US2833123A

US2833123A - Automatic ice cube machine

Info

Publication number: US2833123A
Application number: US528475A
Authority: US
Inventors: George P Kennedy; Valentine M Kurent
Original assignee: Borg Warner Corp
Current assignee: Borg Warner Corp
Priority date: 1955-08-15
Filing date: 1955-08-15
Publication date: 1958-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1975-05-06

Description

May 6, 1958 G. P. KENNEDY ETAL 2,833,123

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed Aug. l5. 1955 WSN May 6, 1958 G. P. KENNEDY :TAL 2,833,123

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l5, 1955 QT l S May 6, 1958 G. P. KENNEDY srAL 2,833,123

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 6, 1958 G. P. KENNEDY ErAL 2,833,123

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 4 A@ Wm. www y May 5 1958 G. P. KENNEDY :TAL 2,833,123

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Aug. 15. 1955 5 sheets-sheet 5 United States Fasern .hice

2,833,123 Patented May 6, 1958 Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Borg- Warner tion, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,475

19 Claims. (Cl. 62-7) This invention relates to ice machines and more particularly to an automatic machine for continuously producing blocks or cubes of ice within the freezing cornpartment of a domestic refrigerator.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine for producing a supply of ice cubes readily available and individually removable from a bulk storage bin located within the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice cube machine of the above general class having relatively simple structure, and compact design..

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice cube machine capable of producing batches of cubes continuously and automatically.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice cube machine which automatically frees and dumps each batch of cubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice cube machine which is filled automatically with drinking water or other palatable fluid such as fruit juices, where the iluid is supplied through a connection to the domestic water system or from a container associated with the refrigerator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice machine operable to maintain a predetermined quantity of ice cubes available in bulk from within the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a study of the appended .specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a conventional domestic refrigerator showing the disposition of the ice cube machine, and the ice cube basket within the freezing compartment of the refrigerator;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section through the ice cube machine of Fig. l as viewed in the plane of line 2 2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. l as Viewed in the plane of line 3 3;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of Fig. 2 with certain parts thereof broken away to show the coustruction of the mechanism for freeing ice cubes from the grid structure;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4 as viewed in the plane of line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the right end of Fig. 2 as viewed in the plane of line 6 6 and in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an elevational View of Fig. 2. as viewed in the plane of line 7 7 and showing to advantage the disposition of two (2) micro-switches with respect to an actuating cam;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7 as viewed in the plane of line 8 8;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of a portion of Fig. Z taken along the line 9 9 showing the means for mounting the power mechanism and the solenoid valve;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing theelectrical circuitry of the ice cube machine;

An ice cube machine embodying certain features of the present invention may comprise a refrigerator having a freezing compartment, a fluid tight pan', a grid having a plurality of relatively movable, loosely interlocking grid elements disposed within the pan, said grid structure serving to dene a plurality of regions wherein ice cubes may be frozen, hydraulic means for moving said grid elements relative to one another to free ice cubes frozen there-between, automatic means responsive to the hydraulic means for removing the grid structure from the pan whereby the ice cubes are swept out ofthe pan, said automatic means being effective to replace the grid structure within the pan. Y

Referring now to Fig. 1, there isshown a portion of a conventional domestic refrigerator having a freezing compartment A, and continuous evaporator B, forming the top, bottom and side walls of the freezing compartment. Located in the upper left hand corner of the freezing compartment is an ice machine C embodying the principles of the present invention. An ice cube storage basket D, having a hinged support is disposed below the ice machine and operates to accept and retain in bulk form ice cubes which are continuously produced by the machine C. The hinged basket D is provided with a limit switch operative after a predetermined number of ice cubes have been accumulated to shut down the ice cube machine until the supply thereof has fallen below a predetermined quantity. y

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown an ice cube tray or pan 10 formed of aluminum or other suitable metallic material and having an upwardly extending bracket portion 11, by which the pan is secured to the side wall of the refrigerator by the screws 12. Removably disposed in the ice cube tray 10, is a grid structure indicated generally by the reference numeral 13. 'The grid structure is primarily for the purpose of subdividing the tray 10 into a plurality of small divisions wherein fluid such as drinking water, may be converted into a solid block or cube by freezing. Generally, the grid structure 13, is composed of a vertical plate 14, extending along the full length of the tray 10, and being disposed substantially equi-distance from the side walls thereof. A plurality of divider plates 16 disposed generally normal to the vertical plate 14 loosely interlock and are relatively movable With respect to the vertical plate. The disposition of the divider plates 16, and the verticalplate 14, and the freedom for relative movement therebetween is more apparent from the showing of Figs. 4 and 5. The divider plates 16 (Fig. 4), are movable from a slanted position representing the position which they assume prior to operation of the hydraulic means to a substantially vertical position substantially normal to the bottom of the tray after operation of the hydraulic means. `Each divider plate 16 is loosely interlocked with a horizontal plate 15.

Thus, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in Fig. 2 there is illustrated a portion of the evaporator B which encircles the freezing compartment, the ice cube tray 19, grid structure 13, a hydraulic power means 17 (sometimes referred to as anice motor), switch mechanism 13, a drive shaft 19, an electric motor 21, a solenoid operated water valve 22, a water distributor tube 23, an ice cube shedder 24, and an ice cube storage basket 26.

It is to be understood that the ice cube machine of the present invention may be disposed in any convenient location within the freezing compartment of a refrigerator as considerations of design, appearance and economy of manufacture may dictate.

lof the drive shaft 19 through a thrust bearing 36.

`protuberances upon the outer rear'wall of the refrigerator, the electric `motor 21 is nested between the inner and outer rear walls of the refrigerator, wherein the motor is surrounded by conventional insulating material, such as liber glass or the like.

Having established an environment for the present invention, and having described one possible arrangement of the principal components thereof a detailed description of the ice cube machine will now be undertaken:

As indicated previously, the tray 10, having an upstanding bracket portion 11 and having a semicircular configuration in cross-section (Fig. 6), is secured to the evaporator B by means of the screws 12. A laterally projecting margin 27 of the tray (Fig. 2), overlays a similar projection 28, extending from a plastic switch housing 29, secured to the rear wall 31 of the freezing compartment by means of the screws 32 (Fig. 8). The left end of the tray 10, formed with an upstanding ear 33 supports the left end of a shedder rod 34, and the left end The shedder rod 34 carries a plurality of cam lingers 37, spaced intermediate divider plates 16, for a reason that will become more apparent as the description proceeds. The right end of the shedder rod 34 is suitably supported in the plastic housing 29, while the right end ofthe drive shaft 19 is splined to a hollow shaft 35 in turn supported by the bearing 38 secured to the .

lapping projections

27 and 28.

The grid structure 13 (Figs. 4 and 5) is composed of a centrally disposed vertical plate 14, having an upstanding lug 39, received into a slot 41, formed in the drive shaft 19. The lug 39, adapted to bear upon the rear of the slot as at 42, is formed with an elongated aperture 43 and is free to ride upwardly and downwardly upon a pin 44 rigidly fixed to the driving shaft.

As is more apparent in Fig. 4, the right end of the vertical plate 14 is supported and straddled by two depending arms 46 (only one shown), of a yoke element 47 rigidly mounted to the plate 15 by the screws 20 (Figs. 2 and 6). The arms 46 carry a pin 48 received into-a horizontal slot 49 formed in the plate. The yoke 47 is thus free to move along the plate 14 and within the limits set by the slot 49 and the pin 48 when driven by the horizontal plate 15 as will be more apparent hereinafter.

Loosely interlocking the vertical and horizontal plates 14 and 15 respectively, and disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tray are a plurality of divider plates the divider plates 16 cooperate to divide the ice cube tray into aplurality of compartments for molding ice cubes by freezing drinking water or other platable fluid contained within the tray. It is to be noted that the divider plates 16 may be provided with a return bend portion 50 conjugable with the top surface of the horizontal plate 15. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the divider plates 16 `are normally inclined to the vertical and bear loosely upon the vertical plate 14 as at 51. After ice cubes are molded and subsequent to the operation of the hydraulic power means 17 to free `the cubes from the grid structure and the pan, the dividers assume a position generally normal to the bottom of the tray 10, as'vindicated by the position of the several dividers referenced 52.

The horizontal plate 15 overlays the grid structure 13, and loosely interlocks the divider plates v16 by the engagement of the slots 53 therewith. The horizontal plate 15 acts to transmit power from the ice motor to the divider plates (in a manner that will be more apparent presently); consequently the horizontal plate may also be referred 16. As stated previously the vertical plate 14 and t to as the driving plate. The plate 15 is formed with an elongated opening 54, providing clearance for the ice motor 17 (Fig. 5). For considerations of rigidity and strength consistent with adequate access for iluid into the tray 1t), through apertures 56, the driving plate 15 may be displaced towards the upstanding bracket portion 11 (Fig. 3).

