Patent Publication Number: US-10788253-B2

Title: Icemaker with a hinged feeler arm

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to icemakers and feeler arms for icemakers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain refrigerator appliances include an icemaker. The icemaker operates to generate ice for consumption. In particular, known icemakers operate to generate ice cubes, and harvested ice cubes from the icemaker are stored within a bucket. To avoid generating excessive ice cubes, a feeler arm sweeps over the ice bucket. The feeler arm impacts ice cubes on the ice bucket when the ice bucket is filled above a certain height. Thus, the feeler arm operates to determine when the ice bucket is full. 
     Known feeler arms have drawbacks. For example, such feeler arms sweep above a top edge of the ice bucket. Thus, such feeler arms can occupy valuable vertical space over the ice bucket, and ice cubes must fill the ice bucket over the top edge of the ice bucket for the feeler arm to impact ice cubes and detect that the ice bucket is full. Filling the bucket over the top edge of the ice bucket with ice cubes can be disadvantageous. For example, ice cubes can easily spill from the ice bucket whenever the ice bucket is moved. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first example embodiment, an icemaker for a refrigeration appliance includes a motor having a shaft. A feeler arm coupling is connected to a shaft of the motor. The motor is operable to rotate the feeler arm coupling about a rotation axis. A feeler arm rake is hinged to the feeler arm coupling such that the feeler arm rake is rotatable relative to the feeler arm coupling about a hinge axis. The hinge axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis. The feeler arm rake rotates with the feeler arm coupling about the rotation axis when the motor operates to rotate the feeler arm coupling. 
     In a second example embodiment, a refrigerator appliance includes a casing that defines a chilled chamber. An icemaker is positioned within the casing or on a door of the casing. The icemaker includes a motor having a shaft. A feeler arm coupling is connected to a shaft of the motor. The motor is operable to rotate the feeler arm coupling about a rotation axis. A feeler arm rake is hinged to the feeler arm coupling such that the feeler arm rake is rotatable relative to the feeler arm coupling about a hinge axis. The hinge axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis. The feeler arm rake rotates with the feeler arm coupling about the rotation axis when the motor operates to rotate the feeler arm coupling. 
     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  is a front, elevation view of a column refrigerator appliance and column freezer appliance according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are side, elevation views of an icemaker according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom, perspective view of a feeler arm of the example icemaker of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a hinge of the feeler arm of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 6 through 8  are schematic views of the example icemaker of  FIG. 2  with an ice bucket shown in various positions relative to the feeler arm of the example icemaker. 
     
    
    
     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. 
       FIG. 1  is a front, elevation view of refrigeration appliances, including a column refrigerator appliance  10  and a column freezer appliance  20  according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , column refrigerator appliance  10  and/or column freezer appliance  20  may be positioned within a set of cabinets  30 . A front panel  12  on a door  13  of column refrigerator appliance  10  and/or a front panel  22  on a door  23  of column freezer appliance  20  may match the front panels  32  of cabinets  30 . Thus, column refrigerator appliance  10  and column freezer appliance  20  may match an appearance of cabinets  30 . It will be understood that column refrigerator appliance  10  and column freezer appliance  20  are provided by way of example only. Other configurations for refrigeration appliances are within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, the present subject matter may be used in and/or with appliances with both freezer and chilled compartments, only freezer compartments, only chilled compartments, or other combinations thereof different from that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , column refrigerator appliance  10  is depicted as an upright refrigerator having a casing  14  that defines an internal chilled fresh food chamber  16 , and column freezer appliance  20  is depicted as an upright freezer having a casing  24  that defines an internal chilled freezer chamber  26 . Each of column refrigerator appliance  10  and column freezer appliance  20  also includes a respective heat pump system (not shown) for the removal of heat from internal chilled fresh food chamber  14  and internal chilled freezer chamber  24 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the heat pump systems may each include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator connected in series and charged with a refrigerant. 
     An icemaker  40  is positioned within freezer chamber  26 . Icemaker  40  is operable to generate ice for consumption. It will be understood that icemaker  40  may be positioned within column refrigerator appliance  10  in alternative example embodiments. Further, it will be understood that icemaker  40  may be mounted on door  23  in alternative example embodiments. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are side, elevation views of an icemaker  100  according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. Icemaker  100  may be used in or with column refrigerator appliance  10  and/or column freezer appliance  20  as icemaker  40 . Thus, icemaker  100  may be positioned in casing  14  of column refrigerator appliance  10  or in casing  24  of column freezer appliance  20 . Icemaker  100  is described in greater detail below in the context of column freezer appliance  20 . However, it will be understood that icemaker  100  may also be utilized in or within any other suitable refrigeration appliance. 
     Icemaker  100  includes a motor  110  with a shaft  112 . Motor  110  is operable to rotate shaft  112 . For example, motor  110  may be operable to rotate shaft  112  in a first rotational direction by a suitable fraction of one or more radians and in a second rotational direction by the same fraction of one or more radians. In addition, motor  110  may be operable to sequentially rotate shaft  112  in the first and second rotational directions. 
     Icemaker  100  also includes a feeler arm coupling  120  and a feeler arm rake  130 . Feeler arm coupling  120  and feeler arm rake  130  collectively form a feeler arm of icemaker  100 . Feeler arm coupling  120  is connected to shaft  112  of motor  110 . Motor  110  is operable to rotate feeler arm coupling  120  about a rotation axis R. In particular, motor  110  may be operable to rotate feeler arm coupling  120  about the rotation axis R in the same or similar manner to that described above for shaft  112 . Feeler arm coupling  120  may be connected to shaft  112  by inserting shaft  112  into feeler arm coupling  120 . For example, feeler arm coupling  120  may define a lug interface  122  ( FIG. 5 ), and shaft  112  of motor  110  may be received within lug interface  122 . Lug interface  122  may be shaped such that interference between shaft  112  of motor  110  and feeler arm coupling  120  at lug interface  122  may rotationally fix shaft  112  to feeler arm coupling  120 . 
     Feeler arm rake  130  is hinged to feeler arm coupling  120 . In particular, feeler arm rake  130  is hinged to feeler arm coupling  120  such that feeler arm rake  130  is rotatable relative to feeler arm coupling  120  about a hinge axis H (shown in  FIG. 4  and extending into and out of the page in the perspective of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The hinge axis H is perpendicular to the rotation axis R. It will be understood that the hinge axis H need not be oriented at exactly ninety degrees (90°) to the rotation axis R in certain example embodiments. Rather, the term “perpendicular” as used herein includes a ten degree margin (i.e., 90°±10°). Thus, the hinge axis H may be oriented generally perpendicular to the rotation axis R. Feeler arm rake  130  may also be connected to feeler arm coupling  120  such that feeler arm rake  130  rotates with feeler arm coupling  120  about the rotation axis R when motor  110  operates to rotate feeler arm coupling  120 . 
     Feeler arm rake  130  may be rotatable on the hinge axis H between a resting position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a lifted position (shown in  FIG. 3 ). As discussed in greater detail below, shifting feeler arm rake  130  between from the resting position to the lifted position may allow an ice bucket  150  ( FIGS. 6 through 8 ) to move relative to feeler arm rake  130  without feeler arm rake  130  blocking such movement. Thus, the hinged connection between feeler arm coupling  120  and feeler arm rake  130  may advantageously facilitate movement of feeler arm rake  130  relative to ice bucket  150 . 
     Icemaker  100  also includes a mold body  140 . Mold body  140  is configured for receiving a flow of liquid water. Within mold body  140 , the liquid water may freeze to form ice cubes within mold body  140 . The ice cubes may be harvested from mold body  140  and directed into ice bucket  150 . Feeler arm rake  130  may be positioned below mold body  140 . When motor  110  rotates feeler arm rake  130 , feeler arm rake  130  may sweep through ice bucket  150 . As feeler arm rake  130  sweeps through ice bucket  150 , feeler arm rake  130  may impact against ice cubes within ice bucket  150  when ice bucket  150  is suitably filled within ice cubes. In such a manner, feeler arm rake  130  may be used to detect when ice bucket  150  is suitably filled within ice cubes. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom, perspective view of the feeler arm of icemaker  100 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , feeler arm rake  130  includes an elongated plate  132  and a sweep plate  134 . Elongated plate  132  extends radially away (e.g., relative to the rotation axis R) from feeler arm coupling  120  along a length of elongated plate  132 . Sweep plate  134  is mounted to elongated plate  132  and extends downwardly from elongated plate  132 . Sweep plate  134  may also extend radially away (e.g., relative to the rotation axis R) from feeler arm coupling  120  along a length of sweep plate  134 . Sweep plate  134  may impact against ice cubes within ice bucket  150  when feeler arm rake  130  sweeps through ice bucket  150 , in the manner described above. 
     Feeler arm rake  130  may also include a plurality of lift plates  136 . Lift plates  136  extend downwardly from elongated plate  132 . Lift plates  136  may also be distributed along a transverse direction T, e.g., that is perpendicular to the rotation axis R and the hinge axis H. Lift plates  136  may be shaped to ride up ice bucket  150  as feeler arm rake  130  shifts from the resting position to the lifted position. As an example, each lift plate  136  may have an arcuate bottom surface  138 . Arcuate bottom surface  138  may impact and slide up ice bucket  150  as feeler arm rake  130  shifts from the resting position to the lifted position. As another example, each lift plate  136  may have a suitably sloped bottom surface  138 . Lift plates  136  may also be oriented perpendicular to sweep plate  134  on elongated plate  132 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a hinge  160  of the feeler arm. Hinge  160  may connect feeler arm rake  130  to feeler arm coupling  120  such that feeler arm rake  130  is rotatable relative to feeler arm coupling  120  about the hinge axis H. Hinge  160  includes a pair of hinge arms  162  and a hinge post  164 . Hinge arms  162  are mounted to one of feeler arm rake  130  and feeler arm coupling  120 . In  FIG. 5 , hinge arms  162  are shown mounted to feeler arm coupling  120 . Hinge post  164  is positioned between hinge arms  162 . In addition, hinge post  164  is mounted to the other of feeler arm rake  130  and feeler arm coupling  120 . In  FIG. 5 , hinge post  164  is mounted to feeler arm rake  130 . An axle (not shown) may extend through hinge arms  162  and hinge post  164  to rotatably couple hinge post  164  to hinge arms  162 . 
     Hinge  160  also includes a spring  166 . Spring  166  urges feeler arm rake  130  towards the resting position. Thus, spring  166  may be coupled to feeler arm rake  130  such that feeler arm rake  130  is normally in the resting position. In  FIG. 5 , spring  166  is a helical spring. In alternative example embodiments, spring  166  may be a tension spring or a compression spring. A distal end portion  139  ( FIG. 4 ) of feeler arm rake  130  may also be weighted to assist with urging feeler arm rake  130  towards the resting position. It will be understood that distal end portion  139  of feeler arm rake  130  may move vertically when feeler arm rake  130  rotates on the hinge axis H. 
       FIGS. 6 through 8  are schematic views of icemaker  100  with ice bucket  150  shown in various positions relative to the feeler arm of icemaker  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , feeler arm rake  130  shifts from the resting position to the lifted position when ice bucket  150  moves below feeler arm rake  130 . Starting from  FIG. 6 , feeler arm rake  130  is in the resting position, and ice bucket  150  is positioned below feeler arm rake  130 . In addition, sweep plate  134  and/or lift plates  136  may be positioned within ice bucket  150 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , feeler arm rake  130  may be used to detect when ice bucket  150  is suitably filled within ice cubes by sweeping through ice bucket  150  in the manner described above. In particular, motor  110  may operate to rotate feeler arm rake  130  about the rotation axis R in order to sweep feeler arm rake  130  through ice bucket  150 . 
     From the arrangement of  FIG. 6 , a user of column refrigerator appliance  10  may desire to move ice bucket  150 . Thus, the user may grasp ice bucket  150  and pull ice bucket  150  in a direction away from feeler arm rake  130 . In particular, ice bucket  150  may be removable from below mold body  140  by the user pulling ice bucket along a removal direction D, e.g., that is perpendicular to the rotation axis R and/or parallel to the hinge axis H. As used herein, the term “parallel” includes a ten degree margin (i.e., 0°±10°). 
     During movement of ice bucket  150  along the removal direction D from the position shown in  FIG. 6 , feeler arm rake  130  impacts a sidewall  154  of ice bucket  150 . Due to the shape of feeler arm rake  130  (e.g., lift plates  136 ), feeler arm rake  130  may slide up sidewall  154  of ice bucket  150  and rotate on the hinge axis H from the resting position to the lifted position as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thus, e.g., feeler arm rake  130  may be positioned in the lifted position when sidewall  154  of ice bucket  150  is positioned directly below feeler arm rake  130 . From  FIG. 7 , the user may continue to pull ice bucket  150  in the removal direction D until ice bucket  150  is completely removed from under feeler arm rake  130  as shown in  FIG. 8 . When ice bucket  150  is removed from under feeler arm rake  130 , feeler arm rake  130  may shift back to the resting position. 
     It will be understood that the process described above for removing ice bucket  150  from beneath feeler arm rake  130  may be reversed to insert ice bucket  150  below feeler arm rake  130 . In such a manner, ice bucket  150  may be advantageously removed and inserted below feeler arm rake  130  without feeler arm rake  130  snagging against ice bucket  150 . In particular, hinging feeler arm rake  130  to feeler arm coupling  120  such that feeler arm rake  130  may be rotatable on the hinge axis H may advantageously allow sweep plate  134  and/or lift plates  136  to extend into ice bucket  150  below a top edge  152  of ice bucket  150  while still allowing ice bucket  150  to freely move along the removal direction D relative to feeler arm rake  130 . Thus, feeler arm rake  130  may impact against ice cubes below the top edge  152  of ice bucket  150 , and filling of ice bucket  150  with ice cubes above the top edge  152  of ice bucket  150  may be avoided or prevented. By avoiding overfilling ice bucket  150 , ice bucket  150  may be removed from below mold body  140  with reduced or no spillage of ice cubes from ice bucket  150 . 
     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.