Patent Publication Number: US-11035602-B2

Title: Clear ice maker assembly for production and storage of clear ice within a home refrigerator appliance

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a refrigerator appliance and to a clear ice maker assembly for producing clear ice for the refrigerator appliance. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an automatic clear ice maker assembly for producing clear ice pieces that contain little or no impurities and are substantially free of trapped air, and to a clear ice maker assembly that can be disposed in the refrigerator appliance. 
     Moreover, the automatic clear ice maker assembly can be positioned, for example, in a freezer compartment, or in a dedicated ice making compartment located within a fresh food compartment of the refrigerator appliance or in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, some users/customers prefer clear ice pieces that are free of impurities and trapped air for beverages and cocktails, because such clear ice pieces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also avoid altering the taste of the beverages and cocktails in which they are used. 
     There are known standalone or dedicated clear ice making machines for home and commercial use which can produce clear ice. However, these standalone clear ice machines are typically of substantial size and have high ice rates, and therefore consume significant amounts of water and energy. Moreover, the known standalone clear ice machines generally have no practical means of storing the produced clear ice pieces for extended periods of time. In particular, all of these conventional product designs passively refrigerate the storage compartment, resulting in above freezing storage temperatures and significant melting of the stored ice pieces. This is largely due to the very wet nature or the ice produced by these machines, resulting in ice pieces that cannot be actively refrigerated for preservation as significant clumping would result. As the ice harvested from a conventional ice machine relies solely on gravity to release the ice from the evaporator, the evaporator must be heated to temperatures substantially above freezing. As a result, the ice pieces melt appreciably during this process and a very wet ice results. Attempting to store these wet ice pieces is not possible due to the extreme clumping that would result in a sub-freezing ambient temperature. These issues result in a substantially limited storage time, and the available ice continues to melt and become increasingly wet and low in quality. In addition, the accumulated meltwater must be dealt with; this is typically accomplished by pumping the meltwater to a drain that the appliance must be connected to, resulting in significant waste water and added complication of the appliance. 
     These factors make the currently available clear ice products unsuitable for the light use that a domestic or home ice maker would experience in a typical household. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, there is currently no home or domestic refrigerator appliance on the market with an installed automatic clear ice maker that is capable of producing clear ice pieces that contain little or no impurities and are substantially free of trapped air, as well as providing a capability to store the clear ice pieces. 
     An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker assembly that can be equipped in a refrigerator appliance at the time of manufacture. 
     An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker assembly that can be positioned for example in a dedicated ice making compartment located within a fresh food compartment of the refrigerator appliance or in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker assembly that can produce clear ice pieces in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be easily changed by replacement of an ice mold part by the user. 
     An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker assembly that can produce clear ice pieces that are dry enough after harvesting that they can be effectively stored without clumping. 
     An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker assembly that can produce clear ice pieces at a high rate of ice production and is highly efficient in terms of water and energy use when compared to available commercial clear ice machines. 
     According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator comprising: an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; a clear ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make clear ice pieces; and an ice storage bucket configured to store the clear ice pieces made by the clear ice maker assembly, wherein the clear ice maker assembly comprises: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part and into the ice storage bucket. 
     According to another aspect, the surface of the evaporator plate comprises at least a lower surface. 
     According to another aspect, the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part comprises a plurality of thermally non-conductive ice mold parts each having one or more walls that together with the lower surface of the evaporator plate form a plurality of ice mold cavities for forming clear ice pieces. 
     According to another aspect, the ice mold cavities are configured in a variety of shapes and/or sizes. 
     According to another aspect, the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts are interchangeable such that the shape and/or size thereof are changeable. 
     According to another aspect, the water reservoir system comprises a water tank and a pump configured to supply water under pressure from the water tank to the spray bar. 
     According to another aspect, the spray bar comprises a plurality of openings respectively corresponding to the plurality of ice mold cavities. 
     According to another aspect, the ejection system comprises at least one ejector pin configured to push out the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part during an ice harvesting mode. 
     According to another aspect, the ejection system comprises a plurality of ejector pins configured to push out the clear ice pieces respectively formed inside the ice mold cavities during an ice harvesting mode. 
     According to another aspect, the ice maker assembly further comprises a grate disposed under the ice mold cavities and above a water tank of the water reservoir system and configured to guide the harvested clear ice pieces to slide down into the ice storage bucket and also allow any water to flow back into the water tank. 
     According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a clear ice maker assembly for use in a home refrigerator appliance, the clear ice maker assembly comprising: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part. 
     According to another aspect, the surface of the evaporator plate comprises at least a lower surface. 
     According to another aspect, the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part comprises a plurality of thermally non-conductive ice mold parts each having one or more walls that together with the lower surface of the evaporator plate form a plurality of ice mold cavities. 
     According to another aspect, the ice mold cavities are configured in a variety of shapes and/or sizes. 
     According to another aspect, the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts are interchangeable such that the shape and/or size thereof are changeable. 
     According to another aspect, the water reservoir system comprises a water tank and a pump configured to supply water under pressure from the water tank to the spray bar. 
     According to another aspect, the spray bar comprises a plurality of openings respectively corresponding to the plurality of ice mold cavities. 
     According to another aspect, the ejection system comprises at least one ejector pin configured to push out the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part during an ice harvesting mode. 
     According to another aspect, the ejection system comprises a plurality of ejector pins configured to push out the clear ice pieces respectively formed inside the ice mold cavities during an ice harvesting mode. 
     According to another aspect, the ice maker assembly further comprising a grate disposed under the ice mold cavities and above a water tank of the water reservoir system and configured to guide the harvested clear ice pieces to slide down over the water tank and also allow any water to flow back into the water tank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the inside of a refrigerator appliance including an automatic clear ice maker assembly in an ice compartment region located in a freezer compartment according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the automatic clear ice maker assembly according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the automatic clear ice maker assembly with a partial cutaway and also showing mounting blocks according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are right side and front elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are left side and back elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the automatic clear ice maker assembly according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are cutaway right side and front elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly during an ice making or production mode according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are cutaway right side and front elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly during an ice ejection or harvesting mode according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the ice ejection system assembly according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the automatic clear ice maker assembly showing a variation of the ice storage bucket according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show examples of the clear ice pieces of various shapes that are produced and interchangeable ice molds, respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  is a front cross-sectional view of a French door-bottom mount style refrigerator having a dedicated ice compartment, where the doors of the refrigerator are removed and the ice bucket with front cover of the ice compartment is removed for ease of understanding according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The exemplary embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the invention and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. 
     Moreover, it should be understood that terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, middle, upper, lower, right side, left side, vertical, horizontal, downward, upward, and the like used herein are for orientation purposes with respect to the drawings when describing the exemplary embodiments and should not limit the present invention unless explicitly indicated otherwise in the claims. Also, terms such as substantially, approximately, and about are intended to allow for variances to account for manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances, or variations from ideal values that would be accepted by those skilled in the art. 
     As used herein, the terms “clear ice” or “clear ice pieces” refer to ice or ice pieces that are substantially free of impurities and are substantially free of trapped air. The clear ice or clear ice pieces are not limited to a particular shape or size. Impurities commonly found in ice, such as dissolved minerals and salts, can significantly alter the taste of a beverage. These impurities can also result in oxidation occurring in some beverages, further reducing the quality of the beverage. An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing an automatic clear ice maker that is capable of producing clear ice pieces that are substantially free of impurities and are substantially free of trapped air, as well as providing a capability to store the clear ice pieces produced. 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the inside of a refrigerator appliance  10  including an automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  in an ice compartment region  14  located in a freezer compartment  11  according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. 
