Method and apparatus for controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEric K. Watson, Matthew William Davis, Omar Haidar, Ronald Scott Tarr, Joseph Waugh
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Abstract
A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.
Claims35
A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an icemaker compartment, a compressor and a coolant pump, the icemaker compartment including an ice mold body, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate;
- and
- (b) increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate.
A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an icemaker compartment, a compressor and a fan, the icemaker compartment including an ice mold body, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) activating at least one of the compressor and the fan during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate;
- and
- (b) increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the fan to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate.
A method of maintaining a temperature for storing ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an icemaker compartment, a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, a compressor, and a coolant pump, the icemaker compartment including an ice storage bin, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) activating the compressor;
- and
- (b) activating the coolant pump in response to activation of the compressor.
A method of maintaining a temperature for storing ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an icemaker compartment, a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, a compressor, and a fan, the icemaker compartment including an ice storage bin, the method comprising the steps of:
- (c) activating the compressor;
- and
- (d) activating the fan in response to activation of the compressor.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a fresh food compartment;
- an access door operable to selectively close the fresh food compartment;
- an icemaker compartment mounted on the access door;
- an icemaker disposed in the icemaker compartment, the icemaker comprising an ice mold body defining therein a plurality of ice cavities and an ice storage bin;
- a first temperature sensor disposed in the icemaker compartment;
- a heat exchanger disposed in the icemaker compartment;
- a compressor;
- a coolant pump;
- and
- a controller for regulating the coolant pump and the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.