Clear ice making machine

Abstract

An ice making machine includes a heat pipe that extends between a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The heat pipe has a first end in the freezer compartment and a second end in the refrigerator compartment. A heat exchanger is located in the freezer compartment and is in contact with the first end of the heat pipe. A heat block is located in the refrigerator compartment and is in contact with the second end of the heat pipe. A removable ice cube tray is mounted on the heat block with a surface in contact with the heat block such that when the removable ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the removable ice cube tray in contact with the block.

1 . A method of making ice, the method comprising:
 filling an ice cube tray with water;   exchanging heat between a heat exchanger and a first end of a heat pipe located in a freezer compartment;   exchanging heat between a heat block and a second end of the heat pipe located in a refrigerator compartment; and   mounting the ice cube tray on the heat block so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.   
     
     
         2 . The method of making ice of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe contains a refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of making ice of  claim 1 , wherein the heat block comprises a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. 
     
     
         4 . The method of making ice of  claim 1 , wherein the heat block is insulated everywhere except for a surface which is in contact with the ice cube tray. 
     
     
         5 . The method of making ice of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins comprised of a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. 
     
     
         6 . The method of making ice of  claim 1 , and further comprising removing ice formed in the ice cube tray and breaking off or melting away a piece of ice containing impurities formed in a cavity of the ice cube tray by water that is last to freeze. 
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling an ice making machine, the method comprising:
 mounting a heat pipe in a refrigerator so that a first end of the heat pipe is in a freezer compartment and a second end of the heat pipe is in a refrigerator compartment;   mounting a heat exchanger on the first end of the heat pipe in the freezer compartment;   mounting a heat block on the second end of the heat pipe in the refrigerator compartment; and   mounting an ice cube tray on the heat block, the ice cube tray and the heat block being configured so that when the ice cube tray is filled with water, ice forms from the surface of the ice cube tray in contact with the heat block.   
     
     
         8 . The method of assembling an ice making machine of  claim 7 , wherein the heat pipe contains a refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of assembling an ice making machine of  claim 7 , wherein the heat block comprises a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. 
     
     
         10 . The method of assembling an ice making machine of  claim 7 , wherein the heat block is insulated everywhere except for a surface which is in contact with the ice cube tray. 
     
     
         11 . The method of assembling an ice making machine of  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins comprised of a solid material with a thermal conductivity of at least 0.01 cal/s*cm*C°. 
     
     
         12 . The method of assembling an ice making machine of  claim 7 , wherein molds for ice cubes in the ice cube tray contain a cavity in which water that freezes last forms a piece of ice such that the piece can be broken off or melted from clear, pure ice formed in the ice cube tray.