Making ice in a refrigerator

• US 4,912,939 A
• Filed: 02/28/1989
• Issued: 04/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Troscinski, David, Obermann, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/316,848
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 62/233, 200/38 C, 200/38 CA, 200/283
• US Class Current: 62/233
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2305/024 Rotating rake

Abstract

An icemaker for a refrigerator having a motorized cam actuated switch for controlling the water fill valve and motor hold switch. The cam tracks for each switch has an undercut radial step. The switches each have a lower contact blade and upper contact blade with an intermediate blade of longer length. A spacer attached to the upper or lower contact blade maintains a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween. The lower contact blade drops first over the step allowing the upper blade to close against the intermediate blade energizing the water valve and opening the lower contact set. The intermediate blade then drops over the step, closing the lower contact blade set and the spacer holds the upper contact set open for deenergizing the water valve. A similar fast action switch is employed as a motor hold switch during periods when the ice sensing thermostat is open.

Claims

1. An automatic icemaker for a refrigerator comprising:

(a) a rotatable cam having a step therein, said cam adapted for motorized timed advancement;

(b) switch means having

(i) an upper and lower resiliently movable contact blade,

(ii) an intermediate resiliently movable contact blade disposed between said upper and lower blade;

said blades biased toward said cam;

(c) spacer means attached to one of said upper and lower contact blades, said spacer means operative to maintain a minimum spacing between said upper and lower contact means;

(d) said lower and intermediate contact blades disposed to drop on said step respectively in sequence for rapidly closing and opening a set of normally open contacts between said intermediate and upper contacts and for opening and closing a pair of normally closed contacts between said lower and intermediate contacts;

(e) motor means including speed reducing means operable to effect advancement of said cam at a timed rate;

(f) electrically operated valve means series connected with said normally open contact set for timed actuation with respect to said cam advancement;

(g) a second rotatable cam having a second step; and

,

(h) second switch means disposed for operation by said second step and series connected to said motor means for maintaining current to said motor means.

2. An icemaker for a refrigerator comprising:

(a) an electrically operated fill valve adapted for connection to a water line and operative upon electrical energization to provide controlled flow to an ice mold;

(b) a rotable cam means having a first and second cam track, each track having a step thereon;

(c) motor means, including speed reducing means, operable to advance said first and second cam track at a timed rate;

(d) valve switch means having,

(i) upper and lower resiliently movable contact blades disposed in spaced arrangement;

(ii) an intermediate resiliently movable contact blade disposed between said upper and lower contact blades,

(iii) spacer means attached to one of said upper and lower contact blades, and operative to maintain a predetermined spacing therebetween;

said lower and intermediate contact blades operative to drop on said first cam track step respectively in sequence for closing and opening said normally open positions of said upper and intermediate contact blades for timed energization of said fill valve; and

(e) hold switch means having,

(i) upper and lower resiliently movable contact blades disposed in spaced management,

(ii) an intermediate resiliently movable contact blade disposed between said upper and lower contact blades

(iii) spacer means attached to one of said upper and lower contact blades and operative to maintain a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween;

said lower and intermediate blades operative to drop on said second cam track step in sequence respectively for closing and opening said upper and intermediate contact blades for maintaining current to said motor means.