Ice crushing mechanism
First Claim
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1. An ice crushing mechanism comprising:
- a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber,a rotatable spindle positioned in the housing extending essentially vertically through both the first and second chambers and defining a vertical rotational axis,the first chamber formed in the housing and defined by a first bottom wall with an opening therein,the second chamber formed below the first chamber in the housing and defined on top by the first bottom wall of the first chamber and also by a second wall with an opening therein angularly offset relative to the vertical axis from the first bottom wall opening, the second chamber forming a passage from the opening in the first bottom wall to the opening in the second wall,at least one ice crushing blade rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the first chamber, anda wiper rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the second chamber, said wiper being configured to have an arm portion positioned between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall, to block the passage between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall in all rotational positions of the wiper.
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Abstract
An ice making and storing system which may be mounted in a refrigeration appliance. The ice making and storing system includes an ice making mechanism, a removable ice storage receptacle positioned adjacent to the ice making mechanism, an insulated cover for the ice making mechanism with a portion engageable with the ice storage receptacle to provide a thermally tight seal between the cover and the ice storage receptacle.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ice crushing mechanism comprising:
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a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, a rotatable spindle positioned in the housing extending essentially vertically through both the first and second chambers and defining a vertical rotational axis, the first chamber formed in the housing and defined by a first bottom wall with an opening therein, the second chamber formed below the first chamber in the housing and defined on top by the first bottom wall of the first chamber and also by a second wall with an opening therein angularly offset relative to the vertical axis from the first bottom wall opening, the second chamber forming a passage from the opening in the first bottom wall to the opening in the second wall, at least one ice crushing blade rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the first chamber, and a wiper rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the second chamber, said wiper being configured to have an arm portion positioned between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall, to block the passage between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall in all rotational positions of the wiper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ice crushing mechanism comprising:
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a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, a rotatable spindle positioned in the housing extending essentially vertically through a central portion of both the first and second chambers and defining a vertical rotational axis, the first chamber formed in the housing and defined by a top wall with a first opening therein, a first bottom wall with a second opening having an angular extent relative to the vertical axis of no more than 110 degrees therein angularly offset relative to the vertical axis from the top wall opening and a circular outer wall, the second chamber formed below the first chamber in the housing and defined on top by the first bottom wall of the first chamber, on the bottom by a lower, second bottom wall with a third opening having an angular extent relative to the vertical axis of no more than 110 degrees therein angularly offset relative to the vertical axis from the first bottom wall opening by approximately 180 degrees and a circular outer wall, at least one ice crushing blade rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the first chamber, and a wiper rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the second chamber, the wiper comprising a plurality of arms, each attached to be rotatably driven by the spindle and each with a free end terminating closely adjacent to the outer wall, and each having a height equal to a height of the second chamber, the arms being angularly spaced apart relative to the vertical axis from each other such that at least two arms block all paths between the second opening and the third opening in all rotational positions of the wiper. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
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a cabinet with a refrigerated compartment therein, an ice making mechanism located in the refrigerated compartment and arranged to make ice and to dispense the ice to an ice crushing mechanism, the ice crushing mechanism comprising; a housing having a first chamber and second chamber, a rotatable spindle positioned in the housing extending essentially vertically through both the first and second chambers and defining a vertical rotational axis, the first chamber formed in the housing and defined by a first bottom wall with an opening therein, the second chamber formed below the first chamber in the housing and defined on the top by the first bottom wall of the first chamber and also by a second wall with an opening therein angularly offset relative to the vertical axis from the first bottom wall opening, the second chamber forming a passage between the opening in the first bottom wall and the opening in the second wall, at least one ice crushing blade rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the first chamber, and a wiper rotatably carried on the spindle and positioned in the second chamber, said wiper being configured to have an arm portion positioned between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall, to block the passage between the opening in the second wall and the opening in the first bottom wall in all rotational positions of the wiper. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification