The present disclosure pertains to an ice maker including a mount for at least one of a water level sensor and a water pump.
Ice makers that produce cube-, flake- or nugget-type (i.e., compressed flake) ice are well known and in extensive use. Such machines have received wide acceptance and are particularly desirable for commercial installations such as restaurants, bars, hotels, healthcare facilities and various beverage retailers having a high and continuous demand for fresh ice. Ice makers typically include a refrigeration system that cools an ice formation device and a water system that directs water to the ice formation device, where the water is formed into ice. Water systems use various components to control how water is directed to an ice formation device. A water pump is commonly employed to pump water from a reservoir through passaging that communicates with the ice formation system. Water level sensors that detect the amount of water in the reservoir can be used as a control input for controlling the pump and/or other aspects of the ice maker.
In one aspect, an ice maker for forming ice comprises a refrigeration system comprising an ice formation device and a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device. The water system comprises a water reservoir configured to hold water to be formed into ice. Passaging provides fluid communication between the water reservoir and the ice formation device. A water level sensor for detecting an amount of water in the reservoir includes a fitting and a sensor mount for mounting the fitting of the water level sensor on the ice maker at a sensing position in which the fitting connects the water level sensor to the reservoir for detecting the amount of water in the reservoir. The sensor mount is configured to be lockingly engaged with the fitting to releasably mount the fitting on the ice maker at the sensing position.
In another aspect, an ice maker for forming ice comprises a refrigeration system comprising an ice formation device and a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device. The water system comprises a water reservoir configured to hold water to be formed into ice. Passaging provides fluid communication between the water reservoir and the ice formation device. A water pump is configured to pump water from the water reservoir through the passaging to the ice formation device. A pump mount mounts the water pump on the ice maker for pumping water from the water reservoir through the passaging. The water pump is configured to be connected to the pump mount by a bayonet connection.
In another aspect, an ice maker for forming ice comprises a refrigeration system comprising an ice formation device and a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device. The water system comprises a water reservoir configured to hold water to be formed into ice. Passaging provides fluid communication between the water reservoir and the ice formation device. A water pump is configured to pump water from the water reservoir through the passaging to the ice formation device. A water level sensor detects an amount of water in the reservoir. The water reservoir comprises a bottom portion and a top portion extending across at least part of the bottom portion. The top portion of the water reservoir defines a sensor mount for mounting at least a portion of the water level sensor on the water reservoir for detecting the amount of water in the reservoir and a pump mount for mounting at least a portion of the water pump on the water reservoir for pumping water from the water reservoir through the passaging.
In yet another embodiment, an ice maker for forming ice comprises a refrigeration system comprising an ice formation device. A water system for supplying water to the ice formation device comprises a water reservoir configured to hold water to be formed into ice. Passaging provides fluid communication between the water reservoir and the ice formation device. A water pump is configured to pump water from the water reservoir through the passaging to the ice formation device. A water level sensor detects an amount of water in the reservoir. A mounting plate is connected to at least one of the water level sensor and the water pump. A support comprises at least one vertically extending support wall formed from a single monolithic piece of material. The vertically extending support wall includes first and second integrally formed connectors. The first connector is configured to attach the mounting plate to the support and the second connector is configured to attach the pump to the support such that the support positions the mounting plate with respect to the pump so that at least one of (a) the water level sensor connected to the mounting plate is configured to detect the amount of water in the reservoir and (b) the water pump connected to the mounting plate is configured to pump water from the water reservoir through the passaging.
Other aspects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In general, this disclosure pertains to an ice maker that includes a mount for mounting at least a portion of one or both of a water level sensor and a water pump on an ice maker. The inventors have recognized that, when water level sensors and water pumps are installed in an ice maker using conventional techniques, the devices can be difficult to access and remove when it comes time for maintenance or repair. In certain embodiments, a mount in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure can mount a water level sensor and/or a water pump so that the device can be readily removed for maintenance or repair. As will be explained in further detail below, in certain embodiments, mounts are provided that allow water system devices such as components of water level sensors and/or water pumps to be operatively installed in an ice maker without using separate fasteners or using only fasteners that attach at locations that are near a point of access.
