Rotational ice maker

• US 9,273,891 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Boarman, Patrick J., Culley, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Cassey D
• Application Number:
  US13/713,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 62/68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/10 by using rotating or otherwise moving moulds F25C1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/18 of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/20 by agitation
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2305/0221 rotating ice mould
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2500/02 Geometry problems
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/04 without the use of saws
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/22 particularly adapted for household refrigerators

Abstract

An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.

Claims

1. An ice maker comprising:

an ice mold that includes an insulated piece and a metallic piece;

a cooling source thermally coupled to the metallic piece;

a cavity within the ice mold having a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece, wherein the first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity;

a fluid intake aperture in the insulated piece that extends to the cavity for receiving water; and

a drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that is configured to operate in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position, and wherein the cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece;

wherein the incremental amount of water input into the cavity is in direct contact with both the insulated piece and the metallic piece of the ice mold.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the tilted position includes the mold rotated a first direction at an angle, moving the water in the cavity to a first side of the cavity below the intake aperture, and a second direction at the angle, moving the water in the cavity to a second side of the cavity below the intake aperture;

and wherein the rotation causes the ice piece to form an interface with the metallic piece of the ice mold to prevent sliding of the ice piece within the cavity.

3. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction, and wherein the angle is configured to move water beyond an edge of the ice piece that is forming on the first side and the second side.

4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the incremental amount of water is less than half of the fluid volume of the cavity, and wherein the ice-making cycle concludes when the ice piece occupies the fluid volume of the cavity.

5. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a spherical shape, and wherein the insulated piece of the mold includes a polymeric material and has a lower thermal conductivity than the metallic piece.

6. The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the metallic piece is removably engaged with the insulated piece, and wherein the metallic piece disengages from the insulated piece to release the ice piece upon completion of the ice-making cycle.

7. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice mold includes a plurality of cavities linearly arranged, and wherein the drive body is configured to rotate the ice mold along a transverse axis of the plurality of cavities.

8. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing substantially surrounding the ice mold, wherein the housing includes a liner of a door of an appliance.

9. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage bin positioned to receive an ice piece formed in the cavity when the metallic piece and the insulated piece disengage to release the ice piece.