Patent Publication Number: US-10760846-B2

Title: Refrigerator appliance having an ice making assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to refrigerator appliances having an ice making assembly fed having one or more liquid filters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain refrigerator appliances include an ice maker. In order to produce ice, liquid water is directed to the ice maker and frozen. A variety of ice types can be produced depending upon the particular ice maker used. For example, certain ice makers include a mold body for receiving liquid water. An auger within the mold body can rotate and scrape ice off an inner surface of the mold body to form ice nuggets. Such ice makers are generally referred to as nugget style ice makers. Certain consumers prefer nugget style ice makers and their associated ice nuggets. 
     Ice nuggets are generally stored at temperatures above the freezing temperature of liquid water to maintain a texture of the ice nuggets. When stored at such temperatures, at least a portion of the ice nuggets will melt to liquid water. Generally, liquid water can thus accumulate within an ice bucket of the ice making assembly. This may create a number of difficulties or undesirable conditions for the refrigerator appliance. For instance, some of liquid water every freeze, causing portions of the nugget ice to clump together such that dispensing ice nuggets is difficult. Moreover, liquid water may damage or negatively affect performance of electrical components, such as motors. Furthermore, the liquid water may be difficult to remove and, in some instances, drip or flow from an ice dispensing portion of the refrigerator appliance. 
     Although some existing systems have attempted to reuse melted water within an ice making assembly (e.g., in order to make new ice nuggets), difficulties with such systems still exist. For instance, it may be difficult to ensure that liquid water from melted ice nuggets does not carry or include undesirable elements, such as, for instance, sediments, dirt, bacteria, etc. Moreover, attempting to filter such undesirable elements from the liquid water may require significant energy demands (e.g., from one or more pump systems or electrically activated filtration systems). 
     Accordingly, it would be useful provide a refrigerator appliance or ice making assembly addressing one or more of the above identified issues. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide a refrigerator appliance or ice making assembly with features for managing or filtering liquid water from melted ice nuggets. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icemaker attached to the cabinet, an ice bin, a support tray, a fluid filter, a liquid storage volume, and a fluid pump. The ice bin may be positioned adjacent to the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The ice bin may extend along a vertical direction between a top end and a bottom end. The ice bin may define a bin outlet at the bottom end. The support tray may be positioned below the bin outlet to receive water therefrom. The support tray may define an inclined groove extending downward toward a tray outlet. The fluid filter may be positioned below the support tray. The fluid filter may define a filter inlet and a filter outlet downstream therefrom. The filter inlet may be positioned downstream from the tray outlet. The filter outlet may be positioned below the filter inlet along the vertical direction. The liquid storage volume may be positioned below the filter outlet and downstream therefrom. The fluid pump may be positioned in fluid communication between the liquid storage volume and the icemaker. 
     In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icemaker attached to the cabinet, an ice bin, a support tray, a fluid filter, a liquid storage volume, a fluid pump, a fluid flow path, and a water supply line. The ice bin may be positioned adjacent to the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The ice bin may extend along a vertical direction between a top end and a bottom end. The ice bin may define a bin outlet at the bottom end. The support tray may be positioned below the bin outlet to receive water therefrom. The support tray may define a tray outlet. The fluid filter may be positioned below the support tray. The fluid filter may define a filter inlet and a filter outlet downstream therefrom. The filter inlet may be positioned downstream from the tray outlet. The filter outlet may be positioned below the filter inlet along the vertical direction. The liquid storage volume may be positioned below the filter outlet and downstream therefrom. The fluid pump may be positioned in fluid communication between the liquid storage volume and the icemaker. The fluid flow path may be defined between the fluid pump and the icemaker. The water supply line may define a water inlet positioned along the fluid flow path in fluid communication therewith between the fluid pump and the icemaker. 
     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 perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a door of the example refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  provides a schematic view of a sealed cooling system of the exemplary refrigerator appliance shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  provides an elevation view of the door of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 2  with an access door of the door shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 5  provides a plan view of a portion of an ice making according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  provides a plan view of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7  provides a plan view of the exemplary ice making assembly of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  7 - 7 . 
         FIG. 8  provides a schematic view of an ice making assembly according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows. 
     Turning to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator  100 . 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. Each of the vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and 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 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, for example, 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 . In addition, a freezer door  130  is arranged below refrigerator doors  128  for selectively accessing freezer chamber  124 . Freezer door  130  is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber  124 . Refrigerator doors  128  and freezer door  130  are shown in the closed position in  FIG. 1 . 
     Refrigerator appliance  100  also includes a delivery assembly  140  for delivering or dispensing liquid water or ice. Delivery assembly  140  includes a dispenser  142  positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance  100  (e.g., on one of refrigerator doors  128 ). Dispenser  142  includes a discharging outlet  144  for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism  146 , shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet  144  for operating dispenser  142 . In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser  142 . For example, dispenser  142  can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A control panel  148  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel  148  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  144  and actuating mechanism  146  are an external part of dispenser  142  and are mounted in a dispenser recess  150 . Dispenser recess  150  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  150  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. As described in more detail below, the dispensing assembly  140  may receive ice from an icemaker disposed in a sub-compartment of the fresh food chamber  122 . 
       FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a door of refrigerator doors  128 . As shown, optional embodiments of refrigerator appliance  100  includes a sub-compartment  160  defined on refrigerator door  128 . Sub-compartment  160  is often referred to as an “icebox.” Moreover, sub-compartment  160  extends into fresh food chamber  122  when refrigerator door  128  is in the closed position. 
       FIG. 3  provides a schematic view of certain components of refrigerator appliance  100 . As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , refrigerator appliance  100  includes a sealed cooling system  180  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  180  includes a compressor  182 , a condenser  184 , an expansion device  186 , and an evaporator  188  connected in fluid series and charged with a refrigerant. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, sealed cooling system  180  may include additional components (e.g., at least one additional evaporator, compressor, expansion device, or condenser). As an example, sealed cooling system  180  may include two evaporators. 
     Within sealed cooling system  180 , gaseous refrigerant flows into compressor  182 , 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  184 . Within condenser  184 , 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  186  (e.g., a valve, capillary tube, or other restriction device) receives liquid refrigerant from condenser  184 . From expansion device  186 , the liquid refrigerant enters evaporator  188 . Upon exiting expansion device  186  and entering evaporator  188 , the liquid refrigerant drops in pressure and vaporizes. Due to the pressure drop and phase change of the refrigerant, evaporator  188  is cool relative to fresh food and freezer chambers  122  and  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 . As such, cooled air is produced and refrigerates fresh food and freezer chambers  122  and  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 . Thus, evaporator  188  is a heat exchanger which transfers heat from air passing over evaporator  188  to refrigerant flowing through evaporator  188 . 
     Optionally, refrigerator appliance  100  further includes a valve  194  (e.g., in fluid communication with a water supply line) for regulating a flow of liquid water to an icemaker  210 . Valve  194  is selectively adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, valve  194  permits a flow of liquid water to icemaker  210 . Conversely, in the closed configuration, valve  194  hinders the flow of liquid water to icemaker  210 . 
     In some embodiments, refrigerator appliance  100  also includes an air handler  192 . Air handler  192  may be operable to urge a flow of chilled air from an evaporator ( FIG. 3 ) (e.g., within a freezer chamber  124 ) into icebox compartment  160  (e.g., via supply and return ducts or chilled air passages) and may be any suitable device for moving air. For example, air handler  192  can be an axial fan or a centrifugal fan. 
     Operation of the refrigerator appliance  100  can be regulated by a controller  190  that is operably coupled to (e.g., in electrical or wireless communication with) user interface panel  148 , sealed cooling system  180 , or various other components. User interface panel  148  provides selections for user manipulation of the operation of refrigerator appliance  100 , such as dispensing ice, chilled water, or other various options. In response to user manipulation of user interface panel  148  or one or more sensor signals, controller  190  may operate various components of the refrigerator appliance  100 . Controller  190  may include a memory and one or more 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 may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller  190  may be constructed without using a microprocessor (e.g., using a combination of discrete analog 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. 
     Controller  190  may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout refrigerator appliance  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, controller  190  is located within the user interface panel  148 . In other embodiments, controller  190  may be positioned at any suitable location within refrigerator appliance  100 , such as for example within a fresh food chamber, a freezer door, etc. Input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between controller  190  and various operational components of refrigerator appliance  100 . For example, user interface panel  148  may be in communication with controller  190  via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. 
