Ice making assembly with twist ice tray and directional cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11073320-B2
Application number	US-201916291064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A method of making clear ice including filling an ice piece forming tray having an axis of rotation, a distal end, a motor engaging end, and plurality of ice piece making compartments with water. Freezing the water into ice by providing heat sinks disposed on and thermally connected to a bottom side of the ice piece forming tray. Removing heat from the plurality of heat sinks. Removing defrost water from the heat sinks by providing at least one defrost water channel along the axis of rotation, providing at least one defrost water channel along one of the distal end and the motor engaging end and connected to the defrost water channel along the axis of rotation. And delivering defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray positioned at one of the distal end and the motor engaging end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making clear ice comprising the steps of:
filling an ice piece forming tray having an axis of rotation, a distal end, a motor engaging end, and plurality of ice piece making compartments with water;
freezing the water into ice by:
providing a plurality of heat sinks disposed on and in thermal communication with a bottom side of the ice piece forming tray;
removing heat from the plurality of heat sinks;

removing defrost water from the heat sinks by:
providing at least one defrost water channel along the axis of rotation;
providing at least one defrost water channel along one of the distal end and the motor engaging end and in liquid communication with the at least one defrost water channel along the axis of rotation; and
delivering defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray positioned at one of the distal end and the motor engaging end.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of removing heat from the plurality of heat sinks is accomplished by blowing cool air through a plurality of fins attached to the plurality of heat sinks.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the freezing the water into ice steps further comprise the step of:
directionally freezing the water from a lower side of the plurality of ice piece making compartments.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of:
warming an upper portion of the plurality of ice piece making compartments.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the warming step is accomplished by a heater disposed within an ice piece forming tray cover located over the ice piece forming tray.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
sensing the temperature of air underneath the ice piece forming tray cover.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
ensuring the air above the plurality of ice piece making compartments is above the freezing point of water.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
harvesting the clear ice formed by freezing the water in the plurality of ice piece making compartments.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the harvesting the clear ice cubes step further comprises the step of:
twisting the ice piece forming tray.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the twisting the ice piece forming tray step further comprises the steps of:
attaching the motor engaging end to a motor;
rotating the ice piece forming tray using the motor;
preventing rotation of the distal end of the ice piece forming tray by forcing the distal end against a stop while continuing to rotate the motor engaging end of the ice piece forming tray.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
guiding a cool air flow underneath the ice piece forming tray using air flow channel defining fins that form airflow channels under the plurality of ice piece making compartments.

12. A method of defrosting an ice tray after making ice, comprising the steps of:
filling an ice tray with water, the ice tray having an axis of rotation, a distal end, a motor engaging end, and a plurality of ice compartments;
freezing the water in the plurality of ice compartments into clear ice by:
providing a plurality of heat sinks disposed on a bottom side of the plurality of ice compartments;
removing heat from the plurality of heat sinks by blowing cool air underneath the ice tray; and
warming an upper portion of the plurality of ice compartments;

removing defrost water from the heat sinks by:
providing at least one defrost water channel on a bottom side of the ice tray from the motor engaging end to the distal end and along the axis of rotation;
providing at least one defrost water channel along one of the distal end and the motor engaging end and in liquid communication with the at least one defrost water channel along the axis of rotation;
delivering defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray positioned at one of the distal end and the motor engaging end.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of removing heat from the plurality of heat sinks is accomplished by blowing cool air through a plurality of fins attached to the heat sinks.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the freezing the water into ice steps further comprise the step of:
directionally freezing the water from a lower side of the plurality of ice compartments.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the warming an upper portion step is accomplished by a heater disposed within an ice tray cover located over the ice tray.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
sensing the temperature of air underneath the ice tray cover.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
ensuring the air above the plurality of ice compartments is above the freezing point of water.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
harvesting the clear ice step by twisting the ice tray.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the twisting the ice piece forming tray step further comprises the steps of:
attaching the motor engaging end to a motor;
rotating the ice tray using the motor;
preventing rotation of the distal end of the ice piece forming tray by forcing the distal end against a stop while continuing to rotate the motor engaging end of the ice tray.

20. A method of making ice pieces comprising the steps of:
providing an ice making assembly comprising: a motor; an ice piece forming tray having a motor engaging end, a distal end, a first side, and a second side; and
a plurality of ice piece making compartments divided by divider walls;
a plurality of metal heat sinks engaged to a bottom surface of the plurality of ice piece making compartments, wherein the plurality of metal heat sinks each have a plurality of downwardly extending and spaced apart fins that extend away from the bottom surface of each of the plurality of ice piece making compartment;
a first defrost water channel positioned at least substantially parallel to or along an axis of rotation of the ice piece forming tray, and a second defrost water channel positioned along one of the motor engaging end and the distal end, wherein the first and second defrost water channels engage one another in liquid communication;
placing an ice piece forming tray canopy spaced a distance above and covering the ice piece forming tray wherein the ice piece forming tray canopy includes a heater and a temperature sensor;
introducing an amount of water into the plurality of ice piece compartments;
oscillating the ice piece forming tray;
using the temperature sensor and the heater to maintain an air temperature above the plurality of ice piece making compartments above freezing during at least a portion of a time for forming the ice pieces;
moving air below 32 degrees Fahrenheit through the plurality of downwardly extending and spaced apart fins;
forming the ice pieces within the plurality of ice piece making compartments directionally with freezing starting from a portion of the plurality of ice piece making compartments distal from the canopy and proximate the heat sink and toward a top of the plurality of ice piece making compartments;
rotating the ice piece forming tray with one or more formed ice pieces spaced within the plurality of ice piece making compartments to invert the ice piece forming tray until the tray is at least about 160 degrees rotated from its level, flat, and upwardly facing position; and
twisting the ice piece forming tray to release the one or more ice pieces within

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Alshourbagy Mohamed
• Chandrashekaran Arivazhagan
• Mccollum Kylie M
• Pohl Nicholas L
• Sathyamurthi Vijaykumar
• Tenbarge Andrew M

Classifications

• F25C2305/0221

  rotating ice mould · CPC title

• F25C2500/02

  Geometry problems · CPC title

• F25C5/08

  by heating bodies in contact with the ice · CPC title

• F25D2317/063

  with air guides · CPC title

• F25D2317/061

  through special compartments · CPC title