STAND-ALONE ICE MAKING APPLIANCE WITH A SIDE TANK FILTER

A stand-alone ice making appliance, includes a casing. A water tank, an ice maker, and a pump are disposed within the casing. The pump is operable to circulate water from the water tank to the ice maker. An auxiliary water reservoir is disposed outside of the casing. The auxiliary water reservoir is in fluid communication with the water tank such that water within the auxiliary water reservoir is flowable to the water tank. A filter is disposed within the auxiliary water reservoir.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to ice making appliances, and more particularly to ice making appliances that produce nugget ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice makers generally produce ice for use by consumers, such as in beverages, for cooling food items, etc. Certain refrigerator appliances include ice makers for producing ice. The ice maker can be positioned within the appliance's freezer chamber and direct ice into an ice bucket where the ice is stored within the freezer chamber. Such refrigerator appliances can also include a dispensing system for assisting a user with accessing ice produced by the refrigerator appliance's ice maker. However, the incorporation of ice makers into refrigerator appliances can have drawbacks, such as limits on the amount of ice that can be produced and the reliance on the refrigeration system of the refrigerator appliance to form the ice.

Recently, stand-alone ice makers have been developed. These ice makers are separate from refrigerator appliances and provide independent ice supplies. Generally, liquid water is added to the stand-alone ice makers, and the ice makers operate to freeze the liquid water and form ice. Users frequently add tap water to the stand-alone ice makers. Tap water may include various impurities that negatively affect the appearance and/or taste of ice cubes formed from the tap water.

Accordingly, improved stand-alone ice makers are desired in the art. In particular, cost-effective stand-alone ice makers that address several of the above issues would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A stand-alone ice making appliance may include a supplemental water reservoir, such as a side water tank. A filter may be positioned within the supplemental water reservoir, and the filter may be gravity fed. A pump, such as a centrifugal pump, may flow water through the stand-alone ice making appliance. Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a stand-alone ice making appliance includes a casing. A water tank, an ice maker, and a pump are disposed within the casing. The pump is in fluid communication with the water tank and the ice maker. The pump is operable to circulate water from the water tank to the ice maker. An auxiliary water reservoir is disposed outside of the casing. The auxiliary water reservoir is in fluid communication with the water tank such that water within the auxiliary water reservoir is flowable to the water tank. A filter is disposed within the auxiliary water reservoir.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a stand-alone ice making appliance includes a casing. A water tank, an ice maker, and a pump are disposed within the casing. The pump is in fluid communication with the water tank and the ice maker. The pump is operable to circulate water from the water tank to the ice maker. An auxiliary water reservoir is disposed outside of the casing. The auxiliary water reservoir is in fluid communication with the water tank such that water within the auxiliary water reservoir is flowable to the water tank. The auxiliary water reservoir defines an inlet and an outlet. A filter is disposed within the auxiliary water reservoir. The filter is configured such that water within the auxiliary water reservoir is gravity fed through the filter between the inlet and the outlet of the auxiliary water reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin.

Referring now toFIGS.1through3, one embodiment of an appliance10in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated. As shown, appliance10is provided as a stand-alone ice making appliance embodiment. Appliance10includes an outer casing12which defines a primary opening11(e.g., first primary opening) and an internal cavity or volume13. Internal volume13generally at least partially houses various other components of the appliance therein10. Primary opening11defined in outer casing12may extend internal volume13to an ambient environment. Through primary opening11, access (e.g., by a user) to the internal volume13may be permitted. Outer casing12further defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T. The vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system.

A container14of appliance10is also illustrated. Container14defines a first storage volume16for the receipt and storage of ice18therein. A user of the appliance10may access ice18within the container14for consumption or other uses, as described in detail below. Container14may include multiple walls, including one or more sidewalls20and a base wall22, which may together define the first storage volume16. In exemplary embodiments, at least one sidewall20may be formed in part from a clear, see-through (i.e., transparent or translucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic, such that a user can see into the first storage volume16and thus view ice18therein. For instance, at least one sidewall20may include a separate external panel and internal panel formed from a clear, see-through (i.e., transparent or translucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic. Further, in exemplary embodiments, container14may be removable, such as from the outer casing12, by a user. This facilitates advantageous easy access by the user to ice within the container14, as discussed below.

Appliances10in accordance with the present disclosure are advantageously stand-alone appliances, and thus are not connected to refrigerators or other appliances. Additionally, in exemplary embodiments, such appliances are not connected to plumbing or another water source that is external to the appliance10, such as a refrigerator water source. Rather, in exemplary embodiments, water is initially supplied to the appliance10manually by a user, such as by pouring water into water tank24and/or an auxiliary reservoir100. Optionally, in exemplary embodiments, water tank24may be removable, such as from the outer casing12, by a user. This facilitates advantageous easy access by the user to water tank24(e.g., in order to easily fill water tank24), as discussed below.

Notably, appliances10as discussed herein include various features which allow the appliances10to be affordable and desirable to typical consumers. For example, the stand-alone feature reduces the cost associated with the appliance10and allows the consumer to position the appliance10at any suitable desired location, with the only requirement in some embodiments being access to an electrical source. In exemplary embodiments, such as those shown inFIGS.1through3, the removable container14allows easy access to ice18within first storage volume16and allows the container14to be moved to a different position from the remainder of the appliance10for ice usage purposes.

As discussed herein, appliance10is configured to make nugget ice, which is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. Ice18may be nugget ice. Generally, nugget ice is ice that that is maintained or stored (i.e., in first storage volume16of container14) at a temperature greater than the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the container14may be at a temperature greater than the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. In some embodiments, such temperature may be greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit, greater than fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or greater than sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

Still referring toFIGS.1through3, various components of appliance10in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated. For example, as mentioned, appliance10includes a water tank24. The water tank24defines a second storage volume26for the receipt and holding of water. Water tank24may include multiple walls, including one or more sidewalls28and a base wall30, which may together define the second storage volume26. In exemplary embodiments, the water tank24may be disposed below the container14along the vertical direction V defined for the appliance10, as shown.

As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, water is provided to the water tank24for use in forming ice. Accordingly, appliance10may further include a pump32. Pump32may be in fluid communication with the second storage volume26. For example, water may be flowable from the second storage volume26through a fluid outlet31defined in the water tank24, such as in a sidewall28thereof, and may flow through a conduit to and through pump32. Pump32may, when activated, actively flow water from the second storage volume26therethrough and from the pump32.

Water actively flowed from the pump32may be flowed (e.g., through a suitable conduit) to a reservoir34. For example, reservoir34may define a third storage volume36. In some embodiments, third storage volume36is defined by one or more sidewalls38and a base wall40. Third storage volume36may, for example, be in fluid communication with the pump32and may thus receive water that is actively flowed from the water tank24, such as through the pump32. During operation, water may be flowed into the third storage volume36through an opening44defined in the reservoir34.

Reservoir34and third storage volume36thereof may receive and contain water to be provided to an ice maker50for the production of ice. Accordingly, third storage volume36may be in fluid communication with ice maker50. For example, water may be flowed, such as through an opening42and through suitable conduits, from third storage volume36to ice maker50.

Ice maker50generally receives water, such as from reservoir34, and freezes the water to form ice18. In exemplary embodiments, ice maker50is a nugget ice maker, and in particular is an auger-style ice maker, although other suitable styles of ice makers and/or appliances are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. As shown, ice maker50may include a casing52into which water from third storage volume36is flowed. Casing52is thus in fluid communication with third storage volume36. For example, casing52may include one or more sidewalls54which may define an interior volume56, and an opening may be defined in a sidewall54. Water may be flowed from third storage volume36through the opening (such as via a suitable conduit) into the interior volume56.

As illustrated, an auger60may be disposed at least partially within the casing52. During operation, the auger60may rotate. Water within the casing52may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system as discussed herein. The at least partially frozen water may be lifted by the auger60from casing52. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the at least partially frozen water may be directed by auger60to and through an extruder62. The extruder62may extrude the at least partially frozen water to form ice, such as nuggets of ice18.

Formed ice18may be provided by the ice maker50to container14, and may be received in the first storage volume16thereof. For example, ice18formed by auger60and/or extruder62may be provide to the container14. In exemplary embodiments, appliance10may include a chute70for directing ice18produced by the ice maker50towards the first storage volume16. For example, as shown, chute70is generally positioned above container14along the vertical direction V. Thus, ice can slide off of chute70and drop into storage volume16of container14. Chute70may, as shown, extend between ice maker50and container14, and may include a body72, which defines a passage74therethrough. Ice18may be directed from the ice maker50(such as from the auger60and/or extruder62) through the passage74to the container14. In some embodiments, for example, a sweep64, which may be connected to and rotate with the auger, may contact the ice emerging through the extruder62from the auger60and direct the ice18through the passage74to the container14.

As discussed, water within the casing52may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system. In exemplary embodiments, ice maker50may include a sealed refrigeration system80. The sealed refrigeration system80may be in thermal communication with the casing52to remove heat from the casing52and interior volume56thereof, thus facilitating freezing of water therein to form ice. Sealed refrigeration system80may, for example, include a compressor82, a condenser84, a throttling device86, and an evaporator88. Evaporator88may, for example, be in thermal communication with the casing52in order to remove heat from the interior volume56and water therein during operation of sealed system80. For example, evaporator88may at least partially surround the casing52. In particular, evaporator88may be a conduit coiled around and in contact with casing52, such as the sidewall(s)54thereof.

It should additionally be noted that, in exemplary embodiments, a controller200may be in operative communication with the sealed system80, such as with the compressor82thereof, and may activate the sealed system80as desired or required for ice making purposes.

In exemplary embodiments, controller200is in operative communication with the pump32. Such operative communication may be via a wired or wireless connection, and may facilitate the transmittal and/or receipt of signals by the controller200and pump32. Controller200may be configured to activate the pump32to actively flow water. For example, controller200may activate the pump32to actively flow water therethrough when, for example, reservoir34requires water. A suitable sensor(s), for example, may be provided in the third storage volume36. The sensor(s) may be in operative communication with the controller200and may be configured to transmit signals to the controller200, which indicate whether or not additional water is desired in the reservoir34. When controller200receives a signal that water is desired, controller200may send a signal to pump32to activate pump32.

As shown inFIG.1, appliance10may also include an auxiliary water reservoir100.FIGS.4and5also illustrate auxiliary water reservoir100according to another example embodiment. Auxiliary water reservoir100is described in greater detail below with reference toFIGS.1,4, and5. As may be seen inFIG.1, a height HWR of auxiliary water reservoir100may be about equal to a height HC of casing12. Thus, the appearance of auxiliary water reservoir100may complement casing12.

Auxiliary water reservoir100is disposed outside of casing12. For example, auxiliary water reservoir100may be mounted at a side of casing12. Thus, while most components of appliance10are housed within casing12, auxiliary water reservoir100is positioned outside of casing12. In certain example embodiments, auxiliary water reservoir100may include a base110and a container120. Base110may be attached to casing12, e.g., at the side of casing12adjacent the bottom of casing12. For instance, base110may be clipped, fastened, etc. to casing12. Container120is removably mounted to base110. For example, a bottom portion122of container120may be received within base110to mount container120on base110. A user may lift upwardly on container120to remove container120from base110, and the user may insert bottom portion122of container120into base to mount container120on base110. As an example, the user may remove container120from base110in order to conveniently fill container120with water at a faucet.

Auxiliary water reservoir100may be in fluid communication with a water tank within casing12such that water within auxiliary water reservoir100is flowable to the water tank. For example, a supply line102may extend from auxiliary water reservoir100to water tank24, and water from within auxiliary water reservoir100may flow from auxiliary water reservoir100into second storage volume26via supply line102. It will be understood that appliance10may be plumbed in any other suitable manner to deliver water from auxiliary water reservoir100into casing12for use with ice maker50in alternative example embodiments.

As discussed in greater detail below, auxiliary water reservoir100includes features for filtering water prior to the water entering casing12. By filtering water in auxiliary water reservoir100, impurities that negatively affect the appearance and/or taste of ice formed by ice maker50may be removed from the water. Thus, the appearance and/or taste of the water may be improved.

