US20100071400A1 - Refrigerator with an ice maker - Google Patents

Refrigerator with an ice maker Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100071400A1
US20100071400A1 US12/516,625 US51662507A US2010071400A1 US 20100071400 A1 US20100071400 A1 US 20100071400A1 US 51662507 A US51662507 A US 51662507A US 2010071400 A1 US2010071400 A1 US 2010071400A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fresh water
water reservoir
refrigeration appliance
ice
ice 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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/516,625
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Adolf Feinauer
Klaus Flinner
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.)
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Original Assignee
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
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 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH filed Critical BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Assigned to BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE GMBH reassignment BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FEINAUER, ADOLF, FLINNER, KLAUS
Publication of US20100071400A1 publication Critical patent/US20100071400A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice
    • F25C5/22—Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators
    • 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
    • F25C1/25—Filling devices for moulds
    • 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
    • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2323/122—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a refrigeration appliance as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 .
  • ice makers in the refrigeration zone of refrigeration appliances.
  • ice makers which are filled with water and cooled from outside, the water freezing from the outside inward and in the process ultimately producing an ice cube.
  • crystal ice makers in which a plurality of refrigerating fingers are immersed in a water-filled container. By means of a refrigerant circulating inside the refrigerating fingers, the latter are cooled down to such an extent that a layer of ice grows on the refrigerating fingers immersed in the water. As soon as the layer of ice on the refrigerating fingers has attained a usable size, it is detached from the refrigerating fingers.
  • a crystal ice maker of said kind is described in DE 103 36 834 A1. Ice makers of this type are generally installed in the refrigeration compartment of a fridge-freezer.
  • Ice makers of said type are available in a multiplicity of embodiment variants. These include fully automatic embodiments which are connected to a fresh water line and which automatically pump the water remaining in the container on completion of ice-making into the waste water line.
  • the advantage of said ice makers lies in their simplicity of use, in that crystal ice is produced at the touch of a button, as it were.
  • a prerequisite of this type of embodiment, however, is that a main water supply and waste water line are present at the site at which the refrigeration appliance is to be installed.
  • An ice tray is generally provided in which the crystal ice is collected.
  • the ice tray can be emptied e.g. into a glass placed thereunder.
  • the ice maker is fixed in terms of its size and is a permanent component of the refrigeration appliance. Consequently, a common feature of all refrigerating devices which include an ice maker is that the ice maker takes up a not inconsiderable amount of the useful volume. In particular in the case of refrigeration appliances having a small useful volume, the usable amount of interior space is greatly reduced by an ice maker. Even when the ice maker is not in operation, there is no possibility of increasing the useful volume.
  • the object underlying the invention is therefore to equip a refrigeration appliance with an ice maker in such a way that when the ice maker is not in use the useful volume of the refrigeration appliance can be increased in size for the purpose of storing refrigerated items. It is additionally desired to embody the refrigeration appliance in such a way that no water connection has to be provided.
  • a central module of the ice maker is permanently mounted on an internal wall of the refrigeration appliance, with the ice tray being removably connected to the central module.
  • a fresh water reservoir is also removably coupled to the central module in such a way that fresh water from the fresh water reservoir can be transferred into the central module.
  • the ice tray is located in the freezer compartment, the crystal ice produced can be kept for a practically unlimited length of time, since in this case temperatures below 0° C. prevail. If, on the other hand, the ice tray is located in the refrigeration zone, the storage life of the ice is limited. That notwithstanding, the melting process takes place only at a slow rate, since in this case the temperature is only a few degrees above zero. Here, too, the ice can be removed at a later time.
  • the ice tray can be removed from the refrigeration appliance. This enables the ice tray to be easily cleaned at the sink or in the dishwasher. This is necessary in order to remove from the ice tray any melt water present or any deposits or contaminants that may be present.