As is apparent in Figs. 4 and 5, the rear end of the driving plate 15 is supported upon the vertical plate 14 at 57, and is formed with a slot 58, which together with the elongated central opening 54 provides clearance for the upstanding lug 39 and permits the plate 16 to move to the right and upwardly relative to the vertical plate (Fig. 4). Note the dotted line position of plate 15.

The rear end of the ice motor 17 is supported in a saddle 59, secured to the under side of the driving plate 16 and is anchored `to the upstanding lug 39 by the engagement therewith of a pin 6l. The pin 61, of course, passes through a bifurcation 63, which threadedly engages the ice motor with a hook 62 formed upon the ear. Since the lug 39 bears against the left side of the slot 41 formed in the drive shaft 19, and the drive shaft in turn bears upon thrust bearing 36, it is apparent that the rear end of the ice motor cannot move to the left with respect to the tray 10 (Fig. 4).

`The forward end of the ice motor is formed with a bifurcation 64, and is supported by the vertical plate 14 as at 66. The bifurcation 64 makes a driving connection with the plate 16 by means of the pin 67. The

`ice motor consists of a hollow tube 68 threadedly engaging the bifurcation 63 so as to make a liquid tight seal at the rear end thereof. The forward end of the tube is formed with a bore 69 for receiving a piston 71. Thev piston 71 is integral with the bifurcation 64 and is formed with an under cut portion 72 for receiving a gasket or` O-ring so as to provide a running fit between the piston and the tube and also a liquid tight seal. The forward end of the tube 68 is formed with a circular ange 73, which acts as a stop for a flange 74 formed upon the piston. Surrounding both ilanges and `held fixed against axial movement to the right by ,a snap ring, is a housingl 76. The housing is formed with a bore to provide clearance for the piston and encloses a coil spring 77, which bears upon the housing and the flange 74 for constantly urging the piston to the left (Fig. 4), to maintain the flanges 73 and 74 in abuttingy engagement. The cylindrical void 78 within the tube 68 is filled with a suitable fluid such as water or a mixture of water and sodium nitrite or water and sodium-metasilicate which have a freezing point below the freezing point of water. Upon freezing the lluid contained within the void sufficient expansion will occur to drive the piston to the right against the spring 77, thus driving the plate 15 to the right. Since the plate 15 is in interlocking engagement with the divider plates 16, the divider plates will be rotated to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4f It will be recalled that the yoke 47 is rigidly mounted to the plate 15, thus it will also move to the right. It is to be further recalled that the yoke and the plate will move relative to the vertical plate 14 by virtue of the clearance provided by the slot 49.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6, it is apparent that the yoke 47 is formed with two upstanding arms 79,

which straddle the drive shaft 19 in the region of the flats 81 formed on the drive shaft. The forward end of the drive shaft is disposed in telescoping but splined engagement with respect to the hollow shaft 35, in turn slidably and rotatably supported upon the bearing 38. ln other words, the hollow shaft 35 is free to move axially with respect to the drive shaft, but is also capable of rotating with the shaft 19. The forward ends of the upstanding arms 79 may engage the hollow shaft 35 as at 82, so that upon operation of the ice motor piston 71 to the right, the yoke 47 is correspondingly driven. tothe right' andthe yoke in turn drives the hollow shaft to the right.

