US2778198A

US2778198A - Ice making machine

Info

Publication number: US2778198A
Application number: US325553A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dudley E Heath
Original assignee: Servel Inc
Current assignee: Servel Inc
Priority date: 1952-12-12
Filing date: 1952-12-12
Publication date: 1957-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-22

Description

Jn. 22,' 1957 D. E. HEATH ICE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-.Sheet l Filed Dec. l2, 1952 INI/ENTOR.

Manfm /Z lfTToRNEY Jan. 22, 1957 A D. E. HEATH 2,778,198

ICE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l2, 1952 I IXIENTOR.

QQ im 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo. l2, 1952 INENTOR.

y ATTORNEY ICE MAKiNG MAC Dudley E. Heath, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., assigner to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,553 12 claims. (ci. 2 7) The present invention relates to improvements in ice making apparatus and more particularly to an ice maker adapted for use in a domestic refrigerator.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide? an improved construction in an ice maker of the rotatable mold type which rapidly transfers heat from .the mold to reduce the ice freezing time to a minimum and delivers dry ice to a storage receptacle.

Another object is to provide an ice maker of the type indicated having an ice freezing mold mounted in thermal contact with heat conducting elements and rotatable from an upright to an inverted position -relative to the elements.

Another object is to provide an ice maker of the type indicated which is adapted to intercept a batch of ice discharged from the inverted mold and holdV thebatch until the next batch hasrbeen frozen to dry the ice before it is discharged to a storage receptacle.

Another object is to provide an ice maker for use in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator which at any particular time holds an intercepted batch of ice and a batch of ice being frozen in the mold in addition to the ice in the storage receptacle.

Still another object is to provide an ice maker of the type indicated which is fully automatic in operation to supply liquid to an ice freezing mold, intercept ice discharged from the mold and deliver ice to a storage re-y ceptacle in repeated cycles as governed by a control means.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the and' not a vdeinition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a refrigerator showing the ice maker of the present invention mounted in the freezing compartment;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal showing the cells in the rotatable mold and the members for intercepting ice pieces falling from the mold;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and showing heat conducting elements in thermal contact with opposite sides of the rotatable mold and released ice pieces held by the intercepting means;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line d-d of Fig. 2 showing the cam operated gear for rocking the intercepting members during rotation of the mold to deliver dried ice to the storage container or basket;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ice maker partly in section -to show the thermal responsive element for initiating an ice harvesting cycle;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-d of 2 i and showing the control chamber adjacent the insulated endwall of the mold and the ice pieces being held by the intercepting members while another batch is being frozen in the mold;

purpose of illustration only sectional view of the ice maker ing metal cast to form the entire element v:one dry side has metal inserts 27 extending aura Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View taken A011 line 7-7 of Fig. 2 and showing the ice freezing mold rotated 90 degrees and the intercepting members actuated to release ice pieces supported thereon; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View of vthe electric control circuit for starting and stopping an ice harvesting cycle.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings,`the ice maker l@ constituting Ithe subject matter of the present invention is shownmounted in the low temperature'or freezing compartment 11 of a refrigerator l2. In the illustrated embodiment, the ice maker 10 is hung from the top of the compartment 1l at one side thereof by means of brackets 13 and overlies a removable ice storage receptacle orbasket 14. The compartment 11 comprises a bottom wall 15, top wall vlo and back wall 1'7 of insulating material, as shown in Fig. 2. `A lsecond wall 17a is spa-ced rearwardly from back wall 17 to provide a flue therebetween through which air Lis circulated by thermo-Siphon action to cool a condenser and/or absorber of a refrigeration apparatus, notvshown. It will be understood that the refrigerator andcomp'artment-ll may,

