Quick ice making units

Abstract

 The invention is quick ice-making units (A, B) in a freezing compartment which use a cooling technique based on directing ambient air forcibly by a fan (15) - motor (16) mechanism located in a freezing compartment to the compartment of a cooling element (17) such as an evaporator, and cooling this air while passing over the cooling element (17) and re-transferring it into the freezing compartment (1) or the ice chamber (2, 12) from air blowers. These inventive units are described as quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler and quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet. Both units (A, B) have the ability to be used together or separately in a freezing compartment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to quick ice-making units used to shorten the time of making ice in a freezing compartment in current refrigerators and coolers.

Prior Art

[0002] Ice-obtaining process, which is desired to be performed by filling water into an ice container located in the freezing part of the refrigerators, takes usually 30 to 60 minutes depending on the capacity of a refrigerator. It is disadvantageous for the users if this period takes a long time.

[0003] The system described in the published patent application US 2005076654 has a quick ice-making option. A fan and a compressor are used for enabling the quick ice-making option. Air cooled by an evaporator is transferred into a freezer with the aid of a fan, thereby enabling the ice container to be cooled. Air heated as a result of a heat transfer occurred in the freezer section is vented out and re-cooled, and then it is sent back to the freezer section. However, homogenous cooling of the ice container cannot be achieved in this system.

[0004] The system described in the published patent application US 2005072166 has a quick ice-making control mechanism. Water is filled into a semicircular ice container and cooled with the aid of an evaporator. A mixer is used to accelerate the heat exchange between water and cold air within the ice container. Ice formation is achieved by the heat transfer occurring with the aid of the mixer. An ice container is provided with a heater at its outer side to remove ice therefrom.

[0005] In order to shorten the ice-making time, quick ice-making units of this invention can be used. An ice container made of a material having high thermal conductivity is filled with water and placed onto ice-making units of the invention provided with insulated outer surfaces, which are located in the freezing compartment. High-flow cold air fluxes are achieved in the ice-making units of the invention equipped with thermoelectric cooler and/or cold air blower, thereby water in the ice container with high thermal conductivity is solidified quickly.

Aim of the Invention

[0006] The aim of this invention is to provide ice-making units equipped with thermoelectric cooler and/or cold air blower in order to quickly cool water in the ice container having high thermal conductivity and transform it into ice using forced air circulation in a freezing compartment. Another aim of the invention is to enable these units to be utilized in currently used refrigerators or coolers.

Description of Figures

[0007] Quick ice-making units of the invention are shown in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a quick ice-making unit with thermoelectric cooler.

Figure 2 is a side view of a quick ice-making unit in which a cold air blower is used.

[0008] The parts in the figures are numbered one by one and the corresponding terms of these numbers are given below.

Quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler

Quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet

Freezing compartment (1)

Ice chamber (2)

Ice container (3)

Separator (4)

Fan (5)

Motor (6)

Thermoelectric element (7)

Heat transfer fins (8)

Hole (9)

Back passage (10)

Front passage (11)

Ice chamber (12)

Ice container (13)

Separator (14)

Fan (15)

Motor (16)

Cooling element (17)

Insulation (18)

Blow outlets (19)

Inlet hole (20)

Front passage (21)

Outlet hole (22)

Separator (23)

Hole (24)

Description of Invention

[0009] The invention is quick ice-making units in a freezing compartment which use a cooling technique based on directing ambient air forcibly by a fan (15) - motor (16) mechanism located in a freezing compartment into the compartment of a cooling element (17) such as an evaporator and cooling this air while passing over the cooling element (17) and re-transferring it into the freezing compartment (1) or the ice chamber (2, 12) from air blowers. These inventive units are described as quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler and quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet. Both units (A, B) have the ability to be used together or separately in a freezing compartment.

