Patent Publication Number: US-10323874-B2

Title: Attachment system for an ice maker

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to ice making appliances and/or refrigeration appliances including features for making ice. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain refrigerator appliances utilize sealed systems for cooling chilled chambers of the refrigerator appliances. A typical sealed system includes an evaporator and a fan, the fan generating a flow of air across the evaporator and cooling the flow of air. The cooled air is then provided through an opening into the chilled chamber to maintain the chilled chamber at a desired temperature. Air from the chilled chamber is circulated back through a return duct to be re-cooled by the sealed system during operation of the refrigerator appliance, maintaining the chilled chamber at the desired temperature. 
     Certain refrigerator appliances use cooled air from the sealed system to cool an ice making assembly to a temperature sufficient for producing and storing ice. For example, certain refrigerator appliances have an icemaker mounted within an icebox on the door of the refrigerator appliance. The icebox may be in thermal communication with a heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with cooled airflow from the sealed system. The icemaker is mounted to the heat exchanger such that the heat exchanger provides direct conductive cooling to the icemaker. However, icemakers typically require frequent service and/or maintenance, and removal of the icemaker from the heat exchanger is frequently complicated, laborious, and time-consuming. 
     Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance including an ice making assembly having one or more features for simplifying maintenance would be useful. More particularly, an ice making assembly including an attachment system that makes removal and installation of the icemaker quick and easy would be especially beneficial. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The ice making assembly includes an icebox defining an ice making chamber and a heat exchanger aperture. The icebox is mounted to a refrigerator door and surrounded by a door liner defining a circulation duct for receiving cooled airflow. A heat exchanger is positioned within the heat exchanging aperture and includes a first side positioned within the ice making chamber and a second side positioned outside the ice making chamber within the circulation duct. An icemaker is positioned within the ice making chamber and a fastener removably attaches the icemaker to the first side of the heat exchanger. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The ice making assembly includes an icebox defining an ice making chamber and a heat exchanger aperture. A heat exchanger is positioned within the heat exchanger aperture, the heat exchanger including a first side positioned within the ice making chamber and a second side positioned outside the ice making chamber. A circulation duct is in fluid communication with the second side of the heat exchanger and configured for circulating cooled air over the second side of the heat exchanger. An icemaker is positioned within the ice making chamber and a fastener removably attaches the icemaker to the first side of the heat exchanger. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door being rotatably mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. A door liner is attached to the door and defines a circulation duct configured for receiving cooled air from a sealed system. An ice making assembly includes an icebox mounted within the door liner, the icebox defining an ice making chamber and a heat exchanger aperture. A heat exchanger is positioned within the heat exchanger aperture, the heat exchanger including a first side positioned within the ice making chamber and a second side positioned outside the ice making chamber and in fluid communication with the circulation duct. An icemaker is positioned within the ice making chamber and a fastener removably attaches the icemaker to the first side of the heat exchanger. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  provides a front elevation view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  provides a front perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  with refrigerator doors and freezer doors shown in an open configuration to reveal a fresh food chamber and freezer chamber. 
         FIG. 3  provides a schematic view of a sealed cooling system configured for cooling the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 4  provides a partial schematic view of a sealed cooling system and an ice making assembly in a refrigerator door of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator door and ice making assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  provides another perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator door and ice making assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of an icebox of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 4  with a door liner and other components removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 8  provides another perspective view of the icebox of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 4  with the door liner and other components removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 9  provides cross sectional view of the icebox of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 4  with the door liner and other components removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 10  provides a schematic front view of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 4  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 11  provides a schematic front view of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 4  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  provides a front view of a refrigerator appliance  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Refrigerator appliance  100  includes a cabinet or housing  102  that extends between a top  104  and a bottom  106  along a vertical direction V, between a first side  108  and a second side  110  along a lateral direction L, and between a front side  112  and a rear side  114  along a transverse direction T ( FIG. 2 ). Each of the vertical direction V, the lateral direction L, and the transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular to one another. 
     Housing  102  defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, housing  102  defines a fresh food chamber  122  positioned at or adjacent top  104  of housing  102  and a freezer chamber  124  arranged at or adjacent bottom  106  of housing  102 . As such, refrigerator appliance  100  is generally referred to as a “bottom mount” refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance or a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration. 
     Refrigerator doors  128  are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing  102  for selectively accessing fresh food chamber  122 . It should be noted that while refrigerator doors  128  are illustrated in a “French door” configuration, any suitable number, type, and orientation of doors may be used according to alternative embodiments. In addition, freezer doors  130  are arranged below refrigerator doors  128  for selectively accessing freezer chamber  124 . Freezer doors  130  are coupled to freezer drawers (not shown) that are slidably mounted within freezer chamber  124 . To prevent leakage of cool air, refrigerator doors  128 , freezer doors  130 , and/or housing  102  may include one or more sealing mechanisms (e.g., rubber gaskets, not shown) at the interface where the doors  128 ,  130  meet housing  102 . It should be appreciated that doors having a different style, position, or configuration are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter. 
     Refrigerator appliance  100  also includes a dispensing assembly  132  for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly  132  includes a dispenser  134  positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance  100 , e.g., on one of refrigerator doors  128 . Dispenser  134  includes a discharging outlet  136  for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism  138 , shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet  136  for operating dispenser  134 . In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser  134 . For example, dispenser  134  can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A control panel  140  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel  140  includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. 
     Discharging outlet  136  and actuating mechanism  138  are an external part of dispenser  134  and are mounted in a dispenser recess  142 . Dispenser recess  142  is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open refrigerator doors  128 . In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess  142  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. According to an exemplary embodiment, the dispensing assembly  132  may receive ice from an icemaker disposed in a sub-compartment of the fresh food chamber  122 . 
     Refrigerator appliance  100  further includes a controller  144 . Operation of the refrigerator appliance  100  is regulated by controller  144  that is operatively coupled to a control panel  140 . In one exemplary embodiment, control panel  140  may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. In another exemplary embodiment, control panel  140  may include input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, touch pads, and touch screens. Control panel  140  may be in communication with controller  144  via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. Control panel  140  provides selections for user manipulation of the operation of refrigerator appliance  100 . In response to user manipulation of control panel  140 , controller  144  operates various components of refrigerator appliance  100 . For example, controller  144  is operatively coupled or in communication with various components of a sealed system, as discussed below. Controller  144  may also be in communication with a variety of sensors, such as, for example, chamber temperature sensors or other sensors. Controller  144  may receive signals from these temperature sensors that correspond to the temperature of an atmosphere. 
     Controller  144  includes memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of refrigerator appliance  100 . The memory can represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory. The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller  144  may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of refrigerator appliance  100  having refrigerator doors  128  and freezer door  130  in an open position to reveal the interior of the fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124 . According to the illustrated embodiment, various storage components are mounted within fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components include bins  146 , drawers  148 , and shelves  150  that are mounted within fresh food chamber  122  or freezer chamber  124 . Bins  146 , drawers  148 , and shelves  150  are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items. As an example, drawers  148  can receive fresh food items (e.g., vegetables, fruits, and/or cheeses) and increase the useful life of such fresh food items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic view of an exemplary sealed system  160  which may be used to cool fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  will be described. Sealed system  160  is generally configured for executing a vapor compression cycle for cooling air within refrigerator appliance  100 , e.g., within fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124 . Sealed cooling system  160  includes a compressor  162 , a condenser  164 , an expansion device  166 , and an evaporator  168  connected in series and charged with a refrigerant. 
     During operation of sealed system  160 , gaseous refrigerant flows into compressor  162 , which operates to increase the pressure of the refrigerant. This compression of the refrigerant raises its temperature, which is lowered by passing the gaseous refrigerant through condenser  164 . Within condenser  164 , heat exchange with ambient air takes place so as to cool the refrigerant and cause the refrigerant to condense to a liquid state. 
     Expansion device (e.g., a valve, capillary tube, or other restriction device)  166  receives liquid refrigerant from condenser  164 . From expansion device  166 , the liquid refrigerant enters evaporator  168 . Upon exiting expansion device  166  and entering evaporator  168 , the liquid refrigerant drops in pressure and vaporizes. Due to the pressure drop and phase change of the refrigerant, evaporator  168  is cool relative to fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 . As such, cooled air is produced and refrigerates fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 . Thus, evaporator  168  is a type of heat exchanger which transfers heat from air passing over evaporator  168  to refrigerant flowing through evaporator  168 . 
