Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100037635 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING A REFRIGERANT - A method and a recovery container for collecting a hydrocarbon refrigerant are disclosed. The method includes releasing the hydrocarbon refrigerant from the refrigeration system, and collecting the released hydrocarbon refrigerant with a recovery container containing a hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance thereby binding the released hydrocarbon refrigerant to the hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance. | 02-18-2010 |
20100115985 | REFRIGERATOR - A refrigerator includes a main body defining a compartment, the compartment having an access opening, a first wall and a heat exchanger supported by the first wall; a refrigeration system containing therein a working medium and including an evaporator which is disposed outside of the compartment for cooling the compartment; a door supported by the main body for selectively closing at least part of the access opening of the compartment; and a sub-compartment on the door and including a second wall with an opening. The heat exchanger is coolable by the working medium. The heat exchanger and the second wall are positioned so that when the door is in a closed position, the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening. | 05-13-2010 |
20100242526 | REFRIGERATOR - A refrigerator includes a main body defining a compartment, the compartment having an access opening and a first wall, a door supported by the main body for selectively closing at least part of the access opening, a sub-compartment on the door, the sub-compartment comprising a second wall having an opening, a heat exchanger supported by the first wall and positioned so that when the door is closed the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening, and a refrigeration system having a working medium for cooling the heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger further includes one or more segments of the refrigeration system attached to a heat exchanging plate. | 09-30-2010 |
20110113810 | ICE MAKER FOR A REFRIGERATOR - An automatic ice maker for a refrigerator includes an ice mold body, an ice stripper and an ice rake. The ice mold body has front, back, and end sides, a top peripheral rim and a plurality of ice chambers. Each ice chamber has a top opening having a frontal portion adjacent the front side and a back portion adjacent the back side. The ice stripper is sealingly disposed on the top peripheral rim, has a unitary one-piece construction and forms extensions of the front, back and end sides. The ice stripper extends over the frontal portion of the top openings and extends over the back portion of the top openings to prevent spillage. The ice rake is disposed between the front and back sides and includes a rotatable shaft, and rake fingers extending outward from the shaft for moving ice cubes out of the respective ice chambers and onto the ice stripper. | 05-19-2011 |
20110120152 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING ICE WITHIN A REFRIGERATOR - An apparatus and method for crushing ice within a refrigerator are disclosed. The apparatus includes an ice making, storage and dispensing compartment; an ice storage bin, an agitator, an axle, and a crusher. The crusher includes a plurality of fixed blades, a plurality of rotatable crusher arms affixed to the axle, a front wall having an opening vertically above the fixed blades, sidewalls sealing a portion of the front wall to a portion of the back wall, leaving a predetermined void and a motor for rotating the axle to drive the agitator and crusher. The method includes the steps of rotating an axle, in first direction and second directions to dispense whole ice cubes or crushed ice cubes, respectively, from the ice dispenser. | 05-26-2011 |
20110308269 | APPARATUS FOR PELLETIZING ICE WITHIN A REFRIGERATOR - An apparatus and refrigerator for creating ice pellets is disclosed. The apparatus and refrigerator include a compartment, an ice storage bin positioned in the compartment and configured to store whole ice cubes therein, and a pellet ice dispenser. The pellet ice dispenser includes a first motor, a first axle drivingly connected to a shaft of the first motor, a first ice cube auger drivingly connected to the first axle, a blade downstream of the first ice cube auger and configured to shave whole ice cubes into ice pieces, and an ice pelleter. The ice pelleter includes an extrusion die disposed downstream of the blade, a shaved ice auger disposed between the blade and the extrusion die and configured to move and compress the ice pieces through the extrusion die to form pellet ice. | 12-22-2011 |
20120023996 | TWIST TRAY ICE MAKER SYSTEM - Techniques for use in ice maker systems are disclosed. In one example, an ice tray apparatus includes an ice mold body formed substantially of a metal material, and a holder for holding the ice mold body, the holder including a rotation-stopping feature formed thereon. The ice tray assembly may be used in an ice maker system mounted in a storage compartment of a refrigerator appliance. | 02-02-2012 |
