ICE MAKING APPLIANCE AND APPARATUS

• US 20180017306A1
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,240,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/147 by using augers
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/142 extrusion of ice crystals
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/065 with compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/067 characterised by air ducts

Abstract

An ice maker apparatus is provided that may include a casing, an extruder die, an auger, a heat exchange body, and a fin portion. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis and extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The extruder die may be mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. The auger may be disposed within the chamber. The heat exchange body may be disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber. The heat exchange body may include a base wall extending along a portion of the casing and a sidewall extending outward from the base wall. The heat exchange body may also define an air duct across the base wall and sidewall. The fin portion may include a fin extending outward from the base wall. The fin may define a plurality of subchannels.

Claims

1. An ice maker apparatus comprising:

a casing defining a chamber about a central axis, the casing extending along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion;

an extruder die mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing;

an auger disposed within the chamber of the casing;

a heat exchange body disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber, the heat exchange body including a base wall extending along a portion of the casing and a sidewall extending outward from the base wall, the heat exchange body defining an air duct across the base wall and sidewall; and

a fin portion including a fin extending outward from the base wall, the fin defining a plurality of subchannels within the air duct.

2. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the heat exchange body includes a top segment extending along the central axis above the top portion of the casing, and wherein the air duct includes an upper channel open to the plurality of subchannels and is defined from the top segment of the sidewall to the fin.

3. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the heat exchange body includes a bottom segment extending along the central axis below the bottom portion of the casing, wherein the air duct includes a lower channel open to the plurality of subchannels and is defined from the fin to the bottom segment of the sidewall.

4. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passage cover attached to the sidewall of the heat exchange body, the passage cover defining a passage inlet and a passage outlet, the passage inlet and the passage outlet being in fluid communication with the air duct.

5. The ice maker apparatus of claim 4, wherein the passage inlet is defined at position above the top portion of the casing, and wherein the passage outlet is defined at a position below the bottom portion of the casing.

6. The ice maker apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a sealed cooling system comprising a chilled air supply duct and a chilled air return duct, the chilled air supply duct and the chilled air return duct being in fluid communication with the air duct of the heat exchange body, wherein the sealed cooling system further comprises an air handler disposed in fluid communication with the chilled air supply duct and the chilled air return duct.

7. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange body includes a first body member and a second body member, and wherein the first body member and the second body member are attached in physical connection about the casing.

8. The ice maker apparatus of claim 7, wherein the air duct is a plurality of air ducts including a first air duct and a discrete second air duct, wherein the first air duct is defined by the first body member, and wherein the second air duct is defined by the second body member parallel to the first air duct.

9. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor operably connected to the auger, wherein the motor is mounted below the bottom portion of the casing.

10. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fin portion includes a plurality of parallel arcuate fins defining a plurality of C-shaped subchannels across a portion of the casing, wherein each subchannel includes a channel inlet and a channel outlet, and wherein the channel inlet and the channel outlet are directed orthogonal to the central axis.

11. A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a housing defining a chilled chamber; and

an ice maker disposed within the housing, the ice maker comprising

a casing defining a chamber about a central axis, the casing extending along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion,

an extruder die mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing,

an auger disposed within the chamber of the casing,

a heat exchange body disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber, the heat exchange body including a base wall extending along a portion of the casing and a sidewall extending outward from the base wall, the heat exchange body defining an air duct across by the base wall and sidewall, and

a fin portion including a fin extending outward from the base wall, the fin defining a plurality of subchannels within the air duct.

12. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, wherein the sidewall of the heat exchange body includes a top segment extending along the central axis above the top portion of the casing, and wherein the air duct includes an upper channel open to the plurality of subchannels and are defined from the top segment of the sidewall to the fin.

13. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, wherein the sidewall of the heat exchange body includes a bottom segment extending along the central axis below the bottom portion of the casing, wherein the air duct includes a lower channel open to the plurality of subchannels and are defined from the fin to the bottom segment of the sidewall.

14. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, further comprising a passage cover attached to the sidewall of the heat exchange body, the passage cover defining a passage inlet and a passage outlet, the passage inlet and the passage outlet being in fluid communication with the air duct.

15. The refrigeration appliance of claim 14, wherein the passage inlet is defined at position above the top portion of the casing, and wherein the passage outlet is defined at a position below the bottom portion of the casing.

16. The refrigeration appliance of claim 15, further comprising:

a sealed cooling system comprising a chilled air supply duct and a chilled air return duct, the chilled air supply duct and the chilled air return duct being in fluid communication with the air duct of the heat exchange body, wherein the sealed cooling system further comprises an air handler disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the chilled air supply duct and the chilled air return duct.

17. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, wherein the heat exchange body includes a first body member and a second body member, and wherein the first body member and the second body member are attached in physical connection about the casing.

18. The refrigeration appliance of claim 17, wherein the air duct of the heat exchange body includes a first air duct and a discrete second air duct, wherein the first air duct is defined by the first body member, and wherein the second air duct is defined by the second body member parallel to the first air duct.

19. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, further comprising a motor operably connected to the auger, wherein the motor is mounted below the bottom portion of the casing.

20. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, wherein the fin portion includes a plurality of parallel arcuate fins defining a plurality of C-shaped subchannels across a radial portion of the casing, wherein each subchannel includes a channel inlet and a channel outlet, and wherein the channel inlet and the channel outlet are directed orthogonal to the central axis.