US770357A - Freezing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

' Eugenio 71- W) berry PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

Hobent 'JI 176 R. A. DEWSBERRY. FREEZING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 16 1903 .m'tneases;-

rney

1 from a common source of power.

UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREEZING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,357, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No. 181,365. I (No model.)

To all whom it bury concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERTA. DEWSBERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Freezing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for freezing or congealing cream or other fluids wherein the refrigerant or freezing medium is prepared and delivered to the freezing mechanism by a cooperating device which, together with the freezing mechanism, is driven My invention finds a special utility in icecream freezers in which ice is employed as a refrigerant and wherein the ice is broken up or subdivided to facilitate packing of the same around a can or chamber containing the material to be frozen.

In the process of ice-cream manufacture the general practice has been to provide a subdividing mechanism consisting of a separate machine wherein the ice could be broken up or subdivided and conveyed to the ice-tub of the freezer to act as a refrigerant in congealing the cream.

My invention contemplates a unitary structure embracing in a single apparatus a device capable of preparing and delivering the refrigerant to the ice-tub of the freezer and a device for the purpose of freezing ice-cream or other fluids. The first cost of the mechanism is thereby not only reduced, but economy is also effected in space and shafting which would be necessary to operate separate mechanisms In the manufacture of a confection of this nature many tons of ice have to be transported from the ice-breaker or subdivid-' ing mechanism to the freezers during each process of freezing, involving labor and expense which by means of this construction is materially reduced.

The mechanism for preparing the refrigerant used in the freezer consists of a subdivida rotary subdivider located adjacent to and cooperating with the ice receptacle. Said ice-receptacle is desirably irregular in form, the walls thereof being constructed to present to the ice in bulk endwise-converging surfaces from a flaring mouth or inlet-opening to a contracted outlet-opening, which construction operates to hold the ice in engagement with the subdivider as said ice is gradually decreased in size. The receptacle is desirably located closely adjacent to the subdivider, the upper wall of the receptacle being curved to conform to the peripheral contour of said subdivider, while the lower wall is in operative proximity to the working face thereof. That portion of the receptacle facing the subdivider is desirably entirely exposed thereto, providing an engagement between the ice and said subdivider throughout the entire length of the receptacle. The cooperating member of said receptacle in the preferred construction consists of an actuated rotary subdivider having upon its working face a plurality of projections or fingers adapted for engagement with the ice. The direction of rotation of the subdivid er is desirably in the direction of convergence of the receptacle,which arrangement provides an effectual feed and prevents clogging of the ice. In the preferred construction suitable means are provided whereby said ice is fed to the freezing mechanism from the ice-receptacle after the ice has been subdivided. Said subdivider is driven from a source of power common to the freezer mechanism and is desirably operated by the operating-shafting thereof, the said subdivider being preferably mounted on a lever or belt-pulley. In preference to a clutch a fixed and loose pulley are employed, being operated by a driving-pulley and a power-belt from a suitable counter-shaft. In practice it is usual to mount the fixed pulley, which is subjected to the greatest strain, nearest the shaft-bearing, while the loose pulley, being subject to less strain, is usually mounted outside the fixed pulley and farthest from the shaft-bearing. To this end means are employed whereby said inner pulley may be either the fixed or loose pulley, thereby insuring the location of the subdivider upon the pulley nearest the subdividing mechanism. Inasmuch as the projections or fingers of the subdivider are located near the outer periphery thereof, I desirably mount said subdivider on one of said pulleys in preference to mounting the same on the operating-shaft.- When the subdividing mechanism -is operated by the loose pulley, the operation of preparing the refrigerant for the freezer precedes the process of freezing the fluids, and the subdividing mechanism remains inactive during said freezing process, while if said mechanism is operated by the fixed pulley the operation of the freezer and subdividing mechanism will be simultaneous.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents in side elevation a device embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4: 4 of Fig. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different views.

My invention is shown in connection with an ice-cream freezer supported upon a suitable frame having a base 1, on which the tub 2 rests, and a standard 3, adapted to form a bearing for operative parts of the device, constituting therefor a unitary structure. The tub 2 is provided with a freezing chamber or can and a dasher (not shown) operated on vertical oppositely-rotatingshafts 4 and 5, respectively, by miter-gears 6 and 7, which are driven by a gear 8, desirably mounted on the main drive-shaft 9 of the freezer. Said shaft 9 is mounted on the standard 3 of the frame in a horizontal bearing 10, near the upper end thereof. A fixed and loose pulley 11 and 12, respectively, are mounted on said drive-shaft 9 remote from the gear 8, which pulleys cooperate with the overhead drivingpulley 13 by means of a belt 14, which is shiftable on the upper pulley 13 and lower pulleys 11 and 12 by a shifting device of familiar form. An ice-receptacle 15 is mounted on the standard 3, preferably by suitable brackets 16, which afford said receptacle a rigid support. The receptacle 15 is desirably of irregular contour, having at one end a flaring mouth or inlet-opening adapted to receive the ice in bulk and at the other end a contracted outlet-opening from which the subdivided ice particles are delivered to the tub 2 of the freezer. In the preferred construction the delivery of the ice from the receptacle 15 to the tub 2 is effected by means of a trough 17,

inclined downwardly from the receptacle to cause the ice to be fed into the tub. by gravity. Saidreceptacle 15 is preferablya three-walled structure having a portion concentric with the subdivider 18, which forms the upper and end walls of the receptacle, and a side and bottom wall converging from the mouth or inlet to the outlet-opening, the latter of which communicates with oneend of the trough 17. This construction presents to the subdivider 18 an open side of the receptacle equal to its greatest area, thereby permitting the subdivider to act as a feed by engaging the ice in bulk when it is first inserted and gradually reducing the same into small particles as it approaches the contracted portion of the receptacle. It will be noted that the convergence of the receptacle is in the direction of rotation of the subdivider.

The actuated subdivider 18, which is preferably in the form of a disk, is located adjacent to the open face of the receptacle 15, a segment or portion of the working face of the subdivider being always inclosed by the receptacle to act upon the ice. Said subdivider 18 is desirably provided on its working face with integral projecting pointed fingers 19, arranged preferablyin two circular rows concentric with the main drive-shaft 9, said fingers being shown staggered with respect to each other and having their points projecting in the direction of rotation'of the subdivider. A working clearance is provided between the face of the subdivider 18 and the projecting edge of the lower wall of the receptacle 15, the clearance of the overhanging upper wall being sufficient to prevent engagement between the operative and non-operative members of the device, at the same time preventing particles of ice from escaping from the receptacle except by way of the trough 17. Notches are provided in the lower wall of the receptacle to permit the passage of the projecting fingers 19 of the rotary subdivider. Said subdivider in thepreferred embodiment is shown mounted on a belt-pulley constituting one member or a belt-shifting device, whereby the freezer may be stopped or started without affecting the driving mechanism. It is a general practice to mount the fixed pulley adjacent the bearing of the operating-shafting to which said pulley is secured. To this end I desirably secure the subdivider to the fixed pulley 11, which is adjacent the receptacle 15; but provision is made whereby the inner pulley may be used as the loose pulley and the outer pulley maybe used as the fixed pulley, thereby altering the arrangement of said pulleys to accommodate desired changes without reversing the location of said pulleys. To this end I provide the hubs of each pulley with apertures adapted to receive set-screws 20, which engage the main shaft 9. I do not wish to be limited to the use of a single operating-shafting. I desirably provide one of said pulleys with integral projecting fas-v tening-lugs 21, which are of a length to bring the outer faces thereof flush with the rim of said pulleys. Said lugs are preferably located on the arms of said pulley and are provided with threaded apertures adapted to receive bolts 22, passing through apertures in the subdivider, whereby the same is firmly anchored to said pulley, the face thereof bearing against the face of the lugs and the rim of the pulley.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism comprising a stationary ice-receptacle serving to receive the ice and having inlet and outlet openings, the walls of said receptacle converging from said inlet to said outlet opening and a rotary subdivider having projecting fingers on the working face thereof serving to engage said ice to subdivide the same, the rotation of said subdivider being in the direction of convergence of said receptacle-walls, of a freezing or congealing mechanism, a trough connected with said ice-receptacle and serving to carry said ice to the freezing mechanism, and operating-shafting common to said subdividing mechanism, and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism comprising a stationary ice-receptacle adapted to receive the ice and having inlet and outlet openings and a rotary subdivider having projections on the working face thereof adapted to engage said ice to subdivide the same, of a freezing mechanism, operatingshafting common to said freezing mechanism and subdividing mechanism, a pulley rigidly mounted on said shafting serving to carry said subdivider, and a trough leading from said receptacle to said freezing mechanism and serving to deliver said ice thereto, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism comprising a stationary ice-receptacle serving to receive said ice and a rotary subdivider having projections adapted to engage said ice to subdivide the same, of a freezing mechanism to which said ice is fed, operatingshafting common to said freezing mechanism and subdividing mechanism, and mechanism mounted on said shafting and serving to carry said subdivider, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism comprising an ice-receptacle adapted to receive said ice and an actuated subdivider to engage the ice to subdivide the same, of a freezing mechanism to which said ice is fed, and a single operating driving-shaft common to said subdividing mechanism and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism and a freezing mechanism cooperating therewith, of means whereby the ice is delivered from said receptacle to the freezing mechanism, and operating-shafting common to said subdividing mechanism and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a subdividing mechanism, comprising a receptacle serving to receive material to be subdivided and an actuated subdivider adapted to engage said material to subdivide the same, of a mechanism utilizing said material to which the same is fed, and operating-shafting common to said mechanism and subdividing mechanism, substantially as described.

7 In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism comprising an ice-receptacle adapted to receive the ice and a rotary subdivider for engaging the ice to subdivide the same, of a freezing mechanism, a trough for delivering the ice from said receptacle to the freezing mechanism and asingle operating-shaft common to said subdividing mechanism and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an ice-subdividing mechanism and a freezing mechanism cooperating therewith, of means .for delivering said ice from said subdividing mechanism to the freezing mechanism, and a single operating-shaft common to said subdividing mechanism and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination in a unitary structure with an ice-subdividing mechanism having an icereceptacle serving to receive the ice and a rotary disk or subdivider having projections on the working face thereof to engage the'ice to subdivide the same, of a freezing mechanism cooperating with said subdividing mechanism comprising an ice-tub adapted to inclose the ice and the operating devices serving to effect the freezing of the fluids, a trough for delivering said ice from the subdividingmechanism to the freezing mechanism, and a supporting-frame upon which said freezer, subdividing mechanism and trough are mounted, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination in a unitary structure with an ice-subdividing mechanism having a coopcrating ice-receptacle, of a freezing mechan ism cooperating with said subdividing mechanism, and a supporting-frame upon which said freezer mechanism and subdividing mechanism are mounted, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination in a unitary structure With an ice-subdividing mechanism having a cooperating ice-receptacle, of a freezing mechanism cooperating with said subdividing mechanism, a supporting-frame upon Which said freezing mechanism and subdividing mechanism are mounted, and a driving-shaft common I0 to said subdividing and freezing mechanism, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of October, A. D. 1903. ROBERT A. DEWSBERRY. Witnesses:

GEORGE L. ORAGG, CARL H. CRAWFORD.

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