CA2273313A1 - Ice making assembly for refrigerator - Google Patents

Ice making assembly for refrigerator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2273313A1
CA2273313A1 CA002273313A CA2273313A CA2273313A1 CA 2273313 A1 CA2273313 A1 CA 2273313A1 CA 002273313 A CA002273313 A CA 002273313A CA 2273313 A CA2273313 A CA 2273313A CA 2273313 A1 CA2273313 A1 CA 2273313A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ice
outlet opening
forming chamber
baffle
making assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002273313A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Edward Hynes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Camco Inc Canada
Original Assignee
Camco Inc Canada
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Camco Inc Canada filed Critical Camco Inc Canada
Priority to CA002273313A priority Critical patent/CA2273313A1/en
Publication of CA2273313A1 publication Critical patent/CA2273313A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25CPRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18Storing ice
    • F25C5/182Ice bins therefor
    • F25C5/185Ice bins therefor with freezing trays
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25CPRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00Producing ice
    • F25C1/04Producing ice by using stationary moulds
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25CPRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2400/00Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
    • F25C2400/10Refrigerator units
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25CPRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20Distributing ice
    • F25C5/22Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/042Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/045Air flow control arrangements
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F25D17/065Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/30Quick freezing

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)

Abstract

An ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator has an ice forming chamber positioned in the freezer. The chamber has a water reservoir for receiving water, at least one air inlet passage and an outlet opening for permitting cool air flow to pass through the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir to chill the water into ice pieces. The chamber has an ice displacing device for displacing the ice pieces from the water reservoir and moving the ice pieces out of the ice forming chamber through the outlet opening into an ice storage bin. The bin has a discharge opening for discharging ice pieces from the ice making assembly. The ice making assembly has a downwardly extending baffle positioned across outlet opening of the ice forming chamber. The baffle is slanted from the vertical back towards the outlet opening of the ice making chamber by an angle of about 5.degree. to partially close the outlet opening and to redirect a portion of the air flow normally exiting the outlet opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir. The baffle advantageously redirects air flow back over the water to be chilled thereby increasing the heat exchange between the air flow and water without increasing the energy requirements to effect this heat exchange. The improved heat transfer quickens the freezing of the water into ice pieces or cubes.

Description

ICE MAKING ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATOR
Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator, and in particul~~r relates to the use of a baffle positioned in the air flow cooling stream to improve the ice making s process.
Background of the Invention In the modern domestic refrigerators it is common to provide an ice making assembly in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
The ice making assembly includes a water reservoir into which water io is supplied. The water is then chilled to form ice pieces. The ice pieces or cubes, are then moved to a storage bin where they are held until the user accesses ice from the refrigerators through an ice dispenser typically mounted through the door of the refrigerator.
When a user obtains ice through the ice dispenser in the door of is the refrigerator, a button is usually pressed which controls the delivery of the ice from the storage bin to tile user. Also, this action controls the making of ice in the ice making assembly. When a user requires substantial amounts of ice from the refrigerators, the ice storage bin
-2- CWC- 167 may not hold sufficient amounts of ice to meet the demands of the user. Accordingly, the user has to wait for the ice making device to make more ice. The time required t:o make ice is a dependent upon the temperature of water being filled into the ice making reservoir and of s the temperature of the cooling air passing over the ice in the of the water reservoir. Currently, it may take as long as 3 hours for the ice maker to form ice pieces for delivery to a user.
Currently, in many ice making assembly, air flow is through the ice making machine above the water reservoir. Consequently, the heat io exchange between the air flow and water is limited to the passage of air over the water because the air passes directly out of the ice forming chamber. In this type of ice making assembly, there is a need to improve the cooling or freezing efficiency of the ice maker without increasing the energy consumed by it the ice maker.
is SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to improve the efficiency of the ice making process within an ice making assembly, the present invention incorporates the use of an air flow deflection baffle located within the ice making assembly. The air flow baffle is positioned across an outlet opening in Zo the ice forming chamber. The baffle acts to redirect air normally passing out of the outlet opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water seated in the water reservoir so as to increase the heat exchange between the water being chilled and the coolant air flow within the ice forming chamber. The use of the this air flow baffle Zs results in increasing the speed at which the ice pieces are formed without requiring additional energy. In particular, where the ice
- 3 -~ CWC - 167 normally takes about 3 hours to be formed, the process now takes about 25% less time with the use of the baffle of the present invention.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator having a s freezer compartment. The ice making assembly has an ice forming chamber positioned in the freezer compartment adjacent a rear wall of the freezer compartment. The ice forming chamber has a water reservoir for receiving water, at least one air inlet passage and an outlet opening for permitting cool air flow to pass through the ice io forming chamber, over the water reservoir, chilling the water into ice pieces, and out the outlet opening. The ice forming chamber has an ice displacing device for displacing the ice pieces from the water reservoir and moving the ice pieces out of the ice forming chamber through the outlet opening. The ice making assembly has an ice is storage bin positioned in the freezer compartment forward of and adjacent to the ice forming chamber. The ice storage bin has a first end in air flow communication with the outlet opening so that the air flow and ice pieces passing through the outlet opening pass into the ice storage bin. The ice storage bin has a discharge opening at a ao second end opposite the first end for discharging ice pieces from the ice making assembly. The ice storage bin has a transport device for moving ice pieces from the first end to the second end and out the discharge opening. The ice making assembly has the improvement of a baffle positioned across the ice forming chamber at the outlet Zs opening and extending downward to partially close the outlet opening and to redirect a portion of the air flow normally exiting the outlet
- 4 - CWC - 167 opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir.
Advantage is found by using the baffle because the baffle redirects air flow back over the water to be chilled thereby increasing s the heat exchange between the air flow and water without increasing the energy requirements to effect this heat exchange. The improved heat transfer quickens the freezing of the water into ice pieces or cubes.
In the preferred embodiment, the baffle is mounted to and io extends downwardly from a top wall of the freezer compartment.
Alternatively, the baffle extends downwardly from the ice making assembly when the ice making assembly has a top wall. The baffle is preferably slanted from the vertical back towards the outlet opening of the ice making chamber to increase the redirection of the air flow back i s into the ice forming bin and over the water to be chilled. The baffle is preferably slanted by an angle of about 5° to redirect the air flow and still maintain an effective partial closure for the air outlet opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the Zo present invention reference may be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a side sectional view of an ice making assembly housed within the freezer compartment of a refrigerator; and, Zs Figure 2 is a front sectional view taken at lines 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the construction of the baffle across the outlet opening of the ice forming chamber.
- 5 ~~ CWC - 167 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a refrigerator 10 comprising a cabinet 12 having a freezer compartment 14 closed by a door 16. The door 16 includes a through the door ice dispenser (not s shown) through which ice is discharged from the freezer compartment 14 to a user. Refrigerator 10 as shown is a top mount refrigerator.
Alternatively, refrigerator 10 can be a side-by-side refrigerator with of the freezer compartment 14 located beside a refrigerator or fresh food compartment. Door 16 has a handle 18 mounted to the outer metallic io casing 20 of the door 16. The cabinet 12 comprises an outer metal wall 26 and an interior plastic liner wall 28 having a rear wall 30 and an upper or top wall 32.
An ice making assembly 34 is mounted within of the freezer compartment 14. The ice making assembly 34 has an ice forming is chamber 36. The ice forming chamber 36 is positioned within the freezer compartment 14 in front of the rear liner wall 30 and below of the top liner wall 32.
