公开(公告)号：US20190145682A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16247813

申请日：2019-01-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  LINDSEY A. WOHLGAMUTH

IPC: F25C1/18 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/24 ,  F25C5/06 ,  F25C1/10

Abstract: An ice making assembly within an appliance with a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a lower portion and an upper portion. The assembly includes a rotatable shroud within the housing with a first slot in air communication with the inlet, and a second slot in air communication with the outlet. A thermoelectric device with a top side and a bottom side, and having a heat sink on the bottom side between the first slot and the second slot. An ice tray disposed above and thermally connected with the top side, a barrier wall within the housing and in contact with the shroud between the lower portion and the upper portion.

公开(公告)号：US20180058746A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：US15805493

申请日：2017-11-07

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN

IPC: F25D21/12 ,  F25D21/14 ,  F25D17/06

CPC classification number: F25D21/125 ,  F25D17/065 ,  F25D21/12 ,  F25D21/14

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a low energy defrost system and method for melting frost formed on an evaporator of a cooling system for the refrigerator. The low energy defrost system includes using air from the refrigerator compartment or external air adjacent the refrigerator to be directed to the evaporator and passed adjacent the evaporator coils to melt any frost formed thereon. As the air is above freezing temperature, it will melt any frost formed on the coils without the need of use an electrical heater. Re-cooled air from the melted frost may then be directed back into the refrigerator compartment to be used to aid in cooling the refrigerator compartment or keeping the refrigerator compartment at the programmed or predetermined temperature.

公开(公告)号：US20170191724A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-06

申请号：US15463501

申请日：2017-03-20

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  Lindsey Ann Wohlgamuth

IPC: F25C1/18 ,  F25C5/06 ,  F25C1/24 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/10

CPC classification number: F25C1/18 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/10 ,  F25C1/24 ,  F25C5/06 ,  F25C2305/022 ,  F25C2500/02

Abstract: An ice maker having a housing defining an interior volume, with an ice tray rotatably coupled with the housing and horizontally suspended across the interior volume thereof. The ice tray has ice wells, defined along the bottom by a bottom surface and the sides by an interior surface of at least one containment wall, wherein the containment wall has an upper portion, including a top surface of the containment wall and the interior surface adjacent the top surface. The upper portion of the containment wall has an insulating layer applied thereto. A tray for use in the ice maker and method of manufacturing the tray are also provided.

公开(公告)号：US20140165617A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-19

申请号：US13713199

申请日：2012-12-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  BRIAN K. CULLEY

IPC: F25C1/20

CPC classification number: F25C5/04 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/10 ,  F25C1/20 ,  F25C5/22 ,  F25C2305/022 ,  F25C2500/02

Abstract: An ice-making apparatus for an appliance having a housing with an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended in the interior volume. The ice tray has a cold plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and a containment wall surrounding an edge portion of the cold plate to retain water. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the cold plate. An intake conduit extends into the interior volume over the ice tray and is configured to draw ambient air into the interior volume over the ice tray, and the ambient air is above freezing.

Abstract translation: 一种用于具有具有内部容积的壳体和水平悬挂在内部体积中的冰盘的器具的制冰设备。 冰盘具有带有顶表面和底表面的冷板和围绕冷板边缘部分以保持水的容纳壁。 冷却源热耦合到冷板的底表面。 进气导管延伸到冰盘上的内部空间中，并且构造成将环境空气抽吸到冰盘上的内部空间中，并且环境空气高于冰点。

公开(公告)号：US20140165600A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-19

申请号：US13713218

申请日：2012-12-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN

IPC: F25C1/20 ,  F25B21/04 ,  F25C1/10

CPC classification number: F25C1/20 ,  F25B21/04 ,  F25C1/10 ,  F25C5/06 ,  F25C5/08 ,  F25C2305/022 ,  F25C2600/04

Abstract: A clear ice maker having an ice tray with a thermally conductive cold plate, where the cold plate has a top surface and a bottom surface, with a thermoelectric cooling device thermally coupled to the bottom surface. Water is dispensed onto the top surface, and the bottom surface is cooled such that a portion of the water adjacent the top surface is frozen, to form a layer of ice. Then the ice tray is oscillated about a transverse axis of the ice tray, such that the water freezes in successive layers from the top surface of the cold plate upwards.

Abstract translation: 一种具有带有导热冷板的冰盘的透明制冰机，其中冷板具有顶表面和底表面，热电冷却装置热耦合到底表面。 将水分配到顶表面上，并且底表面被冷却，使得与顶表面相邻的一部分水被冷冻，以形成一层冰。 然后冰盘围绕冰盘的横向轴线振荡，使得水从冷板的顶部表面向上连续地冻结。

公开(公告)号：US20140150460A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-05

申请号：US13691966

申请日：2012-12-03

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  BRIAN K. CULLEY ,  GREGORY G. HORTIN ,  MARK E. THOMAS

IPC: F25B21/02

CPC classification number: F25B21/02 ,  F25B2321/0251 ,  F25C5/185 ,  F25C2400/10 ,  F25C2400/14 ,  F25D17/065 ,  F25D21/14 ,  F25D2317/0413

Abstract: An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种具有设置在壳体内的制冰机的壳体的装置。 制冰机包括一个冰模。 设置有具有暖侧和相对的冷侧的热电装置。 冷端与制冰机热耦合。 流动通道构造成与热电装置的暖侧连通。 热载体通过流动通道传递。 热载体从热电装置的温暖侧传递热量以支持设备的操作。 该装置可以被配置为冰箱，其中冰箱构造成将热载体从热电装置的温暖侧传送到冰箱的隔室。

公开(公告)号：US20180080699A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15829404

申请日：2017-12-01

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN

IPC: F25C5/08 ,  F25C1/04 ,  F25D17/06

CPC classification number: F25C5/08 ,  F25C1/04 ,  F25C2400/10 ,  F25D17/065 ,  F25D2317/061

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, and an ice mold in the ice maker. The ice maker is configured to provide cooling air from a cool air source along a bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice. The ice maker is further configured to provide warm air from a warm air source along the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice. The warm air source may be a refrigeration compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet. The ice maker may be disposed within the refrigeration compartment or the freezer compartment. The ice maker may be configured to make clear ice. The ice mold may be fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice.

公开(公告)号：US20140165643A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-19

申请号：US13713206

申请日：2012-12-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  LINDSEY ANN WOHLGAMUTH

IPC: F25C1/18

CPC classification number: F25C1/18 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/10 ,  F25C1/24 ,  F25C5/06 ,  F25C2305/022 ,  F25C2500/02

Abstract: An ice maker having a housing defining an interior volume, with an ice tray rotatably coupled with the housing and horizontally suspended across the interior volume thereof. The ice tray has ice wells, defined along the bottom by a bottom surface and the sides by an interior surface of at least one containment wall, wherein the containment wall has an upper portion, including a top surface of the containment wall and the interior surface adjacent the top surface. The upper portion of the containment wall has an insulating layer applied thereto. A tray for use in the ice maker and method of manufacturing the tray are also provided.

Abstract translation: 一种制冰机，其具有限定内部容积的壳体，其中冰盘与壳体可旋转地联接并横向悬挂在其内部空间上。 冰盘具有冰井，其底部由底部表面限定，侧面由至少一个容纳壁的内表面限定，其中容纳壁具有上部，包括容纳壁的顶表面和内表面 邻近顶面。 容纳壁的上部具有施加到其上的绝缘层。 还提供了用于制冰机的托盘和制造托盘的方法。

公开(公告)号：US20140165624A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-19

申请号：US13713160

申请日：2012-12-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  BRIAN K. CULLEY ,  GREGORY GENE HORTIN

IPC: F25C1/18 ,  F25C5/18 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25C5/14

CPC classification number: F25C1/18 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25C5/14

Abstract: A unitary clear ice sheet is formed from a plurality of individual clear ice sheets which are fused together to give the unitary ice sheet a predetermined thickness. The fused unitary ice sheet is a clear unitary ice sheet due to the formation of the plurality of individual clear ice sheets by running water over a cold plate apparatus or evaporator mechanism to form the ice sheets in a gradual layer-by-layer process. The fused unitary clear ice sheet is used to mold or shape clear ice structure therefrom, such as clear ice spheres in a mold apparatus.

Abstract translation: 由多个单独的清澈冰盖形成一个整体的清冰块，它们被熔合在一起，以使整体冰盖具有预定的厚度。 由于通过在冷板装置或蒸发器机构上运行水来形成多个单独的清澈冰盖，所以熔融的单一冰盖是清晰的单一冰盖，以逐渐逐层的方式形成冰盖。 熔融的单一透明冰盖用于模制或形成透明的冰结构，例如模具装置中的透明冰球。

公开(公告)号：US20140165621A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-19

申请号：US13713147

申请日：2012-12-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： PATRICK J. BOARMAN ,  BRIAN K. CULLEY

IPC: F25C1/18 ,  F25C5/04

CPC classification number: F25C5/04 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25C1/10 ,  F25C1/20 ,  F25C5/22 ,  F25C2305/022 ,  F25C2500/02

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.

Abstract translation: 制冰机具有包括金属片和绝缘片的冰模。 冷却源热耦合到金属片。 空腔在冰模内，并且在金属片中具有第一储存器，在绝缘件中具有第二储存器。 第一和第二储存器对齐以基本上包围空腔。 绝缘件中的入口孔延伸到用于接收水的空腔。 驱动体可旋转地联接到在制冰循环中操作的冰模，其中驱动体将模具从注射位置反复旋转到倾斜位置。 空腔在注射位置接收增加量的水，并移动到倾斜位置，以使空腔的侧表面上的增量的至少一部分水冻结以制成冰块。