# US 2014/0150457 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 2014/0150457 A1 - Document ID: US20140150457A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,877 - 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/US20140150457A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/04: reversible - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25D 23/126: {Water cooler} - F25D 2317/061: through special compartments - 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 method for cooling in 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: providing an icemaker mounted remotely from the freezer compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold; positioning a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device having a warm side and opposite cold side; moving a fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker; moving air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising exhausting air from the thermoelectric device to the fresh food compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising exhausting air from the thermoelectric device to the freezer compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising exhausting warm air from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker during an ice harvesting cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising exhausting air from the thermoelectric device to a water reservoir or line for supplying warm water at a water dispenser. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising supplying cold air to the thermoelectric device from the fresh food compartment through an air supply pathway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising supplying cold fluid from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker through a fluid supply pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising pumping fluid from the icemaker to the thermoelectric device through a fluid return line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a heat exchange interface between a fluid supply pathway and a water reservoir or line for supplying: a. chilled water at a water dispenser; b. chilled water at the icemaker. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a heat exchange interface between a fluid return pathway and a water reservoir or line for supplying: a. warm water at a water dispenser; b. warm water at the icemaker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a heat exchange interface between: a. a fluid supply pathway and a cooling application on the door; b. a fluid return pathway and a warming application on the door. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing: an insulated compartment on the door; and an ice storage bin in the insulated compartment positioned to receive ice harvested from the ice mold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising supplying cold fluid from the thermoelectric device to the insulated compartment through a fluid supply pathway for cooling the insulated compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting the icemaker on the fresh food compartment door. ### Claim 15 A method for cooling in 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: providing an icemaker mounted remotely from the freezer compartment on the fresh food compartment door, the icemaker including an ice mold; locating a thermoelectric device on the fresh food compartment door; pumping fluid from the thermoelectric device to the icemaker; moving air from the fresh food compartment to the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising supplying cold fluid to the icemaker from the thermoelectric device through a fluid supply pathway by operating the thermoelectric device in a first mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising supplying warm fluid to the icemaker from the thermoelectric device through a fluid supply line by operating the thermoelectric device in a second mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim of claim 15 further comprising supplying fluid between: a. a cooling application on the door and the thermoelectric device through a fluid supply pathway; b. a warming application on the door the thermoelectric device through a fluid return pathway. ### Claim 19 A method for providing ice from an icemaker in a cabinet body, comprising: providing an icemaker module having an icemaker with an ice mold selectively positioned within a cabinet body having an ice receiving area; cooling the ice mold with a thermoelectric device positioned on the icemaker module, the thermoelectric device having a cold side and a warm side; moving a heat carrying medium on the icemaker module between the ice mold and the cold side of the thermoelectric device for chilling the ice mold; removing heat away from the icemaker module from off the warm side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising moving cool air from the cabinet body to the warm side of the thermoelectric device.