TWISTABLE TRAY FOR HEATER-LESS ICE MAKER

摘要

An ice maker is provided that includes a tray having recesses that can include ice-phobic surfaces. The ice-phobic surfaces may include ice-phobic coatings, textured metal surfaces, hydrophobic coatings or other surfaces configured to repel water and ice. The tray can be formed from metal material and may exhibit a fatigue limit greater than about 150 Megapascals (MPa) at 105 cycles. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, and a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the tray. The driving body is further adapted to rotate the tray in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise cycle such that the tray presses against the frame body in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses of the tray.

主权项

1. A twistable, heater-less ice tray for an ice maker assembly, the ice tray comprising:
a metal material; a plurality of recesses, wherein a geometric center of one or more of the recesses is substantially at a distance from a longitudinal center line of the ice tray; and a plurality of weirs in fluid connection with one or more of the recesses, wherein each recess comprises an ice-phobic surface for direct contact with an ice piece, the ice-phobic surface comprises the metal material and is formed from the tray.