The refrigerant expansion device 18 can be of any suitable type, including a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve. In certain embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device 18 is a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker 10 may also include a temperature sensor 26 placed at the outlet of the evaporator 21 to control the refrigerant expansion device 18. In other embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device 18 is an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker 10 may also include a pressure sensor (not shown) placed at the outlet of the evaporator 21 to control the refrigerant expansion device 19 as is known in the art. In certain embodiments that utilize a gaseous cooling medium (e.g., air) to provide condenser cooling, a condenser fan 15 may be positioned to blow the gaseous cooling medium across the condenser 14. A form of refrigerant cycles through these components via refrigerant lines 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d.
The water system of the illustrated ice maker 10 includes a sump assembly 60 that comprises a water reservoir or sump 70, a water pump 62, and a water level sensor 90. The water system of the ice maker 10 further includes a water supply line (not shown) and a water inlet valve (not shown) for filling sump 70 with water from a water source (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the water system of the ice maker 10 further includes a discharge line (not shown) and a discharge valve (not shown; e.g., purge valve, drain valve) disposed thereon for draining water from the tank. The water system 14 further comprises a water line 63 and a water distributor 66 (e.g., manifold, pan, tube, etc.) that generally constitute passaging for fluidly connecting the sump 70 to the freeze plate 22. During operation of the ice maker 10, the pump 62 pumps water from the sump 70 through the water line 63 and out of the water distributor 66 onto the freeze plate 22. The distributor 66 distributes water onto the freeze plate 22 so that the water flows over the pockets of freeze plate and freezes into ice. The sump 70 may be positioned below the freeze plate 22 to catch the water coming off of the freeze plate such that the water may be recirculated by water pump 62. In one or more embodiments, the water distributor 66 comprises any of the water distributors described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0208792, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The ice maker 10 may also include a controller 80. The controller 80 may be located remote from the ice making device 20 and the sump 70 or may comprise one or more onboard processors, in one or more embodiments. The ontroller 80 may include a processor 82 for controlling the operation of the ice maker 10 including the various components of the refrigeration system and the water system. The processor 82 of the controller 80 may include a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause the processor to perform a process. The processor 82 may be, for example, a commercially available microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a combination of ASICs, which are designed to achieve one or more specific functions, or enable one or more specific devices or applications. In certain embodiments, the controller 80 may be an analog or digital circuit, or a combination of multiple circuits. The controller 80 may also include one or more memory components (not shown) for storing data in a form retrievable by the controller. The controller 80 can store data in or retrieve data from the one or more memory components.
In various embodiments, the controller 80 may also comprise input/output (I/O) components (not shown) to communicate with and/or control the various components of ice maker 10. In certain embodiments, for example the controller 80 may receive inputs such as, for example, one or more indications, signals, messages, commands, data, and/or any other information, from a water reservoir water level sensor 90, a harvest sensor for determining when ice has been harvested (not shown), an electrical power source (not shown), an ice level sensor (not shown), and/or a variety of sensors and/or switches including, but not limited to, pressure transducers, temperature sensors, acoustic sensors, etc. In various embodiments, based on those inputs for example, the controller 80 may be able to control the compressor 12, the condenser fan 15, the refrigerant expansion device 18, the hot gas valve 24, the water inlet valve, the discharge valve, and/or the water pump 62, for example, by sending, one or more indications, signals, messages, commands, data, and/or any other information to such components.
Referring to
The ice storage bin assembly 30 includes an ice storage bin 31 having an ice hole (not shown) through which ice produced by the ice maker 10 falls. The ice is then stored in a cavity 36 until retrieved. The ice storage bin 31 further includes an opening 38 which provides access to the cavity 36 and the ice stored therein. The cavity 36, ice hole (not shown), and opening 38 are formed by a left wall 33a, a right wall 33b, a front wall 34, a back wall 35 and a bottom wall (not shown). The walls of the ice storage bin 31 may be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in the ice storage bin 31. A door 40 can be opened to provide access to the cavity 36.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion 70B of the sump 70 includes a unitary mounting plate 114 that is formed from a single, monolithic piece of material. The unitary mounting plate 114 is configured for mounting both the water level sensor 90 and the water pump 62 on the ice maker 10, in one or more embodiments. In certain embodiments, one or more locking features for releasably connecting one or both of the water level sensor 90 and the water pump 62 to the sump 70 are integrally formed with the unitary mounting plate 114. In some embodiments, locking features can also be separately attached to the mounting plate and/or the mounting plate can be formed from more than one piece.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor opening 120 forms part of a bayonet connection. The illustrated sensor opening 120 includes a generally circular central portion 122 and two elongate bayonet slots 124 extending outwardly from a perimeter of the central portion on opposite sides of (broadly, spaced apart locations about) the central portion. The illustrated bayonet slots 124 are configured so that a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet elements of the sensor fitting 200 are passable through the slots, as will be described in further detail below. As will also be explained in further detail below, after the fitting 200 is inserted into the sensor opening 120, it is rotatable with respect to the mounting plate 114 to lockingly engage the mount 110 and mount the sensor 90 on the sump 70 by the bayonet connection. Other sensor openings can have other shapes and arrangements, in other embodiments. For example, in one or more embodiments, it is contemplated that a sensor opening has other numbers and arrangements of bayonet slots.
In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor mount 110 further comprises a pair of detents 126 configured for inhibiting rotation of the sensor fitting 200 when it is connected to the sensor mount. In the illustrated embodiment, the detents 126 comprise protrusions on the top surface of the mounting plate 114. In certain embodiments, the detents can comprise another structural element, such as a protrusion along a bottom surface or edge of the sensor opening or a recess formed in the mounting plate. In the illustrated embodiment, the detents 126 are located on diametrically opposite sides of (broadly, spaced apart locations about) the central portion 122 of the sensor opening 120. In addition, the illustrated detents 126 are spaced apart from the bayonet slots 124 about the central portion 122. As will be explained in further detail below, a portion of the sensor fitting 200 is configured to engage the detents 126 when the fitting passes into the sensor opening 120 and rotates in a locking rotational direction LD toward a locked position.
Referring still to
Referring of
In the illustrated embodiment, the pump opening 140 comprises a generally circular hole through the mounting plate 114. The illustrated pump mount 112 comprises a raised mounting collar 142 extending about the pump opening 140. A pair of arcuate centering rails 144 are formed along the collar perimeter on opposite sides of (broadly, spaced apart locations about) the collar 142. The rails 144 are configured to bear against a portion of the water pump 62 supported on the mounting collar and thereby constrain the water pump to rotate generally about the center of the pump opening 140.
The illustrated pump mount 112 further comprises a bayonet connection region 146 along a portion of the mounting collar 142 that is located toward the side of the pump mount that is relatively inboard of the cabinet 29 when the sump assembly 60 is in use. In other words, the bayonet connection region 146 is located on a side of the pump mount 112 that is relatively remote from the pump access opening revealed by removal of the access panel 29A (
The bayonet connection region 146 comprises a pad 148 projecting radially from the mounting collar 142 and a receiver 150 extending upward at one end portion of the pad. In one or more embodiments, the bayonet connection region 146 is configured so that a gap 151 is defined along the pad 148 between the adjacent rail 144 and the receiver 150. The illustrated receiver 150 includes a wall portion 152 extending upward from the pad 149 and a top portion 154 supported on the wall portion in vertically spaced apart relation with the pad. A bayonet slot 156 is defined between the top portion 154 of the receiver 150 and a portion of the mounting plate 114, e.g., the pad 148. A bayonet receiver that defines a bayonet slot can also have other configurations in one or more embodiments. As will be explained in further detail below, a bayonet element of the water pump 62 is configured to be positioned on the pad 148 in the gap 151 and then rotated into the bayonet slot 156 to releasably connect one side of the pump to the sump 70 by a bayonet connection.
The illustrated pump mount 112 further comprises a screw connection region 160 along a portion of the mounting collar that is located adjacent the access panel 29A (
The screw connection region 160 comprises a pad 162 projecting radially from the mounting collar 142 on the opposite side of the mounting collar from the bayonet connection region 146 (broadly, the screw connection region is spaced apart from the bayonet connection region about the pump opening). A stop 164 extends upward from the pad 162 along one end portion thereof. The illustrated screw connection region 146 includes a gap 166 that extends along the pad 148 between the adjacent rail 144 and the stop 164. As will be explained in further detail below, during use, a screw-receiving element of the water pump 62 is configured to be positioned on the pad 148 in the gap 166 when the bayonet element of the pump is received in the gap 151 of the bayonet connection region 146. When the pump is rotated so that the bayonet element is received in the bayonet slot 156, the screw-receiving element moves toward the stop 164. The screw connection region 160 includes a screw hole 168 by which a single screw (not shown) can fasten the screw-receiving element of the pump 62 to the screw connection region to secure the side of the pump located near the pump access opening to the sump 70.
