CA1282247C - Ice cube maker - Google Patents
Ice cube makerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1282247C CA1282247C CA000522676A CA522676A CA1282247C CA 1282247 C CA1282247 C CA 1282247C CA 000522676 A CA000522676 A CA 000522676A CA 522676 A CA522676 A CA 522676A CA 1282247 C CA1282247 C CA 1282247C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ice
- water
- freezing
- tray
- compartments
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 69
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 69
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims abstract 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 79
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims description 49
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000009740 moulding (composite fabrication) Methods 0.000 description 26
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000021581 juice product Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012634 fragment Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorine atom Chemical compound [Cl] ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052801 chlorine Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000460 chlorine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008399 tap water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020679 tap water Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25C2500/08—Sticking or clogging of ice
Landscapes
- Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In a commercial ice cube making device, an accelerated freezing and harvest cycle is effected by employing parallel adjacent rectangular channel ways which are individually directly connected to intake and outflow manifolds, thereby producing even absorption and dispersion. In addition, melting of the cubes during the short harvest cycle takes place on one side only there-by reducing the problem of stored ice cubes freezing and sticking together. The ice cubes are made in novel nylon ice trays with combed partitions which allow ice to form from the vertically disposed evaporator outwards on both of its sides. The device advantageously produces large quantities of symmetrical non-sticky ice cubes more quickly and efficiently than the devices known in the prior art.
In a commercial ice cube making device, an accelerated freezing and harvest cycle is effected by employing parallel adjacent rectangular channel ways which are individually directly connected to intake and outflow manifolds, thereby producing even absorption and dispersion. In addition, melting of the cubes during the short harvest cycle takes place on one side only there-by reducing the problem of stored ice cubes freezing and sticking together. The ice cubes are made in novel nylon ice trays with combed partitions which allow ice to form from the vertically disposed evaporator outwards on both of its sides. The device advantageously produces large quantities of symmetrical non-sticky ice cubes more quickly and efficiently than the devices known in the prior art.
Description
lX8Z2~7 72258-l This invention relates to ice producing devices and in particular ice cube making devices for use on a commercial scale.
Ice cube making devices are known in the art. Numerous types, designs and sizes exist which produce fragmented, sheet, cube, cylindrical, or cup-shaped ice depending upon the molds.
The demand for ice in restaurants and bars is particularly ~irected to clear clean symmetrical cubes in large quantities.
Three problems currently exist in the known ice making art.
a) Slow Harvest cycle The rate of production of ice depends upon how quickly the freezing and harvest cycles take place. The slower the harvest cycle, the greater the loss of productivity of a machine.
Moreover, the length of time which an apparatus takes to complete a defrost cycle is proportionate to the loss of the ice product itself. Severe losses can occur due to melting during the defrost cycle.
In early ice making devices the machine was simply shut off and the operator waited for the ice product to be released by melting and gravity. In recent times the cooling cycle is reversed, and the hot gaseous refrigerant is cycled through the evaporater assembly to fasten the cycle. Such a device is dis-closed in United States Patent 4,107,943.
In Canadian Patent 661,635 warm water is cascaded over the frozen cubes once the freezing cycle is finished, in order to hasten the harvest cycle. This is an improvement over the original systems. However, difficulties arise because the ice ,~ .
1'~8Z~7 72258-1 cubes produced are wet and tend to stick together.
In other apparatus such as those which are disclosed in Canadian Patents 1,008,262 and 1,118,219 warm water inundates an upper holding tank or cavity which surrounds horizontally disposed cup-shaped ice making receptacles.
Finally, United States Patent 4,412,429 discloses the use of a plastic jacket which is filled with tap water to surround the ice products and hasten the melting.
All of the aforementioned arrangements are effective to a certain degree in reducing ice harvest time, but all tend to melt significant amounts of the ice prior to release.
Another method of fastening the ice cycle is to use ejector rods in conjunction with a grid member. The ejector rods are forced between the grid members to release the ice cubes.
However, some amount of melting is still necessary before the ejector rods can work efficiently.
b) Storage Ice Freezing A major problem with melting some if not all of the outer surface of ice cubes is that the ice is wet when it reaches 20 the storage area. When the ice is again frozen in storage, the ice cubes tend to stick together making usage difficult.
c) Non-Symmetrical Shape Most of the commercial ice makers known in the art do not produce symmetrical ice cubes, but rather cylinders, cups or fragments. This is particularly true of the high volume ice makers.
The present invention seeks to provide a high volume B
, . , ~ 2247 72258-1 commercial ice maker with rapid freezing and harvest cycles which produces "dry" ice that has little tendency to stick together in storage. The ice leaves a freezing plate at -30F. and inertia cools the cubes such that they are dry on impact.
Also this invention seeXs to provide substantially symmetrical clear ice cubes.
Therefore this invention provides an ice cube making apparatus comprising;
an evaporator, including at least one freezing surface and a plurality of rectangular channel ways for transporting refrigerat-ing fluid, said channel ways being parallel and contiguous, and being arranged such that substantially the entire area of said freezing surface is in contact with one aide of said channel ways;
said channel ways being connected to a disperser and at least one outlet manifold;
supply means for delivering cooled refrigerant fluid to said system of channel ways during a freezing cycle to effect rapid cooling of the freezing surface;
ice forming means defining a series of compartments for the formation of individual ice cubes, said compartments being arranged such that when in operation, each compartment is bounded by an open side being adjacent said freezing surface, a closed wall bearing a central aperture opposite to said open side, two solid walls lying in the vertical plane, and an uppèr and a lower slotted side in a horizontal plane, said slotted sides allowing water to pass through said compartment;
~2822~7 72258-1 means for cascading water in a sheeting action directly against said freezing surface, said water cascading progressively outwards of sa~d freezing surface as ice forms;
meals adapted to deliver refrigerating fluid in the hot gaseous state in a harvest cycle to effect rapid warming of the freezing surface, thereby melting the ice surface in contact with said freezing surface, and permitting said ice forming means to be released:
a means to move said ice forming means away from said freez-ing surface during the harvest cycle;an ejector means to remove ice cubes from said ice forming means, and means to return said ice forming means to an operative posi-tion at the commencement of the freezing cycle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a vertically disposed evaporator is equipped with freezing surfaces constructed of copper plate on both sides. A series of horizontal parallel rectangular shaped hollow conduits or channel ways for conducting refrigerating fluid is located between the two freezing surfaces and are individually directly connected to a disperser and at ; least one outlet manifold or suction header.
On the top portion of the evaporator plate is a water distribution device which is used to cascade water in a sheeting action over the freezing surfaces of the evaporator. The water emerges from numerous small holes in plastic pipes and is directed against a piece of roughened plastic which aids in producing the sheeting action. At the bottom of the evaporator is a drain pan :
1'~8Z2~ 72258-1 which catches the water that is not frozen as it cascades down the sides of the evaporator plate. This water is directed to a fresh water holding tank where it is recycled bacX to the distribution device by means of a pump. On each recycling of the water more heat is lost.
Abutting against both the freezing surfaces are nylon ice cube making trays with numerous symmetrically arranged ice forming units. The units from top to bottom are divided by a series of comb-like projections, such that water may pass in a slightly restricted manner from the upper ice forming units to the lower ice forming units. With each successive pass of water a thin layer of ice forms on the ice forming surface. This gradual-ly builds outward from the evaporator to fill the ice forming units. When the ice attains a desired thickness a sensing device stops the flow of water and reverses the cooling cycle, thereby allowing hot refrigerant gases to fill the evaporator channel ways, to commence the harvest cycle. Only the surface of the ice cubes adjacent the freezing surface is melted or "sweated"
allowing the ice trays to separate from the evaporator.
The vertical sides and rear wall of the ice forming units are solid with the exception of a centrally located aperture in the rear wall of each unit. Adjacent the ice cube trays at a predetermined distance and being vertically disposed is a grid of projection like ejector rods. These ejector rods correspond to the apertures in the rear walls of the ice forming units. During the harvest cycle, a piston urges an ice cube tray slide support towards the grid such that it is pulled away from its position of .
1~8'~2~7 72258-1 abut~ent to the freezing surface, as soon as the surfaces of the cubes frozen to the freezing surface melt. The trays of cubes are forced against the grid of ejector rods suddenly and the ice cubes are ejected from the ice forming units as the rods pass through the rear wall apertures. Since the temperature surrounding the evaporator is approximately -30F. the inertia of the fall of the cubes into storage freezes any water on the surface of the cubes before they reach the storage area. After the harvest cycle is complete and the cubes have been e~ected, the piston returns the ice cube tray slide support to the operative freezing position abutting the freezing surface, and the liquid feed refrigerant and ice forming water systems are again placed in operation.
The invention is more fully described in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the various parts of the entire freezing apparatus;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the evaporator with a portion of the freezer plate cut away;
Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line A-A of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an ice cube tray;
Figure 5 is an end view of the evaporator and water distribution device of the apparatus in a freezing cycle position;
and Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 but illustrates the position of the components at the end of the harvest cycle.
~' lZ8Z~47 72258-1 In Figure 1 the inlet for the fresh water supply is shown as (1). A solenoid valve (2) opens and closes the fresh water supply as required. The water supply (1) which passes through the valve (2) leads to a fresh water tank (3) which is located below the evaporator portion of the apparatus.
An air agitation supply (4) is connected to a shut off valve (5) and is used to supply air to the fresh water tank. The agitation of the water in the fresh water tank with the use of air, serves to clean the water and promotes various foreign solubles such as chlorine in the water to evaporate into the atmosphere. The fresh water tank (3) is equipped with a false bottom (6A) and a strainer (6B). This serves to keep any out-water, used for the production of ice, clean and free from dirt.
The fresh water tank (3) is also equipped with a cooling coil (7).
By keeping the water at a very low temperature, the rate and efficiency of making ice on the evaporator sides (to be discussed later) is increased. The fresh water tank (3) is also equipped with an electronic sensor (8) which controls the water level.
When the water in the fresh water tank (3) is used to make ice and the water level lowers, the electronic sensor (8) activates the - solenoid valve (2) thereby allowing fresh water from an outside source to enter. A water valve (9) to flush the water tank permits the dirty water above the false bottom (6A) to be removed ~rom the tank during cleaning. A drain (10) permits the fresh water tank to be emptied from time to time for cleaning purposes.
A temperature sensor (11) activates the cooling coil (7) when the temperature of the water rises. Finally, the fresh water tank is ~ - 7 -B
. . . ~, , <- . . .
~2822~7 equipped with an overflow pipe (12).
Water leaves ~he tank through the water line (13) and is pumped upwards b~ a water pump (14). A check valve (15) keeps water from draining back into the tank when the water pump is not in operation. The water line (13) carries the water to a water disperser (17) which distributes the water in a sheeting action over the freezer plates of the evaporator (18). An outlet (16) allows fresh water to travel to other evaporators if a plurality of evaporators are used. Excess water which has not changed to the solid state collects below the evaporator in a drain pan (41) and then passes downwards through a line (42) back to the fresh water tank (3) for recirculation.
A refrigerant disperser tl9) disperses the refrigerant to a number of horizontal channel ways within the evaporator.
A compressor (23) is used to compress and pump the refrigerant fluid. From the compressor the refrigerant fluid in a hot compressed state is forced through a refrigerant discharge tube (24). From this point the refrigerant may ~ither proceed to the hot gas bypass (22), the condenser (27), or the condenser bypass (26B). The compressed refrigerant fluid enters the condenser through the condenser inlet (26A) and leaves the condenser as liquid feed through line (28). A line (26B) allows some refrigerant in the form of hot compressed gas to bypass the condenser and pass through a head pressure control (25) which is used as a control in low ambient operating temperatures. The head pressure control mixes cold liquid feed from (28) with hot gas (26B) in proportions according to the environmental conditions.
;
: B
., -- - - - - , .
:
;, 3221~7 Condensed refrigerant leaves the pressure head control through refrigerant condensate line (29) to a refrigerant liquid feed receiver (30). Refrigerant in the liquid feed form leaves the refrigerant receiver through a line (31) and passes through a filter dryer (32). The filter dryer (32) is used to remove moisture and other contaminents from the liquid refrigerant feed.
From the filter dryer, the supply of liquid refrigerant is controlled by a solenoid valve (34) which opens and closes depending upon the cycle of the ice cube making apparatus. An outlet (33) allows liquid feed refrigerant to pass to other freezing plates. Refrigerant liquid feed passes through a sight glass (35) which is used to determine if there is air or con-taminants in the refrigerant. A total expansion valve (36) is used to allow the refrigerant to pass through an inlet T-valve (20) onwards to a refrigerant disperser (19). When the condensate passes through the total expansion valve (34) it expands and absorbs heat with the pressure drop. The inlet T-valve (20) permits the flow of either refrigerant hot gas feed or refrigerant liquid feea into the disperser, depending upon the cycle. The expanded refrigerant fluid absorbs heat to allow it to vaporize within the evaporator thereby cooling the evaporator to a point where it will freeze water which comes in contact with the latter.
The used, warmed refrigerant leaves the evaporator through an outlet manifold or suction header (37). From there refrigerant travels back to the compressor (23) through the refrigerant suction lines (38). A suction line accumulator (39) is placed between the compressor ~23) and the suction header(s) (37) and is :
lZ8Z2~7 used to disperse any refrigerant fluid which is still in the liquid feed form. It also re~oves any oil or other contaminants so that the compresser ~23) is not damaged. A suction line (40) takes the refrigerant fluid from the accu~ulator (39) to the compresser (23).
When the apparatus is in the harvest cycle, the hot compressed refrigerating fluid bypasses the condenser (27) through a hot gas bypass line (22~ to a solenoid check valve (21). Once valve (34) is closed, solenoid check valve (21) is opened and refrigerant hot gas feed passes through T-valve (20) to the disperser (l9) and into the evaporator (18). In the evaporator the hot gas gives off heat and effect a warming of the freezer plates thereby melting the layer of ice adjacent the freezer plates. The used and cooled hot gas feed passes out of the evaporator through the suction header(s) (37) and through the return line back to the compresser (23).
In Figure 2 the evaporator (18) is shown with a cut-away portion of the freezer plate (53). The refrigerant fluid enters through the disperser (19) which comprises a plurality of indivi-dual lines which are connected to channel ways (52) which arehorizontally disposed adjacent one another between two freezing ~urfaces or plates (53). The channel ways are created by a metal sheet of zig zag formation and closed to the outside by means of two freezer plates (53). When in operation the refrigerant is contiguous to all portions of the freezer plate and the heat-transfer efficiency is thus greatly improved. Because the disperser lines (19) are connected directly (50) to individual ~8~
channel ways ~52), and the refrigerant passes directly through each of these individual channel ways into the suction header(s) (37), all portions of the freezer plate are in contact with the refrigerant fluid at substantially the same temperature, thereby effecting uniform freezing conditions and therefore rapid freezing and harvest cycles.
Figure 3 illustrates the metallic core (51) formed in a zig zag right angled configuration and the two plates (53) placed thereupon. In this manner, each of the channel ways (52) is separated and there is complete exposure of the refrigerant fluid to the freezing plate.
In Figure 4 an ice cube tray (43) has a side wall (47) and an outer or rear wall (48) formed with apertures (49). The individual cubes are formed in compartments between rows of the flexible tapered teeth (46).
The cube trays are in the ice forming position with the ends of the comb-like teeth (46) abutting against the sides of freezer plates (53). Water passes between the individual teeth in a somewhat restricted flow. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cube tray stands on end with the wall (47) vertical.
When a plurality of cube trays are used the sides (47) are oriented in the same direction thereby creating 5 sided compart-ments or ice forming units. Ice forms from the open side closest to the ends of the tapered teeth (46) and thickens outwardly in the direction of the aperture(s) (49). A baffle (44) is placed immediately below the bottom of the evaporator to divert ice cubes away from the drain pan.
'~
1~8ZZ~7 Figure 6 shows the apparatus in the final position of the harvest cycle. Cube ejector rods (45) have passed through the apertures (49) releasing the ice cubes (54).
In Figure 3 one notes that the water drips downwards in a sheeting action immediately beside the freezer plate(s) through the comb-like teeth, over the baffle (44), and into the drain pan (41).
At the same time as the water begins to flow during the ' ~,' ' 12~ZZ~7 72258-1 freezing cycle, the compresser (23) is set in motion and refri-gerant liquid feed from the refrigerant receiver passes through the solenoid valve (34) past the sight glass (35), through the inlet T, and into the disperser (19) where it is circulated through the evaporator and out to the suction header(s) (37), returning again to the compresser. The freezing cycle continues until the thickness of the ice, which has built up from the freezer plate outwards, reaches the thickness desired in the cube trays (48).
When the ice reaches this thickness, shuts off the flow of the refrigerant liquid feed at the solenoid valve (34). At the eame time the water pump (14) is shut off. Thereafter, refri-gerant hot gas feed moves through the hot gas bypass (22) and the solenoid valve (21) opens, allowing the hot gas feed to pass through the inlet T into the disperser and through the evaporator channel ways. The refrigerant hot gas feed passes out of the suction header(s) (37) and descends through the refrigerant line (38) back to the compresser and the ice surface immediately adjacent the freezer plate begins to rapidly melt. When the harvest cycle melts the surface of the ice cubes 54 adjacent the freezing surface 53, cube ejector rods (45) located on the ejector supports 57 and the rods release the ice cubes (54) which fall into a storage area. The baffle (44) keeps the ice from falling in the drain pan (41), and the inertia of the falling ice in the cold ambient environment produces ice cubes which are relatively free of moisture and therefore do not stick together. As soon as the cubes have been ejected, the pistons again move the cube tray ~82~7 72258-l slide supports back to the freezing surface position shown in Figure 5, and the solenoid valve (21) shuts off the hot gas feed;
the water pump (14) begins again, and the solenoid valve (34) is opened and another freezing cycle takes place. The complete cycle of freezing and harvesting takes place in a very short time and a large volume of ice can be thus made.
The apparatus disclosed in the invention can also be used to produce sheet or fragment ice of any thickness when the cube trays are not used. The ice made in this manner usually proceeds to a crusher (not shown) prior to storage.
' ' ' ~ .
:. ~
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Supplementary Disclosure Normally, each of the channel ways for the refrigerant, located between the freezing surfaces, is individually connected to the, dispenser and outlet manifold. In an alternative embodi-ment 2 or 3 of the channel ways are connected together to the disperser and the outlet manifold.
In a preferred embodiment the water distribution device comprises two plastic tubes, one on each side of the evaporator, which run parallel to the top of the evaporator and extend its entire length. At the top of the two freezing surfaces of the evaporator is a roughened plastic sheet being in the same plane as the evaporator and being of the same thickness. Water from a fresh water holding tank enters the two plastic tubes from each end. This is necessary to maintain sufficient pressure along the entire length of the plastic tubes. The tubes are located directly against the uppermost portion of the roughened plastic sheet, one on each side thereof. Small holes of approximately 5/64" diameter are located on the lower side of the pipes such that water is directed towards the roughened plastic sheet.
Approximately 5 holes are located in each linear inch of the plastic pipe.
When pres~ure is maintained at a predetermined level a water stream emerges from each hole and runs together with streams from adjacent holes once they contact the roughened plastic sheet.
The combination of the roughened plastic sheet and the number and size of the water stream holes eliminates beading of the water.
... . .
~8Z247 This is extremely important as beading causes air to be entrapped in the finished product making it undesirable. water which falls over the evaporator with no beading effect as in the present invention, will freeze with no entrapped air or contaminant, thus producing a clear ice cube.
During the ice making cycle, the desired thickness of the ice may be controlled in a number of ways. One method is to use a timer which shuts off the flow of water over the evaporator thereby ending the freezing cycle.
In a preferred embodiment, a sensor such as a probe, a thermocouple or a set of contacts is used. These are connected to a central electrical box which can be in the form of a mini computer.
The preferred sensor consists of a pair of contacts which are located in one of the ice making compartments adjacent the wall which is furthermost from the evaporator.
As ice is made against the evaporator, the flow of water in a sheeting action over the newly formed ice decends further and further away from the evaporator. Eventually, the decending water reaches the two contacts of the sensor and makes a circuit ground between the positive and negative. The sensor is adjusted so that contact must be continuous for six seconds. This avoids the problems of the contact being made inadvertently by splashing water.
Once the ground has been made for six seconds, the ~signal is sent to the central electrical box or mini computer.
;The central electrical box shuts off the flow of ice .~
~:~8~7 ~,?
forming water and closes the flow of refrigerant. Ther~after a flow of hot gases is sent through the evaporator to initiate the harvest cycle.
The ice forming units or compartments are in the form of trays which are mounted on an ice cube tray slide support. In a preferred embodiment the ice cube tray slide supports are mounted in the vertical plane on a frame and are located on each side of an evaporator which is equipped with freezing surfaces on both sides.
In order to eject the ice cubes from the ice forming unit a grid of ejector rods is mounted on the frame in the vertical plane; one on each side of the tray slide supports. The ejector rods are directed towards the tray slide supports on each 8 ide of the evaporator plate.
The evaporator plate and grids of ejector rods are fixedly secured to the frame and do not move. Only the ice cube tray slide supports are supported on the frame on bearings and move. In one position the grid of ejector rods abut the tray slide support. In a second position the tray slide support with the ice forming unit~ abut the evaporator plate; and in a third position the units are a small distance away from the evaporator.
The movement of tray slide supports is accomplished by the use of piston type air cylinders such as those made by *HENNELLE. One air cylinder is located on each end of the frame in a central position. The piston rod is connected to a yoke at the mid section of the yoke. On each end of the yoke a push rod is fixedly secured. The push rods are also fixedly secured to the ; n - - .
~ - .
lZ8Z~7 /~
,~
side of the cube tray slide supports. The push rods are supported in position by bearings which are mounted in the frame.
A first piston air cylinder, yoke and two push rods move a cube tray slide support on one side of the evaporator. If several evaporators are mounted in the frame, each with a cube tray slide support on each side, the first piston air cylinder, yoke and push rods move all the cube tray slide supports located on one side of the evaporators.
A second piston air cylinder, yoke and two push rods located at the opposite end of the frame move the cube tray slide supports on the opposite side of each of the evaporators.
When the freezing cycle ends, the harvest cycle commences. After a predetermined time, which is sufficient to melt the surfaces of the cubes adjacent the freezing surface of the evaporator, the cube tray slide supports are moved to a secon-dary position approximately midway the evaporator and the grids.
In this position the melted surfaces of the cubes refreeze. After the surfaces refreeze the cube tray supports are moved to an ejection position.
The supplementary disclosure is supported by the follow-ing new drawings wherein:
Figure 4A is a face view of a number of ice forming units mounted for operation;
Figure 4B is a section B of Figure 4A:
Figure 4C is a close up side view of a number of push rods:
Figure 4D is a perspective view of a portion of a form-ing tray equipped with push rods guides:
D
~Z8~ZZ~7 ,~
Figure 5A is a partial face view of the water distribu-tion device and evaporator plate Figure 7A is a side view of the frame of a commercial application of the invention which has five evaporator plates;
Figure 7B is an end view of the commercial application and Figure 7C is a top view of the invention showing only one two sided evaporator;
Figure 8 is an end view of a commercial application of the invention, wherein the moving parts are driven by an electric motor;
Figure 8A is a top view of the driving parts shown in Figure 8; and Figure 8B is a top view of a commercial application of the invention, with the moving parts driven by an electric motor The channel ways which conduct the refrigerant between the evaporator plates can be a plurality of rectangular tubes having openings near one end and mounted horizontally one on top of the other, such that refrigerant can pass from one end of one tube to a first adjacent tube, and then from the opposite end of the first adjacent tube to a second adjacent tube and then to the outlet manifold.
The outlet manifold may be connected to the same end of the manifold as the disperser, when one disperser line serves three or four channel ways. That is to say if the disperser inlet is connected to channel way number 1 the outlet manifold would be ~,~
'~;
D
: ':
~X8224~7 ,~d connected to channel way number 3 or 4 respectively.
Figure 4A is a partial face view of a number of ice cube trays mounted on the ice cube tray support slide. The direction of flow of the water is shown by an arrow. When two trays 43 are placed together, each ice forming compartment is bounded on two sides by solid vertical walls 47 and rear vertical wall 48 with aperture 49. In operation, the water descends through the slotted sides which are in the form of tooth like projections 46 that lie in the horizontal plane. As shown in Figure 4B these projections can be formed with small bumps 46A on their upper sides. These aid in separating and ejecting cubes in the harvest cycle.
