Patent Publication Number: US-4649717-A

Title: Ice maker assembly and method of assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the manufacture of ice makers such as for use in domestic refrigerators and the like. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     In one form of ice maker, an ice mold and associated mechanism is mounted in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator/freezer apparatus. An excellent example of such an ice maker is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,225 of William J. Linstromberg, which patent is owned by the assignee hereof. 
     Such ice makers are provided with resistance heaters for heating the mold upon completion of the forming of the ice bodies therein so as to permit freeing of the ice bodies therefrom for dispensing automatically to a subjacent collecting bin. One end of the mold is mounted to a support portion of a control housing. Projecting ends of the mold heaters extend through the support to within the housing where terminating wire leads are attached for connection to other components, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the Linstromberg patent. 
     A themal overload protection thermostat is mounted to the support for thermal transfer contact with the end wall of the mold. Conventionally, the thermostat is secured to the support by a bracket retained thereto by a screw passing through an eyelet connected to a ground wire, and also threaded into the mold for grounding the mold concurrently. 
     A pair of inlet switches are actuated by a cam driven by a drive motor, as illustrated in FIG. 15 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,255. As shown, these elements are mounted to the inside surface of a plate covering the support. 
     Power is provided to the control mechanism through a wiring harness by means of hand-secured electrical connectors, screw terminals, and conventional threaded wire nuts. Such electrical connections are relatively expensive and time consuming, and because of the complexity of the circuitry, errors in effecting such connections occur from time to time in manufacture. 
     Further, if the thermostat or motor requires replacement, the motor and switch assembly must first be removed and the wiring disconnected to permit the desired replacement. If the mold heater requires replacement, the motor and switch assembly must first be removed, and the support separated from the mold to provide access to the heater. This effectively constitutes a disassembly of the entire ice maker. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprehends an improved ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same which permits facilitated and economical manufacture of the ice maker and facilitated replacement of the electrical components when necessary. 
     The assembly may be effected by automated assembly techniques, and more specifically, the interconnections of the electrical components may be effected as an incident of the assembly of the mechanical components of the ice maker. 
     Reversely, replacement of the electrical components may be readily effected without the need for complete disassembly of the ice maker. 
     More specifically, the electrical connections between the mold heater carried by the ice maker mold and the power supply terminals carried by the control means, in turn carried by the support to which one end of the mold is connected, are effected as an incident of the mounting of the mold to the support as a result of the extension of terminals on the mold heaters through suitable openings in the mold support wall. 
     The present invention further comprehends the provision of a recess in the support wall in which the mold thermal overload thermostat is mounted. Means are provided for biasing the thermostat outwardly from the recess into facial abutment with the end of the mold connected to the support so as to have thermal transfer associated with the mold as an incident of the mounting of the mold to the support. 
     The thermostat also is provided with terminals which project inwardly through openings in the support wall to have electrical connection to terminals on the control means. 
     A grounding pin is mounted to the mold which also extends through an opening in the support wall to provide a grounded connection between the mold and ground means associated with the control means. 
     An end connector of the wiring harness is mounted to the support to extend through the wall so as to have electrical connection with complementary electrical terminal means of the control means, also as an incident of assembly of the apparatus. 
     Fastening means are provided for securing the control means and support as a unit to the end of the mold, permitting the control means and support to be removed as a unit by simple axial withdrawal from the projecting terminals of the mold heater. Thus, the mold heater may be readily replaced upon such removal of the assembled control means and support and the apparatus reassembled with the terminals of the replacement mold heater brought through the openings in the support into automatic electrical connection engagement with the terminals in the control means housing. 
     Similarly, upon removal of the control means and support from the end of the mold, the thermostat may be replaced by axial withdrawal from the recess. The replacement thermostat terminals are automatically connected to the terminals in the control means upon installation of the replacement thermostat in the recess by the extension of the terminals thereof through the associated openings in the support wall. 
     More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of an improved ice maker assembly including an ice mold defining an inner mold surface, first electrical contact means extending inwardly from the surface, a support defining a wall, the wall defining an outer support surface, an inner support surface, and a through opening in the wall opening through the support surfaces, the mold inner surface being juxtaposed to the outer support surface with the first electrical contact means extending through the opening, control means juxtaposed to the inner support surface, and second electrical contact means carried by the control means in registry with the first electrical contact means, permitting the first and the second contact means to be electrically connected as an incident of assembly of the ice maker. 
     Further more specifically, the assembly may include means defining a recess in the support wall opening toward the mold inner surface, a sensor in the recess, biasing means for biasing the sensor into contact with the mold inner surface, third electrical contact means extending inwardly from the sensor to the control means, and fourth electrical contact means carried by the control means in registry with the third electrical contact means, permitting the third and fourth electrical connecting means to be electrically connected as an incident of assembly of the ice maker. 
     Still further more specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such an ice maker assembly further including a drive means mounted to the control means and a load associated with the ice mold to be driven by the drive means, and means for connecting the drive means to the load for driving the load as an incident of assembly of the ice maker. 
     Still further, the invention comprehends the method of assembling an ice maker including the steps of forming a support having a wall provided with spaced first and second through openings, the wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface defining an outwardly opening recess therein, providing a sensor in the recess, the sensor defining an inner portion, and an outer portion adjacent the outer surface, the sensor having through first electrical contact means projecting inwardly from the inner portion through the first through opening, providing an ice mold having an inner surface adjacent the support wall outer surface, the sensor outer surface abutting the ice mold inner surface, the ice mold having second electrical contact means extending from the inner surface through the support wall second through opening, and providing control means juxtaposed to the support wall inner surface, the control means having third electrical contact means positioned to mate with the first electrical contact means, and fourth electrical contact means positioned to mate with the second electrical contact means as an incident of assembly of the ice maker. 
     Still further, the invention comprehends the provison of such a method of assembling an ice maker further including the step of providing a third spaced through opening in the support wall and a wiring harness having fifth electrical contact means extending through the support wall third through opening, the control means having sixth electrical contact means positioned to mate with the fifth electrical contact means as an incident of assembly of the ice maker. 
     An ice level sensing arm is provided for sensing the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin for automatically terminating operation of the ice maker when the level reaches a preselected level therein. In the present invention, the shutoff arm includes an end portion extending through an opening in the support wall and connected to the operator for the shutoff switch carried by the control means. Thus, the removal of the assembled control means and support automatically disconnects the end of the shutoff arm, and the replacement thereof on the end of the mold automatically reconnects the end of the shutoff arm to the switch operator. 
     Thus, the invention comprehends an improved, simplified mounting arrangement, permitting automatic electrical connection for facilitated manufacture and servicing in a novel and simple manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ic maker assembly embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation of the control means taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, an ice maker assembly generally designated 10 embodying the invention is shown, in FIG. 1, to comprise an ice maker mold 11 having an inner end portion 12. A U-shaped mold heater 13 is mounted on the mold. Each end of mold heater 13 is provided with an outwardly projecting male terminal 14. 
     A rotatable ejector 15 is driven by a drive motor 16 of a control mechanism 17 removably secured to a support wall 18 cooperatively defining therewith a housing generally designated 19. 
     An ice stripper 20 is mounted to the mold for cooperation with the ejector in harvesting the ice bodies from the mold after they are first loosened therefrom by energization of the heater 13. 
     A U-shaped shutoff arm 21 is provided for sensing the level of ice bodies collected in a receptacle (not shown) subjacent the ice maker and includes an outer inturned end 22 pivotally mounted to a water inlet element 23 removably carried on an outer end portion 24 of the mold. 
     An inner turned end 25 of the shutoff arm 21 extends through an opening in support wall 18 to be driven by the control mechanism 17 in effecting the automatic level sensing operation of the mechanism in the conventional manner. 
     The ice maker assembly further includes a wiring harness 26 having an outer connector 27 for receiving electrical power for operating the mechanism. The opposite end of the harness is provided with a female connector 28 which projects through an opening 31 in the support wall 18. 
     As further shown in FIG. 1, support wall 18 further defines a pair of spaced through openings 32 for passing the inner ends and terminals 14 of the mold heater 13 therethrough. 
     A grounding pin 33 is pressed into the inner end portion 12 of mold 11 in a suitable recess 34 thereof to extend through a through opening 35 in the support wall 18, as an incident of the assembly of the mold to the support wall. 
     A mold temperature-responsive thermostat 36 is removably mounted in an outwardly opening recess 37 in the support wall 18 and includes a pair of male terminals 38 projecting through a pair of through openings 39 in the support wall at the inner end of the recess 37. 
     Thermostat 36 is resiliently biased outwardly into facial engagement with the end portion 12 of mold 11 when the mold is assembled to the support 18, thereby providing improved heat transfer contact between the thermostat and mold end portion. At the same time, the mold end portion urges the thermostat firmly into the recess 37 for desired disposition of the terminals 38 in extension through the openings 39. For details of the thermostat mounting, reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 810,027, entitled &#34;Thermostat Mounting&#34;, filed Dec. 17, 1985 by Ralph Tate, Jr. et al. and owned by the assignee of the present invention, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A pair of screws 40 extend through the support wall 18 into threaded holes 41 in the end portion 12 of the mold for securing the mold to the support wall 18. A pair of openings 42 are provided in the outer wall 43 of the control mechanism 17 to permit threading of screws 40 into and from threaded openings 41 therethrough. 
     Screws 44 extend through wall 43 into threaded holes 45 in the support wall 18 for removably securing the control mechanism to the support wall. When so secured, openings 42 register with the screws 40, permitting the assembled control mechanism 17 and support wall 18 to be maintained as a unit while permitting removal of the mold from the support wall to expose the mold heater and thermostat 36, as for replacement thereof. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the interconnection between the elements extending inwardly through the support wall 18 into association with control mechanism 17 are illustrated in greater detail. Thus, the end 25 of shutoff arm 21 is removably received within a recess 30 of a shutoff switch actuator 46 mounted to the inner surface of the control mechanism wall 43. 
     Heater terminals 14 are electrically connected to the female contacts 47 of control mechanism 17 solely as an incident of the mounting of the mold 11 to the housing 19, comprising the control mechanism 17 mounted to support 18. 
     Similarly, thermostat terminals 38 are electrically connected to the female contacts 48 of control mechanism 17 solely as an incident of the mounting of the thermostat in the recess 37 of support wall 18, with the control mechanism 17 mounted to the support wall. 
     Ground pin 33 is electrically connected to the female contact 49 solely as an incident of the mounting of the mold 11 to the support wall 18, with the control mechanism 17 mounted thereto. 
     The female contacts 50 of harness connector 28 are electrically connected to male terminals 51 of the control mechanism solely as an incident of the snap-fit mounting of connector 28 to the support wall 18, with the control mechanism 17 mounted thereto. 
     Illustrative arrangements of the electrical connections are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, it being understood that any suitable axially makeable electrically connecting means may be utilized within the scope of the invention. 
     Thus, the invention comprehends an improved ice maker assembly and method of assembly thereof wherein the mold carries electrically operable means with means for connecting the electrically operable means to the electrical control means through at least one opening in a support as an incident of mounting of the mold to the support, with the control means removably mounted thereto. The invention further comprehends the provision of mold temperature sensing means placed into thermal contact with the mold as an incident of mounting of the mold to the support, with the sensing means captured therebetween. 
     Still further, the invention broadly comprehends the provision in such an ice maker apparatus of sensing means including means for connecting the sensing means to the electrical control means through at least one opening in the support as an incident of positioning the sensing means in association with the support and with the control means mounted to the support. 
     Still further, the invention comprehends the provision in such structure of grounding means mounted to the mold and connected to the control means through at least one opening in the support as an incident of mounting of the mold to the support, with the control means removably mounted thereto. 
     Still further, the invention comprehends the provision of electrical power means in such an ice maker structure connected to the control means through at least one opening in the support as an incident of mounting a portion of the power means to the support, with the control means removably mounted thereto. 
     The invention further comprehends the provision of sensing means mounted to the mold mechanically connected to the electrical control means through at least one opening in the support as an incident of mounting of the mold to the support, with the control means removably mounted thereto. 
     As further shown in FIG. 1, the ice ejector 15 includes an end portion 52, which is mechanically connected to the control mechanism 17 as an incident of the mounting of the mold 11 to the support 18, with the control mechanism 17 mounted thereto. 
     The novel arrangement of the ice maker structure facilitates the use of automated equipment in the assembly thereof. Thus, the mold assembly, including the heater 13, water inlet element 23, ice ejector 15, and ice stripper 20 asembled thereto, is mounted to the support wall 18, with the thermostat 36 installed in the recess 37 of the support wall. The control mechanism may be mounted to the support wall prior to the mounting of the mold and thermostat thereto, or may be mounted to the support wall subsequently thereto, as desired. In either method of assembly, the electrical connections are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support wall, and control mechanisms. 
     As indicated above, the provision of the openings 42 in the control mechanism wall 43 permits the replacement of the heater and thermostat, as desired, without the need for disassembly of the control mechanism from the support wall 18 by providing suitable access to the screws 40 removably mounting the support wall 18 to the end portion 12 of mold 11. 
     The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.