US 12,410,961 B2
Direct cooling ice maker with cooling system
Zhuochen Shi, Clemson, SC (US)
Assigned to Electrolux Consumer Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Appl. No. 18/290,215
Filed by Electrolux Home Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
PCT Filed May 10, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/028524
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 10, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/240836, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0263860 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. F25C 1/246 (2018.01); F25C 1/04 (2018.01); F25C 1/24 (2018.01); F25C 5/185 (2018.01); F25C 5/20 (2018.01)
CPC F25C 1/246 (2013.01) [F25C 1/04 (2013.01); F25C 1/24 (2013.01); F25C 5/185 (2013.01); F25C 5/22 (2018.01); F25C 2300/00 (2013.01); F25C 2400/10 (2013.01); F25C 2600/04 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C.;
a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C.; and
an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker comprising:
an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces;
an ice maker evaporator for cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction; and
a cooling system comprising:
a fresh food evaporator, an ice box evaporator tube and a freezer evaporator all disposed in series with the ice maker evaporator, and
a valve comprising:
an inlet;
a first outlet connected to an inlet of the fresh food evaporator;
a second outlet connected to a first bypass line around the fresh food evaporator; and
a third outlet connected to a second bypass line around the fresh food evaporator and the ice maker evaporator,
wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the first outlet of the valve when the valve is in a first position such that a refrigerant flows through the fresh food evaporator, the ice maker evaporator, the ice box evaporator tube and the freezer evaporator, in that order,
wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the second outlet of the valve when the valve is in a second position such that the refrigerant flows through the first bypass line, the ice maker evaporator, the ice box evaporator tube and the freezer evaporator, in that order, and
wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the third outlet of the valve when the valve is in a third position such that the refrigerant flows through the second bypass line, the ice box evaporator tube and the freezer evaporator, in that order.