[0010] In Figure 1, a side view of a quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler is shown. This unit (A) comprises at least one ice chamber (2) with insulated outer surfaces placed into the freezing compartment (1) of a refrigerator, an ice container (3) made of a material with high thermal conductivity which is placed in said chamber (2) and on which one or more water compartments are located, a separator (4) which is slightly above the ice container (3) and dividing the ice chamber (2) into two parts as lower and upper parts, a motor (6) which is located in a housing, at the back side of the ice chamber (2), formed by the side walls of said chamber (2) together with the separator (4), a fan (5) rotated by the motor (6), and a thermoelectric element (7) with multiple heat transfer fins (8, 8') thereon which is placed inside one wall of the ice chamber (2) such that it confronts the fan (5) and provides heat transfer between the compartment (1) and the chamber (2). Ice chamber (2) is also provided with a back passage (10) and a front passage (11) which are located on the front and back sides of the separator (4) and connecting the lower and the upper parts of the separator (4) to each other. Unit (A) can be used in all types of refrigerators, cooling or freezing systems having a mechanism in their freezing compartments (1) wherein air is directed in the compartment (1) onto a cooling element (17) preferably such as an evaporator forcibly with the aid of a fan (15) and a motor (16) which rotates the fan (15), and wherein air cooled on the cooling element (17) is re-transferred into the compartment (1) through blow outlets (19). This unit (A) can also be used in all types of freezing compartments which can be cooled with a different method other than the cooling method including the use of a freezing compartment (1) with evaporator.

[0011] Heat transfer fins (8, 8') used in the unit (A) are placed on the thermoelectric element (7) in two groups in such a position that thermoelectric element (7) is located in between and they faces both into the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (2). Said thermoelectric element (7) is a component operated by peltier effect.

[0012] In order to perform the quick ice-making function with the unit (A), the heat of cold air within the freezing compartment (1) is transferred to heat transfer fins (8') and the thermoelectric element (7). By generating the peltier effect with a voltage applied onto the thermoelectric element (7), heat transfer fins (8) facing into the ice chamber (2) are provided to reach a lower temperature than ambient temperature in the compartment (1). Air flow which is obtained by the rotation of the fan (5) located opposite to the heat transfer fins (8) with the aid of a motor (6) is cooled at heat transfer fins (8) and forcibly passed through the back passage (10), and then transferred into the ice container (3) in the lower part of the separator (4). In order to cool water within the ice container (3) faster via this cold air flow obtained, the ice container (3) is made of a material with high thermal conductivity as mentioned previously. Between cold air sent forcibly to the surfaces of the ice container (3) and water which is warmer than this air, a fast heat transfer occurs and the temperature of water decreases due to the high thermal conductivity of the ice container (3). In order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments located in the ice container (3), there are holes (9) whereon these compartments are connected to each other. Cool air flows around these compartments and reaches the upper side of the ice container (3) and the lower part of the separator (4) from said holes (9), thereby advancing towards the front passage (11). While the temperature of air advancing towards the front passage (11) increases somewhat due to heat transfer between the ice container (3) and water therein, the temperature of water decreases as mentioned earlier.

[0013] Air advancing into the fan (5) over the separator (4) through the front passage (11) is cooled at thermoelectric element-aided (7) heat transfer fins (8) by re-directing of the fan (4) forcibly and re-transferred into the ice container (3) on the lower part of the separator (4) by passing it through the back passage (10). During these operations, cooling of air within the freezing compartment (1) is ensured by directing it towards the cooling element (17) forcibly through the motor (16) and the fan (15) mechanism and the cooled air is re-directed into the compartment (1) with the aid of blow outlets (19). By means of forced air circulation provided in this way, water within the ice container (3) is cooled quickly and converted into ice.

[0014] The walls of the ice chamber (2) are heat-insulated in order to prevent heat transfer between the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (2), except heat transfer fins (8, 8') and thermoelectric element (7). Likewise, the material of the separator (4) is heat-insulated as the walls of the ice chamber (2) in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (4).

[0015] In Figure 2, a view of the quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet is shown. This unit (B) comprises at least one ice chamber (12) with insulated outer surfaces placed into the freezing compartment (1) of a refrigerator, an ice container (13) made of a material with high thermal conductivity which is placed in said chamber (12) and on which one or more water compartments are located, a separator (14) which is slightly above the ice container (13) and dividing the ice chamber (12) into two as lower and upper parts, a front passage (21) which is located on the front side of the ice chamber (12) and connects the lower and the upper parts of the separator (14) to each other, a outlet hole (22) which is located on the back side of the ice chamber (12) and connects the upper part of the separator (14) and the freezing compartment (1) to each other, and at least one inlet hole (20) which is located on the back of the ice chamber (12) and used for the cold air intake, and through which cold air from a cooling element (17) preferably such as an evaporator is transferred by the blow outlets (19) to the lower part of the ice chamber (12) where the ice container (13) is built. Unit (B) can be used in all types of refrigerators, cooling or freezing systems having a mechanism in its freezing compartment (1) wherein the air is directed in the compartment (1) forcibly with the aid of a fan (15) and a motor (16) which rotates the fan (15) onto a cooling element (17), and wherein air cooled on the cooling element (17) is re-transferred into the compartment (1) through blow outlets (19); and can also be attached to the systems currently in use equipped with said mechanism.