  • the fresh water reservoir is directly coupled in a detachable manner to the central module and can be removed from the refrigeration appliance.
  • This enables the fresh water reservoir to be easily filled under the faucet.
  • the fresh water reservoir can also be easily freed from dirt or deposits outside of the refrigeration appliance. Because the fresh water reservoir is coupled to the central module in the operationally ready state in such a way that the water can be transferred directly into the central module, there is no need for additional hoses, cables or couplings in the interior space of the refrigeration appliance which would otherwise be required for establishing the connection between the fresh water reservoir and the central module. Connections of said kind could be damaged as a result of refrigerated items being put away or moved.
  • the ice tray and the fresh water reservoir are arranged in such a way that by removing ice tray and/or fresh water reservoir the usable interior space of the refrigeration appliance is increased in size. As a result a larger useful volume is available when the ice maker is not being used.
  • the central module, ice tray and fresh water reservoir are advantageously arranged in a block shape.
  • the ice tray is placed under the central module in such a way that it terminates flush with a sidewall of the central module.
  • the removable fresh water reservoir adjoins said sidewall. The removal of the fresh water reservoir frees up useful volume which directly adjoins the previously available interior space and together with the latter forms a generally usable larger, contiguous space. If the ice tray is also removed, said contiguous space can be enlarged even further for storing refrigerated items.
  • the fresh water reservoir and the ice tray are advantageously connected to the central module by way of guide rails.
  • the fresh water reservoir and the ice tray In order to place the ice maker into an operationally ready state once more after the fresh water reservoir and/or the ice tray have/has been removed, the fresh water reservoir and the ice tray must be brought into a defined position relative to the central module. This is accomplished in a simple manner by means of guide rails. Thus, after being removed, the ice tray and the fresh water reservoir must simply be brought into engagement with the guide rails and moved into their defined end position by a continuous pushing action.
  • the guide rails are advantageously part of the central module and manufactured with the latter as a single piece.
  • the useful volume obtained in addition as a result of the removal of the fresh water reservoir and/or the ice tray is not broken up by component parts of the ice maker, such as frames or retaining elements. Accordingly, the enlarged useful volume is available without restriction for storing refrigerated items.
  • the central module is mounted on the internal wall by way of an adapter plate.
  • an adapter plate as a connecting element between internal wall and central module standardizes the fixing arrangement. It is particularly advantageous that the same central module can be installed in different refrigeration appliance types.
  • the component commonality harbors an enormous savings potential, since now the central module or the inner shell of the refrigeration appliance does not have to be converted, but instead only the adapter plate has to be adapted to the corresponding refrigeration appliance type.
  • At least one sensor is provided for the purpose of detecting the presence of the ice tray and/or the fresh water reservoir.
  • Sensors can be, for example, weight sensors, optical sensors or microswitches.
  • a further sensor is provided for detecting the ice tray. This can prevent the possibility that the crystal ice produced will be stored in an undefined manner in the interior space of the refrigeration appliance in the event that an ice tray is missing. Regardless of whether the ice maker is located in the freezer compartment or in the refrigeration zone, considerable inconvenience would be attached thereto in either case. If the crystal ice were to be stored in the freezer compartment, it will freeze on the internal wall of the freezer compartment after a certain period of time. The freezer compartment must then be cleared out and defrosted. If the ice maker is located in the refrigeration zone of the refrigeration appliance, the crystal ice produced by the central module and stored there without an ice tray would melt and by forming puddles would possibly damage refrigerated items.
  • the refrigerated items would have to be removed from the refrigeration zone of the refrigeration appliance, possibly damaged refrigerated items identified as such and disposed of, and the refrigeration zone dried.
  • the ice maker can be prevented from operating without the ice tray being installed.
  • a switching contact is therefore interrogated to determine whether the ice tray and/or the fresh water reservoir are/is located in the designated position.
  • the ice maker will only be put into operation when the ice tray and/or the fresh water reservoir are/is located in the designated position.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a refrigeration appliance with refrigerator compartment and ice maker