yinvention comprises aA mold 18 in thermal contact with

heat conducting elements

19 and 20 and mounted for rotation relative to the elements. The heat conducting elements- 19 and 20, in turn, are mounted in thermal contact with or may constitute the evaporator 4of a suitable refrigeration system, not shown, of either the absorption or compression type. Mold 18 has cavities 2ll and 21 in its top and bottom so that when the mold is rotated one-half revolution, liquid frozen intoice in the upper cavity 2l will fall by gravity from the mold when released, and the cavity 21' will have been moved to an upright position to receive liquid and freeze the next batch of ice. The ice in the inverted cavity may be released by the heat from the water 'introduced into the uppercavity, or by auxiliary heating elements. In either case, the ice pieces are released from the inverted cavities 2l of mold 18 by melting the .ice- .bond therebetween and the relatively wet ice pieces yare intercepted on their by members 22 and 22" located between the mold and storage receptacle 14 where they are held and the wet sides dried while the next batch ofice is being'frozen. The intercepting members 22 aud22 are rocked by cam operated gearing 23 -to deliver the dried ice into the storage receptacle or basketli and then returned to their initial position to intercept the next batch of ice released from the m-old. At the compleion of an ice harvesting cycle, a measured quantity of water is delivered tothe uprightcavity of Ithe mold 4to initiate the freezing of the next batch of ice. When a batch of ice has been frozen in upper cavity 21 of mold 13, an ice harvestingoperation is initiated by a thermostat 2li to rotate the mold 18 through a half revolution, rock the interceptingmembers 22 and 22', and deliver a measured quantity of Vwater to the mold inv timed sequence.

In the illustrated embodiment the mold 18 is generally cylindrical in shape having the recesses or cav-ities 2l and 21 on diametrically opposite sides, see Fig. 3, with walls in each recess to provide two rows of individual cells 25. The mold 1S -is preferably made of a good heat conductexcept for one end Wall 26. End wall 26 lis located lat the lefthand end of the casting as viewed in Fig. 2 land attached thereto by any suitable means `such asscrews, notr shown. The en d wall 26 is composed of a material having a relatively low heat conductivity so that the endmost cells adjacentthe wall will be the last Ito freeze and the Wall therethrough from di- 21. A stub shaft 28 proof the mold at its cylindrical ametrically opposed end cells jects from'the end wal-l 26 axis and the end wall at the opposite or 4right hand end of the mold is circular with an annular flange 29 projecting radially therefrom. The walls 4between adjacent cells are provided with notches 30 to permit water or `other liquid supplied to the upper cavity 21 lto flow between adjacent -cells 25.

Mold 18 is supported by fthe heat conduct-ing elements 19 and 2li located at opposite sides thereof. The heat conducting elements are in the form `of generally -rectangular `blocks having arcuate faces 3,2 of the same contour as the cylindrical faces of the mold and in close contact therewith, see Fig. 3. Each of the

elements

19 and 20 extends longitudinally throughout the length of the mold and, in turn, is supported by la bracket 13 attached to the top wal-l 16 of the freezing compartment 1:1. As illustrated in Figs. 2 `and 3, the brackets 13 are -in the form of channel irons having their ilanges bolted to the top wall 16 4ot the freezing compartment 11 and the top of an

element

19 or 20. It will be observed from the construction thus far described that the mold 18 is supported by and in good thermal contact with the heat conducting elements 19 Iand 20 and is adapted to rotate rela-tive to the elements.

The `

elements

19 and 20 may be cooled to `a low temperature by any suitable refrigeration apparatus of either lthe absorption or compression type, not shown, with the evaporator constructed Ain or 'arranged in thermal contact with the elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the

heat conducting elements

19 and 20 are cooled 'to -a low temperature by evaporator coils 34 containing 'a low A temperature refrigerant and arranged in thermal contact with the sides of the elements, `the coils being enclosed in a casing 35 packed with `a heat insulating material, see Fig. 3. Heat conducting elements 19 Iand 20 `also may have heating elements 36 of hairpin shape located in holes extending throughout the length of the elements.

The annular ange '29 at the righthand end of the mold 18 overlies the ends of the

heat conducting elements

19 and 20 and the opposite end 'of the mold is Iflush with the opposite ends of the elements. A hollow box-like |casing 40 of Ia relatively poor heat conducting material enc-loses the latter 'end of both the elements 'and mold. Casing 40"depends from and is rigidly attached to the brackets 13 and has a boss 41 projecting rearwardly through" which the mold shaft 28 extends. A rotatable `cam element 42 is mounted fast on the shaft 28 `and abuts Vthe end of the boss 41 so that the peripheral flange 29 at one end and the cam plate at the opposite end hold the mold 18 against longitudinal movement relative to the

heat conducting elements

19 and 20 in which it is mounted. l

Underlying rthe mold 18 and

elements

19 and 20 is a frame 45 formed by bending a metal plate to inverted U-shape to provide depending walls 46 and 47 beyond opposite ends of the mold. The longitudinally extending plate portion of the frame '45 Ais slotted to provide an opening 48 of a width greater than vlthe width of a pair lof cells 2S in the mold -18 and extending throughout the length of the mold. The marginal portions'of the frame 45 at opposite sides 'of 'the opening 48 underlie the bottom of the

heat conducting elements

19 and 20 and Aare lattached ythereto by means of screws 49. It will be observed by reference to Fig.- 2 that Ithe casing 40 also is attached to 'the frame 45 by means of screws `50 'as Well as to the brackets 13 and

elements

19 and 20 to add additional rigidity to the structure.

The -intercepting member 22 or members 22 and 22" are mounted on the frame 45 below the mold 18. As 'illustratedl in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7,. each intercepting member 22 or 22 comp-rises a shaft 5,1 with a series of fingers 52; projecting from 'one side thereof. The opposite ends of each shaft S1 are journaled in the depending walls 46' and 47 of frame 45 and lhave a gear 53 or 5.3, at one end and, a

collar

54 or 54 at the opposite end., Asl shownin Fig. 3, the' lingers 52' of'We spaced shafts 51 and 51' project inwardly toward each other to provide closed gates -for intercepting ice pieces discharged from the bottom of the mold 18. Shafts 51 andSl are rocked from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to the lopen position illustrated in Fig. 7 in timed relation with rotation of 4the mold by the -gearing 23 comprising

spur gears

53 and 53 on the ends of the shafts, intermediate gears 55 land -55' and a rack S6 meshing with the intermediate gears, see Fig. 4. The intermediate gears 55 and 55' are mounted to rotate freely on stud shafts S7 on the depending wall 46 of frame 45 andthe rack is mounted to slide in a guide 58 on the end wall. The upper end of the rack 56 h'as a cam follower S9 projecting'into. a heart-shaped ycam race 60 in 'the cam plate 42, see Figs. 2 tand 4.

Mold 18 and yinfteicepting members 22 and 22 arc operated in timed relation by a prime mover 61 located in the due at the rear of the compartment 11 and mounted on the wall 17'. The prime mover 61 comprises an electric motor Iand reduction gearing in a unitary housing for slowly rotating a drive shaft 62. Drive `shaft 62 is connected to the driven mol-d shaft 2S by intermediate shaft 63 of aninsulating material clutched to the drive rand driven shafts to retard the transmission of heat to the freezing chamber 11. Drive shaft 62 rotates through one-half revolution and stops as controlled by ya cam operated switch 64 constituting an integral part of i the prime mover unit and shown only in the control circuit, see Fig. 8. Such movement `of the moldV 1S turns the upght cel-ls 25 of the mold to an invented position and rocks the intercepting members 22 Kand 22 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7 to discharge a batch of ice to storage container 14 and then back to its initial position to intercept the next batch of ice.

Water is supplied to the upright cells 25 of the mold 18 through a supply pipe 66 from any suitable pressure source such as a city water main. Water from the main is delivered to an inlet valve 67 through a conduit 68 and from the valve through a conduit 69 to a cylinder 70 having a piston 71 and piston rod 72. Water supplied to the cylinder 70 forces the piston 71 downwardly against the action of a spring 73 to till the cylinder and provide a measured quantity of water. For the purpose of showing the path of ow of Water to the mold 1S the cylinder 70 is not shown in proper dimensions, but it will be understood that the cylinder-may have a greater diameter and the piston 71 a Shorter stroke. Cylinder '70 is connected to an outlet valve 74 by a conduitjTS, and the outlet valve is connected to the supply pipe 66. Cams 76 and 77 on the drive shaft 62 of the prime mover 61 are so arranged as to open the inlet valve upon initial movement of the shaft to fill the cylinder 70 and then close the inlet valve adjacent the end of its half revolution of movement. Cam 77, on the other hand, `is arranged to close the outlet valve 74 at the beginning of a cycle of operation and open the valve at the end of its cycle so that spring 73 operates piston 71 to deliver. the

measured quantity of water from the cylinder 70 to Ythe mold 18.

Operation of the prime mover 6) is controlled by thermostat 24 illustrated in Fig. 2 as comprising an expansible element or wafer 78 yieldingly` mounted in guides 79 in the casing 40 enclosing the end wall 26 of the mold 18'. Expansible wafer 78 contains a volatile duid which expands or contracts the wafer in accordance, with change in temperature and reilects the. temperature in the upright cells 25 adjacent the end wall 26. of mold 18 by its Contact with the metal insert 27 projecting therefrom. Thus, the temperature in an endmost cell 25 is transmitted'` through the metal insert 27 to the wafer 7S which is yieldingly held in contactV therewith by a mounting material such as rubber. The ,opposite side of the wafer is contacted bythe plunger 80v of a micro-switch 81, see Figs. 2 and 8.

The arrangement is such that the wafer normally holds the switch 81 in open position until the temperature in the cell 25 has been lowered to some value considerably below freezing temperature, at which time it closes the switch 81.

A suitable bin limit control is operation of the ice maker when with ice pieces, see Figs. l, 6 and 7. The bin limit control as illustrated comprises a feeling element 82 having a hub 83 loosely mounted on the shaft 51 of the intercepting member 22', a depending arm 84 having a lateral extention 85 overlying-the basket adjacent the top thereof, see Fig. 2, and an upwardly projecting arm 36. The feeling element 82 is yieldingly biased to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 by a spring 87 to engage and hold the plunger 88a of a switch 3S in closed position, the movement of the element clockwise being limited by engagement of upright arm S6 with a stop 89 projecting from wall 46 of frame 45. A Vlug 96* on an element mounted fast on the shaft 22 is adapted to engage the upright arm 86 of the feeler element 82 and rock it counterclockwise during a portion of the rocking movement of shaft 51 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7. Such movement of the upright arm 86 of the feeler element 82 releases the plunger 88a of the switch 88, which moves to open position, and if the ice pieces in the basket 14 interfere with the return movement of the depending arm 84, the switch 8S wil remain in open position until ice pieces are removed from the basket.

Energization and deenergization of electric motor 61 to rotate the cylindrical mold 13 through a half revolution and oscillate the intercepting members 22 and 22 is governed by a suitable electric control circuit. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the electric control circuit connects the motor 61, electric heating elements 36, and a solenoid winding 91 of a holding switch 92 in parallel branches to one side of an electric supply source S1. The cam switch 64 is connected in series with the solenoid winding 91 in one branch of the parallel connectionso that initial rotation of the motor 61 closes the switch 64 to switch 92 to closed position. and the bin limit switch 8S are provided for stopping the basket 14 is filled will be opened to deenergize the solenoid 91 and open the holding switch 92 to stop the cycle of operation. If at explained as follows:

For purposes of description let it be assumed that the mold 18 is in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, that the cells 25 in the upper cavity 21 are filled with water, that the depending arm S4 of the bin limit control is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6to close the switch 88 and the thermostatic switch 81 of the control circuit is in open position as shown in Fig. 8. Heat then flows from the mold 18 through the

heat exchange elements

19 and 20 to the evaporator coils 3d at a rapid rate due to the thermal contact of the arcuate faces 32of the elements with the opposite sides of the mold and the thermal contact of the evaporator coils with the elements. The iiow of heat from the mold 1S cools the mold to a low temperature causing the water in the cells 25 to freeze. The freezing of the water progresses from the walls of the mold 25 inwardly with the latent heat of fusion continuously flowing at a rapid rate through the molds and intermediate

heat exchange elements

19 and 20 to the evaporator coils 34. Due to the insulated end wall 26 of the mold 1S, the two cells 25 adjacent thereto are the last to freeze and the temperature in said cells is transmitted through the metallic insert 27 to the thermostatic wafer 78. When the water in these endmost cells 25 does become frozen and the temperature of the ice is reduced below freezing to some temperature such as 24 F., the volatile fluid in the wafer 78 contracts the latter sufficiently to operate the control switch 81 to initiate an iceharvesting cycle. Upon closing of the thermostatic switch 81 as shown in Fig. 8, a circuit is completed from line S1 of a current source through the motor 61 and heating element 36 connected in parallel and then through the switches S1 and 88 to the other side of the line S2. Energization of the electric motor 61 causes rotation of the drive shaft 62 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. The initial movement of drive shaft 62, see Fig. 8, closes the cam switch 64 to energize the magnetic winding 91 to close the holding switch 92. The circuit for the motor 61 and heating element 36 is then completed through the holding switch 92 to maintain the motor in operation to turn the drive shaft 62 through one-half revolution whether or not the thermostatic switch 81 is in closed or open position.

Rotation of the drive shaft 62 is transmitted through i the intermediate shaft 63 to the driven shaft 2S to rotate the mold 18 through a half revolution. Such rotation of the mold 13 moves the upright cells 25 in cavity 21 to an inverted position and moves the empty inverted cells in cavity 21 to an upright position. Simultaneously, rack 56 is actuated by cam 42, see Fig. 4, and operating through the intermediate gears 55 and 55', rotates the

gears

53 and 53 and

shafts

51 and 51 connectedthereto from the closed position shown in Fig. 6 to the open position shown in Fig. 7 during the first ninety degrees' of rotation.

which fall by gravity into the storage receptacle or basket 14: therebelow. At the end of the rocking movement of the shafts 51 and 51', see Fig. 7, the lug 90 on the shaft 51' engages the upright arm 86 of the feeling element 82 and rocks it to the position illustrated in Fig. 7. During the next ninety degrees o-f rotation of the cam 42, the

shafts

51 and 51 are rocked back to their initial position illustrated in Fig. 6. If the ice pieces discharged by the intercepting members` 22 and 22 interfere with the return movement of the depending arm 84 and extension 85, the bin limit control switch 88, seeFig.y 8, is held in open position. On the other hand, ify the ice in the storage container 14 does not interfere with the return movement of the depending arm 84 of the feeler mechanism S2, the spring 87 returns the upright arm 86 into engagement with the stop 89 and actuates the bin limit control switch 88 to closed position'.

Simultaneously with the rotation of the mold 18 and oscillation of the intercepting members 22 and 22', the cam 76 on drive shaft 62, see Fig. 2, operates the inlet valve 67 to deliver water to the cylinder 'i0 which depresses the piston 71 against the action of the spring 73. Adjacent the end of one-half revolution of drive shaft 62, cam '76 closes the inlet valve @S7-and opens the inlet valve 74. Spring 73 then actuates piston 71 to force the measured quantity of water in the cylinder through the conduit '75, outlet valve 74 and supply pipe 66 tothe upright cells 25 of the mold 18. The water ows to successive molds through the slots 36 in the walls between adjacent cells 25 to fill the entire cavity 21. At the end of one-half revolution of the drive shaft 62, the cam switch 64 is opened to deenergize winding 91 and open the holding switch 92. Rotation of the mold 18 also moves the metallic insert 27 in the end wall 26 of the empty cells 25 into contact with the thermosttaic wafer 78. The heating ettect ofthe heating element 36 and Rocking of members 22 and 22 releases. the ice pieces supported thereon the temperature of the water delivered to the upright cells 2'5l ofthe mold is transmitted through the metallic insert 27 tothe thermostatic wafer 7S to open the thermostatic switch 81. Thus, the motor 61 and heating element 3.6.areV deenergized to stop rotation of the mold.

