Stand-Alone Ice Making Appliance

• US 20180010837A1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Charles Benjamin, DuPlessis, Samuel Vincent, Tarr, Ronald Scott, Mitchell, Alan Joseph, Nuss, Bart Andrew, Garces, Tomas
• Application Number:
  US15/202,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20180010837A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/12 Means for sanitation
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/14 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/182 Ice bins therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/14 Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays

Abstract

A stand-alone ice making appliance is provided. The stand-alone ice making appliance may include a container, a water tank, a pump, a reservoir, an ice maker, and a primary drain line. The container may define a first storage volume to receive ice. The water tank may define a second storage volume to receive water. The pump may be in fluid communication with the second storage volume to actively flow water from the water tank. The reservoir may define a third storage volume that is in fluid communication with the pump to receive water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The ice maker may be in fluid communication with the third storage volume to receive water from the reservoir. The primary drain line may be in downstream fluid communication with the second storage volume and bypass the reservoir to selectively drain water from the second storage volume.

Claims

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

a container defining a first storage volume to receive ice;

a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume to receive water;

a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume to actively flow water from the water tank;

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

an ice maker, the ice maker in fluid communication with the third storage volume to receive water from the reservoir; and

a primary drain line extending in downstream fluid communication with the second storage volume, the primary drain line bypassing the reservoir to selectively drain water from the second storage volume.

2. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the water tank extends in a vertical direction between a top portion and a base wall, and wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump positioned above the base wall of the water tank.

3. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 2, wherein the reservoir extends in the vertical direction between a top portion and a base wall, and wherein a reservoir water passage is defined through the base wall of the reservoir, the reservoir water passage being in fluid communication between the pump and the third storage volume.

4. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 3, further comprising:

a branched fluid joint in fluid communication with the pump, the branched fluid joint defining a first path from the pump to the reservoir water passage and a second path from the pump to the icemaker.

5. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the primary drain line is positioned between the water tank and the pump to selectively drain water upstream from the pump.

6. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

an outlet valve attached in fluid communication with the primary drain line and in selective fluid communication with an ambient environment.

7. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary drain line extending in downstream fluid communication with the pump, wherein the secondary drain line bypasses the icemaker to selectively drain water from the third storage volume.

8. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 7, wherein the secondary drain line is positioned downstream from the reservoir.

9. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 7, wherein the secondary drain line extends in fluid communication between the reservoir and the water tank.

10. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 7, further comprising:

an outlet valve attached to the secondary drain line attached in fluid communication with the secondary drain line and in selective fluid communication with an ambient environment.

11. A stand-alone ice making appliance extending along a vertical direction, the stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:

a container defining a first storage volume to receive ice;

a water tank disposed below the container, the water tank extending in the vertical direction from a top portion to a base wall and defining a second storage volume to receive water;

a positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume to actively flow water from the water tank;

a reservoir disposed above the lower portion of the water tank, the reservoir defining a third storage volume in fluid communication with the positive displacement pump to receive water that is actively flowed from the water tank;

an ice maker, the ice maker in fluid communication with the third storage volume to receive water from the reservoir; and

a primary drain line extending in downstream fluid communication with the second storage volume, the primary drain line bypassing the reservoir to selectively drain water from the second storage volume.

12. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 11, wherein the positive displacement pump is positioned above the base wall of the water tank.

13. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 12, wherein the reservoir extends in the vertical direction between a top portion and a base wall, and wherein a reservoir water passage is defined through the base wall of the reservoir, the reservoir water passage being in fluid communication between the positive displacement pump and the third storage volume.

14. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 13, further comprising:

a branched fluid joint in fluid communication with the positive displacement pump, wherein the branched fluid joint defines a first path to the reservoir water passage and a second path to the icemaker.

15. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 11, wherein the primary drain line is positioned between the water tank and the positive displacement pump to selectively drain water upstream from the positive displacement pump.

16. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 11, further comprising:

an outlet valve attached in fluid communication with the primary drain line and in selective fluid communication with an ambient environment.

17. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 11, further comprising:

a secondary drain line extending in downstream fluid communication with the positive displacement pump, wherein the secondary drain line bypasses the icemaker to selectively drain water from the third storage volume.

18. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 17, wherein the secondary drain line is positioned downstream from the reservoir.

19. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 17, wherein the secondary drain line extends in fluid communication between the reservoir and the water tank.

20. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 17, further comprising:

an outlet valve attached to the secondary drain line attached in fluid communication with the secondary drain line and in selective fluid communication with an ambient environment.