Household refrigerator with exterior ice service

Claim 2

In a refrigerator cabinet comprising a freezer compartment containing an ice dispenser and a passage for receiving ice from said dispenser and delivering it to a service area on the exterior surface of said cabinet; operating switch means including actuating means exterior of said cabinet for normally effecting operating of said dispenser; control means operable upon the thrusting of an arm or other elongated member into said passage to prevent operation of said dispenser by said operating switch means; said control means comprising capacity sensing means associated with said passage, a safety switch and circuitry for operating said safety switch by said capacity sensing means; said circuitry comprising a sensing circuit and a relaxation oscillator circuit; said sensing circuit including an anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier for controlling the power supply to said dispenser; said sensing circuit including means connecting the anode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and to the gate thereof through a resistor, and means connecting the gate of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier to said capacity sensitive means; said relaxation oscillator circuit comprising a second anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and a capacitor connected to the cathode thereof for supplying a positive pulsating voltage to the anode and gate of said sensing circuit anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier; the sensing of body capacity by said capacity sensing means generating a gating voltage differential between the anode and gate of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier; and means operable upon conduction of said sensing circuit siliconcontrolled rectifier for operating said safety switch to prevent operation of said dispenser by said operating switch means.

Claim 3

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 1 in which said safety switch is normally closed and is part of a relay including a relay coil, the energization of which is controlled by said sensing circuit.

Claim 4

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 1 in which energization of said sensing and relaxation oscillator circuits is controlled by said operating switch means.

Claim 5

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 3 in which said relay includes a holding switch for delaying deenergization of said coil until said operating switch means is opened.

Claim 6

In a refrigerator cabinet comprising a freezer compartment containing an ice dispenser and a passage for receiving ice from said dispenser and delivering it to a service area on the exterior surface of said cabinet; operating switch means including actuating means exterior of said cabinet for normally effecting operating of said dispenser; control means operable upon the thrusting of an arm or other elongated member into said operating switch means; said control means comprising capacity sensing means associated with said passage, a safety switch and circuitry for operating said safety switch by said capacity sensing means; said circuitry comprising a sensing circuit and a relaxation oscillator circuit; said sensing circuit including input terminals, an anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier, and output terminals for controlling the power supply to said dispenser; said sensing circuit including means connecting one input terminal to the anode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and to the gate thereof through a resistor, and means connecting the gate of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier to said capacity sensing means; said relaxation oscillator circuit supplying a positive pulsating voltage to said sensing circuit and comprising a second anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier having an anode connected to said one input terminal of said sensing circuit through a resistor and to the other input terminal through a capacitor and a cathode connected to said other input terminal through a second resistor and to said one input terminal through a second capacitor; the sensing of body capacity by said capacity sensing means generating a gating voltage differential between the anode and gate of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier; and means operable upon conduction of said sensing circuit anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier for operating said safety switch to prevent operation of said dispenser.

Claim 7

In a refrigerator cabinet comprising a freezer compartment containing an ice dispenser and a passage for receiving ice from said dispenser and delivering it to a service area on the exterior surface of said cabinet; operating switch means including actuating means exterior of said cabinet for normally effecting operating of said dispenser; control means operable upon the thrusting of an arm or other elongated member into said operating switch means; said control means comprising capacity sensing means associated with said passage, a safety switch and circuitry for operating said safety switch by said capacity sensing means; said circuitry comprising a sensing circuit and a relaxation oscillator circuit; said sensing circuit including input terminals, an anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier, and output terminals for controlling the power supply to said dispenser; said sensing circuit including means connecting one input terminal to the anode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and to the gate thereof through a resistor, and means connecting the gate of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier to said capacity sensing means; said relaxation oscillator circuit supplying a positive pulsating voltage to said sensing circuit and comprising a second anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier having an anode connected to said one input terminal of said sensing circuit through a resistor and to the other input terminal through a capacitor and a cathode connected to said other input terminal through a second resistor and to said one input terminal through a second capacitor; the sensing of body capacity by said capacity sensing means generating a gating voltage differential between the anode and gate of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier; and means operable upon conduction of said sensing circuit anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier for operating said safety switch to prevent operation of said dispenser.

Claim 8

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 5 in which said operating means also controls the power supply to said control means circuitry.

Claim 9

In a refrigerator cabinet comprising a freezer compartment containing an ice dispenser and a passage for receiving ice from said dispenser and delivering it to a serviCe area on the exterior surface of said cabinet; operating switch means including actuating means exterior of said cabinet for normally effecting operating of said dispenser; control means operable upon the thrusting of an arm or other elongated member into said passage to prevent operation of said dispenser by said operating switch means; said control means comprising capacity sensing means associated with said passage, a safety switch and circuitry for operating said safety switch by said capacity sensing means; said circuitry comprising a sensing circuit including an anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier for controlling the power supply to said dispenser, the gate of which is connected to said capacity sensing means; a regulated voltage direct current power supply having positive and negative terminals; means connecting said positive terminal to the anode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and to the gate thereof through a resistor and means connecting said negative terminal to the cathode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier through a second resistor; a relaxation oscillator circuit for superimposing a positive pulsating voltage on the direct current voltage supplied to said sensing circuit comprised a second anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier having an anode connected to said positive terminal through a resistor and to said negative terminal through a capacitor, a cathode connected to said negative terminal through a second resistor and to said positive terminal through a second capacitor, and a gate connected through a third resistor to voltage dividing means connected across said terminals; the sensing of body capacity by said capacity sensing means generating a gating voltage differential between the anode and gate of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier; and means operable upon conduction of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier for opening said safety switch to prevent operation of said dispenser.

Claim 10

In a refrigerator cabinet comprising a freezer compartment containing an ice dispenser and a passage for receiving ice from said dispenser and delivering it to a serviCe area on the exterior surface of said cabinet; operating switch means including actuating means exterior of said cabinet for normally effecting operating of said dispenser; control means operable upon the thrusting of an arm or other elongated member into said passage to prevent operation of said dispenser by said operating switch means; said control means comprising capacity sensing means associated with said passage, a safety switch and circuitry for operating said safety switch by said capacity sensing means; said circuitry comprising a sensing circuit including an anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier for controlling the power supply to said dispenser, the gate of which is connected to said capacity sensing means; a regulated voltage direct current power supply having positive and negative terminals; means connecting said positive terminal to the anode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier and to the gate thereof through a resistor and means connecting said negative terminal to the cathode of said anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier through a second resistor; a relaxation oscillator circuit for superimposing a positive pulsating voltage on the direct current voltage supplied to said sensing circuit comprised a second anode gated silicon-controlled rectifier having an anode connected to said positive terminal through a resistor and to said negative terminal through a capacitor, a cathode connected to said negative terminal through a second resistor and to said positive terminal through a second capacitor, and a gate connected through a third resistor to voltage dividing means connected across said terminals; the sensing of body capacity by said capacity sensing means generating a gating voltage differential between the anode and gate of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier; and means operable upon conduction of said sensing circuit silicon-controlled rectifier for opening said safety switch to prevent operation of said dispenser.

Claim 11

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 7 in which said operating switch means also controls the power supply to said constant voltage direct current power supply.

Claim 12

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 8 in which said operating switch means and safety switch are series connected.

Claim 13

A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 9 including means for preventing reclosing of said safety switch while said operating switch means is closed.