As stated earlier and for a. reason which will. become more apparent hereinafter, the driving plate 15 tends to. move upwardly to aplane represented by the dotted line position thereof shown in` Fig. 4, when the piston drives the plate tothe right. Since the yoke is secured to the drivingV plate, itwill necessarily move upwardly and to the right to the dotted line position shown in the 'right handv sider of Fig. 4. The yoke is free to move in such fashion by virtue of the fact that the arms 79 slide alongv the atsl'. A pin 83 is provided solely for the purpose of preventing the yoke from moving downwardly with respect to` the drive shaft 19.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 7, and `8, it is apparent that the hollow shaft 35 extends. through the housing 29 and carries the actuating cam 84. The cam 84, integral with and formed'as a continuation of the hollow shaft 35, has a peripheral face 86 providedwith radially and circumfereutially spaced, substantially concentric, arcuate surfaces 86a and 36h, terminating at adjacent ends thereof by an abrupt shoulder 86C and having a at cam surface 86d between and connecting the other ends of the surfaces 86avand 86b. The cam 84 also has a lateral face 83 defined by a ilat surface 83a and a raised cam surface SSb, said surfaces lying in parallel planes, opposite ends ofthe cam surface 88b at the juncture of said at surface 88a, being defined by a sloping, leading shoulder 83C and a trailing shoulder 88d. The cam member 84 isl rotatable in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 7, the abrupt shoulder 86C on the peripheral face 86 lying behind of and adjacent tothe leading shoulder 88d of the lateral face 8S, in thev direction of rotation of the cam member 84, and the flat cam surface 86d on the peripheral face 86 lying ahead of and adjacent to the raised flat surface Sb on the lateral face 88. The flat cam surface 86d is provided for energizing a microswitch 87 and the abrupt shoulder 86e is provided for deenergizing the micro-switch S7. The drive shaft 19 makes a splined connection with a coupling 91, rigidly fastened to a shaft 92 driven by the electric motor 21. A spring 93 is disposed between the splined coupling 91, and the cam 84, and acts to-urge the cam, as well as the hollow shaft 35, to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. The flat surface 38a is effective upon movement of the hollow shaft to the right in responsel to the operation of the ice motor as hereinbefore described, to cause a follower 94,- integral with the microswitch 89, to be depressed to close the switch whereby the electric motor 21 is energized to rotate the shaft 19 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 7), rotating the coupling 91 and the hollow shaft 35. The grid structure is thereby rotated, preferably at a` speed of about l R. P. M. through 360. The grid structure is rotated with and about the shaft 19, of course, by virtue of the connection between the shaft and the lug 39 and by virtue of the connection between theA shaft, the yoke 47 and the vertical plate 14. (Fig, 4).

During the course of th'e rotation of the grid structure, a follower 96 follows the arcuate surface 86b, gradually depressing the follower until the followeris sufficiently depressed Iand rides upon the arcuate surface 86a to operate the micro-switch 87, which in turn energizes the solenoid operated valve 22'to admit domestic water to a distributor tube 98. It is clearlyrapparent that this operation is etected'by the follower 96' engaging the flat surface 86d of the cam member 84 and remaining depressed while the follower 96 remains in engagement with the surface 86a. Upon the follower 96 riding over the abrupt shoulder 86C, the-follower 96 will move outwardly 6 of the switch 87 to break the contact to the solenoidoperated.y valve 22.

The distributor tube 98Y is formed with a plurality of apertures 99, so Idisposed with respect to the ice motor 17, `that domestic water passing through the tube is showered upon the ice motor before entering the apertures 56 to refill the ice cube tray 10. (The tube 98 may have a small heater clipped thereto operative to keep the apertures 99 free of ice.) This flow path has been selected so that upon discharge of molded ice :cubes from the tray in a manner which will become apparent hereinafter, the frozen fluid in the ice motor will be melted by the showering water, thus permitting the spring 77 to return the piston 71 to its original position, namely, to that position wherein the flanges 73 and 74 abut.

it is obvious, of course, that as soon as the ilujid within the ice motor is melted, the piston 71 necessarily moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 4 by virtue of the action of the coil spring 77 previously described. Correspondingly, the plate 15, the upstanding arms 79 and the hollow shaft 35,v will necessarily carry the actuating cam 84 to the left in response to the coil spring 93. In order to compensate for this motion of the hollow shaft to the left, which incidentally occurs gradually, and after the solenoid operated valve 22 has been opened to admit fluid to the distributor tube, the raised cam surface 88h of the cam member 84 is effective to maintain the follower 94 depressed and the micro-switch 39 closed until a full 360 rotation of the shaft has completed to return the grid structure 13 to its original position. As stated previously, upon completion of a full rotation of the shaft 19, and upon returning the grid structure to the ice cube tray 10, the follower 94 will drop olf of the surface 38h upon encountering the shoulder 88a' to move the follower 94 away yfrom the micro-switch 89 to open the micro-switch and to de-energize the motor 21.

As is apparent in Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9, the switching mechanism including the two micro-switches and the actuating cam are housed within the plastic housing 29 mounted upon the back wall 31 of the freezing compartment. The electric motor 21 is suitably fastened as by the screws 102 to the opposite side of the back wall and carries a bracket member 103 for supporting the valve 22. An'examination of Fig. 3 reveals that the valve is tted with an inlet tube 104 in the form of suitable copper tubingor plastic tubing. The inlet may be connected to the domestic water system of the household or may communicate with a reservoir of domestic water suitably located upon or around the refrigerator. Domestic water then may flow throughthe valve and immerge therefrom through a conduit 106, which passes through and is supported yby the rear wall 31 of the freezing compartment and the wall 107 of a plastic housing.

