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:
Jul. 23, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 27, 2010
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);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of operating an ice maker including accepting a desired ice layer thickness setting, opening a water supply inlet valve to admit water from a water supply inlet, cooling an ice forming surface below freezing, directing the admitted water into a water collecting device, sensing an admitted volume of water, closing the water supply inlet valve based upon the sensed volume of admitted water and the set desired ice layer thickness, pumping water from the water collecting device to the ice forming surface via a recirculating pump, directing unfrozen water from the ice forming surface back to the water collecting device, determining a level of water in the water collecting device with a level sensor, initiating an ice harvesting routine based on input from the level sensor, operating a drain flow control device to selectively discharge water from the water collecting device to a drain outlet.