Mechanism for shaving ice in a refrigeration appliance

• US 7,621,475 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Gary W., Kavchale, Ravindra, Hartmann, Matthew W., Culley, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/644,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 241/92, 241/DIG.17, 241/55, 241/56, 241/65, 623/20
• US Class Current: 241/65
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/12 Ice-shaving machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/17 Ice crushers

Abstract

An ice shaving mechanism may include a blade arranged with an edge to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass. A support may be provided upon which the blade may be mounted. An opening may be arranged adjacent to the edge of the blade to permit the shaved layer of ice to pass through the opening. At least one guide surface may extend away from the opening opposite the blade to intercept the shaved layer of ice that has passed through the opening, and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction.

Claims

1. An ice shaving mechanism comprising:

a cartridge having an opening therethrough formed by at least three walls which also form a guide surface,

a blade mounted in the cartridge adjacent to the opening, aligned with one of the walls and arranged with an edge extending beyond a surface of the cartridge to permit the blade to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass,

the blade edge having two lateral ends and the guide surface comprising an opposing two of the walls being parallel to each other and extending substantially perpendicular to a length of the blade edge and parallel with the two lateral ends of the blade, and arranged to intercept the shaved layer of ice to prevent the shaved layer of ice from laterally spreading in a lateral direction beyond the lateral ends of the blade edge, the guide surface further comprising a surface formed by the third wall to intercept the shaved layer of ice and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction, the third wall surface having at least a portion that is curved so as to redirect the ice layer intercepted by the guide surface,

a releasable mounting mechanism for removably securing the cartridge to a remainder of the ice shaving mechanism.

2. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the releasable mounting mechanism comprises two threaded fasteners extending though the cartridge.

3. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is formed of molded plastic.

4. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the blade is permanently mounted in the cartridge.

5. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the blade is aligned with the third wall forming the opening.

6. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opening includes a fourth wall which adjoins the two parallel walls.

7. The ice shaving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the ice shaving mechanism is mounted in a refrigeration appliance which comprises:

a refrigerated compartment,

an ice making mechanism in the refrigerated compartment,

an ice delivery system arranged to deliver ice from the ice making mechanism to the ice shaving mechanism, and

an ice dispensing system comprising a vertical passage extending downwardly below the ice shaving mechanism.

8. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher rotatably driven by a motor for pushing ice masses and a fixed blade against which the ice masses are pushed by the rotating pusher.

9. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher and a blade, at least one of which is rotated relative to the other by a motor.

10. A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a refrigerated compartment,

an ice making mechanism in the refrigerated compartment,

an ice delivery system arranged to deliver ice from the ice making mechanism,

an ice shaving mechanism located in the refrigeration appliance arranged to selectively shave ice received from the ice delivery system, and

an ice dispensing system comprising a vertical passage extending downwardly below the ice shaving mechanism,

the ice shaving mechanism comprising;

a molded plastic cartridge having an opening therethrough formed by at least three walls which also form a guide surface,

a blade permanently mounted in the cartridge adjacent to the opening, aligned with one of the walls and arranged with an edge extending beyond a surface of the cartridge to permit the blade to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass,

the blade edge having two lateral ends and the guide surface comprising an opposing two of the walls being parallel to each other and extending substantially perpendicular to a length of the blade edge and parallel with the two lateral ends of the blade, and arranged to intercept the shaved layer of ice to prevent the shaved layer of ice from laterally spreading in a lateral direction beyond the lateral ends of the blade edge, the guide surface further comprising a surface formed by the third wall to intercept the shaved layer of ice and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction, the third wall surface having at least a portion that is curved so as to redirect the ice layer intercepted by the guide surface,

a releasable mounting mechanism in the form of two threaded fasteners extending through the cartridge for removably securing the cartridge to a remainder of the ice shaving mechanism.

11. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher rotatably driven by a motor for pushing ice masses and a fixed blade against which the ice masses are pushed by the rotating pusher.

12. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher and a blade, at least one of which is rotated relative to the other by a motor.

13. An ice shaving mechanism comprising:

a molded plastic cartridge having an opening therethrough formed by at least three walls which also form a guide surface,

a blade permanently mounted in the cartridge adjacent to the opening, aligned with one of the walls and arranged with an edge extending beyond a surface of the cartridge to permit the blade to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass,

the blade edge having two lateral ends and the guide surface comprising an opposing two of the walls being parallel to each other and extending substantially perpendicular to a length of the blade edge and parallel with the two lateral ends of the blade, and arranged to intercept the shaved layer of ice to prevent the shaved layer of ice from laterally spreading in a lateral direction beyond the lateral ends of the blade edge, the guide surface further comprising a surface formed by the third wall to intercept the shaved layer of ice and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction, the third wall surface having at least a portion that is curved so as to redirect the ice layer intercepted by the guide surface,

a releasable mounting mechanism in the form of two threaded fasteners extending through the cartridge for removably securing the cartridge to a remainder of the ice shaving mechanism.

14. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher rotatably driven by a motor for pushing ice masses and a fixed blade against which the ice masses are pushed by the rotating pusher.

15. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13, wherein the ice shaving mechanism comprises a pusher and a blade, at least one of which is rotated relative to the other by a motor.