US2718125A

US2718125A - Automatic ice maker

Info

Publication number: US2718125A
Application number: US367522A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julius B Horvay
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1953-07-13
Filing date: 1953-07-13
Publication date: 1955-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1972-09-20

Description

P 1955 J. B. HORVAY 2,718,125

AUTOMATIC ICE'MAKER Filed July 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F-igJ.

1 A /9 6'6 a l8 l I L 1 l l5 Inventor:

Julius B. Horvag,

I I 9 W n His Attorney.

United States Patent 2,718,125 AUTOMATI-C ICE MAKER Julius B. Horvay, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,522

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-106) My invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and pertains more particularly to automatic ice making apparatus applicable to household refrigerators.

Currently in general use for producing ice blocks in a household refrigerator are trays which include means for dividing the trays into a plurality of ice block forming compartments and are adapted for being supported on or near a refrigerated surface to freeze water in the compartments. The inconveniences connected with filling these trays with water and removing the frozen ice blocks are widely known and experienced and need not be herein set forth. Suffice it to say that these inconveniences are such as to make desirable the provision of automatic ice making apparatus which is applicable to household refrigerators. Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide a new and improved automatic ice maker.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic ice maker applicable to household refrigerators.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a refrigerator an automatic ice maker including new and improved means for controlling operation of the refrigerator in accordance with operation of the ice maker.

Another object of my invention is to provide in an automatic ice maker new and improved means for effecting the formation of ice.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic ice maker which will require a minimum of attention from the user and, therefore, will be generally acceptable to potential users. 1:

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive automatic ice maker for use in household refrigerators.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention I provide a'refrigerator and an automatic ice maker including a water reservoir, refrigerated by the refrigerating system of the refrigerator, and a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water. The receptacle is movable between a position in which the refrigerated member extends into the water in the receptacle for having ice form thereon and a position spaced from the refrigerated member. Automatically and sequentially the receptacle is filled, moved to the ice forming position, retracted from this position before all the water therein is frozen, and the refrigerated member is heated for releasing the ice to permit it to fall into storage means. Additionally, the ice maker automatically insures drying of the ice before dropping it into the storage means, controls the refrigerator for maximum efficiency of operation, and cyclically controls itself in accordance with a predetermined condition of the storage means.

For a better understanding of my invention reference inay be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

" 2,718,125 Ce Patented Sept. 20, 1955 Fig. 1 illustrates a refrigerator having my invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the ice maker;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ice maker;

Fig. 4 is a front'elevational view of the ice maker, partially broken away to illustrate details of the reservoir;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the refrigerated fingers;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 66 in Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and I Fig. 7 is a schematic showing of the ice maker controlling means.

Referring to the drawing, I have partially shown in Fig. 1 a household refrigerator generally designated 1. The refrigerator 1 comprises an outer case 2, a lower liner (not shown) spaced from the outer case and defining a fresh food compartment (also not shown) and an upper liner 3 which is also spaced from the outer 'case and defines a freezer compartment 4. Provided for closing an access opening to the fresh food compartment and suitably hinged on the outer case 2 is a lower door 5; and provided for closing an access opening to the freezer compartment 4 and also suitably hinged on the outer case is an upper door 6. Disposed in the space between the outer case and liners is suitable insulative material indicated by 7. Provided for cooling the fresh food and freezer compartments is a refrigerating system (not shown). The refrigerating system includes a refrigerating' unit schematically shown in Fig. 7 and indicated by 8 and a unit control 9 for maintaining a predetermined satisfactory temperature in the fresh food compartment and a predetermined lower temperature in the freezer compartment.

Formed in the upper right hand corner of the freezer compartment 4 as viewed in Fig. l is an ice maker compartment 10. The compartment 10 is preferably formed by a third liner 11 and is suitably insulated at its'sides and top from the freezer compartment 4. Disposed in the compartment 10 is my ice maker generally designated 12.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the ice maker 12 includes a frame 13 formed'to include a base portion 14 and a spaced apart pair of legs or pendent side portions 15. The legs 15 are adapted for resting on the bottom wall of the compartment 10 and supporting the base portion 14 in elevated or spaced apart relationship with respect to the bottom wall of the compartment 10. Slidably supported between the legs 15 on horizontal rails 16 is ice storage means such as a drawer 17. The ice drawer 17 is adapted for receiving and storing the ice manufactured by the ice maker in a manner which will be described in detail hereinafter. Formed in the drawer for facilitatingopening thereof to gain access to ice therein is a finger grip 18.