Also, the combined heating effect of the heating element 36. and the delivery of water to the mold 13 melts the ice bond' between the walls ot" the cells 25 and the ice pieces which fall by gravity from the mold onto the fingers 52v of the intercepting members 22 and 22'. Thus, the ice pieces frozen in the upper cells 2:5 of the mold 18 are moved to inverted position where they are released, dry side downward, and the empty cells in the bottom of the mold` are moved to upright position to receive water and initiate the freezing of a subsequent batch ofice.

Theice maker continues to operate in the manner described to deliver measured quantities of water to the mold 18 which is frozen into individual ice pieces in the cells-25 and the mold rotated to inverted position from the ice pieces fall onto the intercepting members 22 and 22 in repeated cycles as controlled by thermostat 24. When the ice pieces fall fromthe rnold i3, their dry side engages the members 22 and 22 which holds them in thefreezing ambient of the compartment l1 during the freezing of the next batch of ice to congeal the moisture on their other sides. Simultaneously with each rotation of the mold 1S through a half revolution of movement, the intercepting members 22 and 22' are oscillated from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to that illustrated' in Fig. 7 and then back to their initial position to deliver dried ice pieces into the storage container or basket 14. Operation of the ice maker continues until the basket ldrbecomes filled with ice and interferes with the movement of the feeling element S2 to close the bin limit control switch 83. The ice maker then remains inoperative until ice pieces are removed from the basket.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides an ice maker for use in a domestic refrigeratorr having a construction for transmitting heat from the mold ata rapid rate to decrease the ice freezing time to a minimum. lt lwill also be observed that the present invention provides for holding a batch of ice pieces released from the mold in a freezing ambient during the freezing of the subsequent batch of ice to dry the surfaces of the ice pieces before they are delivered to the storage container. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides an ice maker which is entirely automatic-in operation to deliver measured quantities of water to an ice freezing mold and release ice pieces from the mold for delivery to a storage container in `repeated cycles as governed by a thermostatic control.

While only a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications may be made in the construction and' arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation inV this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. An ice making machine comprising` an ice freezing moid, a cooling element in thermal contact with the mold, a space below the m-old for storing ice delivered from the mold, said mold being mounted for movement relative to the cooling element from an upright to an invertedl position overlying the storage space, mechanism between the mold and space to intercept and' hold the ice falling from the inverted mold and thereafter release ice to the storage space, and means connected to move the mold to inverted position and actuate the intercepting mechanism in timed relation.

2. Anice making machine comprising a rotatable mold,. cooling elements at lopposite sides of the mold, said mold andf cooling' elements having. cooperating cylindrical surfaces in thermal contact to provide good conductivity and permit rotation of the mold, a space below the mold forV storing ice,'a movable member between the mold and space to intercept and hold ice falling from the mold and release ice to the storage space, and driving mechanism to rotate the mold to inverted position and connected to actuateV the movable member.

3. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable mold having separate Vrecesses in the top and bottom, cooling elements at opposite sides of the mold, said mold and cooling elements having cooperating cylindrical surfaces in thermal contact, means for supplying a measured quantity of water to the recess in the top of the mold, a rocking element providing a platform'underlying the mold to intercept ice falling therefrom, a prime mover, a thermostat responsive to the`v freezing of ice in the upper recess for initiating operation of the prime mover, and mechanism operated by the prime mover for rotating the mold through one-half revolution and rocking the platform to release an intercepted batch of ice and intercept the batch of ice falling from the mold.

4. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable ice freezing mold, heat exchaugeelements at opposite sides of the mold, said mold and heat exchange elements having cooperating cylindrical faces in thermal contact to provide good conductivity and permit rotation of the mold, means for cooling the heat exchange elements to freeze liquid in the mold, power driven mechanism for rotating the mold relative to the heat exchange elements to inverted position, means operated bysaid mechanism for heating the heat exchange elements to melt the bond between the ice and walls of the mold, an ice storage space, al member belowk the mold to intercept and hold ice releasedfrom the mold, and said member being actuated by the mechanism to deliver a batch of interceptedv ice to the storage space and position the member to intercept the next batch of ice released from the mold in timed relation with the rotation of the mold.

5. In a refrigerator of the type havinga freezing compartment maintainedV below a freezing temperature, an ice making machine in the compartment comprising a movable ice freezing mold, means for moving the mold from an upright to an inverted position, ice being released from the inverted mold by melting the ice bond therewith, a space in the compartment below the mold for storing ice, an ice intercepting member 'located between the mold and storage space and engaged by the dry side of ice falling from the inverted mold to hold the ice until its other wet sides are dried by freezing, said member being mounted for movement away from the ice intercepted thereon to release the dry ice to the storage space, and mechanism actuating the member from ice intercepting to ice releasing positions.

6. Anice making machine comprising an ice freezing mold mounted for movement from an upright to an inverted position, means for moving the mold to inverted position, ice beingl released from the inverted mold by melting the ice b'ond therebetween, a space below the mold for storing ice, :a member between the mold and storage space to intercept and hold ice falling from the inverted mold, and mechanism for moving the members relative tothe mold intimedv relation with the movement of the latter to release a batch of ice held by the member and intercept the next batch of ice released from the mold.

7'. An ice making machine comprising an ice freezing. mold mounted for rotation from an uprightY to an inverted position, ice being released from the inverted mold by melting the ice bond' therebetween, a space below the' mold for storing; ice, a movable member mounted between the mold and storage space in position to intercept andV hold a batch of ice falling from the inverted' mold, mechanism for rotating the mold and actuating the' movable member in timed relation to release one batch of. ice heldbyA the movable member and. intercept the. next batch of ice falling from the inverted mold, a prime mover, and a thermostat responsive to the freezing of ice in the mold for initiating operation of the prime mover.

8. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable mold having recesses at its top and bottom providing separate Sets of ice freezing cells, means for supplying a measured quantity of water to the recess in the top of the mold, a movable member underlying the mold to intercept and hold ice falling from the recess at the bottom of the mold, a prime mover, and mechanism operated by the prime mover and connected to actuate the movable member to release ice held thereon, rotate the mold a half revolution, return the movable member to intercepting position below the mold, and actuate the means for supplying water to the recess at the top of the mold in timed sequence.

9. An ice making machine comprising an ice freezing mold mounted for movement from an upright to an inverted position, ice being released from the inverted mold by melting the ice bond therebetween, a rocking member having lateral lingers underlying the mold to intercept ice falling therefrom, power driven mechanism for moving the mold from upright to inverted position and rocking the member in timed relation, and a thermostat responsive to the freezing of ice in the mold for initiating the power driven mechanism.

10. An ice making machine comprising an ice freezing mold mounted for rotation, a shaft connected to rotate the mold from an upright to an inverted position, ice being released from the inverted mold by melting the ice bond therebetween, parallel shafts having lateral fingers underlying the inverted mold to intercept ice pieces falling therefrom, a cam on the shaft, and gearing actuated by the cam to rock the shafts and intercepting fingers in timed relation to the rotation of the mold.

11. An ice making machine comprising an ice freezing mold, a heat conducting element in thermal contact with the mold, a space below the mold for storing ice, said CTI mold being mounted for movement relative to the heat conducting element from an upright to an inverted position overlying the storage space, a cooling element for cooling the heat conducting element to freeze ice in the mold, means for moving the mold to inverted position, and means for heating the heat conducting element to release ice from the inverted mold.

12. In an ice making machine a rotatable ice freezing mold having recesses at the top and bottom and cylindrical faces on opposite sides, heat conducting elements having cylindrical faces in thermal contact with the cylindrical faces at opposite sides of the mold, means for cooling the heat conducting elements to freeze liquid in the recess at the top of the mold, a power driven element for rotating the mold through a half revolution relative to the heat conducting elements, means operated by the power driven element for heating the mold to release ice therefrom, means operated by the power driven element for supplying a measured quantity of liquid to the empty recess at the top of the mold, and a thermostat responsive to the formation of ice in the top recess of the mold for initiating operation of the power driven element.

References Cited in the le of this patent