Patent ID: 11859886
Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 16:
17. An ice making assembly comprising:
a metal conductive ice mold extending along a vertical direction between a top conductive mold end and a bottom conductive mold end, the metal conductive ice mold defining a mold cavity having a vertical opening at the top conductive mold end, the metal conductive ice mold further defining an exposed surface extending along the bottom conductive mold end opposite of the vertical opening;
a non-metallic insulator ice mold selectively received on the metal conductive ice mold radially outward from the exposed surface and covering the vertical opening, the non-metallic insulator ice mold defining an internal water passage extending above the mold cavity in fluid communication with the mold cavity; and
an external insulator jacket selectively received on the non-metallic insulator ice mold radially outward from the exposed surface and the non-metallic insulator ice mold, the external insulator jacket covering the internal water passage,
wherein the non-metallic insulator ice mold defines an upper surface directed away from the mold cavity, wherein the external insulator jacket comprises an upper jacket wall having an uninterrupted internal surface directed toward the non-metallic insulator ice mold,
wherein an excess water chamber is defined above the mold cavity between the upper surface of the non-metallic insulator ice mold and the uninterrupted internal surface of the external insulator jacket,
wherein the internal water passage extends through the upper surface in fluid communication with the excess water chamber,
wherein the mold cavity is a lower mold cavity,
wherein the non-metallic insulator ice mold defines an upper mold cavity selectively mated with the lower mold cavity to form a unitary ice billet therein, the upper mold cavity being disposed directly beneath the internal water passage,
wherein the metal conductive ice mold comprises a conductive sidewall extending from the top conductive mold end to the bottom conductive mold end, and
wherein the non-metallic insulator ice mold defines an insulating cavity extending from the top conductive mold end to the bottom conductive mold end below the upper mold cavity.