Multifunctional rod for icemaker

Abstract

An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; and a rod, the rod in turn comprising at least one of a heat source and a heat sink. The mold body is mounted to the rod such that the rod functions as an axis of rotation for the mold body. A refrigerator using the apparatus is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; and   a rod, said rod in turn comprising at least one of a heat source and a heat sink, said mold body being mounted to said rod such that said rod functions as an axis of rotation for said mold body.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rod is hollow and sealed;   said mold body has first and second ends;   said rod has an evaporator portion in thermal communication with said mold body; and   said rod has a condenser portion, comprising said heat sink, and extending past said second end of said mold body and above said evaporator portion when said mold body is disposed to receive said water;   further comprising:   a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within said hollow rod; and   a heat transfer surface on said condenser portion.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said heat transfer surface comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an actuation arrangement which causes said mold body to rotate about said axis of rotation between a first position wherein said water can be introduced into said at least one cavity and a second position wherein said ice can be discharged from said at least one cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said rod further comprises a heater in thermal communication with said evaporator portion, said heater comprising said heat source. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said rod has a distal end, extending past said first side of said mold body, said heater being in thermal contact with said distal end of said rod. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a controller configured to cause said actuation arrangement to rotate said mold body about said axis of rotation and to activate said heater under at least one of:
 a condition when said mold body is in said second position; and   a condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to activate said heater at least under said condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position, further comprising a secondary rack located to scoop said ice our of said mold body as said mold body rotates from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said mold body and said rod are fixed against relative rotation about said axis of rotation, further comprising at least one bearing, wherein said rod and said mold body rotate as a unit about said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said rod is fixed and said mold body rotates about said rod. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said mold body has a plurality of cavities configured and dimensioned to receive said water to be frozen into said ice. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said mold body is hollow and in fluid communication with said hollow rod, said two-phase heat transfer fluid extending into said hollow mold body, said evaporator portion of said rod being in said thermal communication with said mold body via said fluid communication.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said evaporator portion of said rod is in said thermal communication with said mold body via conduction.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rod further comprises a heater, said heater comprising said heat source. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an actuation arrangement which causes said mold body to rotate about said axis of rotation between a first position wherein said water can be introduced into said at least one cavity and a second position wherein said ice can be discharged from said at least one cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller configured to cause said actuation arrangement to rotate said mold body about said axis of rotation and to activate said heater under at least one of:
 a condition when said mold body is in said second position; and   a condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller is configured to activate said heater at least under said condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position, further comprising a secondary rack located to scoop said ice our of said mold body as said mold body rotates from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body defining at least one cooled compartment;   a door hinged to said body and permitting access to said at least one cooled compartment;   a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice;   a rod, mounted to at least one of said body and said door, said rod in turn comprising at least one of a heat source and a heat sink, said mold body being mounted to said rod such that said rod functions as an axis of rotation for said mold body, at least one of said body and said door having a region for receiving discharge of said ice from said mold body.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said rod is hollow and sealed;   said mold body has first and second ends;   said rod has an evaporator portion in thermal communication with said mold body; and   said rod has a condenser portion, comprising said heat sink, and extending past said second end of said mold body and above said evaporator portion when said mold body is disposed to receive said water, said condenser portion being in thermal communication with said at least one cooled compartment;   further comprising:   a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within said hollow rod; and   a heat transfer surface on said condenser portion.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , further comprising an actuation arrangement which causes said mold body to rotate about said axis of rotation between a first position wherein said water can be introduced into said at least one cavity and a second position wherein said ice can be discharged from said at least one cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , wherein said rod further comprises a heater in thermal communication with said evaporator portion, said heater comprising said heat source. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller configured to cause said actuation arrangement to rotate said mold body about said axis of rotation and to activate said heater under at least one of:
 a condition when said mold body is in said second position; and   a condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position.   
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator of  claim 22 , wherein said controller is configured to activate said heater at least under said condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position, further comprising a secondary rack located to scoop said ice our of said mold body as said mold body rotates from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigerator of  claim 22 , wherein said mold body has a plurality of cavities configured and dimensioned to receive said water to be frozen into said ice. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said mold body is hollow and in fluid communication with said hollow rod, said two-phase heat transfer fluid extending into said hollow mold body, said evaporator portion of said rod being in said thermal communication with said mold body via said fluid communication.   
     
     
         26 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said evaporator portion of said rod is in said thermal communication with said mold body via conduction.   
     
     
         27 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein said rod further comprises a heater, said heater comprising said heat source. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising an actuation arrangement which causes said mold body to rotate about said axis of rotation between a first position wherein said water can be introduced into said at least one cavity and a second position wherein said ice can be discharged from said at least one cavity. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a controller configured to cause said actuation arrangement to rotate said mold body about said axis of rotation and to activate said heater under at least one of:
 a condition when said mold body is in said second position; and   a condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position.   
     
     
         30 . The refrigerator of  claim 29 , wherein said controller is configured to activate said heater at least under said condition when said mold body is in said first position and about to rotate to said second position, further comprising a secondary rack located to scoop said ice our of said mold body as said mold body rotates from said first position to said second position.