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
  • F25C1/00—Producing ice
  • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
  • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
  • F25C1/243—Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone

Definitions

• the present invention refers to an ice mold according to the preamble of claim 1.
• the molds for producing ice cubes and used in refrigerators and freezers usually have longitudinal and/or transversal rows of cavities or receptacles for the formation of ice cubes and which are dimensioned so that each may produce an ice cube having determined characteristics of shape and dimensions within a known standard, conventionally searched by the user.
• An ice mold construction known in the art is made of a metallic material, usually aluminium. This construction has some advantages, such as the rapid formation of ice, due to the high speed of heat exchange between the mold material, which is a good heat conductor, and the environment where said mold is placed, usually a portion of the evaporating plate of a freezing compartment.
• the constructions using a mold in a metallic material have some disadvantages, such as the easy adherence of the lower surface of the mold cavities to the adjacent surface of the evaporating plate, difficulty in dislodging the formed ice cubes from the molds, rigidity of the piece and cost of the product.
• an ice mold of the type comprising a tray provided with a plurality of cavities for ice formation, each two adjacent cavities being separated by a corresponding tray portion, at least part of said tray portions being provided with at least one window, which is dimensioned in order to allow the formation and the ascending passage of a convective air current between two adjacent cavities.
• the ice mold which is preferably produced in a single piece and from plastic material, comprises a tray 10, which is substantially flat and provided with a plurality of cavities 11, downwardly projecting from the tray 10, each two adjacent cavities 11 being spaced from each other by a corresponding tray portion 12, said cavities 11 being, for example, arranged in longitudinal and transversal rows in the tray 10, as illustrated.
• Each cavity has, for example, four lateral walls 13, converging at a base portion 14, inferior, which is seated onto a surface for heat exchange and ice formation, and an opening portion 15, superior, for extracting the ice formed inside each cavity 11.
• At least part of the tray portions 12 is provided with at least one window 20, which is dimensioned in order to allow the formation and the ascending passage of a convective air current between each two adjacent cavities 11.
• each cavity 11 has an inverted frusto-pyramidal shape, with the base portion 14 being substantially flat and with the opening portion 15 having an area value, which is higher than but substantially close to the area value of the base portion 14.
• tray portions 12 with windows 20 allows the confronting lateral walls 13 of the cavities 11 to have a maximized heat exchange, since they avoid the formation of an insulating air cushion in this region, as it occurs in the known prior art constructions, and allows the passage of a convective ascending refrigerant air flow, which allows said walls to effect heat exchange as well.
• each cavity 11 has a depth calculated so as to correspond to about 70% the value of the smallest dimension of the opening portion 15, defining a dimensioning for the cavity 11 which results in an ice cube with a reduced height and enlarged horizontal dimensional parameters in relation to the usual ice cubes.
• the present invention in order to increase the speed of heat exchange of the cavities 11 of said molds with the freezing compartment into which the latter are placed, the present invention further foresees the construction of cavities 11 with reduced thickness, at least at its base portion 14, for example, of about 0,6 mm.
• the lateral walls 13 thereof may have a reduced thickness as well, or with an intermediate thickness value, situated between that of the base portion 14 and that of the tray portion 12.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=4073123

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-08-10 BR BR9903475-1A patent/BR9903475A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 1999-10-28 WO PCT/BR1999/000090 patent/WO2001011296A2/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-10-28 AR ARP990105432A patent/AR020996A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-10-28 EP EP99953448A patent/EP1203191B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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