U.S. patent application number 09/999077 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for icemaker fill tube assembly.
Invention is credited to Froelicher, Stephen Bernard, Wiseman, Joshua Stephen.
Application Number | 20030101741 09/999077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25545865 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030101741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wiseman, Joshua Stephen ; et
al. |
June 5, 2003 |
ICEMAKER FILL TUBE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
In one aspect, a fill tube assembly for supplying water to an
icemaker is described. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a
grommet comprising and inlet and an outlet, and a fill tube
configured for coupling to the grommet outlet. The fill tube
comprises a slot extending from one end thereof. In another
embodiment, the assembly comprises tape at least partially wrapped
around a portion of the fill tube for facilitating heating at least
the fill tube portion.
Inventors: |
Wiseman, Joshua Stephen;
(Elizabethtown, KY) ; Froelicher, Stephen Bernard;
(Shepherdsville, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John S. Beulick
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
One Metropolitan Sq., Suite 2600
St. Louis
MO
63102
US
|
Family ID: |
25545865 |
Appl. No.: |
09/999077 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2500/02 20130101;
F25C 5/22 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/347 |
International
Class: |
F25C 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fill tube assembly for supplying water to an icemaker, said
assembly comprising: a grommet comprising and inlet and an outlet;
a fill tube configured for coupling to said grommet outlet, said
fill tube comprising a slot extending from one end thereof.
2. A fill tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein said slot is
tapered.
3. A fill tube assembly according to claim 1 further comprising
aluminum tape at least partially wrapped around a portion of said
fill tube.
4. A fill tube assembly according to claim 3 further comprising a
foam pad at least partially wrapped around said fill tube
portion.
5. A fill tube assembly for supplying water to an icemaker, said
assembly comprising: a grommet comprising an inlet and an outlet; a
fill tube configured for coupling to said grommet outlet; and tape
at least partially wrapped around a portion of said fill tube for
facilitating heating at least said fill tube portion.
6. A fill tube assembly according to claim 5 wherein said tape
comprises aluminum.
7. A fill tube assembly according to claim 5 further comprising a
foam pad at least partially wrapped around said fill tube portion
and over said tape.
8. A fill tube assembly according to claim 5 wherein said tube
comprises a tapered slot extending from one end thereof.
9. A fill tube assembly comprising: an insulator; a grommet for at
least partially fitting within said insulator, said grommet
comprising an inlet and an outlet; a plate comprising a boss, said
grommet outlet extending at least partially through said boss; and
a fill tube having one end in engagement with said boss.
10. A fill tube assembly according to claim 9 further comprising a
cover, said cover configured for being secured to said plate.
11. A fill tube assembly according to claim 9 wherein said plate
and said fill tube comprise aluminum.
12. A fill tube assembly according to claim 9 wherein said grommet
comprises plastic.
13. A freezer, comprising: an icemaker; and a fill tube assembly,
said fill tube assembly comprising a grommet comprising an inlet
and an outlet, said assembly further comprising a fill tube coupled
to said grommet outlet, said fill tube assembly comprising at least
one ice formation prevention component.
14. A freezer according to claim 13 wherein said ice formation
prevention component comprises an aluminum plate.
15. A freezer according to claim 13 wherein said ice formation
prevention component comprises at least one of a slot in said fill
tube, tape at least partially wrapped around a portion of said fill
tube, and a foam pad at least partially wrapped around a portion of
said fill tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to refrigerators/freezers
and more particularly, to icemakers.
[0002] Refrigerators and freezers typically include an icemaker.
The icemaker receives water for ice production from a water valve
typically mounted to the exterior of the refrigerator or freezer
case. The water valve typically is coupled to a fill tube via
polyethylene tubing. Water is dispensed from the fill tube into a
tray in which ice cubes are formed. Specifically, the fill tube
transports water from the polyethylene tubing to the icemaker
located inside the freezer. The fill tube typically is either
foamed in place or extends through an opening in the case.
[0003] Water in the fill tube is subject to freezing, i.e., the
fill tube is exposed to the cold air in the freezer. Several
conditions can cause water in the fill tube to freeze. For example,
a leaking or weeping water valve, freezing/thawing of natural
forming frost, or frozen water droplets can cause fill tube
freezing.
[0004] If water in the fill tube freezes, then water cannot be
delivered to the icemaker. That is, if the fill tube freezes, no
ice is made since water cannot be delivered to the icemaker.
Additionally, if the fill tube freezes, then water pressure between
the water valve and an ice plug in the fill tube can increase. A
water leak can result from such increased pressure, and water may
leak into the freezer or outside the case and accumulate or seep
through the floor.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, a fill tube assembly for supplying water to
an icemaker is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises
a grommet comprising and an inlet and an outlet, and a fill tube
configured for coupling to the grommet outlet. The fill tube
comprises a slot extending from one end thereof. In another
embodiment, the assembly comprises tape at least partially wrapped
around a portion of the fill tube for facilitating heating at least
the fill tube portion.
[0006] In another aspect, a fill tube assembly comprising an
insulator and a grommet for at least partially fitting within the
insulator is provided. The grommet comprises an inlet and an
outlet. The assembly further comprises a plate comprising a boss,
and the grommet outlet extends at least partially through the boss.
A fill tube has one end in engagement with the boss.
[0007] In another aspect, a freezer is provided. The freezer
comprises an icemaker and a fill tube assembly. The fill tube
assembly comprises a grommet comprising an inlet and an outlet. The
assembly further comprises a fill tube coupled to the grommet
outlet. The fill tube assembly comprises at least one ice formation
prevention component. In one embodiment, the ice formation
prevention component comprises an aluminum plate. In another
embodiment, the ice formation prevention component comprises at
least one of a slot in the fill tube, tape at least partially
wrapped around a portion of the fill tube, and a foam pad at least
partially wrapped around a portion of the fill tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a side-by-side type refrigerator;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a fill tube
assembly;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the foam pad shown in FIG.
2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the aluminum tape shown in FIG.
2;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the tube shown in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an end view of the fill tube with the foam pad and
aluminum tape wrapped thereon; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a fill
tube assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Icemakers are utilized in residential, or domestic,
refrigerators as well as in stand alone freezers. Although the fill
tube assembly is described herein in the context of a residential
refrigerator, such fill tube assembly can be utilized in connection
with commercial refrigerators as well as in stand-alone icemakers,
i.e., icemakers that are not part of a larger freezer compartment
or refrigerator. Therefore, the fill tube assembly is not limited
to use in connection with only icemakers utilized in residential
refrigerators, and can be utilized in connection with icemakers in
many other environments. In addition, a side-by-side type
refrigerator is described below in detail. The fill tube assembly
is not, however, limited to use in connection with side-by-side
type refrigerators and can be used with other types of
refrigerators, e.g., a top mount type refrigerator.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a side-by-side refrigerator 100 including
a fresh food storage compartment 102 and a freezer storage
compartment 104. Freezer compartment 104 and fresh food compartment
102 are arranged side-by-side. A side-by-side refrigerator such as
refrigerator 100 is commercially available from General Electric
Company, Appliance Park, Louisville, Ky. 40225.
[0017] Refrigerator 100 includes an outer case 106 and inner liners
108 and 110. A space between case 106 and liners 108 and 110, and
between liners 108 and 110, is filled with foamed-in-place
insulation. Outer case 106 normally is formed by folding a sheet of
a suitable material, such as pre-painted steel, into an inverted
U-shape to form top and side walls of case. A bottom wall of case
106 normally is formed separately and attached to the case side
walls and to a bottom frame that provides support for refrigerator
100. Inner liners 108 and 110 are molded from a suitable plastic
material to form freezer compartment 104 and fresh food compartment
102, respectively. Alternatively, liners 108, 110 may be formed by
bending and welding a sheet of a suitable metal, such as steel. The
illustrative embodiment includes two separate liners 108, 110 as it
is a relatively large capacity unit and separate liners add
strength and are easier to maintain within manufacturing
tolerances. In smaller refrigerators, a single liner is formed and
a mullion spans between opposite sides of the liner to divide it
into a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment.
[0018] A breaker strip 112 extends between a case front flange and
outer front edges of liners. Breaker strip 112 is formed from a
suitable resilient material, such as an extruded
acrylo-butadiene-syrene based material (commonly referred to as
ABS).
[0019] The insulation in the space between liners 108, 110 is
covered by another strip of suitable resilient material, which also
commonly is referred to as a mullion 114. Mullion 114 also
preferably is formed of an extruded ABS material. It will be
understood that in a refrigerator with separate mullion dividing a
unitary liner into a freezer and a fresh food compartment, a front
face member of mullion corresponds to mullion 114. Breaker strip
112 and mullion 114 form a front face, and extend completely around
inner peripheral edges of case 106 and vertically between liners
108, 110. Mullion 114, insulation between compartments, and a
spaced wall of liners separating compartments, sometimes are
collectively referred to herein as a center mullion wall 116.
[0020] Shelves 118 and slide-out drawers 120 and 122 normally are
provided in fresh food compartment 102 to support items being
stored therein. A control interface 124 is mounted in an upper
region of fresh food storage compartment 102. A shelf 126 and wire
baskets 128 are also provided in freezer compartment 104. In
addition, an icemaker 130 is provided in freezer compartment
104.
[0021] A freezer door 132 and a fresh food door 134 close access
openings to fresh food and freezer compartments 102, 104,
respectively. Each door 132, 134 is mounted by a top hinge 136 and
a bottom hinge (not shown) to rotate about its outer vertical edge
between an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a closed position
(not shown) closing the associated storage compartment. Freezer
door 132 includes a plurality of storage shelves 138 and a sealing
gasket 140, and fresh food door 134 also includes a plurality of
storage shelves 142 and a sealing gasket 144.
[0022] Regarding icemaker 130, icemaker 130 receives water for ice
production from a water valve typically mounted to the exterior of
the refrigerator. In one embodiment, the water valve is coupled to
a fill tube via polyethylene tubing. Water is dispensed from the
fill tube into a tray in which ice cubes are formed. Specifically,
the fill tube transports water from the polyethylene tubing to
icemaker 130. As explained above, water in the fill tube is subject
to freezing, i.e., the fill tube is exposed to the cold air in the
freezer, and ice plugs can form in the fill tube. The ice plug
prevents water from flowing to icemaker 130 and also can result in
water leaks due to increased water pressure in the polyethylene
tubing.
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of
a fill tube assembly 150. FIGS. 3-5 illustrate components of fill
tube assembly 150. Referring specifically to FIG. 2, assembly 150
includes a grommet 152 which includes an inlet 154 and an outlet
156. Inlet 154 is configured to couple to a polyethylene tube (not
shown) which extends from a water valve (not shown) to inlet 154.
In one embodiment, one end of the polyethylene tube slides over
inlet 154 and forms a tight fit with inlet 154. Assembly 150 also
includes a fill tube 158 configured to couple to grommet outlet
156. In one embodiment, an end 160 of tube 158 slides over outlet
156 and forms a tight fit with outlet 106. Fill tube 158 includes a
tapered slot 162 starting at an end 163 opposite end 160, and slot
162 facilitates preventing an ice slug binding in tube 158.
Specifically, slot 162 shortens the length of tube 158 in which an
ice slug can form, i.e., rather than the entire length of tube 158,
an ice slug can only form in the non-slotted portion of tube 158.
In addition, slot 162 similarly shortens the length of tube 158 in
which frost can form, i.e., the frosting length is reduced from the
full length of tube 158 to the non-slotted portion of tube 158.
Slot 162 also facilitates preventing mechanical binding of an ice
slug during a defrost operation.
[0024] Assembly 150 further includes a foam pad 164 and aluminum
tape 166. Generally, aluminum tape 166 is first wrapped around a
portion of tube 158, and then foam pad 164 is wrapped around tape
166.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of foam pad 164 and FIG. 4 is a
top plan view of aluminum tape 166. As shown in FIG. 3, foam pad
164 includes opposing cut-out sections 168.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a side view of tube 158. A portion 170 of tube 158
is configured to have pad 164 and tape 166 wrapped therearound, as
described below in more detail. In one embodiment, tube portion 170
is located in the foamed wall of the refrigerator. Aluminum tape
166 facilitates warming portion 170 of tube such that the tube
walls exceed 32.degree. F. during the refrigerator compressor off
cycle. In one specific embodiment, aluminum tape 166 maintains the
fill tube temperature in the area of tape 166 above freezing in an
off cycle and during a defrost operation with a 70.degree. F.
termination temperature being utilized.
[0027] Closed cell foam pad 164 is wrapped around portion 170 of
tube that is placed through the cored foam hole. Pad 164
facilitates preventing cold air from surrounding tube 158 and
facilitates preventing freezing of water in tube 158. That is, pad
164 provide friction holding force between fill tube 158 and the
refrigerator case insulation. Consequently, fill tube 158 is less
likely to shoot out into the icemaker fill cup during a fill
operation and such friction forces also facilitate utilizing higher
water pressure to clear an ice plug from fill tube.
[0028] Slot 112, foam pad 114, and aluminum tape 116 are separately
and collectively sometimes referred to herein as ice formation
prevention components since such components facilitate preventing
the formation of ice in fill tube 108. Example dimensions for the
components of fill tube assembly 150 are set forth below. Such
dimensions are in inches unless otherwise indicated. Of course, in
other embodiments, other dimensions can be employed and the
dimensions below are by way of example only.
[0029] A=2.25
[0030] B=2.50
[0031] C=2.00
[0032] D=2.00
[0033] E=0.25.o slashed.
[0034] F=1.50
[0035] G=2.00
[0036] H=0.100+/-0.100 (0.200 max)
[0037] I=4.50
[0038] J=0.25
[0039] FIG. 6 is an end view of fill tube 158 with tape 166 and pad
166 wrapped thereon. Tape 166 is wrapped with a seam 172 down. Pad
166 is wrapped with a seam 174 up. Staggering seams 172 and 174
facilitates preventing ice plugs in tube 158.
[0040] In operation, water is supplied to tube 158 via grommet 152,
and water flows from tube 158 into icemaker 130. Tapered slot 162
facilitates preventing frost from forming on tube 158, and
specifically facilitates preventing frost from forming thereon,
i.e., on slot 162 itself. Aluminum tape 166 facilitates warming
portion 170 of tube 158 that is located in the refrigerator wall,
and foam pad 164 facilitates preventing cold air from surrounding
tube 158 to prevent freezing.
[0041] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a fill
tube assembly 200. Assembly 200 includes a plastic grommet 202 for
conveying water. At least a portion of grommet 202 fits within an
insulator 204 that facilitates preventing sweat that could
subsequently freeze. A cover 206 facilitates preventing damage. An
aluminum plate 208 is in intimate contact with the back of the
refrigerator case and transfers heat to aluminum fill tube 210,
thus facilitating preventing freeze-up.
[0042] More particularly, grommet 202 includes an inlet 212 and an
outlet 214. Inlet 212 is configured to couple to a polyethylene
tube (not shown) which extends from a water valve (not shown) to
inlet 212. In one embodiment, one end of the polyethylene tube
slides over inlet 212 and forms a tight fit with inlet 212. Grommet
outlet 214 slides into an opening and through boss 216 of plate
208. An end 218 of tube 210 slides over outlet 214 and into
engagement with boss 216.
[0043] Insulator 204 includes a cut-out portion 220, and outlet 212
of grommet 202 fits within insulator cut-out portion 220. Insulator
also includes an indentation portion 222 for mating with a grommet
plate 224 of grommet 202. Insulator 204 facilitates preventing the
formation of sweat on grommet 202 and fill tube 210.
[0044] Cover 206 includes flanges 226 and 228 having openings 230
and 232 therein that align with openings 234 and 236 in plate 208.
Cover 206 is secured to plate 208 by screws (not shown) that extend
through aligned openings 230,234 and 232,236. Cover 206 facilitates
preventing damage to grommet 202 and insulator 204. Plate 208 is an
ice formation prevention component in that plate 208, by being in
intimate contact with the back of the refrigerator, is heated and
such heat energy is transferred by plate 208 via boss 216 to tube
210. Such heat transfer facilitates preventing ice plugs from
forming in tube 210.
[0045] In addition to the fill tube assembly embodiments described
herein, operation of the refrigerator defrost cycle can be adjusted
so that the fill tube receives adequate energy to defrost any ice
build up that might occur on the fill tube. More particularly, a
refrigerator typically includes a refrigeration circuit including a
compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser connected in series. An
evaporator fan is provided to blow air over the evaporator, and a
condenser fan is provided to blow air over the condenser. Such
refrigerators also typically include defrost heaters coupled to a
defrost control for controlling defrost operations. Adjustable
parameters include, for example, the defrost termination
temperature (i.e., the temperature at which the defrost heaters are
de-energized by the defrost control), amount of time the defrost
heaters are on, the amount of system dwell time, and the amount of
evaporator dwell time. Dwell time generally is the time period
after one cycle has been terminated and before another cycle is
initiated. For example, defrost dwell time is the time period after
defrost heat is terminated and before the compressor is allowed to
turn back on, i.e., before a cold control re-energizes the
compressor. Increasing the defrost termination temperature raises
the peak temperature of the fill tube. Increased evaporator fan
delay allows more time at a given temperature of the fill tube.
[0046] While the invention has been described in terms of various
specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that
the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit
and scope of the claims.
* * * * *