Water dispenser abstract
An ice and water dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator positioned
on a refrigerator compartment door. The ice maker and ice cube storage
bin can have below 0.degree. C. air provided to maintain the ice
maker and ice cube storage bin below 0.degree. C. Supply and return
ducts can convey below 0.degree. C. air to the ice maker and ice
cube storage bin. The supply and return ducts can lead from the
bottom freezer compartment or from an evaporator compartment. The
ice maker and ice cube storage bin can be located in insulated sub-compartment
to allow normal refrigerator compartment temperatures to be maintained
in the above freezing refrigerator compartment.
Water dispenser claims
1. An ice maker and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator
comprising: a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below
0.degree. C.; a refrigerator compartment positioned above the freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C.; an insulated
freezer compartment door; an insulated refrigerator compartment
door; a refrigeration system for cooling the freezer compartment
and the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker positioned on the
refrigerator compartment door; an ice cube storage bin positioned
on the refrigerator door below the ice maker; an ice dispenser positioned
on the refrigerator door for dispensing ice pieces from the ice
cube storage bin through the refrigerator door; and an air delivery
system leading to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a
source of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled to below
0.degree. C. to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin.
2. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 1 wherein the air delivery system leads from
the freezer compartment to the ice maker and ice storage bin.
3. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 2 wherein the air delivery system includes a
supply duct and a return duct.
4. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 3 wherein the supply duct and return duct each
include a first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator
door and a second air delivery portion leading from the bottom of
the refrigerator door to the freezer compartment.
5. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 4 wherein the second air delivery portion of
the supply duct and the return duct includes a first end positioned
in the refrigerator compartment and a second end adjacent an opening
in the freezer compartment.
6. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 4 further wherein the supply duct and return
duct include a seal to seal the first air delivery portion to the
second air delivery portion when the refrigerator door is closed.
7. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 2 further including an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
causes air from the below freezing compartment to flow to the ice
maker and to the ice cube storage bin and return to the freezer
compartment.
8. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 2 further including an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
causes air from the below freezing compartment to flow to the ice
maker and to the ice cube storage bin and return from the ice maker
to the freezer compartment and from the ice cube storage bin to
the refrigerator compartment.
9. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 7 wherein the air delivery system includes a
supply duct and a return duct and the ice maker fan is connected
to the return duct, and the ice maker fan draws below 0.degree.
C. air from the freezer compartment through the supply duct to the
ice maker and ice cube storage bin and then through the return duct
to the ice maker fan.
10. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 9 wherein the supply duct and return duct include
a first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator door and
a second air delivery portion leading from the bottom of the refrigerator
door to the freezer compartment, and the ice maker fan is connected
to the second end of the second air delivery portion of the return
duct.
11. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 9 wherein the ice maker fan discharges air from
the return duct into the freezer compartment.
12. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 11 wherein the return duct includes a discharge
outlet in the freezer compartment arranged to direct air toward
the inlet to the refrigeration system.
13. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 7 wherein the air delivery system includes a
first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator door and
a second air delivery portion leading from the bottom of the refrigerator
door to the freezer compartment, and the ice maker fan is connected
to the first air delivery portion of the air duct in the refrigerator
door.
14. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 13 wherein the air duct includes a supply duct
and a return duct each having a first air delivery portion carried
on the refrigerator door and a second air delivery portion leading
from the bottom of the refrigerator door to the freezer compartment
wherein the ice maker fan is connected to the first air delivery
portion of the return duct and draws below 0.degree. C. air from
the freezer compartment through the supply duct to the ice maker
and ice cube storage bin and then through the return duct.
15. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 1 wherein the refrigeration system includes
an evaporator compartment and wherein the air delivery system leads
from the evaporator compartment to the ice maker and ice storage
bin.
16. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 15 wherein the air delivery system includes
a supply duct and a return duct.
17. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 16 wherein the supply duct and return duct include
a first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator door and
a second air delivery portion leading from the refrigerator door
to the evaporator compartment.
18. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 17 wherein the second air delivery portion of
the supply duct and the return duct includes a first end positioned
in the refrigerator compartment and a second end that communicates
with the evaporator compartment.
19. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 17 further wherein the supply duct and return
duct include a seal to seal the first air delivery portion to the
second air delivery portion when the refrigerator door is closed.
20. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 15 further including an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
causes air from the evaporator compartment to flow to the ice maker
and to the ice cube storage bin and return to the evaporator compartment.
21. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 15 further including an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
causes air from the evaporator compartment to flow to the ice maker
and to the ice cube storage bin and return from the ice maker to
the evaporator compartment and from the ice cube storage bin to
the refrigerator compartment.
22. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 20 wherein the ice maker fan is connected to
the return duct and draws below 0.degree. C. air from the evaporator
compartment through the supply duct to the ice maker and ice cube
storage bin and then the return duct.
23. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 22 wherein the ice maker fan is connected to
the second end of the second air delivery portion of the return
duct.
24. An ice maker and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator
comprising: a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below
0.degree. C.; a refrigerator compartment positioned above the freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C.; an insulated
freezer compartment door; an insulated refrigerator compartment
door; a refrigeration system for cooling the freezer compartment
and the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker positioned in an
insulated ice maker sub-compartment on the refrigerator compartment
door; an insulated ice cube storage bin positioned on the refrigerator
door below the ice maker; an ice dispenser positioned on the refrigerator
door below the ice cube storage bin for dispensing ice pieces from
the ice cube storage bin through the refrigerator door; and an air
delivery system leading to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin
from a source of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled
to below 0.degree. C. to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin.
25. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 24 wherein the ice cube storage bin is positioned
in an insulated ice cube storage bin sub-compartment on the refrigerator
door.
26. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 25 wherein the ice cube storage bin sub-compartment
comprises a space enclosed by an insulated cover movably carried
by the insulated refrigerator door.
27. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 26 wherein the insulated cover is pivotally
mounted on the refrigerator door liner, and wherein the insulated
cover is transparent and includes a gasket for forming a seal to
the refrigerator door liner.
28. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 27 wherein the interface between the insulated
cover and the refrigerator door liner is substantially planar.
29. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 27 wherein the insulated cover is pivotally
mounted on the refrigerator inner door liner by a plurality of pegs
carried by the insulated cover and wherein the cover is removably
mounted on the refrigerator inner door without tools.
30. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 27 wherein the insulated cover is pivotally
mounted on the refrigerator door liner such that the insulated cover
is automatically closed when the refrigerator door is closed.
31. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 24 wherein the ice cube storage bin is positioned
in the insulated ice maker sub-compartment below the ice maker.
32. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 31 wherein the insulated ice maker sub-compartment
comprises a space enclosed by an insulated cover movably carried
by the insulated refrigerator door that encloses the ice maker and
ice storage bin.
33. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 32 wherein the insulated cover is pivotally
mounted on the refrigerator door liner, and wherein the insulated
cover includes a gasket for forming a seal to the refrigerator door
liner.
34. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 24 wherein the insulated ice cube storage bin
comprises side walls and a bottom wall formed of insulating material.
35. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 34 wherein the insulated ice cube storage bin
is formed of clear insulating double wall material.
36. An ice maker and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator
comprising: a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below
0.degree. C.; a refrigerator compartment positioned above the freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C.; an insulated
freezer compartment door; an insulated refrigerator compartment
door; a refrigeration system for cooling the freezer compartment
and the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker positioned in an
insulated ice maker sub-compartment on the refrigerator compartment
door and having a mold for forming ice pieces; an ice cube storage
bin positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice maker; an
ice dispenser positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice
cube storage bin for dispensing ice pieces from the ice cube storage
bin through the refrigerator door; an air delivery system including
a supply duct and a return duct leading to the ice maker and ice
cube storage bin from a source of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying
air cooled to below 0.degree. C. to the ice maker and to the ice
storage bin; an ice maker fan connected to the air delivery system
wherein operation of the ice maker fan causes air from the source
of below 0.degree. C. air to flow to the ice maker and to the ice
storage bin; and wherein the supply duct and the return duct include
a first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator door and
a second air delivery portion leading from the bottom of the refrigerator
door to the source of below 0.degree. C. air.
37. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 36 wherein the first air delivery portion of
the supply duct and the return duct includes a vertical portion
extending from the bottom of the refrigerator door to the ice maker
sub compartment.
38. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 36 wherein the ice maker mold includes side
walls and a bottom wall and the ice maker further comprises a housing
enclosing the side walls and bottom wall of the ice mold forming
an air flow passage around the ice maker mold.
39. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 38 wherein the housing includes side walls and
a bottom wall spaced from the side walls and bottom wall of the
ice mold and the air flow passage comprises the space between the
ice mold and the housing.
40. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 38 wherein the housing substantially contains
the below 0.degree. C. air.
41. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 39 wherein the ice maker mold includes a plurality
of fins extending from the side walls and bottom wall of the ice
mold and extending substantially to the side walls and bottom wall
of the housing.
42. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 41 wherein the fins are arranged to form an
elongated air flow passage around the bottom and sides of the ice
maker mold.
43. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 37 further including a supply connector leading
from an outlet in the top of the vertical portion of the supply
duct to the air flow passage around the ice maker mold.
44. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 43 further including a return connector leading
from the air flow passage around the ice maker mold to the return
duct.
45. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 37 further including an inlet port in the vertical
portion of the supply duct adjacent the ice cube storage bin and
an outlet port in the vertical portion of the return duct adjacent
the ice storage bin.
46. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 45 further including an ice cube storage bin
damper to control air flow through one or both of the inlet port
and the outlet port.
47. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 46 further including an ice cube storage bin
temperature sensor adjacent the ice cube storage bin and a control
connected to the ice cube storage bin temperature sensor and to
the ice cube storage bin damper, wherein the control to regulates
the position of the ice cube storage bin damper in response to the
temperature sensed by the ice cube storage bin temperature sensor.
48. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 47 wherein the ice cube storage bin damper is
a two position damper arranged to open or close one or both of the
inlet and outlet ports.
49. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 47 wherein the ice cube storage bin damper is
continuously adjustable wherein the control regulates the position
of the ice cube storage bin damper in response to the temperature
sensed by the ice cube storage bin temperature sensor.
50. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 45 wherein the inlet port and the outlet port
are sized to maintain the temperature of the ice cube storage bin
below 0.degree. C.
51. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 37 further including an inlet port in the vertical
portion of the supply duct adjacent the ice cube storage bin and
a ice cube storage bin damper to control air flow through the inlet
port.
52. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 51 wherein air flowing through the inlet port
to cool the ice cube storage bin flows to the refrigerator compartment
after cooling the ice storage bin.
53. An ice maker and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator
comprising: a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below
0.degree. C.; a refrigerator compartment positioned above the freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C.; an insulated
freezer compartment door; an insulated refrigerator compartment
door; a refrigerator system for cooling the freezer compartment
and the refrigerator compartment including a compressor; an automatic
ice maker positioned on the refrigerator compartment door; an ice
cube storage bin positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice
maker; an ice cube storage bin temperature sensor adjacent the ice
storage bin; an ice dispenser positioned on the refrigerator door
below the ice cube storage bin for dispensing ice pieces from the
ice cube storage bin through the refrigerator door; an air delivery
system leading to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a
source of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled to below
0.degree. C. to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin and having
at least one port adjacent the ice storage bin; an ice cube storage
bin damper to control air flow through the at least one port; an
ice maker fan connected to the air delivery system wherein operation
of the ice maker fan causes air from the source of below 0.degree.
C. air to flow to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin; and
an ice maker control for the automatic ice maker, the ice maker
fan, and the ice cube storage bin damper arranged to: open the ice
cube storage bin damper and operate the ice maker fan when the ice
cube storage bin temperature sensor indicates ice cube storage bin
needs cooling; and operate the ice maker fan when the ice maker
is producing ice.
54. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 53 wherein the control further includes a quick
ice mode of operation, the compressor is further arranged to operate
at multiple speeds including high speed, and the ice maker fan is
further arranged to operate at least a high speed and a normal speed,
wherein when the quick ice mode is selected the ice maker control
is arranged to operate the compressor at high speed and the ice
maker fan at high speed.
55. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 54 further including a freezer compartment temperature
controller and a refrigerator compartment temperature controller
connected to the ice maker control, and wherein the ice maker control
is arranged to reduce the compressor speed when the freezer compartment
temperature control or the refrigerator compartment control sense
a temperature below a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator
compartment or the freezer compartment.
56. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 54 wherein the ice maker control is arranged
to operate the ice maker fan at normal speed when the quick ice
mode of operation is not selected.
57. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 54 wherein the ice maker control is arranged
to turn off the compressor in the event the freezer compartment
temperature control or the refrigerator compartment control sense
a temperature below a predetermined temperature in either the refrigerator
compartment or the freezer compartment and the compressor is operating
at the lowest speed.
58. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 53 wherein the ice maker control is arranged
to stop the ice maker fan when the ice cube storage bin temperature
sensor indicates the ice cube storage bin does not need cooling.
59. The ice maker and dispenser for the bottom freezer refrigerator
according to claim 53 further including an ice cube storage bin
level sensor arranged to sense when the ice cube storage bin is
filled with ice pieces, and wherein the ice cube storage bin level
sensor is connected to the ice maker control, and wherein the ice
maker control further includes a mode to disable ice harvesting
and is arranged to disable ice harvesting when the ice cube storage
bin level sensor senses that the ice cube storage bin is filled
with ice pieces.
60. In a bottom freezer refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment
maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C. positioned above
a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below 0.degree.
C., a refrigeration system for cooling the refrigerator and freezer
compartments, and having an automatic ice maker positioned on the
refrigerator compartment door, a method of producing ice cubes comprising:
operating the refrigeration system to provide cooling to the refrigerator
and freezer compartments; filling the ice maker with water; supplying
the ice maker with below 0.degree. C. air for forming ice cubes.
61. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 60 wherein
the bottom freezer refrigerator includes an air delivery system
leading from a source of below 0.degree. C. air to the ice maker,
and wherein the step of supplying below 0.degree. C. air comprises
causing below 0.degree. C. air to flow through the air delivery
system to the ice maker.
62. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 61 wherein
the air delivery system leads from the freezer compartment to the
ice maker and the air delivery system includes a supply duct and
a return duct, wherein the step of supplying below 0.degree. C.
air comprises causing below 0.degree. C. air to flow through the
supply duct to the ice maker, and the method of producing ice cubes
further includes the step of returning below 0.degree. C. air from
the ice maker to the freezer compartment through the return duct.
63. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 60 wherein
the bottom freezer refrigerator includes an ice cube storage bin
positioned on the refrigerator compartment door below the ice maker,
and wherein the method of producing ice cubes further includes the
step of supplying below 0.degree. C. air to the ice cube storage
bin.
64. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 63 wherein
the bottom freezer refrigerator includes an air delivery system
leading from a source of below 0.degree. C. air to the ice maker
and the ice cube storage bin, and wherein the step of supplying
below 0.degree. C. air comprises causing below 0.degree. C. air
to flow through the air delivery system to the ice maker and ice
cube storage bin.
65. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 64 wherein
the air delivery system leads from the freezer compartment to the
ice maker and the ice cube storage bin and the air delivery system
includes a supply duct and a return duct, wherein the step of supplying
below 0.degree. C. air comprises causing below 0.degree. C. air
to flow through the supply duct to the ice maker and the ice cube
storage bin, and the method of producing ice cubes further includes
the step of returning below 0.degree. C. air from the ice maker
and the ice cube storage bin to the freezer compartment through
the return duct.
66. The method of producing ice cubes according to claim 64 wherein
the air delivery system leads from the freezer compartment to the
ice maker and the ice cube storage bin and the air delivery system
includes a supply duct and a return duct, wherein the step of supplying
below 0.degree. C. air comprises causing below 0.degree. C. air
to flow through the supply duct to the ice maker and the ice cube
storage bin, and the method of producing ice cubes further includes
the step of returning below 0.degree. C. air from the ice maker
to the freezer compartment through the return duct, and returning
below 0.degree. C. air from the ice cube storage bin to the refrigerator
compartment.
67. A method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom freezer
refrigerator having a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature
below 0.degree. C.; a refrigerator compartment positioned above
the freezer compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree.
C.; an insulated refrigerator compartment door; a refrigeration
system for cooling the freezer compartment and the refrigerator
compartment having a compressor; an ice maker positioned on the
refrigerator door; an ice cube storage bin positioned on the refrigerator
door below the ice maker; an air delivery system leading to the
ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a source of below 0.degree.
