GB1015099A - Improvements in or relating to ice-making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,015,099. Ice-making. C. E. LOWE. July 18, 1964, No. 31519/64. Heading F4H. Ice-making apparatus comprises an evaporator 16 having outer and inner cylindrical walls 23, 24 defining an annular refrigerant chamber 22 therebetween, a conduit 21 for supplying liquid refrigerant to chamber 22 during the freezing cycle, a conduit 32 for supplying hot gaseous refrigerant to the bottom of chamber 22 during the harvesting cycle and means 25 and 26 for spraying water on to the inner surface of cylinder 24 and the outer surface of cylinder 23. A vapour return line 27 leads from the top of chamber to an accumulator 29 from which the suction line 12 leads to the compressor 10, the upper end of line 12 being located near the top of the accumulator. An orifice 31 is provided in line 12 adjacent the bottom of the accumulator to allow a restricted flow of liquid refrigerant through line 12, such flow being evaporated in a heat exchanger 19 heated by the liquid line 18 from the water-cooled condenser 15. Hot gas is supplied to conduit 32 during harvesting through a branch line 14 controlled by a poleroid valve 17. In the modification of Fig. 5 (not shown) branch line 14 communicates with an inlet of a four-way valve which further comprises a second inlet communicating via a check valve with the accumulator, an outlet communicating with the suction line, and a port communicating with a branched conduit, the legs of which each include a check-valve and are in respective communication with conduit 32 and the top of space 22. During the freezing cycle the four-way valve is actuated to place the port in communication with the outlet, and during harvesting the second inlet is put in communication with the outlet and the first inlet in communication with the port.