Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator has an ice forming chamber positioned in the freezer. The chamber has a water reservoir for receiving water, at least one air inlet passage and an outlet opening for permitting cool air flow to pass through the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir to chill the water into ice pieces. The chamber has an ice displacing device for displacing the ice pieces from the water reservoir and moving the ice pieces out of the ice forming chamber through the outlet opening into an ice storage bin. The bin has a discharge opening for discharging ice pieces from the ice making assembly. The ice making assembly has a downwardly extending baffle positioned across outlet opening of the ice forming chamber. The baffle is slanted from the vertical back towards the outlet opening of the ice making chamber by an angle of about 5.degree. to partially close the outlet opening and to redirect a portion of the air flow normally exiting the outlet opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir. The baffle advantageously redirects air flow back over the water to be chilled thereby increasing the heat exchange between the air flow and water without increasing the energy requirements to effect this heat exchange. The improved heat transfer quickens the freezing of the water into ice pieces or cubes.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim