Patent Publication Number: US-6901764-B2

Title: Ice-making apparatus in refrigerator

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/216,185 filed Aug. 12, 2002 Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,567. 

   This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos. P2001-55222 and P2001-55223, which were filed on Sep. 7, 2001, and which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present invention relates to ice-making equipment used in refrigerators. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Refrigerators typically include cold-storage rooms and freezers that are maintained at constant, low temperatures. To accomplish this, a refrigerator incorporates a refrigerating system that includes a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator. Liquid refrigerant at low temperature and pressure passes through refrigerant tubes in the evaporator so as to absorb heat from air near the evaporator. Thus, the air temperature around the evaporator is cooled. That cooled air is supplied to the cold-storage room and freezer, thus cooling the interior of the refrigerator. 
   Modern refrigerators often include an ice-making plant in the freezer. A typical ice-making plant is briefly explained with reference to FIG.  1 . As shown, a water supply pipe  2  is installed in a refrigerator body  1 . That supply pipe, which receives water from an external source, is connected to a valve  3  inside the refrigerator. The valve  3  controls water flow both to a dispenser  7  and to an ice-making plant  10 . Water flows to the dispenser  7  by way of connecting pipes  4   a  and  4   b  and by way of a water tank  5  that stores a predetermined amount of water. Water flows to the ice-making plant  10  by way of an external supply pipe  8  that runs along the rear of the refrigerator and that connects to an internal supply pipe  9  that extends into the freezer above the ice-making plant  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a typical prior art ice-making plant  10  includes an ice-making vessel  12 , a motor assembly  14  for revolving the ice-making vessel  12 , and an ice storage vessel (not shown) for storing ice. The motor assembly  14  includes a driving shaft  15  that connects to the center of the ice-making vessel  12 . Thus, as shown, the rotational axis X of the ice-making vessel  12  passes through the center of the ice-making vessel  12 . An ice-checking lever  18  is installed along a side of the motor assembly  14 . That ice-checking lever  18  measures the amount of ice stored in the ice storage vessel. 
   The operation of the ice-making plant  10  is as follows. Referring now to  FIG. 2B , after the ice-making vessel  12  is supplied with water by the internal supply pipe  9 , the cold air in the freezer turns the water in the ice-making vessel  12  to ice. Periodically, the ice-checking lever  18  measures the quantity of stored ice in the ice storage vessel. If the quantity of stored ice is less than a predetermined level, the motor assembly  14  rotates the ice-making vessel  12 . After the ice-making vessel  12  rotates by a predetermined angle, it contacts a stopper  19 . Further rotation twists the ice-making vessel  12  against the stopper  19  causing ice in the ice-making vessel  12  to separate from the ice-making vessel  12  and to fall into the ice storage vessel. Thereafter, the ice-making vessel  12  is returned to its initial position and is refilled with water from the internal supply pipe  9 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2B , the ice-making vessel  12  is preferably installed very close to the end of the internal supply pipe  9 . If that end is too far from the ice-making vessel  12 , the supplied water can splash out of the ice-making vessel  12 . Therefore, close spacing between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  12  is desirable. However, if the internal supply pipe  9  is too close, rotation of the ice-making vessel  12  causes contact between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  12 . Such contact can create various problems. 
   First, contact between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  12  can damage the internal supply pipe  9  and/or the ice-making vessel  12 . Such damage can prevent ice from forming and can also result in broken pieces of the internal supply pipe  9  and/or the ice-making vessel  12  being mixed with the ice. 
   Second, contact between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  12  can induce a positional deviation of the end of the internal supply pipe  9  that causes water to splash from the ice-making vessel  12 . 
   Third, even if there is no immediate damage, contact between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  12  can hinder the rotation of the ice-making vessel  12  such that an excessive electrical load can be placed on the motor assembly  14 . Over time, such an excessive electrical load can damage the motor assembly  14 . 
   Therefore, an improved ice-making apparatus that prevents contact between an internal supply pipe and an ice-making vessel would be beneficial. Even more beneficial would be an improved ice-making apparatus that prevents contact between an internal supply pipe and an ice-making vessel that is located close to the internal supply pipe. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an ice-making apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
   An advantage of the present invention is to provide an ice-making apparatus in a refrigerator that prevents interference between a water supply pipe and an ice-making vessel. 
   Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an ice-making apparatus in a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a supply pipe for guiding water for ice making, a motor assembly for generating a rotational force, and an ice-making vessel under the supply pipe that is coupled to the motor assembly such that the ice-making vessel has an off-center rotational axis. 
   The off-center rotational axis causes the ice-making vessel to rotate in a manner that avoids contact between the ice-making vessel and the water supply pipe. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, an ice-making apparatus for a refrigerator includes a water supply pipe, a motor assembly for generating a turning force, and an ice-making vessel under the water supply pipe that is coupled to the motor assembly. An icemaker cover surrounds and supports the ice-making vessel such that the rotational axis of the ice-making vessel moves when the ice-making vessel contacts the water supply pipe. Movement of the rotational axis is such that interference between the ice-making vessel and the water supply pipe is reduced. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of a typical refrigerator; 
       FIG. 2A  is a simplified schematic depiction of a prior art ice-making apparatus suitable for use in the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates the operation of the ice-making apparatus shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of an ice-making apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a top-down view of the ice-making apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the operation of the ice-making apparatus shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic depiction of an ice-making apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG.  7 A and  FIG. 7B  illustrate the operation of the ice-making apparatus shown in FIG.  6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to illustrated embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or to like parts. 
     FIG. 3  schematically illustrates an ice-making apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, while  FIG. 4  provides a top-down view of that apparatus. Referring now to FIG.  3  and to  FIG. 4 , an ice-making apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an internal supply pipe  9  that guides water for ice making. A motor assembly  24 , having an internal motor, connects to a side of an ice-making vessel  22  that is beneath the internal supply pipe  9 . As shown, the internal supply pipe  9  beneficially passes over a side of the ice-making vessel  22 . 
   To prevent interference between the ice-making vessel  22  and the internal supply pipe  9 , the rotational axis X (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the ice-making vessel  22  is off-center by a predetermined interval “a.” To accomplish this, the motor assembly  24  includes a driving shaft  25  that mates with a coupling groove  23  on a side (left) of the ice-making vessel  22 . Beneficially, the driving shaft  25  ends in a coupling protrusion  25   a  that fits into a coupling groove  23   a  at the end of the coupling part  23 . Therefore, the rotational axis X of the ice-making vessel  22  extends along the driving shaft  25  and through the side (left) of the ice-making vessel  22 . 
   The operation of the ice-making apparatus is explained with reference to FIG.  5 . In  FIG. 5 , the solid line indicates the ice-making vessel  22  when making ice, while the dotted line represents the ice-making vessel  22  when ice is being separated. It is assumed in  FIG. 5  that water in the ice-making vessel  22  is frozen. The ice-checking lever  18  (not shown in the  FIG. 5 , but reference  FIG. 2A ) operates to measure the level of the ice stored in an ice storage vessel (not shown). If the level is low, electric power is applied to the motor assembly  24  to rotate the ice-making vessel clockwise along the rotational axis X that passes through the coupling part  23 . 
   Because the internal supply pipe  9  and the rotational axis of the ice-making vessel  22  are on one side (the left) of the ice-making vessel  22 , rotation of the ice-making vessel  22  is such that the ice-making vessel  22  does not contact the internal supply pipe  9 . Beneficially, the angle of rotation of the ice-making vessel  22  is limited. This prevents contact of the bottom of the ice-making vessel  22  with the internal supply pipe  9  if the ice-making vessel rotates excessively. 
   After the ice-making vessel  22  has rotated sufficiently, it contacts a stopper (not shown). Additional rotation twists the ice-making vessel  22  against the stopper such that ice separates from the ice-making vessel  22  and drops into the ice storage vessel. Then, the ice-making vessel  22  is rotated counterclockwise to return it to its initial position. The ice-making vessel  22  is then supplied with additional water by the internal supply pipe  9  so as to produce additional ice. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an ice-making apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the second embodiment also includes an internal supply pipe  9  (see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) that receives water from an external supply. A motor assembly  40  having an internal motor connects to an end of an ice-making vessel  30 . That ice-making vessel  30  is under the internal supply pipe  9 . An icemaker cover  50  (or shield) encompasses the ice-making vessel  30  and the motor assembly. 
   The ice-making vessel  30  includes an elongated vessel body  31  having ice-making pockets  32 . A coupling part  33  at an end of the vessel body  31  mates with a driving shaft  45  of the motor assembly  40 . Additionally, the vessel body  31  includes a support protrusion  34  at the end opposite the coupling part  33 . Beneficially, the coupling part  33  is located along a central rotational axis of the vessel body  31 . 