20120036872 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF AN ICE MAKER SYSTEM - Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the step of, in a harvesting cycle of an ice maker system wherein a heating element is turned on at a first time instance to generate heat to separate ice from an ice mold body formed in the ice mold body during a preceding ice formation cycle, and turned off at a second time instance to allow the ice mold body to cool so that a next ice formation cycle can begin, controlling an amount of heat generated by the heating element between the first time instance and the second time instance. | 02-16-2012 |
20120042677 | REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY - A water filter assembly including a water filter housing and a manifold coupled to the water filter housing. The manifold includes an inlet and an outlet. Filters are disposed in the water filter housing. The water filter assembly has a door. The door is disposed on the water filter housing providing selective access to the water filter housing. The door is connected to the water filter housing to open and close to replace the plurality of filters. The water filter assembly also has a valve associated with at least one of the plurality of filters. The valve is manipulated from an opened to a closed position to close the inlet when the filters are removed from the water filter housing. | 02-23-2012 |
20120055190 | FITTING ASSEMBLIES TO PROVIDE FLUID SUPPLY TO ICE AND WATER DISPENSERS IN REFRIGERATOR DOORS - A fitting assembly is provided that includes a bracket comprising at least one fitting having a first opening and a second opening, in which the second opening includes at least one ledge on an inner sidewall of the fitting and the first opening is interconnected with a first tube, in which the bracket, the fittings and the first tube are a unitary structure. A seal assembly is present in the second opening of the at least one fitting of the bracket, and a second tube in engaged to the seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a frictional bore surface and at least one gasket, which are in contact with the second tube. | 03-08-2012 |
20120061051 | DISPENSER HEATER FOR AN APPLIANCE - A dispenser heater for an appliance such as a refrigerator is provided. A heating element is used to raise the temperature of a dispenser component above the dew point of ambient air so as to prevent condensation. The heating element is embedded within the dispenser component to improve heat transfer and prevent displacement during manufacture of the refrigerator. | 03-15-2012 |
20120090346 | DIRECT-COOLED ICE-MAKING ASSEMBLY AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE INCORPORATING SAME - A direct-cooled ice making assembly for a refrigeration appliance is disclosed. A refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit having an ice maker cooling portion for cooling an ice maker mold body. A cooling plate houses the ice maker cooling portion which creates ice within compartments of the mold body by cooling the mold body via the cooling plate. The ice maker is configured to be removably attached to the cooling plate so as to be replaceable without removing the ice maker cooling portion of the refrigerant circuit within the cooling plate or the cooling plate. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed. | 04-19-2012 |
20120096889 | AUGER STYLE ICE MAKER AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE INCORPORATING SAME - An ice making assembly includes a mold configured for forming an ice cube. The mold has a base, a side wall, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end above and outside of the mold, a distal end within the mold, and a central section between the distal end and the proximal end and extending through the opening. The auger further has a threaded portion configured for moving the ice cube out of the mold through the opening via rotation of the auger. A motor may be located above the mold and attached to the proximal end of the shaft for rotating the auger to lift the ice cube from the mold. The ice cubes may be formed with a gap and a splitter may split the ice cubes at the gap. | 04-26-2012 |
20120096890 | MISTING ICE MAKER FOR CUP-SHAPED ICE CUBES AND RELATED REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - An ice cube maker includes an ice-making compartment having side walls, at least one rod-shaped conductor extending distally into the compartment through one of the side walls, and a cooling device for cooling the conductor to a temperature sufficient to form ice on the conductor. A misting system includes a reservoir for water and a nebulizer for creating a liquid mist from water in the reservoir and introducing the liquid mist into the ice-making compartment so that a portion of the liquid mist freezes on the conductor to form a cup-shaped ice cube thereon. A return conduit connects a drain of the ice-making compartment and the reservoir for transferring liquid mist not freezing on the conductor to the reservoir. | 04-26-2012 |
20120096891 | AUGER STYLE ICE MAKER AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE INCORPORATING SAME - An ice making assembly includes a support and a mold rotatably mounted to the support configured for forming an ice cube therein. The mold has a base, a side wall attached to the base, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end fixed to the base of the mold, a distal end outside of the mold, and a central section between the proximal end and the distal end and extending through the opening. The auger also has a threaded portion. An inner mold is non-rotatably fixed to the support and extends into the mold. The inner mold defines an outer shape of the ice cube. The inner mold has at least one wall non-concentric with reference to a center line of the auger. A motor rotates the mold and auger relative to the support and inner mold. The inner mold is configured to prevent the ice cube from rotating with the mold and auger, the auger thereby moving the ice cube out of the mold and the inner mold via the opening. | 04-26-2012 |