It is noteworthy'that the electric moto-r, as well as the solenoid operated valve, are disposed within the inner and outer shells of the refrigerator in an area which, except for the disposition of these elements therein, is occupied by conventional insulating material.

It is further noteworthy that the ice cube tray has a semi-circular configuration in cross section, and that the dividers 16 are also formed in the lower edges thereof in semi-circle fashion so as to complement the configuration of the ice cube tray and to lend themselves to convenient rotationy therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, it is apparent that the basket 26, which acts as a receptacle for molded ice cubes, is disposed below'the tray 10. The basket may be formed of plastic or other 'suitable material such as aluminum, and is supportedr'on a platform 115 which is hinged as at 108 at one end thereof to 'a plate 116 which rests on the bottom wall ofthe freezing compartment. Between the plates and 116 at the ends thereof remote from the hinge 108v are disposed aypair of springs 109, having sufficient compressive strength to maintain the basket 'Z A 1 w' t normally at a height sufficient to permitan arm 111, intergral with yand extending upwardly from the plate 115, to clear an actuator 112 of Va micro-switch 113. The springs 109 have been so selected to permit the basket, after it has been filled with a predetermined quantity of cubes, to pivot about the hinges 108 to allow the arm 111 to move the actuator 112 to open the switch 113.

As will be apparent from Fig. 10, wherein there is disclosed the electric circuitry of the present invention, opening the switch 113 to cut off all power to the lce cube machine precludes operation of the machine until a sufficient quantity of cubes have been removed from the basket whereupon the switch willbe closed and cyclic operation of the machine will resume. v n parent in Fig. l that the micro-switch 89 1s 1n series with the electric motor 21, while theV micro-switch 87 1s in series with the winding of the solenoid operated valve 22 connected across the line.

Operation ln describing the operation of the disclosed ice cube machine embodying the principles of the present invention, assume that the operation of the valve 22 has admitted a metered quantity ofwater to the tray and the tray is filled to the level shown in Fig. 6 with domestlc water and that the fluid within the ice motor 1s melted. In this condition the piston 71 will be in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the divider plates 16 will be inclined to the vertical as shown in solid lines. The hollow shaft 35 supporting the actuating cam 84, will be at its .extreme left as shown in Fig. 2 or solid line position as v1ewed 1n Fig. 8 with the micro-switch 89 open.` .The angular position of the cam will be as shown in Fig. 7, and lthe micro-switch 87 will also bein the opened condition. Assumed further that the basket 26 is void of cubes; correspondingly the micro-switch Y113 will be closed, thereby admitting power to theswitches 87 and 89. Since the ice cube machine is disposed within the freezing compartment of a refrigerator, the temperature of the air therein will necessarily be substantially below 32 F. and the water within the ice cube tray will begin to freeze. During the course of freezing cubes, the heat that neces sarily must be removed from the water, as well as from the metal of the tray itself will ow upwardly and toward the ice motor. This action develops sufficient warmth and coupled with the slower freezing of the liquid in the ice-motor is effective to preclude freezing the fluid within the ice motor until an appreciable interval subsequent to freezing the cubes. Ultimately, and after the water in the tray 10 is frozen into ice cubes, the uid withinthe ice motor 17 is frozen with sufficient expansive force that the piston 71 is moved tothe right against the spring 77. Since the piston is connected to the driving plate 15, which in turn engages the divider plates 16, the ice motor acts to rotate the dividers to a substantially vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The yoke mechanism 47 mounted upon the driving plate is in turn driven to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and 'to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8 with the result that the hollow shaft 35, and the actuating cam 84, are driven to the right to actuate the follower 94 to close the microswitch 89.

During the course of the operation of the ice motor or the hydraulic power means 17, and the resultant rotation of the divider plates 16, the ice cubes are forced to the left and upwardly as will be apparent from Fig. 4. Since the driving plate overlies the ice cube grid structure, the loosened cubes will act to raise the plate to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. Since the yoke is mounted to the plate, it too will be raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.