C. air for supplying air cooled to below 0.degree. C. to the ice
maker and ice cube storage bin and having at least one port adjacent
the ice bin and having an ice bin damper for selectively opening
and closing the at least one port; and an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
supplies air cooled to below 0.degree. C. to the ice maker and ice
storage bin; the method comprising: opening the ice maker damper
and operating the ice maker fan when the ice cube storage bin needs
cooling and closing the ice maker damper when the ice cube storage
bin no longer requires cooling.
68. The method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom
freezer refrigerator according to claim 67 wherein the automatic
ice maker has a quick ice mode of operation, the compressor is a
variable speed compressor and the ice maker fan is arranged for
at least high speed and normal speed operation and the method further
comprises: operating the compressor at high speed and the ice maker
fan at high speed when the quick mode is requested; and reducing
the compressor speed when the refrigerator compartment or freezer
compartment temperatures are below a predetermined minimum temperature.
69. The method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom
freezer refrigerator according to claim 68 wherein the method further
comprises: turning off the compressor if the step of reducing the
compressor speed reduces the compressor speed below a predetermined
minimum speed.
70. The method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom
freezer refrigerator according to claim 68 wherein the method further
comprises: operating the ice maker fan at the normal speed when
the quick ice mode is not requested.
71. The method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom
freezer refrigerator according to claim 67 wherein the method further
comprises: operating the ice maker fan when ice is requested from
the ice maker.
72. The method of producing and storing ice pieces in a bottom
freezer refrigerator according to claim 67 wherein the method further
comprises: stopping the ice maker fan when ice is not requested
from the ice maker and the ice cube storage bin does not require
cooling.
Water dispenser description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to the following U.S. patent
applications filed concurrently herewith: US20020155 and US20040124.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an ice and water dispenser positioned
on the refrigerator compartment door of a bottom freezer refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Automatic ice making systems for use in refrigerator freezers
are well known. Typically, ice making systems include an ice maker
mounted in the freezer compartment with an ice cube storage bin
supported under the ice maker. Ice making systems may also include
ice dispensing systems for delivering ice cubes through a dispenser
on the face of the refrigerator freezer. Side by side refrigerator
freezers typically have the ice dispenser on the face of the freezer
compartment door. Side by side refrigerator freezers can have the
ice storage bin, and even the ice maker positioned on the freezer
compartment door.
[0006] Automatic ice making systems mounted in the refrigerator
compartment or on the refrigerator compartment door are also known.
Top freezer or side by side refrigerators having an automatic ice
maker in the freezer compartment and an ice dispenser on the face
of the refrigerator compartment door are also known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention relates to an ice maker and dispenser for
a bottom freezer refrigerator having a freezer compartment maintained
at a temperature below 0.degree. C., a refrigerator compartment
positioned above the freezer compartment maintained at a temperature
above 0.degree. C., an insulated freezer compartment door, an insulated
refrigerator compartment door, and a refrigeration system for cooling
the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The ice
maker is positioned on the refrigerator compartment door, an ice
cube storage bin is positioned on the refrigerator door below the
ice maker, and an ice dispenser positioned on the refrigerator door
for dispensing ice pieces from the ice cube storage bin through
the refrigerator door. The bottom freezer refrigerator includes
an air delivery system leading to the ice maker and ice cube storage
bin from a source of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled
to below 0.degree. C. to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin.
[0008] The air delivery system can lead from the freezer compartment
to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin and can include a supply
duct and a return duct. The supply duct and return duct can each
include a first air delivery portion carried on the refrigerator
compartment door and a second air delivery portion leading from
the bottom of the refrigerator door to the freezer compartment.
[0009] The supply duct and return duct can include a seal to seal
the first air delivery portion to the second air delivery portion
when the refrigerator door is closed.
[0010] The air delivery system can include an ice maker fan connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
causes air from the below freezing compartment to flow to the ice
maker and to the ice cube storage bin and return to the freezer
compartment. The ice maker fan can be connected to the return duct
so that the ice maker fan draws below 0.degree. C. air from the
freezer compartment through the supply duct to the ice maker and
ice cube storage bin and then through the return duct to the ice
maker fan. The ice maker fan can discharge air from the return duct
into the freezer compartment.
[0011] In another aspect the invention relates to an air delivery
system for a bottom freezer refrigerator that leads from the evaporator
compartment of the refrigeration system to the ice maker and ice
cube storage bin.
[0012] In another aspect the invention relates to an ice maker
and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator having a freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature below 0.degree. C., a refrigerator
compartment positioned above the freezer compartment maintained
at a temperature above 0.degree. C., an insulated freezer compartment
door, an insulated refrigerator compartment door, and a refrigeration
system for cooling the freezer compartment and the refrigerator
compartment. An ice maker is positioned in an insulated ice maker
sub-compartment on the refrigerator compartment door, an insulated
ice cube storage bin is positioned on the refrigerator door below
the ice maker, and an ice dispenser is positioned on the refrigerator
door below the ice cube storage bin for dispensing ice pieces from
the ice cube storage bin through the refrigerator door. An air delivery
system leads to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a source
of below 0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled to below 0.degree.
C. to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin.
[0013] The ice cube storage bin can be positioned in an insulated
ice cube storage bin sub-compartment on the refrigerator door. The
insulated ice cube storage bin sub-compartment can comprise a space
enclosed by an insulated cover movably carried by the refrigerator
compartment door. The insulated cover can be transparent and the
insulated cover can be pivotally mounted on the refrigerator door.
The insulated cover can include a gasket for forming a seal to the
refrigerator door liner.
[0014] In another aspect the insulated ice cube storage bin comprises
side walls and a bottom wall formed of insulating material. The
ice cube storage bin can be formed of clear insulating double wall
material.
[0015] In another aspect the invention relates to an ice maker
and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator having a freezer
compartment maintained at a temperature below 0.degree. C., a refrigerator
compartment positioned above the freezer compartment maintained
at a temperature above 0.degree. C., an insulated freezer compartment
door, an insulated refrigerator compartment door, and a refrigeration
system for cooling the freezer compartment and the refrigerator
compartment. An ice maker is positioned in an insulated ice maker
sub-compartment on the refrigerator compartment door having a mold
for forming ice pieces, an ice cube storage bin is positioned on
the refrigerator door below the ice maker, and an ice dispenser
is positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice cube storage
bin for dispensing ice pieces from the ice cube storage bin through
the refrigerator door. The bottom freezer refrigerator includes
air delivery system having a supply duct and a return duct leading
to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a source of below
0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled to below 0.degree. C.
to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin. The air delivery system
includes an ice maker fan connected to the air delivery system wherein
operation of the ice maker fan causes air from the source of below
0.degree. C. air to flow to the ice maker and to the ice storage
bin. The supply duct and the return duct include a first air delivery
portion carried on the refrigerator door and a second air delivery
portion leading from the bottom of the refrigerator door to the
source of below 0.degree. C. air.
[0016] The first air delivery portion of the supply duct and the
return duct includes a vertical portion extending from the bottom
of the refrigerator door to the ice maker sub-compartment.
[0017] The ice maker mold includes side walls and a bottom wall
and the ice maker further comprises a housing enclosing the side
walls and bottom wall of the ice mold forming an air flow passage
around the ice maker mold. The housing includes side walls and a
bottom wall spaced from the side walls and bottom wall of the ice
mold and the air flow passage comprises the space between the ice
mold and the housing.
[0018] The ice maker mold can include a plurality of fins extending
from the side walls and bottom wall of the ice mold and extending
substantially to the side walls and bottom wall of the housing.
The fins can be arranged to form an elongated air flow passage around
the bottom and sides of the ice maker mold.
[0019] A supply connector can be provided to lead from the outlet
in the top of the vertical portion of the supply duct to the air
flow passage around the ice maker mold. A return connector can be
provided to lead from the air flow passage around the ice maker
mold to the return duct.
[0020] An inlet port can be provided in the vertical portion of
the supply duct adjacent the ice cube storage bin and an outlet
port can be provided in the vertical portion of the return duct
adjacent the ice storage bin. An ice cube storage bin damper can
be provided to control air flow through one or both of the inlet
port and the outlet port.
[0021] An ice cube storage bin temperature sensor can be positioned
adjacent the ice cube storage bin and connected to a control to
regulate the position of the ice cube storage bin damper in response
to the temperature sensed by the ice cube storage bin temperature
sensor. The ice storage damper can be a two position damper arranged
to open or close one or both of the inlet and outlet ports.
[0022] In another aspect of the invention the ice storage damper
can be continuously adjustable in response to the temperature sensed
by the ice cube storage bin temperature sensor.