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded drawing of the components of the ice maker.
  • FIG. 1 shows a refrigeration appliance 1 with open door 2 and an interior space 3 .
  • the interior space 3 is subdivided into a refrigeration zone 4 and a freezer compartment 5 .
  • the refrigeration zone 4 is usually subdivided by means of at least one height-adjustable shelf 6 .
  • An ice maker 7 is located in the refrigeration zone 4 .
  • the ice maker 7 is divided into a central module, which in this case is embodied as a technical module 8 with switching contact 11 (see also FIG. 2 ), an ice tray 9 and a fresh water reservoir 10 .
  • a fixing plate (not visible here) of the technical module 8 is fixedly connected to an adapter plate. Said adapter plate is mounted on the left-hand or right-hand sidewall of the refrigeration zone 4 .
  • a fixing eyelet 12 is part of the rear wall of the technical module 8 and projects into the interior space 3 of the refrigeration appliance 1 at the side which lies opposite the fixing plate of the technical module 8 .
  • the technical module 8 is fixedly connected to the rear wall of the refrigeration appliance 1 by means of said fixing eyelet 12 .
  • crystal ice is produced in the technical module 8 of the ice maker 7 by means of a plurality of refrigerating fingers and stored in the ice tray 9 .
  • the ice tray 9 is located underneath the technical module 8 .
  • the technical module 8 embodied in the form of a narrow cuboid 13 which forms a unit with the front of the technical module 8 , is longitudinally extended such that when the ice tray 9 is inserted the underside of the cuboid 13 terminates flush with said ice tray 9 .
  • a left-hand 14 and a right-hand L-shaped guide rail 15 On the underside of the technical module 8 , in the region into which the ice tray 9 can be inserted, there are disposed a left-hand 14 and a right-hand L-shaped guide rail 15 .
  • one limb of the guide rail 14 , 15 is fixedly connected to the underside of the technical module 8 , while the other limb runs parallel to the underside of the technical module 8 .
  • the ice tray 9 has the shape of a tray that is open toward the top.
  • the ice tray 9 is guided by means of the left-hand 14 and right-hand guide rail 15 of the technical module 8 in a groove 16 in each case. This is part of the left or, as the case may be, right sidewall of the ice tray 9 and is located at the edge of the tray 17 .
  • the switching contact 11 Located at the rear of the technical module 8 is the switching contact 11 . Said switching contact 11 is actuated only when the ice tray 9 is correctly inserted. Only when the switching contact 11 has been actuated, can the technical module 8 start producing crystal ice.
  • the switching contact 11 is replaced by a photoelectric relay or a proximity sensor. In this case too, crystal ice production cannot start until the sensor has been actuated.
  • the water required for producing the crystal ice is made available in the fresh water reservoir 10 .
  • the fresh water reservoir 10 is located next to the technical module 8 on the side located opposite the fixing plate of the technical module 8 .
  • the connection between the fresh water reservoir 10 and the fresh water system of the technical module 8 is established by way of a coupling (not visible here).
  • the technical module 8 has an upper 18 and a lower L-shaped guide rail 19 on the sidewall opposite the fixing plate.
  • One limb of the guide rail 18 , 19 is fixedly connected to the sidewall of the technical module 8 , while the other limbs, which run parallel to the sidewall of the technical module 8 , point in the opposite direction.
  • a pipe socket offset by 90° can be provided, for example, which projects from the sidewall in the rear section of the technical module 8 .
  • an opening which is enclosed by an O-ring.
  • the grooves (not shown here) required for guiding the fresh water reservoir 10 which engage in the upper 18 and lower guide rail 19 are part of the fresh water reservoir 10 .
  • the fresh water reservoir 10 has a lid 20 which can be removed for filling purposes. In the refrigeration zone it prevents soiling or contamination of the fresh water.
  • Both the ice tray 9 and the fresh water reservoir 10 are removed and introduced from the front.
  • the ice maker 7 With the ice tray 9 and the fresh water reservoir 10 inserted, the ice maker 7 constitutes a compact assembly. When the ice maker 7 is not being used, the fresh water reservoir 10 can be removed. Because the fresh water reservoir 10 is located on the side disposed opposite the fixing plate of the technical module 8 , removal of the fresh water reservoir 10 results in an exceptionally usable enlargement of the useful volume that is available for the storage of refrigerated items. Said useful volume can be increased in size still further if the ice tray 9 is removed in addition when the ice maker 7 is not being used.
  • the special feature lies in the fact that with the ice tray 9 and fresh water reservoir 10 removed, the resulting increase in size of the useful volume forms a space that is contiguous with the refrigeration zone 4 .

