US2613506A

US2613506A - Ice-making machine

Info

Publication number: US2613506A
Application number: US161824A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dudley R Cook
Original assignee: Servel Inc
Current assignee: Servel Inc
Priority date: 1950-05-13
Filing date: 1950-05-13
Publication date: 1952-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1969-10-14

Description

Oct. 14, 1952 R COOK 2,613,506

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR.

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array/v5) Oct. 14, 1952 D. R. cooK ICE-MAKING MACHINE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed May 13, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 ICE-MAKIN G MACHINE Dudley R. Cook, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 13, 1950, Serial No. 161,824

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to ice making machines and more particularly to releasing ice from the mold in which it is frozen.

.It has heretofore been proposed to freeze ice in a chambered mold having an open bottom from which the ice falls by gravity when released. In such machines a platen closes the bottom of the mold and the mold is cooled to freeze ice in the chambers or cells and between the cells to form a unitary cake. After the cake is frozen the platen is moved to an inclined position'below the mold and the mold is heated to melt the bond between it and the cake so that the latter will fall from the mold by gravity. In such machines the cake of'ice does not always fall freely from the mold but instead is apt to hang in the mold in an unpredictable manner. i'ce interferes with the proper operation of the machine and requires an excessive period of time between freezing operations to insure the complete removal of ice from the mold before the Such hanging of the platen closes which, in turn, decreases the amount of ice produced by the machine.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of elements in an ice making machine of the type indicated to control the descent of a cake of ice released from the mold so that it will draw free from the mold as it falls.

Another object is to provide a construction to insure the release of the cake of ice at one side of the mold before it is released from the opposite side and support the side of the cake first released so that the cake will swing about the support as a pivot when the opposite side is released.

Another object is to provide a thermostat respon'sive to the temperature at one side of the mold for controlling the operation of a platen and the cooling and heating of the mold together With an arrangement to first release and support the cake of ice at the side of the mold opposite from the side controlling the thermostat.

Still another object of the invention is to progressively heat the ice forming mold from a side opposite toward the side adjacent a control thermostat to insure the release of ice from the mold in the desired manner. I These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice freezing mold incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mold partly in section showing the platen moved to an inclined position below the mold and supporting the side of the ice cake first released to control its descent as it falls from the mold;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the platen moved to close the bottom of the mold to begin another ice freezing operation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the electric motor for operating the platen actuating mechanism and the cam control switches;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through portion of the mold showing the ice frozen in the individual cells and over the bottom of the dividing partitions to form a continuous cake; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an electric control circuit for the machine.

In the drawings, the invention is shown applied to an ice making machine comprising a freezing mold l in the form of an inverted metal tray having a top and depending sides with cross partitions 8 therein forming a plurality of adjacent cells 9. The partitions 8 are joined to the top and side walls of the mold and to each other as by brazing, soldering or welding and are of less depth than the depending side walls of the mold.

A platen I0 is pressed against the depending side walls of the mold 1 by an operating mechanism, later to be described in detail, to close the open bottom of the mold and provide a space between it and the bottom of the partitions 8. Water or other liquid to be frozen is supplied to the interior of the mold l by a funnel tube H projecting upwardly from the top wall of the mold and underlying a water supply pipe 12 controlled by a solenoid operated valve l3. A standpipe M is connected to one side of the mold 1 and a ball float l5 in the standpipe is adapted to operate a switch I 6 to control the actuation of valve [3.

The mold 1 may be successively cooled and heated by any suitable heat transfer arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment a serpentine coil I7 is mounted on the top wall of the mold I and has straight sections overlying the partitions 8 and curved end portions connecting the straight sections. Preferably, the coil I! is attached in good heat conducting relation to the top wall of the mold I as by brazing, soldering or welding it thereto. One end of the coil 11 is connected to the refrigerant receiver I8 of a compression type refrigeration system by a conduit I9 having an expansion valve 20 therein. The opposite end of the coil I1 is connected by a conduit 2! to the suction side of a compressor 22 driven by an electric motor 23. The high pressure side of the compressor 29 is connected to a condenser 24 by a conduit 25 and the outlet from the condenser is connected to the receiver l8. A by-pass conduit 26 also is connected be tween the high pressure side of the compressor 22 and inlet end of the coil H and a solenoid-operated selector valve 21 is provided at the junction of the coil H and conduits i9 and 25. Valve 21 connects conduit l9 to coil H and when the solenoid is deenergized the valve closes conduit 26. When the solenoid of selector valve 2'| is energized, the valve connects conduit 26 to coil ll to permit hot gas to enter the coil.