[0016] In the unit (B) which is built into the freezing compartment (1), at least one blow outlets (19) confronts at least one inlet hole (20). Cold air from the cooling element (17) is transferred into the ice chamber (12) through the blow outlets (19) and the inlet hole (20) from the lower part of the separator (14). Cold air advancing herein reaches the lower and the upper parts of the ice container (13) by diffusing from the bottom and the top of a second separator (23). In order to cool water within the ice container (13) faster via this cold air flow obtained, the ice container (13) is made of a material with high thermal conductivity as mentioned previously. Between cold air sent forcibly to the surfaces of the ice container (13) and water warmer than this air, a fast heat transfer occurs and the temperature of water decreases due to the high thermal conductivity of the ice container (13).

[0017] In order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments located in the ice container (13), there are holes (24) whereon these compartments are connected to each other. Cool air flows around these compartments and reaches the upper side of the ice container (13) and the lower part of the separator (14) from said holes (24), thereby advancing towards the front passage (21). While the temperature of air advancing towards the front passage (21) increases somewhat due to heat transfer between the ice container (13) and water therein, the temperature of water decreases as mentioned earlier.

[0018] Air advancing towards the outlet hole (22) over the separator (14) through the front passage (21) is directed into the freezing compartment (1). Herein, motor (16) and fan (15) mechanism directs ambient air forcibly to the cooling element (17) again, thereby air is ensured to be cooled and cooled air is re-directed towards both compartment (1) and ice chamber (12) from the inlet hole (20) with the aid of blow outlets (19). Through forced air circulation provided in this way, water within the ice container (13) is cooled quickly and converted into ice.

[0019] The walls of the ice chamber (12) are heat-insulated in order to prevent heat transfer between the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (12), except inlet and outlet holes (20, 22). Likewise, the material of the separator (14) is heat-insulated as the walls of the ice chamber (12) in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (14).

[0020] In order to protect freezing compartments (1), which accommodate inventive units (A, B) and contain a cooling element (17) such as an evaporator, against heat losses and provide more efficiently working units (A, B), preferably heat isolation (18) can be made between them and the cooling element (17).

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both units (A, B) can be used together in the same freezing compartment (1) in order to shorten the time of making ice.

Claims

1. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler used in a freezing compartment, characterized in that

it comprises at least one ice chamber (2) with insulated outer surfaces placed into a freezing compartment (1); an ice container (3) made of a material with high thermal conductivity in order to cool water therein faster through the cold air flow around it and provided with holes (9) on the areas which connect water compartments to each other in order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments thereon, said ice container (3) being placed in said chamber (2) and having one or more water compartments thereon; a separator (4) which is slightly above the ice container (3) and dividing the ice chamber (2) into two parts as lower and upper parts; a motor (6) which is located in a housing, at the back side of the ice chamber (2), formed by the side walls of said chamber (2) and the separator (4); and a fan (5) which is rotated by a motor (6); a thermoelectric element (7) with multiple heat transfer fins (8, 8') thereon which is placed into one wall of the ice chamber (2) such that it confronts the fan (5) and provides heat transfer between the compartment (1) and the chamber (2), said thermoelectric element (7) ensuring heat transfer fins (8) facing into the ice chamber (2) to reach lower temperature compared to ambient temperature within the compartment (1), using peltier effect with the voltage applied thereon; a back passage (10) and a front passage (11) which are located in the front and the back sides of the separator (4) within the ice compartment (2) and connect the lower and the upper parts of the separator (4) to each other; and said unit (A) operates on the basis that, in order to cool water in the ice container (3) quickly and convert it into ice through forced air circulation therein, air flow, obtained by the rotation of the fan (5) located against the fins (8), is cooled at the fins (8) and passed through the back passage (10) forcibly, then transferred into the ice container (3) in the lower part of the separator (4); cool air is advanced towards the upper side of the ice container (3) and the lower part of the separator (4), through said holes (9) and around the ice container (3) and through the front passage (11); and air advancing into the fan (5) over the separator (4) through the front passage (11) is cooled at thermoelectric element-aided (7) heat transfer fins (8) by re-directing of the fan (4) forcibly; and re-transferred into the ice container (3) on the lower part of the separator (4) by passing it through the back passage (10) forcibly.

2. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler according to claim 1, wherein it is provided in all types of refrigerators, cooling or freezing systems having a mechanism in its freezing compartment (1) which directs the air in the compartment (1) onto a cooling element (17), like an evaporator, forcibly with the aid of a fan (15) and a motor (16) which rotates the said fan (15), and wherein air cooled on the cooling element (17) is re-transferred into the compartment (1) through blow outlets (19).

3. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler according to claim 1, wherein heat transfer fins (8, 8') are placed on the thermoelectric element (7) in two groups in such a position that thermoelectric element (7) is located in between said fins (8, 8') facing both into the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (2).

4. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler according to claim 1, wherein thermoelectric element (7) is a component operated by peltier effect.

5. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the ice chamber (2) are thermally-insulated in order to prevent heat transfer between the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (2), except heat transfer fins (8, 8') and thermoelectric element (7).

6. A quick ice-making unit (A) with thermoelectric cooler according to claim 1, wherein the separator (4) is made of thermally-insulated material in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (4).

7. A quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet used in a freezing compartment, characterized in that

it comprises at least one ice chamber (12) with insulated outer surfaces placed into the freezing compartment (1) of a refrigerator; an ice container (13) made of a material with high thermal conductivity in order to cool water therein faster through the cold air flow around it and provided with holes (24) on the areas which connect water compartments to each other in order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments thereon, said ice container (13) being placed in said chamber (12) and having one or more water compartments thereon; a separator (14) which is slightly above the ice container (13) and dividing the ice chamber (12) into two parts as lower and upper parts; a front passage (21) which is located on the front side of the ice chamber (12) and connects the lower and the upper parts of the separator (14) to each other; an outlet hole (22) which is located on the back side of the ice chamber (12) and connects the upper part of the separator (14) and the freezing compartment (1) to each other; at least one inlet hole (20) which is located on the back of the ice chamber (12) and used for cold air intake and through which cold air from a cooling element (17), like an evaporator, is transferred by the blow outlets (19) to the lower part of the ice chamber (12) where the ice container (13) is located; and a second separator (23) which directs cold air advancing underneath the separator (14) towards the lower and the upper parts of the ice container (13) and operates on the basis that, in order to cool water in the ice container (13) quickly and convert it into ice through forced air circulation therein, cool air flows around the compartments within the ice container (13) and reaches the upper side of the ice container (13) and the lower part of the separator (14) from said holes (24), thereby advancing towards the front passage (21); air advancing towards the outlet hole (22) over the separator (14) through the front passage (21) is directed into the freezing compartment (1) and herein, motor (16) and fan (15) mechanism directs ambient air forcibly to the evaporator (17) again, thereby ensuring air to be re-cooled; and cooled air is re-directed towards both compartment (1), and ice chamber (12) from the inlet hole (20) with the aid of blow outlets (19).

8. A quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet according to claim 7, wherein the walls of the ice chamber (12) are thermally-insulated in order to prevent heat transfer between the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (12), except inlet and outlet holes (20, 22).

9. A quick ice-making unit (B) with cold air blower inlet according to claim 7, wherein the separator (14) is made of thermally-insulated material in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (14).

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.

