US2496210A

US2496210A - Ice-making machine

Info

Publication number: US2496210A
Application number: US644720A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray M Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-01
Filing date: 1946-02-01
Publication date: 1950-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-31

Description

Patented Jan. 31,1950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice making machine and more particularly to a machine for continuously making blocks of ice.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved chain construction for asso ciation with a refrigerated surface which will permit blocks of ice to be frozen therein and efficiently removed from the surface with the chain.

Another object is to produce an improved chain construction which will permit blocks of ice to be formed therein when trained over a refrigerated rotating drum and will remove the blocks from the drum without cracking or breaking said blocks or producing such a strain as to break the chain when the chain is removed.

A further object is to produce an improved link chain having double open molds which can be trained over a refrigerated drum immersed in water and a sprocket member to thereby continuously produce blocks of ice and remove them from the drum and the molds without cracking or breakin the blocks.

Still a further object is to produce an improved chain for a continuous ice making machine which will he composed of metal links so pivotally connected together that molds will be formed for making blocks of ice when the chain is associated with a refrigerated drum and when the chain is removed from the drum in a tangential direction the blocks of ice will be removed therewith without application of ice breaking forces acting on the blocks as the chain is straightened.

Yet another object of the invention is to embody in a metal link chain for a continuous ice making machine yieldable dividers for producing ice block molds which are so associated with the pivotal connections of the links as to permit the chain to be straightened out for removal from a curved refrigerated surface without crackin or breaking the ice blocks which have been previously formed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of an endless chain embodying my invention and being associated with a refrigerated drum and an ice block removing sprocket of an ice machine;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of parts of the chain and the manner in which the links engage the refrigerated drum surface;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top view of a section of the chain;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the yieldable divider associated with each pivotal connection of the links;

Figure 6 is a side view of one of the links; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a link taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved chain construction is generally indicated by the letter C and is capable of being employed in the manufacture of block ice by association with a refrigerated surface which may be either flat or curved. In the particular type of ice machine in which the chain is shown as being employed, there is a rotating drum D of cylindrical construction containing the liquid refrigerant R of the well known refrigeratin system. The drum D is arranged to be continuously rotated by a suitable driving mechanism including an electric motor (not shown). The drum D is mounted within a tank containin water W so that when the chain C is trained over the drum, water can enter the compartments of the chain and become frozen into blocks by the withdrawal of heat. The chain C, in addition to being trained over the drum, is also trained over a sprocket wheel 8 mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of the drum. This sprocket wheel S is so designed as to remove the blocks of formed ice from the chain, as will become later apparent.

The chain C is made from a plurality of links I, one of which is shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7. Each link has a plate-like rectangular body 2 provided with extensions 3 and 4 extending from its side edges adjacent the bottom of the body. The bottom edge formed by the body and the extensions is arranged to form a continuous curved surface 5 which has a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the external surface of the drum D so that each link can have full contact with the drum surface throughout the length of the link. In the particular link employed, the body 2 of the link has one flat face 6 which is normal to the curved surface 5 at the lower edge of the link. The opposite face surface 1 of the body of the link is arranged to be at a slight angle to the surface 6 so that the thickness of the body of the link adjacent its bottom is the greatest and the thickness gradually decreases towards the top edge where its thickness is the thinnest. The

surface 1 adjacent to where it Joins the curved surface 5 flares outwardly, as indicated at 8, so as to give the curved surface 5 a greater area of contact with the outer surface of the drum. Thus with this increased contacting area between each link and the drum surface, it is possible to obtain a greater transfer of heat through thebody of the link to the drum and from the drum to the liquid refrigerant. Since the surface l of the link and the flared surface 8 is to form one wall of a compartment or mold embodied in the chain and in which the block of ice is to be frozen, the flared surface will be capable of transferring a lifting force to the formed block of ice to disengage it from the drum surface whenever-the chain is removed from the drum surface.

The extensions 3 and 4 are provided respec tively with pivot holes 9 and It. The extension 3, which is to be the rear extension of each link, h

has a portion H which extends beyond the open ing 9 to provide a continuation of the surface 5, the purpose of which is to produce a prying force on a succeeding connected link as will later become apparent.

The links l are arranged to be pivotally connected by means of pivot rods [2 to thus form the chain C having a'plurality of openings forming compartments or molds M. To accomplish this the rear extensions 3 of one link and the forward extension l of the adjacent link are pivotally connected by the pivot rcd 2 to form a plurality of series of links witheach series providing an endless flexible structure, In this endless structure the links are constructed and arranged so that adjacent connected links have their straight surfaces 6 opposed to each other so that the flared portions and portions M will not interfere with free pivoting. The several series of links forming the endless flexible structures are arranged to be in parallel spaced relation with corresponding laterally spaced links of each series having common pivot points on pivot rods l2. Thus between laterally spaced links of the endless structures there are formed molds M closed at the sides by the links and open at the bottom and top.

To form the end walls of these molds M there is provided across the chain at each pivot rod partitions I3. These partitions have a U-shaped form and are made out of a material having a flexible wall, which material may be metal or any other suitable material, but preferably a material of a good heat conducting characteristic. The space between the legs of each U-shaped partition is filled with a readily yieldable material such as soft rubber It so as to fill up the complete space and prevent any ice from forming between the legs. The partitions are mounted so that the pivot rods will be received between the legs thereof adjacent the base with the rods extending through the yieldable filler material I. The partitions are provided with a series of notches I5 so as to receive the extensions 3 and 4 of adjacent connected links. The U-shaped partitions have their legs in slightly diverging relationship so as to insure that they will be in close relationship with the straight end edges of adjacent links when the chain is trained over the curved surface of the drum. With this arrangement the mold M will have walls which are closely re lated at the corners in order that very little water will be between the walls at the corners and thus become frozen when the blocks of ice are formed.

The sprocket wheel 8 which is mounted on the axle 15 positioned parallel to the axis of the drum is provided with a plurality of sprockets ll of a size and arrangement to be received in the molds M of the chain as best illustrated in Figure 1. These sprockets are thus capable of pushing 4 out the blocks of ice formed in the molds as the chain passes over the sprocket wheel.

With the chain constructed as shown and trained over the drum and the sprocket wheel, it will be caused to move slowly through the water W adjacent the drum D by the rotation of the drum at a suitable speed. Due to the particular curvature of the bottom surfaces 5 of the links, the links will fit down and fully engage the drum surface and as the chain is caused to move through the water, blocks of ice ,will be formed in the molds. The molds will be substantially filled with ice by the time a particular mold reaches a point where the chain begins to leave the drum in a tangential run toward the sprocket wheel. As the chain straightens out during its tangential run the links will be lifted from the drum surface. The blocks of ice formed in the mold will be removed from the drum surface with the links. Due to the particular form of each link, each mold will have a smaller cross sectional area at its bottom than at its top and consequently the links, as they move away from the drum, will carry with them the ice blocks. Due to each link being constructed with the portion 5! on the rear extension 3 there will be produced a prying action on the next succeeding link and this prying action will lift said succeeding link and the block of ice from congealed engagement with the drum. The particular prying action is illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the link L, which has already left the drum and assumed a position at the beginning of the tangential run of the chain, will by its portion II on the extension 3 pry the forward end of the succeeding link L' away from the drum. As the link L assumes the position of the link L its extending portion II will then pry the succeeding link L" from the drum and so on as the chain leaves the drum.

As the links leave the drum and begin the tangential run of the chain, the link L, for example, will also swing about the pivot rod l2 and move relatively to the succeeding link L and thus cause the upper portions of the two links to become closer together. This movement of the upper portions of the two links L and L towards each other will produce no breaking force on the blocks of ice, due to the yieldable construction of the partition H! which allows for the legs of the partition to be flexed towards each other. When the links are in the tangential run the legs of each U-shaped partition will be forced to assume substantially parallel relation, as can be seen in Figure 1, When the links at the end of the tangential run begin to go over the sprocket wheel there will also be a pivoting of the links relative to each other, but in the opposite direction to their relative movement as they left the drum, consequently the legs of the U-shaped partitions will again be free to assume their diverging relationship and what force is being exerted on the ends of the blocks of ice will be relieved'so that the sprockets ll' can a easily push out these blocks of ice from the mold.

The freed blocks of ice will be carried over sprocket wheel and can then fall onto a suitable chute and slide to any desired receptacle.

When a continuous block ice making machine is equiped with the described improved chain embodying the invention, uncracked and uniform shaped blocks will result. The blocks of ice will be formed in a minimum of time as the chain passes around the refrigerated drum, due to the fact that the links are made of good heat con- 5, ducting material and have a direct maximum surface contact with the drum surface so that heat can be readily drawn out of the water to the refrigerant through the links. The blocks of ice and the links are readily removed from the drum as the chain leaves the drum due to the particular construction of the links causing a prying action of a link just freed from the drum on the succeeding link, The yieldable partition construction between the molds also insures that there will be no breaking or cracking of the blocks of ice. Another very important result obtained by this particular partition construction is the relieving of undesirable forces on the pivot rods of the links so as to insure that these pivot rods will not be broken. If the yieldable partitions were not present there would be created such large forces on the pivot rods as the chain straightened out that it is possible the pivot rods would be bent or broken. The yieldability of the partitions prevents these undesirable forces from developing.

Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the particular disclosed chain construction without departing from. the fundamental principles of the invention, it is not intended that the scope of said invention be limited in any manner except as set forth by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto, a. chain for association with the refrigerated surface provided with molds in which blocks of ice can be formed, means for removing the chain together with blocks of ice formed in the molds, the molds of said chain being constructed with rigid side walls swingably connected together on the side of the chain adjacent the refrigerated surface and yieldable dividing partitions ass0- ciated with the swingable connections to thereby permit the molds to be successively moved away from the refrigerated surface without such forces being produced on the blocks of ice as to cause any appreciable cracking thereof.

2. In an ice making machine a curved refri erated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto. a chain for association with the curved refrigerated surface provided with rigid sided molds in which blocks of ice are to be formed, means for removing the molds and the ice formed therein from the refrigerated surface by successively placing the molds in a tangential line with respect to the refrigerated surface, means for swingably connecting the molds together on the side of the chain adjacent the refrigerated surface, and a yieldable body of material associated with each swingable connection and positioned between the molds.

3. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto, a chain for association with the refrigerated surface and comprising parallel and serially arranged links of rigid heat conducting material, means for pivoting the adjacent ends of the links together at points close to the refrigerated surface, means comprising yieldable material associated with the pivots and forming a partition between the space defined by two parallel links and the space between two succeeding parallel links, and means for successively removing the links from the refrigerated surface.

4. In a machine for making ice, a refrigerated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto, a plurality of members for separable engagement with the refrigerated surface and arranged in. laterally spaced relation, each of said members being formed of strip links pi'votally connected together to provide relative swinging movement therebetween, means for moving the members away from the refrigerated surface after ice is formed between adjacent members, and yieldable means associated with the pivotal connection of the links and extending crosswise between'the members to permit relative swinging movement of the members without breaking force on the sections of ice confined between members and the crosswise yieldable means.

5. In a machine for making ice, a curved refrlgerated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto, a chain having a plurality of molds swingably connected together for relative movement, and means for removing the chain from the refrigerated surface. said chain comprising rigid heat conducting links pivoted together at points which will be close to the refrigerated surface and yieldable means associated with the pivotal connections and extending between laterally positioned links and forming end Walls for adjacent molds to thereby permit sufiicient limited relative swinging movement of the links so that the chain can become straightened without producing a breaking force on the blocks of ice formed in the molds.

6. In an ice making machine, a rotatable refrigerated drum, a. bod of water adjacent the drum, a rotatable member having an axis parallel to the drum, and an endless chain trained over the drum and member, said chain being provided with ice forming molds pivotally connected together with said molds having side walls made from rigid heat conducting material and end walls associated with the pivotal connections constructed to yield and permit the blocks of ice to move relatively toward each other without cracking when the chain leaves the drum to pass over the rotatable member.

'7. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of water adjacent thereto, a chain for association with the refrigerated surface and in which blocks of ice can be frozen, said chain comprising parallel and serially arranged rigid links of heat conducting material, pivot rods for the links pivotally joining adjacent ends of serial links and like parallel links, said rods being closely adjacent the edges of the links next to the refrigerated surface, means comprising bodies of yieldable material associated with the pivot rods and providing yieldable partitions between adjacent spaces defined by parallel links and in which blocks of ice are to be formed, and means for successively moving groups of parallel links away from the refrigerated surface.

8. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said chain being constructed to have a plurality of longitudinally arranged ice forming molds swingably connected together at points which are to be adjacent the refrigerated surface, and yield- F able means between the longitudinal molds to permit the molds to swing relatively to each other as the chain is removed from the refrigerated surface and without the establishment of such opposed longitudinal forces on the blocks of ice formed in the mold as to cause breaking thereof.

9. In a. chain for association with a refrigerated surfacehaving an adjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality of serially arranged ice forming molds arranged to engage the refrigerated surface, means for pivotally connecting the molds together with adjacent end walls in spaced relation and the pivotal axis closely adjacent the side of which is to be associated with the refrigerated surfaces, and a yieldable material interposed between the adjacent end walls.

10. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality of longitudinally arranged ice forming molds provided with rigid walls on each side of their longitudinal axis, means for pivotally connecting the molds together, said pivotal connection being closer to the refrigerated surface than the outer parts of the molds when the chain is associated with the refrigerated surface, and yieldable means associated with the molds adjacent the pivotal connections for permitting relative pivotal movement of a mold relative to an adjacent mold and away from the refrigerated surface without producing breaking forces on the ice formed in said molds.

11. In an ice mold structure for association with a refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said structure comprising pivotally connected links in serial and parallel relation, partitions at the pivotal connections of the links to define ice forming molds, said pivotal connections being on the side of the structure which is to be adjacent the refrigerated surface and yieldable means associated with the partitions permitting relative swinging movement of the defined molds and the ice blocks formed therein away from the refrigerated surface without the establishment of opposed longitudinal breaking forces on the blocks of ice.

12. In a chain for association with a curved refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said chain comprising links arranged in serial and parallel relation and said links having curved edge surfaces corresponding to the curvature of the refrigerated surface and being made from rigid heat conducting material, means for connecting the links together to permit each of the serially arranged links to have swinging movement relative to adjacent connected links, and yieldable partitions associated with the connections and extending crosswise between laterally spaced links to define ice block forming molds and to permit the relative swinging of the links without establishment of such longitudinally opposed forces on formed blocks of ice asto cause breaking thereof when the chain is straightened during its removal from the curved refrigerated surface.

13. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said chain comprising parallel and serially arranged rigid links, pivot rods for the links pivotally joining the adjacent ends of serial links and like parallel links, said rods being closely adjacent the edges of the links'for association with the refrigerated surface, a U-shaped crosswise partition interposed between the ends of the links pivotally connected by the rod, and a yieldable material filling the space between the legs of each partition, the bottom of the U-shaped partition with the yieldable material being pivoted to the rod and the material of the partition being flexible.

14. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having an adjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality of links each comprising a body provided with extensions on their forward and rearward ends thereof and having pivot holes therein adjacent the side of the chain that is to be'next to the refrigerated surface, said rear end extension having a portion projecting beyond the pivot hole and forming a continuation of the bottom edge surface of the link which is to engage the refrigerated surface, rods for pivotally connecting the links together in parallel and serial arrangement, and means comprising a yieldable body associated with each pivot rod and forming a yieldable partition between the spaces defined by parallel links on opposite sides of said rod.

15. A link for embodying in a chain for association with a refrigerated surface of an ice making machine, said link comprising a body portion having extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part of the body, said extensions being of less height than the body of the link and provided with holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links, one of said extensions having a .portion extending beyond the pivot hole therein and providing a surface forming a continuation of the bottom surface of the body of the link.

16. A strip link for embodying in a chain for association with a refrigerated surface of an ice making machine, said link comprising a body portion having extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part of the body which is to be positionable next to the refrigerated surface, said extensions being of less height than the body of the link and provided with holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links, and said body having a. thickness which is greatest at the bottom and the thickness at any point between the bottom and the top being no greater than the thickness at any point closer to the bottom.

17. A strip link for embodying in a chain for association with a curved refrigerated surface of an ice making machine, said link comprising a body portion having extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part of the body which is to be positionable next to the refrigerated surface, said extensions being of less height than the body of. the link and provided with holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links, and said body having a bottom edge of a curvature to fully engage the curved refrigerated surfaces and the thickness of the body at the bottom edge being the greatest and the thickness at any point between said bottom edge and the top being no greater than the thickness at any point closer to the bottom.

18. In an ice making apparatus, a body of water, means of absorbing heat from the water to form ice, an ice mold positionable in the water, said mold comprising longitudinal and lateral partitions arranged to form compartments in which ice can be frozen, said longitudinal partitions comprising rigid partitioning members of heat conducting material swingably fastened together at their adjacent ends and in a manner to provide spaced relation at adjacent ends, and lateral partitioning means including yieldable material extending transversely of the longitudinal partitions, and positioned to fill the space between the ends of the said swingable partitioning members to permit said ice molds to flex from a normal position after ice has been frozen in the said formed compartments.

l9. Partitioning means for an ice mold structure to be placed in a body of water, said means comprising spaced apart partitions embodying yieldable material, and other spaced apart partitions of rigid heat conducting material arranged transversely of the first named partitions and swingably attached at their ends to said first named partitions.

20. Partitioning means for an ice mold structure to be placed in a body of water, said means comprising spaced apart partitions formed t: spaced side walls of heat transfer material capa v ble of fiexure together with yieldable material. filling the space between the side walls, and other spaced apart partitions of rigid heatl c'ori' ducting material arranged transversely of the first named partitions and swingably attached at their ends to said first named partitions. RAY M. HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Barrett et a1 Feb. 25, 1935 Number