EP2101128A2 - Verfahren zur Steuerung einer Eismaschinenanordnung für einen Kühlschrank - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Steuerung einer Eismaschinenanordnung für einen Kühlschrank Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2101128A2
EP2101128A2 EP09002660A EP09002660A EP2101128A2 EP 2101128 A2 EP2101128 A2 EP 2101128A2 EP 09002660 A EP09002660 A EP 09002660A EP 09002660 A EP09002660 A EP 09002660A EP 2101128 A2 EP2101128 A2 EP 2101128A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
temperature
rod
ice making
tray
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP09002660A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2101128A3 (de
EP2101128B1 (de
Inventor
Young Jin Kim
Tae Hee Lee
Hong Hee Park
Ho Youn Lee
Joon Hwan Oh
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.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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 LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Publication of EP2101128A2 publication Critical patent/EP2101128A2/de
Publication of EP2101128A3 publication Critical patent/EP2101128A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2101128B1 publication Critical patent/EP2101128B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
    • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/08—Producing ice by immersing freezing chambers, cylindrical bodies or plates into water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
    • F25C5/04—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws
    • F25C5/08—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws by heating bodies in contact with the ice
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/11—Fan speed control
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/18—Producing ice of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2600/00—Control issues
    • F25C2600/04—Control means

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator for making transparent ice.
  • Refrigerators are domestic appliances used for storing foods in a refrigerated or frozen environment.
  • refrigerators include: a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are disposed in the left and right sides; a bottom-freezer type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment is disposed above a freezer compartment; and a top-mount type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment is disposed under a freezer compartment.
  • refrigerators have a structure that allows a user to access food or drink disposed inside a refrigerator compartment through an alternate access point without having to open a primary refrigerator compartment door.
  • a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion member are disposed inside a refrigerator, and an evaporator is disposed on the backside of a refrigerator main body, as refrigeration-cycle components of the refrigerator.
  • an ice making assembly can be provided inside the refrigerator.
  • the ice making assembly may be mounted in a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment door, or a refrigerator compartment door.
  • the disclosed embodiments provide a method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator that can produce transparent ice.
  • the disclosed embodiments provide methods of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator.
  • a method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator including: selecting an ice making mode; supplying water to an ice recess formed in a tray so as to immerse a rod configured to take heat from the water; intermittently operating a heater disposed at the tray to maintain the tray at a temperature higher than a freezing temperature; and controlling an operation of a cooling fan configured to supply cooling air so as to cool the rod.
  • a method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator including: selecting an ice making mode; supplying water to an ice recess formed in a tray so as to immerse a rod configured to take heat from the water; intermittently operating a heater disposed at the tray to maintain the tray at a temperature higher than a freezing temperature; and controlling an operation of an ice ejecting heater configured to heat the rod so as to decrease a temperature of the rod with time.
  • transparent ice can be made in an ice making compartment that is kept at a temperature lower than 0°C.
  • the tray is kept at a temperature higher than 0°C during an ice making operation to freeze water slowly and to ensure that the water freezes in a direction starting from the rod toward the inner surface of the ice recess. Therefore, while the freezing of the water proceeds, air dissolved in the water can escape from the water before the air is trapped in the ice. The resulting ice that is made is thus transparent.
  • the temperature of water may be adjusted by controlling the cooling fan and the temperature of the freezing rod so that bubbles contained in the water can escape during the ice making operation. Transparent ice can be readily made.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating an ice making assembly structure for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice making assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention, just before ice is transferred to a container.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a tray of the ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a process of making transparent ice in the ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method of controlling the temperature of a tray of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the temperature of a rod when a method of controlling an ice making assembly is performed according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • an ice making assembly may be mounted at a freezer compartment door.
  • the ice making assembly can be mounted at other places such as a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a refrigerator compartment door and still be within the scope of the invention.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating an ice making assembly structure for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • an ice making assembly 20 of the exemplary embodiment may be mounted on the backside of a door 10, and the backside of the door 10 may be recessed to form an ice making space 11 that accommodates the ice making assembly 20.
  • a cooling air supply hole 111 ( FIG. 2 ) may be formed at a side of the ice making space 11 to allow inflow of cooling air from an evaporator (not shown), and a cooling air discharge hole 112 ( FIG. 2 ) may be formed in the side of the ice making space 11 to allow the cooling air from the ice making space 11 to flow back to the evaporator.
  • the ice making assembly 20 may be mounted at an upper portion of the ice making space 11, and a container 30 may be mounted under the ice making assembly 20 to store ice made by the ice making assembly 20.
  • the ice making assembly 20 may be protected by an ice making cover 31.
  • the ice making cover 31 may also provide guidance for the ice separated from the ice making assembly 20 so that it follows a path directly to the container 30.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the ice making assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice making assembly 20, according to an embodiment of the invention, just before ice is transferred to the container 30.
  • the ice making assembly 20 may include: a tray 21 having a plurality of ice recesses 211 for making ice in a predetermined shape; a plurality of fins 24 stacked above the tray 21 and capable of vertical and rotational movement; a plurality of rods 23 configured to be inserted into the ice recesses 211 through the fins 24; an ice ejecting heater 25 may be provided as the lowermost fin of the plurality of fins 24; a supporting plate 27 configured to support the ice ejecting heater 25, the remainder of the plurality of fins 24, and the rods 23 as one unit; a water supply part 26 disposed at an end of the tray 21; and a control boxy 28 disposed at another end of the tray 21.
  • a heater (not shown) may be mounted at the bottom of the tray 21 to maintain the temperature of the tray 21 at a temperature above freezing.
  • a supporting lever 271 may extend from a front end of the supporting plate 27, and a hinge 272 may be disposed at an end of the supporting plate 27.
  • ice cubes (I) having a shape corresponding to the shape of the ice recesses 211 are formed around the rods 23.
  • a cam 29 coupled to a driving motor are disposed inside the control box 28.
  • the driving motor drives a rotational movement of the cam 29.
  • the hinge 272 may be coupled to the cam 29 so that the hinge 272 can be lifted and rotated by the rotation of the cam 29.
  • the ice ejecting heater 25 may have a plate-like shape and may make contact with the rods 23. Alternatively, the ice ejecting heater 25 may be buried in the rods 23.
  • the supporting plate 27 may act to close an open-top of the tray 21 (see FIG. 3 ) such that water supplied to the tray 21 is indirectly cooled by cooling air that is supplied to the ice making space 11 and flows about fins 24 and rods 23.
  • the heater attached to the tray 21 may be operated to maintain the tray 21 at a temperature higher than 0°C so as to make transparent ice in the ice making assembly 20.
  • the tray 21 may be kept at a temperature above freezing so that the water freezes slowly. The air in the water is then able to escape before the water is completely frozen. Thus resulting in transparent ice, which is preferred by the user.
  • the rods 23 are inserted in the ice recesses 211 of the tray 21, water is supplied to the tray 21, and a freezing operation is started after the supply of water is completed.
  • the freezing operation is started by supplying cooling air to the ice making space 11.
  • the temperature of the fins 24 is reduced to below freezing by convection heat transfer with the supplied cooling air.
  • the temperature of the rods 23 is also reduced to below freezing by conduction heat transfer with the fins 24.
  • Portions of the rods 23 inserted in the ice recesses 211 are submerged in the water. Therefore, the water may be gradually frozen starting from a region closest to the rods 23, and the frozen region of the water becomes attached to the rods 23.
  • the freezing of the water further proceeds outwardly from a region closest to the rods 23 toward a region close to the inner surfaces of the ice recesses 211.
  • the cam 29 is rotated to move the rods 23, and the ice cubes formed thereon, vertically upward out of the ice recesses 211.
  • the cam 29 is further rotated to rotate the rods 23 at a predetermined angle so that the ice cubes (I) can slip off of the rods 23 and fall into an ice container 30.
