Stand-Alone Ice Making Appliances

• US 20170146280A1
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Junge, Brent Alden, Gardner, William Everette, Hitzelberger, Joel Erik
• Application Number:
  US14/950,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20170146280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0411 for the expansion valve or capillary tube
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/26 characterised by the startup of the refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/25 Filling devices for moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2600/04 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/24 for storing bins ice bins F25C5/182

Abstract

Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, and a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank, and an ice maker. The ice maker includes a sealed refrigeration system, the sealed refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to selectively direct refrigerant to bypass the throttling device and flow from the condenser through the bypass valve to the evaporator.

Claims

1. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:

a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice;

a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water;

a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank;

a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank; and

an ice maker, the ice maker comprising a sealed refrigeration system, the sealed refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to selectively direct refrigerant to bypass the throttling device and flow from the condenser through the bypass valve to the evaporator.

2. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the bypass valve is a two-way valve.

3. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the bypass valve is selectively movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position refrigerant from the condenser flows through the throttling device and does not flow through the bypass valve, and wherein in the second position refrigerant from the condenser flows through the throttling device and through the bypass valve.

4. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the bypass valve is a three-way valve.

5. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the bypass valve is selectively movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position refrigerant from the condenser flows through the bypass valve to the throttling device, and wherein in the second position refrigerant from the condenser flows through the bypass valve and not through the throttling device.

6. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the container is removable.

7. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 6, further comprising a sensor configured to detect when the container is removed.

8. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 7, further comprising a controller, the controller in operative communication with the sensor and the bypass valve, the controller configured to operate the bypass valve based on signals from the sensor.

9. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the ice maker further comprises an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing.

10. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 9, wherein the evaporator at least partially surrounds the casing.

11. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the ice maker further comprises an extruder.

12. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.

13. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.

14. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:

a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice;

a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water;

a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank;

a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank; and

an ice maker, the ice maker comprising a sealed refrigeration system, the sealed refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a start capacitor, the start capacitor connected to the compressor.

15. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 14, wherein the container is removable.

16. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to detect when the container is removed.

17. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 16, further comprising a controller, the controller in operative communication with the sensor, the compressor, and the start capacitor, the controller configured to operate the compressor and the start capacitor based on signals from the sensor.

18. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 14, wherein the ice maker further comprises an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing.

19. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 18, wherein the evaporator at least partially surrounds the casing.

20. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 14, wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.