US2449730A - Slush ice making machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1948. w. H. TAYLOR 2,449,730

SLUSH ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed NOV. 20, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

MiQQM ATTOFFA/EY Patented Sept. 21 194 I STAT OFFICE @Lff'SiiifiE MAKING"MAGHiK E William= Tame-f Waukesha em t Wis.; as-

to he .V Manufacturing; C pa Milwaukee,.-,Wis;; a cor'poi'ation of Wisc'cbiisi'n Y fiipplicatiii-liloveiimei 20, 1944; summit 5645241 (on 6541M) 1 1 Glaims.

The presefitiiwe nitr'e'leltesirgeneraliwto 1mpmvencen 'nlxandmelafis more specifically to improvements in" the cortstr'l ictioii operation of: mechanism ior cont'iriuousiyproaucing so eailed S'lilSfi-GFSHOWV-i' The primary" objectaofmyipresentinventioiriis to provide a new ahd usefii'l ice' m akihg umaschirre whicl i is si' 1h construction andhigh l y'rrefii eie'ht iii dp'e ofiir a i Many: difii erfli t pes on: F meeham'sms' iwtei xded for nfidre oi less coat-income automatic p'rd d ii'tioh of slush,- flalteori show 1218,. have hhiilfiflfole beii p'z op'bse'd -aiiid iised com rrfefcfal'ly"with varying degi' es 0'? success; and while some of these: prior is making: m'aihhi'fies are uite: em c'ie'rlit for genera use t'hesr require thvaddifion feed mechariisms whenit isidesir'ed to continua-- eusi-yi delive i" the pieduee to ani extmetswsueim as a centrifuge for subsequently removing? excess liquid from the ice. Most of the priorslush-doe producers are also: quite cumhersbme ai l d complicat'e'd and: are not adapted to prodiice rlai ge qii'an titi'es of uhiiorm product with limited re fEi'g eratim-n thereby excessively increasmgtthe cost of artificialiprodutition df th i'dt-zz It is therefore 'a 'm'ore' specific object -oi my producing" mechanism which besides; :b'ei-ng arla tively simple compact: in construction; is

adapted to automatically?'and "cdn tmud1is1y: 'de- While the cost of installationand -operatiomis minimized. Y I Still another specific object ofthe i ventiomis to provide an improvedslushice producer which is durable inconstruction readily. controllable, and safely operable; while producing ,i unifoi m and excellent product These andotherspecifioobjects and advantages will be appai ent from the folowingdetailed desciipti'om v i t A? clear conception of the various features constituting-my? presentinventi'on; and of the mode of constructing and of operating ice making machines? built accordance therewith; may be had by 'referring to the drawing accompanying ai'id forming ai part of this 'specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or samiau pa'rts in the different views.

Fig: i is a somewhat'diagrammatietop View ofon*=of the improved ice making machines, with the normal 'BIIGIOSi-HQ CGVGI for the freezing zoneremoved; I

Fig 2 is a similarly diagrammatic verticaL sectioh through the machine of Fig.-1-,=takenalong the-irregular lined-=2; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged iragmentary vertical section whom-vertically: through the periphery of the unit adiacent to the maindrive;-

Whiieathei-nvention has been shown allll-d'1ie'f scribed Y herein as having been" specifically em:- bodi'ed in am automatiw and continuous slush ice producer associatedwi-th anexcess-liquid remot/mg centrifuge toprovide a; single combined ice-producing and liquid extraction unit; it is-not my: desire or i n-t'enti'on tethereby unnecessarily res'tfiictthe-sco1 e ot-utility of the improved freezer; I g l i g Rae'fei 'ningfi t'o-the drawing the" improved ice making and -excess liquid-removing unit shown by. "way of illustraft/10h,-v comprises in geigei al a statioriai y' circular" slabfreezer casing 5 formihg iarr amnwar refrigerant confining chamber 6 haWmgsaseries of" radial baffies T therein; and being provided with ar fixed central discharge spout 8"131'18-11131361' extremityof which terminates slightly? above the horizontal upper freezing Sul fa'c'e' 9*ofi the==casing 5'; an annular revolting elem'eiitor ring Ml rotatably'supported-upona fixed aiirfulempla-te I I surrounding and-securedto'tho outer -oi' peripherahwall; I-2 ot theeasing 5,1- arid havingsa'lowensection I-3 DI GVi dGd- With an annulamseries -ofequally. spaced driving projections or teeth i4 a crossJoeafn or char'iiiel [-5 mou ted'hpoh the revolving rii'i 'g" 0 and providihg errotaryvsuppont for a cer'it'ral liqfiid suppiy'tahk is", a iiqm'd red'jpan [fe d a scraper blade is, the mates-coasting with the'ffezm'g siirface 9 and terminating tangentially relative to the central cylindrical discharge spout 8; an excess liquid remover or centrifuge I9 disposed centrally beneath the slush ice discharge spout 8 and communicating therewith through an intervening funnel or hopper 2-9; mechanism including a chain drive 2I for normally slowly revolving the ring I9 with its associated tank I5, feed pan I1, and scraper blade l9; other driving mechanism for the centrifuge I9; and still other mecha nism for insuring constant circulation of refrigerant through the annular chamber 6.