     It should be appreciated that the illustrated sealed system  160  is only one exemplary configuration of sealed system  160  which may include additional components, e.g., one or more additional evaporators, compressors, expansion devices, and/or condensers. As an example, sealed cooling system  160  may include two evaporators. As a further example, sealed system  160  may further include an accumulator  170 . Accumulator  170  may be positioned downstream of evaporator  168  and may be configured to collect condensed refrigerant from the refrigerant stream prior to passing it to compressor  162 . Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, housing  102  may define a mechanical compartment (not shown) for housing various components of sealed system  160 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an ice making assembly  180  will be described according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. As illustrated, ice making assembly  180  may be positioned outside of freezer chamber  124  and proximate to fresh food chamber  122 , e.g., in one of refrigerator doors  128 . More specifically, ice making assembly  180  may include an icebox  182  that defines an ice making chamber  184  which contains many of the working components of ice making assembly  180 . According to the illustrated embodiment, refrigerator door  128  includes a door liner  186  which is configured for receiving icebox  182 . However, according to alternative embodiment, icebox  182  could be mounted directly to refrigerator door  128 . Notably, ice making assembly  180  may be disposed at least partially within the fresh food chamber  122  when refrigerator door  128  is in the closed position. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, door liner  186  may be an injection-molded liner attached to an inside of refrigerator door  128 . Insulation  188 , such as expandable foam can be present between refrigerator door  128  and door liner  186  in order to assist with thermally insulating ice making chamber  184 . For example, sprayed polyurethane foam may be injected into a cavity defined between refrigerator door  128  and door liner  186  after they are assembled. In addition, referring again to  FIG. 2 , some exemplary embodiments may include an access door—e.g., icebox door  190 —which may be hinged to icebox  182  to selectively cover or permit selective access to ice making chamber  184 . A latch  192  or any other suitable securing mechanism may be provided on icebox  182  or door liner  186  to maintain icebox door  190  in a closed position. In some exemplary embodiments, latch  192  may be actuated by a consumer in order to open icebox door  190  for providing access into ice making chamber  184 . In exemplary embodiments which include icebox door  190 , insulation  188  is provided throughout icebox door  190  for thermally isolating or insulating ice making chamber  184  from fresh food chamber  122 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to maintain the temperature of ice making chamber  184  at a temperature sufficient forming and storing ice, ice making assembly  180  may be in thermal communication with freezer chamber  128  or sealed system  160 . For example, according to the illustrated embodiment, ice making assembly  180  may be in fluid communication with evaporator  168  of sealed system  160  which may be disposed in or near the freezer chamber  124 . In some embodiments, a supply duct  200  and a return duct  202  may extend between and provide the thermal communication between ice making assembly  180  and evaporator  168 . Supply duct  200  may include supply outlet  204  for supplying cooled air and return duct  202  may include a return inlet  206  for recirculating air to evaporator  168 . As illustrated, both supply outlet  204  and return inlet  206  are defined on an interior wall  208  of fresh food chamber  122 , but could be positioned elsewhere according to alternative embodiments. 
     Ducts  200  and  202  may generally be disposed within the refrigerator appliance  100 , such as within the various walls defining the chambers  122 ,  124 . In some exemplary embodiments, the ducts  200  and  202  may be foamed in place within the various walls of the refrigerator appliance  100 . According to the illustrated embodiment, fluid communication between evaporator  168  and ice making assembly  180  may be enhanced by various air movers, such as a blower or fan  210 , connected to one or the other of supply duct  200  and return duct  202 . 
     Referring now generally to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , ice making assembly  180  may include an icemaker  220  positioned within ice making chamber  184 . In some exemplary embodiments, icemaker  220  may include a mold body  222  configured for receiving liquid water and forming ice in mold body  222 . For example, mold body  222  may define a series of impressions or recesses which receive liquid water therein and hold the liquid water at least until the liquid water freezes. 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, icemaker  220  further includes features for harvesting the ice from mold body  222  once it has been formed, as well as features for storing and/or dispensing the harvested ice. For example, ice making assembly  180  may also include an ice storage bin  224  disposed proximate mold body  222 , e.g., below mold body  222 , for receipt and storage of ice once the ice has been formed in mold body  222 . In some embodiments, a level sensor  226 , such as an optical sensor or sweep arm, may be provided to sense when the level of ice in storage bin  224  reaches or nears a maximum fill level of the storage bin  224 . 
