BR102023004377A2 - ICE MAKER AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ICE MAKER WATER FILTER - Google Patents

Abstract

In an ice maker, a controller is operatively connected to the ice maker's water system to determine a parameter indicative of a total amount of water filtered by a replaceable filter cartridge. Based on the determined parameter, the controller can provide a numerical indication of the total amount of water filtered by the replaceable filter cartridge. Based on the determined parameter, the controller can determine that the replaceable filter cartridge needs replacement. The parameter can be determined based on the amount of time a water inlet valve is open and/or a water pressure signal. The controller can take action when it determines that the water filter needs replacement, for example, by making a local alarm indication, pushing a remote notification, or by making an automated purchase transaction for a new filter cartridge.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUEST

[001] The present application claims priority to US provisional patent application no. 03/318,580, filed on March 10, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[002] The present disclosure generally relates to an ice maker and a system and method for monitoring an ice maker water filter.

BACKGROUND

[003] Unique ice makers are in wide commercial and residential use. Such ice making machines comprise an ice forming device, a refrigeration system for cooling the ice forming device and a water system for supplying water to the ice forming device. The ice forming device is cooled by the refrigeration system to cool the water supplied by the water system to force pieces of ice which are then collected in an ice storage device such as a hopper. Exclusive ice makers of this type require recurring maintenance for optimal operation.

SUMMARY

[004] In one aspect, an ice maker comprises an ice forming device. A refrigeration system cools the ice forming device. A water system supplies water to the ice forming device. The water system includes a water inlet valve and a water filter. The water inlet valve is configured to be selectively opened to supply water to the ice maker. The water filter is set up to filter the water supplied to the ice maker. The water filter includes a replaceable filter cartridge. The refrigeration system is configured to cool the ice forming device so that at least some of the water filtered from the water system forms ice in the ice forming device. A controller is operatively connected to the water system. The controller is configured to determine a parameter indicative of a total amount of water filtered by the replaceable filter cartridge, and based on the determined parameter, at least one of (i) provides a numerical indication of the total amount of water filtered by the filter cartridge. replaceable and (ii) determines that the replaceable filter cartridge requires replacement and issues an alarm indication in response.

[005] Other aspects and characteristics will be evident below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[006] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an ice maker;

[007] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of an ice maker control system and remote communication system for the ice maker;

[008] Figure 3 is an image of an ice maker main menu display screen;

[009] Figure 4 is an image of an ice maker service counter display screen; It is

[010] Figure 5 is an image of an ice maker usage statistics display screen.

[011] Corresponding parts receive corresponding reference characters in all drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[012] The inventors recognized that ice maker operators may sometimes fail to comply with recurring maintenance recommendations for their ice makers. Of particular relevance to this disclosure, ice maker operators may not comply with the schedule for replacing the replaceable filter cartridge of water filter 147. Additionally, the inventors have recognized that there are flaws with the existing filter cartridge replacement schedule. . Conventionally, ice maker operators are instructed to replace ice maker filters on a time-based schedule, for example, every six months. However, this schedule is not based on a safe estimate of filter cartridge usage. For example, certain ice makers have adjustable purge settings, and with changes in purge settings, the amount of water filtered by the water filter 147 over time will also change. Still other ice makers have a greater or lesser demand for ice. The inventors believe that it is the amount of water filtered by a filter cartridge that should determine the replacement schedule, not the gross amount of time a filter cartridge has been in service. As explained more fully below, the inventors have devised new ways to both (1) provide replacement of the replaceable filter cartridge of the ice maker 103 when it is worn and (2) schedule replacement of the filter cartridge based on a reasonably accurate estimate. using a filter cartridge.

[013] With reference to figure 1, an exemplary embodiment of an ice making machine is indicated, in general, at reference number 103. Ice making machines within the scope of the present disclosure can broadly comprise a forming device of ice in which water can form into pieces of ice, a water system for directing the water onto the ice forming device, and a refrigeration system configured to directly cool the ice forming device to a temperature at which at least At least some of the liquid water present in the ice maker will freeze into ice. In the illustrated embodiment, the ice maker is a batch ice maker of the type having a vertically oriented freezing plate 110 constituting the ice forming device. Other types of ice makers such as cube ice makers and vertical spray ice makers are also considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. In a cube ice maker, the ice forming device is typically a refrigerated cylinder disposed within an auger and in a vertical spray ice maker, the ice forming device is typically a horizontally oriented freezing plate including ice chip molds open downward to receive vertically sprayed water that forms into ice in the molds.

[014] The refrigeration system of the ice maker 103 includes a compressor 112, a heat rejecting heat exchanger 114, a refrigerant expansion device 118 for decreasing the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant, an evaporator 120 along the back side of the freezing plate 110 and a hot gas valve 124. The compressor 112 may be a fixed speed compressor or a variable speed compressor to provide a wider range of operational control possibilities. As shown, the heat reject heat exchanger 114 may comprise a condenser for condensing compressed refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor 112. In other embodiments, for example, in refrigeration systems utilizing carbon dioxide refrigerants where the heat of Rejection is trans-critical, the heat rejecting heat exchanger is capable of rejecting heat from the refrigerant without condensing the refrigerant. The hot gas valve 124 is selectively opened to direct hot refrigerant from the compressor 114 directly to the evaporator 120 to remove or extract ice cubes from the freezing plate 110 when the ice has reached the desired thickness.

[015] The refrigerant expansion device 118 may be of any suitable type, including a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve, or an electronic expansion valve. In certain embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device 118 is a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker 110 may also include a temperature sensor 126 placed at the outlet of the evaporator 120 to control the refrigerant expansion device 126. refrigerant expansion 118. In other embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device 118 is an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker 110 may also include a pressure transducer (not shown) placed at the outlet of the evaporator 120 to control the refrigerant expansion device 118 as known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, a condenser fan 115 is positioned to blow the gaseous cooling medium through the condenser 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the condenser fan 115 is a variable speed fan having a plurality of speed settings, including at least a normal speed and a high speed. The compressor 112 cycles a form of refrigerant through the condenser 114, expansion device 118, evaporator 120 and the hot gas valve 124, through refrigerant lines.

[016] Referring further to Figure 1, a water system of the illustrated ice maker 10 includes a reservoir 130, a water pump 132, a water line 134 (broadly, passage) and a water level sensor 136 The water pump 132 can be a fixed speed pump or a variable speed pump to provide a wider range of control possibilities. The ice maker water system 103 further includes a water supply line 138 and a water inlet valve 140 for filling the reservoir 130 with water from a water source (e.g., a municipal water company). ). The illustrated water system further includes a drain line 142 (also called a drain passage or a discharge line) and a drain valve 144 (e.g., purge valve, drain valve; broadly, a purge device), disposed thereon to drain water from the reservoir 130. The reservoir 130 may be positioned below the freezer plate 110 to catch water coming from the freezing plate so that the relatively cold water falling from the freezing plate may be recirculated by the pump. water line 132. The water line 134 fluidly connects the water pump 132 to a water distributor 146 above the freezing plate. During a batch ice production cycle, the pump 132 is configured to pump water through the water line 134 and through the distributor 146. The distributor is configured to distribute the water transmitted through the distributor 146 evenly across the front of the ice plate. freezing 110 so that water flows downward along the freezing plate and any unfrozen water falls from the bottom of the freezing plate into reservoir 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the water system further comprises a water filter 147 configured to filter the water transmitted into the ice maker 103 to make ice. The water filter 147 comprises one or more replaceable filter cartridges. Filter cartridges become worn over time and must be replaced. In the illustrated embodiment, the water filter 147 is shown upstream of the water inlet valve 140. However, it will be understood that the water filter may also be downstream of the water inlet valve in one or more embodiments.