The action just described, that is the rotation of the divider plates, operates to free the cubes from the tray, as well as from the grid structure. Since micro-switch It is further ap# 2,sas,1as

89 has been closed the electric motor 21 is energized and operates to rotate shaft 19. It will be recalled that shaft 19 engages the ear 39, formed on the vertical plate 14 and also engages the upstanding arms 79 of the yoke 47, which in turn engages the vertical plate. Rotation of the shaft 19 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6), will rotate the grid structure out of the ice cube tray. The grid structure will carry with it the loosened cubes, which if sufficiently freed, will drop by gravity into the basket below as soon as they clear the lip of the tray. To insure the removal of all cubes from the grid structure the shedder 24 is provided with a plurality of fngers37, which act to cam the cubes from between the dividers as the grid structure rotates. The shedder fingers first encounter those cubes molded on the left side of the tray as viewed in Fig. 6 and subsequently encounter those cubes on the right side in the course of the rotation of the grid structure.

After all cubes have been removed from the grid and with continued rotation thereof the follower 96 encounters the flat cam surface 86d and thereafter the arcuate cam surface 86a. The cam thus acts to close the switch 87, thus energizing the winding of the solenoid of the valve 22. Water is admitted to the distributor tube and permitted to shower downwardly over the ice motor and ultimately into the tray 10 to fill the tray. As stated previously, the water which is relatively warm, melts the uid in the ice motor and permits the ice motor to assume its original or contractedposition. Obviously, the dividers are returned to their inclined position and although the hollow shaft 35 and the actuating cam are returned to the left in response to the spring 93, the configuration of the rear face of the cam and more particularly the cam surface 88b is so designed to maintain the micro-switch 89 closed until a full 360 revolution of the shaft 19 is completed. Upon completion of one full revolution, the two

followers

94 and 96, encounter abrupt drop-offs namely, the shoulders 86e and 86d respectively as is apparent in Figs. 7 and 8, and both

switches

87 and 89 are permitted to open. The eect of this cam action is to close the solenoid valve 22, and to shut down the electric motor Z1.

The ice cube machine is thus in condition to freeze a new batch of cubes and will continue cycling to freeze batches of cubes until the basket 26 is filled. Filling the basket will provide sufficient weight for the opening of the switch 113, thus cutting off power to the machine until the accumulation of cubes therein has been reduced by the housewife.

It is anticipated that various arrangements and representations of the present invention may be undertaken without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In an ice making machine, a tray, a grid structure disposed within said tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material contained within the tray into blocks, said grid structure being rotatable relative to the tray, a first power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a second power means connected to the grid structure and means operative in response to the operation of the first power means to actuate said second power means to rotate the grid strucyture with respect to the tray to remove the blocks from the tray.

2. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, a tray, a grid structure composed of relatively movable plates' fordividing frozen material contained within the tray into blocks, said grid structure being rotatable relative tothe tray, a first power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a second power means connected to the grid structure and means opera,

tive in response to the operation of the first power means to actuate said second power means to rotate the grid with respect to the tray whereby the grid structure and the blocks are removed from the tray, and means disposed in the path of rotation of said grid structure for dislodging the blocks from the grid structure.

3. An ice making machine comprising a tray, a grid structure disposed in the tray and comprising a driving plate loosely interlocking a plurality of divider plates for dividing frozen material contained within said tray into blocks, said divider plates being movable from a first position to a second position, said grid structure being rotatable relative to the tray, anice motor carried by and connected to the grid lstructure and having relatively movable members in contact with a freezing liquid and actuatable thereby and operable through the driving plate to move the divider plates from the first position to the second position to loosen the blocks from the tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, means responsive to the operation of the ice motor for rotating said grid structure relative to the tray to remove the blocks from the tray and means effective upon rotation of said grid structure through a predetermined angle to return the dividers to the rst position.

4. In an ice making machine, a tray for containing a iuid adapted to be frozen, means for freezing the fluid, a removable grid structure composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the vfrozen Huid contained within the tray into blocks, said grid structure being rotatable relative to the tray, anice motor carried by and connected to the grid structure and having relatively movable members in contact with a freezing liquid and actuatable thereby for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from the plates and from the tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, p'ower means including a drive shaft connected to the grid structure and means operative in response to operation of the ice motor to actuate said power means to rotate the grid and the blocks with respect to the tray to remove the blocks from the tray, means including an actuating cam associated with the drive shaft and operable upon rotation of the shaft thru a predetermined arc to admitV fluid to the tray.