1. A freezing compartment (1) with a quick ice-making unit (A) ; comprising at least one ice chamber (2) with insulated outer surfaces placed into said freezing compartment (1); an ice container (3) placed in said chamber (2) and having a plurality of water compartments thereon; a thermoelectric element (7); is characterized in that
it comprises said ice container (3) made of a material with high thermal conductivity in order to cool water therein faster through the cold air flow around it and provided with holes (9) on the areas which connect said water compartments to each other in order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments thereon, a separator (4) which is slightly above the ice container (3) and dividing the ice chamber (2) into two parts as lower and upper parts; a motor (6) which is located in a housing, at the back side of the ice chamber (2), formed by the side walls of said chamber (2) and the separator (4); a fan (5) which is rotated by said motor (6); said thermoelectric element (7) with multiple heat transfer fins (8, 8') thereon which is placed into a wall of the ice chamber (2) such that it confronts the fan (5) and provides heat transfer between the compartment (1) and the chamber (2), said thermoelectric element (7) ensuring heat transfer fins (8) facing into the ice chamber (2) to reach lower temperature compared to ambient temperature within the compartment (1), using peltier effect with the voltage applied thereon; a back passage (10) and a front passage (11) which are located in the front and the back sides of the separator (4) within the ice chamber (2) and connect the lower and the upper parts of the separator (4) to each other; and said unit (A) operates on the basis that, in order to cool water in the ice container (3) quickly and convert it into ice through forced air circulation therein, air flow, obtained by the rotation of the fan (5) located against the fins (8), is cooled at the fins (8) and passed through the back passage (10) forcibly, then transferred into the ice container (3) in the lower part of the separator (4); cool air is advanced towards the upper side of the ice container (3) and the lower part of the separator (4), through said holes (9) and around the ice container (3) and through the front passage (11); and air advancing into the fan (5) over the separator (4) through the front passage (11) is cooled at thermoelectric element-aided (7) heat transfer fins (8) by re-directing of the fan (4) forcibly; and re-transferred into the ice container (3) on the lower part of the separator (4) by passing it through the back passage (10) forcibly.

2. A freezing compartment (1) with a quick ice-making unit (A) according to claim 1, wherein it is provided in all types of refrigerators, cooling or freezing systems having a mechanism in its freezing compartment (1) which directs the air in the compartment (1) onto a cooling element (17), like an evaporator, forcibly with the aid of a fan (15) and a motor (16) which rotates the said fan (15), and wherein air cooled on the cooling element (17) is re-transferred into the compartment (1) through blow outlets (19).

3. A freezing compartment (1) with as quick ice-making unit (A) according to claim 1, wherein heat transfer fins (8, 8') are placed on the thermoelectric element (7) in two groups in such a position that thermoelectric element (7) is located in between said fins (8, 8') facing both into the freezing compartment (1) and the ice chamber (2).

4. A freezing compartment (1) with a quick ice-making unit (A) according to claim 1, wherein the separator (4) is made of thermally-insulated material in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (4).

5. A freezing compartment (1) with a quick ice-making unit (B); comprising at least one ice chamber (12) with insulated outer surfaces placed into the freezing compartment (1); an ice container (13) placed in said chamber (12) and having a plurality of water compartments thereon; a separator (14) which is slightly above the ice container (13) and dividing the ice chamber (12) into two parts as lower and upper parts; a front passage (21) connecting the lower and the upper parts of the separator (14) to each other; at least one inlet hole (20) which is located on the back of the ice chamber (12) and used for cold air intake and through which cold air from a cooling element (17), like an evaporator, is transferred by the blow outlets (19) to the lower part of the ice chamber (12): is characterized in that it comprises said ice container (13) made of a material with high thermal conductivity in order to cool water therein faster through the cold air flow around it and provided with holes (24) on the areas which connect water compartments to each other in order to cool homogenously a number of water compartments thereon; said front passage (21) which is located on the front side of the ice chamber (12); an outlet hole (22) which is located on the back side of the ice chamber (12) and connects the upper part of the separator (14) and the freezing compartment (1) to each other; and a second separator (23) which directs cold air advancing underneath the separator (14) towards the lower and the upper parts of the ice container (13) and operates on the basis that, in order to cool water in the ice container (13) quickly and convert it into ice through forced air circulation therein, cool air flows around the compartments within the ice container (13) and reaches the upper side of the ice container (13) and the lower part of the separator (14) from said holes (24), thereby advancing towards the front passage (21); air advancing towards the outlet hole (22) over the separator (14) through the front passage (21) is directed into the freezing compartment (1) and herein, motor (16) and fan (15) mechanism directs ambient air forcibly to the evaporator (17) again, thereby ensuring air to be re-cooled; and cooled air is re-directed towards both compartment (1), and ice chamber (12) from the inlet hole (20) with the aid of blow outlets (19).

6. A freezing compartment (1) with a quick ice-making unit (B) according to claim 5, wherein the separator (14) is made of thermally-insulated material in order to prevent heat transfer between the upper and the lower surfaces of the separator (14).

Drawing