     More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows a home or domestic refrigerator appliance  10  and, in particular, the inside of the freezer compartment  11  having openings  12  for introducing cold air, with the return air opening not being visible in the figure. At least one door, or alternatively a drawer  13  is mounted such as by hinges or slides, for providing access to and for closing the freezer compartment  11 . In the upper left corner, for example, an ice compartment region  14  is provided and is at least partially defined by an L-shaped floor portion  15 . Although the L-shaped floor portion  15  is shown with a short vertical side wall  16 , the vertical side wall  16  can extend, for example, halfway or all the way to the ceiling  17  of the freezer compartment  11 . An automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  is disposed in the uppermost left corner of the freezer compartment  11  in the ice compartment region  14 . The automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  is configured to make clear ice pieces. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an ice storage bucket  21  is provided underneath and extends beyond one side of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the ice storage bucket  210  can be positioned beside the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 ′. Although the term ice storage bucket is used, ice bucket, ice bin, ice storage container, and the like are alternative terms for describing the ice storage bucket  21 . The ice storage bucket  21  is shown as a removable ice bucket for storing ice, the removable ice storage bucket being removably disposed in the ice compartment region  14 . The ice storage bucket  21  has a front portion  22  with a grip  23  for a user to grasp with their fingers to pull and slide the ice storage bucket  21  out of the ice compartment region  14  to access the clear ice pieces or empty the clear ice pieces from the ice storage bucket  21 . The ice storage bucket  21  rests on the L-shaped floor portion  15  when it is inserted into the ice compartment region  14 . The ice storage bucket  21  may have a raised side wall portion  24  and raised rear wall portion  25  to help retain the clear ice pieces as they slide and fall into the ice storage bucket  21  from the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  during harvest and during storage as the level of the clear ice pieces increases in the ice storage bucket  21 . A level detection device such as a bail arm (not shown) is configured to turn the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  on when the level of the clear ice pieces has gone below a preset level as the user removes the clear ice pieces from the ice storage bucket  21  for use, as well as turn off the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  when the clear ice pieces have reached a preset full level in the ice storage bucket  21 . Also, other level sensing devices could be used such as optical sensors. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a water tank  71 , water outlet  72 , water inlet  74 , connecting piping and channels, and pump P (see  FIG. 5 ) of the clear ice maker assembly  18  can be kept from freezing by insulating the water tank  71 , connecting piping and channels, and pump P and by placing heaters (not shown) at the water tank  71 , connecting piping and channels, and pump P as necessary. Alternatively, the water tank  71 , water outlet  72 , water inlet  74 , connecting piping and channels, and pump P of the clear ice maker assembly  18  can be housed in a separate compartment that maintains an ambient temperature such that freezing is prevented. In this configuration, ice pieces are transferred to an adjacent compartment that is kept below freezing to prevent melting of the ice pieces. 
     While  FIG. 1  shows the clear ice maker assembly  18  in the uppermost left corner of the freezer compartment  11  in the ice compartment region  14 , the present disclosure also contemplates disposing the clear ice maker assembly  18  in a dedicated ice making compartment that is installed in the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator appliance, as will be discussed below with respect to  FIG. 11 . 
     As will be discussed in more detail below, the clear ice maker assembly  18  can be configured as one that utilizes direct cooling where an evaporator cooling tube or refrigerant tube  26  either contacts or is embedded in an evaporator plate  28 . 
     Turning to the particulars of the clear ice maker assembly  18  per se, reference is made to  FIGS. 2A through 8 . More specifically,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a perspective view and a perspective cutaway view, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are right side and front elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 , whereas  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are left side and back elevational views, respectively, of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B , the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  includes an ice maker mounting bracket  30  which also serves as a housing or cover to protect an ice ejection system subassembly  40  from contamination and damage. The details of the ice ejection system subassembly  40  will be discussed in detail below with respect to  FIG. 8 . The ice maker mounting bracket  30  is mounted to, for example, a portion of the ice ejection system subassembly  40  such as a guiding plate  48  by fasteners such as screws or bolts S. The ice maker mounting bracket  30  can be used to suspend the clear ice maker assembly  18  inside refrigerator appliance  10 . The ice maker mounting bracket  30  can either be directly mounted to the ceiling  17 , for example, of the refrigerator appliance  10  or can be mounted to the ceiling  17  using mounting blocks  31  and  32  (see  FIG. 2B ) using suitable fasteners such as screws or bolts (not shown). 
