Icemaker appliance and method for operation to prevent frozen auger

Abstract

An icemaker appliance is provided, the appliance including a conduit fluidly coupling together a water reservoir, an icemaking vessel, and an ice reservoir. The appliance includes a pump configured to flow water through the conduit. The icemaking vessel includes an auger positioned at least partially within a cylinder. A flowpath is formed between the cylinder and the auger. The auger forms an auger conduit extending in fluid communication from the flowpath to an outlet opening outside of the flowpath.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An icemaker appliance, comprising:
 a conduit fluidly coupling together a water reservoir, an icemaking vessel, and an ice reservoir; and   a pump configured to flow water through the conduit,   wherein the icemaking vessel comprises an auger positioned at least partially within a cylinder, the auger comprising a shaft comprising a sidewall at which an inlet opening to an auger conduit is formed, auger conduit extending in fluid communication from the inlet opening at a flowpath formed between the cylinder and the auger to an atmospheric pressure exit opening outside of the flowpath, the exit opening positioned vertically above the inlet opening and a maximum water level of water at the flowpath.   
     
     
         22 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the icemaking vessel comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, and wherein the auger comprises an upper portion of the shaft extending to the upper housing, the shaft forming a lower portion extending through the lower housing, the auger conduit extending substantially vertically through the shaft through the lower portion and the upper portion, and wherein the exit opening is positioned at the upper housing through the upper portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 22 , wherein the upper housing comprises an ice egress chute from which ice is provided to an ice reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 23 , wherein water is permitted to flow through the cylinder and the auger conduit and egress along the chute toward the ice reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 24 , wherein water is permitted to flow from the ice reservoir toward a second reservoir through an opening to the conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the auger conduit forms a central bore extending in fluid communication from the flowpath below the maximum water level to above the maximum water level. 
     
     
         27 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 26 , wherein the inlet opening is positioned vertically below the maximum water level of water at the flowpath. 
     
     
         28 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the auger conduit comprises perpendicular extensions through the shaft. 
     
     
         29 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the auger conduit is formed extending substantially vertically through a main shaft body formed between an upper portion and a lower portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         30 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a controller configured to selectively operate the pump and the icemaking vessel, the controller configured to:
 operate the pump to flow water through a closed loop circuit comprising the conduit and auger conduit, wherein a water level at the icemaking vessel is substantially equal to the water reservoir, and wherein the exit opening of the auger conduit permits the flowpath between the auger and the cylinder to vent to atmospheric pressure with air external to the icemaking vessel and generate an air pressure balance. 
   
     
     
         31 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 30 , the controller configured to:
 allow a temperature at the icemaking vessel to be above freezing temperature of water at the conduit and operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit after the temperature at the icemaking vessel is above freezing temperature of water at the conduit;   operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit for a plurality of cycles through the closed loop circuit; and   operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit for a plurality of cycles through the closed loop circuit until ice at the ice reservoir is removed.   
     
     
         32 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 31 , the controller configured to:
 drain the water through a drain plug after completing the plurality of cycles of flowing water though the closed loop circuit.   
     
     
         33 . The icemaker appliance of  claim 31 , the controller configured to:
 build a water level at the water reservoir to approximately an equal level to the water level at the icemaking vessel; and   egress water from the icemaking vessel to the ice reservoir via the ice chute.   
     
     
         34 . A nugget icemaker appliance, comprising:
 a conduit fluidly coupling together a water reservoir, an icemaking vessel, and an ice reservoir;   a pump configured to flow water through the conduit,   wherein the icemaking vessel comprises an auger positioned at least partially within a cylinder, the auger comprising a shaft comprising a sidewall at which an inlet opening to an auger conduit is formed, auger conduit extending in fluid communication from the inlet opening at a flowpath formed between the cylinder and the auger to an atmospheric pressure exit opening outside of the flowpath, the exit opening positioned vertically above the inlet opening and a maximum water level of water at the flowpath; and   a controller configured to selectively operate the pump and the icemaking vessel, the controller configured to:
 operate the pump to flow water through a closed loop circuit comprising the conduit and auger conduit, wherein a water level at the icemaking vessel is substantially equal to the water reservoir, and wherein the exit opening of the auger conduit permits the flowpath between the auger and the cylinder to vent to atmospheric pressure with air external to the icemaking vessel and generate an air pressure balance. 
   
     
     
         35 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 34 , wherein the icemaking vessel comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, and wherein the auger comprises an upper portion of the shaft extending to the upper housing, the shaft forming a lower portion extending through the lower housing, the auger conduit extending substantially vertically through the shaft through the lower portion and the upper portion, and wherein the exit opening is positioned at the upper housing through the upper portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         36 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 35 , wherein the upper housing comprises an ice egress chute from which ice is provided to an ice reservoir, wherein water is permitted to flow through the cylinder and the auger conduit and egress along the chute toward the ice reservoir. 
     
     
         37 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 36 , wherein water is permitted to flow from the ice reservoir toward a second reservoir through an opening to the conduit. 
     
     
         38 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 34 , wherein the auger conduit forms a central bore extending in fluid communication from the flowpath below the maximum water level to above the maximum water level, wherein the inlet opening is positioned vertically below the maximum water level of water at the flowpath, and wherein the auger conduit comprises perpendicular extensions through the shaft. 
     
     
         39 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 34 , the controller configured to:
 allow a temperature at the icemaking vessel to be above freezing temperature of water at the conduit and operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit after the temperature at the icemaking vessel is above freezing temperature of water at the conduit;   operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit for a plurality of cycles through the closed loop circuit; and   operate the pump to flow water through the closed loop circuit for a plurality of cycles through the closed loop circuit until ice at the ice reservoir is removed.   
     
     
         40 . The nugget icemaker appliance of  claim 39 , the controller configured to:
 build a water level at the water reservoir to approximately an equal level to the water level at the icemaking vessel; and   egress water from the icemaking vessel to the ice reservoir via the ice chute.