Icemaker with swing tray

摘要

A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

主权项

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet including a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a refrigerant circulating system; and a clear ice making system comprising:
a housing including at least bottom and opposing side walls;an ice forming tray including a bottom portion, defined by a substantially smooth, continuous arcuate inner wall, and opposing, longitudinally spaced side portions, said ice forming tray being mounted in the cabinet for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis;a motor connected to the ice forming tray;a motor controller configured to operate the motor to oscillate the ice forming tray about the longitudinal axis during an ice making event and to pivot the ice forming tray from a first, ice forming position to a second, ice dispensing position during an ice dispensing event, wherein oscillating the ice forming tray includes rotating the ice forming tray about the longitudinal axis; andan evaporator member including refrigerant inlet and outlet lines in communication with the refrigerant circulating system, the evaporator member further including a plurality of ice forming fingers extending into the ice forming tray when the ice forming tray is in an ice forming position.