A heat exchanger has at least one inlet and outlet to permit circulation of refrigerant therethrough. Each heat exchanger includes a plurality of thin sections of material arranged between a pair of thin flat outer plates. Each of the thin sections of material is comprised of parallel flow paths, allowing for the refrigerant to flow through the inlet, then from one section to the next, and finally out the outlet. The arrangement of the sections of parallel flow paths allows for the refrigerant to come into contact with the majority of the inside wall of the outer plates, allowing for maximum heat exchange. In use for cooling liquids, the heat exchangers are arranged within a frame and brought into contact with the liquid to be cooled. When the heat exchangers are used to cool liquid sufficiently to produce ice crystals, a rotating scraping device sweeps across the surface of the heat exchanger, removing any ice crystals that have formed.

A heat exchanger has at least one inlet and outlet to permit circulation of refrigerant therethrough. Each heat exchanger includes a plurality of thin sections of material arranged between a pair of thin flat outer plates. Each of the thin sections of material is comprised of parallel flow paths, allowing for the refrigerant to flow through the inlet, then from one section to the next, and finally out the outlet. The arrangement of the sections of parallel flow paths allows for the refrigerant to come into contact with the majority of the inside wall of the outer plates, allowing for maximum heat exchange. In use for cooling liquids, the heat exchangers are arranged within a frame and brought into contact with the liquid to be cooled. When the heat exchangers are used to cool liquid sufficiently to produce ice crystals, a rotating scraping device sweeps across the surface of the heat exchanger, removing any ice crystals that have formed.

A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.

A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.

The present invention relates to a snow ice maker, comprising a coupling shaft (40) assembly wherein refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) and a refrigerant gas outlet tube (30) are arranged in a main passage (41), and the passage (41) is closed at a welding part (43) as a result of the capillary tubes (20) and a refrigerant gas inlet tube being simultaneously provided. The refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) comprise ends (22) arranged in proximity to an injecting position inside a cooling drum, and the refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) are arranged by collecting the refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) in the passage (41) of the coupling shaft (40); extending the refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) to the outside of the cooling drum; combining the refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) at a multiple connection part (21); and directly connecting the refrigerant injection capillary tubes (20) to a refrigerant supply tube (52) of a refrigerant compressor. The refrigerant gas outlet tube (30) is connected to a multiple inlet tube (33) in an ice-making drum, and the refrigerant gas outlet tube (30) is arranged by directly connecting the refrigerant gas outlet tube (30) through the main passage in the coupling shaft (40), from a connection part (31) outside the cooling drum to a gas inlet tube (54) of a condenser. According to the present invention, clean snow ice can be used because supplied water for ice making is frozen in an ice-making drum, edible powder ice can be obtained by cutting the ice layers of the ice-making drum with a cutter, and water for ice making is sterilized by ultraviolet rays. In addition, the ice-making drum can be cleaned and sterilized by heated water and vapor so that ingredients including milk, sugar and juice can be ice-made and variously used in a summer environment of high temperature and humidity.

A water switch assembly for a nugget ice making assembly is provided. The ice making assembly includes a hollow auger rotatably mounted within a reservoir and configured for extruding ice. The water switch assembly includes a water supply pipe that extends vertically through the center of the ice making auger and reservoir. The water switch assembly is in fluid communication with a water inlet and includes a capacitance probe for measuring the water level in the reservoir. In this manner, the water switch assembly is configured to control the flow of water to the reservoir in response to the water level measured by the capacitance probe.

A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes receiving a user inquiry signal at a controller of the refrigerator appliance in response to an inquiry input at a user interface of the refrigerator appliance, obtaining a status of at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance with the controller of the refrigerator appliance, and sending the status of the at least one operable component of the refrigerator appliance from the controller of the refrigerator appliance to the user interface of the refrigerator appliance. A related refrigerator appliance is provided.

Non-plumbed appliances and filters are provided. A filter includes a body which includes a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end wall and a second end wall, the body defining a body interior. The filter further includes an inlet defined in the body, and a nozzle protruding from the second end wall along the longitudinal axis and defining an outlet, the nozzle offset along an outer surface of the second end wall from a centroid of the outer surface. The filter further includes a tab configured on the body, and a filter medium disposed within the body interior, the filter medium operable to remove contaminants from water flowing through the filter medium.

Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An 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 further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water from the pump. The appliance further includes a filter, the filter including a filter medium operable to remove contaminants from water flowing through the filter medium, the filter positioned upstream of the ice maker in a flow direction of water from the second storage volume to the ice maker.

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.