Platen I is mounted adjacent one side of the mold for downward and rocking movement to an inclined position below the mold. Trunnion pins 28 project from the opposite sides of the platen l0 and into one end of links 29, see Figs. 1 and 2, and the opposite ends of the links are pivotally connected to suitable supports 30. Adjustable stops 3| limit the pivotal movement of the links 29 on supports 3|) to regulate the downward movement of the platen |0 relative to the mold The mechanism for operating the platen It) comprises a lever 32 pivotally connected to a bracket 33 at one end, an adjustable push rod 34 connecting the opposite end of the lever to the bottom of the platen and a cam 35 for rocking the lever, see Fig. 2. Cam 35 is mounted fast on a cam shaft 36 rotatable in bearing blocks 31 on a channel frame member 38, see Fig. 4, the channel frame having a slot 39 therein between the bearing blocks to accommodate the cam 35. Cam shaft 33 is rotated by an electric motor and reduction' gearing unit 4!) mounted on the side of the channel frame member 38. The shaft 36 extends beyond the bearing block 37 at the side opposite the motor unit 40 and mounts three cams 4|,42 and 43 for operating control switches 44, 45 and 46. Lever 32 is provided with a cam follower 41 intermediate its end engaging the periphery of the cam 35. When the cam is retated to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the platen I is moved to its open tilted position with respect to the mold T; and when the cam is rotated to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the platen ID is moved to its closed position on the mold I.

The platen operating mechanism and selector valve 21 are controlled by a thermostat having a bulb 48 mounted on and responsive to the temperature of one side of the mold The bulb 48 is connected to an expansible bellows 49 through a capillary tube 50 and the bellows is connected to operate a single pole double throw switch 5|. The thermostatically operated switch 5| is connected in a suitable electric control circuit including the operating elements and other switches as illustrated in Fig. 6 to automatically control the operation of the machine. The electric circuit comprises line conductors 52 and 53 and the compressor motor 23 is connected across the line for continuous operation as controlled by a line switch 54. Line conductor 52 also is connected to the pole of the thermostatic switch 5|. Low temperature contact 55 of the switch 5| is connected to one side of the solenoid of selector valve 2' and the other side of the solenoid is connected to the conductor 53. Low temperature contact 55 also is connected to the pole of switch 44 operated by cam 4| on the cam shaft 36. Contact 56 of cam switch 44 is connected to one side of the platen operating motor 38 by a jumper 57 so that a circuit is completed to lower the platen lil when the switches are in the position illustarted in Fig. 6. When cam shaft 36 has rotated 180, cam 4| will have opened switch 44 to hold the platen [0 in the tilted position illustrated in Fig. 2 and cam 42 will have closed switch 45. In

lg. 6, cams 4i and 42 are shown in their positions just prior to the opening of switch 44 and the closing of switch 45. The opposite or high temperature contact 58 of the thermostatic switch 5| is connected to switch 45. Contact 59 of switch 45 is connected to the platen operating motor 38 by the jumper 51 for completing a circuit to move platen l0 to closed position. Contact 58 of thermostatic switch 5| also is connected to the contact 60 cf float-operated switch |6. Floatoperated switch IS, in turn, is connected to the pole of switch 46 operated by the cam 43. Contact 6| of switch 45 is connected to one side of the solenoid of water control valve l3 and the opposite side of the solenoid is connected to the conductor 53.

Preferably the mold and platen H! are ten-- closed in suitable insulating material which overlies the serpentine coil H and is split to permit the platen to move away from the mold. Although not shown, a reciprocating plate is provided in the platen In for agitating the water in the mold during a freezing operation as shown in a co-pending application for Letters Patent by Clyde E. Ploeger filed concurrently herewith; and the top of mold I has holes overlying each of the cells 9 to facilitate the removal of the ice cubes from the mold as described and claimed in another co-pending application by Clyde E. Ploeger filed concurrently herewith.

In accordance with the present invention, a construction and arrangement of elements is provided to release the cake of ice from one side of the mold before it is released from the opposite side, support the side of the cake first released to control its descent and cause the cake to draw free of the mold as it swings about the support as a pivot, and coordinate the heating and cooling of the mold and the operation of the platen with the release of ice from the mold. The construction for retarding the release of one side of the cake from the mold may take a variety of forms. For example, detents may be provided on the side of the mold from which the cake is last released to engage the side of the cake and hold it until additional melting occurs; the side of the mold may be partially insulated to reduce the heat transfer and delay the release of ice; the mold may be progressively heated from one side to the other; or any other suitable arrangement may be provided for producing this result. The support engaged by the side of the cake first released also may take a variety of forms. For example, a ledge may be provided at the side of the mold; an element may be moved into and withdrawn from a position underlying the side of the mold; the platen itself may constitute a support; or any other suitable arrangement may be provided. The heating and cooling of the mold and operation of the platen may be coordinated with the release of ice from the mold by a time-controlled mechanism, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the mold, or any other suitable control mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the mold l is progressivel heated its opposite side is released.

from its rearward toward its forward side, the rearward edge of the platen ID is used to support the side of the cake first released and thebulb 48 of the control thermostat is responsive to the forward side of the mold and coordinates the operation of the platen'and the cooling and heating of the mold with the freezing and release of a cake of ice in the mold. 'It is to be understood that the expressions "forward and rearward sides of the mold are merely used for convenience of description and apply to-any two opposite sides of the mold. In the illustrated embodiment the coil I1 is arranged on the top of themold -1 with its inlet adjacent the rearward side at wnieh the platen I is mounted and its outlet at the'forward side with the straightsections of the coil extending in a direction parallel with the forward and rearward sides. When hot gas isdelivered to the coil H, the mold 1 will be progressively heated from its rearward toward its forward side so that the side of thecake adjacent the platen pivot will be first released.

The stops 3i underlying the links 29 are adjusted so that the rearward edges of the p t when lowered and swung to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 will be located below the cake a distance equal to the heightof the partitions 8. When the rearward side of the cake is released it will descen to and engage the rearward edge of the platen III as illustrated in Fig.2. 'Thus, the rearward edge of the platen l0 constitutes a support on which the cakerests and provides a pivot about which the cake will swing as a unit when Such controlled swinging of the cake as a unit will draw the ice free from the cells 9 as it falls from the mold without any tilting or jamming of the individual cubes in the cells or hanging of the whole or any part of the cake in the mold.

The bulb of the control thermostat islocated at the opposite side of the mold I from the side from which the cake is first released or, in other words, at the forward side of the mold. As the cake of ice is last released from the forward side of the mold 1 and as the-whole cake falls freeof the mold when the forward edge of the cake is released, the arrangement prevents theclosing of the platen l0 until all of the ice has been removed from the mold. One form of the'invention having now been described in detail, the mode of operation is explained as follows.

For-purposes of description let it be assumed that the platen I0 is in closed position and a freezing'cycle is in progress. Under such conditions refrigerant is being'supplied to the coil ll from the" expansion valve 29 and refrigerant vapor is being-exhausted from the forward end of the coilby the compressor 22 to reduce the pressure and temperature in the coil. Heat is being transheat-so that the temperature of the mold I will gradually decrease during an ice freezing operationfi -When the proper amount of ice has been frozen in the mold l the temperature of the mold will have fallen to a degree at which the thermostat switch is move'dto the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. The closing of the switch 5| with low temperature contact will complete a circuit through cam switch 44 and'energize the platen motor 40' to rotate the cam 35 clockwise from a'position as illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The weight of the platen lfl'then causes it to fall away from the bottom of the mold 1 until the linksv 29 engage the stops 3 I, after which the platen wil1 rock on the trunnion pins 28 to the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2. The lowering and tilting of the platen 10 will locate its. rearward edge S directly below the cake of ice adjacent its rearward side, a distance equal to the height of the partitions 8. After rotation of cam shaft 36 through an arc of cam 4| will have opened switch 44 to stop operation of motor 40 to hold platen II! in the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2 and cam Will have closed switch 45.

Simultaneous with the energization of theplaten motor 38 the selector valve Zlwill be actuated to. open the by-pass 26 from the compressor to the coil. High temperature gas then flows directly from the compressor 22 through the by-. pass 26 and into the rearward end of the coil ll. The hot gas in the coil I! immediately transfers its heat" to the rearward portion of the mold 1 which; in turn; cools the gas so that by the time the latter leaves the forward end of the coil it has very'little heating effect. As the flow of gas continues the rearward portion of the mold I becomes warmer so that the gas will progressively heat the mold from its rearward toward its for- Ward side. Heat is transmitted from the coil [1 through the top and side walls of the mold l to the partitions 8 so that the ice bond at the contacting surfaces of cells 9 is melted to release the cake of ice. As the bond between the partitions 8 and ice cake is first released at the rearward .portion of the mold-1; the rearward side of the cake will first fall from the mold. When the rearward side of the ice cake has fallen a distance equal to the height of the partitions, it will engage the rearward-edge S of the platen l0 which holds it and prevents further tiltingh As the heating of the mold I progresses the forward side of the cake will be released, at which time the weight of the cake will cause it to fall from the mold and swing about the edge S of the platen as a pivot. Such controlled swingingof the cake of ice from the mold I will draw the individual cubes of the cake from the mold as it falls from the position illustrated in full lines to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Such swinging of the ice cake also prevents the weight of the side of the cake first released from tilting the individual cubes in the cells 9 with a resultant jamming and hanging of the ice in the mold.

' Assoon as the forward side of the cake is ref leased, the temperature of the forward side of the .mold increases and actuates the switch 5| to the .dottedline position illustrated in Fig. 6 to engage the high temperature contact 53. A circuit is then completed through cam switch 45, jumper 51 and motor 38 to rock the. platen back to the ,closed position-illustrated in Fig. 3. At the end of 180'. movement of the cam shaft 34, the cam 42 opens switch 45 to deenergize the motor 38 and cam 40 closes switch 44 to set the control for the next ice dumping operation. Movement of the cam shaft'36 operating through cam 43 willhave closed switch 46 and completed a circuit through switch i6 and the solenoid of water valve l3.to open the latter and supply water to the mold I. When. the proper. amount ofwater has .been sup.-

plied to the mold I the floatl5, will open switch "I 6 and therebyclose water valve l3. Upon shifting of thermostatic switch 5| from the low temperature contact 55 to the high temperature contact 58 the circuit through the solenoid operated selector valve 21. is deenergized, the valve then closing the by-pass conduit 26 and opening the conduit from the expansion valve 20 to the coil 11. Thus, another cycle of operation has been started to automatically freeze a cake of ice in the mold 1 which will continue until the temperature of the mold is lowered to a degree at which the thermostatic switch 5| is again operated.

' It will now be observed that the present invention provides a construction and arrangement of elements to insure the release of a cake of ice from one side of the mold before it is released from the opposite side and supporting the side of a cake first released to control its descent. It will also be observed that the present invention provides an arrangement in which the side of the cake first released is opposite the side responsive to the control thermostat. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides a construction and arrangement of elements in which the mold is progressively heated from one side to the other to release the ice cake in a controlled manner.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements as previously explained without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, Without limitation in this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an ice making machine, a mold having an open side from which ice may fall by gravity, elements cooperating with said mold for freezing liquid to form a cake of ice therein, means to discontinue freezing in the mold to release the cake of ice therefrom, a construction and arrangement of the elements to release the cake from one side of the mold before it is released from the opposite side, and a support arranged for engagement by the side of the cake first released whereby to control its descent to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold.

2. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open side from which ice may fall by gravity, elements cooperating with said mold for freezing liquid in the cells and over the partitions to form a single cake of ice, means for heating the mold and partitions therein to release the cake of ice, 2. construction and arrangement of elements to release the cake from one side of the mold before it is released from the opposite side, and a support adjacent said one side of the mold and engaged by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support.

3. In an ice making machine, a mold having an open side from which ice may fall by gravity, means for cooling the mold to freeze a cake of ice therein, means for heating the mold to release the cake of ice, a thermostat responsive to the temperature at one side of the mold for controlling the cooling and heating of the mold, a construction and arrangement of elements to first release the cake of ice from the side of the mold opposite the side controlling the thermostat, and a support adjacent said opposite side of the mold and engageable by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support as a pivot.

4. In an ice making machine, a mold having an open sidef-rom which ice may fall by gravity, a platen, a thermostat responsive to the temperature at one side of the mold for moving the platen toward and away from the open side of the mold, elements cooperating with said mold for freezing a cake of ice therein, means for heating the mold to release the cake of ice, a con struction and arrangement of elements to first release the cake of ice from the side of .the mold opposite the side controlling the thermostat, and a support adjacent said opposite side of the mold for engagement by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support as a pivot. I

5. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom from which ice may fall by gravity, a platen movable toward and away from the bottom of the mold, means for cooling the mold for freezing liquid in the cells and over the bottom of the partitions to form a single cake, means for heating the mold and partitions therein to release the cake of ice, a thermostat responsive to the temperature at one side of the mold for controlling operation of the platen and the cooling and heating of the mold, a construction and arrangement of elements to first release the cake of ice from the side of the mold opposite the side controlling the thermostat, and a support adjacent said opposite side and engageable by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support as a pivot. I

6. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open side from which ice may fall by gravity, elements cooperating with said mold for freezing liquid in the cells and over the partitions to form a single cake, means for progressively heating the mold and partitions therein from one side to the other to release the cake of ice, and a support engaged by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support as a pivot.

7. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a platen, a thermostat responsive to the temperature at one side of the mold for controlling the operation of the platen to open and close the mold, means for cooling the mold to freeze liquid in the cells and over the bottom of the partitions to form a single cake, means for progressively heating the mold and partitions therein from the side of the mold opposite to the side controlling the thermostat, and a support adjacent said opposite side of the mold for engagement by the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about said support as a pivot.

8. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a platen mounted adjacent one side of the mold for swinging movement to close the bottom of the mold in one position and open the bottom of the mold in another position, means for freezing liquid in the cells and over the bottom of the partitions to form a single cake, means for heating the mold and partitions therein to release the cake of ice, a construc tion and arrangement of elements to first release the cake at the side of the mold adjacent the platen mounting, and the side of the platen adjacent the mounting constituting a support for holding the side of the cake first released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold as it swings about the side of the platen.

9. In an ice making machine, a mold open at the bottom, a platen for closing the bottom of the mold, means for cooling the mold to freeze a cake of ice therein, pivot means adjacent one side of the mold for mounting the platen to rock to an inclined position beneath the mold, means for progressively heating the mold from the side adjacent the platen pivot means toward the opposite side, and the side of the platen adjacent the pivot means holding the side of the cake first released to control its descent and cause the cake to fall freely from the mold.

10. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a platen closing the bottom of the mold and mounted at one side of the mold for combined downward and pivotal movement away from the mold, a serpentine coil overlying the top of the mold in heat transfer relation thereto and having an inlet at the side of the mold adjacent the platen pivot and an outlet at the opposite side, means for delivering cooling medium for flow through the coil to freeze liquid in the cells and over the bottom of the partitions to form a single cake, means for moving the platen to an inclined position below the mold, means for delivering a heating medium for flow through the coil to progressively heat the mold and partitions therein from the inlet to the outlet side of the coil, and the pivoted side of the platen underlying the mold and providing a support for holding the side of the cake first released to control its descent when the opposite side is 10 released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold.

11. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a platen pivotally mounted adjacent one side of the mold to close the bottom of the latter and swing to an inclined position With respect thereto, a serpentine coil overlying the top of the mold and having an inlet at the side of the mold adjacent the platen pivot and an outlet at the opposite side, means for delivering a cooling medium for flow through the coil to freeze liquid in the cells and over the bottom of the partitions to form a single cake, means for delivering a heating medium for flow through the coil to progressively heat the mold and partitions therein from the inlet to the outlet of the coil, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the side of the mold opposite the platen pivot for controlling the operation of the platen and the heating and cooling of the mold, and the pivoted side of the platen underlying the mold and providing a support for holding the side of the cake first released to control its descent when the opposite side is released to cause the cake to fall freely from the mold.

DUDLEY R. COOK.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,449,225 Griesser Mar. 20, 1923 1,484,982 Bright Feb. 26, 1924 1,757,033 Wolcott May 6, 1930 2,459,337 Raney Jan. 18, 1949 2,484,017 Copeman Oct. 11, 1949 2,486,957 McGreW Nov. 1, 1949 2,493,900 Schaberg et al. Jan. 10, 1959