Method and apparatus for making nugget ice in a refrigerator

Abstract

An ice making system for producing on-demand nugget ice in a refrigerator includes an auger type icemaker having a double thin-walled cylindrical flooded, evaporator and a chilled water reservoir connecting to refrigerated rater. When ice is demanded, the evaporator is then connected to the refrigeration circuit through a dedicated refrigerant control device to achieve −40° F. rapid cooling. With near 32° F. chilled water, a layer of ice can form on the evaporator surface within 1 minute. Meanwhile a rotating auger scrapes ice layer into flake ice and compresses it through an extrusion and delivery tubing to form cylindrical ice. Then it breaks into nugget ice in the tubing and drops in an ice container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention generally relates to ice making systems, and more particularly to producing on-demand nugget ice in a refrigerator.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Crescent ice is widely available in a refrigerator for home use. The automatic icemaker in a refrigerator produces crescent ice cubes from an ice mold and the ice mold must be installed at a location below freezing temperature. Water is filled in the ice mold and then freezes for about an hour to become solid ice. A heater located at the bottom of the mold is turned on at around 14° F. by a thermostat to separate ice cubes from the mold. Since the ice production is so slow, ice must be produced all the time and stored in an ice bin below freezing temperature for daily use. The other disadvantage includes taking plenty food storage space by the ice bin in the refrigerator.[0004]Different from crescent ice, nugget ice is very popular for c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an ice making system that can quickly produce on-demand nugget ice in a refrigerator. It includes an auger type icemaker, a chilled water reservoir, and a dedicated refrigerant control device. The chilled water reservoir has an inlet that connects refrigerated water in the refrigerator, an outlet, and a vent that connects the inner space of the inner cylinder of the evaporator at the same time to maintain the inner cylinder full of chilled water at all times. The float valve prevents the water reservoir from overfilling. The dedicated refrigerant control device connects the icemaker evaporator to the refrigeration circuit through a 3-way solenoid valve. The refrigerant control device is optimized for operating at a very cold liquid refrigerant evaporating temperature of -40°F. The system uses a liquid accumulator to prevent excessive liquid refrigerant from returning to the compressor. This design allows for quick ice formation and efficient refrigeration.

Problems solved by technology

Since the ice production is so slow, ice must be produced all the time and stored in an ice bin below freezing temperature for daily use.

The other disadvantage includes taking plenty food storage space by the ice bin in the refrigerator.

Because of complexity stand-alone commercial or residential nugget ice machines are supplied at very expensive prices.

However it is neither efficient nor convenient in a refrigerator Furthermore, nugget ice can't be stored below freezing temperature in a refrigerator, otherwise it rill freeze together.

Therefore, a nugget ice making system for particular t s refrigerator which can quickly produce on-demand nugget ice without using an ice storage bin, would be desirable and is not currently available.

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