Icemaker assembly
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsVishal B. Chauhan, Giulia Marinello, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Kevin Y. Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a machine compartment positioned proximate the freezer compartment. An icemaker assembly is positioned within the freezer compartment. A fill tube extends from the machine compartment into the icemaker assembly. A first solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube. A second solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are positioned within the machine compartment. A controller is configured to independently open and close the first and second solenoid valves.
Claims20
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a freezer compartment;
- a machine compartment positioned proximate the freezer compartment;
- an icemaker assembly positioned within the freezer compartment;
- a fill tube extending from the machine compartment into the icemaker assembly;
- a first solenoid valve coupled to the fill tube;
- a second solenoid valve coupled to the fill tube, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are positioned within the machine compartment;
- and
- a controller configured to independently open and close the first and second solenoid valves.
An icemaker assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a housing;
- an ice tray positioned within the housing;
- a fill tube having a first portion positioned within the housing and a second portion positioned outside of the housing;
- an outlet tube coupled to the second portion of the fill tube;
- a first solenoid valve coupled to the fill tube;
- and
- a second solenoid valve coupled to the fill tube, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are operable between open and closed positions.
An icemaker assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a housing;
- an ice tray positioned within the housing;
- a fill tube having first and second ends with first and second portions disposed therebetween, wherein the first end positioned proximate the ice tray, and further wherein the first portion of the fill tube is positioned within the housing and the second portion of the fill tube is positioned outside the housing;
- a solenoid valve coupled to the second end of the fill tube and operable between opened and closed positions;
- an outlet tube coupled to the fill tube;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the solenoid valve for controlling the same.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.