Figure 4C is a close up of the push rods 45. These are preferably formed from nylon. The push rods are used to eject the ice cubes from the trays by penetrating the ice forming compart-ments through aperture 49. The push rods alternate between a longer size and shorter size. Using this design the load factor which occurs when the ice cubes are ejected, is staggered such that approximately one half of the cubes are loosened slightly before the others.
In Figure 4D a preferred embodiment of the ice tray is shown. Behind the aperture 49 a push rod guide 49A ls construc-ted. This insures the nylon push rods 45 are guided directly through aperture 49 when ejection occurs.
Figures 5 and 5A illustrate the water disperser 17. The water disperser 17 is located above the evaporator 18. In a preferred embodiment the disperser has two plastic tubes 17, with inlets 17B located towards each end of the tubes. Beneath the ... .
~28~247 disperser tubes and above the evaporator is a roughened plastic sheet 17D lying in the same vertical plane as the evaporator 18, and being of substantially the same thickness. Ice forming water enters the inlets 17s and maintains substantially the same pressure throughout the plastic tubes. The water exits through small holes 17C and is directed against the roughened plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the holes are approximately 5/64" in diameter with 5 holes per linear inch.
Any configuration is suitable as long as the water streams will join one another on the roughened sheet, thus preventing beading. Beading is detrimental to the formation of clear ice as it causes air to form in the cubes. Air in ice cubes causes the cube to be cloudy, more bulky and absorb food odours.
In Figure 7A (formerly Figure 7) is shown a side view of a commercial application of the invention, wherein 5 evaporators (18) are horizontally disposed within frame (59).
As shown in Figure 7A (formerly Figure 7), the ice cube trays (43) are attached to cube tray slide supports (55) and (56) which are vertically disposed on either side of the two freezing surfaces (53) of each of the evaporators (18).
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1282:;24t7 The cube tray slide supports (55) and (56) are slidably mounted by means of bearings (62) and (63) on two pairs of fixed slide rods (60) and (61), which are securely fastened on the upper and lower sides of the frame evaporator (18) such that the ends of the comb-like teeth (46) of the freezer trays (43) abut against the freezer plates (53). Thereafter, the water pump (14) sends water upwards through the check valve (15) into the disperser (17).
In Figure (7A), left hand cube tray slide supports (55) are fixedly secured at (68) by a suitable means such as welding or threading on push rod (64). Similarly, right hand cube tray slide supports (56) are secured at (69) on push rod (65).
The push rod (64) is (æ/ CL) ;~
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fixedly attached to all of the left hand cube tray supports. One end of push rods 64 is fixedly attached to the yoke 76 which is fixedly attached to piston 77. Piston 77 is located within air cylinder 66. Piston 77 is moved by compressed air through lines 74 and 74A. Valve 82 which is regulated by the central electrical box or mini computer 83, opens line 74 or 74A depending on the next cycle.
In Figure 7A, piston 77, push rod 64, and left hand cube tray slide support 55, are in the freezing or ice making position.
Limit switch 73 is in contact with the opposite end of push rod 64. Similarly, push rods 65, yoke 79, piston 78 and right hand cube tray slide supports 56 are also in the freezing position.
Limit switch 70 is in contact with the opposite end of push rod 65. Limit switches 70, 71, 72 and 73 are electrically connected to the central electrical box or mini computer 83. Air is supplied by an air compressor (not shown) through filter 75 to valve 82, to piston cylinders 66 by air hoses 74 and 74A. A
similar arrangement of air supply (not shown) is connected to piston cylinder 67. The pistons move the cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 from a first position which abuts the freezing surface 53 of the evaporators 18 to an intermediate position midway between the first position and a harvest position to a third harvest position wherein the cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 abut cube ejector supports 57 to which the push rods 45 are attached. In the harvest position limit switches 72 and 71 make contact with contacts 80 and 81 respectively. The electrical contact is transmitted to the central electrical box and a signal is forwarded to valve 82 to send air through line 74 to cause ~ D
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1'~8~ 7 piston 77 to move to the right and return cube tray slide support to the freezing position. Si~ilarly once contact 81 makes contact with limit switch 71 air is supplied to cylinder 67 causing piston 78 to move to the left and move cube tray supports 56 back to the freezing position. Limit switches 70 and 71 control the distance of travel of piston 78 while limit switches 72 and 73 control piston 77 movement.
In Figure 8 is shown an alternative embodiment of a commercial application of the invention. Rather than use compres-sed air cylinders to drive the ice cube slide trays an electric motor 85, located at one end of the machine, is used. The motor 85 is connected to a gear reducer 86, which in turn is connected to a cam crank 88. A connecting arm 89 is pivotally connected to the cam crank 88 and pivot 90. The latter is fixedly secured to pivot yoke 92. When pivot lever 90 moves back and forth, pivot shafts 91 rotate to the right and left accordingly. Right hand pivot shaft i8 rotated by means of a center link 93 which is pivotally connected to a pivot lever 90 which is fixed on the left hand shaft 91. The rotating movement of the crank cam 88 is transmitted to push rods 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101. Ice cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 are accordingly moved towards or away from the evaporator plates 88 by the push rods. For exam-ple push rods 94, 96, 98, and 100 move left hand ice cube tray slide supports 55, and push rods 95, 97, 99 and 101 move right hand ice cube tray slide supports 56 respectively, between the freezing and harvest positions. Support brackets 102, attached to the frame 59 maintain the pivot shafts 91 in place.
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In operation, pistons 77 and 78 move push rods 64 and 65 and cube tray slide supports 55, 56 respectively towards the grids 57.
In Figure 7A, once the ice has reached a certain thick-ness the ice-forming water activates sensor electrical contacts 84 by making a ground. The ground is transmitted to the central electrical box which activates the change in cycles and the sur-face of the cubes are melted for a predetermined amount of time.
Thereafter, pistons 77 and 78 are activated by the central elec-trical control unit and move the cube tray slide supports to a secondary midway position outwardly from the evaporator 18. In the ambient - 30f temperature liquid remaining on the melted sur-face of the ice cubes quickly changes to ice in the secondary position. After a predetermined amount of time the central elec-trical control unit activates valve 82 causing pistons 77 and 78 to move to their outward limit whereupon cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 move the cube trays to the ejection position.
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Ice cube making devices are known in the art. Numerous types, designs and sizes exist which produce fragmented, sheet, cube, cylindrical, or cup-shaped ice depending upon the molds.
The demand for ice in restaurants and bars is particularly ~irected to clear clean symmetrical cubes in large quantities.
Three problems currently exist in the known ice making art.
a) Slow Harvest cycle The rate of production of ice depends upon how quickly the freezing and harvest cycles take place. The slower the harvest cycle, the greater the loss of productivity of a machine.
Moreover, the length of time which an apparatus takes to complete a defrost cycle is proportionate to the loss of the ice product itself. Severe losses can occur due to melting during the defrost cycle.
In early ice making devices the machine was simply shut off and the operator waited for the ice product to be released by melting and gravity. In recent times the cooling cycle is reversed, and the hot gaseous refrigerant is cycled through the evaporater assembly to fasten the cycle. Such a device is dis-closed in United States Patent 4,107,943.
In Canadian Patent 661,635 warm water is cascaded over the frozen cubes once the freezing cycle is finished, in order to hasten the harvest cycle. This is an improvement over the original systems. However, difficulties arise because the ice ,~ .
1'~8Z~7 72258-1 cubes produced are wet and tend to stick together.
In other apparatus such as those which are disclosed in Canadian Patents 1,008,262 and 1,118,219 warm water inundates an upper holding tank or cavity which surrounds horizontally disposed cup-shaped ice making receptacles.
Finally, United States Patent 4,412,429 discloses the use of a plastic jacket which is filled with tap water to surround the ice products and hasten the melting.
All of the aforementioned arrangements are effective to a certain degree in reducing ice harvest time, but all tend to melt significant amounts of the ice prior to release.
Another method of fastening the ice cycle is to use ejector rods in conjunction with a grid member. The ejector rods are forced between the grid members to release the ice cubes.
However, some amount of melting is still necessary before the ejector rods can work efficiently.
b) Storage Ice Freezing A major problem with melting some if not all of the outer surface of ice cubes is that the ice is wet when it reaches 20 the storage area. When the ice is again frozen in storage, the ice cubes tend to stick together making usage difficult.
c) Non-Symmetrical Shape Most of the commercial ice makers known in the art do not produce symmetrical ice cubes, but rather cylinders, cups or fragments. This is particularly true of the high volume ice makers.
The present invention seeks to provide a high volume B
, . , ~ 2247 72258-1 commercial ice maker with rapid freezing and harvest cycles which produces "dry" ice that has little tendency to stick together in storage. The ice leaves a freezing plate at -30F. and inertia cools the cubes such that they are dry on impact.
Also this invention seeXs to provide substantially symmetrical clear ice cubes.
Therefore this invention provides an ice cube making apparatus comprising;
an evaporator, including at least one freezing surface and a plurality of rectangular channel ways for transporting refrigerat-ing fluid, said channel ways being parallel and contiguous, and being arranged such that substantially the entire area of said freezing surface is in contact with one aide of said channel ways;
said channel ways being connected to a disperser and at least one outlet manifold;
supply means for delivering cooled refrigerant fluid to said system of channel ways during a freezing cycle to effect rapid cooling of the freezing surface;
ice forming means defining a series of compartments for the formation of individual ice cubes, said compartments being arranged such that when in operation, each compartment is bounded by an open side being adjacent said freezing surface, a closed wall bearing a central aperture opposite to said open side, two solid walls lying in the vertical plane, and an uppèr and a lower slotted side in a horizontal plane, said slotted sides allowing water to pass through said compartment;
~2822~7 72258-1 means for cascading water in a sheeting action directly against said freezing surface, said water cascading progressively outwards of sa~d freezing surface as ice forms;
meals adapted to deliver refrigerating fluid in the hot gaseous state in a harvest cycle to effect rapid warming of the freezing surface, thereby melting the ice surface in contact with said freezing surface, and permitting said ice forming means to be released:
a means to move said ice forming means away from said freez-ing surface during the harvest cycle;an ejector means to remove ice cubes from said ice forming means, and means to return said ice forming means to an operative posi-tion at the commencement of the freezing cycle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a vertically disposed evaporator is equipped with freezing surfaces constructed of copper plate on both sides. A series of horizontal parallel rectangular shaped hollow conduits or channel ways for conducting refrigerating fluid is located between the two freezing surfaces and are individually directly connected to a disperser and at ; least one outlet manifold or suction header.
On the top portion of the evaporator plate is a water distribution device which is used to cascade water in a sheeting action over the freezing surfaces of the evaporator. The water emerges from numerous small holes in plastic pipes and is directed against a piece of roughened plastic which aids in producing the sheeting action. At the bottom of the evaporator is a drain pan :
1'~8Z2~ 72258-1 which catches the water that is not frozen as it cascades down the sides of the evaporator plate. This water is directed to a fresh water holding tank where it is recycled bacX to the distribution device by means of a pump. On each recycling of the water more heat is lost.
Abutting against both the freezing surfaces are nylon ice cube making trays with numerous symmetrically arranged ice forming units. The units from top to bottom are divided by a series of comb-like projections, such that water may pass in a slightly restricted manner from the upper ice forming units to the lower ice forming units. With each successive pass of water a thin layer of ice forms on the ice forming surface. This gradual-ly builds outward from the evaporator to fill the ice forming units. When the ice attains a desired thickness a sensing device stops the flow of water and reverses the cooling cycle, thereby allowing hot refrigerant gases to fill the evaporator channel ways, to commence the harvest cycle. Only the surface of the ice cubes adjacent the freezing surface is melted or "sweated"
allowing the ice trays to separate from the evaporator.
The vertical sides and rear wall of the ice forming units are solid with the exception of a centrally located aperture in the rear wall of each unit. Adjacent the ice cube trays at a predetermined distance and being vertically disposed is a grid of projection like ejector rods. These ejector rods correspond to the apertures in the rear walls of the ice forming units. During the harvest cycle, a piston urges an ice cube tray slide support towards the grid such that it is pulled away from its position of .
1~8'~2~7 72258-1 abut~ent to the freezing surface, as soon as the surfaces of the cubes frozen to the freezing surface melt. The trays of cubes are forced against the grid of ejector rods suddenly and the ice cubes are ejected from the ice forming units as the rods pass through the rear wall apertures. Since the temperature surrounding the evaporator is approximately -30F. the inertia of the fall of the cubes into storage freezes any water on the surface of the cubes before they reach the storage area. After the harvest cycle is complete and the cubes have been e~ected, the piston returns the ice cube tray slide support to the operative freezing position abutting the freezing surface, and the liquid feed refrigerant and ice forming water systems are again placed in operation.
The invention is more fully described in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the various parts of the entire freezing apparatus;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the evaporator with a portion of the freezer plate cut away;
Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line A-A of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an ice cube tray;
Figure 5 is an end view of the evaporator and water distribution device of the apparatus in a freezing cycle position;
and Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 but illustrates the position of the components at the end of the harvest cycle.
~' lZ8Z~47 72258-1 In Figure 1 the inlet for the fresh water supply is shown as (1). A solenoid valve (2) opens and closes the fresh water supply as required. The water supply (1) which passes through the valve (2) leads to a fresh water tank (3) which is located below the evaporator portion of the apparatus.
An air agitation supply (4) is connected to a shut off valve (5) and is used to supply air to the fresh water tank. The agitation of the water in the fresh water tank with the use of air, serves to clean the water and promotes various foreign solubles such as chlorine in the water to evaporate into the atmosphere. The fresh water tank (3) is equipped with a false bottom (6A) and a strainer (6B). This serves to keep any out-water, used for the production of ice, clean and free from dirt.
The fresh water tank (3) is also equipped with a cooling coil (7).
By keeping the water at a very low temperature, the rate and efficiency of making ice on the evaporator sides (to be discussed later) is increased. The fresh water tank (3) is also equipped with an electronic sensor (8) which controls the water level.
When the water in the fresh water tank (3) is used to make ice and the water level lowers, the electronic sensor (8) activates the - solenoid valve (2) thereby allowing fresh water from an outside source to enter. A water valve (9) to flush the water tank permits the dirty water above the false bottom (6A) to be removed ~rom the tank during cleaning. A drain (10) permits the fresh water tank to be emptied from time to time for cleaning purposes.
A temperature sensor (11) activates the cooling coil (7) when the temperature of the water rises. Finally, the fresh water tank is ~ - 7 -B
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~2822~7 equipped with an overflow pipe (12).
Water leaves ~he tank through the water line (13) and is pumped upwards b~ a water pump (14). A check valve (15) keeps water from draining back into the tank when the water pump is not in operation. The water line (13) carries the water to a water disperser (17) which distributes the water in a sheeting action over the freezer plates of the evaporator (18). An outlet (16) allows fresh water to travel to other evaporators if a plurality of evaporators are used. Excess water which has not changed to the solid state collects below the evaporator in a drain pan (41) and then passes downwards through a line (42) back to the fresh water tank (3) for recirculation.
A refrigerant disperser tl9) disperses the refrigerant to a number of horizontal channel ways within the evaporator.
A compressor (23) is used to compress and pump the refrigerant fluid. From the compressor the refrigerant fluid in a hot compressed state is forced through a refrigerant discharge tube (24). From this point the refrigerant may ~ither proceed to the hot gas bypass (22), the condenser (27), or the condenser bypass (26B). The compressed refrigerant fluid enters the condenser through the condenser inlet (26A) and leaves the condenser as liquid feed through line (28). A line (26B) allows some refrigerant in the form of hot compressed gas to bypass the condenser and pass through a head pressure control (25) which is used as a control in low ambient operating temperatures. The head pressure control mixes cold liquid feed from (28) with hot gas (26B) in proportions according to the environmental conditions.
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;, 3221~7 Condensed refrigerant leaves the pressure head control through refrigerant condensate line (29) to a refrigerant liquid feed receiver (30). Refrigerant in the liquid feed form leaves the refrigerant receiver through a line (31) and passes through a filter dryer (32). The filter dryer (32) is used to remove moisture and other contaminents from the liquid refrigerant feed.
