GB2118700A

GB2118700A - Ice cube maker for a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: GB2118700A
Application number: GB08306002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luigi Paracchini
Original assignee: Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 1982-03-09
Filing date: 1983-03-04
Publication date: 1983-11-02
Also published as: GB2118700B; IT1198360B; JPS58179784A; DE8305911U1; FR2523281B1; GB8306002D0; DE3307332C2; FR2523281A1; IT8220034A0; DE3307332A1

Abstract

An ice cube maker for a refrigerator has a tray 5 for ice cubes and means for filling the tray with water, comprising a removable water container 27 having a closable discharge aperture 39 which communicates with a prechamber B, said prechamber being connected to a metering chamber A through an outlet aperture 26 of cross-sectional area less than that of the aperture 39 and a pump 18 for draining water from the metering chamber A to the tray 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ice cube maker for a refrigerator The invention relates to an ice cube maker for a refrigerator, comprising a tray for placement in a freezing compartment of the refrigerator, and means for filling it with water to be frozen.

Ice cube makers of many varied types are known for domestic refrigerators. These ice cube makers comprise a tray which is filled with a certain quantity of water under the control of valves, for example float valves. The tray is cooled for example by blowing a stream of very cold air on to it so as to convert the water into ice, and then rotating and twisting it to separate the ice cubes and then collecting them in a container. An apparatus of this type is described for example in French Patent 2,193,185.

Apparatus of the described type are particularly complicated and costly, and can therefore only be used in refrigerators intended for a limited range of users.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for making ice cubes which is extremely simple and versatile.

According to the invention there is provided an ice cube maker for a refrigerator of the type defined in the opening paragraph, characterized in that the means for filling the tray with water comprise a removable water container have a closable discharge aperture which communicates with a prechamber, said prechamber being connected to a metering chamber through an outlet aperture of cross-sectional area less than that of thedischarge aperture, and a pump which drains water from the metering chamber to the tray through a-discharge line.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the discharge aperture is situated with a downwardly facing skirt extending into the prechamber, the lower end and thereof of determining the water level in the prechamber at which the discharge aperture is closed.

According to a further embodiment the invention, the discharge aperture is closable by means of a value which closes when the container is removed. In a further embodiment the bottom of the prechamber is tray-shaped and forms a cover for the metering chamber in which the outlet aperture is arranged and said tray-shaped bottom comprises a projection which co-operates with a stem of the value for automatically opening the discharge aperture when the container is in its operating position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the container comprises a tap for draining cold water.

The invention will be more apparent from the detailed description given by way of example hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a domestic refrigerator shown diagrammatically and incorporating an ice cube maker, which is also shown in section, and Figure 2 is a view from below of the distributor for distributing water to the underlying tray.

In the Figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a domestic refrigerator of conventional construction comprising a lower cooling compartment 2 and an upper freezing compartment 3 designed to be kept at a temperature substantially lower than that of the compartment 2.

The upper compartment 3 contains a shelf 4 fixed in any known manner to the walls of said compartment and supporting a conventional plastics tray 5 comprising a set of pyramid frustum cells 6 separated by edge portions such that water can pass over these latter from one cell to another to enable all cells to be filled even if the water is supplied locally, for example into only one cell.

A water distributor 7, arranged above the tray 5, consists of a generally square member with outlet apertures 8 at the corners and having a central portion formed by inclined deflectors 9 like a pyramid with the apex just underneath the outlet of the discharge line or tube 1 0. The deflectors lead the water equally towards the apertures 8.

The tube 10 is mounted, for example by forcing, in a resilient plastics sleeve 11 comprising a peripherally groove flange 1 2 by means of which it is fixed in a hole in the sheet metal 13 which covers the compartment 3. The flexible tube 10 is embedded in the refrigerator insulation 14A, and has no horizontal portions in positions corresponding with the freezer compartment, inwhich static water cou!d solidify and thus block the tube. The tube in question terminates in a sleeve 14 comprising a peripherally grooved flange 15 by means of which it is connected around the contour of a hole in the sheet metal wall 1 6 which defines the cooling chamber 2.

The.sleeve 14 is connected by a flexible tube 1 7 to the delivery side of a centrifugal pump 18 (driven by an incorporated electric motor) supported by a bracket 19 rigid with a tray member 20. This member is connected by a bottom union 21 to the suction side of the pump 18, and is supported along its flange 22 on a metal frame 23 fixed to the walls of the compartment 2.