The ice forming chamber 36 has a water reservoir 38 running across the width of the chamber. The water reservoir 38 includes a Zo series of semicircular recessed slots into which water 40 is filled. The ice forming chamber 36 includes air inlet passages 42 extending through of the rear liner wall 28. A rear wall passage 29 extends behind the ice making chamber 36 down the refrigerator cabinet to the location of the of evaporator housing and evaporator coils where the as air in the refrigerator it is normally cooled.
Coolant air as shown by arrow 46 enters the ice forming chamber 36 through the air inlet passages 42. The coolant air 46
-6- CWC- 167 passes over the water 40 in the forth ice pieces 48. The coolant air 46 then passes out of the ice forming chamber 36 through a outlet opening 44.
The ice forming chamber 36 has an ice displacing device SO for s displacing the ice pieces 48 from the water reservoir 38. The ice displacing device 50 moves the ice pieces 48 out of the ice forming chamber 36 through the outlet opening 44. The ice to displacing device 50 comprises a series of finger like baffles 51 which are rotatable about axis 53. As the baffle 51 is rotated it forces the ice io pieces 48 out of the water reservoir 38 through the opening 44 and into an ice storage bin 52.
The ice storage bin 52 is positioned in the freezer compartment 14 forward of an adjacent to the ice forming chamber 36. The ice storage bin 52 has a first end 54 in air flow communication with the is outlet opening 44 of the ice forming chambers 36. This permits cool air flow from circulating out of the ice forming chamber 36 and into the storage bin 52 so as to maintain ice pieces 48 located in the storage bin 52 frozen. The ice storage bin 52 has a discharge opening 58 located at the second end 60 oppasite to the first end 54. The ice Zo storage bin 52 further includes a transport device 62 which is in the form of a rotating coil which has a spiral shape to move the ice particles 48 from the first end 54 to the second end 60 and out the discharge opening 58.
The ice making assembly further includes an air deflection 2s baffle 70 positioned across the ice forming chamber 36 at the outlet opening 44. The baffle 70 extends downwardly from the top wall 32 of the freezer compartment 14. The; baffle is L-shaped and has a first
-7- CWC- 167 leg 72 of the L adapted to be mounted to the freezer liner wall 32. The second leg L of the baffle is a relatively flat portion 74 that extends downwardly into and across the outlet opening 44 of the ice forming chamber 36. The baffle flat leg 74 is slanted forward towards the ice s forming chambers 36 by an angle cx of approximately 5 degrees from the vertical. The second baffle leg 74 is a relatively flat sided surface that faces the outlet opening 44. The baffle partially closes the outlet opening 44 and acts to redirect a portion of the air flow 46 within the ice forming chamber 36 back into the ice forming chamber 36 and io across the water 40 contained in reservoir 38. This redirection of the air flow 46 by the baffle 70 increases the heat exchange between the air flow 46 and the water 40 without increasing the energy requirements of the refrigerator to improve this heat exchange function. The improved heat change quickens the freezing of the is water 40 into ice pieces or ice cubes 48.
As is apparent from the foregoing disclosure, various other embodiments and alterations and modifications which may differ from the embodiments disclosed may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It should be understood that the scope of the patent shall be Zo defined by the claims and those embodiments which come within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims (7)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator having a freezer compartment comprising:
an ice forming chamber positioned in the freezer compartment adjacent a rear wall of the freezer compartment, the ice forming chamber having a water reservoir for receiving water, at least one air inlet passage and an outlet opening for permitting cool air flow to pass through the ice forming chamber, over the water reservoir, chilling the water into ice pieces, and out the outlet opening, and the ice forming chamber having an ice displacing device for displacing the ice pieces from the water reservoir and moving the ice pieces out of the ice forming chamber through the outlet opening;
an ice storage bin positioned in the freezer compartment forward of and adjacent to the ice forming chamber, the ice storage bin having a first end in air flow communication with the outlet opening so that the cool air flow and ice pieces passing through the outlet opening pass into the ice storage bin, the ice storage bin having a discharge opening at a second end opposite the first end for discharging ice pieces from the ice making assembly, the ice storage bin having a transport device for moving ice particles from the first end to the second end and out the discharge opening; and, a baffle positioned across ice forming chamber at the outlet opening and extending downward to partially close the outlet opening and to redirect a portion of the air flow normally exiting the outlet opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir.

-9-~~
2. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the baffle is mounted to and extends downwardly from a top wall of the freezer compartment.
3. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the baffle has a flat side facing the outlet opening.
4. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the baffle has a flat side facing the outlet opening and the flat side of the baffle is angled from the vertical back towards the outlet opening.
5. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the baffle is angled about 5° from the vertical back towards the outlet opening.
6. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the baffle is angled about 5° from the vertical back towards the outlet opening.
7. The ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the at least one air inlet passage passes through the rear wall of the freezer compartment.
CA002273313A 1999-05-27 1999-05-27 Ice making assembly for refrigerator Abandoned CA2273313A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002273313A CA2273313A1 (en) 1999-05-27 1999-05-27 Ice making assembly for refrigerator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002273313A CA2273313A1 (en) 1999-05-27 1999-05-27 Ice making assembly for refrigerator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2273313A1 true CA2273313A1 (en) 2000-11-27

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002273313A Abandoned CA2273313A1 (en) 1999-05-27 1999-05-27 Ice making assembly for refrigerator

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2273313A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6955056B1 (en) 2004-03-30 2005-10-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator and control method thereof

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6955056B1 (en) 2004-03-30 2005-10-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator and control method thereof

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