EP2904337A1

EP2904337A1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2904337A1
Application number: EP13771428.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Samet AKAN; Nihat Gunduz
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-10-04
Filing date: 2013-09-24
Publication date: 2015-08-12
Also published as: WO2014053356A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising an ice tray (2), more than one cell (3) for creating ice cubes in the ice tray (2), a water filling means (4) that provides the filling of the cells (3) on the ice tray (2) with water in order to create ice cubes, and a plate (5) that is situated between the water filling means (4) and the ice tray (2) and that covers the ice tray (2).

Description

A REFRIGERATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising an ice cube tray.
In refrigerators, the ice making process is composed of the steps of taking the water required for ice making from a source, pouring the water into the ice tray, and creating ice by benefiting from the heat transfer in the freezing compartment; thus the user is enabled to receive as much ice cubes as he/she wants at any time. The ice trays used in the ice making process are generally located in the freezing compartments of the refrigerators. In order to efficiently use the freezing compartment space, it is preferred to place the ice trays onto the freezing compartment door. However, opening/closing the freezing compartment door during ice making may cause the water not-yet frozen to overflow from the ice tray or to splatter into the freezing compartment.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2010058967, a water overflow reducing plate is disclosed, that covers the ice making tray to prevent water from overflowing from the ice making tray.
In another state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011080227, a refrigerator is disclosed, wherein filling water into the ice tray is facilitated by means of a cartridge.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator wherein the water to be frozen is prevented from overflowing from the ice tray.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises more than one cell for making ice cubes in the ice tray, a water filling means providing the filling of the cells with water and a plate that is situated between the water filling means and the ice tray and that covers the ice tray. The water filling means is positioned above the ice tray so as to guide the water onto the plate. The plate has more than one collecting means positioned so as to align with each cell and transferring the water coming from the water filling means into the cell positioned oppositely thereto, and more than one hill-shaped guiding means that is situated between the collecting means and that guides the water, flowing from the water filling means onto the plate or overflowing from the cell onto the plate by means of the collecting means, towards the collecting means. The water flowing onto the plate by passing through the collecting means due to shocks hits the guiding means and flows back into the collection means, thus the water returns to the cell from which it overflows.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the part of the collecting means facing the ice tray is formed so as to protrude towards the ice tray. The protrusion shape extends linearly with respect to the ice tray. Thus, the water flows from the collecting means to the cell as if passing through a short channel and fills into the cell without splattering out of the cell.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the collecting means extends towards the ice tray by narrowing. The collecting means being inclined towards the ice tray provides the water to quickly fill into the cell. The water fills into the cells before being crystallized with the effect of the cool air in the environment.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding means is pyramidal. By means of the protrusion-shaped guiding means having a steep inclination towards the plate, the water drops falling onto the peak point of the guiding means from the water filling means trickle from the peak point towards the plate. Moreover, due to the shape of the guiding means, the water overflowing from the cell flows towards the collecting means next to the guiding means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding means almost touches the collecting means. The guiding means positioned immediately next to the collecting means forms a barrier against the water flowing onto the plate surface from inside the cell. Thus, the overflowing water hits the guiding means and leaks into the collecting means at the corner of the guiding means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice tray comprises an elliptic housing. In this embodiment, the plate comprises a shaft going into the housing. The shaft is mounted into the two opposite housings on the ice tray to enable the plate to be mounted to the ice tray so as to open/close by rotating. The elliptic housing facilitates the movement of the shaft inside the housing. The ice cubes in the ice tray are taken out of the ice tray by at least partially opening the plate.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the collecting means and guiding means are positioned on the plate so that the center of gravity of the plate is close to the edge opposite to the edge where the shaft extends on the plate. Thus, the center of gravity of the plate is away from the rotational axis where the shaft is situated on the plate. When the ice making process is completed, the ice cubes hit the plate, enabling the plate to open while the ice tray is being twisted. The plate opens in the opposite direction to the force exerted by the hitting ice cubes. The opening of the plate is facilitated thanks to the center of gravity being away from the rotational axis.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the plate is coated with a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material lowers the surface tension of the plate, providing the beading of the drops on the plate. Thus, the water is collected by the collecting means without spreading over the plate and transferred into the cell and the water is prevented from freezing on the plate.
By means of the present invention, the water is prevented from overflowing from the cell due to any shock or vibration by means of the plate covering the ice tray. Even if the water overflows from the cell, the collecting means positioned over the cell provides the water to return to the cell from which it overflows. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain ice cubes having almost the same volume in each cell. The collecting means, furthermore, allow the water in the cell to contact the cool air.
A refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the ice tray and the plate related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the ice tray, the plate and the water filling means related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the ice tray and the plate related to an embodiment of the present invention, when the plate is mounted to the ice tray.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Refrigerator
Ice tray
Cell
Water filling means
Plate
Collecting means
Guiding means
Housing
Shaft

