An ice bucket for a refrigerator appliance, includes a bucket body; an auger provided inside the bucket and including an auger shaft rotatable about a first shaft axis and a collet at a first end of the auger shaft and including an axially beveled surface formed circumferentially around the auger shaft; and an agitator provided in the bucket in mechanical communication with the auger, the agitator including an agitator shaft rotatable about a second shaft axis non-parallel to the first shaft axis, a plurality of first tines extending radially from the agitator shaft within the bucket body to engage ice therein, and a projection that extends perpendicularly from the agitator shaft opposite the plurality of tines. The projection engages with the axially beveled surface to oscillate the agitator.

An ice dispenser includes an ice chute, an ice maker chute plate, and a vent wall. The ice chute is mounted adjacent an ice dispenser window and is configured to receive ice when the ice is pushed through the ice dispenser window. The ice maker chute plate includes an ice chute aperture wall configured to receive and to dispense the ice from the ice chute. The ice chute is mounted to extend from the ice maker chute plate. The vent wall is mounted to the ice maker chute plate. The vent wall includes an aperture wall through which air from a cooling system is received onto the ice chute when the cooling system is operated.

An ice bucket for a refrigerator appliance, includes a bucket body; an auger provided inside the bucket and including an auger shaft rotatable about a first shaft axis and a collet at a first end of the auger shaft and including an axially beveled surface formed circumferentially around the auger shaft; and an agitator provided in the bucket in mechanical communication with the auger, the agitator including an agitator shaft rotatable about a second shaft axis non-parallel to the first shaft axis, a plurality of first tines extending radially from the agitator shaft within the bucket body to engage ice therein, and a projection that extends perpendicularly from the agitator shaft opposite the plurality of tines. The projection engages with the axially beveled surface to oscillate the agitator.

An ice maker for a refrigeration appliance, the ice maker including an ice maker frame and an ice tray housed within the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein. An air handler is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame and an ice maker fan is disposed within the air handler and is configured to direct cooled airflow out of the air handler and into the ice maker frame. A controller is configured to operatively control the ice maker during an ice making cycle. The ice maker is operable in a first mode and a second mode. When the ice maker is operated in the second mode, the ice maker fan is cycled on and off during predetermined time intervals in order to produce clear ice pieces.

A water filter assembly may include a filter body having vertical side walls that defines a cavity within which one or more filter layers may be housed, the filter body further including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths that converge on an outlet hole, the vertical barriers further including a plurality of cutouts defining alternative overflow paths permitting water therethrough, and each filter layer including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths.

A method for building an ice structure includes making a plurality of ice logs and attaching the ice logs together to form a support structure. The support structure may be two or more stories high and may be constructed by freezing the ice logs together.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided. For example, a method of solid production includes contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The method includes solidifying the second fluid. A solid production system includes a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The system includes one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.

A method for building an ice structure includes making a plurality of ice logs and attaching the ice logs together to form a support structure. The support structure may be two or more stories high and may be constructed by freezing the ice logs together.

An ice maker includes an ice making unit comprising an evaporator connected to a refrigeration system, an ice holding bin, a sump, a pump, a drain valve, an ozonated water source, and a controller. The controller activates the ozonated water source supplying a first volume of ozonated water to the sump, thereafter activates the pump to circulate the first volume of ozonated water from the sump to the ice making unit, once a predetermined sterilization time has been reached, the controller turns off the pump and drains the first volume of ozonated water from the sump. The controller initiates an ice making mode, and activates the ozonated water source to supply a second volume of ozonated water to the sump, thereafter activates the pump to circulate the second volume of ozonated water from the sump to the ice making unit forming ozonated ice on the evaporator, and initiates an ice harvest mode to remove the ozonated ice from the evaporator and delivers it to the ice holding bin.

A regeneration device for regenerating a coolant dispersion with phase change material includes: a redispersion unit for redispersing the coolant dispersion, the redispersion unit including a restrictor; and a recooling unit that enables freezing of a phase change material by dissipating heat stored in the coolant dispersion. The recooling unit is arranged so that dissipated heat is at least partially recuperated in order to heat up the coolant dispersion to an inlet temperature.