  • Whether freezing of the water is completed may be determined by several methods.
  • a first method involves monitoring time lapsed while the water is freezing. If a predetermined amount of time passes after the start of the freezing, it may be determined that the freezing is completed.
  • Another method of determining the completion of freezing involves lifting the rods 23, via cam 29, out of the recesses 211, and detecting an amount of water remaining in the recesses 211.
  • the rods 23 may be lifted to a predetermined height after a predetermined amount of time has passed from the start of freezing.
  • the predetermined height may be a height at which ice attached to the rods 23 is not yet fully separated from the ice recesses 211.
  • the amount of water remaining in the ice recesses 21 may be detected.
  • the amount of unfrozen water remaining in the ice recesses 211 can be detected, for example, using a water level sensor (not shown) mounted on the tray 21.
  • the amount of unfrozen water remaining in the ice recesses 211 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, it may be determined that the freezing is completed. On the other hand, if the amount of unfrozen water remaining in the ice recesses 211 is greater than the predetermined amount, the rods 23 may be moved down to their original positions to continue freezing the water.
  • the water sensor will be described later with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • the cam 29 may be rotated such that it moves the rods 23, and the ice cubes formed thereon, vertically upward out of the ice recesses 211.
  • the cam 29 may be further rotated to effect rotation of the rods 23. More specifically, the hinge 272 may be rotated by the cam 29 to rotate the rods 23 at a predetermined angle.
  • the ice ejecting heater 25 may be operated. When the ice ejecting heater 25 is operated, the temperature of the rods 23 is increased, and thus the ice cubes (I) are separated from the rods 23. The separated ice cubes (I) may thus fall into the container 30.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the tray 21 of the ice making assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the ice recesses 211 are arranged in the tray 21 of the ice making assembly 20. Grooves 213 having a predetermined depth are formed between the ice recesses 211. Water can travel between neighboring ice recesses 211 through the grooves 213. Bottoms of the grooves 213 are spaced apart from bottoms of the ice recesses 211.
  • a guide 212 may be formed at an end portion of the tray 21 to guide water supplied from the water supply part 26 to the tray 21 and to the ice recesses 211. Water may be supplied to the ice recesses 211 closest to the guide 212 and may gradually travel to the ice recess 211 farthest from the guide 212.
  • a water level sensor 40 may be mounted at a side of the ice recess 211 farthest from the guide 212, e.g., at a side of the ice recess located at an end of the tray 21 opposite to the guide 212. Further, a temperature sensor 50 may be mounted at a side of the tray 21. The temperature sensor 50 may provide feedback to a subsystem adapted to maintain the tray 21 at a constant temperature.
  • a tray heater (not shown) may be installed at the tray 21. The tray heater may be installed at the tray 21 in an embedded or attached manner.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a process of making transparent ice in the ice making assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • a tray heater 60 may be installed in the tray 21 of the ice making assembly 20. After the rod 23 is moved down to a preset position, the ice recess 211 is filled with water. Alternatively, the rod 23 can be moved down to the preset position after the ice recess 211 is filled with water.
  • an ice making operation can begin.
  • the fins 24 are cooled by cooling air that is circulated to cool the tray 21 and rods 23 to below freezing by convection heat exchange with the fins 24.
  • the tray heater 60 operates to maintain the tray 21 at a temperature above 0°C.
  • the tray 21 may be kept at a temperature in the range of 1°C to 2°C. According to Henry's Law, the solubility of gas in water is reduced as the temperature of the water increases. Therefore, air present in the water can be removed from the water as it freezes by operating the tray heater 60. At the same time, ice grows from the surface of the rod 23.
  • ice forms outwardly from the surface of rod 23 while the tray 21 is kept at a temperature above freezing. Therefore, ice cannot form at the inner surface of the tray 21. In other words, ice cannot form on the inner surface of an ice recess 211. Accordingly, when the ice making operation is completed a predetermined amount of water may remain in the ice recess 211. The removal of the ice cubes from the tray 21 is facilitated in an embodiment where water remains in an unfrozen state just adjacent to the inner surface of the ice recess 211.
  • a rod temperature sensor 70 may be disposed in the rod 23.
  • the temperature increase of the rod 23 can be controlled to reach a set temperature. It is also envisioned that during an ice making operation, the rod 23 may be heated to temporarily increase the temperature of water present in the tray 21, so as to allow air trapped in the water to escape.
  • a cooling fan (not shown), configured to supply cooling air to the inside of the ice making space 11, may be controlled.
  • the ice ejecting heater 25, configured to heat the rod 23, and the cooling fan may be both simultaneously operated and controlled.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method of controlling the temperature of a tray of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the invention
  • an ice making mode may be started by a user or a control unit (see e.g., ref. 45 of FIG. 3 ) associated with the refrigerator (operation S 11) in general or the ice making assembly in particular.
  • the ice making mode can be initiated by the control unit 45 when an automatic ice making operation is necessary; for example, when a low amount of ice in ice container 30 is detected.
  • the control unit 45 receives a signal from a temperature sensor, such as temperature sensor 50 of FIG. 5 , to determine the temperature of the tray 21.
  • the control unit 45 may determine whether the temperature T of the tray 21 is at a predetermined temperature T 0 .
  • the control unit 45 may determine whether the tray temperature T is lower or higher than the predetermined temperature T 0 (operation S12).
  • the tray heater 60 may be turned on to heat the tray 21 (operation S 13). On the other hand, if the tray temperature T is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature T 0 , the tray heater 60 may be turned off (operation S 14).
  • turning-off of the tray heater 60 includes the case where the tray heater 60 is previously turned off and kept in the turned-off state.
  • control unit 45 may also determine whether ice making is completed (operation S15). An exemplary method of determining whether ice making is complete is as discussed above.
  • the ice making mode is turned off (operation S16) to complete the ice making operation.
  • operations S12, S 13, and S 14 may be repeated.
  • the on-off control of the tray heater 60 continues until the ice is satisfactorily formed.
  • the tray 21 can be kept at a temperature above freezing temperature while ice is forming around the control rod 23, thus resulting in transparent ice.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • the temperature of water supplied to the tray 21 is controlled by controlling the operation of a fan during an ice making operation.
  • air contained in water may be trapped in the water as it freezes if the temperature of the water drops too quickly. To prevent this, the temperature of the water is temporarily raised to allow the air to escape.
  • a control unit 45 determines whether the measured temperature T of the rod 23 is equal to or greater than a first predetermined temperature T1 (operation S24).
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 may be the surface temperature of the rod 23, which may be detected using the rod temperature sensor 70 ( FIG. 6 ). If it is determined that the temperature T of the rod 23 is equal to or greater than the first temperature T1, the cooling fan may be turned on to lower the temperature of rod 23 (operation S25).
  • the cooling fan may be turned off (operation S26) to prevent cool air circulation in the ice making space 11.
  • turning-on (S25) or turning-off (S26) includes the situation where the cooling fan may be previously turned on or off and is maintained in the turned-on or turned-off state, respectively. For example, if it is determined that the rod temperature T is equal to or greater than the first temperature T1 and the cooling fan is in an turned-on state, the cooling fan may simply be left in the turned-on state.
  • control unit determines whether ice making time (t) has reached a first set time t1 (operation S27).
  • the procedure may go back to operation S24.
  • the rod 23 temperature may then be controlled.
  • the ice making time reaches the first set time t1
  • the second predetermined temperature T2 may be lower than the first predetermined temperature T1. If it is determined that the rod temperature T is equal to or greater than the second temperature T2, the cooling fan may be turned on (operation S29). Otherwise, the cooling fan may be turned off (operation S30).
  • an ice ejecting operation may be performed (S32). After the ice ejecting operation, the ice making mode may be turned off (operation S33). If the ice making time (t) has not reached the second set time t2, the procedure will go back to operation S28.