From the filter dryer, the supply of liquid refrigerant is controlled by a solenoid valve (34) which opens and closes depending upon the cycle of the ice cube making apparatus. An outlet (33) allows liquid feed refrigerant to pass to other freezing plates. Refrigerant liquid feed passes through a sight glass (35) which is used to determine if there is air or con-taminants in the refrigerant. A total expansion valve (36) is used to allow the refrigerant to pass through an inlet T-valve (20) onwards to a refrigerant disperser (19). When the condensate passes through the total expansion valve (34) it expands and absorbs heat with the pressure drop. The inlet T-valve (20) permits the flow of either refrigerant hot gas feed or refrigerant liquid feea into the disperser, depending upon the cycle. The expanded refrigerant fluid absorbs heat to allow it to vaporize within the evaporator thereby cooling the evaporator to a point where it will freeze water which comes in contact with the latter.
The used, warmed refrigerant leaves the evaporator through an outlet manifold or suction header (37). From there refrigerant travels back to the compressor (23) through the refrigerant suction lines (38). A suction line accumulator (39) is placed between the compressor ~23) and the suction header(s) (37) and is :
lZ8Z2~7 used to disperse any refrigerant fluid which is still in the liquid feed form. It also re~oves any oil or other contaminants so that the compresser ~23) is not damaged. A suction line (40) takes the refrigerant fluid from the accu~ulator (39) to the compresser (23).
When the apparatus is in the harvest cycle, the hot compressed refrigerating fluid bypasses the condenser (27) through a hot gas bypass line (22~ to a solenoid check valve (21). Once valve (34) is closed, solenoid check valve (21) is opened and refrigerant hot gas feed passes through T-valve (20) to the disperser (l9) and into the evaporator (18). In the evaporator the hot gas gives off heat and effect a warming of the freezer plates thereby melting the layer of ice adjacent the freezer plates. The used and cooled hot gas feed passes out of the evaporator through the suction header(s) (37) and through the return line back to the compresser (23).
In Figure 2 the evaporator (18) is shown with a cut-away portion of the freezer plate (53). The refrigerant fluid enters through the disperser (19) which comprises a plurality of indivi-dual lines which are connected to channel ways (52) which arehorizontally disposed adjacent one another between two freezing ~urfaces or plates (53). The channel ways are created by a metal sheet of zig zag formation and closed to the outside by means of two freezer plates (53). When in operation the refrigerant is contiguous to all portions of the freezer plate and the heat-transfer efficiency is thus greatly improved. Because the disperser lines (19) are connected directly (50) to individual ~8~
channel ways ~52), and the refrigerant passes directly through each of these individual channel ways into the suction header(s) (37), all portions of the freezer plate are in contact with the refrigerant fluid at substantially the same temperature, thereby effecting uniform freezing conditions and therefore rapid freezing and harvest cycles.
Figure 3 illustrates the metallic core (51) formed in a zig zag right angled configuration and the two plates (53) placed thereupon. In this manner, each of the channel ways (52) is separated and there is complete exposure of the refrigerant fluid to the freezing plate.
In Figure 4 an ice cube tray (43) has a side wall (47) and an outer or rear wall (48) formed with apertures (49). The individual cubes are formed in compartments between rows of the flexible tapered teeth (46).
The cube trays are in the ice forming position with the ends of the comb-like teeth (46) abutting against the sides of freezer plates (53). Water passes between the individual teeth in a somewhat restricted flow. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cube tray stands on end with the wall (47) vertical.
When a plurality of cube trays are used the sides (47) are oriented in the same direction thereby creating 5 sided compart-ments or ice forming units. Ice forms from the open side closest to the ends of the tapered teeth (46) and thickens outwardly in the direction of the aperture(s) (49). A baffle (44) is placed immediately below the bottom of the evaporator to divert ice cubes away from the drain pan.
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1~8ZZ~7 Figure 6 shows the apparatus in the final position of the harvest cycle. Cube ejector rods (45) have passed through the apertures (49) releasing the ice cubes (54).
In Figure 3 one notes that the water drips downwards in a sheeting action immediately beside the freezer plate(s) through the comb-like teeth, over the baffle (44), and into the drain pan (41).
At the same time as the water begins to flow during the ' ~,' ' 12~ZZ~7 72258-1 freezing cycle, the compresser (23) is set in motion and refri-gerant liquid feed from the refrigerant receiver passes through the solenoid valve (34) past the sight glass (35), through the inlet T, and into the disperser (19) where it is circulated through the evaporator and out to the suction header(s) (37), returning again to the compresser. The freezing cycle continues until the thickness of the ice, which has built up from the freezer plate outwards, reaches the thickness desired in the cube trays (48).
When the ice reaches this thickness, shuts off the flow of the refrigerant liquid feed at the solenoid valve (34). At the eame time the water pump (14) is shut off. Thereafter, refri-gerant hot gas feed moves through the hot gas bypass (22) and the solenoid valve (21) opens, allowing the hot gas feed to pass through the inlet T into the disperser and through the evaporator channel ways. The refrigerant hot gas feed passes out of the suction header(s) (37) and descends through the refrigerant line (38) back to the compresser and the ice surface immediately adjacent the freezer plate begins to rapidly melt. When the harvest cycle melts the surface of the ice cubes 54 adjacent the freezing surface 53, cube ejector rods (45) located on the ejector supports 57 and the rods release the ice cubes (54) which fall into a storage area. The baffle (44) keeps the ice from falling in the drain pan (41), and the inertia of the falling ice in the cold ambient environment produces ice cubes which are relatively free of moisture and therefore do not stick together. As soon as the cubes have been ejected, the pistons again move the cube tray ~82~7 72258-l slide supports back to the freezing surface position shown in Figure 5, and the solenoid valve (21) shuts off the hot gas feed;
the water pump (14) begins again, and the solenoid valve (34) is opened and another freezing cycle takes place. The complete cycle of freezing and harvesting takes place in a very short time and a large volume of ice can be thus made.
The apparatus disclosed in the invention can also be used to produce sheet or fragment ice of any thickness when the cube trays are not used. The ice made in this manner usually proceeds to a crusher (not shown) prior to storage.
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Supplementary Disclosure Normally, each of the channel ways for the refrigerant, located between the freezing surfaces, is individually connected to the, dispenser and outlet manifold. In an alternative embodi-ment 2 or 3 of the channel ways are connected together to the disperser and the outlet manifold.
In a preferred embodiment the water distribution device comprises two plastic tubes, one on each side of the evaporator, which run parallel to the top of the evaporator and extend its entire length. At the top of the two freezing surfaces of the evaporator is a roughened plastic sheet being in the same plane as the evaporator and being of the same thickness. Water from a fresh water holding tank enters the two plastic tubes from each end. This is necessary to maintain sufficient pressure along the entire length of the plastic tubes. The tubes are located directly against the uppermost portion of the roughened plastic sheet, one on each side thereof. Small holes of approximately 5/64" diameter are located on the lower side of the pipes such that water is directed towards the roughened plastic sheet.
Approximately 5 holes are located in each linear inch of the plastic pipe.
When pres~ure is maintained at a predetermined level a water stream emerges from each hole and runs together with streams from adjacent holes once they contact the roughened plastic sheet.
The combination of the roughened plastic sheet and the number and size of the water stream holes eliminates beading of the water.
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~8Z247 This is extremely important as beading causes air to be entrapped in the finished product making it undesirable. water which falls over the evaporator with no beading effect as in the present invention, will freeze with no entrapped air or contaminant, thus producing a clear ice cube.
During the ice making cycle, the desired thickness of the ice may be controlled in a number of ways. One method is to use a timer which shuts off the flow of water over the evaporator thereby ending the freezing cycle.
In a preferred embodiment, a sensor such as a probe, a thermocouple or a set of contacts is used. These are connected to a central electrical box which can be in the form of a mini computer.
The preferred sensor consists of a pair of contacts which are located in one of the ice making compartments adjacent the wall which is furthermost from the evaporator.
As ice is made against the evaporator, the flow of water in a sheeting action over the newly formed ice decends further and further away from the evaporator. Eventually, the decending water reaches the two contacts of the sensor and makes a circuit ground between the positive and negative. The sensor is adjusted so that contact must be continuous for six seconds. This avoids the problems of the contact being made inadvertently by splashing water.
Once the ground has been made for six seconds, the ~signal is sent to the central electrical box or mini computer.
;The central electrical box shuts off the flow of ice .~
~:~8~7 ~,?
forming water and closes the flow of refrigerant. Ther~after a flow of hot gases is sent through the evaporator to initiate the harvest cycle.
The ice forming units or compartments are in the form of trays which are mounted on an ice cube tray slide support. In a preferred embodiment the ice cube tray slide supports are mounted in the vertical plane on a frame and are located on each side of an evaporator which is equipped with freezing surfaces on both sides.
In order to eject the ice cubes from the ice forming unit a grid of ejector rods is mounted on the frame in the vertical plane; one on each side of the tray slide supports. The ejector rods are directed towards the tray slide supports on each 8 ide of the evaporator plate.
The evaporator plate and grids of ejector rods are fixedly secured to the frame and do not move. Only the ice cube tray slide supports are supported on the frame on bearings and move. In one position the grid of ejector rods abut the tray slide support. In a second position the tray slide support with the ice forming unit~ abut the evaporator plate; and in a third position the units are a small distance away from the evaporator.
The movement of tray slide supports is accomplished by the use of piston type air cylinders such as those made by *HENNELLE. One air cylinder is located on each end of the frame in a central position. The piston rod is connected to a yoke at the mid section of the yoke. On each end of the yoke a push rod is fixedly secured. The push rods are also fixedly secured to the ; n - - .
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side of the cube tray slide supports. The push rods are supported in position by bearings which are mounted in the frame.
A first piston air cylinder, yoke and two push rods move a cube tray slide support on one side of the evaporator. If several evaporators are mounted in the frame, each with a cube tray slide support on each side, the first piston air cylinder, yoke and push rods move all the cube tray slide supports located on one side of the evaporators.
A second piston air cylinder, yoke and two push rods located at the opposite end of the frame move the cube tray slide supports on the opposite side of each of the evaporators.
When the freezing cycle ends, the harvest cycle commences. After a predetermined time, which is sufficient to melt the surfaces of the cubes adjacent the freezing surface of the evaporator, the cube tray slide supports are moved to a secon-dary position approximately midway the evaporator and the grids.
In this position the melted surfaces of the cubes refreeze. After the surfaces refreeze the cube tray supports are moved to an ejection position.
The supplementary disclosure is supported by the follow-ing new drawings wherein:
Figure 4A is a face view of a number of ice forming units mounted for operation;
Figure 4B is a section B of Figure 4A:
Figure 4C is a close up side view of a number of push rods:
Figure 4D is a perspective view of a portion of a form-ing tray equipped with push rods guides:
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Figure 5A is a partial face view of the water distribu-tion device and evaporator plate Figure 7A is a side view of the frame of a commercial application of the invention which has five evaporator plates;
Figure 7B is an end view of the commercial application and Figure 7C is a top view of the invention showing only one two sided evaporator;
Figure 8 is an end view of a commercial application of the invention, wherein the moving parts are driven by an electric motor;
Figure 8A is a top view of the driving parts shown in Figure 8; and Figure 8B is a top view of a commercial application of the invention, with the moving parts driven by an electric motor The channel ways which conduct the refrigerant between the evaporator plates can be a plurality of rectangular tubes having openings near one end and mounted horizontally one on top of the other, such that refrigerant can pass from one end of one tube to a first adjacent tube, and then from the opposite end of the first adjacent tube to a second adjacent tube and then to the outlet manifold.
The outlet manifold may be connected to the same end of the manifold as the disperser, when one disperser line serves three or four channel ways. That is to say if the disperser inlet is connected to channel way number 1 the outlet manifold would be ~,~
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~X8224~7 ,~d connected to channel way number 3 or 4 respectively.
Figure 4A is a partial face view of a number of ice cube trays mounted on the ice cube tray support slide. The direction of flow of the water is shown by an arrow. When two trays 43 are placed together, each ice forming compartment is bounded on two sides by solid vertical walls 47 and rear vertical wall 48 with aperture 49. In operation, the water descends through the slotted sides which are in the form of tooth like projections 46 that lie in the horizontal plane. As shown in Figure 4B these projections can be formed with small bumps 46A on their upper sides. These aid in separating and ejecting cubes in the harvest cycle.
Figure 4C is a close up of the push rods 45. These are preferably formed from nylon. The push rods are used to eject the ice cubes from the trays by penetrating the ice forming compart-ments through aperture 49. The push rods alternate between a longer size and shorter size. Using this design the load factor which occurs when the ice cubes are ejected, is staggered such that approximately one half of the cubes are loosened slightly before the others.
In Figure 4D a preferred embodiment of the ice tray is shown. Behind the aperture 49 a push rod guide 49A ls construc-ted. This insures the nylon push rods 45 are guided directly through aperture 49 when ejection occurs.
Figures 5 and 5A illustrate the water disperser 17. The water disperser 17 is located above the evaporator 18. In a preferred embodiment the disperser has two plastic tubes 17, with inlets 17B located towards each end of the tubes. Beneath the ... .
~28~247 disperser tubes and above the evaporator is a roughened plastic sheet 17D lying in the same vertical plane as the evaporator 18, and being of substantially the same thickness. Ice forming water enters the inlets 17s and maintains substantially the same pressure throughout the plastic tubes. The water exits through small holes 17C and is directed against the roughened plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the holes are approximately 5/64" in diameter with 5 holes per linear inch.
Any configuration is suitable as long as the water streams will join one another on the roughened sheet, thus preventing beading. Beading is detrimental to the formation of clear ice as it causes air to form in the cubes. Air in ice cubes causes the cube to be cloudy, more bulky and absorb food odours.
In Figure 7A (formerly Figure 7) is shown a side view of a commercial application of the invention, wherein 5 evaporators (18) are horizontally disposed within frame (59).
As shown in Figure 7A (formerly Figure 7), the ice cube trays (43) are attached to cube tray slide supports (55) and (56) which are vertically disposed on either side of the two freezing surfaces (53) of each of the evaporators (18).
. .
1282:;24t7 The cube tray slide supports (55) and (56) are slidably mounted by means of bearings (62) and (63) on two pairs of fixed slide rods (60) and (61), which are securely fastened on the upper and lower sides of the frame evaporator (18) such that the ends of the comb-like teeth (46) of the freezer trays (43) abut against the freezer plates (53). Thereafter, the water pump (14) sends water upwards through the check valve (15) into the disperser (17).
In Figure (7A), left hand cube tray slide supports (55) are fixedly secured at (68) by a suitable means such as welding or threading on push rod (64). Similarly, right hand cube tray slide supports (56) are secured at (69) on push rod (65).
The push rod (64) is (æ/ CL) ;~
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fixedly attached to all of the left hand cube tray supports. One end of push rods 64 is fixedly attached to the yoke 76 which is fixedly attached to piston 77. Piston 77 is located within air cylinder 66. Piston 77 is moved by compressed air through lines 74 and 74A. Valve 82 which is regulated by the central electrical box or mini computer 83, opens line 74 or 74A depending on the next cycle.
In Figure 7A, piston 77, push rod 64, and left hand cube tray slide support 55, are in the freezing or ice making position.
Limit switch 73 is in contact with the opposite end of push rod 64. Similarly, push rods 65, yoke 79, piston 78 and right hand cube tray slide supports 56 are also in the freezing position.
Limit switch 70 is in contact with the opposite end of push rod 65. Limit switches 70, 71, 72 and 73 are electrically connected to the central electrical box or mini computer 83. Air is supplied by an air compressor (not shown) through filter 75 to valve 82, to piston cylinders 66 by air hoses 74 and 74A. A
similar arrangement of air supply (not shown) is connected to piston cylinder 67. The pistons move the cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 from a first position which abuts the freezing surface 53 of the evaporators 18 to an intermediate position midway between the first position and a harvest position to a third harvest position wherein the cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 abut cube ejector supports 57 to which the push rods 45 are attached. In the harvest position limit switches 72 and 71 make contact with contacts 80 and 81 respectively. The electrical contact is transmitted to the central electrical box and a signal is forwarded to valve 82 to send air through line 74 to cause ~ D
:
.
.
.. . .....
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1'~8~ 7 piston 77 to move to the right and return cube tray slide support to the freezing position. Si~ilarly once contact 81 makes contact with limit switch 71 air is supplied to cylinder 67 causing piston 78 to move to the left and move cube tray supports 56 back to the freezing position. Limit switches 70 and 71 control the distance of travel of piston 78 while limit switches 72 and 73 control piston 77 movement.
In Figure 8 is shown an alternative embodiment of a commercial application of the invention. Rather than use compres-sed air cylinders to drive the ice cube slide trays an electric motor 85, located at one end of the machine, is used. The motor 85 is connected to a gear reducer 86, which in turn is connected to a cam crank 88. A connecting arm 89 is pivotally connected to the cam crank 88 and pivot 90. The latter is fixedly secured to pivot yoke 92. When pivot lever 90 moves back and forth, pivot shafts 91 rotate to the right and left accordingly. Right hand pivot shaft i8 rotated by means of a center link 93 which is pivotally connected to a pivot lever 90 which is fixed on the left hand shaft 91. The rotating movement of the crank cam 88 is transmitted to push rods 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101. Ice cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 are accordingly moved towards or away from the evaporator plates 88 by the push rods. For exam-ple push rods 94, 96, 98, and 100 move left hand ice cube tray slide supports 55, and push rods 95, 97, 99 and 101 move right hand ice cube tray slide supports 56 respectively, between the freezing and harvest positions. Support brackets 102, attached to the frame 59 maintain the pivot shafts 91 in place.
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.
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In operation, pistons 77 and 78 move push rods 64 and 65 and cube tray slide supports 55, 56 respectively towards the grids 57.
In Figure 7A, once the ice has reached a certain thick-ness the ice-forming water activates sensor electrical contacts 84 by making a ground. The ground is transmitted to the central electrical box which activates the change in cycles and the sur-face of the cubes are melted for a predetermined amount of time.
Thereafter, pistons 77 and 78 are activated by the central elec-trical control unit and move the cube tray slide supports to a secondary midway position outwardly from the evaporator 18. In the ambient - 30f temperature liquid remaining on the melted sur-face of the ice cubes quickly changes to ice in the secondary position. After a predetermined amount of time the central elec-trical control unit activates valve 82 causing pistons 77 and 78 to move to their outward limit whereupon cube tray slide supports 55 and 56 move the cube trays to the ejection position.
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.
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Claims (23)
1. An ice cube making apparatus comprising:
an evaporator, including at least one freezing surface and a plurality of rectangular channel ways for transporting refrigerating fluid, said channel ways being parallel and con-tiguous, and being arranged such that substantially the entire area of said freezing surface is in contact with one side of said channel ways;
said channel ways being connected to a disperser and at least one outlet manifold;
supply means for delivering cooled refrigerant fluid to said system of channel ways during a freezing cycle to effect rapid cooling of the freezing surface;
ice forming means defining a series of compartments for the formation of individual ice cubes, said compartments being arranged such that when in operation, each compartment is bounded by an open side being adjacent said freezing surface, a closed wall bearing a central aperture opposite to said open side, two solid walls lying in the vertical plane, and an upper and a lower slotted side in a horizontal plane, said slotted sides allowing water to pass through said compartment;
means for cascading water in a sheeting action directly against said freezing surface, said water cascading progressively outwards of said freezing surface as ice forms;
means adapted to deliver refrigerating fluid in the hot gaseous state in a harvest cycle to effect rapid warming of the freezing surface, thereby melting the ice surface in contact with said freezing surface, and permitting said ice forming means to be released;
a means to move said ice forming means away from said freezing surface during the harvest cycle;
an ejector means to remove ice cubes from said ice forming means; and means to return said ice forming means to an operative position at the commencement of the freezing cycle.
an evaporator, including at least one freezing surface and a plurality of rectangular channel ways for transporting refrigerating fluid, said channel ways being parallel and con-tiguous, and being arranged such that substantially the entire area of said freezing surface is in contact with one side of said channel ways;
said channel ways being connected to a disperser and at least one outlet manifold;
supply means for delivering cooled refrigerant fluid to said system of channel ways during a freezing cycle to effect rapid cooling of the freezing surface;
ice forming means defining a series of compartments for the formation of individual ice cubes, said compartments being arranged such that when in operation, each compartment is bounded by an open side being adjacent said freezing surface, a closed wall bearing a central aperture opposite to said open side, two solid walls lying in the vertical plane, and an upper and a lower slotted side in a horizontal plane, said slotted sides allowing water to pass through said compartment;
means for cascading water in a sheeting action directly against said freezing surface, said water cascading progressively outwards of said freezing surface as ice forms;
means adapted to deliver refrigerating fluid in the hot gaseous state in a harvest cycle to effect rapid warming of the freezing surface, thereby melting the ice surface in contact with said freezing surface, and permitting said ice forming means to be released;
a means to move said ice forming means away from said freezing surface during the harvest cycle;
an ejector means to remove ice cubes from said ice forming means; and means to return said ice forming means to an operative position at the commencement of the freezing cycle.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for cascading water in a sheeting action comprises a pump, a drain pan, a fresh water holding tank, and a distribution means, said pump, drain pan, holding tank and distribution means being in closed communication with one another, thereby allowing for recirculation of unfrozen water.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein an outside source of fresh water is connected to said means for cascading water, the inflow of said fresh water being controlled by a valve means.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said valve means is connected to a float type sensor; said float type sensor controlling the inflow of fresh water according to the level of water in said holding tank.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said distri-bution means comprises a series of conduits with perforations;
said perforations directing the flow of ice forming water under pressure against an uneven surface in numerous small streams, such that said ice forming water descends in a sheeting action over said ice forming means.
said perforations directing the flow of ice forming water under pressure against an uneven surface in numerous small streams, such that said ice forming water descends in a sheeting action over said ice forming means.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply means in order of the direction of flow, comprises a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, a disperser, and an accumulator; said supply means being in closed communication with said system of channel ways.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said evapor-ator has two freezing surfaces and is vertically disposed: and said rectangular channel ways are horizontally disposed one on top of another wherein opposite sides of each channel way comprise a freezing surface.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said channel ways are constructed of rectangular tubing.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said evapor-ator comprises an inner core constructed of a sheet of metal bent at right angles, thereby forming three sided parallel channel ways, and a freezing plate applied to opposite sides of said core thereby enclosing each channel way.
10. An ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ejector means includes a plurality of equidistant ejector rods mounted on, and perpendicular to, a stationary cube ejector support, said cube ejector support being parallel to and of sub-stantially the same area as said freezing surface.
11. An ice forming means as claimed in claim 1 wherein a number of compartments are connected together to form a tray and said two slotted sides of said compartments which lie in the hori-zontal plane are so positioned and configured that when in opera-tion during a harvest cycle, ice cubes can be freed from the tray without interference from ice formed in interconnecting adjacent compartments.
12. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 11 wherein said slotted sides are in the form of tapered tooth-like projections that have tips which abut the freezer plate during the freezing cycle.
13. An ice cube forming means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apertures of said closed walls are adapted to accommodate said ejector means.
14. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tray is constructed of a flexible nylon material.
15. An ice cube forming means as claimed in claim 1 comprising an array of compartments arranged in successive rows, said forming means including a plurality of discrete sections each of which contains one of said rows.
16. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 11 wherein each tray contains a single row of compartments, said slotted sides being dividing partition walls separating successive compartments in the row.
17. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said dividing partition walls defines a row of tapered tooth-like projections that have tips substantially located in a common plane.
18. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 17 wherein each compartment of said tray includes an open side which lies parallel to said row of compartments, said open side being closed by a solid wall of an adjacent ice cube tray, when in operation.
19. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 18 wherein said open side of each compartment is located on the same side of said tray.
20. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 11 wherein each compartment is defined in part by two adjacent trays.
21. An ice cube maker as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding tank is equipped with an air agitation means for the purification of ice forming water.
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
22. An ice cube making device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means to move said ice forming means includes at least one piston, yoke and push rod fixedly mounted to said ice forming means, said piston being housed within a cylinder and urging said ice forming means in the direction of said ejector means and away therefrom depending upon the cycle; and said piston being powered by compressed air.
23. An ice cube tray as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said compartments includes a wall with an aperture adapted to receive an ejector rod in one wall.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US79950785A | 1985-11-19 | 1985-11-19 | |
| US799,507 | 1985-11-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1282247C true CA1282247C (en) | 1991-04-02 |
Family
ID=25176086
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000522676A Expired - Lifetime CA1282247C (en) | 1985-11-19 | 1986-11-12 | Ice cube maker |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1282247C (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-11-12 CA CA000522676A patent/CA1282247C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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| MKLA | Lapsed |