     A gear box housing  41  for housing a gear box motor  42  (see  FIG. 2B ) for operating the ice ejection system subassembly  40  is disposed at the front of the ice maker mounting bracket  30 . The gear box housing  41  includes a gearbox housing cover  43 . The gear box motor  42  is mounted to the gear box housing  41  by fasteners F 1 , and the gearbox housing cover  43  is mounted to the gear box housing  41  by fasteners F 2 . The fasteners F 1  and F 2  can be screws or bolts (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Also visible in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is a splash guard  50  and an outer portion of each of a plurality of thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60 . In this case, while six ice mold parts  60  are shown, the present disclosure is not limited to this number and more or less ice mold parts  60  can be used. On the side of the splash guard  50 , a plurality of hinged doors  52  (in this case six are shown) are situated adjacent to the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60  and are pivotally mounted to the splash guard  50 . 
     A water reservoir system  70  is disposed below the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60  and comprises the water tank  71  and the pump P configured to supply water under pressure from the water tank  71  through the outlet  72  to a spray bar  80 . As is visible in the cutaway view of  FIG. 2B , a grate  90  disposed under the ice mold parts  60  and above the water tank  71  of the water reservoir system  70  and is configured to guide the harvested clear ice pieces to slide down into the ice storage bucket  21  and also allow any water to flow back into the water tank  71 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, and 8 , consistent with the present disclosure the evaporator plate  28  is cooled directly via contact with the refrigerant tube  26 , wherein the refrigerant tube  26  is held to the evaporator plate  28  by a clamping plate  29  (see  FIG. 5 ) using a plurality of fasteners S 1  such as screws or bolts. The evaporator plate  28  arrangement is not limited to the embodiment shown, and could comprise an over-molded refrigerant tube, a roll-bond type assembly, or other known arrangements using direct cooling techniques. One or more heaters  27  are disposed above the evaporator plate  28  and are positioned between the evaporator plate  28  and the ice ejection system subassembly  40  (see  FIG. 5 ). The heaters  27  may be affixed to the evaporator plate  28 . 
     The one or more thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60  are configured to have one or more walls  60 W and are assembled below the evaporator plate  28  as best shown in  FIGS. 6A and 10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60  are removably mounted via fasteners S 2  to the clamping plate  29  so as to be replaceable by a user, and therefore a wide variety of shapes and/or sizes are possible (see  FIG. 10 ). The ice mold parts  60  can be assembled to the evaporator plate  28  by alternative means which may or may not include fasteners as shown in this embodiment, and it should be understood that these alternative assembly methods fall within the scope of this disclosure. The one or more walls  60 W of the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60 , in conjunction with a surface, such as a lower surface  28 ′, of the evaporator plate  28 , form a series of ice mold cavities  62  once these parts are assembled. Water, drawn from the water tank  71  of the water reservoir system  70 , is introduced to the ice mold cavities  62  vertically by the spray bar  80 . In the embodiment shown, water is pulled from the water tank  71  through the outlet  72  to an external pump P, which then discharges water to the spray bar  80  via the inlet  74 . Many variations of this aspect of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  are possible, including an embodiment wherein the pump P is incorporated into the water tank  71 , thus eliminating the requirement for external water piping. The spray bar  80  is configured as a pipe having a plurality (in this case six) vertically oriented holes or nozzle openings  81  which direct the water pumped from the water tank  71  up vertically into the respective ice mold cavities  62  and against the lower surface  28 ′ of the evaporator plate  28 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . Note that the term “vertically” is used in a general sense to mean in an up and down direction or pointing/directed upwardly and is not limited to ninety degrees to a horizontal plane. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the spray bar  80  is supported by a plurality of T-shaped supports  75  mounted to, for example, the bottom and side walls of the water tank  71 . The side wall of the water tank  71  that faces the inner side wall of the refrigerator appliance  10  can include cutaway portion  76  to accommodate the inlet  74  to the spray bar  80 . Water introduced to the ice mold cavities  62  returns to the water tank  71  of the water reservoir system  70  in order to be recirculated. This water is contained by the hinged doors  52  of the splash guard  50 . The grate  90  serves to separate harvested ice from the water tank  71  of the water reservoir system  70  which is disposed below the ice mold cavities  62  and the spray bar  80 . The assembly of the splash guard  50 , the hinged doors  52 , grate  90 , the spray bar  80 , and the water reservoir system  70  is suspended by brackets B that are attached to the clamping plate  29  using fasteners S 3  such as screws or bolts. As noted above, the entirety of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  is suspended inside of the home refrigerator appliance  10  by the icemaker mounting bracket  30 . 