  • a control process may be carried out to make transparent ice using the cooling fan without turning on the ice ejecting heater 25. While the "on/off" control of the cooling fan is discussed above, the speed of the cooling fan can also be controlled depending on the measured temperature of the rod 23. In this situation, a variable speed fan motor may be used.
  • the temperature of the rod 23 may be reduced slowly, in steps, to prevent trapping air in the water as it freezes.
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 is reduced in two steps, however, three or more steps may be used according to, for example, freezer compartment conditions.
  • FIG. 9 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a second embodiment.
  • the temperature of water supplied to the tray 21 may be controlled via the ice ejecting heater 25.
  • the cooling fan may be kept on i.e., continuously operated, while the ice-ejecting heater 25 is controlled to adjust the temperature of rod 23.
  • the ice making mode is initiated (operation S51), water is supplied (operation S52), and the water supply is completed (operation S53) similar to the first embodiment.
  • the cooling fan may be operated to supply and circulate cooling air throughout the ice making space 11 (operation S54).
  • the plurality of fins 24 are cooled by convection heat transfer with the cooling air, and the rod 23 may be cooled by conduction heat transfer with the cooled fins 24.
  • the surface temperature of the rod 23 may be measured by the rod temperature sensor 70 and may be transmitted to the control unit 45. Then, the control unit 45 determines whether the measured rod temperature T is equal to or greater than a first predetermined temperature T1 (operation S55).
  • the ice ejecting heater 25 may be turned off (operation S56). Otherwise, the ice ejecting heater 25 is turned on (operation S57).
  • turning the ice ejecting heater 25 on or off is similar to the above-described "on/off" function of the cooling fan.
  • the control unit may determine whether ice making time (t) reaches a first set time t1 (operation S58). If the ice making time (t) has not reach the first set time t1, the procedure goes back to operation S55.
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 is then reduced to a temperature lower than the first set temperature T1.
  • the current rod temperature T may be measured. It is then determined if this measured rod temperature T is equal to or greater than a second predetermined temperature T2 (operation S59).
  • the second temperature T2 may be lower than the first set temperature T1. If the rod temperature T is equal to or greater than the second temperature T2, the ice ejecting heater 25 may be turned off (operation S60). Conversely, if the rod temperature T is lower than the second set temperature T2, the ice ejecting heater 25 may be turned on (operation S61).
  • This time passage determination may be conducted while the temperature T of the rod 23 is maintained at the second set temperature T2.
  • the procedure goes back to operation S59.
  • an ice ejecting operation may be performed (S63). After the ice is ejected, the ice making mode may be turned off (operation S64).
  • the ice ejecting heater 25 may be used to control the ice-making environment to make transparent ice. That is, if the rod temperature T is reduced to below a temperature suitable for making transparent ice, the ice ejecting heater 25 is turned on to heat the rod 23. Therefore, the temperature of water filled in the tray 21 may be properly controlled so that air contained in the water can escape as the water freezes.
  • the temperature of water filled in the tray 21 may be adjusted by controlling the ice ejecting heater 25.
  • a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater 25 can be controlled using a semiconductor switch device, such as a TRIAC or a thyristor.
  • the amplitude of the voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater 25 may be increased to generate more heat.
  • the temperature T is higher than a set temperature the amplitude of the voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater 25 may be reduced to generate less heat.
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 may be steadily (continuously) reduced instead of being reduced in a stepped manner.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting a method of making transparent ice using an ice making assembly according to a third embodiment.
  • the temperature of water supplied to the tray 21 may be controlled by cooperatively operating the ice ejecting heater 25 and the cooling fan.
  • the control unit 45 determines whether the time that passed since the ice making process began, i.e., ice making time (t), has reached a first set time t1 (operation S77). If the ice making time (t) has not reached the first set time t1, the procedure will go back to operation S74.
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 is reduced to and kept at a temperature lower than the first temperature T1. That is, it is determined whether the rod temperature T is equal to or greater than a second predetermined temperature T2 (operation S78).
  • the second temperature T2 is less than the first temperature T1.
