GB1426044A - Device for dispensing ice - Google Patents

Abstract

1426044 Ice-making A J HOBBS 7 Feb 1973 [17 Feb 1973 11 May 1972 14 July 1972] 7432/72 22170/72 and 33035/72 Heading F4H A device for dispensing ice, comprises a refrigeration unit which includes an annularshaped avaporator drum 80 formed with tapered moulds 81 extending therethrough, means for supplying liquid to be frozen into the moulds, and means for ejecting pieces of ice from at least one of the moulds. In one embodiment, the evaporator is rotatable about a vertical axis in bearings 88, 90 to bring each of the moulds a-p in turn into alignment with solenoid-operated means 82 for ejecting ice downwardly from the mould. A pressure plate 104 is mounted upon a set of springs 106 to bias the plate 104 against the lower surface 108 of the evaporator 80, thereby closing the lower openings of the moulds. The surfaces exposed to the ice are cooled with polytetrafluoroethylene. The indexing of the drum may be effected manually by pulling an operating handle. A spring 124 replaces the handle in position. Movement of the handle activates the solenoid means, such that when the handle reaches a stop position, a hammer head is driven downwardly to strike the block of ice. The ice passes through an aperture in the plate 104 into a shoot 84. As the spring 124 operates to replace the operating handle, a measured supply of liquid is pumped into an adjacent mould. Because of the difficulties in sealing the surfaces 104 and 108, in another embodiment, the moulds are inverted and a rubber diaphragm is used to block off the base of the mould. The shaped pieces of ice are then struck from below. The device may also be driven by an electric motor which may be actuated to index the evaporator by means of a push button. Refrigerant is fed to the evaporator via a stationary bush 133. The bush bore 136 communicates with a bore 138 in the rotatable shaft 86, O- ring sealing members 140 and 142 being provided. The refrigerant passes into a capillary tube 150 wound around the shaft. The tube 150 communicates with four tubes 152 for distributing the refrigerant around the drum. The refrigerant flows out of the shaft 86 via a stationary bore 158.