Suitably secured to the underside of the base portion 14 is a batt of insulation 19. The frame 13 is preferably formed of a low heat conducting material such as plastic and, for a purpose which shall be seen hereinafter, this construction and the insulation 19 are effective when the ice maker 12 is in the compartment 10 for dividing the compartment 10 into upper and lower portions with little heat conduction therebetween.

Suitably formed on the upper left-hand side of the frame 13 is a cradle 20. The cradle 20 is provided for receiving and supporting a water container 21. As seen in Figs. 2-4, the container 21 includes a handle 22 on the front portionlthereof for facilitating handling of the container. As also seen, the container 21 is formed to include a pendent neck 23 located at the forward portion thereof and adapted for projecting downwardly beyond the forward edge of the cradle 20. Reinovably fitted on the'n'eck 23 is a barometric valve 24, of Well-known construction and including a valve stem 25.

Provided for cooperating with the valve stem 25 to operate thevalve 24 when .the water container 21 is satisfactorily positioned in the cradle 20 is .a projection 26. As seen in Fig. 4, the projection .26 stands up from the bottom of a water reservoir 27. The reservoir 27 extends across the front portion of the ice maker and is suitably journaled as at 2.8 and 29 between a pair of spaced apart

upright members

30 and 31, respectively, formed .on the upper forward portion of the base 14. In this arrangement the projection 26 holds the valve stem 25 raised in any .rotative position of the reservoir for opening the valve .24 and permitting filling of the reservoir with water from the container .21. At a predetermined level indicated by .32 in Figs. 2 and 4, the water closes the valve 24 and atmos pheric pressure prevents further dispensation :of water from the container 21 until the level of water in the reservoir .falls below the predetermined level. Thus the predetermined water level is maintained in the reservoir.

.Extending rearwardly .from the reservoir 27 is a pair of spaced apart arms .33 to the extremities :of which is conneeted .a receptacle 34 adapted for being moved between I the solid and dash line positions thereof in Fig. 2. Formed in the upper side of the inner one of the arms 33 is .a trough 35 extending between the reservoir vand receptacle. The bottom of the trough 35 is below the predetermined water level 32 in the reservoir 27 and thereby is eifective for filling the receptacle .34 with water from the reservoir when the arms 33 are in the horizontal position thereof shown in Fig. 2, that is, when the receptacle 34 is in the solid line position thereof in Fig. 2 it .is below the predetermined level of water in the reservoir and the valve 24 will remain open until the predetermined level v32 is attained in both the reservoir 27 and the receptacle 34.

It will be seen that alternatively the reservoir 27 can be stationary while just the receptacle 34 is movable by any suitable means between the solid and dash line positions thereof in Fig. 2 and a flexible connection can be made between the reservoir and the receptacle for providing filling of the receptacle from the reservoir in a manner much similar to that described above.

Provided for moving the receptacle 34 between the solid and dash line positions thereof in Fig. 2 is a cam 36 driven by a-timing motor generally designated 37 in Figs. 4 and 7 or any other suitable actuating means. To effect this actuation of the receptacle 34 the cam 36 cooperates with a roller 38 carried on a shaft 39 secured by a bracket 40 to the-inner one of the arms 33.

I When the cam 36 is positioned so that the roller 38 .is on the low. dwell thereof the arms 33 are horizontal and the receptacle 34 is in the lower position thereof shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. In this position the receptacle is filled with water from the reservoir by means of the trough 35. Subsequent rotation of the cam causes the roller to ride up to and on the high dwell of the cam. This causes the receptacle 34, the arms 33, and the reservoir 27, to pivot about the journals28 and .29 to the dash line positions thereof in Fig. 2 for the purpose of elevating the receptacle.

In the elevated position of the receptacle 34 the water therein assumes a level indicated by4l, the water in excess thereof flowing down the trough 35 and back into the reservoir 27. As best seen in Fig. 2, the reservoir 27 is so constructed *asto accommodate the water returned to it when the receptacle 34 is elevated as well as the water normally dispensed by the valve '24.

ceptacle 34 in its elevated position may be so controlled as to prevent freezing of all the water in the receptacle and to determine the amount of ice formed on the fingers 42.