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the ice ejection system subassembly  40  according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. In particular, the ice ejection system subassembly  40  serves to independently or simultaneously translate ejector pins  45  which push the clear ice pieces IP out of the ice mold parts  60 . This is accomplished by converting rotational energy from the gearbox motor  42  to translational energy in the slider  46  which is formed by left and right slider halves  46 A and  46 B, and finally transferring that translational energy to the ejector pins  45 . The input from the gearbox motor  42  (see  FIG. 2B  to  FIG. 7 ) is used to drive a worm gear WG. Power is transmitted from the worm gear WG to gear teeth T on the slider  46 , which is assembled from the two slider halves  46 A and  46 B. Power transmission allows for the slider  46  to be translated along its axis in either direction. The motion of the slider  46  is then transferred to a plurality of lifters L via pins P 1  and P 2  which ride along slots  47  in the slider  46 . Finally, the lifters L are secured using retaining rings or clips R, such as but not limited to, C-clips, E-clips, or the like to the ejector pins  45 . The ejector pins  45  pass through openings in the guiding plate  48  and in the evaporator plate  28  (see  FIGS. 6A and 7A ). Thus, the ejector pins  45  are driven up or down by the rotation of the gearbox motor  42 . The amount of mechanical advantage can be determined by varying the geometry of the slots  47 . All of these components are assembled to the guiding plate  48 , which serves as a bearing for the worm gear WG (see  FIGS. 6A and 7A ) and also as a linear guide for the slider  46  and lifters L. The left and right slider halves  46 A and  46 B are joined together directly by fasteners S 4  and S 5  such as screws or bolts. The guiding plate  48  is fastened to the evaporator plate  28  by fasteners S 6  such as screws or bolts. 
     In operation, the ice making cycle starts with an ice production mode that begins by passing refrigerant through the cooling tube  26 , thus cooling the evaporator plate  28  to a predetermined temperature. The water in the water tank  71  is maintained at a predetermined temperature that best facilitates the ice making cycle. Water is pumped by the pump P from the water tank  71  into the spray bar  80  which introduces a stream of water from each hole or nozzle opening  81  directly into the center of each ice mold cavity  62  (see  FIG. 6A ). The water falls from each ice mold cavity  62  back down into the water tank  71  and is recirculated. The water in the water tank  71  is rapidly cooled to near 0° C. as a result of circulating over the evaporator plate  28 . As water is circulated, ice forms only on the lower surface  28 ′ of the evaporator plate  28  inside each ice mold cavity  62 , growing only in the direction normal to the lower surface  28 ′ of the evaporator plate  28 . This occurs because the thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60  are formed of, for example, plastic. The process is continued until the clear ice pieces IP have formed to a desired thickness. The desired thickness can be detected in a number of ways, such as by time and/or temperature based algorithms, monitoring the water level in the water tank  71 , physically or optically probing the clear ice pieces IP, etc. Clear ice forms as all impurities and entrapped air are washed away, with the formation growing in a unidirectional manner due to the low thermal conductivity of the walls  60 W of the one or more thermally non-conductive ice mold parts  60 . A well-defined clear ice piece IP, having the shape of the walls  60 W of the ice mold part  60 , results. Thus, the shape of the clear ice piece IP produced can be varied significantly simply by the exchange of the ice mold parts  60  (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     Once the clear ice pieces IP are fully formed, the ice production mode is complete and the water circulation is halted, and the clear ice pieces IP can then be harvested in the ice harvesting mode (see  FIG. 7A ) by ceasing the flow of refrigerant to the cooling tube  26  and energizing the heaters  27  which then warm the evaporator plate  28  to a predefined temperature setting, such as just above freezing. This is necessary to release the clear ice pieces IP from the lower surface  28 ′ of the evaporator plate  28 , and also to allow the ejector pins  45  to move freely. Once above 0° C. temperatures are reached at the evaporator plate  28 , the ice ejection system subassembly  40  is actuated by the gearbox motor  42  situated inside the gearbox housing  41  and the gearbox cover  43 . The gearbox motor  42  rotates the worm gear WG which in turn translates the slider  46 . The slots  47  on the slider  46  engage the pins P 1  and P 2  of the lifters L. Each lifter L is driven downward by the slots  47  as the slider  46  translates. The ice ejection system subassembly  40  physically ejects the ice pieces IP from the ice mold parts  60  through the use of the ejector pins  45 . Very limited melting occurs as only one face of the ice piece is in contact with the lower surface  28 ′ of the evaporator plate  28 . The plastic ice mold parts  60 , which are not thermally conductive, do not facilitate any melting of the other faces. The ejector pins  45  may be made of metallic or non-metallic materials. The harvested clear ice pieces IP then slide along the grate  90  and through the hinged doors  52 , which may be passively moved by the force of the clear ice pieces IP or alternatively moved by an actuator (not shown), thus allowing the clear ice pieces IP to leave the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18  and come to rest in the ice storage bucket  21  (see  FIG. 1 ). Also, as the harvested clear ice pieces IP slide along the grate  90 , this allows any small amount of melt water to return to the water tank  71 . The ice making cycle is then complete, and can be reinitiated until ice level detection requirements for the ice bin are satisfied. 
     As ice making cycles are repeated, the magnitude of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water within the reservoir system  70  increases. This requires that the water be periodically flushed from the water tank  71  and replenished with fresh water. Multiple embodiments are possible to facilitate this, wherein the preferred embodiment would allow for the water in the reservoir to be flushed and replenished automatically through a system of valves and directed to a drain, or the reservoir manually removed, flushed, and replaced by the user. 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 ′ showing a variation of the ice storage bucket according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the ice storage bucket is configured as a side ice storage bucket  210  which is disposed beside the automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 ′ (shown in a more simplified form) as opposed to both underneath and beside as is the case with the ice storage bucket  21  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this case, the location of outlet  72  to the pump P is moved, for example, to the rear of the water tank  71 ′ so as not to interfere with the side ice storage bucket  210 , while the inlet  74 ′ can remain in the same position. 
       FIG. 10A  shows examples of the clear ice pieces IP of various shapes that are produced and  FIG. 10B  shows interchangeable, thermally non-conductive, ice mold parts  60  according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. In particular,  FIG. 10B  shows various exemplary ice mold part  60  shapes formed by walls  60 W and  FIG. 10A  shows ice piece IP shapes such as, but not limited to, a heart, a cube, various letters, a star, and animals. 
       FIG. 11  is a front cross-sectional view of a French door-bottom mount style refrigerator  1000  having a dedicated ice compartment  400 , where the doors of the refrigerator are removed and the ice bucket with front cover of the ice compartment  400  is removed for ease of understanding according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with present disclosure. In particular, the dedicated ice compartment  400  is positioned in the upper left corner of a refrigerator compartment  1003 . The refrigerator compartment  1003  is positioned over a freezer compartment  1002  of the French door-bottom mount style refrigerator  1000 . The ice compartment  400  includes, for example, an insulated L-shaped wall that is configured to engage with a stepped portion of the inner side wall  1003 B of the fresh food compartment  1003 . The L-shaped wall of the ice compartment  400  cooperates with the inner top wall, the inner back wall, and the inner side wall  1003 B of the fresh food compartment  1003  to form the insulated ice compartment. The automatic clear ice maker assembly  18 ″ is disposed within the dedicated ice compartment  400 . 
     The present invention has substantial opportunity for variation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, while  FIG. 11  shows a French door-bottom mount (FDBM) style refrigerator, the present invention can be utilized in FDBM configurations having one or more intermediate compartments (such as, but not limited to, pullout drawers) that can be operated as either fresh food compartments or freezer compartments and which are located between the main fresh food compartment and the main freezer compartment, a side-by-side refrigerator where the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are disposed side-by-side in a vertical orientation, as well as in other well-known refrigerator configurations, such as but not limited to, top freezer configurations, bottom freezer configurations, and the like. Also, while the dedicated ice compartment  400  is shown in the fresh food compartment in  FIG. 11 , the dedicated ice compartment  400  could be disposed in the freezer compartment  11  of  FIG. 1 . Also, the various features described in connection with a particular embodiment can be used (mixed and matched) with the other embodiments wherever appropriate. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.