WO2017216294A1

WO2017216294A1 - A refrigerator comprising an apparatus for making clear ice

Info

Publication number: WO2017216294A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/064675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mert PATKAVAK; Ersin Donmez; Mert Can TASKIN; Tolga Nurettin AYNUR; Celal Vatansever; Levent Akdag
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-06-17
Filing date: 2017-06-15
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Also published as: TR201608296A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice making apparatus comprising a lower body (2), an upper body (3) placed on top of the lower body (2), a lower insulating part (4) placed in the lower body (2), an upper insulating part (5) placed in the upper body (2), and an ice mold lower part (7) placed in the lower body (2) comprising at least one lower hole (6) at its bottom. The lower insulating part (4) is thicker than the upper insulating part (5) to realize a freezing process in top-down direction to obtain clear ice.

Description

A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLEAR ICE

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising an apparatus for making clear ice.

Some refrigerators are provided with molds to be placed in the freezer compartment maintained at subzero temperatures, in which water to be frozen is filled. Said molds can be laid freely on the shelves provided inside the freezer chamber or on the doors, as well as placed in specific inlets particularly formed inside the freezer compartment. Since the freezer molds placed on shelves and the freezer molds placed in specific inlets don’t have insulation, liquids freeze rapidly and factors therein disturbing purity such as minerals, air bubble, dust particle and chlorine in water, decrease the clarity of ice after freezing. In the state of the art, certain methods are used to increase the clarity of ice. These are, slow freezing of water, freezing of flowing water by means of contact to a cold surface, freezing by means of vibration and freezing by nitrification.

Slow freezing of water, being a method used in obtaining clear ice, is based on removal of foreign particles causing a cloudy view in ice after freezing by way of diffusion, during freezing direction by decreasing the freezing speed through utilized insulation materials. During melting, non-clear ice releases the air bubbles entrapped within and thus leads to a decrease in view and taste quality of the drink, and consequently causes user discontent and a perception of low quality.

State of the art US patent document no. US2015027142A1 discloses a device suitable for producing clear ice.

State of the art US patent document no. US9074802 discloses a device suitable for producing clear ice.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an ice making apparatus to be used in refrigerators, in which water to be frozen is filled, and which enables clear freezing of water and removal of foreign matters and air bubbles within through slow freezing of water.

The ice making apparatus provided to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in claim 1 and the dependent claims thereof, comprise a lower and an upper body allowing access to the body. Water filled in the ice making apparatus slowly loses heat when placed in subzero chambers of the refrigerator thanks to the insulating parts arranged in the lower and upper bodies, and a slow freezing process and clear ice is thus obtained. While filling the ice making apparatus with water by the user, first the lower volume located under the ice mold and in the body, and then the ice cell interposed between the lower and upper ice mold parts are filled, thanks to the ice mold lower part provided with at least one hole on its bottom. The perforated upper ice mold part conveys water poured by the user to the ice cell.

In an embodiment of the invention, the lower insulating part provided in the lower and upper bodies of the ice making apparatus is thicker than the upper insulating part. The freezing process in the ice making apparatus is made to occur in top-down direction by means of a structure of varying thicknesses. Thus, binding by freezing of the minerals and dissolved gas molecules existing in the water and disturbing the purity of the same during freezing process is prevented and such foreign matters are removed through the hole provided under the ice cell.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus comprises a lock for fastening the lower and upper bodies to each other. The volume increase of water as a result of freezing leads to a stress on the walls of the ice making apparatus. The claw type coupling of the locking mechanism allows easy detachment of the lower and upper bodies without being affected by the stress on the walls.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus has a base arranged under the lower body, and preventing the lower insulating material to separate from the lower body. In addition, the feet of the base keep the ice making apparatus elevated from the surface of the refrigerator. Thus, the amount of material used in the lower insulating part of the ice making apparatus is decreased thereby improving costs.

In an embodiment of the invention, the internal volume of the ice cell being the portion producing the clear ice is shaped as a sphere, cube, cylinder or a rectangular prism. Thus, the ice making apparatus can satisfy different needs of the user, clear ice in different shapes and volumes can be obtained by a single ice making apparatus, and thereby improving user experience by avoiding an increase in cost.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice mold of the ice making apparatus is split into a more than one internal volume. Thus, the user is enabled to make more than one piece of clear ice and ice production is increased using a single ice making apparatus. Therefore it is not necessary for the user to purchase more than one product to perform the same task and user satisfaction is provided by avoiding an increase in cost.

In an embodiment of the invention, an attachment apparatus around the filler hole of the ice making apparatus, and an extension extending from the attachment apparatus to the internal volume are provided. Thanks to said attachment apparatus and said extension, objects intended to be frozen in clear ice are extended into the internal volume and are fixed inside clear ice upon freezing, thus adding aesthetic value to ice and providing user satisfaction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the filler hole of the ice making apparatus is shaped as a recessing basin. Said basin acts as a storage if the user pours too much water to get through the hole or the holes when filling the ice making apparatus, thus excessive water consumption is avoided and also water droplets which stay around the ice making apparatus are prevented from spilling into and freezing inside the internal volume of the refrigerator.

The utility of the invention is the removal of foreign materials within the water disturbing the purity of the same, such as minerals, air bubbles, dust particles and chlorine, during freezing and the obtaining of clear ice.

An ice making apparatus provided to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ice making apparatus in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the ice making apparatus in one embodiment of the invention.

