Patent Application
20110138836
Appliances are known for dispensing ice in various forms, such as ice cubes, crushed ice, and shaved ice. Some appliances that dispense ice in that fashion are domestic refrigeration appliances such as combined refrigerator/freezer appliances where the various forms of ice are delivered through the door of the appliance. While appliances generally do a good job of providing various forms of ice, there are limitations on being able to deliver three forms of ice from a single well. The provision of various forms of ice with multiple wells is limited to the spatial restraints of the appliance.
One object of the present invention is to provide an appliance including an ice manipulation reservoir capable of receiving ice having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, with the first level descending gradually to the second level. A first ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the first level of the base, and a second ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the plurality of ice modification members, with the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice modification mechanism. The mechanism includes an ice manipulation reservoir having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, the first level descending gradually to the second level. At least one ice modification component is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir. The at least one ice modification component is disposed substantially between the first level and the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the at least one ice modification component, the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation.
A further object of the present invention includes a method of making an ice modification mechanism. An ice manipulation reservoir is provided with a base. A first level and a second level are formed in the base, wherein the first level descends gradually to the second level. At least one ice modification component is installed laterally between the first level of the base and the second level of the base. A motor having an output shaft is connected to an impeller by the output shaft and the impeller is extended into the ice manipulation reservoir.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention a refrigerator having a secondary cooling loop, and method thereof. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Referring to
The present invention provides an ice modification mechanism 10 for delivering ice in each of the three selected forms, namely, cubed, crushed, and shaved. Generally, as used herein, ice cubes or bodies of ice having a three dimensional (3D) shape, wherein a length in any of the dimensions is typically not less than about two centimeters (2 cm). Shaved ice comprises bodies of ice having a three dimensional shape, in which at least one of the dimensions has a length of no greater than about five millimeters (5 mm). Crushed ice comprises bodies of ice having a three dimensional shape, in which at least one of the dimensions has a length greater than about five millimeters (5 mm), but less than about two centimeters (2 cm), and no dimension has a length greater than about five centimeters (5 cm).
This ice modification mechanism 10 can be arranged within an appliance 20 such as a domestic refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment, or other types of appliances, including freezers and ice makers. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
An ice maker 50 is disposed within the freezer compartment 24. The ice maker 50 is an ice piece making apparatus which forms ice pieces, typically crescent shaped, although other shapes are conceivable. Such an ice maker 50 is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,275 entitled, “MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING SHAVED ICE FROM A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, ice, in the form of cubes, which may have been made in the ice maker 50 disposed within the appliance 20 that the ice modification mechanism 10 is located within, is dispensed from the ice maker 50 to an ice manipulation reservoir 12. The ice may be transported to the ice manipulation reservoir 12 from the ice maker 50 by gravity or some other known delivering mechanism. The ice accumulates in the ice manipulation reservoir 12 until the user makes a demand for the ice. Known shut off mechanisms prevent ice harvesting or transfer of ice from the ice maker 50 to the ice manipulation reservoir 12 when the ice manipulation reservoir 12 is full of ice pieces. If ice harvesting is not appropriately controlled, the ice maker 50 may make an excessive quantity of ice and overflow the ice manipulation reservoir 12. In addition to limiting the quantity of ice produced, it may be desirable to prevent harvesting of ice when the freezer door 28 is open, based on the ice manipulation reservoir 12 being mounted to the door 28. If ice pieces are discharged when the door 28 is open, the ice pieces will fall onto the floor. To achieve these dual purposes, the appliance 20 includes components such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,097 entitled, “ICE MAKING AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATOR” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The ice manipulation reservoir 12 mounted to the freezer door 28 is typically provided below the ice maker 50 for receiving ice pieces therefrom in a substantially vertical transfer, however, a substantially horizontal transfer of ice pieces from the ice maker 50 to the ice manipulation reservoir 12 is conceivable (
The capability to provide at least three forms of ice in a single well or ice manipulation reservoir 12 is illustrated in
In a crushing mode, the motor 90 rotates the impeller 76 in a first direction A and the geometry of the impeller 76 pushes the ice pieces in the first direction A, while simultaneously applying a downward force. This motion initiates the interaction of the ice pieces with the leading edge 74 of the crushing blade 70, thereby modifying the ice pieces to crushed ice, as previously defined. In a shaving mode, the motor 90 turns the impeller 76 in a second direction B and the geometry of the impeller 76 pushes the ice pieces in the second direction B, while simultaneously applying a downward force (
While it is conceived that similar sized blades 70, 72 may be employed to crush and shave if positioned at different angles, it is envisioned that the crushing blade 70 has a larger volume than that of the shaving blade 72, based on the need to protrude deeper into ice pieces to effectively perform the crushing function. Conversely, the shaving blade 72 may only protrude slightly into the ice pieces, whereas too deep of a protrusion would result in an ice form not meeting the shaved ice parameter limitations as previously defined. Based on the need for a larger crushing blade 70, the base 14 of the ice manipulation reservoir 12 descends from a base first level 100 to a base second level 102, as opposed to having a horizontally level base. Placing the crushing and shaving blades 70, 72 on a uniform horizontal base would result in a top edge of the crushing blade 70 to be positioned at a height greater than the shaving blade 72. Such a configuration may prevent the impeller 76 from most efficiently performing the pushing function, as the crushing blade 70 may interfere with the motion of the impeller 76. Therefore, a non-level base 14 allows for the accommodation of a larger crushing blade 70 to be placed at a position of the base 14 with a deeper or lower level than that of the shaving blade 72 position level. Such a base 14 configuration is illustrated in
The positioning and geometry of the blades 70, 72 are critical factors in the shaving and crushing system. The physics behind such a system is illustrated in
The base 14 also includes the trap door 80 that allows for the dispensing of ice. Typically, the trap door 80 will lead to the dispensing zone 60, such as a chute 68. As illustrated in
The ability of the motor 90 to drive the impeller 76 in at least two speeds, as well as in two directions A and B, provides the capability to produce at least three forms of ice in the single ice manipulation reservoir 12. The two directional capability, as briefly described earlier, forces an interaction with the ice pieces and the blades 70, 72. The direction of rotation determines whether the ice pieces are modified into crushed or shaved ice. This interaction only forces the modification of the ice pieces when the impeller 76 is driven by the motor 90 at a rate of speed X, which is greater than another speed Y. The lower speed Y pushes the ice around the ice manipulation reservoir 12 at a lower speed Y, thereby avoiding shaving or crushing. In an instance where the user desires cubed ice, the trap door 80 will open and the ice pieces are rotated at the lower speed Y. During this motion, ice cubes are dispensed to the user. When the impeller 76 is rotated at the higher speed X, the ice pieces are modified into shaved or crushed ice and dispensed to the user via an appropriate drop gap (D), the dimensions of which were previously defined.
The present invention further provides a method of making the ice modification mechanism 10. During manufacture, the method involves providing the ice manipulation reservoir 12 and forming a first level 100 and a second level 102 in the base 14, the dimensions of which are dependent on the blade sizes 70, 72 that must be accommodated. Subsequent to forming a geometrically appropriate ice manipulation reservoir 12, at least one blade 70, 72 is installed proximate the base 14. Within the appliance 20, a motor 90 having the ability to drive an impeller 76 is installed. The impeller 76 may be directly connected to the motor 90 or operably connected via one or more output shafts. Appropriate positioning of the impeller 76 in the ice manipulation reservoir 12 provides the ability to manipulate the ice pieces, as desired.
Advantageously, the present invention provides the ability to dispense three forms of ice to a user from a single source. This ability improves on issues of spatial restraints within appliances.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
