Emerson Electric Company

Emhart Industries, Inc.

Laurence S Slocum

Michael T Clouser

Raymond J Andrejasich

Sara M Mussmann

Ronald E Cole

Michael R DuHack

Dennis Dane Tremblay

Hilary Michel

David J Nelson

Ellis Paul Lipp

Roy E Kidd

Bruce A Clarkson

Andrew F Schloot

Robert C Hammond

Young Tremblay, Legal Representative

An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray having an ice forming compartment, a water line configured to advance water from a water source to the ice tray, a valve operable to selectively block advancement of water through the water line while an actuation signal is generated, a control system operable to generate the actuation signal for a water advancement period, a water level detection system for determining if a level of water in the ice forming compartment is below a threshold value and generating a control signal in response thereto. The control system is further operable to alter a magnitude of the water advancement period in response to generation of the control signal. Water is initially advanced into the ice forming compartment for a first period of time during a first ice making cycle by opening the valve. If it is determined that the level of water in the ice forming compartment is below a threshold value during the first ice making cycle, a control signal is generated in response thereto and during a second ice making period the valve is opened for a second period of time in response to generation of the control signal so that water advances into the ice forming compartment of said ice tray through the valve during said second ice making cycle for a period of time that is greater than the first period of time.

Ice maker with adaptive fill

A dishwasher includes a water inlet connectable to a water source. A dishwasher element is operable on water received through the inlet. A flow sensor is in fluid communication with the inlet and is operable to generate a control signal indicative of water flow through the inlet. A control apparatus is connected between the dishwasher element and the flow sensor and is operable to inhibit operation of the dishwasher element in response to the control signal.

Method and apparatus for sensing water flow through a dishwasher including a vacuum switch

An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray has at least one ice forming compartment and an ice ejector having at least one ejector member. The ice ejector is operable to (i) stir water located within the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a first mode, and (ii) urge ice out of the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a second mode. A method of making ice comprises an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a first mode of operation step and an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a second mode of operation step. During the first mode of operation step, a plurality of ejector members of the ice ejector are respectively advanced through water located within a plurality of compartments of an ice tray of the ice maker during cooling of the water in the ice tray. In the second mode of operation step, the plurality of ejector members are respectively advanced into contact with ice formed within the plurality of ice forming compartments so that the ice is urged out of the plurality of ice forming compartments.

Method and device for stirring water during icemaking

A method and device for making ice is disclosed. The icemaker assembly comprises an ice tray and an ice ejector. The ice tray has at least (i) a first ice forming compartment defining a first space, and (ii) a second ice forming compartment defining a second space. The ice ejector is positionable at a first position and a second position. The ice ejector has at least (i) a first ejector member, and (ii) a second ejector member. When the ice ejector is positioned at the first position, (i) the first ejector member is positioned in the first space and in contact with a first quantity of water, (ii) the second ejector member is positioned in the second space and in contact with a second quantity of water, and (iii) the first quantity of water is positioned in fluid communication with the second quantity of water. When the ice ejector is positioned at the second position, (i) the first ejector member is spaced apart from both the first space and the first quantity of water, (ii) the second ejector member is spaced apart from both the second space and the second quantity of water, and (iii) the first quantity of water is isolated from fluid communication with the second quantity of water.

Method and device for eliminating connecting webs between ice cubes

Method and apparatus for sensing water flow through a dishwasher including a thermal sensor

An improved timer for controlling an appliance includes a camstack having a plurality of cam surfaces defined therein. A switch block cooperates with the plurality of cam surfaces to provide first switching operations for the appliance. A sensor detects rotation of the camstack, and generates position signals in response thereto. A processor is configured to receive the position signals and generate control signals in response thereto, wherein an auxiliary switching operation is performed in response to generation of the control signals.

Appliance timer

A line leak test probe for use on a liquid conduit. A pressure transducer is mounted in mechanical contact with the liquid in the conduit and a temperature transducer is mounted in thermal contact with the liquid. The transducers provide signals to a microprocessor-based circuit which includes a timer. Software stored in the microprocessor analyzes the time rate of change of the pressure to determine if there is a leak. Normally a sequence of three tests are performed: a catastrophic test, a gross test, and a precision test. The catastrophic test exits to the gross test if the rate of change of the pressure is less than a first rate, and the gross test exits to the precision test if the rate of change is less than a second rate which is less than the first rate. The precision test normally cycles until the pressure drops below 4 psi, and then outputs a leak signal if the pressure drops to below 3 psi in 12 minutes or less. If the temperature change during the test is sufficient to account for the pressure change, or the temperature is out of a range where it can be measured, the test aborts without outputting a leak signal.

Line leak test apparatus measuring rate of pressure change in a liquid

A line leak test probe for use in a liquid storage and dispensing system which includes a pump. A pressure transducer provides a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based test circuit. Various conditions descriptive of the pressure versus time curve while the pump is running, such as the pressure will rise above 20 psi when the pump is turned on, drop when the liquid is dispensed, and rise again when the dispenser is turned off, are stored within a software program in the microprocessor memory. The microprocessor calculates an average pressure to average out noise and artifacts in the pressure, and waits for the pressure to drop 2 psi below the average pressure after the pump has been turned off before performing leak tests in order to give the noise and artifacts time to die down.

Line leak test apparatus responsive to pump use

A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller capable of being operated in a plurality of different operation modes. The controller includes a display and ten key switches adjacent the display. Software divides the screen into ten key label areas, each adjacent one of the key switches. Other programming assigns different labels to each key in different operation modes. One key will advance the system and display to a different menu depending on the mode. Another key will provide different help messages depending on the mode. When help is requested, the current display is saved and then restored when the help message is exited. The system beeps if an inappropriate key is pushed in any mode.

Fluid status detection system

A fluid status detection system includes a controller that has eight sets of sockets for mechanically receiving a solid state input module. The module may be either an one of two A.C. responsive moduled responsive to two different A.C. voltage ranges or a D.C. responsive module. Either module provides the same output, a one-bit-digital signal, to the controller via the sockets. The controller includes a relay, an alarm, and a display. The operator may select one or more indicator conditions individually for each of the socket sets from a plurality of possible indicator alarm conditions and store the conditions in the controller. The controller then responds to the one-bit-digital signals to provide an alarm or other programmed indication that a device, such as a fire alarm, connected to a particular socket set has been activated. The modules respond to a wide range of voltages, thus a wide range of devices may be connected to the controller.

Fluid detection system with solid state inputs

A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller. The controller includes a microprocessor, a digital memory, relays, and progammed so that selected alarm and relay latching conditions may be stored, and alarms activated and relays latched according to the alarm and latching conditions. The microprocessor is programmed to provide an alarm acknowledgement signal upon the alarm being acknowledged. An operator may select one or more release conditions individually for each relay from a plurality of possible relay release conditions and store the conditions in the memory. The possible relay release conditions include: the condition that the probe signal indicates that the event that caused the alarm has cleared; the condition that the alarm acknowledgment signal has been provided; the condition that the probe signal indicates that the event that caused the alarm has cleared and the the alarm acknowledgment signal has been provided. Upon occurrence of the selected relay release conditions, the system automatically releases the relay.

Fluid detection system with selectable relay release

A line leak test probe for use in a liquid storage and dispensing system which includes a pump. The probe is electrically connected to a central monitor. A pressure transducer may be mounted in mechanical contact with the liquid to provide a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based circuit which disables the pump when a leak is detected. An manually operated reset switch is electrically connected to the reset input of the microprocessor through an inverter. Manually pressing the reset switch causes the microprocessor to shut off causing the central monitor to output an error signal. The monitor may be programmed to either enable or disable the pump in response to the error signal. Thus, by programming the monitor to disable the pump, the user may prevent the system from being abused by the placing of a brick or other object on the reset switch to continuously provide a reset when there is a leak. When the reset switch is released, the microprocessor turns back on and resets itself.

Line leak test apparatus with jam proof reset

A leak test probe includes a pressure transducer which may be mounted in mechanical contact with liquid in the conduit. The pressure transducer provides a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based circuit which, following software stored in its memory determines if there is a leak in the conduit by measuring the time rate of change of the pressure. The software also analyses the pressure signal and compensates for the effect of gas in the conduit by determining the time rate of change in the pressure immediately after the pump turns off and adjusting a sliding time scale for the leak test depending on the result.

Liquid leak test probe with compensation for gas in line

A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller. The controller includes a number of relays that may be programmed to latch either open or closed upon receipt of any one of several different alarms from the probes. The system includes a function that if a relay is latched and a second alarm occurs, then the relay releases for a second, then relatches. The system permits an operator to select the release and relatch latch function individually for each of the relays and to store the selection in a digital memory.

Fluid detection system with relay release and relatch function

A fluid detection system includes a central monitor, an overfill probe for detecting the approach of the overfill condition of a tank of liquid, and n other probes, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The probes are connected to the monitor via electronic cables. The monitor communicates with the probes by producing probe identifier signals comprising integers starting with zero up to the number n. Each probe includes a signal receiving and sending means which compares the identifier signal sent by the monitor to a preset identifier number for that probe and sends a status signal indicative of the fluid status at that probe when it receives the identifier signal that is the same as the preset number. The overfill probe is set with the identifier zero. The monitor includes a timing circuit which determines a six second probe check cycle. The monitor checks one probe every probe check cycle according to the following sequence: probe zero, probe number one, probe zero, probe number two, probe zero, probe number three, etc. until all n probes are checked. The monitor also includes an interrupt mode which may interrupt the probe check function. Whenever the monitor returns from interrupt, it first checks the zeroth probe then continues in the probe check cycle from which it was interrupted.

Growing community of inventors

Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Laurence S Slocum