5. An ice making machine comprising a tray, a grid ,i

structure disposed in the tray and comprising a driving plate loosely interlocking a plurality of divider plates, said divider plates being movable from a iirst position to a second position, said grid structure being rotatable as a unit about a horizontal axis Yrelative to the tray, an ice motor carried by and rotatable with the grid structure and operable through the driving plate to move the divider plates from the rst position to the second position to loosen the blocks while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, and means responsive to the operation of the ice motor for rotating said grid structure through a predetermined angle to return the dividers to the lirst position.

6. An ice making machine comprising a tray, a grid structure disposed in the tray and comprising a driving plate loosely interlocking a plurality of divider plates for dividing frozen material contained within the tray into blocks, saidl divider plates being movable from a rst position to a second position, said gn'd structure being roconnected to said grid structure and having relatively movable members in Contact with the freezing liquid and actuatable thereby and operable through the driving plate to move the divider plates from the rst position to the secondw position, to loosen the blocks while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, power means tending to opposel movement of said movable members as the liquid freezes, mean responsive to the operation of the ice motor for rotating the grid structure relative to the tray to remove the blocks from the tray, and means eecl@ Y tive upon rotation of the grid structure through a prdeterinined angleA for melting the frozen liquid whereby said power means is effective to return the dividers to the first position.A Y

7. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, a tray, -said tray having a semi-circular configuration in cross section, a grid structure disposed in said tray and having a configuration in cross section complementary to that of said tray, means mounting said grid structure on a member Ywhose axis corresponds substantially to the center of curvature of said tray, said grid being rotatable as a unit relative to the tray and means for rotating the grid structure relative to the tray whereby the grid is fully removed from the tray.

8. In an automatic machine for continuously making blocks of ice the combination of a tray, a grid structure disposed within the tray for dividing frozen material contained therein into blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate, hydraulic power means supported by the grid structure and operativelyv connected to said driving plate, said hydraulic power means being operable to move the divider plates by operation of they driving plate and eective to free the blocks from the grid and from the tray while said grid structure is disposed Within said tray,`

electrical power means including an electric motor and a drive shaft connected to said grid structure and rotatable in response to the opera-tion of the hydraulic power means to remove the grid structure and the frozen blocks Yfrom the tray, and means including a cam and a switch responsive to rotation of the drive shaft thru a predetermined arc eifective to admit iluid to the tray after the blocks have been removed;

9. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, the combination of a tray, a grid structure within the tray for dividing frozen material contained therein into blocks, said grid structurebeing composed of a plurality of relatively movable interlocking plates, a rotatable member mounting said :grid structure for rotation with respect to said tray, an ice motor supported by the grid structure and operable to move the plates Ithereof relative to one another effective to loosen the blocks from the plates and fr'om the tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, power means operatively connected to the rotatable member grid structure and effective to rotate the member and thereby the grid structure and the ice motor with respect to the tray whereby the grid and the loosened blocks are removed from the tray, said power means being operative in response to the operation of the ice motor.

10. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, the combination of a tray. va loosely assembled removable grid structure disposed within the tray for dividing frozen material contained within the tray into blocks, said grid structure being interlocked by a driving plate, hydraulic means supported by the grid structure and operable through the driving plate to free the frozen blocks from lthe Agrid structure and from the tray While said grid structure is disposedwithin said tray, and power means connected to the grid structure and means operable in response to operation of the hydraulic means for actuating said power means for removing the grid structure as well as the frozen blocks from the tray, said power means ramble wlan-ve to the tray an ice motor carried by and E f being further effective to return the grid structure to the tray automatically.

11. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, the combination of a tray, a grid struc-ture disposed within the tray for dividing frozen material within the tray into blocks, hydraulic means supported by said grid structure and operable to free said blocks from the grid and from -the tray While said grid structure is disposed Within said tray, and power means connected to said grid structure and including an electric motor and a drive shaft operable in response to said hydraulic means for removing the grid structure and the frozen blocks from the tray, said power means `being furtherjeffective to return said grid to the tray automatically.

12. In a machine for continuously making blocks of ice, the combination of a tray, a grid structure disposed within the tray for dividing frozen material within the tray into blocks, hydraulic means supported by said grid structure and operable to free said blocks from the grid and from the tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, power means connected to said grid structure and including an electric motor and a drive shaft operable in response to said hydraulic means for removing the grid structure and the frozen blocks from the tray, said power means being further effective to return said grid to the tray, automatically, and means including a valve responsive to the operation of said drive shaft for admitting uid tothe tray after said blocks have been removed.