Referring to
Referring to
The fitting 200 of the water level sensor 90 includes features that lockingly engage the sensor mount 110 to mechanically connect the sensor to the sump 70. Although the illustrated fitting 200 serves as both an air fitting and a mechanical connector of the sensor 90, it will be understood that a fitting can function as a mechanical connector without also serving as an air fitting in one or more embodiments. For example, it is contemplated that the locking features of the fitting 200 can be used with fittings of other types of sensors (e.g., other types of water level sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) to mechanically connect the sensor to an ice maker in operative position for sensing.
Referring still to
The illustrated fitting 200 further comprises a flange 222 that extends radially outward from the shaft 210 at a location proximally spaced from the bayonet arms 220 along the shaft axis SA. A gap 224 (
Referring to
To mount the fitting 200 on the sensor mount, initially the base 214 is inserted into the central portion 122 of the sensor opening 120. As shown in
After moving the fitting 200 to the position shown in
Referring to
Referring still to
Referring to
To install the pump 62 in the pump mount 112, initially the pump access panel 29A is removed from the cabinet 29 (
As the pump 62 rotates to the second rotational position, the bayonet arm 256 slides into the bayonet slot 156 to establish a bayonet connection between the pump mount 112 and the pump on the side of the pump that is remote from the pump access opening. No tools or fasteners are required to connect the remote side of the pump 62 to the pump mount 112. As the pump rotates to the second rotational position, the screw arm slides along the pad 162 of the screw connection region until it overlies the screw hole 168. A single screw (not shown) is threadbly inserted through the screw arm 258 into the screw hole 168 to fasten the near side of the pump 62 to the pump mount 112. A technician can install and remove the single screw with relative ease because the screw connection region 160 is readily accessible through the pump access opening of the cabinet 29. Together the bayonet connection and the screw connection securely mount the pump 62 on the sump 70. The connections hold the pump 62 in place as it pumps water through the water system of the ice maker 10.
As can be seen, the illustrated ice maker 10 includes mounts 110, 112 that facilitate releasably connecting a water pump and a water level sensor on the sump 70 with minimal use of tools and fasteners. The mounts 110, 112 are thought to simplify the process of removing and reinstalling the sensor fitting 200 and pump 62 when necessary for repair or maintenance.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the sump assembly support 310 includes a base 312 and a vertical support wall 314. The illustrated vertical support wall 314 comprises a first side wall portion 316, a second side wall portion 318, and a back wall portion 320 extending laterally between the first and second side wall portions. As shown in
At least one wall portion 316, 318 of the support 310 that defines both the upper connectors 322 and the lower connectors 324 is formed from a single monolithic piece of material. For example, in one or more embodiments, the entire vertical support wall 314 is formed from a single monolithic piece of material. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire support 310, including the base 312 and the vertical support wall 314, is formed from a single piece of monolithic material. In one or more embodiments, the support 310 is a single molded piece. In the illustrated embodiment, the monolithic support 310 is formed by compression molding.
In the illustrated embodiment, each upper connector 322 comprises a projection that defines a tapered screw hole 326, and each lower connector 324 comprises a projection that defines a mounting hole 328. Referring to
As shown in
The integral connectors 322 thus ensure the mounting plate 114 attaches to the support 310 at the specified position, and the integral connectors 324 ensure the sump tank 70A attaches to the support at the specified position. The support 310 thereby positions the mounting plate 114 with respect to the sump tank 70A so that the fitting 210 is precisely positioned for the water level sensor 90 to accurately detect the water level in the sump 70 when the fitting is mounted on the sensor mount 110. Likewise, the support 310 positions the mounting plate 114 with respect to the sump tank 70A so that the pump 62 is precisely positioned for pumping water from the sump 70 through the ice maker 10 when the pump is mounted on the pump mount 112.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/746,828, filed Jan. 18, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16746828 | Jan 2020 | US |
Child | 18479552 | US |