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)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
US12/516,625 2006-12-22 2007-12-11 Refrigerator with an ice maker Abandoned US20100071400A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102006061087A DE102006061087A1 (de) 2006-12-22 2006-12-22 Kältegerät mit einem Eisbereiter
DE102006061087.3 2006-12-22
PCT/EP2007/063650 WO2008077760A1 (fr) 2006-12-22 2007-12-11 Appareil frigorifique doté d'un préparateur de glace

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100071400A1 true US20100071400A1 (en) 2010-03-25

Family

ID=39226622

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/516,625 Abandoned US20100071400A1 (en) 2006-12-22 2007-12-11 Refrigerator with an ice maker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20100071400A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2104814A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102006061087A1 (fr)
RU (1) RU2448311C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008077760A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140328691A1 (en) * 2011-12-08 2014-11-06 Wobben Properties Gmbh Rear casing, rotor blade with rear casing, and a wind turbine that comprises such a rotor blade
WO2022098548A1 (fr) * 2020-11-06 2022-05-12 nicelabs, LLC Systèmes et procédés de production de glace
EP4372157A1 (fr) * 2022-11-16 2024-05-22 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Dispositif d'alimentation en eau pour une unité de distribution de liquide et/ou de glace d'un appareil frigorifique ménager, et appareil frigorifique ménager équipé de ce dispositif d'alimentation en eau, et procédé de montage d'un tel dispositif de distribution d'eau

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2550191C1 (ru) * 2013-10-16 2015-05-10 Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Группа А8" Аппарат для очистки воды
DE102014008669A1 (de) * 2014-03-21 2015-10-08 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Kühl- und/oder Gefriergerät
DE102020114689A1 (de) 2020-06-03 2021-12-09 Miele & Cie. Kg Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Eisstücken und Kühlgerät mit einer derartigen Vorrichtung

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3788089A (en) * 1971-11-08 1974-01-29 U Line Corp Combination ice cube maker and refrigerator
US4872317A (en) * 1988-10-24 1989-10-10 U-Line Corporation Unitary ice maker with fresh food compartment and control system therefor
US5012655A (en) * 1989-11-03 1991-05-07 Philip Chatterton Filling assembly for ice trays
WO2005026631A1 (fr) * 2003-09-16 2005-03-24 Multibrás S.A. Eletrodomésticos Systeme de distribution de moule a glace pour appareils de refrigeration
US20050241329A1 (en) * 2004-04-07 2005-11-03 Castrellon Martha A A Ice cube making device for refrigerators
US7934389B2 (en) * 2006-06-28 2011-05-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Ice tray assembly for refrigerator

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0926238A (ja) * 1995-07-13 1997-01-28 Sharp Corp 冷蔵庫
RU2161760C2 (ru) * 1998-05-08 2001-01-10 Рубцов Евгений Юрьевич Льдогенератор
TR200300947T1 (tr) * 2000-12-22 2004-01-21 Ar�El�K A.�. Soğutucu.
KR100507929B1 (ko) * 2002-12-10 2005-08-17 삼성광주전자 주식회사 제빙기
EP1664640B1 (fr) * 2003-07-31 2007-12-05 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Machine a glacons
DE102005003239A1 (de) * 2005-01-24 2006-07-27 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Eisbereiter

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3788089A (en) * 1971-11-08 1974-01-29 U Line Corp Combination ice cube maker and refrigerator
US4872317A (en) * 1988-10-24 1989-10-10 U-Line Corporation Unitary ice maker with fresh food compartment and control system therefor
US5012655A (en) * 1989-11-03 1991-05-07 Philip Chatterton Filling assembly for ice trays
WO2005026631A1 (fr) * 2003-09-16 2005-03-24 Multibrás S.A. Eletrodomésticos Systeme de distribution de moule a glace pour appareils de refrigeration
US20070012061A1 (en) * 2003-09-16 2007-01-18 Multibras S.A. Elerodomesticos Ice mold supply system for refrigeration appliances
US20050241329A1 (en) * 2004-04-07 2005-11-03 Castrellon Martha A A Ice cube making device for refrigerators
US7934389B2 (en) * 2006-06-28 2011-05-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Ice tray assembly for refrigerator

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140328691A1 (en) * 2011-12-08 2014-11-06 Wobben Properties Gmbh Rear casing, rotor blade with rear casing, and a wind turbine that comprises such a rotor blade
US9897070B2 (en) * 2011-12-08 2018-02-20 Wobben Properties Gmbh Rear casing, rotor blade with rear casing, and a wind turbine that comprises such a rotor blade
WO2022098548A1 (fr) * 2020-11-06 2022-05-12 nicelabs, LLC Systèmes et procédés de production de glace
EP4372157A1 (fr) * 2022-11-16 2024-05-22 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Dispositif d'alimentation en eau pour une unité de distribution de liquide et/ou de glace d'un appareil frigorifique ménager, et appareil frigorifique ménager équipé de ce dispositif d'alimentation en eau, et procédé de montage d'un tel dispositif de distribution d'eau

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008077760A1 (fr) 2008-07-03
DE102006061087A1 (de) 2008-06-26
RU2009124109A (ru) 2011-01-27
EP2104814A1 (fr) 2009-09-30
RU2448311C2 (ru) 2012-04-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE GMBH,GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FEINAUER, ADOLF;FLINNER, KLAUS;REEL/FRAME:022745/0136

Effective date: 20090527

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION