Thermoelectric icemaker and control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDavid Joseph Najewicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, an icemaker for making ice in a fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator comprises a freezer compartment comprising a freezer door, and a fresh food compartment located over the freezer compartment and comprising a fresh food door. The fresh food door comprises an ice dispenser. An ice maker is located in the fresh food compartment, and the ice maker comprises an ice mold, and a thermoelectric device for moving heat from the ice mold. The mold is positioned so that ice from the mold can be dispensed by the ice dispenser in the fresh food door.
Claims28
A bottom mount refrigerator, comprising:
- a freezer compartment comprising a freezer door;
- a fresh food compartment located over said freezer compartment and
- comprising a fresh food door, said fresh food door comprising an ice dispenser;
- and
- an ice maker in said fresh food compartment, said ice maker comprising an ice mold, and a thermoelectric device for moving heat from said ice mold, said mold positioned so that ice from said mold can be dispensed by said ice dispenser in said fresh food door.
An icemaker for making ice in a fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator, the refrigerator further including a freezer compartment and a freezer air duct extending from the freezer compartment into the fresh food compartment, said icemaker comprising:
- an ice mold configured to be positioned in the fresh food compartment and in
- flow communication with the freezer air duct;
- a thermoelectric device for moving heat from said ice mold;
- and
- an air flow control device for controlling flow of freezer air through the freezer air duct.
A method for operating an icemaker in a fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator, the icemaker comprising an ice mold configured to be positioned in the fresh food compartment and in flow communication with a freezer air duct, a thermoelectric device for moving heat from the ice mold, and an air flow control device for controlling flow of freezer air through the freezer air duct, said method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a temperature of air flow from the thermoelectric device,
- when the temperature of air flow from the thermoelectric device is above a predetermined temperature, increasing the air flow through the freezer air duct, and
- when the temperature of air flow from the thermoelectric device is below a predetermined temperature, then decreasing the air flow through the freezer air duct.
A bottom mount refrigerator, comprising:
- a freezer compartment comprising a freezer door;
- a fresh food compartment located over said freezer compartment and comprising a fresh food door, said fresh food door comprising an ice dispenser;
- an ice maker in said fresh food compartment, said ice maker comprising an ice mold, said mold positioned so that ice from said mold can be dispensed by said ice dispenser in said fresh food door;
- and
- a fan for moving air from said freezer compartment over said ice mold.
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a freezer compartment;
- a fresh food compartment;
- an ice maker in said fresh food compartment, said ice maker comprising an ice mold;
- and
- a drawer located within said fresh food compartment, said ice mold positioned in said drawer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.