Twist tray clear ice making appliance

Abstract

An ice making appliance includes a water tank and a mold body positioned beneath the water tank. The mold body is configured for receiving liquid water from the water tank and for forming ice within the mold body. The ice making appliance also includes a cover positioned between the water tank and the mold body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 an icebox; and   an ice making assembly positioned in the icebox, the ice making assembly comprising:
 a water tank comprising a heater; 
 a mold body positioned beneath the water tank, the mold body configured for receiving liquid water from the water tank and for forming ice within the mold body; 
 a cover positioned between the water tank and the mold body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice storage bin positioned below the mold body along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a heater positioned on an inner surface of the cover, and the cover defines a fill hole through which the mold body receives liquid water from the water tank. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the mold body comprises a twist tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising a mount unit, the twist tray coupled to a rotor and an actuation device of the mount unit, whereby the actuation device is operable to rotate the rotor and the twist tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve between the water tank and the mold body, the valve configured to control an amount of water flowing to the mold body. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising a controller in communication with the valve. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the water tank comprises a temperature sensor positioned within the water tank, the controller configured to monitor a temperature of water within the water tank. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises a temperature sensor positioned on an inner surface of the cover, the controller configured to monitor a temperature at the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank comprises a baffle configured to slow water within the water tank. 
     
     
         11 . An ice making appliance comprising:
 a water tank comprising a heater;   a mold body positioned beneath the water tank, the mold body configured for receiving liquid water from the water tank and for forming ice within the mold body;   a cover positioned between the water tank and the mold body.   
     
     
         12 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising an ice storage bin positioned below the mold body. 
     
     
         13 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the cover comprises a heater positioned on an inner surface of the cover, and the cover defines a fill hole through which the mold body receives liquid water from the water tank. 
     
     
         14 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the mold body comprises a twist tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The ice making appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a mount unit, the twist tray coupled to a rotor and an actuation device of the mount unit, whereby the actuation device is operable to rotate the rotor and the twist tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a valve between the water tank and the ice mold, the valve configured to control an amount of water flowing to the ice mold. 
     
     
         17 . The ice making appliance of  claim 16 , further comprising a controller positioned within the ice making appliance, the controller in communication with the valve. 
     
     
         18 . The ice making appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the water tank comprises a temperature sensor positioned within the water tank, the controller configured to monitor a temperature of water within the water tank. 
     
     
         19 . The ice making appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises a temperature sensor positioned on an inner surface of the cover, the controller configured to monitor a temperature at the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the water tank comprises a baffle configured to slow water within the water tank.