13. In a machine for continuously making blocks of` ice, the combination of a tray, a grid structure disposed within the tray for dividing frozen material within the tray into blocks, hydraulic means supported by said grid structure and operable to free said blocks from the grid and from the tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray,and power means connected to said grid structure `and operable in response to said hydraulic means for removing the grid structure and the frozen blocks from the tray, said power means being further effective to return said grid to the tray automatically.

14. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray while'said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure tosaid shaft, motor means for rotating said shaft, and means on said shaft responsive to said power means to actuate said motor means to rotate said shaft and grid structure to remove said blocks from said tray.

15. In an ice making machine, `a tray for receiving a liquid to'be frozen, meansfor freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and traywhile said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially onsaid shaft, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch in said circuit for controlling operation of said motor, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to actuate said switch to start operation of the electric motor to rotate the shaft and grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray,

and means associated with said cam member for inactivatmovable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks,

,mitting liquid to said tray including an inlet valve, a `second switch in said circuit for controlling said inlet valve, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to actuate said first switch to start operation of the electric motor to rotate the grid structure 'and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, said motor also rotating said cam member through a predetermined angle to actuate :said second switch to open said inlet valve topermit liquid to enter said tray, and means associated with said cam member for inactivating both said switches to close the liquid inlet valve and stop the operation of saidrmotor.

17. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure'in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, acam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a peripheral face provided with circumferentially spaced and also radially spacedk outer and inner substantially concentric arcuate surfaces terminating at adjacent ends thereof by an abrupt shoulder and having a fiat inclined surface between and connecting the other ends of said surfaces,l means operatively connecting said grid lstructure to said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a` first switch in said circuit for controlling the operation of said motor, means for admitting liquid to said tray including an inlet valve, a second switch in said circuit for controlling said inlet valve and having normally open contacts positioned adjacent the inner radially spaced surface of the peripheral face of said cam, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to energize said first switch to start operation of the electric motor to rotate the 40 grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from power means associated with the grid structure for movj ing the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from thegrid structure andl tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, means operatively connecting said grid structure to ysaid cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to` drive said shaft, a first switch in said circuit for controlling sainl motor, means for ladthe tray, said motor also rotating said cam member Vto close the contacts by engagement thereof with said flat surface and said louter surface to yactuate said second switch to open inlet valve to permit liquid to enter we said tray, the contacts of said switch remaining closed until rotation of said cam causes said switch to pass beyond said abrupt shoulder of said cam member whereupon the contacts of said second switch open to close the liquid inlet valve, and means associated with said first switch to stop the motor.

18. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means `associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another from a first position to a second position and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray While said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a lateral face defined by a flat surface and an axially spaced cam surface, the juncture of .said surfaces being defined by r'st and second shoulders disposed in spaced relation to the direction of rotation of said cam, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, and electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch for controlling said motor, said cam member being moved axially by the operationof said power means to move said plates to a second position whereby said flat surface actuates said switch to start the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the Vloosened blocks from the tray, means for returning said plates to said first position, rotation of said cam causing beyond said switch inactivating said switch when said grid has been returned tor the tray.

19. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid lto be frozen, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associatedr with the grid structure for moving the plates relative .to one another from a tirst posi-v tion to a second position and elective to loosen the blocks from the grid :structure and tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a lateral face dened by a tlat surface and an axially spaced cam surface, the juncture of said surfaces being dened by irst and second shoulders disposed in spaced relation to the direction of rotation of said cam, means operatively connecting said grid structure to :said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and ladapted to drive said shaft, a first switch in said circuit for controlling the operation of said motor, means for admitting liquid to said tray including an inlet valve, a second switch in said circuit for controlling said inlet valve, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to move said plates to a second position whereby said at surface actuates said first switch to start the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, said motor also rotating said cam member through a predetermined angle to actuate said second switch to open said inlet valve to permit liquid to enter said tray, means associated with said cam member for inactivating `said second switch to close the liquid inlet valve, means for returning said plates to said first position, the rotation of said cam causing saidy rst shoulder and saidaxially spaced cam surface to maintain said first switch actuated after the plates have been returned to their rst position and before the grid structure has been returned to' the tray, and further rotation of said f cam member effecting movement of said second shoulder beyond said switch inactivating said first switch when said grid has been returned to the tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sampson Aug. 7, 6