US20160201966A1 - Clear ice making machine - Google Patents
Clear ice making machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20160201966A1 US20160201966A1 US15/076,074 US201615076074A US2016201966A1 US 20160201966 A1 US20160201966 A1 US 20160201966A1 US 201615076074 A US201615076074 A US 201615076074A US 2016201966 A1 US2016201966 A1 US 2016201966A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ice
- heat
- cube tray
- ice cube
- heat pipe
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
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- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 8
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- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005496 eutectics Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxyacetaldehyde Natural products OCC=O WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/18—Producing ice of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
- F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/20—Distributing ice
- F25C5/22—Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D15/00—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies
- F28D15/02—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes
- F28D15/0275—Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
- F28F3/02—Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making
Definitions
- making ice cubes at home includes filling the molds in an ice cube tray with water and placing the ice cube tray in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator.
- the temperature of the freezer compartment is typically much lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
- the temperature in the freezer compartment causes the water in the molds to freeze. Initial freezing occurs at the outer surfaces.
- air and other gases are trapped in the ice, resulting in cloudy ice cubes. Any impurities in the water are also trapped in the ice, adding to the cloudiness of the ice cubes.
- the cold surface is either the evaporator part of a refrigeration system or a surface in thermal contact with the evaporator. Ice forms on the cold surface and grows in a direction relatively perpendicular to the surface. This method does not trap air and other gases and thus results in clear ice formation.
- a heat source is necessary to warm the cold surface in order to harvest the ice.
- a clear ice making machine in one embodiment, includes a heat pipe that extends between a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment.
- the heat pipe has a first end in the freezer compartment and a second end in the refrigerator compartment.
- a heat exchanger is located in the freezer compartment and is in contact with the first end of the heat pipe.
- a heat block is located in the refrigerator compartment and is in contact with the second end of the heat pipe.
- a removable ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block with a surface in contact with the heat block such that when the removable ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the removable ice cube tray in contact with the block.
- a method of making clear ice includes filling an ice cube tray with water. Heat is exchanged between a heat exchanger and a first end of a heat pipe located in a freezer compartment. Heat is exchanged between a heat block and a second end of the heat pipe located in a refrigerator compartment. An ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
- a method of assembling a clear ice making machine includes mounting a heat pipe in a refrigerator so that a first end of the heat pipe is in a freezer compartment and a second end of the heat pipe is in a refrigerator compartment.
- a heat exchanger is mounted on the first end of the heat pipe in the freezer compartment.
- a heat block is mounted on the second end of the heat pipe in the refrigerator compartment.
- An ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block. The ice cube tray and the heat block are configured so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clear ice making machine.
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the clear ice making machine.
- FIG. 3 is an alternate perspective view of the clear ice making machine in a side-by-side refrigerator.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clear ice making machine with a single heat pipe.
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the ice cube tray of the clear ice making machine.
- the present invention provides a clear ice making machine, a method of using the clear ice making machine, and a method of assembling the clear ice making machine.
- the present invention grows ice cubes in an ice cube tray from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with a block containing at least one heat pipe, allowing air to be pushed out from the ice in the tray as the ice forms, resulting in clear ice.
- the present invention allows clear ice to be made in a conventional refrigerator and is independent from the refrigeration system of a conventional refrigerator.
- the present invention can be made with no moving parts, or it can be fully automated.
- the present invention can be installed in an existing refrigerator with a freezer compartment. Alternatively, a refrigerator can be manufactured to include the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of clear ice making machine 10 .
- Clear ice making machine 10 includes heat exchanger 12 with heat exchanger fins 14 , freezer insulation 16 with freezer compartment side 18 and refrigerator compartment side 20 , heat pipe 22 , heat block 24 , and ice cube tray 26 with ice cube molds 28 .
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of clear ice making machine 10 .
- Heat exchanger 12 of clear ice making machine 10 further includes heat exchanger bores 30 .
- Freezer insulation 16 further includes freezer insulation bores 32 .
- Heat block 24 further includes heat block bores 34 and tray contact sides 36 and 38 .
- Ice cube tray 26 further includes heat block contact sides 40 and 42 .
- Heat exchanger 12 of clear ice making machine 10 is located in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, on freezer compartment side 18 of freezer insulation 16 .
- Heat block 24 is located in the refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator, on refrigerator compartment side 20 of freezer insulation 16 .
- Heat pipe 22 passes through one of freezer insulation bores 32 in freezer insulation 16 , with one end on freezer compartment side 18 and another on refrigerator compartment side 20 of freezer insulation 16 .
- Heat pipe 22 fits into one of heat exchanger bores 30 such that heat pipe 22 is in contact with heat exchanger 12 .
- Heat pipe 22 also fits into one of heat block bores 34 such that heat pipe 22 is in contact with heat block 24 .
- Ice is formed in ice cube tray 26 of clear ice making machine 10 .
- Ice cube tray 26 is removable from clear ice making machine 10 , which allows ice harvest without a source of heat to detach the ice from the cooling device.
- Ice cube tray 26 can be made of plastic molded parts or parts made of a thermally conductive material. In alternative embodiments, ice cube tray can be made of injection molded parts, vacuum molded parts, rotomolded parts, or any other suitable alternative. Ice cube tray 26 is filled with water and subsequently mounted to heat block 24 . When ice cube tray 26 is mounted on heat block 24 , heat block contact sides 40 and 42 of ice cube tray 26 and tray contact sides 36 and 38 of heat block 24 are in thermal contact.
- Heat exchanger 12 cools heat pipe 22 .
- Heat exchanger 12 may be made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.
- heat exchanger 12 includes heat exchanger fins 14 .
- heat exchanger 12 may contain a pool of eutectic material such as a glycol mixture, which allows for a higher rate of heat transfer between heat exchanger 12 and heat pipe 22 .
- Heat pipe 22 may be made of any suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C° and contains a refrigerant, which can be a high pressure refrigerant such as 134 a refrigerant.
- Heat pipe 22 cools heat block 24 such that heat is transferred between tray contact sides 36 and 38 of heat block 24 and heat block contact sides 40 and 42 of ice cube tray 26 .
- Tray contact sides 36 and 38 of heat block 24 may be dovetail shaped, optimizing thermal contact with heat block contact sides 40 and 42 of ice cube tray 26 .
- a dovetail shape also allows ice cube tray 26 to be easily mounted onto heat block 24 .
- Heat block 24 may be made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. Heat block 24 may also be insulated on non-contact surfaces to reduce heat transfer to those surfaces, increasing overall heat transfer efficiency of clear ice making machine 10 .
- ice begins to form laterally in ice cube molds 28 from heat block contact sides 40 and 42 of ice cube tray 26 . This occurs because significant heat transfer only occurs at heat block contact sides 40 and 42 of ice cube tray 26 .
- water in the molds of an ice cube tray starts to freeze at the outer surfaces of each mold, trapping any air and impurities in the water within, resulting in cloudy ice cubes.
- Lateral ice formation in ice cube tray 26 allows air to escape during ice formation, preventing cloudiness due to trapped air.
- lateral ice formation in ice cube tray 26 allows impurities to escape. As a result, only the last of the water to freeze in molds 28 of ice cube tray 26 contains impurities, thus only a small piece of each ice cube may be cloudy and impure.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of clear ice making machine 110 in a side-by-side refrigerator.
- Clear ice making machine 110 includes heat exchanger 112 with heat exchanger fins 114 , freezer insulation 116 with freezer compartment side 118 and refrigerator compartment side 120 , heat pipe 122 , heat block, 124 , ice cube tray 126 , and heat pipe insulation 144 .
- Heat pipe 122 passes through freezer insulation 116 , and insulation 144 prevents heat pipe 122 from losing thermal efficiency in a refrigerator compartment.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of clear ice making machine 210 .
- Clear ice making machine 210 includes heat exchanger 212 with heat exchanger fins 214 , freezer insulation 216 with freezer compartment side 218 and refrigerator side 220 , heat pipe 222 , heat block 224 , and ice cube tray 226 with ice cube molds 228 .
- Heat block 224 further includes tray contact sides 236 and 238 .
- Ice cube tray 226 further includes heat block contact sides 240 and 242 .
- Clear ice making machine 210 requires only one heat pipe 222 .
- Heat pipe 222 passes through a single bore in freezer insulation 216 , minimizing need for modification of freezer insulation 216 in a refrigerator.
- One end of heat pipe 222 extends along the length of heat exchanger 212 and the other end of heat pipe 222 extends along the length of heat block 224 . This allows for heat transfer to efficiently occur between tray contact sides 236 and 238 of heat block 224 and heat block contact sides 240 and 242 of ice cube tray 226 . Ice forms laterally in ice cube molds 228 from heat block contact sides 240 and 242 of ice cube tray 226 , resulting in formation of clear ice cubes in each of molds 228 .
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of ice cube tray 326 .
- Ice cube tray 326 includes ice cube molds 328 and heat block contact sides 340 and 342 . Ice cube tray 326 also includes cavity 350 , water level 352 , ice 354 , and water 356 . Ice 354 in ice cube molds 328 is formed laterally from heat block contact sides 340 and 342 of ice cube tray 326 .
- Lateral formation of ice 354 in ice cube tray 326 allows air to escape during ice formation, preventing cloudiness due to trapped air. Additionally, lateral formation of ice 354 in ice cube tray 326 allows impurities to escape. As a result, only the last of water 356 to freeze in molds 328 of ice cube tray 326 contains impurities. The last of water 356 to freeze in molds 328 of ice cube tray 326 freezes in cavity 350 , forming an ice chip containing any impurities of water 356 . Therefore, when an ice cube is removed from molds 328 , the impure and cloudy ice chip formed in cavity 350 can be easily broken off or melted from ice 354 , resulting in a completely clear and pure ice cube.
Abstract
An ice making machine includes a heat pipe that extends between a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The heat pipe has a first end in the freezer compartment and a second end in the refrigerator compartment. A heat exchanger is located in the freezer compartment and is in contact with the first end of the heat pipe. A heat block is located in the refrigerator compartment and is in contact with the second end of the heat pipe. A removable ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block with a surface in contact with the heat block such that when the removable ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the removable ice cube tray in contact with the block.
Description
- This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/675,476 filed Nov. 13, 2012 for “Clear Ice Making Machine” by William G. Nelson.
- Traditionally, making ice cubes at home includes filling the molds in an ice cube tray with water and placing the ice cube tray in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator. The temperature of the freezer compartment is typically much lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the freezer compartment causes the water in the molds to freeze. Initial freezing occurs at the outer surfaces. As a result, air and other gases are trapped in the ice, resulting in cloudy ice cubes. Any impurities in the water are also trapped in the ice, adding to the cloudiness of the ice cubes.
- Currently, there are clear ice making systems that allow water to come in contact with a cold surface. The cold surface is either the evaporator part of a refrigeration system or a surface in thermal contact with the evaporator. Ice forms on the cold surface and grows in a direction relatively perpendicular to the surface. This method does not trap air and other gases and thus results in clear ice formation. However, a heat source is necessary to warm the cold surface in order to harvest the ice.
- In one embodiment, a clear ice making machine includes a heat pipe that extends between a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The heat pipe has a first end in the freezer compartment and a second end in the refrigerator compartment. A heat exchanger is located in the freezer compartment and is in contact with the first end of the heat pipe. A heat block is located in the refrigerator compartment and is in contact with the second end of the heat pipe. A removable ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block with a surface in contact with the heat block such that when the removable ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the removable ice cube tray in contact with the block.
