US2181000A

US2181000A - Ice chipping device

Info

Publication number: US2181000A
Application number: US93344A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Shively
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-07-30
Filing date: 1936-07-30
Publication date: 1939-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-21

Description

Nov. 21, 1939. J. J. sHlvELY j 2.181.000

v .ICE CH-IPPING DEVIGE` v Filed July so;4 195e s shegts-sheet 2 5in( s y ,f//Alg IN1/Emol; Y John JShimeLy.

l l Bx f Y' ATTORNEYS f f Nav.'2l, l1939 J1J.s|'|l'\`/E|.Y 2,131,000

10E CHIPPING DEVICE y f Filed July so, 1936' s sheets-sheet :sl

INVENTOR Lag ` ATTORNEY PatentedA Nov. '21,

uurrlaoA STATES PATENT omer.; ,y

A IcEomPPING DEVICE John J. Shively, New York, N. Y. Appuc'atin July 30.1936, serial No. 93,344.

4s claims.. (cl. ss-ez) This invention relates Ito improvements in ice chipping devices.\ l

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above nature adapted to reduce pieces of ice of various sizes to chips by picking action.

Another'object is to provide a device ofthe above character operable by electricity.

A-'furth'er object is to provide improved speed reducing means in the driving mechanism of the device. y

Still another object is to provide .a device of the above -character adaptable to produce chips of any desired size. A

'Still a further object isto provide a unitary pick-plate readily removablegfrom the machine.

AnotherV object is to provide aI device of the above type including means to prevent injury to the operator.

A further object is to" provide improved means-4 to bring the icc into engagement with the picks. Still another object is to provide a device of the above character which may be quiet in operation.

- A further object is to provide a device of the above character which is compact, simple, and which may be cheaply manufactured.

, Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent during the course of the i following description in connection with the acy on the lines 2 2, Figure' 1;

'a substantially drum-shaped base havingv .a squared lower portion. 2|, Figures 1 and 2, provided with an upturned rim 22 to form a pan. Feet 23, preferably of rubber, are attached to the bottomsof1 the four corners of the squared pan 2| and are adapted to support the device on any surface 24 such as a bar, counter, ori soda-foune* tain top, thelegs beingof suflicient height toprovide. a space 25 between the bottom of the pan` 2| and the`supporting surface.

The upper end of the base 20 comprises'a head 25 having an upwardly extending central sleeve 2'|in which two ball bearings 28 andrl29, pref-` 49 in the plate 4|.

erably of the sealed grease-packed type, are disposed respectively above and below anl internal flange 30. v

A vertical shaft 3| has secured on its lower half a sleeve 32 forming the hub of a downwardly 5 directed internal gear 33. The sleeve 32 -is supported in the lower ball bearing 29 and has on its upper end dog teeth 34. i

A rotor 35, shown in detail in Figure 5, has

a downwardly projecting hub 35 tting on the 10 shaft 3| and formed with dog teeth 31meshing with the teeth 34 on the gear hub 32.' The rotor e hub 36 is supported in the upper ball bearing 28,' the sleeve 2'|-projecting upward `into a cylindrical recess 38 in the rotor 35 as shown in Figure 1.

The rotor 35 comprises a lower circular disk 39 carrying a plurality 'of spokes or impeller vanes 40, Figures l, 2 and 5. The va'nes 40 preferably are disposed'with arearward tangential inclination `with respect to the rotational directionof 20 .f

the rotor 35 as indicated by the arrow in Figure'2. l Y S A circular plate 4|, Figures 1 and 4,\herein Aafter referred to as the pick plate, is secured to vthe top of the rotor 35 by means of a nut 42 on 25 the end of the shaft3l, a short upperA hub 43 on the top ofthe rotor engaging' a central hole 44 in the pick-plate to act as a centering .pilot for` the latter.

'A pin 45, Figures 2, 4 and 5, is secured in the 30 rotor 35 and extends through the pick-plate, providing4 apositive driving means for the plate. The pick-plate 4| carries. one or more upwardly inclined pick members suchy as 46l and 41,

Figures 1 and 4, partly.overlyingopenings 48 'and .5

The pick members may' be formed integrally with the plate 4| in the shape vof aps having forwardly directed sharp points i along their upper edges. Each pick member may have any desired number of points according to the grade and neness of chip which it is desired to produce, and the height of the pick f. members and sizeof the openings 48 and 49 may valso be" varied for the same reason, as hereinafter 45 explained.

It will be seen that the pick-plate `structure is well adapted'to easy and uniform manufacture, lthe normal sequence of operations being to stamp out the plate complete with its various openings and pick-angles, then bend the pick members upward and bring their points to sharp-` ness by grinding off'the upper corners. It is also obvious that the one-piece construction makes it impossible for the

pick members

46 and 55 55 secured in the middle of the cross member 69,

41 to be improperly installed or to work loose in service.

The pick-plate 4| is so disposed on the rotor that the openings 48 and 49 overlie the cavities 5| and 5|a between adjacent vanes 40, Figures 1 and 2. In the structure shown, wherein the plate carriestwo pick members as noted, holes 52 and 53, Figure 4, may be provided leading through the plate 4| into the underlying cavities 5|b and 5|c diametrically opposite the cavities 5| and 5|a respectively. These holes permit balancing of the plate 4| and provide for the admission of air to the cavities 5|b and 5|c for a purpose herein-

A

51 and 58 iitting into an annular recess 59 in the top of the drum 56. The space between the inner and

outer cylinders

51 and 58 may be filled with any suitable `heat insulating material 60 such as ground cork, rock wool or the like, and

a channel ring 6| is secured to the top of the cylinders to bind the upper edges thereof in concentric relation and to protect the insulation' 60 against the entry of moisture. If` desired, the

Y inner cylinder 51 may have a lining 62 of rubber or other resilient material. A cover 63 provided with a centralknob 64 is removably mounted on the top ofthe hopper 54.

The cylindrical inner surface of the drum 56 surrounds the circumference of the rotor 35 with a small running clearance as. shown in

Figures L

1 and 2. A shoulder 65 in the drum closely overlies the projecting ends of the fins 40. An opening 66 in one side of the drum 56 leads into the interior of a downwardly curved spout 61 secured to or formed on the exterior of the drum. The openingl 66 and interior of the spout 61 form an exit passage 88 leading tangentially from the interior of the drumand curving downward through the spout, the cross sectional area of the passage increasing in the outward direction.

A cross member 69 on the drum 56, Figures 1 and 3, spans the plate 4| above the tops f the

pick members

46 and 41 and is formed with two ns 10 and 1| inclined downwardly in the direction of. rotation of the rotor. A vertical rod 12,

extends upward through the central axis of the hoper 54 and through the hub or center of a spider 13 and may terminate in a sharp point 14. The spider 1.3 has three or more upwardly inclined legs 15 extendingto a rim 16 which overlies the channel ring 6|, a nut 11 on the rod 12 holding the spider clamped downward in position as noted.

A motor 18xenclosed in the base 20, has an upper end plate 19 bolted to the bottom -of the head 26 and forming therewith a lubricant chamber 80.

The vertical shaft 8| of the motor 18 carries on its upper end a pinion 82 meshing with the internal gear 33. The upper bearing 83 of the motorIk -is preferably ofthe grease-packed ball type adaptedto operate for long periods of time without attention 'while at the same time acting as a seal to retain lubricant in the chamber 80.

A plug 84 isl provided in the head 26 to permit charging the chamber with lubricant.

A plate member 85 fastened to the front of theis of the well known type adapted to open when released and has a plunger 89 directed outwardly ina bore 90 through the plate member 85. A switch lever 9| is swung on a horizontal pivot pin 92 supported in lugs 98 formed on the barrel 56. Side walls 94 on the spout 81, Figure 1, serve to retain the pin 92 longitudinally in the lugs 98. v l

An extension 95 on the rear side of the lever 9| is adapted to engage the switch plunger 89. A' torsion spring 96 disposed on the pivot pin 92 and engaging the spout 61 and lever 9|, serves to hold the extension 95 against the switch plunger 89 and to partly counter-balance the strength of the latters internal releasing spring (not shown). The lever 9| is provided with an external pad 91 of rubber or other suitable resilient material and having an outwardly projecting lip 98 at the -25 upper end thereof adjacent the spout 81, Figures 1 and 6.

Aclosure plate |06, Figure 1, which may be provided with a gasket |01, is secured to the bottom of the base 20. A current supply cord |08, which may have any suitable type `of attachment plug (not shown) extends through a grommet |09 in the plate |06 and to the motor 18, the switch 88 being connected in series therewith by means of leads ||0.

The `operation of the device is as follows: Broken ice is placed in the hopper shell 55, the lowermost vpieces resting on the pick-plate 4|. The spider 13 serves toh prevent the entry of unduly large ice chunks, and if desired the sharp point 14 maybe provided on the rod 12 to provide a pick for breaking such chunks.

When-it is desired to chip ice into a receptacle suchas a glass, the operator places the receptacle under the spout 61 .and presses the pad 91 and lever 9| inward either with the fingers or with the receptacle itself. 'I'he extension 95 presses inward the plunger 89, closing the switch 88 and starting the motor 18. The motor acting through the described reduction gearing, rotates the rotor 35 and pick-plate 4| in thel direction of the arrow, Figure 2. The sharp pick-points 50 engage the lowermost layer of ice chunks, separating chips therefrom. The chips glide down the unobstructed lower surfaces of the pick members 48 and 49 into the cavities 5| and. 6in.

-Here the chips encounter the vanes 40. The

vanes sweep the chips around the interior of the 'drum 56 and hurl them by centrifugal force through the passage 68, through the spout 61 and into the receptacle held under the latter.

When the desired amount of chipped ice hasbeen delivered the operator removes the recep tacle, allowing the switch 88 to open, the plunger duced to chips.

89 forcing the lever 9| outward. The-use of the compensating torsion spring S6 makescloslng of the switch possible with comparatively lightly applied pressure and prevents flapping ofthe Also, as the device operates with a positive picking action as opposed to shaving or cutting action, it may operateat much lower speed and with less power than would be necessary for shaving or cutting, while at the same time the increased diameter of the lower rotor -and vane structure ver that of the pick-plate provides sufficient centrifugal force even at comparatively slow rol tative speeds to eX-pelall chips through the spout. The above characteristics and the use of the des cribed speed reducing means, 'permit thefuse of a comparatively small and lightl motor, preferably of the series-wound universal type applicable to either 'direct or alternating current. The use of this type motor, which has an inherently high.

passages having parallel or converging! walls.

starting torque, has the further advantage of eliminating any failure to start against a wedged load of ice.

The rubber lining B2; .Figure 1, tends to cushion the engagement of ice chunks with the interioiw 'of the hopperI as the ice moves into cutting position, thus promoting quietness of operation.

The reason forV the outwardly divergent shape of the exit passage 68 is to insure free and complete discharge of the ice, preventing any clog`` ging of the spout such as is liable'to occur in It hasbeen noted thatholes 52 and` 53k in the pick-plate 4| lead into the rotor cavities 5|b and 5|c which are not provided with pick members. During the chipping operation air is drawn through these holes, the adjacent vanes 40 acting as the vanes of a centrifugal blower to deliver the air in outward puffs or .blasts through the pas-V sage 68. The blasts of airpassing outward be. tween deliveries of ice from the cavities 5| and 5|a aid in maintaining complete discharge of the ice, particularly any small light particles formed in the 'chipping process.` Air may readily pass to the holes 52 and 53 between the irregular' chunks of ice in the hopper, and perforations may be provided in the cover 63 to admitgair to the hopper.

As previously pointedy out, the pick-plate 4| with its pick members is a vunitary structure retained on lthe rotor 35 by means of the single nut 42, Figure 1. In commercial service the user Y may be furnished with a number of pick-plates having their

pick members

46 and 41 set at vari-` ous heights .above thel plate and with different numbers of points`50, to form different sizes of chips. When it is desired to change the grade of chips, the hopper assembly 54, which is normally secured to the base 20 byv means of screws I2,

Figure 6, may be removed bodily,` the nut 42 screwed off the shaft 3|, and the plate 4| removed and replaced by a plate having pick members adapted to produce the desired grade. During the time that the hopper assembly is removed from the base 20 it/isimportant that there be effective means to prevent accidental starting of the motor which would set the' exposed ,rotor 35- and pick-plate 4| in motion with the dangerof injury to the operator. Thism'eans is' provided by the attachmentV of the switch levetrglv v barrel 58 which forms part ofthe hopper' sembly 54. :When thehopper is removed, therefi fore, it carries with it the switch leverl, effectively disabling the switching means against vace cidental closing, since the plunger89 is disposed deeply within the -bore 90. Inother words, the

switching means comprises two elements attached to' twov majorportions of the device, so

that separation of the portionsby disengaging these elements disables'the switching means.

'I'he legs 15 of the spider 13 further protect the operatory by preventing careless insertion of his hand and arm into the hopper and into contact with the pick members 46 'and 41.

Any water of condensation which may forml on the outside of the base 20 or hopper 54 runs lusdown and collects in the pan 2|, from whichthe water runs through the hole |05 into the main drain passagek |0| from the sump `|00Fig ure 1. The bottom plate |06, Figure 1, renders the interior ofthe base 20 substantially air-tight, eliminating condensation of moisture therein 'which might injure the' motor 18, and due to the fact that the operation of the deviceis intermittent the motor does not run sufficiently torequire outside ventilation. The opening 81 in thebase 20- under the switchplate 85 islarger than ythev switch'81. By removing the plate 85, therefore,

the switch may be pulled outbodily through the kopening 81 for service or replacement, the in.

terior leads I0 being made of sufficient length to permit the above operation. Itis thus unnecessary to tip the machine or otherwise disturbits normal operating position in order toservice the switch.

The use of the internal gear 33 andthe pini`on 82,-running in grease or other suitable lubricant, `provides 'a sil-ent and elicient speed reducing means, while the grease packed ball bearings 28,

29 and 83 in addition to theirA bearing functions,

effectively seal the chamber 80 againstleakage, making replenishment of lubricant unnecessary throughout-longperiods of service. The'upper bearing 2.8, which carries the downward thrust of the rotor, is protected against. water bybeing disposed in`the recess 38 in the lrotor itself and high above the sump: |00. The internal gear 33 is preferably a die `casting with the vshaft 3i cast therein as an insert. It should be notedthat the'main drive between the gear 33 and rotor 3,5

takes place. directly through the dog teeth-34 and 31, the shaft 3| acting principally as a pilot spindle and without keys or the like.

ferred form it is not limited to the exact struc-` tures i1lustrated,'as various modifications may'be made without departing from the scope of the appended' claims. 1

What is claimed is: f 1. Ina device of the character described, in

combination, a base, a hopper on'said base adapted to contain ice, a depressed spider in the upper part of saidhopper adapted to initiallyv receive said ice and to guide into the lower part of' said hopper pieces of said ice smaller than a predetermined size, a rotary pick-plate in said hopper and having openings therein, picks on said plate adjacent certain but not all of said openings and adapted to engage said ice whereby chips may be picked from said ice and guided through said certain openings, stationary means in said hopper to hold said ice in engagement with said picks, a spout on said hopper having an outwardly divergent passage therethrough, a centrifugal impeller underlying said plate and adapted to expel said chips through said pasage, and means to rotate said plate and impeller.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said' impelleris of substantially greater diameter than said pick-plate and wherein said divergent passage has a tangentially directed inner opening closely adjacent the periphery of said impeller#2 and a downwardly directed exteriorroutlet.

3. In an ice chipper, in combination, a base,

a'motor in said base, a container for ice, said container having a tangential outlet opening, means rotatable to chip said ice, a stationary totally inclined member adjacent said chipping means and adapted to hold said ice in wedging engagement therewith, centrifugal means rotatable with said chipping means to discharge said chipped ice through said outlet, and ,speed reducing means operatively connecting said motor to said chipping means and said centrifugal means, said centrifugal means being of substantially greater diameter than said chipping means whereby said centrifugal means 4may have a high peripheral velocity relative to the velocity of said chipping means.

4. An ice chipper as claimed in claim 3, 'including a spout comprising walls having smooth inner surfaces dening an unobstructed divergent discharge passage leading outward from. said tangential opening.

, 5. In an ice chipper including a container for ice, in combination, a rotary chipper plate having picks adapted to engage said ice to produce chips therefrom, a centrifugal impeller 'secured to said plate and adapted to receive said chips, the diameter of said impeller being substantially greater than theouter diameter of said plate, and a downwardly curved spout associated with said container, said spout comprisingwalls havingv smooth interior surfaces deilning a discharge passage leading tangentially from an opening closely adjacent the periphery of said impeller and diverging outwardly for unobstructed discharge of said chips.

6. In a device of the charactendescribed, in combination, a base, a hopper'removably secured thereon and adapted to contain chunks of ice,

means in the upper part of said hopper to limit the chunks which may descend within said hopper to a size substantially smaller than the interior of said hopper, said means including a spider having a -central portion depressed to a point substantially'below the rim of said hopper, a centrifugal impeller supported by said base and comprising a` plurality of dischargeA cavities, a motor in said base, gear means operatively connecting said motor to said impeller, a plate detachably secured on said impeller and adapted to support said ice in said hopper, a pin secured in said impeller extending through said plate to drive the same, said plate having openings leading to certain but not all of said discharge cavities, picks on said plate partly overlying said openingsand adapted to engage said ice to chip the, same through said openings, rearwardly in- ,clined stationary iins'in the lower part of said hopper above said picks and coperative therewith to wedge said ice into engagement with said plate and picks, and a spout on said hopper having a divergent passage therethrough in line with and closely adjacent the periphery of said impeller, said impeller being adapted to discharge said chipped ice through said passage.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plate Icomprises air openings into said'other impeller cavities rwhereby said impeller may discharge air through said exit passage to facilitate the discharge of said chipped ice therethrough.

8. In an ice chipping device, in combination, a base, a hopper on said base and adapted to contain ice, said hopper comprising a lower drum and a shell attached thereto, rotary means withinl said drum to chip said ice, a spout on said drum adjacent said chipping means and having smooth inner' surfaces defining an outwardly divergent outlet passage, centrifugal means associated with said chipping means in line with said passage and operable to eject said chipped ice through said passage, a stationary fin in said drum and closely overlying said chipping means, the lower side of said iin being rearwardly inclined to guide said ice-into wedging engagementwith said rotary chipping means, means in said shell to guard 4saidchipping means and to limit the size of ice` chunks which may be fed thereto, said means comprising a spider engaging thetop of said shell and having its' middle portion depressed within said hopper, and a pick-point supported in said' middle portion and adapted to break up masses of ice thrust thereon.

JOHN J. SHIVELY.