# US 2014/0150460 A1 · Apparatus with ice maker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150460 A1 - Document ID: US20140150460A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,966 - 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/US20140150460A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25C 5/185: with freezing trays - F25D 21/14: Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25C 2400/14: Water supply - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25D 2317/0413: by humidification - 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 apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a housing; an icemaker disposed within the housing, the icemaker having an ice mold; a thermoelectric device having a warm side and a cold side, the cold side thermally coupled to the icemaker; a flow pathway in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device; a heat carrier in the flow pathway, the heat carrier configured to transfer heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ice storage bin for containing ice positioned below the icemaker. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to the ice storage bin to melt ice within the ice storage bin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a refrigerator, the housing is a refrigerator cabinet, and wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mounts throughout the housing and connectors on the icemaker for removably mounting the icemaker to the mounts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow pathway comprises a supply pathway for acquiring the heat carrier from a location remote from the icemaker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a supply pathway in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. ### Claim 8 A refrigerator that has a cabinet with fresh food compartment and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator comprising: an icemaker having an ice mold; a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device having a heat flow across opposing sides; a pathway for acquiring a heat carrier from a location, the pathway in communication with the thermoelectric device; a heat sink thermally coupling the heat flow across the thermoelectric device with the heat carrier in the flow pathway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the ice mold is thermally coupled to a side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising an ice storage bin thermally coupled to a side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the pathway is thermally coupled with a warm side of the thermoelectric device and the ice storage bin to melt ice. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the pathway is thermally coupled with a cold side of the thermoelectric device and the ice storage bin to chill the bin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the icemaker has a first location on the refrigerator compartment door and a second location in the refrigerator compartment, wherein a fluid line between the cabinet and the icemaker remains connected when the icemaker is moved between the first and second locations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a moveable bin placeable within the refrigerator compartment, the bin thermally coupled to a side of the thermoelectric device to warm or cool the bin. ### Claim 15 A method for warming or cooling in an apparatus comprising: providing a housing, an icemaker disposed within the housing, and an ice mold within the icemaker; thermally coupling a thermoelectric device to the icemaker, the thermoelectric device having a heat flow across opposing sides; configuring a pathway in communication with a side of the thermoelectric device; moving a heat carrier through the pathway from a location separate from the thermoelectric device; absorbing or rejecting the heat flow from the side of the thermoelectric device for supporting operations of the apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising melting ice in an ice storage bin with heat from a warm side of the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising capturing ice melt from the ice storage bin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising communicating fluid or air through the pathway from a refrigerator compartment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising communicating fluid or air through the pathway from a freezer compartment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising absorbing or rejecting heat from the ice mold in a supply pathway thermally coupled between the thermoelectric device and the icemaker.