The tray member 20 is closed upperly by a cover 24, also of tray configuration, which forms the bottom of prechamber B. The bottom comprises a projection 25 and an outlet aperture 26 of predetermined size. The cover 24 and tray member 20 define a metering chamber A. Above the cover 24 there is located a container 27, for example of plastics construction, closed .by a removable cover 28 which is mounted by pressing, in order to ensure a good seal along the zone in which it engages with the container. This latter rests simply on a metal frame 29 fixed to the walls of the cooing compartment 2, and is positioned by inserting projections 30 on said frame into corresponding recesses 31 in the bottom of the container.This centering is necessary in order to ensure that the projection 25 on the cover 24 displaces the cap 33of a bottom valve 34 against a return spring 32.

More specifically, the valve 34 comprises a stem 35 and a cap 33 flanged at its lower end 36.

The stem 35 is guided axially in a hollow member 37 present on the base of the container 27, in which the spring 32 is situated and acts on projecting parts 38 of said stem.

Around the member 37 there is provided a number of discharge apertures 39, of which the total cross-sectional area is many times greater than that of the outlet aperture 26.

When the container 27 is removed from the position shown in Figure 1 in order to fill it, the valve 34 closes the discharge apertures 39 to prevent leakage of water from the container. For that purpose the spring presses the cap 33 downwards and the flange 36 seals on the rim 40 of the bottom of the container 27, thus separating the apertures 39 from the inner space 41 of the container 27. Around the ring of apertures 39 there is a downwardly directed continuous circular skirt 42 formed integrally with the container 27.

The cover 24 and tray member 20 define a metering chamber A, and the cover defines an overlying prechamber B.

The operation is as follows. It will be assumed that the tray 5 in which the cubes are to be formed is empty of water, that the closed container 27 contains a quantity of water (level D) greater than the quantity necessary for filling the tray 5, that the metering chamber A is full of water to the maximum extent allowed by its configuration, and that the water level C in the chamber B is such as to touch the lower end of the skirt 42. The total volume of water contained in chambers A and B is the volume necessary for adequately filling the tray 5. As water has reached the level C, no further water can flow through the apertures 39 into the prechamber B. This is because compensation air cannot rise through the apertures 39 and through the mass of water in the container 27 in order to reach above the level D of this mass.Under these conditions, when the user wishes to produce ice he presses a push-button, not shown (but located in a suitable position), and thus starts the pump 1 8. The push-button can either activate an electrical or electronic timing circuit (timer) when pushed in order to keep the pump moving for a given time, or can be kept pushed by the user until he notes that the tray 5 has been sufficiently filled (e.g. either visibly or by the different noise produced by the pump when it no longer sucks water). During this filling, the metering chamber A progressively empties because of the great capacity of the pump. If the water level C falls below the lower end of the skirt 42, water can flow through the apertures 39 of the container 27 and into the prechamber B because compensation air can flow through apertures 39 above the level D.However, because the flow rate through the aperture 26 is much smaller than that through the apertures 39, the level C become re-established in the pre-chamber, so that water creases to flow through the apertures 39. These lowering and raising cycles obviously continue automatically.

When the tray 5 has been filled with the necessary quantity of water, the pump 1 8 is stopped. The water in the tube 10 returns partly to the metering chamber A both because of the principle of communicating vessels because the pump allows back-flow during stoppage. This prevents ice being able to form in the top part of the tube 10 in proximity to the freezer compartment 3. In addition, by the effect of the raising and lowering of the water level in the prechamber B, the metering chamber A slowly becomes refilled to its initial level, at which the level in the prechamber B stabilises at the level C, so that all water passage ceases. The apparatus is thus ready for further use. When the cubes have formed, the tray can be removed manually and the cubes removed in the normal manner. Additionaliy the container 27 can advantageously be used to drain cold water by means of for example a tap X or similar valve member into an underlying cup Y.

Claims

1 An ice cube maker for a refrigerator comprising a tray for placement in a freezing compartment of the refrigerator, and means for filling it with water to be frozen, characterized in that the means for filling the tray with water comprise a removable water container having a - closable discharge aperture which communicates with a prechamber said prechamber being connected to a metering chamber through an outlet aperture of cross-sectional area less than that of the closable discharge aperture, and a pump which drains water from the metering chamber to the tray through a discharge line.

2. An ice cube maker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge aperture is situated within a downwardly facing skirt extending into the prechamber, the lower end of the skirt determining the water level in the prechamber at which the discharge aperture is closed.

3. An ice cube maker as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the discharge aperture is closable by means of a valve which closes when the container is removed.

4. An ice cube maker as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the bottom of the prechamber is tray-shaped and forms a cover for the metering chamber in which the outlet aperture is arranged, and said bowl-shaped bottom comprises a projection which co-operates with a stem of the valve for automatically opening the discharge aperture when the container is in its operating position.

5. An ice cube maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises a tap for draining cold water.

6. An ice maker substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.