[017] In an exemplary embodiment, the water level sensor 136 comprises a remote air pressure transducer 148. It will be understood, however, that any type of water level sensor may be used in the ice maker 103 including, but not limited to, a float sensor, an acoustic sensor, or an electrical continuity sensor. The illustrated water level sensor 136 includes a connection 150 that is configured to couple the sensor to the reservoir 130. The connection 150 is fluidly connected to a pneumatic tube 152. The pneumatic tube 152 provides fluid communication between the connection 150 and the transducer of air pressure 148. Water in reservoir 130 traps air at connection 150 and compresses the air by an amount that varies with the water level in the reservoir. In this way, the water level in the reservoir 130 can be determined using the pressure detected by the air pressure transducer 148. Additional details of exemplary embodiments of a water level sensor comprising a remote air pressure transducer are described in Publication of US Patent Application no. 2016/0054043, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[018] An exemplary ice maker of the type shown in figure 1 is more fully described in US Patent Application no. 17/147,965, titled Ice Maker, filed January 15, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[019] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the ice maker 103 includes a controller 160. The controller 160 includes at least one processor 162 for controlling the operation of the ice maker 103, for example, for controlling by me one of the cooling system and the water system. The processor 162 of the controller 160 may include a non-transitory processor-readable medium that stores code representing instructions for causing the processor to execute a process. The processor 162 may be, for example, a commercially available microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination of ASICS, which are designed to achieve one or more specific functions, or enable one or more specific devices or applications. . In certain embodiments, the controller 160 may be an analog or digital circuit, or a combination of multiple circuits. The controller 160 may also include one or more memory components 164 (Figure 2) for storing data in a form retrievable by the controller. Controller 160 may store data in or retrieve data from one or more memory components 164.

[020] For example, in one or more embodiments within the scope of this disclosure, the controller 160 is configured to communicate with a memory 164 having at least registers 1-5 indicated in Table 1 below. In register 1, controller 160 announces the total amount of time that water inlet valve 140 is open. As explained more fully below, in register 2, the illustrated controller 160 is configured to calculate an estimate of the total flow through the water inlet valve 140 based on the value stored in register 1. In register 3, the controller 160 is configured to store an indication of whether the ice maker user wants to receive automatic reminders when the replaceable water filter cartridge should be replaced. Suitably, the ice maker 103 includes a user interface to which the user can make an input selecting whether or not to receive such reminders. In register 4, controller 160 is configured to store a threshold value at which the ice maker 103 automatically generates a reminder/alarm indication that the water filter cartridge requires replacement. Register 5 is a memory location for a flag reset register 1 and/or register 2. In one or more embodiments, the ice maker 103 comprises a user interface that allows the user to cause a trigger register to be activated. input 5 reset register 1 and/or register 2. In another embodiment, the ice maker may comprise a sensor to detect when the water filter cartridge is replaced. Upon receipt of a signal from this sensor, controller 160 automatically uses register 5 to reset register 1 and/or register 2 in response to . filter cartridge being replaced. Table 1

[021] Referring to Figure 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the control system further comprises a local user interface device 220 that includes a display. For example, in one or more embodiments, the user interface device 220 comprises a local touch screen display that is mounted on the exterior of the ice maker 103. The controller 160 is connected to the user interface device. 220 for receiving user inputs to the interface device and controlling the user interface device to display one or more display screens on the display.

[022] The equipment control system further comprises a network interface 170 configured to connect the equipment 103 to the client-server network 107 for communication with a remote resource management server 105. In other words, the network interface 170 is configured to provide communication between the local controller 160 of equipment 103 and the remote resource management server 105. An exemplary embodiment of communications architecture for use in a resource management system for equipment is described in greater detail in US patent no. 9,863,694, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The illustrated network interface 170 comprises a wireless transceiver such as a cellular data transceiver or a Wi-Fi transceiver. Other types of network interfaces (e.g., connected internet ports, etc.) may also be used without away from the scope of revelation. The network interface 170 is broadly configured to pass operational data from the equipment 103 to the resource management server 105 and to pass commands from the resource management server to the equipment. An exemplary resource management system for performing maintenance compliance tasks is more fully described in US patent application no. 17/686,986, filed on March 4, 2022, entitled Systems and Methods for Monitoring Refrigeration Equipments, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[023] In the illustrated embodiment, the resource management server 105 comprises a purchasing server that includes an application programming interface (API) 111 through which the resource management server is configured to connect to one or more V-network based supplier platforms that sell replaceable water filter cartridges for delivery. As explained more fully below, in certain embodiments, resource management server 105 is configured to establish automated purchase transactions on behalf of the ice maker operator to purchase replacement water filter cartridges from the supplier's website. when filter cartridges need replacement.

[024] Server 105 may also store contact information (e.g., cell phone number and/or email address) for the ice maker operator in memory 109). In certain embodiments, server 105 uses the stored contact information to push notifications to the operator using their stored contact points.

[025] During typical use, controller 160 is generally configured to perform consecutive batch ice production cycles. Each ice batch production cycle comprises steps of freezing the ice (a freezing step), extracting the ice (an extraction step), and filling the reservoir 130 (a filling step). At least some of the batch ice production cycles comprise steps of purging hard water from the reservoir 130 after a batch of ice is formed and before the reservoir is refilled (a purging step).

[026] An example embodiment of a typical ice batch production cycle will now be briefly described. During the freezing stage, the refrigeration system is operated to cool the freezer plate 110. At the same time, the pump 132 circulates water from the reservoir 130 through the water line 134 and further through the distributor 146. The distributor 146 distributes water along the top portion of the freezing plate 110. When water flows down in front of the freezing plate 110, some of the water freezes into ice, forming pieces of ice in the freezing plate of gradually increasing thickness. The unfrozen water falls from the freezing plate 110 back into the reservoir 130.

[027] When the ice reaches a thickness that is suitable for extraction, the controller 160 switches from the freezing step to the ice extraction step. The pump 132 is turned off and the hot gas valve 124 is opened to redirect hot refrigerant gas to the evaporator 120. The hot gas heats the freezing plate 110, causing the ice to melt. The melting ice falls from the freezing plate into an ice container (not shown) below. The hot gas valve 124 is closed after the ice has fallen from the freezing plate, as indicated by the extraction sensor 166.

[028] Before starting another ice batch production cycle, reservoir 130 must be filled again. The reservoir has an end-of-circulation water level that is lower than an ice-making water level at which the ice maker begins each batch ice production cycle. Thus, before beginning a subsequent freezing step, the controller 160 opens the water inlet valve 140 to let a new supply of water into the reservoir 130. The water filter 147 filters the water transmitted to the reservoir. The controller 160 closes the water inlet valve 140 when the water level sensor 136 provides an indication to the controller that the water level in the reservoir 130 reaches the ice-making water level. As explained more fully below, in the illustrated embodiment, the controller 160 is configured to monitor the amount of time that the water inlet valve 140 is open to fill the reservoir 130 to the ice-making water level.

[029] At least periodically, it is beneficial to purge a portion of the water from the reservoir 130 before beginning a new ice production cycle. This is advantageous because during the freezing step, when water flows down in front of the freezing plate 110, impurities in the water such as calcium and other minerals in solution will remain in solution with the liquid water as the purer water freezes. . Therefore, during each freezing stage, the concentration of impurities in the water will increase. Excessive concentrations of impurities can quickly degrade the ice maker's performance and even render it inoperable. Thus, periodically, the controller 160 will conduct a purging step prior to the filling step by opening the drain valve 144 to purge a portion of the waste water from the reservoir 130 from the end-of-circulation water level to a level of purge threshold water. Drain valve 144 is a suitable type of purging mechanism, but other types of purging mechanisms (e.g., active drain pumps) may also be used to perform the purging step described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface device 220 allows a user to selectively adjust the frequency of purge cycles and/or adjust the purge threshold water level for the ice maker 103.

[030] In the illustrated embodiment, the local ice maker controller 160 is configured to utilize the memory registers shown in Table 1 above to determine a parameter indicative of a total amount of water filtered by the replaceable filter cartridge, and based on in the given parameter, at least one of (i) providing a numerical indication of the total amount of water filtered by the replaceable filter cartridge; and (ii) determine that the replaceable filter cartridge requires replacement and issues an alarm indication in response. Therefore, the present disclosure generally contemplates automated tracking of the amount of water that is filtered by a replaceable water filter cartridge so that the user or controller 160 can schedule filter cartridge replacement based on the amount of water filtered. rather than the raw amount of time the filter has been in service. It will be recognized that any of the filter maintenance operations (e.g., operations (i) and (ii)) that are described in the present invention as being performed by the ice maker controller 160 may also be performed remote from the ice maker. , for example, by the resource management server 105. For example, it is expressly contemplated that the amount of filtered water could be determined by the remote resource management server 105 based on operational data transmitted from the ice maker 103 to the resource management server over communication network 107. Similarly, it is contemplated that the remote resource management server 105 may provide an alarm indication (e.g., a push notification) based on a determination that the Filter cartridge needs replacement due to the amount of water that has been filtered.

[031] Various ways of determining a parameter indicative of a total amount of water filtered by a replaceable filter cartridge can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the water inlet valve 140 has a generally fixed volumetric flow rating such that the volumetric flow rate through the water inlet valve when opened is substantially constant at constant water supply pressure. In this embodiment, controller 160 is configured to determine a cumulative amount of time that water inlet valve 140 is open (e.g., by accessing memory register 1 in table 1 above) and determine the parameter based on the amount of time the water inlet valve was opened. For example, the total flow indicative parameter may be an estimate of the total flow volume through the water inlet valve 140. The controller 160 may be configured to determine the estimate of the total flow volume through the water inlet valve 140 as a multiple of the cumulative amount of time the water inlet valve has been open, stored in memory register 1, and a predetermined volumetric flow rate estimate for valve 140.

[032] For example, some valves have volumetric flow ratings issued by the manufacturer based on certain assumptions about water supply pressures and the defined cross-sectional area of the flow path through the valve when open. The controller 160 can be configured to calculate the cumulative flow (stored in register 2) as a multiple of the cumulative time the valve has been open since a cartridge is placed in service (register 1), times the flow rating. volumetric issued by the manufacturer.

[033] In certain embodiments, the ice maker water system further comprises a water pressure sensor (not shown) configured to output a water pressure signal that represents water supply pressure to the valve. water inlet. In such an embodiment, the controller 160 may be configured to use the pressure signal to determine the total flow volume stored in register 2. For example, the controller 160 may be configured to determine the total flow volume by estimating the flow rate. volumetric flow rate through the valve based on the water pressure signal and multiply the estimated volumetric flow rate by the determined amount of time stored in register 1 of the controller memory.

[034] In still other embodiments, the ice maker 106 may employ a flow meter (not shown) along the water inlet line so that the controller 160 can calculate the total volumetric flow as a function of the rate of flow measured when valve 140 is open.

[035] Suitably, controller 160 is configurable to reset register 1 whenever the replaceable water filter cartridge is replaced. In an exemplary embodiment, the user may make an input to the user interface device 220 to indicate when the water filter cartridge is replaced. When controller 160 receives such input, it sets the reset flag in register 5 to reset registers 1 and 2 in memory of controller 164. Rather than requiring user input to indicate when a water filter cartridge is replaced, the controller 160 may also be connected to a sensor (e.g., proximity sensor or similar) that signals when a worn filter cartridge is removed and/or when a new filter cartridge is installed. Controller 160 may automatically set the reset flag in register 5 to reset registers 1 and 2 in response to receiving this signal.

[036] Referring to Figures 3-5, in certain embodiments, the controller 160 is configured to selectively display the numerical indication of the amount of water filtered by the replaceable water filter cartridge on the display of the user interface device 220. For example , in the illustrated embodiment, the display is configured to display a main menu 310 shown in figure 3. The user can select the key icon 312 from the main menu 310 to access a service counter display 410, shown in figure 4 The service counter display 410 includes a service count table 412 including a water usage display line 414. As can be seen, the water usage display line 414 is configured to display the value stored in the register. 2 of controller memory, for example, the total volume of flow through the replaceable filter cartridge in a defined unit of measurement, such as gallons. Therefore, it can be seen that an operator of an ice maker 103 can quickly obtain an estimate of the amount of water filtered by a replaceable filter cartridge, which provides a very accurate usage estimate from which to determine whether the cartridge requires replacement. In certain embodiments, the display may also display a usage statistics display 510 (Figure 5) that includes a statistics table 512 comprising a water usage row 514. The water usage row 514 includes calculated water usage rates as a function of the total flow volume over the life of the ice maker divided by the gross amount of time the ice maker 103 is in service. The total flow volume over the life of the ice maker can be calculated as a function of the total amount of time that the water inlet valve 140 is open. It is also contemplated that the displays 310, 410, 510 may be provided remotely on a mobile device in communication with the resource management server 105.

[037] Through the user interface device 220, the user can select whether to receive alarms/reminders when the water filter cartridge needs replacement. In response, controller 160 stores a suitable indication in memory location 3 shown in Table 1 above. If the user chooses to receive such alarms/reminders, the user may also utilize the user interface device 220 to select an alarm threshold corresponding to the flow rating of the replaceable filter cartridge. Controller 160 stores this alarm limit in register 4 of memory 164 as indicated in Table 1 above. The controller 160 may determine that the replaceable filter cartridge needs replacement by comparing the total flow volume stored in register 2 with the predefined total flow volume limit stored in register 4 (broadly, predefined parameter limit). When the controller 160 determines that the total flow volume exceeds the predefined total flow volume threshold, the controller may issue an alarm indication on the display and/or send an alarm indication to the resource management server 105 for further processing. . (The resource management server may also be configured to make its own determination of when the total flow volume exceeds the total flow volume threshold and respond by triggering an alarm indication in one or more embodiments). The resource management server 105 may be configured to push an alarm notification to a link machine operator via SMS text message, email, or other suitable messaging system.

[038] As explained above, in one or more embodiments, the resource management server 105 comprises a purchasing server configured to communicate with a V-network-based supplier platform for a supplier of replaceable water filter cartridges. In these embodiments, the purchasing server 105 is configured to automatically purchase a new replaceable filter cartridge for the ice maker 103 in response to the controller 106 or the purchasing server 105 determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement. It is also anticipated that the server 105 may order the replacement filter shortly before it becomes completely worn out. This way, the new filter cartridge is shipped and ready for use when the current filter becomes worn out. In these embodiments, server 105 may be configured to retrieve information about wait times and shipping times from supplier V's platform and factor these parameters into its decision of when to place an order for a new cartridge.

[039] In one or more embodiments, in response to determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement (e.g., that the value in register 2 exceeds the value in register 4), the controller 160 is configured to send a push notification signal via the transceiver 170 over the network 107, wherein the push notification signal is configured to cause the server 105 to send a push notification to the operator of the ice maker. Again, resource management server 105 may also be configured to make the determination that the filter cartridge is expended independent of that determination being made by local controller 160. In any case, resource server 105 may notify the machine operator Make Ice 103 by pushing a notification via text message or email. Of course, the content of the push notification would remind the operator that the water filter cartridge needs replacement.

[040] It can now be seen that the present disclosure addresses the ice maker maintenance challenge that water consumption will be different for every ice maker 103. The inventors believe that it is not enough to simply define a maintenance schedule filter replacement based on a defined time interval. In the case of low-water ice makers, operating costs can be reduced by increasing the time interval between cartridge replacements. For ice makers with high water usage, performance can be improved by replacing the filter cartridges more frequently. This disclosure proposes to track filter usage in terms of the amount of time that the water inlet valve 160 is open, rather than in terms of the gross service time of the filter cartridge. Therefore, for ice makers with increased purge settings, filter cartridges will be replaced more frequently, ensuring the desired water quality is maintained, and for ice makers with reduced purge settings, filter cartridges will be replaced. less frequently, saving on operating costs.

[041] Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise a special purpose computer including a variety of computer hardware, as described in greater detail in the present invention.

[042] For illustration purposes, programs and other executable program components can be shown as discrete blocks. It is recognized, however, that such programs and components reside at various times in different storage components of a computing device, and are executed by a data processor(s) of the device.

[043] Although described with respect to an example computing system environment, embodiments of aspects of the invention are operational with other special purpose computing system configurations or environments. The computing system environment is not intended to suggest any limitations with respect to the scope of use or functionality of any aspect of the invention. Furthermore, the computing system environment should not be construed as having any dependency or requirement on any one or combination of components illustrated in the example operating environment. Examples of computing systems, environments and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems , set-top boxes, consumer programmable electronics, cellular telephones, network PCs, microcomputers, mainframe computers, distributor computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

[044] Embodiments of aspects of the present disclosure may be described in the general context of data and/or processor-executable instructions, such as program modules, stored on one or more tangible non-transitory storage media and executed by one or more processors or others are available. In general, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the present disclosure can also be put into practice in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are connected via a communication network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located on both local and remote storage media including memory storage devices.

[045] In operation, processors, computers and/or servers may execute computer-executable instructions (e.g., software, firmware and/or hardware) such as those illustrated in the present invention to implement aspects of the invention.

[046] Embodiments can be implemented with processor-executable instructions. The processor-executable instructions may be organized into one or more processor-executable modules or components on a tangible processor-readable storage medium. Also, embodiments may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific processor-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the figures and described in the present invention. Other embodiments may include different processor-executable components or instructions having more or less functionality than illustrated and described in the present invention.

[047] The order of execution or performance of operations in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure illustrated and described in the present invention is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order unless otherwise specified, and the embodiments may include additional operations or fewer operations than those disclosed in the present invention. For example, the execution or performance of a particular operation before, contemporaneously with or after another operation is considered to be within the scope of the invention.

[048] When introducing elements of the invention or its embodiments, the articles “a,” “an,” “the, the” and “referred to” are intended to mean that there is one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed.

[049] Not all components shown illustrated or described may be necessary. Additionally, some implementations and embodiments may include additional components. Variations in the arrangement and type of components can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims as set out in the present invention. Additional, different or fewer components may be supplied and components may be combined. Alternatively or in addition, a component can be implemented by multiple components.

[050] The above description illustrates modalities by example and not as a limitation. This description allows one skilled in the art to make and use aspects of the invention and to describe various embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of aspects of the invention, including what is currently believed to be the best way to carry out aspects of the invention. Additionally, it should be understood that aspects of the invention are not limited in their application to the construction details and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Aspects of the invention are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used in the present invention are for purposes of description and should not be considered as limiting.

[051] It will be evident that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the attached claims. As various changes could be made to the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the attached drawings is interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[052] In view of the above, it will be seen that various advantages of aspects of the invention are obtained and other advantageous results achieved.

[053] The Summary and Summary are provided to help the reader quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. They are submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. The Table of Contents is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify main characteristics or essential characteristics of the claimed matter, nor is it intended to be used as an auxiliary means in determining the claimed matter.

Claims (15)

1. Ice maker CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises: an ice forming device; a refrigeration system for cooling the ice forming device; a water system that supplies water to the ice maker, the water system including a water inlet valve and a water filter, the water inlet valve configured to be selectively opened to supply water to the ice maker , the water filter configured to filter the water supplied to the ice maker, the water filter including a replaceable filter cartridge, the refrigeration system configured to cool the ice forming device so that at least some of the water filtered water from the system forms into ice in the ice forming device; and a controller operatively connected to the water system, the controller configured to determine a parameter indicative of a total amount of water per replaceable filter cartridge; and based on the determined parameter, at least one of (i) providing a numerical indication of the total amount of water filtered by the replaceable filter cartridge; and (ii) determine that the replaceable filter cartridge requires replacement and issue an alarm indication in response. 2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the water inlet valve has a fixed volumetric flow rating such that the volumetric flow rate through the water inlet valve when opened , is substantially constant at constant water supply pressure. 3. Ice maker according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the controller is configured to determine an amount of time that the water inlet valve is open and the controller is configured to determine the parameter based on the amount of time the water inlet valve is open. 4. Ice maker according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the water system further comprises a water pressure sensor configured to output a water pressure signal representing water supply pressure to the valve. water inlet. 5. Ice maker according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the controller is configured to determine the parameter based on the water pressure signal. 6. Ice maker according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the controller is configured to determine the parameter by estimating volumetric flow rate through the valve based on the water pressure signal and multiplying said flow rate estimated volumetric flow for the given amount of time. 7. The ice maker of claim 3, wherein the parameter is an estimate of total flow volume through the water inlet valve, the controller being configured to determine the estimate of total flow volume through the water inlet valve as a multiple of the determined amount of time and a predetermined measured volumetric flow rate estimate for the valve. 8. Ice maker according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it additionally comprises a user interface device having a display. 9. Ice maker according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the controller is configured to selectively display the numerical indication of the amount of water filtered by the replaceable water cartridge on the display. 10. The ice maker of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to display an alarm indication on the display in response to determining that the replaceable filter cartridge requires replacement. 11. Ice maker according to claim 10, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that determining that the replaceable filter cartridge needs replacement comprises determining that the determined parameter exceeds a predefined parameter limit. 12. System CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises the ice maker, according to claim 1, a notification server and a network, the ice maker and the notification server being remotely connected by the network, wherein the ice maker notification is configured to push a notification to a user of the ice maker in response to either the controller or the notification server determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement. 13. System CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises the ice maker, according to claim 1, a purchasing server, and a network, the ice making machine and the purchasing server being remotely connected by the network, wherein the server Purchasing is configured to automatically acquire a new replacement filter cartridge for the ice maker in response to the controller or the purchasing server determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement. 14. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that connects the controller to a network, wherein in response to determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement, the controller is configured to send a push notification signal via the transceiver over the network, the push notification signal causing a notification to be pushed to a user of the ice maker. 15. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that connects the controller to a network, wherein in response to determining that the replaceable cartridge filter needs replacement, the controller is configured to send a signal via the transceiver over the network, the signal causing an automated purchase transaction to be performed to purchase a new replaceable filter cartridge for the ice maker.