As shown inFIG.4, a filter130may be disposed within auxiliary water reservoir100. For instance, auxiliary water reservoir100may define an inlet104and an outlet106. Water may be added to auxiliary water reservoir100at inlet104. For example, a user may position inlet104below a faucet and open the faucet to flow water into auxiliary water reservoir100. As another example, the user may use a pitcher or other vessel to pour water into auxiliary water reservoir100through inlet104. Water may flow from auxiliary water reservoir100at outlet106. For example, outlet106may be coupled to supply line102, and water from within auxiliary water reservoir100may flow from outlet106into second storage volume26via supply line102. Filter130may be disposed within auxiliary water reservoir100between inlet104and outlet106to filter water within auxiliary water reservoir100between inlet104and outlet106.

Filter130may be configured such that water within auxiliary water reservoir100is gravity fed through filter130between inlet104and outlet106of auxiliary water reservoir100. For example, container120may define a first reservoir volume124and a second reservoir volume126. First reservoir volume124may be positioned adjacent or contiguous with inlet104of auxiliary water reservoir100, and second reservoir volume126may be disposed below first reservoir volume124. A divider wall128may be disposed between first and second reservoir volumes124,126. Thus, e.g., first and second reservoir volumes124,126may be separated by divider wall128. Filter130may be mounted to divider wall128. Moreover, filter130may be disposed between first and second reservoir volumes124,126on divider wall128. Thus, e.g., divider wall128may block water from flowing downwardly from first reservoir volume124into second reservoir volume126except through filter130. In particular, unfiltered water (relative to filter130) may fill first reservoir volume124, and gravity may urge the water within first reservoir volume124into filter130. Divider wall128may be removably mounted within an interior of container120. For instance, divider wall128may form a bottom of a divider insert129received within container120. Divider insert129may have a shape that is complementary to container120, and divider insert129may define first reservoir volume124therein. Filter130may be mounted to divider wall128with filter130positioned at the only passage through divider wall128from first reservoir volume124to second reservoir volume126.

From filter130, filtered water (relative to filter130) may exit filter130and fill second reservoir volume126. As may be seen from the above, filter130may be disposed between first and second reservoir volumes124,126, and filter130may filter water flowing from first reservoir volume124into second reservoir volume126due to gravity urging the water through filter130. To facilitate the gravity fed flow of water through filter130, second reservoir volume126may be larger than first reservoir volume124. Such sizing may advantageously reduce the risk of overflowing second reservoir volume126. Filter130may include a suitable filter medium therein, such as one or more of an activated carbon block, a pleated polymer sheet, a spun cord material, or a melt blown material. Filter130may be replaced or serviced at regular intervals.

Auxiliary water reservoir100may include a check valve140, such as a normally closed check valve. Check valve140may be mounted to container120, e.g., at bottom portion122of container120, at second reservoir volume126. Check valve140may be configured such that check valve140is open when container120is mounted to base110. In addition, check valve140may be configured such that check valve140is closed when container120is removed from base110. When check valve140is open, check valve140may allow filtered water within second reservoir volume126, to flow from container120into base110. Within base110, the filtered water may flow to outlet106and thus supply line102, as described above.

Positioning filter130within auxiliary water reservoir100may have various advantages. For example, auxiliary water reservoir100may be plumbed as branch into a circulation loop within casing12formed by container14, water tank24, reservoir34, and ice maker50. Pump32may be operable to circulate water from water tank24to reservoir34and ice maker50, and melt water runoff from ice within container14may flow back into water tank24. Positioning a filter in the circulation loop may disadvantageously limit the choice of pump. For example, a diaphragm pump may be required to over come the restriction formed by the filter and flow water from water tank24to reservoir34and ice maker50. However, diaphragm pumps may be less reliable and more expensive than other pump types. By positioning filter130within auxiliary water reservoir100, pump32may be a centrifugal pump that is more reliable and less expensive than diaphragm pumps. For instance, water within auxiliary water reservoir100may be gravity fed through filter130in auxiliary water reservoir100into a water tank within casing12, such as water tank24. Thus, no pump may be required to force water through filter130. Once in the water tank within casing12, e.g., water tank24, the filtered water from filter130may be more freely circulated within casing12, as compared to if filter130were installed within casing12such that pump32actively flows water through filter130. However, pump32may be a diaphragm pump, a gear pump, or another style of pump in alternative example embodiments.