32, ice maker coil 24, a cap tube 48,
freezer evaporator 46, and then back to the compressor 38, bypassing
condenser 40. For ice making, the ice maker coil acts as an evaporator
absorbing heat from the mold partially evaporating the condensed relatively
cold coolant as it passes through it; and, for ice harvesting, the ice maker
coil
acts as a condenser extracting heat from the relatively warm coolant which
heats the mold to release the ice therein.
A dual evaporator system 60, as shown in Figures 5-7 according to a
third embodiment, illustrates the refrigerant flow for various, ice
making/harvesting and an associated freezer cooling or fresh food cooling
modes of operation As illustrated in the schematic of Figure 5, during an ice
production or ice making and freezer compartment cooling operation,
refrigerant 66 can flow from a compressor 68 through a condenser 70, a three
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way valve 63, a cap tube 72, ice maker 24, valve 64, a freezer evaporator 76,
and then back to the compressor 68.
As illustrated in Figure 6, during an ice harvesting and fresh food
compartment cooling operation refrigerant 66 flows from the compressor 68,
through valve 62, ice maker 24, a cap tube 80, a fresh food evaporator 82,
and then back to the compressor 68, bypassing condenser 70. As shown in
Fig. 6, the three way valve 63 and valve 64 are closed
As illustrated in Figure 7, during a fresh food compartment cooling
operation refrigerant 66 flows from the compressor 68, to condenser 70, valve
63, cap tube 80, fresh food evaporator 82, and then back to the compressor
68. As shown, valve 62 is closed. A check valve 92 prevents flow of
refrigerant 66 through conduit line portion 90 and freezer evaporator 76. In
this arrangement, the refrigerant 66 flows via the condenser 70 to the fresh
food evaporator 82 which provides cooling to the fresh food compartment
without any ice making or ice harvesting.
It is to be appreciated that the above described embodiments provide
an automatic ice service refrigerator which eliminates the use of electric
mold
heating means and separate defrost heating means and provides for complete
control of both the ice maker and the refrigeration system through
refrigeration
and defrost cycles by means of a common controller or system associated
with the ice maker. It is to be appreciated that the harvesting of ice, as
described above, does not include an electrical heater, or any other type of
heater.
In both the single and dual evaporator refrigerators (Figs. 1-7), ice can
be built and harvested with a refrigeration coil of the sealed system, namely
the ice maker coil
As described above, the disclosure provides an ice service refrigerator
comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an
evaporator. The ice maker can include a mold, an ejector for discharging ice
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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. As
discussed above, the refrigerator generally comprises a refrigeration system
including a compressor, a condenser, a first valve, a second valve, an ice
maker coil and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series
flow relationship.
Regular ice machines with water flowing on the ice making surface
require either a drain to drain not frozen water or a special pump to
recirculate
water. Ice drops in an ice storage receptacle that is relatively warm causing
thawed water which is either drained or pumped back to make new ice. Thus,
existing ice machines can be inefficient either consuming large water
quantities or making poor quality ice (from recirculating water).
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the refrigerator can also comprise
circuitry including the controller (not illustrated) for closing the first
valve 12 to
conduct refrigerant 16 through the condenser 20, the ice maker coil 24, and
the at least one evaporator 26 during the ice making (i.e. Fig. 1). The
circuitry
includes the controller for opening the first valve 12 and closing the second
valve 14 to conduct refrigerant 16 through the ice maker coil 24 and the at
least one evaporator 26 during the ice harvesting (i.e. Fig. 2).
Referring now to Figures 8-10, an ice maker assembly including ice
maker coil 24 is therein illustrated. Ice maker coil 24 attached to an ice
maker
mold 102 and further includes a heat exchange relationship with an ice maker
body 104. Ice can be built with cooling capacity provided for the ice maker
mold 102 by ice maker coil 24 attached or molded in the ice maker body 104
(Fig. 8). It is to be appreciated that the coil can be formed in conjunction
with
the mold body (Fig. 8-10) or can be part of the refrigerant flow tubing (Fig.
1-
7). The ice maker coil can function as either an evaporator or condenser coil
depending on the operating mode. As hereinbefore described during the ice
making or ice building process, refrigerant from the condenser flows through
ice maker coil 24 and a refrigeration evaporator(s) and back to the
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compressor section (Figs. 1, 3, and 5). During harvesting operation the main
condenser is bypassed and ice maker coil 24 acting as a condenser receives
relativeiy hot gaseous refrigerant from the compressor which warms ice maker
mold 102 to facilitate the ice harvesting. The refrigerant flows from the ice
maker coil to a cap tube, and expands and evaporates in one of the
refrigeration evaporators, providing cooling to the fresh food compartment
and/or freezing compartment during the ice harvesting cycle(Figs. 2, 4, and
6).
Thus, high capacity ice makers can be installed in either single or multiple
evaporator refrigerators allowing ice making and ice harvesting while
providing cooling to the refrigeration and/or freezing compartments.