     As illustrated, controller  190  may be in communication with the various components of dispensing assembly  140  and may control operation of the various components. For example, the various valves, switches, etc. may be actuatable based on commands from controller  190 . As discussed, interface panel  148  may additionally be in communication with controller  190 . Thus, the various operations may occur based on user input or automatically through controller  190  instruction. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , an ice making assembly  200 , including an icemaker  210  and an ice storage bin  212  attached to cabinet  102  ( FIG. 1 ) (e.g., indirectly via a door  128  or, alternatively, directly within a chilled chamber thereof). In optional embodiments, ice making assembly  200  is positioned or disposed within icebox compartment  160 . Alternatively, ice making assembly  200  may be directly mounted within a chilled chamber (e.g., freezer chamber  124 — FIG. 1 ) of refrigerator appliance  100 , as would be understood. 
     In some embodiments, ice can be selectively supplied to dispenser recess  150  ( FIG. 1 ) from icemaker  210  or ice storage bin  212  in icebox compartment  160  on a back side of refrigerator door  128 . In additional or alternative embodiments, air from a sealed system  180  ( FIG. 3 ) of refrigerator appliance  100  may be directed into icemaker  210  in order to cool icemaker  210 . As an example, during operation of icemaker  210 , chilled air from the sealed system  180  may cool components of icemaker  210 , such as a casing or mold body of icemaker  210 , to or below a freezing temperature of liquid water. Thus, icemaker  210  may be an air cooled icemaker. Chilled air from the sealed system  180  may also cool ice storage bin  212 . In particular, air around ice storage bin  212  can be chilled to a temperature above the freezing temperature of liquid water (e.g., to about the temperature of fresh food chamber  122 , such that ice nuggets in ice storage bin  212  melt over time due to being exposed to air having a temperature above the freezing temperature of liquid water). 
     In optional embodiments, an access door  166  is hinged to refrigerator door  128 . Generally, access door  166  may permit selective access to icebox compartment  160 . Any manner of suitable latch  168  is configured with icebox compartment  160  to maintain access door  166  in a closed position. As an example, latch  168  may be actuated by a consumer in order to open access door  166  for providing access into icebox compartment  160 . Access door  166  can also assist with insulating icebox compartment  160 . 
     It is noted that although ice making assembly  200  is illustrated as being at least partially enclosed within icebox compartment  160 , alternative embodiments may be free of any separate access door  166  (e.g., such that ice making assembly  200  is generally in open fluid communication with at least one chilled chamber of refrigerator appliance  100 ). 
       FIGS. 5 through 7  provide various plan views of icebox compartment  160 , including the ice bin or ice storage bin  212 . It is noted that the illustrated vertical direction V, transverse direction T, and lateral direction L of  FIGS. 5 through 7  are understood to be defined relative to the compartment  160  and generally correspond to the vertical direction V, transverse direction T, and lateral direction L of  FIG. 1  when the refrigerator door  128  ( FIG. 1 ) is in the closed position. 
     As shown, ice storage bin  212  is generally positioned adjacent to icemaker  210  (e.g., to receive ice nuggets therefrom). When assembled, ice storage bin  212  extends along the vertical direction V between a top end  214  and a bottom end  216 . In some embodiments, ice storage bin  212  is removably (e.g., slidably) mounted within the icebox compartment  160 . When received within the icebox compartment  160 , a support tray  218  (e.g., on or above which ice storage bin  212  is positioned) may generally cover the area beneath ice storage bin  212 . For instance, support tray  218  may be mounted or formed on a portion of the door  128  to hold or otherwise engage ice storage bin  212  (e.g., at the bottom end  216  of ice storage bin  212 ). 
     Between the top end  214  and the bottom end  216 , ice storage bin  212  generally defines an ice storage volume  224 . An ice inlet  220  may be defined (e.g., at the top end  214 ) to permit ice from icemaker  210  to the ice storage volume  224 . In some embodiments, an ice outlet  222  is defined (e.g., at the bottom end  216 ) to selectively permit ice to pass from the ice storage volume  224  to the dispenser  150  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Separate and apart from any ice outlet  222 , ice storage bin  212  may define a bin outlet  226  at the bottom end  216  thereof. As an example, a bottom wall  228  of ice storage bin  212  may define one or more apertures therethrough. Generally, the apertures of the bin outlet  226  may be sufficiently sized (e.g., in diameter) to permit the flow of liquid water therethrough. Although shown as a series of unimpeded perforations (e.g.,  FIG. 6 ), it is understood that the bin outlet  226  may include a movable or resilient plug, which is configured to selectively engage support tray  218  and permit water through the bin outlet  226  when ice storage bin  212  is fully received within the icebox compartment  160 . 
     As shown, support tray  218  is generally positioned below the bin outlet  226 . As ice melts to liquid water within the ice storage volume  224 , the liquid water may thus flow (e.g., as motivated by gravity) through the bin outlet  226  and to support tray  218 . In some embodiments, support tray  218  defines an inclined groove  232 . The inclined groove  232  extends downward (e.g., along a non-horizontal descending path) toward a tray outlet  234 . For instance, inclined groove  232  may define a groove angle θ that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the vertical direction V (e.g., between 30° and 85° relative to the vertical direction V). In some such embodiments, the tray outlet  234  is positioned proximal to the rear end  238  of the icebox compartment  160  and distal to the front end  236  of the icebox compartment  160 . In other words, the tray outlet  234  may be positioned closer to the rear end  238  (e.g., along the transverse direction T) then it is to the front end  236 . Thus, a portion of the inclined groove  232  that is located proximal to front end  236  may be positioned higher than portion of the inclined groove  232  that is located proximal to the rear end  238 . Nonetheless, it is understood that the path for inclined groove  232  may be formed as any suitable shape, such as an L-shaped path, linear path serpentine path, etc. 
     Advantageously, the described ice storage bin  212  and support tray  218  may allow or guide liquid water from melted ice (e.g., ice nuggets) to flow away from the ice storage volume  224  into a separate portion of the refrigerator appliance  100 , such as to a filtration assembly  240 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  provides a schematic view of an ice making assembly  200 . As shown, a filtration assembly  240  may be provided downstream from support tray  218  and tray outlet  234  to filter liquid water (e.g., before selectively returning liquid water to icemaker  210 ). 
     Generally, the filtration assembly  240  includes a fluid filter  242  having one or more filtration media for treating water therein. In some embodiments, fluid filter  242  is positioned below support tray  218  (e.g., along the vertical direction V) and may be directly beneath support tray  218  or, alternatively, laterally offset therefrom fluid filter  242  defines a filter inlet  244  and a filter outlet  246  that is located at a position below (e.g., lower than) the filter inlet  244  along the vertical direction V. When assembled, the filter inlet  244  is positioned downstream from the tray outlet  234  such that water flowing from the tray outlet  234  (e.g., as motivated by gravity) may enter fluid filter  242  through the filter inlet  244 . Moreover, the filter outlet  246  is positioned downstream from the filter inlet  244  and the filtration media contained within fluid filter  242 . 
     Fluid filter  242  may include any suitable filtration media. In optional embodiments, filtration media includes a mixed resin media, such as a mixed-bed media of commingled anion and cation resin. As is understood, the mixed-bed media may be configured to remove dissolved solids, such as inorganic salts of sodium and chlorine ions. Additional or alternative embodiments may include another suitable media configured to filter liquid water, such as a paper filter cartridge, activated carbon, etc. 
     In some embodiments, a filtered storage tank  248  defining a storage volume (e.g., first storage volume  252 ) is provided downstream from fluid filter  242  (i.e., downstream from the filter outlet  246 ) to receive liquid water therefrom. For instance, filtered storage tank  248  may define a tank inlet  256  through which liquid water may be received after being filtered within fluid filter  242  and passing through the filter outlet  246 . In some such embodiments, filtered storage tank  248  is positioned below fluid filter  242  (e.g., along the vertical direction V). Advantageously, liquid water may flow (e.g., as motivated by gravity) from fluid filter  242  to filtered storage tank  248  without requiring any intermediate pump, valve, or other mechanically driven fluid motivating device. 
     Nonetheless, in optional embodiments, a fluid pump  254  may be positioned in fluid communication between filtered storage tank  248  and icemaker  210 . Fluid pump  254  may be configured to selectively direct or motivate liquid water from the first storage volume  252  (e.g., after passing through a tank outlet  258 ) and through a fluid flow path  260  between fluid pump  254  and icemaker  210 . As shown, icemaker  210  is positioned above filtered storage tank  248  such that fluid pump  254  is forced to motivate liquid water, at least in part, along the vertical direction V. In some such embodiments, a check valve  262  is positioned along the fluid flow path  260  (e.g., in fluid communication therewith) downstream from fluid pump  254 . 
