# US 9,518,774 B2 · Ice making appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,774 B2 - Document ID: US9518774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/279,686 - Filed: 2014-05-16 - Published: 2015-11-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-16 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518774B2 ## CPC - F25C 5/182: Ice bins therefor - F25D 17/06: by forced circulation - F25C 2400/08: for different type of ice - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25D 17/045: {Air flow control arrangements} - F25D 21/14: Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays - 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 An ice making appliance is provided. The ice making appliance includes a first ice maker and a second ice maker. The first and second ice makers generate different types of ice. The ice making appliance also includes supply ducts for receiving chilled air from an evaporator and directing the chilled air to the first and second ice makers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ice making appliance, comprising: a cabinet; a first ice maker positioned within the cabinet and configured for producing a first type of ice; a second ice maker positioned within the cabinet and configured for producing a second type of ice, the first and second types of ice being different; a sealed system comprising an evaporator, the evaporator configured for generating chilled air during operation of the sealed system; a first supply duct having an inlet positioned for receiving the chilled air from the evaporator, the first supply duct extending from the inlet of the first supply duct to the first ice maker in order to direct the chilled air from the evaporator to the first ice maker; a second supply duct having an inlet positioned for receiving the chilled air from the evaporator, the second supply duct extending from the inlet of the second supply duct to the second ice maker in order to direct the chilled air from the evaporator to the second ice maker; a first return duct that extends from the first ice maker to about the evaporator; and a second return duct that extends from the second ice maker to about the evaporator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising an air handler operable to urge the chilled air from the evaporator into the first and second supply ducts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ice making appliance of claim 2, further comprising a damper, the damper selectively adjustable between a first position, a second position and a third position, the damper obstructing the first supply duct in the first position, the damper obstructing the second supply duct in the second position, the damper obstructing neither the first supply duct nor the second supply duct in the third position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising a first storage bin and a second storage bin disposed within the cabinet, the first storage bin positioned for receiving ice from the first ice maker, the second storage bin positioned for receiving ice from the second ice maker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ice making appliance of claim 1, further comprising an open topped evaporation pan positioned at a bottom portion of the cabinet, a drain conduit and a storage bin disposed within the cabinet, the storage bin positioned for receiving ice from the first ice maker, the drain conduit extending between the storage bin and the open topped evaporation pan. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ice making appliance of claim 5, wherein the sealed system further comprises a condenser, the condenser of the sealed system positioned directly above the open top evaporation pan sized. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The ice making appliance of claim 5, wherein the ice making appliance is not plumbed to an external drain line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The ice making appliance of claim 5, further comprising a drain line extending from said evaporation pan to an external drain. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the first ice maker is a clear cube-style ice maker and the second ice maker is a nugget-style ice maker. ### Claim 10 An ice making appliance, comprising: a cabinet; means for producing a first type of ice with chilled air; means for producing a second type of ice with chilled air, the first and second types of ice being different; a sealed system comprising an evaporator, the evaporator configured for generating the chilled air during operation of the sealed system; an open topped evaporation pan positioned at a bottom portion of the cabinet; a storage bin disposed within the cabinet, the storage bin positioned for receiving ice from the first ice maker, the drain conduit extending between the storage bin and the open topped evaporation pan, wherein the sealed system further comprises a condenser, the condenser of the sealed system positioned directly above the open top evaporation pan. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ice making appliance of claim 10, further comprising an air handler operable to circulate the chilled air. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ice making appliance of claim 10, wherein the ice making appliance is not plumbed to an external drain line. ### Claim 13 A method for operating an ice making appliance, comprising: generating chilled air at an evaporator of a sealed system of the ice making appliance; directing the chilled air from the evaporator to a first ice maker of the ice making appliance and a second ice maker of the ice making appliance; forming a first type of ice in the first ice maker and a second type of ice in the second ice maker during said step of directing, the first and second types of ice being different; and storing the first type of ice in a first storage bin of the ice making appliance and the second type of ice in a second storage bin of the ice making appliance; establishing whether the first or second storage bins are full of ice; and actuating a damper of the ice making appliance to a first position of the first storage bin is full at said step of establishing or to a second position if the second ice storage bin is full at said step of establishing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a temperature of the first ice maker and a temperature of the second ice maker are less than a freezing temperature of water during said step of forming. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein ice within the first and second storage bins melts during said step of storing, the method further comprising directing melt water from the first and second storage bins to an evaporation pan of the ice making appliance and evaporating liquid water within the evaporation pan.