Ice dispensing motor assembly with separate enclosures with minimized internal volume

Abstract

An ice dispensing motor assembly includes a motor in operative communication with an auger of an ice maker. The motor is enclosed within a first housing. The motor assembly also includes a driver circuit in electrical communication with the motor. The driver circuit is enclosed within a second housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice making and dispensing system, comprising:
 a mold for forming ice therein;   an ice bin comprising a bin body defining a storage volume to receive ice formed in the mold therein;   an auger extending within the storage volume; and   an ice dispensing motor assembly, the ice dispensing motor assembly comprising:
 an auger motor in operative communication with the auger, the auger motor enclosed within a first housing; and 
 a driver circuit in electrical communication with the auger motor, the driver circuit enclosed within a second housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is separate and distinct from the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is coupled to the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is coupled to the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly by a dovetail joint. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is coupled to the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly by a first dovetail joint on a first side of the first housing and a second dovetail joint on a second side of the first housing opposite the first side of the first housing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is coupled to the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly with or without fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a wall of the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly is in contact with a wall of the first housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the driver circuit is fully enclosed within the second housing of the ice dispensing motor assembly. 
     
     
         9 . An ice dispensing motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising:
 a motor configured for operative communication with an auger of an ice maker, the motor enclosed within a first housing; and   a driver circuit in electrical communication with the auger motor, the driver circuit enclosed within a second housing.   
     
     
         10 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second housing is separate and distinct from the first housing. 
     
     
         11 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing. 
     
     
         12 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing by dovetail joints. 
     
     
         13 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing by a first dovetail joint on a first side of the first housing and a second dovetail joint on a second side of the first housing opposite the first side of the first housing. 
     
     
         14 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing with or without fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a wall of the second housing is in contact with a wall of the first housing. 
     
     
         16 . The ice dispensing motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the driver circuit is fully enclosed within the second housing.