The stationary slab freezer casing 5,baflles I, spout 9, and bearing plate II may all be formed of sheet metal plates welded together so as to produce a rigid structure and a hermetically sealed chamber 6, and this chamber 6 is provided with a radial partition 22. The refrigerant may be supplied and circulated through the chamber and around the 'bafiles I from'any suitable source, and as shown in the drawing, the

refrigerant circulating mechanism comprises a refrigerant accumulator 23 having an ordinary float control valve 24 associated therewith, and

inlet line 28 through the lower portion of the accumulator 23 and past the control valve 24, and the other details of construction and operation of the refrigerant circulating mechanism should be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art and constitute no special part of my present improvement.

The annular freezer casing 5 and bearing plate II, may be firmly supported in horizontal position above the centrifuge I9 and funnel 29 by means of three or'more upright columns 29, and these may be provided with adjustable jack screws 39 for leveling the freezing surface 9. The accumulator23 and other refrigerant circulating mechanism may also be suspended from one of the columns 29 as shown in Fig. 2, and the use of these spaced local columns also permits free access to the centrifuge I9 and to the underside of the ice making machine at all times. As previously indicated, the composite rotor ring II] has a lower annular section I2 provided with a series of teeth I4 which coact with a driving chain 2I, and this chain may be constantly driven at relatively slow speed by means of a pinion 3I driven through speed reducing mechanism 32 from a main driving motor 33 and belt drive 34' all of which may also be suspended from one of the supporting columns 29 as shown.

The constantly functioning ice removingrotor which comprises the rotor ring 19 and the elements carried thereby, is thus constantly revolvable about the central vertical axis of the machine upon the fixed bearing plate II, and the fixed annular casing wall I2 serves to maintain the rotor ring I9 centralized. The fresh liquid supply tank I5 may be firmly supported from the rotor cross-channel l5 by means of apair of I- beams '34; and the tank I5 is provided with a lower outlet port 35 which communicates with the liquid feed pan I'Ipast adjustable flow regulating mechanism consisting of a needle valve 36 :In order to additionally support the 4 adapted to be set or manually adjusted with the aid of a dial wheel 31, and which is normally automatically operable by a float 38 confined within a chamber 39 suspended from the lower portion of the supply tank I6. While any suitable type of liquid flow or feed regulating mechanism may be utilized, this mechanism should be adapted to constantly deliver a predetermined amount of liquid from the supply tank I6 to the pan IT. The feed pan [1 which is supported by the cross-beam I5, extends along this beam from a point adjacent the periphery of the spout 8 to a point near the annular wall I2 of the casing 5; and the rear or trailing wall of the pan I1 is provided with a series of notches 49 through which the fresh liquid flows onto the freezing surface 9 and is distributed uniformly thereover as the rotor constantly revolves.

The feed pan I1 is supported upon the channel beam I5 rearwardly of the scraper blade I8 which is likewise attached to this beam and extends from a point of tangency with the discharge spout 8 to a point closely adjacent to the outer wall I2 of the slab freezer casing 5, and the lower edge of the blade I8 should be disposed in close proximityand parallel to the freezing surface 9. The scraper blade I8 is preferably vertically adjustable'relative to thev ice forming surface 9, by means of fastening screws 4| coacting with slots in the blade I8 and with the front or leading wall of the cross-channel I5, and the blade I8 normally. revolves with the rotor ring I0 and constantly' scrapes the ice which forms upon the surface 9 and conveys the removed flake or slush ice inwardly toward and into the discharge spout 8; by virtue of its tangential disposition relative to this spout. In order to prevent accumulation of ice within the fixed spout 8 at the inner end 'of the scraper blade I8, an auxiliary scraper 42 which coactswith the inner surface of the annular spout 8 is also provided, and this-auxiliary scraper 42 also normally revolves with the main scraper: I8 and ring I0 and operates in close proximity to the inner cylindrical surface of the spout 8.

crossbeam I5 and to initially break up or loosen the also be provided. This roller 43 is rotatably suspended from the rotor cross-beam I5. by means of spaced parallel brackets 44 extending forward- -ly beyond the scraper blade I8, and the roller 43 is provided with a series of peripheral points or spuds 45 which dig into the ice and rotate the advancing roller 43 asthe rotor and blade I8 revolve. This roller 43 thus loosens the ice coating preparatory to removal thereof from the surface 9, and also lends support to the cross-beam I5 directly in advance of the scraper blade I8, thereby avoiding possible undesirable chattering of this blade.

The entire rotor mechanism may also be enclosed within a readily removablenormally fixed housing 49 which rests upon the fixed rotor, supporting plate II within the peripheral flange 41 thereof, and this housing 49 is provided with a readily removable closure or cover 48'at its upper central portion, for permitting convenient filling "of the freshliquid supply tank I6, This housing 46 and cover 41, also totally conceal the freezing zone, and'may be provided with a plurality of gas -injection nozzles 49 as shown in Fig. 2. These nozzles 49 are directed downwardly against the freezingsurface 9 and-may be utilized to deliver jets ofair or nitrogen or other'gas, against the fresh liquid which "is constantly being deposited upon the freezer casing 5, so asto agitate" and uniformly distribute the fresh liquid throughout the entire area of the surface 9. Ifsodesired,

the gasthus injected in-to the freezing zone-may be re circulated through thenozzles 49in order to eliminate loss of energy, and the housing 45 and cover 4 8 may also be formed or sheetmetal andshould be readilyremovable so as to permit ready access to the rotor, driving mechanism, and surfaceli. i l

As-shown in the drawing, the centraldischarge chute orspout 8 ofthe ice producing machine, is adapted to constantly delivertheproduct through a hopper or funnel 29 to "an excess liquid extractor or centrifuge l9; and inorder toei-nsure uniform distribution and delivery or the ice totheextractor, the tunnel 20- mayalso be slowly revolved'abou-tthecentral'axis of the unit with the aid of a flexible belt drive 50 driven by the motor through the same" speed reducer 32 which impartsslow motion to the rotor ring Ill.

The centrifuge l9 may beef any suitable type preferably-adapted to constantly and automaticallydehydrate the slush ice, and this extractor or centrifuge may be driven from any suitable source by means of fiexiblebelt or other drives 5| extending through thespace between the supporting columnsze.

After the ice producing unit has been properly "constructed, assembled and adjusted, it-may be placed into continuous and automatic normaloperationin order toconstantly produce flake or slush ice of" uniform consistency at a rapid rate, as follows. As the rotoris constantly revolved atja relatively low rate of speed by means of the electric motor 33 coacting with the gearreducer 32-, the scraper blade idcontinuouslyadvances over the freezing surface 9 in the direction-ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 1. Fresh liquid is constantly being delivered at apredeterminedratefrom the supply tank it through the orifices 35 and past the needle valve 36 to the feed pan I1, and is deobviously "frozen into a layer or film of iceextending throughout the entire area of the freezing surface. The constantly advancing spiked roller 43 initially loosens and disintegrates this ice sheet or film, and the. constantly advancing scraper blade l8 removes the slush ice, from the surface 9 and conveys, the same into, the discharge chute/8. The auxiliary scraper 4.2 which is. revolving 'with the scraper'rotor, constantly urges the removed slush ice downwardly through the chute 8 and prevents the product from accumulating on the innersurfaceof the chute, and "the slush ice subsequently passes through the funnel 20 and into the extractor or centrifuge is where the excess liquid is'removed therefrom. The

finally dehydrated product may lee-discharged f romthe centrifuge '19 to any suitable zone of atification, and the nachine lthus-functions to automatically andicontinuously producethe prodnot. In ordento' uniformly spread the fresh liq.- uld throughout the entire area: of the freezing surfaced, gas may be injected against-the fresh liquidthrough the nozzles. 49', and the needle valve 36imay-also: be. readily. adjusted so as to insure proper feedingvof fresh liquid to. the pan l1 and freezing surface 1i. If it becomesdesirable to inspect any-portion of the ice producing mechani'sm, the housing ifi may be readily removed, and fresh liquid maybeconveniently admitted to the tanlc l 6=by merely opening the cover 4-8.

It will thusl be notedthat the present invention provides an. extremely simple, compact and durableica making machine which functions to constantly andautomatically produce a uniform product, andwhichtis also safely operable. The improved slab freezing assemblage enables-the product to be continuously and quickly conveyed intowacentral relatively small delivery spout 8, from whence the slush ice may be effectively dis chargedby gravityinto a centrifuge or the like, thus eliminating complicated intervening feed mechanisms. While the revolution of the rotor is at a relatively slow rate, the capacity of the machine is nevertheless greatbecause of the large freezing surfacedtraversed by the scraper blade, and the tangential disposition of the blade l8 relative to the discharge chute 8, provides simple and effective means for continuously discharging the product from the freezing surface. The use of the spiked roller43 in advance of the scraper blade l89is: also advantageoussince it permits more effective removal of theiceyfilm by the scraper, andthei provision of the auxiliary scraper 42withinthe chute 8 will obviously avoid undesirable accumulationof ice at the inner end of the scraper blade. The baffles 1' within the chamber 6, insure uniform distribution of the refrigerant and most emcient utilization thereof, and also insures the production of a uniform ice film, and the entire mechanism is of excedingly simple but sturdy construction and may be manufactured and-operated at minimum cost. The invention has proven highly successful in actual use, and has demonstratedthe fact that a compact unit of theimproved' type can produce enormous quantities of uniform slush ice with. minimum attention and at moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired tolimit this: invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur topersons skilled in the art.

I claim:

In combination, a casing having a fiat annular freezing surface, means for constantly maintaining said surface at freezing temperature, means for constantly feeding liquid upon and throughout the area of said surface, and a con-- stantly revolving scraper for planing the congealed'liquid from the surface and for conveying the removed product toward the center of the annulus;

2. In combination, a casing having a fiat annular freezing surface, means for constantly maintaining said surface at freezing temperature, revolving means for constantly feeding liquid upon and. throughout the area of said, surface, andaconstantly revolving scraper for constantly planing thecongealed liquid from the surface and for conveyin e r m d pr ct towa t center ofwtheaznnu a. A,

.. a casing. ha n an annu ar horizontal plane freezing surface and a refri erant confining chamber adjoining said surface, means for constantly circulating refrigerant through said chamber, a scraper constantly revolvable over said surface to plane the congealed liquid therefrom, and means directly adjacent to and revolvable with said scraper for constantly feeding liquid to said surface.

4. In combination, a casing having an annular horizontal plane freezing surface and a refrigerant confining chamber adjoining said surface, means for constantly circulating refrigerant through said chamber, means for constantly feeding liquid to said surface, means for .delivering gas jets against said liquid to agitate and distribute the same throughout the entire area of said surface, and a scraper constantly revolvable over said surface to plane the congealed liquid therefrom.

5. In combination, a casing having a fiat annular freezing surface, means for constantly maintaining said surface at freezing temperature, revolving means for constantly feeding liquid upon and throughout the area of said surface,

a disintegrating roller revolvable over said surface and coacting therewith to loosen the ice film formed thereon, and a scraper blade directly adjacent to and trailing said roller and being revolvable therewith over said surface to remove the ice loosened by said roller.

6. In combination, a casing having an annular approximately horizontal plane freezing surface,

means for maintaining said surface at freezing temperature, means for constantly feeding liquid upon said surface, means for loosening the congealed liquid film formed on 'said surface, and means for constantly removing the loosened film and for conveying the same toward the center of the annulus.

7. In combination, a casing forming an annular refrigerant confining chamber having therein a series of radial baffles and being provided with a flat annular freezing surface adjoining the chamber, means for circulating refrigerant through said chamber, means for feeding liquid over said surface, and a scraper revolvable over said surface and being formed to remove congealed liquid from the surface and centrally through said chamber.

8. In combination, a fixed casing forming a refrigeran-t confining chamber and having an annular freezing surface adjoining the chamber, means for circulating refrigerant through said chamber to cool said surface, and a rotor constantly revolvable adjacent to said surface and having revolvable means for feeding liquid to said surface and a scraper for constantly removing congealed liquid from the surface and centrally through said chamber.

9. In combination, a fixed casing having a fiat annular freezing surface surrounded by an annular wall and communicating inwardly with a central chute, a rotor coacting with said casing and being revolvable about said casing wall, means carried by said rotor for delivering liquid to said surface, and means also carried by said rotor for constantly scraping congealed liquid from said surface and for delivering the product through said chute.

10. In combination, a fixed casing having a fiat annular freezing surface surrounded by an annular wall and communicating inwardly with a central chute, a rotor coacting with said casing and being revolvable about said casing wall, means carried by said rotor for delivering liquid to said surface, means for loosening the film of congealed liquid constantly forming upon said surface,-and means also carried by said rotor. for

1l.-, In combination, a fixed casinghaving a fiat annular horizontal freezing surface surrounded by an annular wall and communicating inwardly with a central chute, a ring surrounding andbeing revolvable about said well, a liquid supply tank carried by and being rotatable with said ring, and a scraper blade also carried by said ring and being revolvable over said surface to remove congealed liquid therefrom and to deposit the product into said chute.

12. In combination, a fixed casing having a fiat annular horizontal freezing surface surrounded by an annular wall and communicating inwardly wvith a central chute, a ring surrounding and being revolvable about said wall, a liquid supply tank carried by and being rotatable with said ring, a scraper blade also carried by said ring and being revolvable over said surface to remove congealed liquid therefrom and to deposit the product into said chute, and'a scraper carried by said ring and coacting with said chute at the inner end of said blade.

13. In combination, a fixed casing having a flat annular freezing surface and a discharge chute at the center thereofymeans for cooling said surface, a ring revolvable about said surface, a liquid feed pan carried by said ring and having a wall formed to deliver liquid overthe entire area of said surface, and a scraper blade carried by said ring and being revolvable over said surface to remove congealed liquid therefrom and to deliver the product into said chute.

14. In combination, a fixed casing having a fiat annular freezing surface and a discharge chute at the center thereof, means for cooling said surface, a ring revolvable about said surface, a liquid feed pan carried by said ring and having a wall provided with a series of liquid delivery notches formed to deliver fresh liquid over the entire area of said surface, and a scraper blade carried by said ring and being revolvable over saidsurface to remove congealed liquid therefrom and to deliver the product into said central chute.

15. In combination, a fixed casing having a fiat annular freezing surface and a discharge tune at the center thereof, means for cooling said surface, a ring revolvable about said surface, a liquid feed pan carried by said ring and having a wall provided with a series of liquid delivery notches formed to deliver fresh liquid over the entire area of said surface, means for delivering jets of gas against the liquid deposited upon said surface, and a scraper blade carried by said ring and being revolvable over said surface to remove congealed liquid therefrom and to deliver'the product into said central chute.

16. In combination, a fixed casing having a flat annular freezing surface and a dischargechute at the center thereof, means for cooling saidsurface, a ring revolvable about said surface, a liquid feed pan carried by said ring and having a wall provided with a series of liquid delivery notches formed to deliver fresh liquid over the entire-area of said surface, a disintegrating roller carried by said ring and coacting withthe film of congealed liquid formed upon said surface, and a scraper blade carried by said ring and being revolvable over said surface to remove congealedliquid Number loosened ice, said scraper being disposed in a plane parallel to the axis of said roller.

WIILIAM H. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The follewi'ng references are of record in the me 0f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,020,759 Holden Mar. 1 1912 2,229,000 Birdseye Jan. 14, 1941

Images