[0023] Another aspect of the invention relates to an ice maker
and dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator a freezer compartment
maintained at a temperature below 0.degree. C., a refrigerator compartment
positioned above the freezer compartment maintained at a temperature
above 0.degree. C., an insulated freezer compartment door, an insulated
refrigerator compartment door, and a refrigerator system for cooling
the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment including
a compressor. An automatic ice maker is positioned on the refrigerator
compartment door, an ice cube storage bin is positioned on the refrigerator
door below the ice maker, an ice cube storage bin temperature sensor
is positioned adjacent the ice storage bin, and an ice dispenser
positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice cube storage bin
for dispensing ice pieces from the ice cube storage bin through
the refrigerator door. An air delivery system is provided leading
to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin from a source of below
0.degree. C. air for supplying air cooled to below 0.degree. C.
to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin and having at least one
port adjacent the ice storage bin, an ice cube storage bin damper
to control air flow through the at least one port, and an ice maker
fan connected to the air delivery system wherein operation of the
ice maker fan causes air from the source of below 0.degree. C. air
to flow to the ice maker and to the ice storage bin. An ice maker
control is provided for the automatic ice maker, the ice maker fan
and the ice cube storage bin damper to open the ice cube storage
bin damper and operate the ice maker fan when the ice cube storage
bin temperature sensor indicates ice cube storage bin needs cooling,
and to operate the ice maker fan when the ice maker is producing
ice.
[0024] The control can include a quick ice mode of operation and
the compressor can be arranged to operate at multiple speeds including
high speed and the ice maker fan can be arranged to operate at a
high speed and a normal speed. In the quick ice mode the control
is arranged to operate the compressor at high speed and the ice
maker fan at high speed.
[0025] The bottom freezer refrigerator can include a freezer temperature
controller and a refrigerator compartment controller connected to
the ice maker control. The ice maker control can be arranged to
reduce the compressor speed when the freezer compartment temperature
control or the refrigerator compartment temperature control sense
a temperature below a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator
compartment or the freezer compartment.
[0026] The ice maker control can be arranged to operate the ice
maker fan at normal speed when the quick ice mode is not selected.
The ice maker control can be arranged to turn off the compressor
in the event the freezer compartment or refrigerator compartment
temperature controls sense a temperature below a predetermined temperature
and the compressor is operating at the lowest speed.
[0027] The ice maker control can be arranged to stop the ice maker
fan when the ice cube storage bin temperature sensor indicates the
ice cube storage bin does not need cooling.
[0028] In another aspect the invention relates to the method of
producing ice cubes in a bottom freezer refrigerator having a refrigerator
compartment maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C. positioned
above a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below 0.degree.
C., a refrigeration system for cooling the refrigerator and freezer
compartments, and an automatic ice maker positioned on the refrigerator
compartment door comprising the steps of operating the refrigeration
system to provide cooling to the refrigerator and freezer compartments,
filling the ice maker with water, and supplying the ice maker with
below 0.degree. C. air for forming ice cubes.
[0029] The step of supplying below 0.degree. C. air can comprise
causing below 0.degree. C. air to flow through an air delivery system
leading from a source of below 0.degree. C. air to the ice maker.
The step of supplying below 0.degree. C. air can comprise causing
below 0.degree. C. air to flow through a supply duct to the ice
maker and returning below 0.degree. C. air from the ice maker through
a return duct.
[0030] The bottom freezer refrigerator can include an ice cube
storage bin on the refrigerator compartment door below the ice maker
and the method of producing ice cubes further includes the step
of supplying below 0.degree. C. air to the ice storage bin.
[0031] In another aspect the invention relates to a method of producing
and storing ice pieces in a bottom freezer refrigerator having a
freezer compartment maintained at a temperature below 0.degree.
C., a refrigerator compartment positioned above the freezer compartment
maintained at a temperature above 0.degree. C., an insulated refrigerator
compartment door, and a refrigeration system for cooling the freezer
compartment and the refrigerator compartment having a compressor.
An ice maker is positioned on the refrigerator door, an ice cube
storage bin is positioned on the refrigerator door below the ice
maker, and an air delivery system is provided leading to the ice
maker and ice cube storage bin from a source of below 0.degree.
C. air for supplying air cooled to below 0.degree. C. to the ice
maker and ice cube storage bin and having at least one port adjacent
the ice bin and having an ice bin damper for selectively opening
and closing the at least one port. An ice maker fan is connected
to the air delivery system wherein operation of the ice maker fan
supplies air cooled to below 0.degree. C. to the ice maker and ice
cube storage bin, and the method comprises opening the ice maker
damper and operating the ice maker fan when the ice cube storage
bin needs cooling and closing the ice maker damper when the ice
cube storage bin no longer requires cooling.
[0032] The automatic ice maker can have a quick ice mode of operation
and the method of producing and storing ice pieces can further comprises
operating the compressor at high speed and the ice maker fan at
high speed when the quick mode is requested, and reducing the compressor
speed when the refrigerator or freezer compartment temperatures
are below a predetermined minimum temperature.
[0033] The method of producing and storing ice pieces can include
the step of turning off the compressor if the step of reducing the
compressor speed reduces the compressor speed below a predetermined
minimum speed. The method can further comprise operating the ice
maker fan at the normal speed when the quick ice mode is not requested.
[0034] The method of producing and storing ice pieces can include
the step of operating the ice maker fan when ice is requested form
the ice maker. The method can include the step of stopping the ice
maker fan when ice is not requested from the ice maker and the ice
cube storage bin does not require cooling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottom freezer refrigerator
having an ice maker and ice and water dispenser according to the
present invention positioned on a refrigerator compartment door.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom freezer refrigerator
shown in FIG. 1 with the refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment
doors open.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a bottom freezer
refrigerator illustrating an embodiment of an ice maker and ice
dispenser according to the present invention positioned on a refrigerator
compartment door.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 3 with insulated covers moved to show an ice maker, ice cube
storage bin ice dispenser mechanism and air passages that can be
used with the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 4A is a partial detail drawing illustrating hinges
for the insulated cover for the ice cube storage bin.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 3 showing connection of air passages from the freezer compartment
to air passages on the refrigerator compartment door.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating the ice maker
and ice cube storage bin of the embodiment of FIG. 3 spaced from
the refrigerator compartment door.
[0042] FIG. 7 is another partial exploded view illustrating the
ice maker and ice cube storage bin of the embodiment of FIG. 3 spaced
from the refrigerator compartment door.
[0043] FIG. 7A is a schematic cross section view illustrating the
ice maker mold, housing and return shroud of the embodiment of FIG.
3.
[0044] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of one
embodiment of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of bottom
freezer refrigerator including an ice maker and ice dispenser according
to the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom freezer refrigerator
embodiment of FIG. 9 with the refrigerator compartment and freezer
compartment doors open.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ice
maker configured for use according to the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ice maker of FIG. 11
with a housing forming air passages around the ice mold removed.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
ice maker air delivery system according to the invention removed
from a bottom freezer refrigerator.
[0050] FIG. 14 is a partial front perspective view of a bottom
freezer refrigerator liner with an air delivery system as shown
in FIG. 13 installed.
[0051] FIG. 15 is a partial front perspective view of a bottom
freezer refrigerator with an air delivery system as shown in FIG.
13 installed with portions of the refrigerator compartment and freezer
compartment liners removed.
[0052] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control circuit that can
be used with the embodiment of the invention described the flow
chart in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0053] There are three basic configurations of refrigerator freezers
for consumers to choose from, a bottom freezer configuration, a
top freezer configuration and a side by side configuration. For
consumers that desire to have an ice and water dispenser on the
exterior of their refrigerator freezer the choice is essentially
reduced to the side by side configuration. Bottom freezer refrigerators
are desirable for the easy access to the refrigerator compartment.
Thus, many consumers are torn between the easy refrigerator compartment
access bottom freezer refrigerators offer and the availability of
ice and water dispensing in the side by side configuration. Most
refrigerator freezers having ice dispensers are configured with
the ice cube storage bin positioned below the ice maker in the freezer
compartment and the ice dispenser positioned on the freezer compartment
door below the ice cube storage bin. This arrangement is not practical
for bottom freezer refrigerators since the ice dispenser would be
at the very bottom of the freezer compartment door adjacent to the
floor.