The fingers 42 may be constructed in numerous ways for being refrigerated, one of which I have shown in Figs. 4-6. As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, each finger 42 comprises a center rod 43 and a sheath 44 suitably secured thereover. Adjacent its lower extremity each rod 43 is formed with an annular groove 45 for cooperating with the sheath to provide an annular refrigerant passage 46. Additionally, each rod 43 is formed with a plurality of vertical flutes 47 for cooperating with the sheath 44 to provide vertical refrigerant passages 48 communicating with the annular passage 46. The upper end of each rod 43 is reduced as at 49 and extends through and beyond a cap 50 suitably secured to the upper edge of the sheath 44. The reduced portion of the rod in cooperation with the sheath and cap provides another annular refrigerant passage 51 communicating with the vertical passages 48.

Connecting the passages 51 of the two fingers 42 is a tube 52. Connected to the tube 52 is an inlet 53 from the portion of the refrigerating system (not shown) adapted for cooling the freezer compartment 4. .By this arrangement liquid refrigerant is supplied to the passages 51 for circulation through the vertical passages 48 and the lower annular passages 46. Also connected to the passages 51 of the fingers 42 are the ends of a tubular yoke 54, to the center of which is connected an outlet 55 to the refrigerating circuit. The yoke .54 provides for exhaustion from the fingers of vaporous refrigerant. In the arrangement described to this point the fingers 42 are adapted for being refrigerated through the same refrigerating system or circuit employed in cooling the freezer compartment 4. Additionally, the refrigerated fingers 42 are adapted for extending .into the water in the receptacle 34 when the receptacle is in its elevated position and for having the water freeze thereon in ice formations, indicated by 56 in Figs. 2 and 4, which resemble cups and hereinafter shall be referred to as ice cups.

Provided for releasing the ice cups 56 from the fingers 42 is heating means comprising heating elements or heaters 57 disposed in bores 58 extending axially into the rods 43 from the upper ends thereof. Lines 59 and 6.0 connect the heaters 57 to a suitable energizingcircuit which will be described in detail hereinafter and which when completed energizes the heaters for effectively heating the fingers 42 to thaw or melt the bonds between the fingers 42 and the ice cups 56 and thereby permit the ice cups to fall free of the fingers.

In a manner to be described in detail hereinafter, melting of the ice cups from the fingers 42 will be effected only when the receptacle 34 is in its lowered position. Intel-posed between the fingers 42 and the receptacle 34 in the manner shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 when the receptacle is in its lowered position is a deflector or chute .61. The deflector 61 is provided for intercepting ice cups falling from the fingers 42 and directing them through a passage 62, formed in the base portion 14 of the frame 13 and through the insulation 19, into the ice storage drawer 17. The deflector 61 is pivoted as at '63 on the upper .side of the base portion 14 and extends npwardly between the arms 33. Additionally the deflec- As also best seen in Fig. 2, the receptacle 34 is adapted for 61 is adapted for being engaged on its underside by a roller .64 rotatably carried by the receptacle 34 between the arms 33. Upon movement of the receptacle toward its elevated position, the roller 64 engages the underside of the deflector and actuates it approxitor is actuated to'the dash line position in Fig. 2.

Nu (D mately half way toward the dash line position thereof infig. 2. Thereafter, a roller 65-carried by the deflector adjacent the upper edge thereof engages an ,arcuate rail 66 formed on the receptacle 34 .and whereby the deflec- In its movement to the dash .line position 1116 :center .of

gravity of the deflector does not move over its pivot point 63. Therefore, in response to gravity thedefiector 61 follows the receptacle 34 when the latter is subsequently retracted or moved to its solid line position between the fingers and receptacle and in which position it is effective for deflecting or guiding ice cups falling from the fingers through the passage 62 and into the drawer 17.

