# US 2014/0150456 A1 · Refrigerator with icemaker chilled by thermoelectric device cooled by fresh food compartment air > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150456 A1 - Document ID: US20140150456A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,874 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN; BRIAN K. CULLEY; GREGORY G. HORTIN; MARK E. THOMAS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150456A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/04: reversible - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators} - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25D 2323/021: French doors - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator comprising: an icemaker mounted remotely from the freezer compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold; a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device having a warm side and opposite cold side; a flow pathway in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker; a fan positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an air return pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the fresh food compartment for exhausting air from the thermoelectric device to the fresh food compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an air return pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the freezer compartment for exhausting air from the thermoelectric device to the freezer compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an air return pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the icemaker for exhausting warm air from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker during an ice harvesting cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an air return pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and a water reservoir or line for supplying warm water at a water dispenser. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an air supply pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the fresh food compartment for supplying cold air to the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein flow pathway comprises a fluid loop in communication between the thermoelectric device and the icemaker for supplying cold fluid to the ice mold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising a pump positioned to move fluid from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchange interface between the flow pathway and a water reservoir or line for supplying: a. warm water at a water dispenser; b. chilled water at a water dispenser; c. chilled water at the icemaker. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchange interface between the flow pathway and: a. a cooling application on the door; b. a warming application on the door. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising: an insulated compartment on the door; an ice storage bin in the insulated compartment positioned to receive ice harvested from the ice mold; and the flow pathway in communication between the insulated compartment and the thermoelectric device for cooling the insulated compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the icemaker is mounted on the fresh food compartment door. ### Claim 13 A device with a cabinet body having an icemaker with an ice mold chilled at least partially by a thermoelectric device, comprising: an icemaker module having an icemaker with an ice mold selectively positioned within the cabinet body for providing ice to an ice receiving area; a thermoelectric device positioned on the icemaker module, the thermoelectric device having a cold side and a warm side; a first pathway configured to move a heat carrier between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker; a second pathway configured to move a heat carrier across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the second pathway comprises a return pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the cabinet body for exhausting the heat carrier from the thermoelectric device to the cabinet body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the second pathway comprises a supply pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the icemaker for exhausting the hear carrier from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker during an ice harvesting cycle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 further comprising: a water reservoir or line for supplying water at the icemaker; the cold side of the thermoelectric device in thermal contact with the water reservoir or line. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the second pathway comprises an air supply pathway in communication between the cabinet body and the thermoelectric device for supplying the heat carrier to the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the second pathway comprises an air return pathway in communication between the cabinet body and the thermoelectric device for returning air to the cabinet body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the first pathway comprises a fluid supply pathway in communication between the thermoelectric device and the icemaker for supplying cold fluid to the icemaker. ### Claim 20 A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator comprising: an icemaker mounted remotely from the freezer compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold; an ice storage bin in the insulated compartment positioned to receive ice harvested from the ice mold; a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device having a warm side and opposite cold side; a fluid supply pathway in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker; an air supply pathway in communication between the fresh food compartment and the warm side of the thermoelectric device.