Method for operating a refrigerator appliance ice maker

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker for producing ice. The ice maker is deactivated for a predetermined period of time after the ice maker has been filled with liquid water. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the ice maker can harvest ice if a demand side management (DSM) status is off-peak, or the ice maker can remain deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak. By operating in such a manner, operating costs of the refrigerator appliance can be reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating an ice maker of a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 filling the ice maker with liquid water;   deactivating the ice maker for a predetermined period of time after said step of filling; and   determining whether a demand side management (DSM) status is on-peak or off-peak after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising harvesting ice from the ice maker if the DSM status is off-peak or keeping the ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of harvesting comprises harvesting ice from the ice maker if the DSM status is off-peak or keeping the ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak until the DSM status changes to off-peak and harvesting ice from the ice maker thereafter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than about thirty minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of deactivating comprises turning off power consuming components of the ice maker. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient for water within the ice maker to freeze. 
     
     
         7 . A method for operating an ice maker of a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 initiating a flow of liquid water into the ice maker;   maintaining the flow of liquid water into the ice maker until the ice maker has filled with liquid water;   terminating the flow of water into the ice maker;   deactivating the ice maker for a predetermined period of time after said step terminating; and   harvesting ice from the ice maker if a demand side management (DSM) status is off-peak after said step of deactivating or keeping the ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak after said step of deactivating.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than about thirty minutes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of deactivating comprises turning off power consuming components of the ice maker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient for water within the ice maker to freeze. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of harvesting comprises harvesting ice from the ice maker if a demand side management (DSM) status is off-peak after said step of deactivating or keeping the ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak after said step of deactivating until the DSM status changes to off-peak and harvesting ice from the ice maker thereafter. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;   an ice maker positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said ice maker having a mold body for receipt of liquid water for freezing;   a water supply configured for supplying liquid water to the mold body of said ice maker; and   a controller being in operative communication with said water supply and said ice maker, said controller configured for:
 operating said water supply to initiate a flow of liquid water into the mold body of said ice maker; 
 terminating the flow of water into the mold body of said ice maker after the mold body of said ice maker has filled with liquid water; 
 deactivating said ice maker for a preselected period of time after said step terminating; and 
 determining whether a demand side management (DSM) status is on-peak or off-peak after the preselected period of time has elapsed. 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein said controller is further configured for reactivating said ice maker in order to harvest ice from the mold body of said ice maker if the DSM status is off-peak in said step of determining or keeping said ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak in said step of determining. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said step of reactivating comprises reactivating said ice maker in order to harvest ice from the mold body of said ice maker if the DSM status is off-peak in said step of determining or keeping said ice maker deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak in said step of determining until the DSM status changes to off-peak and harvesting ice from said ice maker thereafter. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the preselected period of time is greater than about thirty minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein said step of deactivating comprises turning off power consuming features of said ice maker. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the preselected period is sufficient for water within the ice maker to freeze. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a relay operable with said controller to selectively supply power to said ice maker. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein said water supply comprises a valve operable with said controller to selectively supply liquid water to said ice maker.