US2601324A - Apparatus for making clear ice blocks - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1952 w RIBEIRQ 2,601,324

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLEAR ICE BLOCKS Filed July 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 95 INVENTOR.

Mlfie r 61' R be im June 24, 1952 w. e. RlBElRO 2,601,324

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLEAR ICE BLOCKS Filed July 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fg INVENTOR.

walfe r G. Rt'beiro Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of ice and relates moreparticularly to the manufacture of ice blocks by quick freezing. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a new improved method of, andapparatus for, manufacturing ice blocks. fnnother object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of, and apparatus for, thequick-freezing of waterin containers so designed as to give relatively thin fiat slabs of ice. Anothe r object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive method of, and apparatus fonpurifying and clarifying ice during the quick-freezing thereof. I I

Other objects and advantages of thepresent invention are apparent in the fqllowing detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. I I I :1 I II I The present applicationisa continuation-inpart of my co-pending application Serial No. 531,402, filed April 1'7, l944, now Patent No. 2,506,614, dated May 9,1950. I

In the usual can system for making ice, a can containing 300 or 400 lbs. wateris immersed in brine at a sufficiently low sub-zero (centigrade) temperature to freeze in about 40 17050 hours. Freezing occurs atonce if distilled water is used, but if raw hard water saturated or entrained with air is used, it is generally necessary to agitatethe water to avoid production of ice that i s not clear, discolored, and of poorstrength. For this purpose, low (3 lbs. per sq. in. o 1; less) or high (15 to 20 lbs. per sq. in.) pressure. air is introduced into the cans to agitate the water. The agitation by air serves to prevent formation of opaque ice caused by the dissoIVedair as welI as to keep anysolid particles and salts in the water in suspension whichwill collect in a central core of turbid unfrozen water. I T hi s turbid water is removed by a suction tube andreplaced by fresh water to complete the solid block of ice. After the cans of water are frozemthey are immersed in water at room temperature or above to loosen the cake which is removed from the can by dumping. I The cake is then provided with grooves or, cuts bymeans of afscorihg machine at the points where the cake isto be. split into '25 and 56 lbs. or larger pieces for retail sale.

'In the present commercial methods of making ice aspreviously outlined, large metal cans are used having a capacity of,30D ,.or 400 lbs. water and having a, cross-section. of 11 x 22 inches. Such large mass of water is difficult tofreeze as the ice f rst forms on, the inside surfa e ofthe can and gradually grows inwardly. Ice is a poor heat conductor and as the ice layer jgrows t becomesfmore diflicult to freeze the remaining water. Furthermore, it is difficult "to uniformly agitate the large mass of water in eachc'an in order to remove dissolved air and impurities in the raw water. Prio'r methods for making stand}- ard size blocks of ice thus [entail high cast of power and labor, besides requiring long freezing time which ties up expensive equipment and reduces the output and efficiency of theplant. I I

According. to thepre'sent invention water is frozen quicklyand with relatively low power consumption and at a considerably increased production rate in relatively narrow ic'e cansorin square or rectangular or ,jcylindrical tubes with airintroduced at the bottom of the individual can's jor other container through conduitswhi'ch are in- 'sulated so as to prevent freezing of the moisture normally present in the air. I I

The present invention also contemplates the use of an insulated water-circulating line inconjunction with the insulated air line referred to above. I, For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

there are shown inth'e accompanying drawings.

forms thereof which are at present fp referred, although it is to be understood that the Various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise a 'rrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein. shown and described, I I

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout: I g I Figure 1 represents a side 'elevational of a cradle support for a plurality of ice cans adapted formaking relatively thin ice slabs in accordance with the present invention. I I I I Figure 2 represents an end elevatio'rial view of the embodiment'gf Figure 1. II I I Figure B represents a perspective view s g a somewhat modified, construction for delive I ing air to a plurality of relatively narrow side-by-side ice cans. I I I I i ur .4 r re e s; a ersne ve .r qf ,a modified form of icecanhavingair andwater pipes extending through an in sulated casing structure formed as a generally integral part of nf. ...i

I Figure 5 represents a side elevational-yiew of a modified form of the embodiment of Figure 4 as it appearswhen installedwithin a top overflow tank; parts being broken away better to reveal the construction thereof.

Figure 6 represents a more or less schematic top plan view of a system wherein a plurality of individual cans like that of Figure 4 are immersed within a freezing tank and are provided with a continuous circulating water system as well as with air for agitation.

Figure '7 represents a fragmentary side elevational view showing an arrangement for freezing ice in the form of cylinders having relatively small cross-sectional area.

Figure 8 represents a side elevational view showing an arrangement for freezing ice in the form of elongated bars of relatively small, generallly rectangular cross-section.

Figure 9 represents a horizontal cross-sectional View taken generally along the line 99 of Figure 8.

As more fully described in my co-pending ap plication Serial No. 531,402, instead of using the standard large-size metal cans having a capacity of 300 or 400 pounds and a cross-section of about 11 x 22 inches at the top, I utilize a plurality of suitably dimensioned galvanized cans ll] of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2, which have, for example, a rectangular cross-section, at the top, of 2 x 22 inches and a depth of about 44 inches. The cans are provided with a smooth interior surface and are preferably tapered downwardly at their end walls I20 to facilitate removal of the ice blocks formed therein.

A plurality (for example six) of such cans may be suspended in a suitable cradle or holder ll so that, after the cans are filled with raw water, they can be immersed, while supported by said cradle H, into a brine tank [2 which is provided with appropriate cooling coils (not shown) to reduce the temperature of the brine sufficiently to cause freezing of the raw water in the individual ice cans [0, in a manner well known in the art.

The individual cans H] are provided with enlarged collar portions at their upper edges; each can having a spout or guide-portion I! to aid in the removal of the ice slabs.

The collar portions l6 serve to support the upper ends of the individual cans l0 Within a correspondingly-apertured overflow tank 23 carried by the cradle H; the upper edges of the cans being below the upper edge of the overflow tank.

Reference is made to my co-pending application Serial No. 531,402 for a more complete description of the brine tank and the manner of manipulating the cradle and the individual ice cans relative thereto.

Air under pressure, supplied by a low-pressure blower or compressor (not shown) is sent through an air-supply pipe 89 which passes downward into the brine tank through a metal casing 94 filled with a good heat-insulating material such as kapok, granulated cork, mineral wool, etc. The air-supply pipe 89 communicates with a manifold 90 which extends transversely across the bottoms of the several cans l0 and which is similarly contained within an insulated casing 94-a similar to the casing 94 described above. The manifold 90 is provided with a plurality (for example six) of upwardly-directed extensions 90-a which extend upward into the bottoms of the individual cans l0 through appropriately-formed openings in the bottoms of said cans.

It is apparent that the air passing downward through the pipe 89 is carried though the manifold 90 and the extensions Sil-a so that it bubbles upward through the individual cans ID in the manner disclosed in Figure 1 so as to agitate the water in the cans and to concentrate the impurities within .a central core which is removed by a suction-tube (not shown) and replaced by clear water in the manner disclosed above so that the turbid core, usually present in ice blocks, is minimized.

Insulation of the air-supply tubes is very advantageous as it permits the use of inexpensive low-pressure air for agitating the water in the cans. That is, low-pressure air carries considerable moisture which, as mentioned above, would clog the air-supply tubes upon freezing if immersed in the brine tank without insulation. As a result, it has heretofore been necessary to dehydrate'or dry the air used for agitating purposes which necessarily adds to the cost of manufacturing the ice as well as complicating the apparatus required.

According to the present invention, the necessity for dehydrating the low-pressure air is eliminated.

In Figure 3 there is shown a somewhat modified embodiment of the present invention wherein individual air-supply tubes 89-a (one for each can) lead from a main air-supply pipe 89-h and extend downward through a generally L-shape'd casing 94-h which is filled with insulating material 95 as described above.

The individual tubes 89-a extend for varying distances within the lowermost horizontal arm within the L-shaped casing 94-!) and terminate in upwardly-directed extensions fill-b which pass up through corresponding openings in the bottoms of the cans so as to permit air to enter therein, in the manner described hereinabove.

The use of individual air-supply tubes 89-a. in place of the manifold 90, tends to insure a more uniform air-pressure in all of the tubes, although it is somewhat more expensive.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified form of ice can ill-a wherein the metal insulating casing 98 is formed as a generally integral part thereof extending downward along one of the tapered edges and along the bottom of the can; the casing 93 being filled with insulating material 95 as described above.

An individual air-supply pipe 89-a similar to those described hereinabove in connection with the embodiment of Figure 3 extends downward through the casing 98 and terminates in an upwardly-directed extension -17 protruding upward into the can through the bottom wall thereof.

In this embodiment, I may also provide a water-supply line 96 extending downward through the casing 98 generally parallel to the air-supply line 89-a and terminating in an upwardly-directed extension 96-11 which protrudes upward into the can from the bottom wall thereof and through which water can be circulated during the freezing operation so as further to clarify the ice.,

If desired, either the water-supply line 96 or the air-supply line 89a, can be omitted.

In Figure 5 there is shown a somewhat modifled form of the embodiment of Figure 4 wherein the casing 98-a, instead of contacting the side edge of the ice can [0-11 is spaced apart somewhat therefrom (as for example by extending along a true vertical line instead of along the inclined side edge I20).-

This has the advantage of exposing the adjoining side edge to the brine and thereby providing y 23 through an opening 92.

am lies! 5 an additional cooling surface (as distinguished from the construction of Figure "4 wherein the casing 98 -insulates the adjoining side wall 1 20').

In Figure "6 there is shown more or less schematically a system, employing a plurality of cans ill-alike thatof Figure4 in conjunction with a circulating system.

Thus, the individual cans iii-o extend downward within-the brine tank with their upperends submerged below the level of water in -'the overflow basin 23; low-pressure air being supplied to the individual "cans via the air-supply pipe 89-2) and the individual air supply 'tube's ell-a which extend downward into the casings 9B.

Water is circulated, by means of a pump 88, through the "water-'"supp'ly pipe 95-h and the individual 'wate'r supply tubes *96 (which also "lead returned to the pump 88 by means or a return line 93 leading upward from the overflow basin A 3-way valve 8*! is connected within the returnline 93 so that water can be introduced into the system through the inlet line 85.

'Inthe system shown in Figure 6, clarification of the water'i's effected by boththe water circulation and the air agitation in the manner described above.

As also mentioned above, it is possible to eliminate either theair agitation or the water circulation (which prevents the formation of a turbid core) and still effect-fairly good clarification.

'It is also possible to eliminate the air-supply tubes Bil-a and, "instead, -to connect the air-supply pipe S'S-b tothe Water-supply pipe 95-4) (employing any appropriate valve, not shown) so that, after preliminary circulation of water through the tubes 96, the pump "88 can be stopped and air can be introduced into the ice tanks from the same tubes 96.

It is also possible to ,pre-cool and pre-cl'arify the water introduced into the system through the 3-way valve 87 by means of a pre-cooler,-in the manner described in my co-pending application Serial No. 531,402.

In Figure '7 there is shown another embodiment of the present invention wherein air is introduced into the bottoms of a plurality of generally cylindrical small-diameter tanks He; the air-supply tube 89 passing down through a casing 94 provided with insulating material 95 in the manner described above.

The freezing of ice in these relatively smalldiameter cylindrical tanks I I can be carried out extremely rapidly and with relatively small power consumption and with a minimum of decolorization of the final product.

In addition, the elongated cylindrical ice slabs formed can be cut up into small individual cylindrical portions, suitable for use as ice cubes, with a minimum of ice wastage.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown a modification of the embodiment of Figure 7 wherein the elongated individual cans I are given a generally rectangular cross-section so as to form elongated ice slabs which can be out up into true cube-shaped ice-cubes with a minimum of icewastage.

It is obvious, of course, that any of the ice slabs formed according to the present invention can be cut up equally well into chips or flakes or other forms, depending upon the use to which they are to be put.

I have found that ice can be frozen in a tube 1%" in diameter with 16 brine in less than thirty minutes, It -is thus "evident that, by supporting a plurality 'o'f cylindrical or rectangular tubes of -suitable ero'sssectionn area from a cradle and suspending them within the brine tank, it is possible to form "a relatively large amount of ice in a fraction "of the time required in the case of conventional large-size ice tanks.

My process for making clear ice in tall narrow ice 'c'ans is also'advantageousfor making crushed Ihe'ice is dumped from the cans in According to #the present invention ice blocks can be manufactured at considerably lower cost and with much smaller plant equipment as compared with the methods now used. For example, an ice plant having 400 standard size ice cans an make zmlstandard'size blocksevery 24 hours.

By utilizing my method and equipment, 200 standard size blocks can be made using only 16 units of my equipment. It takes from 40 to hours to freeze a standard 300 lb. block of ice as compared to the -'freezing time of about two hours for an ice can 2 x '22 inches *cross section X 44 inches deep'with 16 brine. Thus it is seen that much less equipment is needed when practicing my invention as compared with present methods for making the same number of standard size ice blocks.

The construction shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8 can be modified so as to incorporate both water circulation and air purification through the single tube 89 in a manner described hereinabove in connection with the embodiment of Figure 6.

That is, water can first be circulated through the tube '8 9 and the ice tanks ("employing a circulating system like that of Figure 6) and, thereafter, the flow of water can be stopped and low pressure air can be introduced through the tubes 89 for agitation in order to efiect further clarification or the ice.

As used in the appended claims, the expression sub-zero refers to temperatures below the freezing point of water, namely 0 centi'grade.

The expression ice can as used in the claims, is intended to comprehend any container in which water is frozen, regardless of its size or shape, and includes standard-size ice cans, as well as the ice cans shown, for example, in Figures 4, '7 and 8 of the present application. Similarly, the expression ice blocks is not limited in size or shape and comprehends any body of ice frozen any of the difierent-shape and different-size containers referred to above.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended clai-ins rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protee't by Letters Patent:

1. Apparatus for making clear ice blocks which comprises an ice can for retaining Water to be frozen, a tube for supplying air under pressure to said ice can for agitating the water therein during freezing, another tube for supplying water to said can, said tubes being positioned along the external walls of said can, said tubes being insulated in the region extending along the walls of said ice can to prevent any moisture therein from freezing and clogging the supply stream therethrough, and an outer protective casing surrounding said insulated tubes.

2. An ice can for freezing water therein comprising a vertically-disposed open-top container having a bottom and having downwardly-tapered end-walls and relatively wider vertical sidewalls for retaining and freezing water therein, a generally vertical water and air supply tube affixed externally of one of the end-walls of said container and horizontally spaced therefrom, said supply tube being provided with an insulation medium to prevent freezing of the water within said supply tube, and an outer protective casing surrounding said insulating medium, said casing also being horizontally spaced from said end-wall so as to permit circulation of a refrigerating medium about the walls of said container without reducing the cooling surface area'of said container.

3. In a system for making clear ice blocks, an ice can for receiving and holding water to be frozen, said ice can being open at its upper end and being constructed and arranged for partial immersion within a sub-zero brine solution, a generally enclosed casing extending downward from adjacent the upper end of said ice can and terminating at the bottom wall thereof, said casing being generally filled with a heatinsulating material, a pair of relatively small tubes extending downward within said casing and communicating with the bottom of said ice can, one of said tubes being constructed and arranged to supply water to said ice can and the other tube being constructed and arranged to supply low-pressure moisture-containing air for agitation of the water being frozen, said tubes being protected by said heat-insulating material whereby they are maintained above freezing temperature when said ice can and casing are immersed within said brine solution. an overflow basin operatively connected at the upper open end of said can, and a water-circulating system continuously circulating water through said ice can during the freezing operation, said water circulating system including a pump, a supply line leading from said pump to said first-mentioned tube, and a return line leading from said overflow basin to said pump.

4. In a system for making clear ice blocks, an ice can for receiving and holding water to be frozen, said ice can being open at its upper end and being constructed and arranged for partial immersion within a sub-zero brine solution, a generally enclosed casing extending downward from adjacent the upper end of said ice can and terminating at the bottom wall thereof, said casing being generally filled with a heatinsulating material, a relatively small tube extending downward through said casing and communicating with the bottom of said ice can, said tube being protected by said heat-insulating material whereby it will be maintained above freezing temperature when said ice can and casing are immersed within said brine solution, and a water-circulating system continuously circulating water through said ice can during the freezing operation, said water circulating system including a pump, a supply line leading from said pump to said tube, an overflow basin for said ice can, and a return line leading from said overflow basin to said pump.

5. Apparatus for making clear ice blocks which comprises a plurality of ice cans adapted to contain water to be frozen, a holding cradle supporting said plurality of cans for positioning them upright as a unitary assembly in a tank of refrigerant such as brine, air supply tube means mounted in fixed relation to the cans and cradle, branch connections establishing communication between said tube means and the lower portions of said cans and forming with said tube means a continuous conduit, including portions normally submerged in said refrigerant, for supplying air under pressure to said cans for agitating the water therein during freezing, and insulation disposed around said normally submerged portions of the conduit for protecting moisture therein from freezing while subjected to said refrigerant.

6. Apparatus for making clear ice blocks which comprises a plurality of ice cans adapted to con tain water to be frozen, a holding cradle supporting said plurality of cans for positioning them upright as a unitary assembly in a tank of refrigerant such as brine, generally vertical air supply tube means affixed externally to an end of said assembly, branch connections establishing communication between said tube means and the lower portions of said cans for conducting air under pressure to said cans for agitating the water therein during freezing, and insulation jacketed around those portions of the tube means and branch connections which are normally submerged in the refrigerant for protecting moisture therein from freezing while permiting circulation of refrigerant around substantially the entire side areas of said cans.

'7. Apparatus for making clear ice blocks which comprises a plurality of ice cans adapted to contain water to be frozen, a holding cradle supporting said plurality of cans for positioning them upright as a unitary assembly in a tank of refrigerant such as brine, a generally vertical air supply tube affixed externally to an end wall of one of the'cans and spaced horizontally therefrom, branch connections establishing communication between said tube and the lower portions of said cans for conducting air under pressure to said cans for agitating the water therein during freezing, and an insulating jacket disposed around said tube and branch connections for protecting moisture therein from freezing while permitting circulation of refrigerant around substantially the entire side areas of said cans.

WALTER G. RIBEIRO.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,226 Gergens May 23, 1882 1,174,591 Lewis Mar. '7, 1916 1,474,551 Pownall Nov. 20, 1923 1,739,979 Martocello Dec. 17, 1929

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