The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 18, 2006
Melissa Marie Bippus, Evansville, IN (US);
John P. Tinney, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Ravindra S. Kavchale, Lexington, KY (US);
Matthew E. Herr, Chandler, IN (US);
Beth Michelle Gehlhausen, Velpen, IN (US);
Gregory Urban Schmitt, Wadesville, IN (US);
Brian Joseph Beuligmann, Evansville, IN (US);
Roger Urban Merkel, Evansville, IN (US);
Melissa Marie Bippus, Evansville, IN (US);
John P. Tinney, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Ravindra S. Kavchale, Lexington, KY (US);
Matthew E. Herr, Chandler, IN (US);
Beth Michelle Gehlhausen, Velpen, IN (US);
Gregory Urban Schmitt, Wadesville, IN (US);
Brian Joseph Beuligmann, Evansville, IN (US);
Roger Urban Merkel, Evansville, IN (US);
Whirpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
An ice maker includes a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface, a water supply inlet and an inlet valve arranged to selectively admit and prevent admission of water from the inlet. A flow sensor at the inlet valve determines a volume of water admitted through the water supply inlet. An operating position of the water supply inlet valve is based upon input from the flow sensor. A water collecting device receives a supply of water from the water supply inlet through the water supply inlet valve and receives a flow of water from the ice forming surface. A recirculating pump is connected to the water collecting device and to a recirculating passage arranged to direct water toward the ice forming surface. A level sensor at the water collecting device determines a level of water in the water collecting device. A discharge pump is connected to the water collecting device, and the control selectively operates the discharge pump based upon input from the level sensor.