Methods and apparatuses for controlling the harvest cycle of an ice maker using a harvest sensor and a temperature sensor
US10054352B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B30/70
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.