# US 2014/0150458 A1 · Fresh ice > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150458 A1 - Document ID: US20140150458A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,882 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150458A1 ## CPC - F25C 5/08: by heating bodies in contact with the ice - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 5/182: Ice bins therefor - F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators} - F25D 2400/02: Refrigerators including a heater - 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 A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket, a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket, and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice melted by the heater. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice storage bucket; a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket; a drain positioned to capture water from the ice melted by the heater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and wherein the ice maker is disposed within the fresh food compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is a resistance heater. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is a conduction heater. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is a side of a thermo electric cooler (TEC). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is a fluid warming loop. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is positioned at a bottom of the ice storage bucket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the heater provides for conductive heating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a control system operatively connected to the heater and wherein the control system provides for periodically operating the heater to melt the ice. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the heater is positioned at the ice maker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice maker comprises an ice mold and wherein the heater provides heat used to facilitate removal of the ice from the mold and to melt the ice stored in the ice storage bucket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a conduit at the drain to convey the melt water. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator further comprises an evaporator tray and where the conduit conveys the melt water to the evaporator tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice storage bucket comprises an insulated upper chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a funnel at a bottom of the ice storage bucket and wherein the water trap is positioned below the funnel. ### Claim 16 A method for providing fresh ice in a refrigerator, the method comprising: (a) providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket, and a heater; (b) making ice using the ice maker; (c) conveying the ice from the ice maker to the ice storage bucket for storage; (d) heating the ice in the ice storage bucket using the heater to melt the ice and provide melt water; and (e) draining the melt water from the ice storage bucket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising repeating steps (b) through (e) so that the ice within the ice storage bucket remains fresh. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising conveying the melt water to a remote location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the heater provides heating via conduction. ### Claim 20 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment; an ice storage bucket positioned below the ice maker, the ice storage bucket having an insulated upper chamber and a funnel below the insulated upper chamber; a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket; an ice chute extending from the funnel to a dispenser; and a water trap positioned along the ice chute to capture water from ice melted by the heater.