# US 2014/0150487 A1 · Modular cooling and low energy ice > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150487 A1 - Document ID: US20140150487A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,903 - 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/US20140150487A1 ## CPC - F25C 5/08: by heating bodies in contact with the ice - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25D 2317/061: through special compartments - 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, and an ice mold in the ice maker. The ice maker is configured to provide cooling air from a cool air source along a bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice. The ice maker is further configured to provide warm air from a warm air source along the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice. The warm air source may be a refrigeration compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet. The ice maker may be disposed within the refrigeration compartment or the freezer compartment. The ice maker may be configured to make clear ice. The ice mold may be fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice mold in the ice maker; the ice maker configured to receive cooling air from a cool air source along a bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice; the ice maker further configured to receive warm air from a warm air source along the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the warm air source is a refrigeration compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker is disposed within a refrigeration compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the ice maker is configured to make clear ice. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice maker is disposed within a freezer compartment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice mold is fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger operatively connected to the bottom side of the ice mold. ### Claim 8 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment; a refrigeration compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice mold in the ice maker having a bottom side; the ice maker configured to receive cooling air along the bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice; the ice maker further configured to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice; and wherein the ice maker is disposed within the refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the ice mold is fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the refrigeration compartment maintains a temperature of above freezing during the freezing of water to make ice by the ice maker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the ice maker is configured to make clear ice. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the ice maker is configured to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice using warm air. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12 wherein the warm air is air from the refrigeration compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a heat exchanger operatively connected to the bottom side of the ice mold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of fins. ### Claim 16 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment; a refrigeration compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice mold in the ice maker having a bottom side; the ice maker configured to cool the bottom side of the ice mold during freezing of water to make ice using cool air; the ice maker further configured to warm the bottom side of the ice mold to facilitate harvesting of the ice using warm air; and wherein the ice mold is fixed in place during the harvesting of the ice. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the ice maker is disposed within the refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the warm air is warm air from the refrigeration compartment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16 further comprising a heat exchanger operatively connected to the bottom side of the ice mold.