Ice maker of refrigerators and method of detecting water unsupplied condition of an ice tray of the ice maker
US4909039A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1989 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2700/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of detecting water unsupplied condition of an ice tray of a refrigerator ice maker includes steps of measuring the temperature of the ice tray after the water supply operation of water supply means to the ice tray is executed and determining that the water has not been supplied to the ice tray, where the measured temperature is below a predetermined reference value. An ice maker of a refrigerator includes an ice tray which is supplied with water, which is refrigerated by an evaporator so that ice is made, ice removing means for removing ice from the ice tray, water supply means for supplying water to the ice tray every time the ice is removed from the ice tray, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the ice tray, and determination circuit means for comparing the temperature of the ice tray sensed by the temperature sensor with the predetermined reference value and determining that the water has not been supplied to the ice tray, where the temperature of the ice tray sensed by the temperature sensor is below the predetermined reference value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.