     Mold body  222  may also be in thermal communication with a harvest heater  228  ( FIG. 9 ), such as an electric resistance heating element. Harvest heater  228  may be positioned near a bottom portion of mold body  222  and may be attached to or embedded in mold body  222 . In some embodiments, harvest heater  228  may be configured to at least partially heat and/or defrost mold body  222 , e.g., to release ice formed within the impressions or recesses of mold body  222 . Similarly, harvest heater  228  may be configured to at least partially heat and/or defrost a heat exchanger  230 . Ice making assembly  180  may further include a drain conduit  234  and a drain port  236 . More specifically, drain conduit  234  may be configured for collecting and conveying water melted from mold body  222  and/or heat exchanger  230  to drain port  236 , where it may be discharged from ice making assembly  180 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 through 11 , ice making assembly  180  will be described in more detail. As explained above, icebox  182  defines ice making chamber  184 . In addition, icebox  182  defines a heat exchanger aperture  240  configured for receiving heat exchanger  230 . More specifically, heat exchanger aperture  240  is defined in a side of icebox  182  and is sized to securely receive heat exchanger  230 . According to an exemplary embodiment, heat exchanger  230  may be secured in heat exchanger aperture  240  in a fluid tight manner, e.g., using a mechanical fastener and a seal or by providing foamed insulation around heat exchanger  230  to fix it in place. 
     Heat exchanger  230  includes a first side  242  positioned within ice making chamber  184 , a second side  244  positioned outside ice making chamber  184 , and a solid wall positioned therebetween. Heat exchanger  230  may be constructed of any thermally conductive material, e.g., metal, and may define a plurality of heat exchanging fins  246  to enhance heat transfer. According to an exemplary embodiment, ice making assembly  180  may further include a circulation duct  250  in fluid communication with second side  244  of heat exchanger  230  and configured for circulating cooled air over second side  244  of heat exchanger  230 . According to the illustrated embodiment, circulation duct  250  is defined at least in part by door liner  186 , heat exchanger  230 , and/or icebox  182 . In this manner, insulation  188  may surround circulation duct  250 . However, according to alternative embodiments, a dedicated duct or conduit may be used to circulate cooling air across heat exchanger  230 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , circulation duct  250  defines an inlet  252  and an outlet  254  for placing circulation duct  250  in fluid communication with evaporator  168 . More specifically, when refrigerator door  128  is in the closed positioned, inlet  252  is in direct fluid communication with supply duct  200  through supply outlet  204  and outlet  254  is in direct fluid communication with return duct  202  through return inlet  206 . Thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, fan  210  may urge cooled air from evaporator  168  (or freezer chamber  124 ) through supply duct  200 , into circulation duct  250 , and back to evaporator  168  through return duct  202 . 
     Although cooled air is supplied to circulation duct  250 , according to the illustrated embodiment, ice making chamber  184  is not in direct fluid communication with the circulation duct  250 . In other words, in such embodiments, ice making chamber  184  may be isolated from circulation duct  250  and sealed system  160 . Instead, for example, thermal communication between ice making assembly  180  and evaporator  168  may be by convection, i.e., air flow, from evaporator  168  to heat exchanger  230  and by conduction from heat exchanger  230  to mold body  222  in ice making chamber  184 . In addition, ice making assembly  180  may include a fan  256  for urging a flow of air over first side  242  of heat exchanger  230  and toward mold body  222 . 
     Providing cold air from evaporator  168  to heat exchanger  230  rather than directly into ice making chamber  184  may permit more efficient thermal energy transfer from the cold air to mold body  222 . That is, rather than circulating cold air above mold body  222 , placing mold body  222  in direct contact (and thus direct conductive thermal communication) with heat exchanger  230  and urging a flow of cold air over heat exchanger  230  and onto mold body  222  using fan  256  allows the cold air to more directly influence mold body  222 . As a result, the ice making assembly  180  may be more efficient and provide faster ice production. 
