US2258975A - Freezing unit - Google Patents

Description

0d 14, 1941 E. H. DAvls 2,258,975

FREEZING UNIT Filed Aug. 9, 1939 F Fil' I| 'Il I'IIII Wwf",

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEZING UNIT Edward H. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Application August 9, 1939,. Serial No. 289,291

2 Claims.

This invention refers to freezing equipment 'and more particularly to devices for manufacturing relatively small cubes or rolls of articial ice, and has among its objects to provide a freezing magazine capable vof being arranged in banks `for general use; which will be appreciably ecient in use and in the time taken for making the cubes; that will be self-dumping; capable of being aerated for clearing the ice made; that will be -compact in construction, yet free from icescaling and other objectionable features ordinarily met with in the making of artificial ice.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

In theory, many methods for making artificial -cubes of ice have recommended the procedures of using molds, partitioned trays, rubber molds, and other arrangements for preforming the cubes directly. However, in practice, the commercial method followed uses a standard block of ice, cut into small square cubes with spaced saws run in unison and consecutively in longitudinal and transverse directions. This is a relatively costly and wasteful procedure, but since it is profitable, itis still adhered to, as well as because of the fact ithat the method is known to be successful. The methods of the theoretical nature referred to yhave not been developed adequately to be practical and have not been proven successful be'- cause of the trouble and inconvenience arising bythe cubes sticking to the mold after freezing vo'r becoming damaged on removal. In other words, they do not aord any saving in labor or produce a better article. With these conditions rexisting and the facts known, applicant has produced an arrangement of equipment and a method of using same with it, that will produce small'cubes of artificial ice, quickly, economically, and in desirable form. The arrangement consists of magazines of relatively narrow width secured adjacent to each other in spaced banks, having spaced tubes passing through them with Vwater supplied from an outsidecasing, and freezing medium circulating through the magazine in Contact with the external surface of the tubes.

The arrangement is such that it produces a number of valuable features, in which are included; a reduction in the vtime of freezing from about forty-eight hours for the solid cake to one hour in cubes in this method.

Also to include the features of making the ice of the cubes clear and transparent; having the cubes readily removable in perfect form; the prevention of ice-scaling between the framework and casing; and the easy manipulation of the 'magazines- The time of freezing is reduced because of the close and continuous contact of the cooling uid with the tubes surrounding `the water to be cooled into cubes. The cubes are removable because they are frozen in the tubes proper, but not at the portion where the tubes connect with the wall platesbecause of the lack of cooling fluid directly at this location. In fact, the water freezes with slightly concaved shrunken end portions, and in doing so, loosens the whole cube in the individual tube. The ice-scaling is prevented between the walls of separaterma'gazines by the spacing, designed to provide for this condition. The cubes are also loosened from the Walls of the tubes by the reversing of the cold brine process, through the use of a warm circulating fluid in place of it for a few moments before the -magazine is removed from the freezing tank. The flow of the'cooling or warming fluids, as the case may be, is arranged from a manifold that Vsends jets directly to the exterior walls of the tubes The latter are staggered to suit the flow more economically. The entire outer casing is surrounded with an insulation that makes the effects of heat more sufficient, prevents ice from forming on the edges of the magazines, and increases the production of the device. It should be particularly noted `that the cubes are frozen transversely over their longitudinal length, which is the quickest manner of vdoing so, 4and the best in regard to convection current effects. In other .methods proposed, the cooling is done through the vends of the cubes and has to travel longitudinally through the water, which is a most difficult manner of heating or cooling water for the cubes.

In the drawing which illustrates an example of this invention:

Figure 1 is a general View in perspective of a cube freezing unit embodying this invention,

` Figure 2 is a sectional Vview through the freezing fluid chamber of `a magazine, indicating the general layout of the tubes, the flow of circulation, and the peripheral'insulati'on,

Figure Y3 is an enlarged sectional view through the side portion of a magazine, and on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a diagram indicating the general arrangement of the system used and described herein.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the construction indicated in the drawing,

a narrow outer casing I forms the external portion around a magazine 2 for making artificial ice-cubes 22, and is adapted to contain fresh or clean water 5. The magazine has Walls 3 perforated and arranged with transverse metal tubes 4 arranged in staggered order. These tubes open up into the water space 5 and collect water from same externally. The cooling fiuid 6 passes into and out of the magazine through a pair of end manifolds l with open jets 8 facing the adjacent tubes as indicated in Figure 2. This fiuid goes in one set of the tubes l, passes out of the jets 8,

into the magazines, from which it is drawn up into the second set of tubes 'I on the opposite side of the magazines back to the crculator. This fiuid is circulated around the external portion of the tubes within the shell from one of the manifolds and taken off by the other intothe cooling system 9. The system has pipingv I4, circulators I connected with suitable freezing liquid storage II, as well as a three way valve I2, leading to a warm circulating system to be used alternately in this arrangement. The magazine and casing are surrounded with a balsa board or other insulation I3 to protect and insulate the fresh water in the same. Handles 20, are provided for convenience in handling.

In the operation of the magazine, the fresh Water is placed in the casing I and fills the tubes 4. The cold brine or freezing medium is then circulated through the interior of the magazine, coming through the jets 8 in the manifolds l, cools same and freezes the liquid in the tubes covered by the medium. The end portions of the tubes secured in the magazine do not cool so rapidly and effectively, because it is in contact with the fresh water, and therefore, the Water does not freeze in such end portions, but makes the ends of the cube slightly concaved.

When the cubes, regardless of what their actual form may be in the tubes or sleeves used, are frozen completely, the cooling medium is shut ol and the warm fiuid passes through sufficiently to warm up the walls of the sleeves and release any portion of the ice cubes attached to same. This takes but a moment or so. The magazine is then disconnected from its piping, and removed, and laid on its side, so the cubes can drop out and be collected for selling or using purposes.

In using the magazine, three magazines are connected together in bank, in the casing I to provide a convenient supply, and are spaced sidewise from each other by about an inch space in order that water will not freeze in between. This spacing under the rate or usual circulation adopted, is sufficient to prevent the ice-scaling. The bottom of the casing has an air connection I5, easily detachable and removable, for supplying air to the fresh water. This air will circulate sufciently to keep the water in the tubes aerated and on freezing, free from cloudiness. The insulation board I3, serves its purpose, as already outlined, and is built preferably with its Walls extended beyond the magazine at I6, to provide mechanical protection in addition to the insulation, and reduce the sounds made when removing or inserting the magazines in the casing. The board also softens the handling of the magazines sufficiently to prevent breakage that might otherwise be caused by rough handling in cans not so protected. This method is efficient and quick and greatly reduces the amount of labor and cost required to make the cubes or pieces of predetermined form, ready for use, as it actually makes them, and avoids the sawing and cutting now generally used to make the desired cubes.

Clips or other convenient means hold the magazines in place in the casing and spaced from each other.

The magazines are preferably set in guides 23 internally provided on the end sides of the casing I, and arranged as channels for them to readily slide Adown into or out of. 'I'he guides follow down the entire length of the casing and thus brace the magazines firmly in place, and strengthen the casing. The casing is also provided with a cover 25 to keep dust and lint from falling into the water used for the cubes; A spray head is provided on the aerating line to spread the air all over the interior of the casing.

While but one form. of the inventionis shown in the drawing, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this construction, or in any other way, otherwise than limited by the prior art, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made, that would employ the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an ice-cube maker, the combination of an external casing, adapted to hold a supply of water, and a plurality of watertight, sealed magazines held in spaced relationship within the casing, said magazines having each a plurality of relatively short rigid tubes extending through the same transversely from Wall to wall below the normal water level and open at the ends to allow the filling water to stand `internally Within them, and conductor connections to the magazines ai"- ranged to provide for the circulation of freezing fluids therein and around the external peripheral surfaces of the tubes situated between the Walls of the individual magazines to directly cool and refrigerate the water filling the interior of said tubes.

2. In an ice-cube maker, the combination of an external casing, said external casing being of rectangular form for holding filling water, having insulated walls and guide channels provided internally thereof, magazines of rectangular and relatively thin form slidably held in said'casing guide channel in spaced relation to each other, each of said magazines having its Walls pierced with spaced holes and having tubes attached therein and extending transversely across the magazine for retaining the filling water therein to be frozen, and means for conducting refrigerant medium to the interiors of the magazines to be circulated therein and around the external surfaces of the tubes and internal surfaces of the magazine walls to directly precool water between the magazines and freeze water within said tubes.

EDWARD H. DAVIS'.

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