- In another embodiment, a method of making clear ice includes filling an ice cube tray with water. Heat is exchanged between a heat exchanger and a first end of a heat pipe located in a freezer compartment. Heat is exchanged between a heat block and a second end of the heat pipe located in a refrigerator compartment. An ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
- In another embodiment, a method of assembling a clear ice making machine includes mounting a heat pipe in a refrigerator so that a first end of the heat pipe is in a freezer compartment and a second end of the heat pipe is in a refrigerator compartment. A heat exchanger is mounted on the first end of the heat pipe in the freezer compartment. A heat block is mounted on the second end of the heat pipe in the refrigerator compartment. An ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block. The ice cube tray and the heat block are configured so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clear ice making machine. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the clear ice making machine. -
FIG. 3 is an alternate perspective view of the clear ice making machine in a side-by-side refrigerator. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clear ice making machine with a single heat pipe. -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the ice cube tray of the clear ice making machine. - The present invention provides a clear ice making machine, a method of using the clear ice making machine, and a method of assembling the clear ice making machine. In particular, the present invention grows ice cubes in an ice cube tray from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with a block containing at least one heat pipe, allowing air to be pushed out from the ice in the tray as the ice forms, resulting in clear ice. The present invention allows clear ice to be made in a conventional refrigerator and is independent from the refrigeration system of a conventional refrigerator. The present invention can be made with no moving parts, or it can be fully automated. The present invention can be installed in an existing refrigerator with a freezer compartment. Alternatively, a refrigerator can be manufactured to include the present invention.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of clearice making machine 10. Clearice making machine 10 includesheat exchanger 12 withheat exchanger fins 14,freezer insulation 16 withfreezer compartment side 18 andrefrigerator compartment side 20,heat pipe 22,heat block 24, andice cube tray 26 withice cube molds 28. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of clearice making machine 10.Heat exchanger 12 of clearice making machine 10 further includesheat exchanger bores 30.Freezer insulation 16 further includesfreezer insulation bores 32.Heat block 24 further includesheat block bores 34 and traycontact sides Ice cube tray 26 further includes heatblock contact sides -
Heat exchanger 12 of clearice making machine 10 is located in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, onfreezer compartment side 18 offreezer insulation 16.Heat block 24 is located in the refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator, onrefrigerator compartment side 20 offreezer insulation 16.Heat pipe 22 passes through one of freezer insulation bores 32 infreezer insulation 16, with one end onfreezer compartment side 18 and another onrefrigerator compartment side 20 offreezer insulation 16.Heat pipe 22 fits into one of heat exchanger bores 30 such thatheat pipe 22 is in contact withheat exchanger 12.Heat pipe 22 also fits into one ofheat block bores 34 such thatheat pipe 22 is in contact withheat block 24. - Ice is formed in
ice cube tray 26 of clearice making machine 10.Ice cube tray 26 is removable from clearice making machine 10, which allows ice harvest without a source of heat to detach the ice from the cooling device.Ice cube tray 26 can be made of plastic molded parts or parts made of a thermally conductive material. In alternative embodiments, ice cube tray can be made of injection molded parts, vacuum molded parts, rotomolded parts, or any other suitable alternative.Ice cube tray 26 is filled with water and subsequently mounted toheat block 24. Whenice cube tray 26 is mounted onheat block 24, heatblock contact sides ice cube tray 26 and traycontact sides heat block 24 are in thermal contact. - Heat exchanger 12
cools heat pipe 22.Heat exchanger 12 may be made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. In one embodiment,heat exchanger 12 includes heat exchanger fins 14. In another embodiment,heat exchanger 12 may contain a pool of eutectic material such as a glycol mixture, which allows for a higher rate of heat transfer betweenheat exchanger 12 andheat pipe 22. -
Heat pipe 22 may be made of any suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C° and contains a refrigerant, which can be a high pressure refrigerant such as 134 a refrigerant.Heat pipe 22 coolsheat block 24 such that heat is transferred between tray contact sides 36 and 38 ofheat block 24 and heat block contact sides 40 and 42 ofice cube tray 26. Tray contact sides 36 and 38 ofheat block 24 may be dovetail shaped, optimizing thermal contact with heat block contact sides 40 and 42 ofice cube tray 26. A dovetail shape also allowsice cube tray 26 to be easily mounted ontoheat block 24.Heat block 24 may be made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.Heat block 24 may also be insulated on non-contact surfaces to reduce heat transfer to those surfaces, increasing overall heat transfer efficiency of clearice making machine 10. - When heat is transferred between
heat block 24 andice cube tray 26, ice begins to form laterally inice cube molds 28 from heat block contact sides 40 and 42 ofice cube tray 26. This occurs because significant heat transfer only occurs at heat block contact sides 40 and 42 ofice cube tray 26. In a traditional ice cube tray in a freezer section of a refrigerator, water in the molds of an ice cube tray starts to freeze at the outer surfaces of each mold, trapping any air and impurities in the water within, resulting in cloudy ice cubes. Lateral ice formation inice cube tray 26 allows air to escape during ice formation, preventing cloudiness due to trapped air. Additionally, lateral ice formation inice cube tray 26 allows impurities to escape. As a result, only the last of the water to freeze inmolds 28 ofice cube tray 26 contains impurities, thus only a small piece of each ice cube may be cloudy and impure. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of clearice making machine 110 in a side-by-side refrigerator. Clearice making machine 110 includesheat exchanger 112 withheat exchanger fins 114,freezer insulation 116 withfreezer compartment side 118 andrefrigerator compartment side 120,heat pipe 122, heat block, 124,ice cube tray 126, andheat pipe insulation 144.Heat pipe 122 passes throughfreezer insulation 116, andinsulation 144 preventsheat pipe 122 from losing thermal efficiency in a refrigerator compartment. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of clearice making machine 210. Clearice making machine 210 includesheat exchanger 212 withheat exchanger fins 214,freezer insulation 216 withfreezer compartment side 218 andrefrigerator side 220,heat pipe 222,heat block 224, andice cube tray 226 withice cube molds 228. Heat block 224 further includes tray contact sides 236 and 238.Ice cube tray 226 further includes heat block contact sides 240 and 242. - Clear
ice making machine 210 requires only oneheat pipe 222.Heat pipe 222 passes through a single bore infreezer insulation 216, minimizing need for modification offreezer insulation 216 in a refrigerator. One end ofheat pipe 222 extends along the length ofheat exchanger 212 and the other end ofheat pipe 222 extends along the length ofheat block 224. This allows for heat transfer to efficiently occur between tray contact sides 236 and 238 ofheat block 224 and heat block contact sides 240 and 242 ofice cube tray 226. Ice forms laterally inice cube molds 228 from heat block contact sides 240 and 242 ofice cube tray 226, resulting in formation of clear ice cubes in each ofmolds 228. -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment ofice cube tray 326.Ice cube tray 326 includesice cube molds 328 and heat block contact sides 340 and 342.Ice cube tray 326 also includescavity 350,water level 352,ice 354, andwater 356.Ice 354 inice cube molds 328 is formed laterally from heat block contact sides 340 and 342 ofice cube tray 326. - Lateral formation of
ice 354 inice cube tray 326 allows air to escape during ice formation, preventing cloudiness due to trapped air. Additionally, lateral formation ofice 354 inice cube tray 326 allows impurities to escape. As a result, only the last ofwater 356 to freeze inmolds 328 ofice cube tray 326 contains impurities. The last ofwater 356 to freeze inmolds 328 ofice cube tray 326 freezes incavity 350, forming an ice chip containing any impurities ofwater 356. Therefore, when an ice cube is removed frommolds 328, the impure and cloudy ice chip formed incavity 350 can be easily broken off or melted fromice 354, resulting in a completely clear and pure ice cube. - While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. A method of making ice, the method comprising:
filling an ice cube tray with water;
exchanging heat between a heat exchanger and a first end of a heat pipe located in a freezer compartment;
exchanging heat between a heat block and a second end of the heat pipe located in a refrigerator compartment; and
mounting the ice cube tray on the heat block so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
2. The method of making ice of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe contains a refrigerant.
3. The method of making ice of claim 1 , wherein the heat block comprises a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.
4. The method of making ice of claim 1 , wherein the heat block is insulated everywhere except for a surface which is in contact with the ice cube tray.
5. The method of making ice of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins comprised of a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.
6. The method of making ice of claim 1 , and further comprising removing ice formed in the ice cube tray and breaking off or melting away a piece of ice containing impurities formed in a cavity of the ice cube tray by water that is last to freeze.
7. A method of assembling an ice making machine, the method comprising:
mounting a heat pipe in a refrigerator so that a first end of the heat pipe is in a freezer compartment and a second end of the heat pipe is in a refrigerator compartment;
mounting a heat exchanger on the first end of the heat pipe in the freezer compartment;
mounting a heat block on the second end of the heat pipe in the refrigerator compartment; and
mounting an ice cube tray on the heat block, the ice cube tray and the heat block being configured so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.
8. The method of assembling an ice making machine of claim 7 , wherein the heat pipe contains a refrigerant.
9. The method of assembling an ice making machine of claim 7 , wherein the heat block comprises a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.
10. The method of assembling an ice making machine of claim 7 , wherein the heat block is insulated everywhere except for a surface which is in contact with the ice cube tray.
11. The method of assembling an ice making machine of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins comprised of a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°.
12. The method of assembling an ice making machine of claim 7 , wherein molds for ice cubes in the ice cube tray contain a cavity in which water that freezes last forms a piece of ice such that the piece can be broken off or melted from clear, pure ice formed in the ice cube tray.
Priority Applications (1)
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US15/076,074 US20160201966A1 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2016-03-21 | Clear ice making machine |
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US13/675,476 US9291381B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2012-11-13 | Clear ice making machine |
US15/076,074 US20160201966A1 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2016-03-21 | Clear ice making machine |
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US13/675,476 Division US9291381B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2012-11-13 | Clear ice making machine |
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US20160201966A1 true US20160201966A1 (en) | 2016-07-14 |
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US13/675,476 Active 2033-06-29 US9291381B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2012-11-13 | Clear ice making machine |
US15/076,074 Abandoned US20160201966A1 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2016-03-21 | Clear ice making machine |
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US13/675,476 Active 2033-06-29 US9291381B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 | 2012-11-13 | Clear ice making machine |
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Cited By (2)
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CN107036357A (en) * | 2017-06-02 | 2017-08-11 | 青岛海尔特种电冰箱有限公司 | A kind of ice-making component of refrigerator and the refrigerator with it |
US11408659B2 (en) | 2020-11-20 | 2022-08-09 | Abstract Ice, Inc. | Devices for producing clear ice products and related methods |
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US9291381B2 (en) * | 2012-11-13 | 2016-03-22 | William G. Nelson | Clear ice making machine |
GB2531365B (en) * | 2014-12-23 | 2017-01-11 | Flint Eng Ltd | Heat transfer apparatus |
US10260789B2 (en) * | 2016-04-13 | 2019-04-16 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice making assembly with twist ice tray and directional cooling |
CN109579421B (en) * | 2018-11-06 | 2020-09-29 | 青岛海尔股份有限公司 | Refrigerator with quick ice making function |
US11620624B2 (en) | 2020-02-05 | 2023-04-04 | Walmart Apollo, Llc | Energy-efficient systems and methods for producing and vending ice |
EP4332471A1 (en) | 2022-09-02 | 2024-03-06 | Premo, SL | System and method for refrigeration and thermal conditioning of a body |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US9291381B2 (en) | 2016-03-22 |
US20130145777A1 (en) | 2013-06-13 |
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Legal Events
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |