US3826102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerator including automatic ice maker and water reservoir
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-06-21
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Granted: 1974-07-30
•
Expires: 1993-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator particularly adapted for the manufacture and storage of ice pieces comprising a below-freezing compartment containing an automatic ice maker and an above-freezing compartment containing a water reservoir. The ice maker control circuitry for controlling the operation of the ice maker through an ice discharging and water fill cycle includes a switch means associated with the reservoir for interrupting the ice maker operation when the water level is low but assuring operation of the ice maker through the water fill step.
Inventors
- 👤 J Horvay
- 👤 F Schumacher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:54
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25C1/04; F25C5/00; F25C5/18; F25C5/182; F25C5/187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
In a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, an automatic ice maker having an ice mold and being positioned in the freezer compartment, a water reservoir positioned in the fresh food compartment, discharge means for discharging ice pieces from the mold, a receptacle for receiving ice pieces from the mold, pump means for supplying water from the reservoir to said mold, a drive motor for operating said ice maker through a harvestinG cycle, and a power supply means for supplying electrical power to said drive motor and said pump means, said harvesting cycle comprising successive steps of actuating the drive motor, discharging ice pieces from said ice mold, actuating the pump means, and supplying water to said mold, the improvement comprising: a first circuit connecting the power supply means to the drive motor through a thermostatically-actuated switch means for actuating the drive motor, initiating a harvesting cycle, and operating the ice maker through the harvesting cycle in response to the temperature of the mold, said first circuit having first and second serially connected switch means positioned between the thermostatically-actuated switch and the drive motor for controllably breaking the first circuit, said first switch means being opened in response to water level in the reservoir being below a preselected elevation and said second switch means being opened in response to the level of ice pieces in the receptacle being above a preselected elevation; and a bypass circuit connecting the power supply means to the drive motor and the pump means through a timer switch means, said timer switch means being actuated in response to actuating the drive motor through the first circuit for passing power to the drive motor through the second circuit, thereafter passing power to the pump means through the second circuit for supplying water to the mold, and thereafter breaking the second circuit, thereby assuring completion of the water-filling step of a harvesting cycle after initiation of said harvesting cycle and a subsequent opening of the first circuit during said harvesting cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
In a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, an automatic ice maker having an ice mold and being positioned in the freezer compartment, a water reservoir positioned in the fresh food compartment, discharge means for discharging ice pieces from the mold, a receptacle for receiving ice pieces from the mold, pump means for supplying water from the reservoir to said mold, a drive motor for operating said ice maker through a harvestinG cycle, and a power supply means for supplying electrical power to said drive motor and said pump means, said harvesting cycle comprising successive steps of actuating the drive motor, discharging ice pieces from said ice mold, actuating the pump means, and supplying water to said mold, the improvement comprising: a first circuit connecting the power supply means to the drive motor through a thermostatically-actuated switch means for actuating the drive motor, initiating a harvesting cycle, and operating the ice maker through the harvesting cycle in response to the temperature of the mold, said first circuit having first and second serially connected switch means positioned between the thermostatically-actuated switch and the drive motor for controllably breaking the first circuit, said first switch means being opened in response to water level in the reservoir being below a preselected elevation and said second switch means being opened in response to the level of ice pieces in the receptacle being above a preselected elevation; and a bypass circuit connecting the power supply means to the drive motor and the pump means through a timer switch means, said timer switch means being actuated in response to actuating the drive motor through the first circuit for passing power to the drive motor through the second circuit, thereafter passing power to the pump means through the second circuit for supplying water to the mold, and thereafter breaking the second circuit, thereby assuring completion of the water-filling step of a harvesting cycle after initiation of said harvesting cycle and a subsequent opening of the first circuit during said harvesting cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said first switch means is float operated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2846854A
Cited
US3208233A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |