Refrigerator including high capacity ice maker

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an ice service refrigerator comprising an ice maker and a food preservation compartment containing an evaporator. The ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from the mold and a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle. The refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship. The ice maker coil is attached to the ice maker mold and includes a heat exchange relationship with the ice maker mold. The refrigerator also comprises circuitry including the controller for closing the first valve to conduct refrigerant through the condenser, the first cap tube, the ice maker coil, and the at least one evaporator during the ice making. The circuitry includes the controller for opening the first valve and closing the second valve to conduct refrigerant through the ice maker coil, the second cap tube, and the at least one evaporator during the ice harvesting.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice maker;   a food preservation compartment containing at least one evaporator;   said ice maker including a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold;   
     a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle;
 a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve flow restrictor, a second valve flow restrictor, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship; 
 said ice maker coil arranged in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold; 
 said conduit including said first valve for selectively connecting the compressor output to said condenser for conducting refrigerant to said ice maker coil; 
 said conduit including said second valve for selectively connecting said ice maker coil and said at least one evaporator; 
 said controller being operative to close said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making cycle; and, 
 said controller being operative to open said first valve and close said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting cycle. 
 
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein during said ice harvesting cycle, said refrigerant flows to said second cap tube, expands and evaporates in said at least one evaporator for cooling down of said compartment. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein ice maker includes an outer mold having channels therethrough in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold. 
   
   
       4 . An automatic ice service refrigerator comprising:
 a storage compartment containing an ice maker;   said ice maker including a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold;   a controller for periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle including successive steps of discharging ice pieces from the mold and supplying water to said mold after ejection of the ice pieces;   a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship;   said ice maker coil in a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold;   said conduit, said first valve, and said second valve being operatively arranged for selective fluid communication of compressor output to said condenser for conducting refrigerant to said ice maker coil;   said controller being operative to close said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making cycle; and,   said controller being operative to open said first valve and close said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting cycle.   
   
   
       5 . The automatic ice service refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein said ice maker stores a first ice capacity when a first ice storage receptacle is retained therewith and said ice maker stores a second ice capacity when a second ice receptacle is retained therewith. 
   
   
       6 . The automatic ice service refrigerator according to  claim 5 , said second ice storage receptacle is interchangeable with said first ice storage receptacle and said second ice capacity is greater than said first ice capacity. 
   
   
       7 . The automatic ice service refrigerator according to  claim 5 , said first ice storage receptacle is selectively openable to said second ice storage receptacle for combining said first ice capacity and said second ice capacity. 
   
   
       8 . The automatic ice service refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein said controller is a thermostat. 
   
   
       9 . A method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising:
 conducting refrigerant selectively through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a conduit flow line, a first valve, a second valve, an ice maker coil, a first cap tube, a second cap tube, and at least one evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship, wherein the compartment is a food preservation compartment containing said at least one evaporator;   periodically initiating operation of the ice maker through an ice making cycle and an ice harvesting cycle wherein said ice maker includes a mold, an ejector for discharging ice pieces from said mold and a controller, wherein said ice maker coil attached to said ice maker mold includes a heat exchange relationship with said ice maker mold;   selectively connecting the compressor output to said condenser for conducting said refrigerant to said ice maker coil through said conduit and said second valve flow restrictor in an ice making mode;   selectively connecting the compressor output to said ice maker coil and said at least one evaporator for conducting said refrigerant to said ice maker coil through said conduit and said first valve in an ice harvesting mode;   closing said first valve to conduct refrigerant through said condenser, said first cap tube, said ice maker coil, and said at least one evaporator during said ice making and compartment cooling; and,   opening said first valve and closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said second cap tube, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said food preservation compartment is a freezer compartment and said at least one evaporator is a freezer evaporator. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said food preservation compartment is a fresh food compartment and said at least one evaporator is a fresh food evaporator for cooling down of said fresh food compartment. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said food preservation compartment is selectively a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment and said at least one evaporator is selectively a fresh food evaporator or a freezer evaporator for cooling down of said freezer compartment. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 conducting refrigerant selectively through the refrigeration system including a three way valve, a third cap tube, and at least another evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship; and,   opening said first valve and closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, one of said cap tubes, and said at least one evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 conducting refrigerant selectively through the refrigeration system including a third valve, a check valve, and at least another evaporator connected in selectively closed series flow relationship; and,   opening said first valve while closing said second valve to conduct refrigerant through said ice maker coil, said check valve, one of said cap tubes, and at least another evaporator during said ice harvesting and compartment cooling.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said third valve is a multiple way valve for conducting said refrigerant selectively through said ice maker coil and selectively through said at least one evaporator during said ice making and selectively through said at least another evaporator during said ice harvesting. 
   
   
       16 . A method of ice making and compartment cooling, comprising:
 conducting refrigerant selectively in one direction, during an ice making mode, through a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a cap tube, and an ice maker coil, and back to said compressor;   circulating air over said ice maker coil, wherein said ice maker coil is in heat exchange relationship with an ice maker body, thereby   chilling said air and providing cooling to an ice storage area and said compartment; and,   conducting refrigerant selectively in another direction, during an ice harvesting mode, through said refrigeration system including said ice maker coil and said evaporator, said cap tube, said condenser, said compressor, without circulating air.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein during ice harvesting said flow of said refrigerant is through said ice maker coil, wherein said ice maker coil functions as a condenser. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said compartment is a fresh food compartment and said evaporator is a fresh food evaporator. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 Interchanging a first ice storage receptacle with a second ice storage receptacle for increasing ice storage volume therein.