Ice making apparatus
Lower body
Upper body
Lower insulating part
Upper insulating part
Lower hole
Ice mold lower part
Filler hole
Ice mold upper part
Ice mold
Locking mechanism
Base
Attachment apparatus
Extension
Groove

The ice making apparatus (1) comprises,

a lower body (2),
an upper body (3) placed on top of the lower body (2),
a lower insulating part (4) placed in the lower body (2), and
an upper insulating part (5) placed in the upper body (2).

The ice making apparatus (1) of the invention comprises an ice mold (10) comprising an ice mold lower part (7) placed in the lower body (2) having at least one lower hole at its bottom, and an ice mold upper part (9) having at least one filler hole (8) arranged on its upper surface, placed on the lower body (2) so as to form at least one ice cube cell between thereof and the ice mold lower part (7).

The perforated structure of the upper part (9) of the ice mold (10) of the ice making apparatus (1) allows easy filling of the ice mold (10). Thanks to said hole (8), the ice mold (10) can be filled with water while it is inside the ice making apparatus (1) thereby providing an ease of use for the user. Water passing through the ice mold (10) during filling fills into the lower volume (A) by means of the lower hole provided on the ice mold lower part. Upon the lower volume (A) and the inside of the ice cube (10) being filled with water and being ready for use, the ice making apparatus (1) is placed in subzero environment .

Since the filler hole (8) structure is on the upper portion of the ice making apparatus (1), it decreases heat insulation on the upper portion of the ice mold upper part (9) and contributes to freezing. Water begins freezing at the upper hole region and gradually freezes in downwards direction, and clear looking ice is obtained in the ice mold (10). Materials within the water disturbing the purity of the same such as air bubbles and minerals pass to the lower volume (A) under the ice mold. Although ice obtained in said lower volume (A) looks cloudy, it can be used to cool other products.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises a lower insulating part (4) thicker than the upper insulating part (5). The upper insulating part (5) and the lower insulating part (4) provided in the ice making apparatus enable slower freezing of water compared to ice making units without insulating parts. Thus, foreign materials within the water such as air bubbles and minerals disturbing the purity of the same during freezing and therefore causing ice to look cloudy upon freezing of water, can be removed before freezing occurs. The wall thickness of the lower insulating part (4) being thicker than the wall thickness of the upper insulating part (5) enables freezing to progress in top-down direction. Said foreign materials are removed through the lower hole (6) provided in the ice mold (10), and are conveyed to the lower volume (A) of the ice mold (10). Water freezing in the lower volume (A) looks cloudy due to foreign materials it contains.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises a locking mechanism (11) used for fastening the lower body (2) and the upper body (3) to each other. Due to an increase of volume of the ice formed as a result of freezing water the ice making apparatus (1) expands to a certain measure. Such stress formed in the ice making apparatus (1) is decreased as a consequence of opening of the locking mechanism (11), the ice making apparatus (1) can thus be easily opened and ice formed inside the ice mold (10) can be easily accessed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises a base (12) arranged under the lower volume (2). This prevents the insulating parts to come out from inside the body parts of the ice making apparatus (1) during lifting thereof, thereby providing ease of use and product integrity of the ice making apparatus (1). Another advantage of the base (12) is that it acts as an insulating material and therefore makes it difficult for freezing to occur in bottom-up direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises an ice mold (10) having an internal volume to be frozen with the shape of a sphere, cube, cylinder or a rectangular prism. This enables the ice making apparatus (1) to make clear ice of geometrical shapes and sizes meeting various needs of the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises an ice mold (10) having an internal volume split into one or more volumes. Said volumes can be used individually as well as all volumes together at once, thereby enabling the ice making apparatus (1) to operate in a capacity which meets user's demands for clear ice in various amounts.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises an attachment apparatus (13) provided around the filler hole (8) and an extension (14) extending from the attachment apparatus (13) to the internal volume to be frozen. Solid objects can be fixed and frozen in clear ice thanks to said extension (14) and the attachment apparatus (13), thereby providing a visuality in clear ice improving user experience.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ice making apparatus (1) comprises a basin (15) around the filler hole (8) recessing into the ice mold upper part (10). In ice making apparatuses (1) excessive water can be poured during filling leading to overflowing and spilling around. Thanks to said basin (15) acting as a funnel, problems which can occur during user's filling water into the ice making apparatus (1) problems such as spilling or overflowing are prevented and user experience is improved.

The utility of the invention is that the joining axis of the ice mold (10) is arranged on horizontal axis, that the lateral pressure caused by increased volume upon freezing of water allows the ice making apparatus (1) to be opened without difficulty.

Claims

1.

- An ice making apparatus (1), comprising

- a lower body (2),

- an upper body (3) placed on top of the lower body (2),

- a lower insulating part (4) placed in the lower body (2), and

- an upper insulating part (5) placed in the upper body (2), characterized in that,

- an ice mold (10) comprises:

- an ice mold lower part (7) placed in the lower body (2) comprising at least

- one lower hole (6) at its bottom and,

- an ice mold upper part (9) placed on the lower body (2) having a filler hole (8) on its upper surface, so as to form at least one ice cube cell between thereof and the ice mold lower part (7).

The ice making apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower insulating part (4) is thicker than the upper insulating part (5).

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking mechanism (11) is used for fastening the lower body (2) and the upper body (3) to each other.

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, a base (12) is arranged under the lower body (2).

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the internal volume of the ice mold (10) is shaped as a sphere, cube, cylinder or a rectangular prism.

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the internal volume of the ice mold (10) is split into one or more volumes.

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, an attachment apparatus (13) is provided around the filler hole (8) and an extension (14) extends from the attachment apparatus (13) to the internal volume to be frozen.

The ice making apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, a groove (15) recesses into the ice mold upper part (10).

A refrigerator device comprising an ice making apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims.