US1447614A - Ice-can filler - Google Patents

Description

LM ZGM Mar, 6, i923! G. B. BRIGHT ICE CAN FILLER Filed. Jan. 2, 1920 3 sheets-sheet l Mar. 6, 1923.

G. B. BRIGHT ICE CAN FILLER 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1920 Gewye Z. firyaf Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,614

G. B. BRIGHT ICE CAN FIYKJA Filed Jan. 2, 1920 3 sheets-sheet 5 at i V vwewtoz (Asa/ye .5. BryA lcwm I Patente an. 5, I923.

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GEORGE IB. BRIGHT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ICE-CAN FILLER.

Application filed January 2, 1920. Serial No. 348,886.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. BRIGHT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Can Fillers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to the manufacture of artificial ice and has particular reference to the means employed for filling the cans in which the individual ice cakes are frozen. In the present state of the art ice cans are filled with water for freezing in various ways. By one method the empty cans are first placed in proper position in the brine and the water is then conveyed thereto through a hose. In another method the water for each individual can is drawn from a filling can which contains a measured quantity and as a further development of this method several of the individual ice cans are simultaneously filled from a filler tank divided in compartments. It is, however, difiicult to form a multiple compartment filler tank so as to contain an exactly measured quantity of water in each compartment and particularly it is difficult to correspond ingly vary the capacity of all of the compartments. I have, therefore, devised a simple construction in which a multiple filler tank is formed either from a series of individual tanks so coupled to each other as to be successively filled'from a single source of supply or with a series of compartments therein in inter communication. I have further provided simple means for accurately adjusting capacity of each of the individual tanks or compartments, and further, have devised a means for simultaneously controlling the discharge therefrom.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the filler; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation partially broken away;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view, and Figure 5 an elevation showing the filler in relation to the dump and the brine tank.

A, A, etc., are either individual tanks of rectangular form and predetermined capacity or are compartments formed in an obvious manner by partitions in a single container. B are outlet conduits connected with the bottoms of said. tanks or compartments, and C are controlling valves or closures for said outlets. D are apertures in the opposite sides of the tank in alignment with each other.

The multiple or gang filler is formed by connecting a series of the tanks A, A, etc., said tanks being arranged side by side and coupled by nipples E passing through the aperture D and secured by lock nuts F. The nipple E at one end of the series is connected with a water supply conduit G, which is controlled by a valve H. This connection will supply water first to the tank to which it is directly connected and successively to the tanks of the series through the nipple connections therebetween. The end tank of the series is connected with an overflow conduit I, which permits the escape of any surplus water after all of the tanks of the series have been filled to a predetermined height. In order to adjust the level within the tanks to alter the quantity, the nipples E have preferably connected thereto the elbow fittings J and the upwardly directed extension conduits K. These extension conduits are exchangeable and thus by substituting a longer or shorter one, the overflow level is altered. Also smaller variations may be produced by turning the elbows to different angles. The tanks may be further mechanically connected to each other by reinforcing bars L extending longitudinally of the series and bolted or riveted to the individual tanks. To automatically control the filling of the tanks a float actuated mechanism is provided for operating the valve H. This, as shown, consists in a float M located in the last tank of the series and guided for vertical movement therein by a suitable guide frame N. The float is connected by a cable or flexible connection 0 passing over shives P to the valve H and the arrangement is such thatwhen the level in this tank rises to a predetermined height, the float will be lifted and by relieving tension on the cable 0, permits the tripping of a weight Q which thus automatically closes the valve. The weight holds the valve closed until the mechanism is reset manually for refilling the tanks.

For simultaneously controlling the d1scharge from all of the individual tanks the valves C have connected thereto the cables R which extend upward and are attached to a rock shaft S extending over the entire series. This shaft is journaled to suitable bearings T, bolted or otherwise secured to the tanks, and at one end of the shaft is a lever arm U by means of which the shaft may be rocked. Thus, whenever a series of cans are to be filled, they are conveyed into registration with the respective discharge conduits B after which the operator by moving the lever U will simultaneously lift all ofthe valves G and permit the discharge of the contents of each of the tanks into the registered cans.

One great advantage of my construction is that the filler may be located adjacent to the dump and in operation the cans, as soon as relieved from the ice cakes, may be refilled and then replaced in the brine tank. This does away with the necessity of transporting the water to the various locations of the cans when in the brine tank and in every way expedites the operation.

As shown in I igures i and 5, the tanks A, etc.,- of thefiller are supported in an elevated position adjacent to the tilting dump Y, so that the empty cans, while still in the dump, can be filled. The clip tank W is also adjacent to the dump, so that in operation the cans are first dipped in the hot water; the

freed ice cakes are then placed in the dump and the latter tilted to discharge the cakes and are then returned to vertical position and refilled. This avoids all necessity of conveying the water and permits of filling without any further transportation of the cans than that required for the discharge of the frozen cakes and the return to the brine tank.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In ice freezing apparatus a gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of individual tanks having fiat sides adjacent to each other, each tank being provided with an outlet conduit, a valve in each outlet conduit, means for actuating said valves simultaneously to control the discharge of liquid from each tank, nipples passing through aligned apertures in the sides of the tanks constituting an overflow connection from one to another, lock nuts engaging said nipples for mechanically connecting the tanks and forming a water seal, a water supply tothe end tank of the series, and an overflow connection on the opposite end tank.

2. In ice freezing apparatus a gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of individual tanks arranged adjacent to each other, each tank being provided with a valve-controlled discharge, an overflow connection between the adjacent walls of said tanks, and means for adjusting the height or the-inlet to said overflow connection.

3. In ice freezing apparatus a gang or nultiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series or individual tanks arranged adjacent to each other, each tank being provided with a valve-controlled discharge, an overflow connection passing through the walls of adjacent tanks, and a riser on the inlet side of said overflow connection adjustable in height to control the level.

4. In ice freezing apparatus a gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of individual tanks arranged adjacent to each other, each tank being provided with a valvecontrolled discharge, a valve controlled water supply connection for the end tank of the series, overflow connections between adjacent tanks, an overflow for the tank at the opposite end of the series, and means controlled by the level in the latter tank for opening and closing the valve or" the water supply.

In ice freezing apparatus a gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of adjacent individual tanks, means for filling saidtanks to corresponding levels, a discharge connection to the bottom of each tank. valves controlling said discharge connection, a rock shaft extending over the se ries of tanks, connections between said rock shaft and the individual valves for the discharge connections, and means for'rocking said shaft to simultaneously open all of said valves. 7

6. A gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of individual tanks arranged adjacent to each other, an inlet conduit connected to the tank at one end of the series, an overflow pipe connected to the tank at the opposite end of the series, nipples connecting each of said tanks, oscillatory elbow fittings in said. nipples, and exchangeable upwardly directed extension conduits carried by said elbows. V

7. A gang or multiple filler for ice cans, comprising a series of individual tanks arranged adjacent to each other, an adjustable overflow connection betweensaid tanks, and means for adjusting the height of the inlet to said overflow connection. 7

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

GEORGE -B. BRIGHT.

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