[0054] According to the present invention, the ice maker, ice cube
storage bin and ice dispenser can be positioned on a refrigerator
compartment door. Turning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a bottom freezer
refrigerator having an ice maker and dispenser apparatus according
to the invention can be seen. Bottom freezer refrigerator 50 can
have a cabinet 52 including a refrigerator compartment 54 maintained
at above 0.degree. C. temperatures and a freezer compartment 56
maintained at below 0.degree. C. temperatures. Freezer compartment
56 is positioned in the bottom of cabinet 52 and refrigerator compartment
54 is positioned above freezer compartment 56. In the embodiment
of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 bottom freezer 50 can have two refrigerator
compartment doors 68 and 69 arranged side by side. The bottom freezer
refrigerator 50 configuration shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is sometimes
referred to as a French door bottom mount refrigerator freezer.
Conventional door handles 44 46 and 48 are shown on refrigerator
compartment doors 68 and 69 and freezer compartment door 66. Those
skilled in the art will readily understand that different handles,
or no handles, can be provided for the doors as is well known in
the art. Refrigerator compartment 54 can include a plurality of
shelves 74 that can be fixed or can be adjustable as shown in FIG.
2. One or more bins 76 can be provided in refrigerator compartment
54 for storing food items such as meats, vegetables, fruit and other
food items that can benefit from storage in a closed receptacle
that can be temperature and/or humidity controlled as is well known
in the art. Likewise, one or more shelves or baskets (not shown)
can be provided in freezer compartment 56 again as well known in
the art.
[0055] Refrigerator 50 can have a refrigeration system (not shown)
for cooling the refrigerator compartment 54 and freezer compartment
56. The refrigeration system can include a compressor, condenser,
evaporator and expansion device, all not shown, as is well known
in the art. The compressor can be a variable speed compressor to
provide variable cooling rates, again well known in the art. Refrigerator
50 can also have a control system (not shown) that can include temperature
sensors (not shown) for the refrigerator compartment 54 and freezer
compartment 56 connected to refrigerator and freezer compartment
temperature controllers (not shown) to maintain the temperatures
in the respective compartments at user selected temperatures. The
evaporator (not shown) can be positioned in an evaporator compartment
75 that can be positioned along the back wall of the freezer compartment
as is well known in the art. Refrigerator 50 can also have one or
more water valves 95 positioned in the machinery compartment for
supplying the ice maker and ice a water dispenser as is well known
in the art. While water valve 95 is illustrated in the machinery
compartment as a single valve those skill in the art will understand
that more than one valve may be included and may be positioned in
other locations in refrigerator 50 as desired. The operation of
refrigerator 50 and the control system are described in more detail
below in conjunction with FIG. 8 and FIG. 16.
[0056] Refrigerator compartment door 69 can include an ice and
water dispenser 72 positioned on the face of the door. Ice and water
dispenser 72 can be positioned on refrigerator compartment door
69 at a convenient height for user access as is well known in the
art. A user interface 73 can be positioned adjacent ice and water
dispenser 72 for users to select ice and water dispensing alternatives
such as "quick ice" described below, and other refrigerator
freezer operation parameters such as described in co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/861203 incorporated herein by reference.
Ice making, storage and dispensing apparatus 130 can be positioned
on the inside surface of refrigerator compartment door 69 and can
include an insulated cover 134. Ice making, storage and dispensing
apparatus 130 can be positioned to feed ice cubes to the dispenser
72 as is well known in the art. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2 an air duct (not shown) can be provided leading from a source
of below 0.degree. C. air to the insulated enclosure 134 to facilitate
formation and storing ice cubes. When refrigerator compartment door
69 is closed ice making, storage and dispensing apparatus 130 is
positioned in refrigerated compartment 54 that is maintained above
0.degree. C. Insulated enclosure 134 in effect forms a sub-compartment
that can be maintained below 0.degree. C. to facilitate formation
and storage of ice cubes without upsetting normal above 0.degree.
C. temperatures in the refrigerator compartment 54. Alternately,
ice making, storage and dispensing apparatus 130 can be located
on refrigerator compartment door 68 together with ice and water
dispenser 72 if desired.
[0057] Turning to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 another embodiment of the invention
can be seen. An ice maker 82 can be mounted adjacent the top of
refrigerator compartment door 69 spaced from inner door panel 70.
An ice cube storage bin 84 can be positioned below ice maker 82
and arranged so that ice cubes harvested from ice maker 82 can fall
through ice chute 92 (FIGS. 6 and 7) into ice cube storage bin 84.
Ice chute 92 can be located between the rear of ice maker 82 and
inner door 70 in opening 89 (FIGS. 6 and 7) to direct ice cubes
into ice cube storage bin 84. Ice cube storage bin 84 can rest on
top of ice dispenser 86. An insulated cover 88 can be provided to
substantially enclose ice maker 82. An insulated cover 90 can be
provided to substantially enclose ice cube storage bin 84 and ice
dispenser 86. Insulated covers 88 and 90 can form sub-compartments
that can be maintained below 0.degree. C. to facilitate formation
and storage of ice cubes. Insulated cover 88 can include one or
more latching surfaces (not shown) arranged to hold cover 88 in
place forming a below 0.degree. C. enclosure for ice maker 82 as
refrigerator compartment door 69 is opened and closed in use. As
described above, insulated cover 88 and insulated cover 90 allow
the respective sub-compartments to be maintained at below 0.degree.
C. temperatures without upsetting normal above 0.degree. C. temperatures
in refrigerator compartment 54.
[0058] Insulated cover 90 can be pivotally mounted to inner door
panel 70 with hinges 77. Hinging insulated cover 90 to inner door
panel 70 can allow easy access to ice cube storage bin 84 to, for
example, facilitate removal of ice cube storage bin 84 to bulk dispense
ice cubes into a cooler or the like. Insulated cover 90 can be arranged
so that it can be closed automatically as refrigerator compartment
door 69 is closed. Insulated cover 90 can be provided with a gasket
79 on the surface facing inner door panel 70 to seal against a surface
of inner door panel 70. Those skilled in the art will understand
that gasket 79 can be urethane foam or other suitable resilient
gasket material. To facilitate sealing, the surface of inner door
panel 70 against which insulated cover 90 closes can be arranged
in a plane. A mechanical or magnetic latch (not shown) can be provided
to hold insulated cover 90 in a closed position as shown in FIG.
3. Alternately, insulated cover 90 can be provided with a magnetic
gasket that can interact with a metal plate or magnet positioned
opposite the gasket on the inside surface of inner door 70. The
hinges 77 pivotally mounting insulated cover 90 to inner door panel
70 can be two part hinges. Hinges 77 can have one or more pegs 78
carried on insulated cover 90 that insert into mating support holes
78' that can be mounted or formed in inner door panel 70 that can
allow removal of the cover 90 without tools, see FIG. 4A. Insulated
covers 88 and 90 can be formed of insulating material such as styrobead
material or can be formed of double wall plastic sheets with insulating
space between the sheets that can be filled with insulating material
or gaseous material. Those skilled in the art will understand that
the covers 88 and 90 can be transparent, translucent or opaque as
desired in order for the ice maker, ice cube storage bin and ice
dispenser to be visible or hidden from view when the refrigerator
compartment door 69 is opened.
[0059] Insulated cover 90 can be omitted if ice cube storage bin
84 is formed of insulating material. In one embodiment, ice cube
storage bin 84 can be formed of double wall plastic material with
sufficient insulating properties to maintain ice cubes in the bin
frozen and sufficiently cold to preclude individual cubes from melting
together. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that
suitable clear plastic materials such as described above can be
used to form an insulated ice cube storage bin 84. Similarly, those
skilled in the art will understand that if no insulating cover is
provided below 0.degree. C. air flow can be directed into ice cube
storage bin 84 in a manner to preclude undesirable leakage to the
refrigerator compartment. Below 0.degree. C. air flow for cooling
the ice cube storage bin will be described in further detail below.
[0060] Ice cube storage bin 84 and ice dispenser 86 can be similar
to the ice delivery system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130
assigned to the assignee of this application and incorporated herein
by reference. Co-pending patent applications, US20020155 and US20040124
filed concurrently with this application and incorporated herein
by reference, disclose ice makers that can be used as the ice maker
82 in this invention. Those skilled in the art that an ice delivery
system such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130 can be used
in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or can be provided with
an insulating ice cube storage bin as described above, and can be
positioned on refrigerator compartment door to cooperate with ice
maker 82 and with ice and water dispenser 72 (as shown on FIG. 1).
Ice cube storage bin 84 can have a level sensor 91 (see FIG. 16)
that can cooperate with notch 85 in the sidewall of ice cube storage
bin 84 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130. While one approach
to level sensing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130 those
skilled in the art will understand that many ways to determine the
level of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin are known and can
be used in place of the optical system described in the above identified
patent application. Ice maker 82 and the ice and water dispenser
72 can be provided with water under control of a water valve 95
(see FIG. 16) that can be included in the bottom freezer refrigerator
as is well known in the art. Control of water to the ice and water
dispenser 72 and ice maker 82 can be a variable flow water system
as disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/861569
incorporated herein by reference. Water can be supplied to door
69 for ice and water dispenser 72 and for ice maker 82 as is well
known in the art.
[0061] In this embodiment of the invention below 0.degree. C. air
can be supplied to ice maker 82 and ice cube storage bin 84 by an
air delivery system that can lead from freezer compartment 56. The
air delivery system can include a first air delivery portion 100
that can be positioned along one side of refrigerator compartment
door 69 against inner door panel 70. The air delivery system can
include a second air delivery portion 106 positioned along a side
wall of refrigerator compartment 54 and leading down toward freezer
compartment 56. First air delivery portion 100 can include a supply
duct 102 and a return duct 104. Those skilled in the art will understand
that first air delivery portion 100 can be a dual passage tube having
two air passages forming supply duct 102 and return duct 104. First
air delivery portion 100 can be formed of thermoformed or injection
molded plastic material and can be covered or enclosed with insulating
material such as rigid styrobead. Second air delivery portion 106
can similarly comprise a supply duct 108 and a return duct 110.
Second air delivery portion 106 can be a dual passage tube formed
of plastic material similar to first air delivery portion 100. The
faces of first and second air delivery portions 100 and 106 can
abut when refrigerator door 69 is closed and can be arranged so
that supply ducts 102 and 108 and return ducts 104 and 110 are opposite
one another, and can form a continuous passage when refrigerator
compartment door 69 is closed. The face of first and second air
delivery portions 100 and 106 can include suitable sealing surfaces
for the supply and return ducts so that substantially air tight
connections can be made when refrigerator compartment door 69 is
closed. For example, resilient gasket material 101 such as urethane
foam can be provided around the inlets to ducts 108 and 110 to form
a substantially air tight seal when refrigerator door 69 is closed
and first air delivery portion 100 contacts second delivery portion
106. Those skilled in the art will understand that other gasket
arrangements can be provided to seal the first air delivery portion
100 and second delivery portion 106 when refrigerator door 69 is
closed. In addition those skilled in the art will understand that
first air delivery portion 100 including supply duct 102 and return
duct 104 can be formed as part of inner door panel 70. Alternately,
first air delivery portion 100 can be provided between inner door
panel 70 and the outer panel of refrigerator compartment door 69.
Those skilled in the art will also understand that the interface
between supply and return ducts 102 and 104 and return ducts 108
and 110 can be formed as a bellows providing an enclosed passage
when door 69 is open in lieu of surface seals.
[0062] As mentioned above, the first and second air delivery portions
100 and 106 can be insulated to limit heat transfer from the below
0.degree. C. air being delivered to the ice maker 82 and ice cube
storage bin 84 to the above 0.degree. C. refrigerator compartment
54. Similarly, insulation can be provided to prevent the refrigerator
cabinet 50 from sweating on or near the interface between the first
and second air delivery portions 100 and 106. Alternately, those
skilled in the art will understand that heaters can be provided
for the cabinet adjacent the interface between the first and second
air delivery portions 100 and 106 to prevent condensation or frost
buildup inside or outside of refrigerator 50 as is well known in
the art.
[0063] Turning to FIG. 5 an ice maker fan 122 can be mounted at
the top wall 57 of freezer compartment 56. Insulation can be provided
in the space 55 between the refrigerator compartment 54 and freezer
compartment 56 as is well understood in the art. Ice maker fan 122
can be connected to return duct 110 to draw below 0.degree. C. air
from freezer compartment 56 to ice maker 82 and ice cube storage
bin 84. Ice maker fan 122 can be connected to return duct 110 to
draw air from duct 110 and discharge the air into freezer compartment
56 through an outlet 107. Outlet 107 can be aimed to the inlet to
the refrigeration system that can include an evaporator compartment
along the rear wall of freezer compartment 56 as is well known in
the art. As ice maker fan 122 draws air from return duct 110 below
0.degree. C. air from freezer compartment 56 can flow into supply
duct 108 through an inlet 109. Those skilled in the art will understand
that outlet 107 and inlet 109 can be provided with a suitable grill
to preclude items from freezer compartment 56 enter outlet 107 or
inlet 109. Below 0.degree. C. air can flow from supply duct 108
to supply duct 102 in the first air delivery portion to ice maker
82 and ice cube storage bin 84. Air from ice maker 82 and ice cube
storage bin 84 can flow in return duct 104 to return duct 110 and
thence to ice maker fan 122. An advantage of locating ice maker
fan 122 in freezer compartment 56 connected to return duct 110 is
that power input to the ice maker fan 122 is added to the air stream
after it has cooled the ice maker 82 or ice cube storage bin 84.
By locating ice maker fan 122 at the discharge of the return duct
110 the air delivery system for the ice maker and ice cube storage
bin can operate at slightly less than atmospheric pressure to help
seals sealing the air delivery system make positive contact. However,
those skilled in the art will understand that ice maker fan 122
can be arranged, and can be used, to force air through supply ducts
108 and 102 rather than drawing air through return ducts 110 and
104 as shown in this embodiment. In addition ice maker fan 122 can
be positioned on refrigerator compartment door 69 rather than in
freezer compartment 56 as described in conjunction with FIGS. 13
to 15 below. Those skilled in the art will understand that instead
of a separate ice maker fan, a conventional evaporator fan plus
a suitable air flow control such as a damper can be used to circulate
below 0.degree. C. air to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin.
[0064] Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7 ice maker 82 and ice cube storage
bin 84 can be seen spaced from inner door 70 in an exploded view.
Ice maker 82 can have an ice chute 92 located along the rear edge
of the ice mold 80 arranged to direct ice cubes harvested from the
ice mold 80 downward into ice cube storage bin 84. Ice maker fill
tube 113 can be provided at the top of inner door 70 arranged to
cooperate with water inlet element 115 to fill ice maker 82. Fill
tube 113 can be supplied with water by water valve 95 as is well
known in the art. The entrance into ice chute 92 substantially fills
the space between the ice mold 80 and the inner door 70 when ice
maker 82 is mounted spaced from the inner door 70 on support 87.
Support 87 can include an opening 89 that can accommodate ice chute
92. Ice maker 82 can be arranged to cause harvested ice cubes to
fall off the rear edge of ice mold 80 into ice chute 92 into ice
cube storage bin 84 as is well known in the art. As described above,
ice cube storage bin 84 can be positioned on dispenser 86 as described
in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130 fully incorporated in this application
by reference. Supply duct 102 and return duct 104 can be connected
to ice maker 82 by a supply connector 112 and a return connector
114 that can lead from first air delivery portion 100 to ice maker
82. Ice maker 82 can have a housing 120 enclosing the base of ice
mold 80 as described in more detail below in connection with FIGS.
11 and 12. Supply connector 112 can connect to supply inlet 116
connected to housing 120 at housing inlet 121. Return connector
114 can connect return outlet 118. Referring to FIG. 7A in addition
to FIGS. 6 and 7 a return shroud 125 can be positioned over bottom
wall 124 and the side wall 126 of housing 120 to form a return passage
123. Thus, return passage 123 can be the space between housing 120
and return shroud 125. Side wall 126 of housing 120 can extend part
way up the side wall of ice mold 80. Side wall 127 of return shroud
125 can extend further up the side wall of ice mold 80 and thus
define an outlet 129 from air passage 119 described below in connection
with FIGS. 11 and 12. Return passage 123 can be defined by the space
between wall 126 and wall 127 along the side of ice mold 80 and
the space between bottom wall 124 and return shroud base 128. As
described in this embodiment, return passage 123 can be a generally
"L" shaped passage leading from the side of ice maker
82 opposite housing inlet 121 to return outlet 118. Return outlet
118 can connect to return passage 123 at return shroud base 128.
Air flow from supply inlet 116 through housing inlet 121 through
air passage 119 described below and through return passage 123 to
return outlet 118 is shown by arrows in FIG. 7A. While housing 120
and return shroud 125 are described in this embodiment as a single
elements those skilled in the art will understand that housing 120
and return shroud 125 can be formed of multiple elements if desired.
[0065] Turning to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 ice maker 82 can be seen
removed from refrigerator door 69. Ice maker 82 can include a housing
83 for the ice maker control and drive mechanisms as is well known
in the art. Extending from housing 83 can be an ice mold 80 having
a plurality of cavities (not shown) for holding water to be frozen
into ice cubes. Ice mold 80 can be an epoxy coated metal mold formed
of aluminum or other material having good thermal conductive properties
as is well known in the art. In addition, ice mold 80 can have a
plurality of fins 81 extending from the side and bottom walls of
the ice mold 80 to facilitate heat transfer from the ice mold during
ice cube freezing cycles. While only one side wall is shown in FIGS.
11 and 12 the other side wall (not shown) can also have a plurality
of fins 81. A housing 120 can be provided to substantially enclose
the bottom and side walls of the ice mold 80. Housing 120 can include
a housing inlet opening 121. The supply inlet 116 can be positioned
over inlet opening 121. Return shroud 125 can overly the side 126
of housing 120 (shown in FIG. 7A) opposite housing inlet opening
121 and bottom wall 124 as described above. Side 126 of housing
120 can define an outlet opening 129 with return shroud side 127
to allow chilled air to flow into the return passage 123 between
return shroud 125 and housing 120. As described above, return shroud
base 128 can be spaced from housing bottom wall 124 to define the
bottom leg of the return passage leading to return outlet 118. The
spaces between adjacent fins 81 ice mold 80 and housing 120 can
define an air passage 119 for the below 0.degree. C. air circulating
from supply duct 102 to return duct 104. Housing 120 return shroud
125 supply inlet 116 and return outlet 118 can form an air flow
circuit around the base of the ice mold 80 to circulate below 0.degree.
C. air in air passage 119. The below 0.degree. C. air from supply
inlet 116 can enter air passage inlet 121 and flow through air flow
passage 119 between fins 81 to the opposite side of the ice mold
80 and through outlet 129 and passage 123 between housing 120 and
return shroud 125. Thus, air flow passage 119 and return passage
123 contain below 0.degree. C. air flow to the substantially enclosed
space around the bottom and sides of the ice mold 80. Those skilled
in the art will understand that housing 120 and ice mold 80 can
take other forms to provide a contained air flow path around the
base of the ice mold within the scope of the invention. The air
flow arrangement according to the invention is substantially different
from conventional ice makers having air flowing over the top and
sides of the ice maker. Advantages of the air flow arrangement of
this invention around the base of the ice mold include enhanced
ice production rates resulting from greater heat transfer from the
ice mold. Containing the below 0.degree. C. air in air flow passage
119 facilitates temperature control in the refrigerator compartment
notwithstanding the below 0.degree. C. air flow to the ice maker
82 and ice cube storage bin 84. Further, cooling the ice mold from
the bottom and sides can allow ice to freeze from the bottom up.
Freezing ice cubes from the bottom up can help eliminate creation
of "ice volcanoes" that can occur when water in the ice
mold freezes from the top to the bottom of the mold. When water
at the top of an ice mold freezes first when the lower part freezes
it expands and can force a channel of water to either the upper
or lower surface, possibly damaging the ice mold. Those skilled
in the art will understand that below 0.degree. C. air can be delivered
to an ice maker without containing the chilled air to the base of
the ice mold if the design of the ice maker renders that impractical.
When the below 0.degree. C. air is not contained to the base of
the ice mold, as in this embodiment, insulating covers such as 88
and 90 can be modified to maintain acceptable above 0.degree. C.
temperatures in the refrigerator compartment.
[0066] Returning to FIG. 6 supply duct 102 and return duct 104
can have an opening adjacent the ice cube storage bin 84 to provide
a flow of below 0.degree. C. air for the ice cube storage bin 84.
Supply duct 102 can have a port 103 and return duct 104 can have
a port 105 positioned below ice maker 82 and arranged to discharge
and collect below 0.degree. C. air from ice cube storage bin 84.
A damper 111 can be provided to regulate the flow of below 0.degree.
C. air into and out of the ice cube storage bin 84. To provide satisfactory
ice cube storage it can be desirable to control the temperature
in the ice cube storage bin to below 0.degree. C. However, applicants
have found that it is not necessary to maintain the ice cube storage
bin as cold as freezer compartment 56 for satisfactory ice cube
storage. Damper 111 can be arranged for manual adjustment by a user,
or can be operated by a feedback control (not shown) including a
temperature sensor, described below, for the ice cube storage bin.
Feedback controls capable of operating damper 111 based on temperature
sensed by a temperature sensor are well known in the art. Damper
111 can be arranged to have two positions, open and closed, or can
be arranged to be infinitely adjustable. In either case damper 111
can be operated by a suitable feedback control as will be readily
understood by those skilled in the art. Another alternative can
be to size the ports 103 and 105 so that no damper is required over
the normal range of operating conditions. With this alternative,
ports 103 and 105 can be sized to provide a sufficient, but not
excessive amount of below 0.degree. C. air to maintain satisfactory
temperatures in the ice cube storage bin 84. Those skilled in the
art will understand that other means can be provided to cool ice
cube storage bin 84 including thermoelectric cooling, a separate
chilled air supply/return or heat pipes leading to a source of below
0.degree. C. temperatures.
[0067] A temperature sensor 94 can be provided for the ice cube
storage bin 84 as can be seen in FIG. 6. Temperature sensor 94 can
be positioned on inner door 70 adjacent ice cube storage bin 84
when it is installed on refrigerator compartment door 69. Temperature
sensor 94 can be a thermistor or similar sensor conventionally used
to control refrigerator and freezer compartment temperatures and
can be connected to ice maker control 138 as described in more detail
below in connection with FIG. 16. While temperature sensor 94 is
described herein as a thermistor those skilled in the art will readily
understand that temperature sensor 94 can be another temperature
sensitive device such as a thermocouple or bi-metal thermostat.
[0068] Alternately, only a supply duct port 103 can be provided.
After cooling the ice cube storage bin 84 the below 0.degree. C.
air can be allowed to enter the refrigerator compartment 54 and
return to the refrigeration system with air in the refrigerator
compartment. In this embodiment a damper 111 and feedback control
as described above can be provided to control the ice cube storage
bin temperature.
[0069] As mentioned above, the ice maker according to the invention
can provide enhanced ice production. In one embodiment of the ice
maker according to the invention the ice maker control 138 can be
arranged to provide enhanced ("quick ice") and normal
ice production rates. Ice maker control 138 can be a control dedicated
to operation of the ice maker and ice dispenser, or can be a portion
of an integrated controller for the bottom freezer refrigerator
50 as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In
order to provide "quick ice" operation, ice maker fan
122 can be a multiple speed fan having normal and high speed capability.
Turning to FIG. 8 and FIG. 16 a flow chart and control circuit for
ice maker 82 and control 138 arranged to provide a "quick ice"
feature can be seen. Beginning with Start, 150 the ice maker control
138 can determine whether the ice cube storage bin requires cooling,
step 151. If cooling is required the feedback control (not shown)
can operate damper 111 to open supply duct port 103 and return duct
port 104 step 152. If cooling is not required the feedback control
can operate damper 111 to close supply duct port 103 and return
duct port 104 step 153. Next ice maker control 138 can determine
if the ice maker 82 is requested to make ice, step 154 for example
by an ice cube storage bin level sensor 91 as mentioned above. If
ice is not required the ice maker control 138 can determine if the
ice cube storage bin 84 requires cooling, step 155. If the ice cube
storage bin 84 does not require cooling, as determined by a temperature
sensor 94 for ice cube storage bin 84 as described above, the ice
maker control 138 can stop the ice maker fan 122 step 156. If the
ice cube storage bin 84 requires cooling but no ice is requested
the ice harvest cycle for the ice maker 82 is disabled, step 157
and the ice maker fan 122 is set for normal speed operation, step
158.
[0070] If ice maker control 138 determines ice is requested in
step 154 an ice maker harvest cycle can be initiated, step 159.
Ice maker operation including filling the ice mold with water, ice
cube formation and ice harvesting are all well known in the art.
One example of automatic ice maker operation to harvest ice cubes
can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6082130 referred to above and incorporated
herein by reference. After a harvest cycle is initiated ice maker
control 138 determines if enhanced ice production, or "quick
ice" has been selected by the user, step 160. Those skilled
in the art will understand that "quick ice" can be a user
selection that can be included on a user interface 73 that can be
positioned on the face of the refrigerator compartment door 69 adjacent
the ice and water dispenser 72 see FIG. 1. If "quick ice"
is not selected the ice maker control 138 can continue to operate
ice maker fan 122 at the normal speed, step 161. If "quick
ice" is selected by the user, the ice maker fan 122 can be
set to operate at high speed, step 162 and the compressor 136 can
be set to operate at high speed, step 163 by the ice maker control
138. When ice maker fan 122 and the compressor are set to operate
at high speed, steps 162 and 163 the ice maker control 138 can
be arranged to determine if the temperature in the refrigerator
compartment or freezer compartment is below a predetermined minimum
temperature, step 164. Ice maker control 138 can be connected to
the refrigerator control system and the respective temperature controllers
140 and 142 to determine whether the refrigerator or freezer compartment
temperatures are below predetermined temperatures. If refrigerator
and freezer compartment temperatures are not below the predetermined
minimum temperatures the ice maker control 138 can allow the compressor
136 and ice maker fan 122 to continue to operate at high speed.
If refrigerator or freezer compartment temperatures are below the
predetermined minimum temperatures as measured by the temperature
sensors 140 and 142 for the respective compartments the ice maker
control 138 can reduce the compressor speed, step 165. If the compressor
136 is then running at a predetermined minimum speed, the ice maker
control 138 can stop the compressor operation. The ice maker control
138 can be arranged to cycle through the steps described above every
one-half to two minutes. Those skilled in the art will understand
that the sampling rate can be faster or slower depending on ambient
temperature, door openings and the like.
[0071] Turning to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 another embodiment of bottom
freezer refrigerator having an ice maker and dispenser apparatus
according to the invention can be seen. Bottom freezer refrigerator
50' can have a cabinet 52 including a refrigerator compartment 54
maintained at above 0.degree. C. temperatures and a freezer compartment
56 maintained at below 0.degree. C. temperatures. Freezer compartment
56 is positioned in the bottom of compartment 52 and refrigerator
compartment 54 is positioned above freezer compartment 56. In the
embodiment of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 bottom freezer refrigerator 50'
can have refrigerator compartment door 170 to close the refrigerator
compartment 54. Bottom freezer refrigerator 50' is generally the
same as bottom freezer refrigerator 50 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2 with the exception of the refrigerator compartment door 170. Accordingly,
the same reference numerals are used for the embodiment of FIG.
9 and FIG. 10 with the exception of the refrigerator compartment
doors. While no door handles are shown on refrigerator compartment
door 170 and freezer compartment door 66' those skilled in the art
will readily understand that handles for the doors can be provided
if desired as is well known in the art. Refrigerator compartment
54 can include a plurality of shelves 74 that can be fixed or can
be adjustable as shown in FIG. 10. One or more bins 76 can be provide
in refrigerator compartment 54 for storing food items such as meats,
vegetables, fruit and other food items that can benefit from storage
in a closed receptacle that can be temperature and/or humidity controlled
as is well known in the art. Likewise, one or more shelves or baskets
(not shown) can be provided in freezer compartment 56 again as
is well known in the art.
[0072] Refrigerator compartment door 170 can include an ice and
water dispenser 72 positioned on the face of the door. Ice and water
dispenser 72 can be positioned on refrigerator compartment door
170 at a convenient height for user access as is well known in the
art. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a user interface
73 can be positioned adjacent ice and water dispenser 72 for users
to select ice and water dispensing alternatives such as "quick
ice" described above, and other refrigerator freezer operation
parameters such as described in co-pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/861203 incorporated herein by reference. Ice making
and dispensing apparatus 130 can be positioned on the inside surface
of refrigerator compartment 69 and can include an insulated enclosure
134. Ice making and dispensing apparatus 130 can be positioned to
feed ice cubes to the dispenser 72 as is well known in the art.
As in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 an air duct (not shown)
can be provided leading from a source of below 0.degree. C. air
to the insulated enclosure 134 to facilitate formation and storing
ice cubes in refrigerated space, refrigerated compartment 54 that
is maintained above 0.degree. C. Insulated enclosure 134 in effect
forms a sub-compartment that can be maintained below 0.degree. C.
to facilitate formation and storage of ice cubes. The ice maker,
ice cube storage bin and ice dispenser of the embodiment of FIGS.
3 through 7 can be used in the bottom freezer refrigerator in the
embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 as will be understood by those skilled
in the art. Those skilled in the art will understand that in the
embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 that the ice cube storage bin and dispenser
could be arranged side by side rather than vertically if desired.
[0073] Turning to FIGS. 13 to 15 an alternate embodiment of an
ice maker air delivery system can be seen removed from the bottom
freezer refrigerator. Air delivery system 180 can include a first
air delivery portion 182 that can be mounted to or in a refrigerator
compartment door (not shown) that can be a door like that shown
in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 9. Air delivery system 180 can
include a second air delivery portion 184 that can be mounted to
or in the side walls 59 and 61 of the refrigerator compartment 54
and freezer compartment 56 as described above. First air delivery
portion 182 of the air delivery system 180 can include a supply
duct 186 and a return duct 188. First air delivery portion 182 can
include a supply duct connector 192 leading from supply duct 186
to an ice mold cooling cavity 190. First air delivery portion 182
can also include a return duct connector 194 leading from the ice
mold cooling cavity 190 to return duct 188. An ice maker 82 (not
shown) similar to the ice maker in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to
7 can be positioned on top of ice mold cooling cavity 190 with the
ice mold 80 (not shown) extending down into the ice mold cooling
cavity 190. Those skilled in the art will understand that the ice
maker and ice mold can be arranged to close off the open top of
the ice mold cooling cavity to enclose the base of ice mold (not
shown) and contain the flow of below 0.degree. C. air around the
base of the ice mold as described above in connection with FIGS.
11 and 12. An ice chute 196 can be positioned at the rear side of
ice mold cooling cavity 190 to direct ice cubes harvested from ice
maker (not shown) down into an ice cube storage bin (not shown)
that can be arranged similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3
to 7. Second air delivery portion 184 can include a cabinet duct
198 having a first cabinet duct leg 200 that can be positioned along
refrigerator compartment side wall 59 and can extend through insulation
space 55 into freezer compartment 56. Duct 198 can have a second
cabinet duct leg 202 that can extend along freezer compartment side
wall 61 adjacent freezer compartment top wall 62 toward freezer
compartment rear wall 63. Duct 198 can include a supply duct and
a return duct as described above in connection with FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0074] In the embodiment of the air delivery system shown in FIGS.
13 to 15 an ice maker fan 204 can be positioned on the refrigerator
compartment door, not shown. Ice maker fan 204 can be connected
to return duct 188 and arranged to draw below 0.degree. C. air through
the air delivery system 180 through the supply ducts and ice maker
190 as described above. First air delivery portion 182 can be connected
to second air delivery portion 184 when the refrigerator compartment
door (not shown) is closed by supply interface 206 and return interface
208. The air delivery system is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 in the refrigerator
compartment door closed position. Supply interface 206 can lead
from supply duct 186 to first cabinet duct leg 200. Similarly, return
interface 208 can lead from return duct 188 to first cabinet duct
leg 200. First cabinet duct leg 200 can have openings (not shown)
in surface 210 that communicate with the supply duct and return
duct in first cabinet duct leg 200. Supply interface 206 and return
interface 208 can have matching openings (not shown) in the face
210 adjoining first cabinet duct leg 200 that can allow below 0.degree.
C. air to flow through the ice maker air delivery system 180 in
operation. As described above in connection with FIGS. 3 to 5 supply
and return interfaces 206 and 208 and first cabinet duct leg 200
can have a gasket or sealing surface (not visible in FIGS. 13 to
15) for the openings to facilitate effective sealing of the first
air delivery portion 182 to the second air delivery portion 184
in operation. Second air delivery portion 184 can extend to the
rear of freezer compartment 56 and can connect to an evaporator
cover 212 that can be positioned along the rear wall 63 of the freezer
compartment 56. Below 0.degree. C. air can be drawn out the evaporator
compartment (not shown) behind evaporator cover 212 and through
the air delivery system 180 to the ice maker (not shown) and ice
cube storage bin (not shown).
[0075] While the invention has been specifically described in connection
with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood
that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the
scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the
prior art will permit. |