GB847468A - Ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

847,468. Ice-making. BAYSTON, J. R. May 16, 1958, No. 15886/58. Class 29 Ice-making apparatus comprises a plurality of ice-making cells cooled by an evaporator and closed during freezing, water being supplied to each cell throughout freezing through a restricted orifice and freezing being automatically terminated when the orifice is closed by ice formation in the cell. The apparatus comprises a lower unit 10 having an ice-storage bin 14 closed by hinged door 16 and a plurality of identical ice-making units 11 which are superimposed one above the other on the unit 10, a top closure 12 being provided. Each unit 11 is divided by an insulating wall 26 into two parts, one 22 containing the refrigerant compressor 51 and condenser 53 and the other 23 containing the ice-freezing equipment. Part 23 includes a vertical shoot 141 which is open at the top and bottom so that ice from the various units can fall through any lower units and all be accumulated in the same bin 14. Part 23 contains an evaporator coil 65 disposed in a horizontal plane and carrying on its undersurface a bank of freezing cells 35 which are openbottomed but can be closed by a plate 36 hinged to the structure at 38. An icemaking cycle is automatically initiated provided the ice-bin 14 is not full and thereupon a motor starts to swing plate 36 upwards above its pivot 38 to close the cell bottoms and a main water valve is opened to discharge the water on to the upper surface of the cell assembly where it is pre-cooled by the evaporator and runs through holes 78 into the cells, excess water flowing through holes 99 into a tank 92 on the underside of plate 36. From the tank the water runs through flexible pipe 110 to a chamber 105 suspended from the operating arm of a spring-loaded switch 107. The water supply valve closes when a desired charge of water has been delivered. When chamber 105 is filled its weight operates switch 107 to start the supply of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator and to start a pump 96. This pump withdraws water from tank 92 and supplies it under pressure to header 95 through pipe 97. From the header it flows along a pipe 94 disposed below each row of cells which it can enter through restricted orifices 93. the displaced water returning to tank 92 through apertures 99. To prevent freezing in pipes 94 a small hole 100 allows continuous flow therethrough. From header 95 a continuous stream also flows through a nozzle 117 into a container 111 divided into two parts 113, 114. Normally the discharge falls into part 113 and returns to tank 92. When, however, the orifices 93 are blocked by ice the pressure in header 95 rises and the water from nozzle 117 enters part 114 whence it flows to a drain 135 through pipe 116. Thus tank 92 and chamber 105 are emptied and switch 107 is actuated by the rising of the chamber to start the supply of hot gas to the evaporator and to start the motor which lowers the plate 36. The ice blocks fall out and slide down plate 36 into the shoot 141. Completion of the. descent of plate 36 resets the machine for a new cycle. Specification 847,469 is reierred to.