     In some embodiments, ice making assembly  180  may further include one or more sealing mechanisms operably coupled with inlet  252  and outlet  254  of circulation duct  250  for reducing or eliminating leakage of cooled airflow between supply duct  200  and circulation duct  250 . For example, an inlet gasket  260  may be positioned over inlet  252 , e.g., on a mating surface  262  where door liner  186  engages supply outlet  204 . Similarly, an outlet gasket  264  may be positioned over outlet  254  on mating surface  262  where door liner  186  engages return inlet  206 . Gaskets  260 ,  264  may enclose their respective openings. In alternative embodiments, gaskets  260 ,  264  may be positioned on interior wall  208  of fresh food chamber  122  and extend between interior wall  208  and mating surface  262  of door liner  186  when refrigerator door  128  is in the closed position. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 9 through 11 , ice making assembly  180  includes features for attaching icemaker  220  in a manner that makes icemaker  220  easily removable, e.g., for routine service or maintenance. More specifically, icemaker  220  may be removably attached to first side  242  of heat exchanger  230  using one or more fasteners  270 . According to the illustrated embodiment, fasteners  270  pass through heat exchanger  230  into icemaker  220 . More specifically, according to the illustrated embodiment, heat exchanger  230  may define an aperture  272  configured for receiving fastener  270 . In this regard, fastener  270  may be inserted through aperture  272 , pass through heat exchanger  230 , and be received within a boss  274  defined in icemaker  220 , or more specifically, in mold body  222 . 
     Notably, fastener  270  is accessible through circulation duct  250 . In this manner, a screwdriver, socket, hand, or other tool may be inserted through inlet  252  or outlet  254  to remove fastener  270  when refrigerator door  128  is in the open position. After fastener  270  is removed, icemaker  220  may be serviced as needed and quickly reinstalled using the reverse process. More specifically, icemaker  220  may be positioned on first side  242  of heat exchanger  230  when refrigerator door  128  is open and fastener  270  may be inserted through aperture  272  into boss  274 . 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, fastener  270  is a bolt or screw. However, it should be appreciated that fastener may be any suitable non-permanent (i.e., removable) mechanical fastener. In addition, any suitable number and orientation of fasteners  270  may be used. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 10 , two laterally-adjacent fasteners  270  are used. However, in  FIG. 11 , two vertically-adjacent fasteners  270  are used. 
     Ice making assembly  180  may further include or define features that further simplify installation of icemaker  220  or further improve the thermal contact between icemaker  220  and heat exchanger  230 . For example, according to the illustrated embodiment, icemaker  220  defines a mounting surface  280  and first side  242  of heat exchanger  230  defines a receiving surface  282 . Receiving surface  282  may be, for example, a flat spot where heat exchanging fins  246  are omitted. Mounting surface  280  may be a complementary flat surface such that improved thermal contact may be established between the icemaker  220  and heat exchanger  230  when icemaker  220  is installed. Although mounting surface  280  and receiving surface  282  are illustrated as flat surfaces, it should be appreciated that these surfaces may take any shape so long as they are complementary to each other, e.g., they may be curved, staggered, etc. According to still another exemplary embodiment, a thermally conductive paste  284  may be positioned between mounting surface  280  of icemaker  220  and receiving surface  282  of heat exchanger  230  when icemaker  220  is in an installed position. 
     According to still another embodiment, icemaker  220  and heat exchanger  230  may define complementary alignment features for assisting with the proper alignment of icemaker  220  during installation. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , heat exchanger  230  may define a recess  286  and icemaker  220  may define a complementary protruding member  288 . In this manner, an technician may hook protruding member  288  into recess  286  such that icemaker  220  may be temporarily supported while fasteners  270  are inserted. It should be appreciated that other alignment features are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter. 
     Using the features described above, ice making assembly  180  provides an icemaker  200  that may be efficiently cooled and easily removed for maintenance or service procedures. In addition, the ice making chamber is isolated from the cooling airflow. This prevents the ice within the ice making chamber from adsorbing tastes and/or odors from the food to which the cooling air is exposed. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the above described embodiments are used only for the purpose of explanation. Modifications and variations may be applied, other configurations may be used, and the resulting configurations may remain within the scope of the invention. For example, ice making assembly  180  may be positioned at other locations within refrigerator appliance  100 , different configurations for circulation duct  250  may be used, and different attachment configurations and systems may be used. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the present subject matter. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.