The refrigerator (1) comprises an ice tray (2), more than one cell (3) for creating ice cubes in the ice tray (2), a water filling means (4) that provides the filling of the cells (3) on the ice tray (2) with water in order to create ice cubes, and a plate (5) that is situated between the water filling means (4) and the ice tray (2) and that covers the ice tray (2). The water passing through the water filling means (4) to be poured onto the plate (5) over the ice tray (2) fills into the cell (3) wherein the water freezing process is realized.
The plate (5) comprises more than one collecting means (6) positioned so as to be aligned with each cell (3), whereby the water coming from the water filling means (4) is collected and transferred to the ice tray (2), and more than one guiding means (7) situated between the collecting means (6) and formed so as to protrude from the plate (5) surface. The water flowing onto the plate (5) by means of the water filling means (4) flows over the surface of the collecting means (6) and pours into the cell (3) situated below and aligned with the collecting means (6). Thus, the water is provided to fill into all cells (3). Being situated between the collecting means (6), the guiding means (7) facilitates the water on the plate (5) to flow towards the collecting means (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the part of the collecting means (6) facing the ice tray (2) is formed so as to protrude towards the ice tray (2). Thus, the water flows from the collecting means (6) towards the ice tray (2) without splattering as if flowing from a tap. The water is prevented from splattering and freezing outside the cell (3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the collecting means (6) extends towards the ice tray (2) by narrowing. By means of the collecting means (6) the cross-sectional area of which narrows towards the ice tray (2), the flow of the water towards the ice tray (2) accelerates, thus the contact time of the water with the cool air which may cause the water to freeze is shortened and the water can be accumulated in the cells (3) without getting crystallized.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding means (7) is pyramidal. By means of the pyramidal guiding means (7), the water tends to flow from the surface of the guiding means (7) towards the point where the guiding means (7) contacts the plate (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding means (7) almost touches the collecting means (6). The guiding means (7) situated next to the collecting means (6) guides the water pouring onto the plate (5) or overflowing from the cell (3) towards the collecting means (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice tray (2) comprises an elliptic housing (8). In this embodiment, the plate (5) comprises a shaft (9) going into the housing (8). The shaft (9) is situated at the edge of the plate (5) and is mounted into the two opposite housings (8) on the ice tray (2) to enable the plate (5) to be mounted to the ice tray (2) so as to open/close by rotating.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the center of gravity of the plate (5) is close to the edge opposite to the edge where the shaft (9) extends on the plate (5). The number of the collecting means (6) and the guiding means (7) increase getting closer to the edge opposite to the edge where the shaft (9) extends on the plate (5). Thus, the center of gravity of the plate (5) is away from the rotational axis where the shaft (9) is situated on the plate (5). When the ice making process is completed, the ice cubes hit the plate (5), enabling the plate (5) to open while the ice tray (2) is being twisted. The opening of the plate (5) is facilitated thanks to the center of gravity being away from the rotational axis.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the plate (5) is coated with a hydrophobic material. By means of the hydrophobic material, the water drops with their surface tensions angles with respect to the plate (5) surface increasing flow towards the collecting means (6) without holding onto the plate (5) and fill into the cells (3). Thus, the water flows into the cell (3) without getting crystallized on the plate (5).
By means of the present invention, the plate (5) covering the ice tray (2) prevents the water from overflowing from the cell (3) due to any shock or vibration. Even if the water overflows from the cell (3), the collecting means (6) aligned with the cell (3) provides the water to return to the cell (3) from which it overflows. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain ice cubes having almost the same volume in each cell (3). The collecting means (6), furthermore, allows the water in the cell (3) to contact the cool air.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising an ice tray (2), more than one cell (3) for creating ice cubes in the ice tray (2), a water filling means (4) that provides the filling of the cells (3) on the ice tray (2) with water in order to create ice cubes, and a plate (5) that is situated between the water filling means (4) and the ice tray (2) and that covers the ice tray (2), characterized by the plate (5) having more than collecting means (6) positioned so as to be aligned with each cell (3), whereby the water coming from the water filling means (4) is collected and transferred to the ice tray (2) and more than one guiding means (7) situated between the collecting means (6) and formed so as to protrude from the plate (5) surface.
The refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the collecting means (6) formed so that the part thereof facing the ice tray (2) protrudes towards the ice tray (2).
The refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the collecting means (6) that extends towards the ice tray (2) by narrowing.
The refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the guiding means (7) that is pyramidal.
The refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the guiding means (7) that almost contacts the collecting means (6).
The refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice tray (2) comprising an elliptic housing (8) and by the plate (5) comprising a shaft (9) going into the housing (8).
The refrigerator (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the plate (5), of which the center of gravity is close to the edge opposite to the edge where the shaft (9) extends on the plate (5).
The refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the plate (5) that is coated with a hydrophobic material.