A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body configured to define an outer shell of the refrigerator and a door configured to open and close an internal space of the refrigerator main body. The refrigerator further includes an ice-making unit provided in the door and a cold air generation unit configured to circulate a refrigerant so that a cold air is supplied to the internal space. The refrigerator further includes an ice-making pipe installed within the ice-making unit so that the ice-making unit makes heat exchange with the refrigerant, a refrigerant pipe installed in the refrigerator main body so as to receive the refrigerant from the cold air generation unit, and a soft pipe disposed around a folding portion of the refrigerator main body and the door and configured to interconnect the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe in a stretchable manner.

An ice-maker in a refrigerator is capable of producing ice pieces through directly cooling by a refrigerant circulating in a cold air generation system. An ice-making pipe is installed within the ice-making unit and has the refrigerant flowing therein. A refrigerant pipe is installed in the refrigerator main body for receiving the refrigerant from the cold air generation system. A flexible pipe is disposed around hinged end portions (e.g., corners) of the refrigerator main body and the door and configured to interconnect the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe in an extendable manner. A control valve can cut off a flow of the refrigerant flowing between the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe, for example when the door is to be removed for repair or replacement.

The present invention relates to an ice making apparatus comprising a casing, ice trays, an ice receptacle, a retainer for rotatably supporting the ice trays and one or more than one knob for respectively twisting the ice trays either simultaneously or singly. In the ice making apparatus of the present invention, the retainer selectively supports either one of a plurality of exchangeable covers enabling a single or simultaneous twist type ice making apparatus. One exchangeable cover has a plurality of bearings.

A stand-alone ice making appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume. The appliance includes a heating element, the heating element activatable to heat the casing.

An ice maker includes a casing that defines a chamber. The casing extends between a top portion and a bottom portion. An extruder die is mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. A motor is positioned above the extruder die. An auger is disposed within the chamber of the casing. The auger is coupled to a shaft of the motor with a threaded connection such that the auger is rotatable with the motor along a rotational direction within the chamber of the casing. The threaded connection between the auger and the shaft of the motor is wound opposite the rotational direction of the auger. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

A cooling device including a liner defining a freezer compartment, a shelf positioned within the freezer compartment, and an ice maker assembly secured to the shelf. The ice maker assembly including an ice maker configured to produce ice pieces, and an ice maker support frame that supports the ice maker. The ice maker support frame includes a fill cup and an air plenum, the air plenum defining a channel therein and extends between first and second walls of the ice maker support frame. A fan is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame at a location corresponding to the air plenum. The fill cup is configured to receive water from a water fill tube and direct the water to an ice tray of the ice maker.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a freezing compartment, an ice-maker disposed in the freezing compartment to make spherical ice, an ice bin disposed below the ice-maker for storing ice removed from the ice-maker, and an ice tray disposed inside the ice bin. At least a portion of a bottom face of the ice tray is spaced apart from a bottom face of the ice bin, and a plurality of tray holes are defined to pass through the bottom face of the ice tray.

A refrigerator and method utilize a door-mounted icemaking system including an icemaking mold, an ice storage bin and a cold wall evaporator disposed proximate the ice storage bin along an interior wall of the door to provide cooling proximate the ice storage bin. In some instances, the cold wall evaporator may be in addition to an icemaking evaporator that provides direct cooling of the icemaking mold, and furthermore, in some instances, the cold wall and icemaking evaporators may be separately controllable to optimize cooling within the door-mounted icemaking system. In addition, in some instances, a hot wall condenser may be used in a door-mounted icemaking system to dissipate heat generated by a refrigeration circuit through an exterior wall of a door. Further, in some instances a reversible refrigeration circuit may be used in connection with an icemaking evaporator to assist in ejecting ice from an icemaking mold.

A refrigerator and method utilize a door-mounted icemaking system including an icemaking mold, an ice storage bin and a cold wall evaporator disposed proximate the ice storage bin along an interior wall of the door to provide cooling proximate the ice storage bin. In some instances, the cold wall evaporator may be in addition to an icemaking evaporator that provides direct cooling of the icemaking mold, and furthermore, in some instances, the cold wall and icemaking evaporators may be separately controllable to optimize cooling within the door-mounted icemaking system. In addition, in some instances, a hot wall condenser may be used in a door-mounted icemaking system to dissipate heat generated by a refrigeration circuit through an exterior wall of a door. Further, in some instances a reversible refrigeration circuit may be used in connection with an icemaking evaporator to assist in ejecting ice from an icemaking mold.

A refrigerator including an ice making tray in which ice is generated, an ice bucket to store ice separated from the ice making tray, a full ice detection lever to rotate toward the ice bucket to detect whether the ice bucket is fully filled with ice, a manipulation lever manipulated outside the ice maker to move between a first position and a second position, and a stopper to rotate in conjunction with the movement of the manipulation lever and interfere with the rotation of the full ice detection lever.