Clear ice making apparatus having an oscillation frequency and angle
US9557087B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2400/10
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ice making tray has an array of individual ice cube compartments. A mechanical oscillating mechanism is coupled to the tray and rotates the tray from a horizontal plane in opposite directions along an axis through an angle φ of about 20° to 40°, such that water in the tray moves between ice cube compartments. The frequency of oscillation (ω) is harmonically related to the frequency of movement of water in the tray and is about equal to or about twice the frequency of movement of water in the tray. In a preferred embodiment, the floor of the tray is a thermally conductive material in contact with a thermoelectric plate used to freeze the water as well as being subsequently heated to release the formed ice cubes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.