Ice making assemblies and methods for making clear ice

Abstract

Ice making assemblies and methods for making ice, and particularly clear ice, are provided herein. The methods of making ice may include providing a volume of water within a mold cavity defined by an ice mold. The volume of water may be demineralized. Additionally or alternatively, the mold cavity may be pre-chilled to a sub-freezing temperature. Also additionally or alternatively, a freezer chamber in which the ice mold is provided may be directed to one or more sub-freezing temperatures while the volume of water is within the mold cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making ice comprising:
 providing a volume of water within a mold cavity defined within an insulated ice mold, the insulated ice mold being positioned within a freezer chamber, the insulated ice mold comprising an insulated sidewall defining a vertical opening in fluid communication between the freezer chamber and the mold cavity;   maintaining the freezer chamber below a first sub-freezing temperature during an ice formation cycle as a portion of the volume of water freezes to a frozen volume; and   directing the freezer chamber to a second sub-freezing temperature during an ice maintenance cycle while the frozen volume remains within the freezer chamber, the second sub-freezing temperature being above the first sub-freezing temperature, the ice maintenance cycle being subsequent to the ice formation cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing an active airflow across the insulated ice mold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the active airflow is motivated at a predetermined flow rate during the ice formation cycle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the active airflow is motivated at a variable flow rate during the ice formation cycle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the variable flow rate is set according to a user input. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the variable flow rate is set automatically according to a sensed condition at the insulated ice mold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the active airflow is halted during the ice maintenance cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ice formation cycle ends upon a predetermined time elapsing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ice formation cycle ends upon a predetermined condition being detected at the insulated ice mold. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making ice comprising:
 providing a demineralized volume of water;   dissolving a nucleation additive within the demineralized volume of water to generate a treated volume of water;   providing the treated volume of water within a mold cavity of an ice mold positioned within a freezer chamber; and   freezing a portion of the treated volume of water within the mold cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein dissolving the nucleation additive comprises setting a concentration of the nucleation additive within the treated volume of water to a predetermined level. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the nucleation additive comprises sodium chloride. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein dissolving the nucleation additive comprises setting a concentration of sodium chloride within the treated volume of water to a predetermined level, wherein the predetermined level is between fifty parts per million of total dissolved solids and one hundred parts per million of total dissolved solids. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mold cavity is defined within the ice mold to extend from an upper portion to a bottom portion, and wherein an active cooling system is positioned in thermal communication with the ice mold to selectively draw heat therefrom. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ice mold further defines a seed column extending below the mold cavity in fluid communication therewith, and wherein the seed column has a horizontal width and a vertical length at least twice as long as the horizontal diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising agitating the ice mold below the upper portion of the mold cavity following providing the treated volume of water. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making ice comprising:
 chilling an ice mold defining a mold cavity to a sub-freezing temperature within a freezer chamber;   providing a volume of water within the mold cavity; and   initiating seed crystal formation at a bottom portion of the mold cavity after providing the volume of water within the mold cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein initiating seed crystal formation comprises providing a portion of the volume of water within a seed column extending below the mold cavity in fluid communication therewith. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ice mold comprises an inner surface defining the mold cavity and an outer surface facing away from the mold cavity, and wherein initiating seed crystal formation comprises striking the inner surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ice mold comprises an inner surface defining the mold cavity and an outer surface facing away from the mold cavity, and wherein initiating seed crystal formation comprises striking the outer surface.