US-12624883-B2 - Ice-making compartment for an appliance

Abstract

An appliance ice-making compartment includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. A first ice tray is disposed at a first height within the housing. A second ice tray is disposed at a second height within the housing where the first height is closer to a top of the housing compared to the second height. The second ice tray is closer to the inlet aperture compared to the first ice tray. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air toward the first ice tray and the second ice tray.

Inventors

• Sarah M. Galea
• Jacob C. Ickes
• Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya

Assignees

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231205

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An ice-making compartment for an appliance, comprising: a housing defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture; at least one ice tray positioned within the housing; an inlet duct in fluid communication with the inlet aperture, wherein the inlet aperture is positioned at a first height on a first wall of the housing to direct air to the at least one ice tray; an outlet duct in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture is positioned at a second height on a second wall of the housing; and an arcuate deflector positioned in an upper portion of the housing opposing the inlet duct, wherein the arcuate deflector redirects the air from a first surface of the at least one ice tray to a second surface of the at least one ice tray, and wherein the arcuate deflector extends from the second wall and past at least one ice cube cavity of the at least one ice tray.
2. 2 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the second height is lower than the first height and proximate an ice storage bin to direct the air through the ice storage bin before exiting the housing through the outlet duct.
3. 3 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the inlet duct is configured to direct the air across the first surface of the at least one ice tray and to direct the air toward the second surface of the at least one ice tray.
4. 4 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate deflector is vertically aligned with the inlet aperture.
5. 5 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate deflector extends a greater distance from the second wall at a bottom end below the at least one ice tray than a top end above the ice tray.
6. 6 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate deflector is integrally formed with the housing.
7. 7 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a top surface and the second surface is a bottom surface of the at least one ice tray.
8. 8 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a bottom surface and the second surface is a top surface of the at least one ice tray.
9. 9 . The ice-making compartment of claim 3 , wherein the first surface is a top surface and the second surface is a bottom surface.
10. 10 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the outlet aperture is defined on a lower portion of the second wall, and wherein the air travels through a storage bin to the outlet duct.
11. 11 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein a storage bin includes an ice grinder area.
12. 12 . The ice-making compartment of claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture is positioned in the upper portion of the housing and the outlet aperture is positioned in a lower portion of the housing.
13. 13 . An ice-making compartment for an appliance, comprising: a housing including a first wall defining an inlet aperture and a second wall defining an outlet aperture; a storage bin disposed in a lower portion of the housing; an ice tray disposed in an upper portion of the housing over the storage bin; an inlet duct in fluid communication with the inlet aperture; an outlet duct in fluid communication with the outlet aperture; and a deflector positioned on the second wall in the upper portion of the housing, wherein the inlet duct is configured to direct air to flow across an upper surface of the ice tray and contact an inner surface of the deflector, wherein the deflector is configured to redirect the air from the upper surface of the ice tray to flow across a lower surface of the ice tray, and wherein the deflector extends from the second wall and past at least one ice cube cavity of the ice tray.
14. 14 . The ice-making compartment of claim 13 , wherein the deflector forms an arcuate shape.
15. 15 . The ice-making compartment of claim 14 , wherein the arcuate shape is a symmetrical concave shape.
16. 16 . The ice-making compartment of claim 13 , wherein the inlet duct is configured to direct the air to the lower surface of the ice tray.
17. 17 . The ice-making compartment of claim 13 , wherein the outlet aperture is defined on a lower portion of the second wall, and wherein the air travels through the storage bin to the outlet duct.
18. 18 . The ice-making compartment of claim 14 , wherein the arcuate shape is an asymmetrical concave shape.
19. 19 . The ice-making compartment of claim 13 , wherein the deflector is integrally formed with the housing.
20. 20 . The ice-making compartment of claim 13 , wherein the storage bin has a height within a range of from approximately 150 mm to approximately 200 mm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/395,630, filed Aug. 6, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,879,680, and entitled “ICE-MAKING COMPARTMENT FOR AN APPLIANCE,” which is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/251,141, filed Jan. 18, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,112,163, and entitled “ICE-MAKING COMPARTMENT FOR AN APPLIANCE,” the entire disclosure of each is incorporated herein in its entirety. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to an ice-making compartment and, more particularly, to a refrigerator ice-making compartment for improving airflow. BACKGROUND Airflow within an ice-making compartment may be utilized for freezing water within an ice tray. Air may enter the ice-making compartment via an inlet. Airflow may not be uniform over the ice tray based on the location of the ice tray relative to the inlet. SUMMARY In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance ice-making compartment includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. A first ice tray is disposed at a first height within the housing. A second ice tray is disposed at a second height within the housing where the first height is closer to a top of the housing compared to the second height. The second ice tray is closer to the inlet aperture compared to the first ice tray. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air toward the first ice tray and the second ice tray. In at least another aspect of the present disclosure, an ice-making compartment for an appliance includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air into the housing. An outlet duct is in fluid communication with the outlet aperture and configured to direct the air out of the housing. Ice trays are positioned at different heights within an interior of the housing relative to a bottom of the housing. In at least another aspect of the present disclosure, an ice-making compartment for an appliance includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. At least one ice tray is positioned within the housing. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture. The inlet aperture is positioned at a first height on a first wall of the housing to direct air to the at least one ice tray. An outlet duct is in fluid communication with the outlet aperture. The outlet aperture is positioned at a second height on a second wall of the housing. An arcuate deflector is positioned in an upper portion of the housing opposing the inlet duct. The arcuate deflector redirects air from a first surface of the at least one ice tray to a second surface of the at least one ice tray. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator having an ice-making compartment, according to at least one example; FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including an inlet duct having a first branch, according to at least one example; FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including the inlet duct having the first branch and a second branch, according to at least one example; FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment with the inlet duct and an outlet duct coupled to opposing sidewalls of a housing, according to at least one example; FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including the inlet duct having the second branch, according to at least one example; FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including the inlet duct having the second branch with left and right portions extending proximate left and right sides of an ice tray, according to at least one example; FIG. 7 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including a deflector, according to at least one example; and FIG. 8 is a side schematic view of the ice-making compartment including staggered ice trays, according to at least one example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the device may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive conce