   The icemaker cover  50  includes a landing protrusion  54  that extends inward toward the ice-making vessel  30 . The landing protrusion  54  interacts with the support protrusion  34  to prevent the ice-making vessel  30  from rotating (counterclockwise) by its own weight when the ice-making pockets  32  are filled. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the ice-making vessel  30  includes an outwardly protruding support rod  35  that is located along the rotational axis of the ice-making vessel  30 . Thus, the rotational axis extends from the coupling part  33 , through the vessel body  31 , and along the support rod  35 . The support rod  35  fits into a guide hole  55  at the front of the icemaker cover  50 . 
   The guide hole  55  is significantly larger than the support rod  35  to enable the rotational axis to move over a predetermined interval. This reduces interference between the ice-making vessel  30  and the internal supply pipe  9  when the ice-making vessel  30  rotates. Specifically, rotation of the ice-making vessel  30  can cause the ice-making vessel  30  to contact the internal supply pipe  9 . Such contact produces a force that causes the rotational axis of the ice-making vessel  30  to move so as to reduce the interference. Thus, the position of the support rod  35  moves in the guide hole  55 . 
   Beneficially, the guide hole  55  is elliptically shaped, with the longer axis dimensions extending up and down. However, some right and left movement of the support rod  35  in the guide hole  55  is beneficially also provided for. While beneficial, an elliptically shaped guide hole  55  is not required. Also beneficially, when the support protrusion  34  is on the landing protrusion  54  the support rod  35  does not contact the wall that forms the guide hole  55 . 
   The icemaker cover  50  also includes on its front face an inwardly protruding stopper  53 . The stopper  53  limits the rotation of the ice-making vessel  30 . Thus, the stopper  53  is located in the rotational trajectory of the support protrusion  34  and is formed on the opposite side of the guide hole  55  than the landing protrusion  54 . As the ice-making vessel  30  rotates, the support protrusion  34  comes into contact with the stopper  53 . Further rotation of the ice-making vessel  30  twists the ice-making vessel  30  so as to separate the ice. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the icemaker cover  50  includes a side opening  51  through which the internal supply pipe  9  passes as it enters the icemaker cover  50 . Finally,  FIG. 6  shows an ice-checking lever  38  for sensing the level of stored ice in an ice storage vessel. 
   FIG.  7 A and  FIG. 7B  further illustrate the operation of the second embodiment ice-making apparatus. Referring now to  FIG. 7A , the internal supply pipe  9  supplies water to the ice-making pockets  32  of the ice-making vessel  30 . That water is subsequently frozen into ice. The ice-checking lever  38  (see  FIG. 6 ) measures the level of the stored ice in an ice storage vessel under the ice-making vessel  30 . When the stored ice level is below a predetermined level, power is applied to a motor in the motor assembly  40 . The motor rotates the ice-making vessel  30  clockwise along an axis determined by the support rod  35 . As the ice-making vessel  30  rotates, the side (left) of the ice-making vessel  30  contacts the end of the internal supply pipe  9 . Further rotation causes the ice-making vessel  30  to move its rotational axis downward such that the support rod  35  moves lower in the guide hole  55 . This reduces interference between the ice-making vessel  30  and the internal supply pipe  9 . When contact between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  30  is lost the support rod  35  returns to its normal position. 
   The ice-making vessel  30  continues rotating until the support protrusion  34  contacts the stopper  53 . Further rotation of the ice-making vessel  30  causes the ice-making vessel  30  to twist, separating the ice from the ice-making vessel  30  such that the ice falls into the ice storage vessel. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7B , after the ice has fallen, the motor assembly  40  rotates the ice-making vessel  30  in the opposite direction (counterclockwise). After the ice-making vessel  30  has rotated sufficiently, the left side of the ice-making vessel  30  again comes into contact with the end of the internal supply pipe  9 . This contact causes the support rod  35 , and thus the rotational axis of the ice-making vessel  30 , to move upward in the guide hole  55 . Therefore, interference between the ice-making vessel  30  and the internal supply pipe  9  is reduced. Subsequently, after further rotation of the ice-making vessel  30 , contact is lost between the internal supply pipe  9  and the ice-making vessel  30  and the support rod  35  returns to its normal position. 
   The ice-making vessel  30  keeps rotating counterclockwise until the support protrusion  34  lands on the landing protrusion  54 . Then, the ice-making vessel  30  is once again supplied with water from the internal supply pipe  9  so that additional ice can be formed. 
   The principles of the present invention enable the reduction in, or prevention of, interference between an ice-making vessel and an internal supply pipe. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art than various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.