Ice mold for a clear ice making assembly

Abstract

An ice making assembly includes an ice mold including two or more separable portions that collectively define one or more mold cavities. Each of the mold portions define a plurality of recessed passages that at least partially surround the mold cavity and are configured to receive evaporator conduit of a sealed refrigeration to cool the ice mold and facilitate formation of an ice billet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice making assembly comprising:
 an ice mold defining a mold cavity, wherein the ice mold defines a plurality of recessed passages that at least partially surround the mold cavity;   a sealed refrigeration system comprising a condenser and an evaporator in serial flow communication with each other, the evaporator being positioned within the plurality of recessed passages to cool the ice mold; and   a pump assembly for urging an ice-building spray into the ice mold to form an ice billet.   
     
     
         2 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being separable from the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The ice making assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the evaporator includes a first evaporator portion mounted within the first portion and a second evaporator portion mounted within the second portion, the first evaporator portion and the second evaporator portion being connected in parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion is a mirror image of the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold is substantially rectangular having six sides, and wherein the plurality of recessed passages is formed in at least four of the six sides of the ice mold. 
     
     
         6 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed passages defines a serpentine or zig-zag pattern through at least a portion of the ice mold. 
     
     
         7 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed passages defines an average depth that is greater than or equal to a conduit diameter of the evaporator. 
     
     
         8 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a depth of the plurality of recessed passages is variable. 
     
     
         9 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed passages defines an average passage width that is substantially equivalent to a conduit diameter of the evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator comprises copper tubing. 
     
     
         11 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold defines a plurality of mold cavities. 
     
     
         13 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a seam that divides a first portion and a second portion of the ice mold passes through each of the plurality of mold cavities. 
     
     
         14 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold comprises more than two separable pieces. 
     
     
         15 . A mold assembly for an ice making assembly, the mold assembly comprising:
 an ice mold comprising a first portion and a second portion that are separable and define a mold cavity, wherein the ice mold defines a plurality of recessed passages that at least partially surround the mold cavity and are configured for receiving evaporator conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the evaporator conduit includes a first evaporator portion mounted within the first portion and a second evaporator portion mounted within the second portion, the first evaporator portion and the second evaporator portion being connected in parallel. 
     
     
         17 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of recessed passages defines an average depth that is greater than or equal to a conduit diameter of the evaporator conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a depth of the plurality of recessed passages is variable. 
     
     
         19 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of recessed passages defines an average passage width that is substantially equivalent to a conduit diameter of the evaporator conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the evaporator conduit comprises copper tubing and the ice mold is formed from aluminum.