Ice maker with heatless ice removal and method for heatless removal of ice

摘要

An ice making module includes a conductive ice tray having a bottom surface and a barrier coating on at least a portion of the conductive ice tray. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray includes a power source and a capacitor. A switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor stores an electrical charge, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor releases the electrical charge. A conductive material disposed proximate the conductive ice tray is in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electrical charge released by the capacitor generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the conductive ice tray. A cooling apparatus decrease the temperature of the water in the conductive ice tray.

主权项

1. An ice making module for a refrigerator, the ice making module comprising:
a conductive ice tray including at least one ice piece forming cavity that is defined by at least four side walls, at least one bottom surface, wherein the conductive ice tray has an outward surface and an inward surface; a barrier coating disposed on at least a portion of the inward surface of the conductive ice tray; an electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray, wherein the electrical circuit includes a power source and a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is in selective electrical communication with the conductive ice tray and selective electrical communication with the power source; a switch in electrical communication with the power source, the capacitor, and the conductive ice tray, wherein the switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor is configured to selectively receive and store an electrical charge from the power source, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor is configured to selectively release the electrical charge through the conductive ice tray in the form of an electromagnetic pulse; a conductive material disposed proximate the inward surface of the conductive ice tray, wherein the conductive material is configured to be in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray, and wherein the electromagnetic pulse selectively released by the capacitor through the conductive ice tray generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material, wherein the repelling force biases the conductive material away from the at least one bottom surface of the conductive ice tray, thereby ejecting at least one ice piece from the at least one ice piece forming cavity; a water dispensing mechanism configured to selectively dispose water into the at least one ice piece forming cavity of the conductive ice tray, wherein the barrier coating substantially provides a membrane between the water and the conductive ice tray, and wherein the ice tray is in communication with the water selectively disposed within the ice tray; and a cooling apparatus configured to selectively decrease the temperature of the water in the at least one ice piece forming cavity so that the water is substantially solidified.