  • the cooling fan may be turned on and the ice ejecting heater 25 may be turned off (operation S79).
  • the cooling fan may be turned off and the ice ejecting heater 25 may be turned on (operation S80).
  • the amount of time that has passed i.e. an ice-making time (t) is compared to a second set time t2. Based on this comparison it is determined whether the ice making time (t) has reached a second set time t2 (operation S81). If the ice making time (t) has not yet reached the second set time t2, the procedure goes back to operation S78.
  • the ice making operation is completed and the ice is then ejected (S82). After the ice ejecting operation is complete, the ice making mode is turned off (operation S83).
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 may be reduced in a stepped manner or in a continuous/gradual manner. For example, if the temperature T of the rod 23 is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature T1 or T2, the temperature T of the rod 23 can be reduced to the set temperature by increasing the speed of the cooling fan and reducing power to the ice ejecting heater 25.
  • the temperature T of the rod 23 can be increased to the predetermined temperature T1 or T2 by reducing the speed of the cooling fan and increasing power to the ice ejecting heater 25.
  • FIG. 11 is a graph depicting the temperature of a rod when a method of controlling an ice making assembly is performed according to an embodiment.
  • the temperature of the rod 23 may vary as shown in the graph of FIG. 11 .
  • the temperature of the rod 23 may be reduced in two steps; however, the temperature of the rod 23 may be reduced in three or more steps.
  • the temperature of the rod 23 varies slightly around the first temperature T1 for the first set time t1. That is, the average temperature of the rod 23 is kept at approximately at the first temperature T1. After the first set time period t1 has passed, the temperature of the rod 23 is kept at approximately the second set temperature T2 for the second set time period t2 until ice making is completed.
  • water supplied to the tray 21 may be kept at a relatively high temperature during the early stage of an ice making operation so as to allow air contained in the water to escape before the water freezes. Thereafter, the temperature of the rod 23 is reduced to increase the ice forming rate. Accordingly, the generation of opaque ice resulting from a rapid drop in water temperature can be minimized.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
EP09002660.0A 2008-03-10 2009-02-25 Verfahren zur Steuerung einer Eismaschinenanordnung für einen Kühlschrank Active EP2101128B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020080021817A KR101457691B1 (ko) 2008-03-10 2008-03-10 냉장고용 제빙 어셈블리의 제어 방법

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2101128A2 true EP2101128A2 (de) 2009-09-16
EP2101128A3 EP2101128A3 (de) 2014-01-15
EP2101128B1 EP2101128B1 (de) 2018-11-07

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WO2011151177A1 (de) * 2010-05-31 2011-12-08 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Eisbereiter und kältegerät
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CN112912675B (zh) * 2018-10-02 2022-08-26 Lg电子株式会社 冰箱
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CN114857814B (zh) * 2019-04-26 2024-03-19 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 冰制备装置
CN111829224B (zh) * 2020-06-15 2022-03-04 合肥华凌股份有限公司 制冰装置、冰箱及制冰方法
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JP2022103738A (ja) * 2020-12-28 2022-07-08 アクア株式会社 製氷機
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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WO2011124440A1 (de) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zum erzeugen von eisstücken und kältegerät, insbesondere haushaltskältegerät mit einer solchen vorrichtung
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KR20150025823A (ko) * 2013-08-30 2015-03-11 코웨이 주식회사 제빙기
EP3862709A4 (de) * 2018-10-02 2022-11-16 LG Electronics Inc. Kühlschrank und verfahren zur steuerung davon
EP3861261A4 (de) * 2018-10-02 2023-01-11 LG Electronics Inc. Kühlschrank und verfahren zur steuerung davon

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US20090223230A1 (en) 2009-09-10
CN101532761A (zh) 2009-09-16
KR101457691B1 (ko) 2014-11-03
EP2101128A3 (de) 2014-01-15
EP2101128B1 (de) 2018-11-07
CN101893360B (zh) 2012-07-04
CN101893360A (zh) 2010-11-24
KR20090096787A (ko) 2009-09-15

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