As shown in Figures 8-10, coil 24 can be attached to the ice maker
mold 102 transferring freezing capacity directly through the mold 102 to the
water contained in the ice maker mold 102. Figures 9 and 10 display one
exemplary arrangement wherein the coil 24 surrounds the sides and bottom of
the ice maker mold 102. In addition, as best shown in Figure 8, an outer mold
104 can be assembled wherein the evaporating coil 24 is sandwiched
between the outer mold 104 and the ice maker body 102. Figure 10 displays
the ice maker body 102 with coil 24 before the coil has been molded in.
Figure 8 displays the ice maker body 102 with the coil 24 molded into the ice
maker mold. Alternatively, outer mold 104 can include a series of apertures or
channels therethrough to allow flow of refrigerant around ice maker body 102
(not illustrated). This arrangement can obviate the need for coil 24.
Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, an alternative arrangement 110 for
ice production in association with compartment cooling is therein shown. For
an ice maker positioned inside a fresh food compartment, the ice maker along
with its coil can act as the evaporator for the entire fresh food compartment.
This arrangement 110 can be particularly advantageous for a small
refrigerator (i.e., dormitory refrigerator or bar refrigerator with an ice
maker).
Referring to Figure 11, the schematic illustrates the operating mode for
ice building (making) and compartment cooling. Namely, refrigerant 116 flows
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through a compressor 118, built in wall condenser 131, a cap tube 122, and
an ice maker coil 124 or equivalent fluid flow path formed in the ice maker
mold, and recirculated back to the compressor 118. As shown in Figure 11, a
cooling fan 125 (via motor M) can be turned on forcing air 127 over the ice
maker coil 124 thereby chilling the air 129 and providing cooling to the ice
storage 119 and/or refrigeration compartment.
Figure 12, illustrates the ice harvesting operating mode. In this mode
the flow of refrigerant 116 is reversed wherein the refrigerant 116 flows
through the ice maker coil 124 (that now works as condenser), cap tube 122,
built in wall coil 131, through the compressor 118 and back again. During the
ice harvesting, the cooling fan 125 is off.
It is to be appreciated that an ice maker 124 with a coil for receiving
refrigerant attached or molded into the ice maker body can provide increased
ice capacity and with developed surface of the ice maker body (Figs. 8-10)
and fan 125 flowing air across this body, will provide cooling to an ice
storage
119 and/or refrigeration compartment.
The ice maker 124 shown in Figures 11 and 12 can include a regular
multi cube ice maker with a rake to remove cubes and an evaporating coil that
is a part of a refrigeration circuit and attached or molded into or otherwise
coupled to the ice maker body in heat exchange relationship, to provide
cooling capacity to freeze water (not illustrated). Ice maker body and/or the
evaporating coil can have a developed surface to enhance heat transfer from
the evaporating coil to air 127 pumping around ice maker body by fan 125.
This air 127 provides cooling capacity either to ice storage 119 or to
refrigerated compartment or to both (Fig. 11). The arrangement 110 further
includes compressor 118, regular condenser coil or hot wall condenser 131, a
4-way reversing valve 133 to switch compressor 118 discharge and suction to
harvest ice (Fig. 12), a control system that can stop the fan 125 either when
ice storage/refrigerating compartment reaches required temperature or during
ice harvesting.
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Existing ice makers in refrigerators having relatively low and/or fixed ice
capacity can satisfy typical everyday needs. In case of parties or outdoor
events (i.e. high volume demand), the fixed ice capacity/production is not
enough and results in either use of special ice machines or buying ice from
the grocery stores in 5-10 lb. bags.
Having a high capacity ice maker to build large amounts of ice (as
described above) can include a much larger volume of ice storage to
accommodate the larger volume ice production.
The aforementioned problems have not existed heretofore because low
capacity ice makers don't require large ice storage. The present disclosure
considers increased ice storage capacity to store ice from high capacity ice
makers 10, for example.
The present disclosure provides two ways (Figs. 13-14) to increase ice
storage capacity. Figure 13 displays an alternative arrangement 210 for
increased ice storage. As displayed, an ice bin 212 receiving ice I from ice
maker 224 can have a slot 214 in the bottom that can be kept closed or open,
depending on the ice usage. A pan 213 under the bin can be used either for
food storage when the ice bucket slot 214 is closed, or as additional ice
storage when the slot 214 is open. The ice bin 212 can be equipped with
slides, hinges, etc. for a door 215 to close or open the bottom slot 214.
Figure
13 displays one exemplary embodiment of a large ice storage receptacle210
wherein an ice storage (i.e. auger) bin 212 includes a selectively mountable
pan or bucket 213 that can be mounted under the selectively openable bin
212.
Figure 14 displays an alternative arrangement 310 for increased ice
storage wherein a larger volume second ice bucket 313, mounted to receive
ice I from ice maker 224 can be selectively mounted to replace the first ice
bin
212 shown in Figure 13. In this arrangement, a shelf under the regular ice
bucket can be used for storing frozen food. The larger ice bucket 313 can
selectively replace the regular storage bin 212, thus, considerably increasing
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the ice storage volume. In both embodiments shown in Figs. 13 and 14, ice I
can be scooped out from ice storage bucket 213, 313 or the storage bucket
213, 313 itself can be removed from the refrigerator.
While there has been shown and described what is believed to be
several embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understood that the
disclosure is not limited thereto and it is intended by the appended claims to
cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
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