Horizontal clear ice maker
An ice maker for an appliance includes a freezing plate having an upwardly facing ice formation surface. A plurality of partitions is positioned on the freezing plate. The plurality of partitions divides the ice formation surface into a plurality of bays. A reservoir is positioned below the freezing plate. A manifold has a plurality of outlets directed towards the plurality of bays on the ice formation surface. A pump is operable to flow water from the reservoir to the manifold. An air conduit is positioned below the freezing plate. The air conduit is configured for guiding a flow of air through the air conduit to chill the freezing plate.
1. An ice maker for an appliance, comprising:
a freezing plate having an upwardly facing ice formation surface;
a plurality of partitions positioned on the freezing plate, the plurality of partitions dividing the ice formation surface into a plurality of bays;
a sweep having a plurality of tines, each tine of the plurality of tines positioned within a respective bay of the plurality of bays;
a motor coupled to the sweep, the motor operable to translate the sweep relative to the freezing plate;
a reservoir positioned below the freezing plate;
a manifold having a plurality of outlets directed towards the plurality of bays on the ice formation surface;
a pump operable to flow water from the reservoir to the manifold; and
an air conduit positioned below the freezing plate, the air conduit configured for guiding a flow of air through the air conduit to chill the freezing plate,
wherein the upwardly facing ice formation surface is horizontally oriented.
2. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger positioned within the air conduit and connected to the freezing plate, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of fins extending into the air conduit.
3. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising an electric resistance heating element connected to the freezing plate.
4. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a traversing cam gear and a follower, the traversing cam gear rotatable with the motor, the follower mounted to the sweep and meshed with the traversing cam gear.
5. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a deionization filter positioned above the freezing plate, the deionization filter positioned upstream of the pump and downstream of the manifold.
6. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a grate positioned at a front edge of the freezing plate.
7. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the ice formation surface is planar, and a tangent of the ice formation surface is about vertical.
8. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; and
an ice maker disposed within the cabinet, the ice maker comprising
a freezing plate having an upwardly facing ice formation surface,
a plurality of partitions positioned on the freezing plate, the plurality of partitions dividing the ice formation surface into a plurality of bays,
a sweep having a plurality of tines, each tine of the plurality of tines positioned within a respective bay of the plurality of bays,
a motor coupled to the sweep, the motor operable to translate the sweep relative to the freezing plate,
a reservoir positioned below the freezing plate,
a manifold having a plurality of outlets directed towards the plurality of bays on the ice formation surface,
a pump operable to flow water from the reservoir to the manifold, and
an air conduit positioned below the freezing plate, the air conduit configured for guiding a flow of air through the air conduit to chill the freezing plate,
wherein the upwardly facing ice formation surface is horizontally oriented.
9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice maker further comprises a heat exchanger positioned within the air conduit and connected to the freezing plate, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of fins extending into the air conduit.
10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice maker further comprises an electric resistance heating element connected to the freezing plate.
11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice maker further comprises a traversing cam gear and a follower, the traversing cam gear rotatable with the motor, the follower mounted to the sweep and meshed with the traversing cam gear.
12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice maker further comprises a deionization filter positioned above the freezing plate, the deionization filter positioned upstream of the pump and downstream of the manifold.
13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice maker further comprises a grate positioned at a front edge of the freezing plate.
14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the ice formation surface is planar, and a tangent of the ice formation surface is about vertical.