Refrigerator appliance and an ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance and an ice making assembly for the same are provided. The ice making assembly includes an ice formation panel, a chilled air duct and a water distribution manifold. The ice formation panel may be cooled by chilled air passing through the chilled air duct, and the water distribution panel may direct liquid water over the ice formation panel. Ice cubes can be formed on the ice formation panel from the liquid water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;   a door mounted to the cabinet;   an ice making assembly mounted to the door, the ice making assembly comprising
 an ice formation panel having a front surface and a back surface, the ice formation panel extending between a top portion and a bottom portion, the ice formation panel defining a plurality of channels at the front surface of the ice formation panel; 
 a chilled air duct positioned at the back surface of the ice formation panel; 
 a water distribution manifold positioned at the top portion of the ice formation panel, the water distribution manifold having a plurality of outlets, each outlet of the plurality of outlets aligned with a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel; and 
 a water collection sump positioned at the bottom portion of the ice formation panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator configured for generating cooled air and a supply conduit, the chilled air duct defining an interior volume, the supply conduit extending between the evaporator and the chilled air duct such that the supply conduit is configured for directing the cooled air from the evaporator into the interior volume of the chilled air duct. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the chilled air duct defines a plurality of openings, each opening of the plurality of openings extending between the interior volume of the chilled air duct and the back surface of the ice formation panel opposite a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a plurality of fins, each fin mounted to ice formation panel at the back surface of the ice formation panel and positioned within a respective one of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a heating element mounted to the plurality of fins. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins extends from the back surface of the ice formation panel into the interior volume of the chilled air duct. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal projections, each horizontal projection of the plurality of horizontal projections mounted to the ice formation panel within a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a circulation pump and a circulation conduit, the circulation conduit extending between the water collection sump and the water distribution manifold, the circulation pump configured for selectively pumping water from the water collection sump to the water distribution manifold through the circulation conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain conduit and an evaporation pan, the evaporation pan positioned within a mechanical chamber defined by the cabinet, the drain conduit extending between the water collection sump and the evaporation pan such that excess water within the water collection sump is directed into the evaporation pan via the drain conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain conduit and a drain, the drain conduit extending between the water collection sump and the drain such that excess water within the water collection sump is directed to the drain. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ice formation panel is constructed with stainless steel. 
     
     
         12 . An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 an ice formation panel having a front surface and a back surface, the ice formation panel extending between a top portion and a bottom portion, the ice formation panel defining a plurality of channels at the front surface of the ice formation panel;   a chilled air duct positioned at the back surface of the ice formation panel;   a water distribution manifold positioned at the top portion of the ice formation panel, the water distribution manifold having a plurality of outlets, each outlet of the plurality of outlets aligned with a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel; and   a water collection sump positioned at the bottom portion of the ice formation panel.   
     
     
         13 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an evaporator configured for generating cooled air and a supply conduit, the chilled air duct defining an interior volume, the supply conduit extending between the evaporator and the chilled air duct such that the supply conduit is configured for directing the cooled air from the evaporator into the interior volume of the chilled air duct. 
     
     
         14 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the chilled air duct defines an interior volume and a plurality of openings, each opening of the plurality of openings extending between the interior volume of the chilled air duct and the back surface of the ice formation panel opposite a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel. 
     
     
         15 . The ice making assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a plurality of fins, each fin mounted to ice formation panel at the back surface of the ice formation panel and positioned within a respective one of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         16 . The ice making assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a heating element mounted to the plurality of fins. 
     
     
         17 . The ice making assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins extends from the back surface of the ice formation panel into the interior volume of the chilled air duct. 
     
     
         18 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal projections, each horizontal projection of the plurality of horizontal projections mounted to the ice formation panel within a respective one of the plurality of channels of the ice formation panel. 
     
     
         19 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a circulation pump and a circulation conduit, the circulation conduit extending between the water collection sump and the water distribution manifold, the circulation pump configured for selectively pumping water from the water collection sump to the water distribution manifold through the circulation conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The ice making assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a drain conduit and a drain, the drain conduit extending between the water collection sump and the drain such that excess water within the water collection sump is directed to the drain.