Now it will be seen that in order to arrive at satisfactory automatic operation of the ice maker some ordered sequence of operations is required in the operation of the timing motor 37, actuation of the receptacle 34 to its elevated position andv retraction of the receptacle therefrom, melting of the ice cups from the fingers, etc. Controlling means provided for obtaining this sequence of operations is shown schematically in Fig. 7 and generally designated 67. The controlling means 67 includes the unit control 9 which is adapted for energizing the above-mentioned refrigerating unit 8 intermittently in response to refrigerator temperatures thereby to maintain substantially constant predetermined temperatures in the fresh food and freezer compartments, three cam operated switches designated #1, #2, and #3. The switches #1, #2 and #3 are all included in a switch unit indicated by 68 in Figs. 4 and 7 and the cams operating these switches and the above-mentioned cam 36 are all fixedsecurely on a common shaft of the timing motor 37 for being driven thereby. In this arrangement the cam 36 controls movement of the receptacle 34 between the elevated and lowered positions thereof. The #1 switch controls the effectiveness of the unit control 9 in determining the operation of the refrigerating unit 8, that is, when the #1 switch is open the unit control 9 is in complete control of the operation of the refrigerating unit 8 and when the #1 switch is closed the control 9 is shorted out and ineffective in controlling the refrigerating unit. The #2 switch is a doublethrow switch and is effective in one position for enabling energization of the refrigerating unit 8 and preventing energization of the heaters 57 and in the other position for disabling the refrigerating unit and energizing the heaters. The control circuit 67 so interlocks the refrigerating unit 8 and the timing motor 37 that the timing motor is energized only if the refrigerating unit 8 is operating. The #3 switch controls and opens one of a pair of parallel circuits through the timing motor for a short period after each cycle of operation of the ice maker. Connected across the #3 switch and controlling the other parallel circuit through the timing motor is a limit switch 69. In this arrangement the #3 switch and the limit switch 69 are adapted for cooperating to control the timing motor in accordance with a predetermined condition of the ice drawer 17. If when the #3 switch is cyclically opened the switch 69 is closed, the timing motor will continue energized and the #3 switch will reclose permitting initiation of the succeeding ice making cycle. If during the time the #3 switch is closed the switch 69 is opened, the timing motor will continue energized until the ice maker completes its current cycle and the'#3 switch opens afterwhich the #3 switch will be maintained opened for disabling the ice maker until the switch 69 is again closed. The limit switch 69 opens and thereby stops the timing motor at the end of each cycle if the supply of ice in the drawer hasreacheda predetermined amount or if the drawer is not properly positioned in the ice maker. This switch can conveniently be a pair of series connected switches, one adapted for operating in response to the position of the drawer in the ice maker and the other in response to the amount of ice in the drawer.

Now in detail the sequential operation of the several components comprising-the ice maker 12 as effected by the controlling means 67 is such that when the drawer 17 is in the ice maker and contains less than a predetermined supply of formed ice cups 56 and when the cam 6 36 is so positioned that the roller 38 is on thelow dwell thereof, 'the receptacle 34 is in its lowered position and is filled with water from the reservoir 27' through the trough 35 and the unit control 9 isiin complete control of the refrigerating unit 8. This is the condition of the ice maker at the beginning of an ice making cycle.- Subsequently, whenever the unit control 9 energizes the refrigerating unit 8 the timing motor37 is also energized effecting rotation of the cam 36 and the cams operating the several switches. After approximately 3% minutes of cumulative running time of the timing motor the roller 38 rides up on the high dwell of the cam 36 and the filled receptacle is in the elevated dash line position of Fig. 2 in which position the refrigerated members or fingers 42 extend into the water in the receptacle for having ice form on the fingers. The receptacle 34 dwells in the elevated position for approximately 7 minutes of cumulative running time of the timing motor 37 during which time an individual ice cup 56 is frozen on each of the refrigerated fingers 42. It will be seen that by controlling the time that the receptacle dwells or stays in its elevated position I am able to control the size of the ice cups and to terminate the freezing of water on the fingers before the two ice .cups are conjoined and before all of the water supply in the receptacle is frozen which would cause the ice to bond tothe receptacle and prevent the receptacle from subsequently following the cam 36 and being retracted from its elevated position. a v

The retraction or lowering of the receptacle 34 requires approximately 3% minutes of cumulative running time of the timing motor v37. During the lowering of the receptacle and after the ice formed on the fingers 42 is out of. the-water remaining in the receptacle the #2 switch is in its unit energizing position and the #1 switch is closed, shorting outthe unit control 9. Thus, continued energization of the refrigerating unit is insured for freezing the moist outer surfaces of the ice cups 56 and thereby drying the cups for preventing subsequent freezing of the ice cups to others in the ice storage drawer 17. The #1 switch remains closed both fora cumulative running time of the timing motor 37 sulficient to dry the ice cups on the fingers and an additional period commencing approximately /2 minute before the receptacle 34 reaches its fully lowered position and lasting 1 /3 minutes. During this additional period the #2 switch breaks the refrigerating unit cir-. cuit and completes a circuit through the #1 switch and the heaters 57 for heating the refrigerated fingers 42. The 1 /3 minutes during which the refrigerating unit circuit and the heaters circuit are maintained-broken and completed, respectively, is sufficient for melting the bonds between the ice cups 56 and the fingers 42, allowing the ice cups to drop free of the fingers. It will be seen, of course, that the refrigerating unit is deenergized during heating of the fingers only to enable the employment of smaller heaters in releasing the ice cups and that, if desired, larger heaters or heaters of greater capacity could be employed with which it would not be necessary to deenergize the refrigerating unit during the ice cup releasing operation. In the latter case, the heaters when energized would overcome or buck the refrigeration of the fingers to melt the ice cups offthe fingers. As pointed out above when the receptacle 34 is in its retracted or lower position the deflector 61 is interposed between it and the fingers 42. This is the case when the ice cups are released, and the deflector is effective for guiding the dried falling ice cups through the passage 62 in the base 14 of the frame 13 and into the drawer 17 for storage and easy access by the user.

As best seen in Fig. 1, the lower portion of the ice maker compartment 10 is not insulated from the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator. This insures maintenance of the ice cups stored in the drawer in the cold dry state in which they were deflected into the drawer and prevents them from freezing together therein. The insulative nature of the material of which the frame 13 is for'medandthe insulation 19 secured to the underside of the base of the frame prevents freezing of the water in the container 21 and in the reservoir and recept'acle' after it is dispensed from the container.

Iustassoon as the receptacle 34 reaches its lowered position which isbelow the predetermined level 32' of water in the reservoir 27 the supply of water in the recep tac'le is replenished through the trough 35 in preparation for a succeeding ice making cycle. Additionally, following melting of the ice cups from the fingers 42 the #1 switch is open and the #2 switch opens the heaters circuitandenables completion of the refrigerating unit circuit, or in other words the #1 and #2 switches are reset for initiation of a succeeding ice making cycle.

' Following resetting of the #1 and #2 switches andat the end of the cycle the #3' switch is opened in the manner shownin Fig. 7'. Now if the drawer is in place in the ice maker and does not as yet contain a predetermined maximumsupply of ice, the limit switch 69 will be closed and the timing motor will continue running, resetting the #3 switch also and thereby initiating the succeeding ice making cycle. If, however, during the current cycle the supply of ice cups in the drawer 17 has reached the predetermined maximum quantity to be stored, or if the drawer is'not-satisfactoril'y positioned in the ice maker or if the drawer had been removed sometime during the current cycle and not replaced. the switch 69 will be thereby opened and no circuit will be completed through the timing motor when the switch #3 is opened. Under these conditions the timing motor will be deenergized, preventing resetting of the #3 switch and initiation of the succeeding ice making cycle. It is to be noted, however, that this disabling or deenergization of the ice maker in response to a condition of the ice drawer can take place only after the current ice cycle has been completed. Upon removal of at least enough ice cups to bring the stored supply to below the predetermined maximum and satisfactory positioningof the drawer in the ice maker, the limit switch 69 willbe closed for restoring acircuit through the timing motor toreset the #3 switch and initiate a succeeding normal ice making cycle. This resetting will take place immediately if the unit '8 is energized when the switch 69 is closed. Otherwise, the resetting of the #3- switch will be deferred until the unit is" again ener- 'gized It will be seen that while I have shown my ice maker incorporated in a two-temperature refrigerator wherein the freezer compartment is located above the fresh food compartment, my ice maker can be satisfactorily arranged in atwo-temperature refrigerator in' which the freezer compartment islocated below the fresh food compartment. Inthe latter type of refrigerator the insulation 19 would not be required. The mechanism located above .the base portion 14 of the frame 13 would be located in the upper or fresh food compartment in which an above freezing temperature would be maintained while the ice drawer 17 would be located in the lower or freezer compartment separated fromv the fresh food compartment and the working mechanism of the ice maker by a: mul-lion.

It will be seen further that while I have shown and described my ice maker incorporatedin two-temperature refrigerators itsapplicat ion is not limited to such. It will be quite clear that my ice maker can: be incorporated in a single temperature refrigerator, in which case the fingers 421 would be refrigerated simply by being connected in the evaporator circuit of the refrigerator. Additionally, my ice maker can be constructed as an independently operating arrangement. That is, independent of a household refn' gerator the fingers 42 can be refrigerated and myice' maker operated for producing ice.

While Lhave shown and: described a specific embodi- 8 merit of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular formshown and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In anice maker, a frame, a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled to a predetermined level, a refrigerated member, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of Water, a pair of spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said trough being below said predetermined level of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle to an elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above said predetermined level of water in said reservoir when in its elevated position whereby excess water in said receptacle flows through said trough to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position before said supply of water in said receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of water in said receptacle, and means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon.

2'. In an ice maker, a frame, awater reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled to a predetermined level, a refrigerated member, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water, a pair of spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said trough being below said predetermined level of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle toan elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above said predetermined level of water in said reservoir when in its elevated position whereby excess water in said receptacle flows through said trough to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position. before said supply of water in said receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of water in said receptacle, means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon, ice storage means, and means pivota'lly mounted on said frame to prevent released ice from falling into said receptacle and to guide said released ice into said ice storage means.

3. In an ice maker, a frame, a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled; to a predetermined level, a refrigerated member, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water, a pair of. spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said' trough .being below said predetermined level. of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle to an elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above. said predetermined. levelof water in said reservoir when in its elevated. position whereby excess Water in said receptacle flows through said trough: to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position before said supply of water in said 9 receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of Water in said receptacle, means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon, ice storage means, and a deflector pivotally mounted on said frame, said deflector being disposed above said receptacle when said receptacle is in its lowered position to prevent released ice from falling into said receptacle and to guide said released ice into said ice storage means, said receptacle moving said deflector to a position adjacent said receptacle but outside of said receptacle when said receptacle is in its elevated position.

4. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit, and ice making means comprising a frame, a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled to a predetermined level, a member refrigerated through energization of said unit, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water, a pair of spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said trough being below said predetermined level of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle to an elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above said predetermined level in said reservoir when in its elevated position whereby excess water in said receptacle flows through said trough to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position before said supply of water in said receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of water in said receptacle, and means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon.

5. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit, and ice making means comprising a frame, a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled to a predetermined level, a member refrigerated through energization of said unit, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water, a pair of spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said trough being below said predetermined level of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle to an elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above said predetermined level in said reservoir when in its elevated position whereby excess water in said receptacle flows through said trough to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position before said supply of water in said receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of water in said receptacle, means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon, and means pivotally mounted on said frame to prevent released ice from falling into said receptacle and to guide said released ice into said ice storage means.

6. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit, an ice making means comprising a frame, a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said frame, means maintaining said reservoir filled to a predetermined level, a member refrigerated through energization of said unit, a receptacle adapted for containing a supply of water, a pair of spaced-apart arms connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, at least one of said arms having a trough extending between said reservoir and said receptacle, the bottom of said trough being below said predetermined level of said reservoir, means for pivoting said reservoir, said arms, and said receptacle for moving said receptacle to an elevated position in which said refrigerated member extends into said Water in said receptacle for having ice form on said refrigerated member, said receptacle being above said predetermined level in said reservoir when in its elevated position whereby excess water in said receptacle flows through said trough to said reservoir, said pivoting means moving said receptacle to a lowered position before said supply of water in said receptacle is fully frozen, said receptacle in its lowered position being below said predetermined level in said reservoir whereby water flows from said reservoir through said trough to said receptacle to replenish the supply of water in said receptacle, means to heat said refrigerated member to release ice formed thereon, and a deflector pivotally mounted on said frame, said deflector being disposed above said receptacle when said receptacle is in its lowered position to prevent released ice from falling into said receptacle and to guide said released ice into said ice storage means, said receptacle moving said deflector to a position adjacent said receptacle but outside of said receptacle when said receptacle is in its elevated position.

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