20120096892 | WATER FILTER WITH PERFORMANCE INDICATING DEVICE AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE INCLUDING SAME - An assembly for filtering water includes a housing and a water inlet for supplying unfiltered water to the housing. A water filter includes an outer casing attached to the housing in communication with the water inlet and a filter medium within the outer casing. The outer casing has at least one portion that is at least partially translucent. The water filter filters the unfiltered water through filter medium to provide filtered water. A water outlet is attached to the housing for transferring filtered water from the outer casing to a device via the housing. An illumination device is mounted adjacent to the outer casing for selectively illuminating the portion of the outer casing that is at least partially translucent. Related refrigeration appliances incorporating such devices are also disclosed. | 04-26-2012 |
20120111041 | FLOAT-TYPE ICE MAKING ASSEMBLY AND RELATED REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - An ice making assembly includes a reservoir holding water having a water level, at least one conductor extending into the reservoir below the water level, and a cooling device for cooling the conductor to a temperature sufficient to form an ice cube on the conductor. A heater heats the conductor to a temperature sufficient to harvest the ice cube from the conductor. A dispensing device removes harvested ice cubes from the water. Related refrigeration appliances are disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120118001 | ICE MAKER FOR DISPENSING SOFT ICE AND RELATED REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - An ice-making assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker for making ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin receives ice cubes from the ice maker. The ice cube storage bin is maintained at a temperature above the freezing temperature of water. A drain in communication with the ice cube storage bin for receives water melted from ice cubes located in the storage bin. A related refrigeration appliance is disclosed. | 05-17-2012 |
20120144855 | MODULAR WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY - A modular water filter assembly is disclosed. The modular water filter assembly includes a primary module having primary filter media for treating water; a secondary module having a first end and a second end; and a manifold defining an inlet connectable to a water source, and an outlet connectable to a water dispenser. The secondary module is removably coupled to the manifold at the first end thereof, and to the primary module at the second end thereof, the secondary module defining a flow path for carrying water therethrough. The water filter assembly is variably configurable for treating water passed from the water source through the inlet of the manifold and through at least one of the primary module and the secondary module and then through the outlet of the manifold. An appliance incorporating such a modular water filter assembly is also disclosed. | 06-14-2012 |
20120285192 | WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY - In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a water filter assembly for a refrigerator is described. The water filter assembly includes a door that includes a mover element for engaging a removable water filter such that in the closed position the mover element holds the removable water filter water inlet and water outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet and water outlet, respectively, of a manifold assembly, and in the open position the mover element allows for removal of the removable water filter which is not in fluid communication with the manifold assembly. | 11-15-2012 |
20120291473 | ICE MAKER ASSEMBLY - In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an ice maker assembly for a refrigerator freezer compartment having a wall with a capturing element is described. The ice maker assembly has a body that includes an ice mold for receiving water and freezing water to ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface interposed between the first side surface and the second side surface. The ice maker assembly further includes a mounting feature, the mounting feature being present on the body and being configured to be seated on the corresponding refrigerator freezer compartment capturing element. The ice maker assembly also includes a fastening feature and a fastener being located either generally planar with the ice mold or below the ice mold, the fastening feature and fastener being configured to attach the body to the wall. | 11-22-2012 |
20120304676 | ICE MAKING ASSEMBLY WITH OPTIMIZED HARVESTING AND RELATED REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - An ice making assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker having a mold body defining a plurality of compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a heating element for heating the ice cubes to create a melted portion to assist in removal of the ice cubes from the compartment, and a harvesting assembly including a plurality of elements attached to a rotatable rod. Each element is movable via rotation of the rod through a respective one of the compartments to remove an ice cube from the compartment. Rotation of the rod stopping for a period of time at a stop position in which a removed ice cube can rest atop the harvesting assembly to refreeze the melted portion. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed. | 12-06-2012 |
20120325277 | DISHWASHER SPRAY ARM ASSEMBLY - A spray arm assembly for a dishwasher system is disclosed. The spray arm assembly includes a spray arm which has an internal chamber, a liquid inlet in flow communication with the internal chamber to supply the internal chamber with liquid from a source of liquid, an outlet passageway in flow communication with the internal chamber for discharging liquid from the internal chamber, an air inlet in flow communication with the outlet passageway, and a region adjacent the air inlet and defining part of the outlet passageway. The region is configured to create a venturi effect at the air inlet when the liquid passes through the region so that air is drawn into the outlet passageway from the air inlet and a mixture of air and liquid is discharged from the outlet passageway. A dishwasher system incorporating such a spray arm assembly is also disclosed. | 12-27-2012 |
20130026184 | APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS - A dispenser assembly configured to dispense liquids or solids from an appliance. In one embodiment, the dispenser assembly includes a tray, a plunger located above the tray, and a discharge opening. The plunger has a front surface and is moveable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position. The discharge opening is concealed behind the plunger and free of the path of the plunger from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position. | 01-31-2013 |
20130042644 | FLUIDIZER FOR AN ICE DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF A COOLING COMPARTMENT - A fluidizer for an ice dispensing assembly of a cooling compartment. The fluidizer has at least one base member. At least one angular projection may be coupled with or integrally formed with a surface of the base member. Rotation of fluidizer fluidizes ice cubes located in the ice bucket. The ice cubes are fluidized when the at least one angular projection contacts the ice cubes and forces the ice cubes away from the at least one base member. The rotational kinetic enemy imparted by the fluidizer breaks up any fused ice cubes so that the influence of gravity can pull ice downwards for dispensing. | 02-21-2013 |
20130098099 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE WITH ICE DISPENSER - The present disclosure relates to an ice bucket for a refrigerator and methods of using the same. The ice bucket is mounted on a door of the refrigerator and includes a platform that is movable along a vertical axis from a lowered position at a bottom portion of the ice bucket to a raised position at a top portion of the ice bucket. | 04-25-2013 |
20130104587 | ICE DISPENSER WITH CRUSHER FOR A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE | 05-02-2013 |
20130104591 | SHIELD FOR AN ICE DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF A COOLING COMPARTMENT | 05-02-2013 |
20130108249 | REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH HOT WATER DISPENSER | 05-02-2013 |
20130276472 | AUGER-DRIVEN ICEMAKER SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR - A system for making ice comprises an auger-driven ice formation portion configured for mounting in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator appliance, and at least one inlet duct positioned proximate to the auger-driven ice formation portion and configured for receiving and passing ambient air from a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance into the auger-driven ice formation portion. | 10-24-2013 |
20140166784 | WATER DISPENSER NOZZLE FOR AN APPLIANCE - A nozzle for dispensing water from an appliance is provided. The nozzle decreases the velocity of water flow so as to reduce or eliminate water splashing out of a consumer's container during dispensing while still providing a rate of flow sufficient to timely fill the container. The nozzle also retains sufficient capillary action so as to reduce or eliminate water draining from the dispenser after the consumer has removed the container. Additional aesthetic features may also be provided in certain exemplary embodiments. | 06-19-2014 |
20140191646 | DRAWER ASSEMBLY FOR AN APPLIANCE - A drawer assembly for an appliance is provided. The drawer assembly includes a container for receipt of items for storage and a linkage assembly positioned below the container. The container is supported by the linkage assembly such that the container is moveable along a transverse direction on the linkage assembly. | 07-10-2014 |
20140196493 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE - A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker and a container. The ice maker directs ice into a storage volume of the container. The container is removably positioned within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A valve is mounted to the container and configured for regulating a flow of liquid out of the storage volume of the container. | 07-17-2014 |