     In additional or alternative embodiments, an upper reservoir  264  defining a storage volume (e.g., second storage volume  266 ) is positioned upstream from icemaker  210 . For instance, the upper reservoir  264  may be positioned at a location that is above fluid filter  242  or support tray  218 . In certain embodiments, the upper reservoir  264  is positioned, at least in part, above icemaker  210 . For instance, the upper reservoir  264  may be positioned directly above icemaker  210  to selectively flow water thereto. In further embodiments, the upper reservoir  264  is positioned downstream from fluid pump  254 . A reservoir inlet  268  defined by the upper reservoir  264  may be disposed upstream from the second storage volume  266  to selectively receive liquid water flowed from fluid pump  254  through the fluid flow path  260 . A reservoir outlet  270  may further be defined by the upper reservoir  264  downstream from the second storage volume  266  and upstream from icemaker  210 . During operations, liquid water may thus flow from fluid pump  254 , through the fluid flow path  260 , and to the second storage volume  266  before reaching icemaker  210 . 
     In further additional or alternative embodiments, a water supply line  272  is provided in selective fluid communication with the ice making assembly  200 . As would be understood, water supply line  272  may be in downstream fluid communication to receive a flow or volume of water from a suitable water source (e.g., a municipal water supply, residential well, etc.). In some such embodiments, a prefilter cartridge  274  and supply valve  276  are positioned upstream from ice making assembly  200 . Water received from water supply line  272  may thus be forced through prefilter cartridge  274  before being directed to of ice making assembly  200 . 
     Prefilter cartridge  274  may generally include any suitable filtration body or media. Optionally, prefilter cartridge  274  may be an activated carbon filter configured to remove sediment or organic material from water supplied thereto. 
     In some embodiments, supply valve  276  is positioned in fluid communication between the second storage volume  266  and water supply line  272 . For instance, supply valve  276  may be located along the fluid flow path  260  at a location downstream from fluid pump  254  or check valve  262 . Supply valve  276  may be provided as any suitable valve for selectively permitting or restricting water from water supply line  272  to enter the fluid flow path  260  (e.g., independently or separately from fluid pump  254 ). Liquid water may thus be selectively and alternately flowed to the second storage volume  266  from the first storage volume  252  and water supply line  272 . 
     In certain embodiments, one or more level sensors (e.g.,  280 ,  282 ) are provided. As an example, a first level sensor  280  may be mounted to filtered storage tank  248  in fluid communication with the first storage volume  252  to detect an amount or volume of water therein. As an additional or alternative example, a second level sensor  282  may be mounted to the upper reservoir  264  in fluid communication with the second storage volume  266  and an amount volume or volume of water therein. One or both of the level sensors  280 ,  282  may be operably coupled to (i.e., in operative communication with) controller  190 . Moreover, as would be understood, the level sensors  280 ,  282  may be provided as any suitable liquid detecting sensor (e.g., a float-reed sensor, ultrasonic sensor, conductivity sensor, etc.). During use, controller  190  may thus generally determined if and when water within the first storage volume  252  or the second storage volume  266  has reached one or more corresponding predetermined levels. 
     In optional embodiments, controller  190  is configured to control or direct the flow of water to the second storage volume  266  alternately from the first storage volume  252  and water supply line  272 . For instance, controller  190  may be configured to initiate a fill operation. The fill operation may include receiving a demand signal from second level sensor  282 . For instance, the demand signal may generally indicate that second level sensor  282  is detected or determined that the volume of water within the second storage volume  266  is formed below a predetermined reservoir level (e.g., at which icemaker  210  contains a suitable volume of liquid water for making ice). 
     The fill operation may further include receiving a level signal from first level sensor  280 . Generally, the level signal from first level sensor  280  may indicate the volume of water within the first storage volume  252 . As an example, the level signal may be a binary signal indicating that the volume of water within the first storage volume  252  is either above or, alternatively, below a predetermined tank level. As another example, the level signal may indicate a numeric estimate or calculation for volume within the first storage volume  252 . The level signal may be received subsequent to or in tandem with the demand signal. 
     Based on the received demand and level signals, controller  190  may be configured to initiate a flow of water from either fluid pump  254  or water supply line  272 . For instance, if the level signal is above or equal to a predetermined tank volume, controller  190  may initiate or activate fluid pump  254  to motivate water from the first storage volume  252  to the second storage volume  266 . By contrast, if the level signal is below a predetermined tank volume, controller  190  may open supply valve  276  such that water is flowed from water supply line  272  to the second storage volume  266  (e.g., while fluid pump  254  is held in an inactive state and the water is prevented from being pumped from the first storage volume  252 ). 
     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.