A freezing and cutting assembly and method for producing ice cubes. The freezing and cutting assembly includes a freezing unit configured to freeze a slab of ice. The freezing unit includes a cold plate and a frame removably coupleable to the cold plate. The cutting unit includes at least one heated electrical wire tensioned on a cutting unit frame and configured to divide the slab of ice into ice cubes.

A freezing and cutting assembly and method for producing ice cubes. The freezing and cutting assembly includes a freezing unit configured to freeze a slab of ice. The freezing unit includes a cold plate and a frame removably coupleable to the cold plate. The cutting unit includes at least one heated electrical wire tensioned on a cutting unit frame and configured to divide the slab of ice into ice cubes.

A method for preparing clear ice includes supporting an ice tray via a rotating assembly within a housing and separating an interior volume of the housing into a first air chamber and a second air chamber. The first air chamber is below the ice tray and the second air chamber is above the ice tray. Water is supplied into the ice tray and the ice tray is cooled with a cooling device thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The cooling device is exposed to chilled air from within the appliance in the first air chamber. Ambient air is supplied from outside the appliance into the second air chamber within the interior volume of the housing. The surface of the water in the ice tray is exposed to the ambient air.

A method for preparing clear ice includes supporting an ice tray via a rotating assembly within a housing and separating an interior volume of the housing into a first air chamber and a second air chamber. The first air chamber is below the ice tray and the second air chamber is above the ice tray. Water is supplied into the ice tray and the ice tray is cooled with a cooling device thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The cooling device is exposed to chilled air from within the appliance in the first air chamber. Ambient air is supplied from outside the appliance into the second air chamber within the interior volume of the housing. The surface of the water in the ice tray is exposed to the ambient air.

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, an ice machine, tray, and process for producing high-quality, substantially clear ice is provided. A heat exchanger in the ice machine removes energy from liquid, cooling the liquid from room temperature to freezing temperature, then overcomes the heat of fusion to form ice. The tray containing a liquid is received in a freezing/mixing chamber. The tray includes an energy transfer surface in thermal contact with the heat exchanger to define a liquid/ice boundary layer. The tray further includes at least one freezing cavity having geometry defining surfaces to form the geometry of the ice. An egress area is defined in the tray above the geometry defining surfaces. A mixing mechanism is provided in operative communication with the liquid to create a velocity profile at the liquid/ice boundary layer to create a directional freezing process starting from the energy transfer surface of the tray in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and growing through the freezing cavity up to the egress area. The velocity profile at liquid/ice boundary enables impurities to be washed away during the freezing process, deterring impurities from getting entrapped in the ice. Impurities in the liquid are thereby washed away and concentrate in a pool away from the ice, ultimately in the egress area of the tray to be purged. In addition, in embodiments sensors can be provided to provide various functions selected from the group consisting of, for example, determining ice creation status, determining freezing height, varying ice creation, determining tray presence, detecting freezing/mixing chamber door position, determining liquid level, and combinations thereof.

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, an ice machine, tray, and process for producing high-quality, substantially clear ice is provided. A heat exchanger in the ice machine removes energy from liquid, cooling the liquid from room temperature to freezing temperature, then overcomes the heat of fusion to form ice. The tray containing a liquid is received in a freezing/mixing chamber. The tray includes an energy transfer surface in thermal contact with the heat exchanger to define a liquid/ice boundary layer. The tray further includes at least one freezing cavity having geometry defining surfaces to form the geometry of the ice. An egress area is defined in the tray above the geometry defining surfaces. A mixing mechanism is provided in operative communication with the liquid to create a velocity profile at the liquid/ice boundary layer to create a directional freezing process starting from the energy transfer surface of the tray in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and growing through the freezing cavity up to the egress area. The velocity profile at liquid/ice boundary enables impurities to be washed away during the freezing process, deterring impurities from getting entrapped in the ice. Impurities in the liquid are thereby washed away and concentrate in a pool away from the ice, ultimately in the egress area of the tray to be purged. In addition, in embodiments sensors can be provided to provide various functions selected from the group consisting of, for example, determining ice creation status, determining freezing height, varying ice creation, determining tray presence, detecting freezing/mixing chamber door position, determining liquid level, and combinations thereof.

An icemaker for making clear ice shapes using a process that removes and replenishes a freezable liquid, such as water, from and to one or more ice-mold cavities during freezing of the freezable liquid in the ice-mold cavity(ies). This process removes air bubbles from the freezable liquid during freezing that would otherwise result in cloudy ice. In some embodiments, the icemaker includes a suction system to draw freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and a replenishment system to replenish the cavity(ies) with freezable liquid to replace the freezable liquid that the suction system draws out of the cavity(ies). In some embodiments, the replenishment includes a reservoir containing freezable liquid and the suction system includes a pump that draws the freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and discharges it to the reservoir. Methods of making clear ice and other systems for making clear ice are also disclosed.

An icemaker for making clear ice shapes using a process that removes and replenishes a freezable liquid, such as water, from and to one or more ice-mold cavities during freezing of the freezable liquid in the ice-mold cavity(ies). This process removes air bubbles from the freezable liquid during freezing that would otherwise result in cloudy ice. In some embodiments, the icemaker includes a suction system to draw freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and a replenishment system to replenish the cavity(ies) with freezable liquid to replace the freezable liquid that the suction system draws out of the cavity(ies). In some embodiments, the replenishment includes a reservoir containing freezable liquid and the suction system includes a pump that draws the freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and discharges it to the reservoir. Methods of making clear ice and other systems for making clear ice are also disclosed.

A frozen substance maker includes a heat pump, a cold plate, a mold base, a mold top, and an agitator. The cold plate is in thermal communication with the heat pump. The mold base is positioned on the cold plate. The mold base and the cold plate define a seed crystal chamber. The mold top is positioned on the mold base. The mold base and the mold top define a mold cavity in fluid communication with the seed crystal chamber. The mold top defines an overflow reservoir in fluid communication with the mold chamber. The agitator is located at least partially within the overflow reservoir.

A frozen substance maker includes a heat pump, a cold plate, a mold base, a mold top, and an agitator. The cold plate is in thermal communication with the heat pump. The mold base is positioned on the cold plate. The mold base and the cold plate define a seed crystal chamber. The mold top is positioned on the mold base. The mold base and the mold top define a mold cavity in fluid communication with the seed crystal chamber. The mold top defines an overflow reservoir in fluid communication with the mold chamber. The agitator is located at least partially within the overflow reservoir.