US2952996A

US2952996A - Ice cube maker

Info

Publication number: US2952996A
Authority: US
Inventors: David E Macleod
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 1950-07-01
Filing date: 1956-06-01
Publication date: 1960-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1977-09-20

Description

Sept. 20, 1960 D. E. M LEOD 2,952,996

ICE CUBE MAKER Original Filed July 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

DAVID EARLE MACLEOD.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 20, 1960 D. E. M LEOD 2,952,996

ICE CUBE MAKER Original Filed July 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

DAVID EARLE MACLEOD ayjf w w/ ATTORNEY.

placed" below the machine compartment.

United States Patent 01 2,952,996 Patented Sept. 26, 1960 ice ICE CUBE MAKER David E. MacLeod, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 1, 1950, Ser. No. 171,593,

now Patent No. 2,775,098, dated Dec. 25, 1956. Divided and this application June '1, 1956, Ser. No. 588,727

4 Claims. c1. 62-347) This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 171,593, filed July 1, 1950, now Patent No. 2,775,098, issued December 25, 1956, entitled Ice Cube Maker and Control Mechanism Therefor, and relates to ice making apparatus in which ice is formed 'in a plurality of refrigerated, hollow, vertical tubes by flowing liquid through the tubes and, more particularly, to ice making apparatus of this type including mechanism for supplying liquid to the ice forming tubes.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide ice making apparatus in which ice is formed in a plurality of refrigerated, hollow tubes by flowing liquid through the tubes and including, header means for supplying and distributing the liquid to the various tubes.

An object of the invention is to provide a water header for supplying water to the ice forming tubes of ice making apparatus. Other objects will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to an ice making apparatus in which ice is formed in a plurality of refrigerated hollow vertical tubes by flowing liquid through the tubes which includes liquid headermeans for supplying liquid to the tops of the tubes, said liquid header means comprising a horizontally extending pipe having one closed end to receive liquid from a source of supply, a series of distributing tubes extending downward from the pipe to distribute liquid within the ice forming tubes, the first and second tubes of the series extending substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, subsequent tubes of the series extending inwardly from the interior wall of the pipe and having the extended portion of each tube cut away to intercept liquid from the stream flowing into the pipe, the last tube of the series being substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, the tubes being so constructed and arranged within the pipe as to distribute liquid entering the pipe in substantially uniform quantities to the ice forming tubes.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention in which Figure 1 is a plan view, the casing being removed, of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation, the casing being removed, of one side of the device;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation, the casing being removed, of the opposite side of the device;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration circuit;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the water circuit;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for the control; and

Figure 7 is a sectional View of the waterheader.

Referring to the drawings, there is disclosed an ice cube maker which includes a machine compartment 2 and an insulated ice storage compartment or bunker 3 Preferably these compartments are formed as separate elements being attached to one another when the ice cube maker is assembled at the place of use in order that the machine compartment may be utilized with bunkers of different capacity. It will be understood of course that the machine may be formed as a single unit if desired.

Machine compartment 2 includes standards 4 and braces 5 forming supporting framework. Decorated removable metal sheets 6 are attached to the frame to form the Walls of the machine compartment. Compartment 2 may be insulated to prevent condensation on the surfaces of sheets 6. Storage compartment 3 is provided with an opening (not shown) through which ice enters the storage compartment 3 after formation in machine compartment 2. Removable and/or hinged lids 8 are provided to permit easy access to and removal of ice from compartment 3 for use.

The machine elements are placed and supported in compartment 2. Such elements include the ice forming members, the refrigerating and harvesting systems, the water supply system, the controls, and an electrical circuit connecting the controls.

The ice forming member 9 includes a plurality of vertically extending tubes 10 formed of stainless steel, tubes 10 having a plurality of copper bands or rings 11 placed about the exterior thereof, the bands 11 being spaced from one another longitudinally on the tubes. The copper bands may be preformed and secured to the tubes by a friction fit or, if desired, molten copper may be sprayed on the tubes to form the bands, or, the tubes may be plated with copper bands. Tubes 10 are assembled in two parallel rows and an overflow trough 12 is placed between the parallel rows for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Each tube 10 is formed from a single'sheet of metal in such manner that its side wall 13 inclines downward and outward substantially uniformly throughout the length of the tube so that the opening 14 in the bottom of the tube is greater in area than the opening 15 in the top of the tube. Two adjacent side walls have flanges extending outwardly therefrom, the flanges being pressed together and welded, for example, to form the tube. The top of each tube is formed with a pitcher lip 16.

' The evaporator 17 of the refrigeration system is formed of a plurality of

coils

18, 19, 20, 21;

coils

18, 19 being secured to the bands 11 on opposite sides of the first row of tubes 10 while

coils

20, 21 are secured to the bands 11 on opposite sides of the second row of tubes 10. If desired,

coils

18, 19, 2t 21 may be flattened on one side to assure a greater area of contact with bands 11.

The ice forming member 9 is more fully described and claimed in the copending application of Carlyle M. Ashley, Serial No. 171,621, filed July 1, 1950, now Patent No. 2,775,096, issued December 25, 1956, to which reference is made for a more complete description.

Below the ice forming member 9 is an inclined deflector or guide 22 on which the pieces of ice fall from tubes 10 during the harvesting operation and down which the ice slides into bunker 3. Deflector 22 may be a suitable screen or grid to permit water to pass therethrough while preventing passage of ice cubes. Water from the tubes passes through deflector 22 into a sump as hereinafter explained.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown the refrigerating and harvesting circuit of the ice cube maker. Such circuit includes a thermal hermetic compressor motor unit, the compressor 28 being actuated by motor 29. Compressor 28 is connected by discharge line 30 to condenser 31, preferably water cooled, although if desired, an air-cooled condenser may be employed. Liquid line 32 includes two

capillary tubes

33, 34 adapted to serve as expansion means to regulate supply of liquid refrigerant to evaporator 17. A strainer and drier 35 may be placed in line 32 between condenser 31 and

capillaries

33, 34. Other expansion means may be employed if desired. Capillary 33 supplies refrigerant to

coils

18, 19; capillary 34 supplies refrigerant to

coils

20, 21.

Each capillary as shown in Figure 4 is connected to a 7 return bend 36 at approximately the central point betwen the two coils to whichit supplies refrigerant.

Refrigerant passes from each of

coils

18, 19, into a return header 37 for return to compressor 28. Header 37 is connected by line 38 to accumulator 39. A line 40 connects accumulator 39 to a second accumulator 41. Accumulator 41 is connected by suction line 42 to the compressor 28. Accumulator 41 is also con ne'ctedby a drain line 43 to motor 29 to permit oil and liquid refrigerant in accumulator 41 to pass to the mo- 8 tor. Line 43 must be as short and as friction-free as possible to olfer less resistance to refrigerant flow than the main line 42. fTh is is an important feature since any liquid refrigerant draining from accumulator 41 with the oil is returned to compressor. 28 over the heated coils of the motor, thus flashing the refrigerant to assure that gaseous refrigerant only returns to the compressor, thereby avoiding excessive wear .and tear of compressor elements.

Capillaries 33,. 34, are wrapped about accumulator 39 in heat exchange relation therewith.

' A' heated refrigerant vapor line 44 connects the top of the condenser 31 with a supply header 45 connected by lines 46 to

coils

18, 19, 20, 21. A solenoid valve 47 is placed in line 44 and closes the same to the passage of heated refrigerant vapor. It will be appreciated line 44 may connect header 45 with the compressor 28 or line '30 if desired, to. permit heated refrigerant vapor to be supplied to coils 18, '19 20, 21 to melt formed pieces of ice from the interior walls of tubes 10.

In Figure 5, the waterf distribution system is shown diagrammatically. Line 50 conducts water from a source of supply (not shown) to a sump or reservoir 51 placed in the bottom of machine compartment 2 below tubes and deflector 22." 'A float valve 52 regulates the level of water in sump 51. "A drain line 53 may bleed a minor amount of water continuously from sump 51 'therebypreventing concentration of minerals in water in the 'sump.' A pump P circulates water from sump 51 through lines- 54 to water headers 55 placed above the rows of tubes 10, V e

Water from headers 55 is dischargedagainst distributors 56 placed within tubes 10, the distributors directing or guiding the water toward or against the interior walls of tubes 10. The water flows through tubes 10 in contact with the interior walls thereof, through deflector 22, and returns or falls into sump 51. The water, of course, is cooled by its passage through the refrigerated tubes 10 to substantially freezing temperature; Thus cooled or chilled water not formed into ice is continuously recirculated through tubes 10 to reduce the time required for ice formation and to increase the capacity of the machine. 7

Water header 55' as shown in Figure 7, consists of a horizontally extending pipe 57, pipe 57 having a closed end 58. A series of distributing tubes 59 extend downward from pipe 57 to distribute water within the tubes 10. One pipe or tube is provided for each ice forming tube 10 to assure adequate distribution of water to' each tube 10; The first and second tubes 59 of the series extend substantially flush with interior wall 60 of pipe 57. Subsequent tubes or pipes 59 of the series extend inward from the interior Wall 60, the extended portion 61 being cut away as shown at 62 to intercept water p from the stream flowing into pipe 57. The last tube of the series is also substantially flush with the interior wall60 of pipe 57.

The passage of water through tubes 10 is ultimately prevented or retarded by the formation of ice in the tubes; The tubes overflow, the lip 16 on each "tube directing the water into trough 12 from whence it' takes a different path to return to sump 51.; The overflow 4 water in trough 12 drains therefrom through a line 71 connected to an S-shaped pipe arrangement 72 which forms an overflow well. Water from well 72 returns to sump 51 through line 73; Well 72 contains an open leg 74 which is connected, to line 71 as shown in Figure 5. Leg 74 of well 72 -is-clamped-in contact with the heated refrigerant vapor line 44 of the refrigeration sys tem for a purpose hereinafter explained. 7

Toficontrol the refrigeration and harvesting cycles, a wide differential thermostatic control is provided which includes a switch lever 81 (refer to Figure 6) actuated by a thermal responsive system including a bellows 82 connected to the switch lever 81 and a capillary tube 83 connecting bellows 82 witha bulb 84. The thermal responsive system contains a temperature responsive fill. 'Bulb 84 is placed in Well 72 and a portion 83 of capillary tube 83 is placedin contact'with suction line 42. Preferably portion 83' is placed in contact with the portion of suction line .42 .adjacent'cornpressor 28 to assure that it is affected as little as possible by lizplid refrigerant or wet liquid vapor flooding back to the compressor 28. -When water overflows from trough 12 into well 72 it displaces water presentin well 72 and gradually cools bulb 84 until it becomes the coldest point of the thermal responsive system, thereby governing thermostat 80 from such point; Switch lever 81 is accordingly moved from a first position to a second position to discontinue operation of pump P and to actuate the solenoid S of valve 47, to open the heated refrigerant vapor line 44 to supply heated refrigerant vapor to'coils 18, '19, 20, 21 to thaw formed pieces of ice'from ,theinterior walls oftubes10. i V I V During the harvesting operation, the heated refrigerant line 44 warms the wateriin well 72 so that the control point shifts to portion -83 of capillary tube 83 which is in contact with the suction line 42. Refrigerant passing through the suction'lin'e is below the cut-in point of thermostat 80 so long as ice remains in tubes '10. As the last piece of ice isremoved from tubes 10, temperature in the suction line rises to the cut-in point of the thermostat, the thermostat then being actuated to start pump P and to discontinue current'flow to solenoid S, thereby closing .valve'47 and resuming the refrigeration cycle. V p

A second thermostat control 87 is provided to discontinue operationof the refrigeration system and the pump when a'desired quantity of iceis pr'e sent'in the bunker. Control 87 includes a'switc'h lever 88, a bellows' '89 connected'fb'y capillary tube 90 to' a bulb Q1 plac'edlin bunker' 3 adjacent the top thereof. A suitable fill is presen't'in bellows 89, capillary'tube 90 and bulb 91. When a predetermined quantity of ice is present in bunke'r 3, bulb 91 is cooled, thereby actuating thermostat 87 to open the circuit to control 80 and the compressor -28,'discontinuing operation of the system. Upon removal of ice from bunker 3, bulb 91 warms to a point at which thermostat 87 is again actuated to close the circuit, permitting supply of current to actuate the compressorand control 80.

Preferably ahig'h pressure cut-out control 92 is provided as a safety controlfcontrol 92 being responsive to head'press'ure to shut do'wn th system upon the occurrence of a pressure so high-that it might harm elements of the system. In Figure'6, I have shown the electrical circuit connecting the various controls and actuating elements offthe device. A manual double pole single-throw switch or single pole, sing 1e throw switch .93 is employed to actuate'the device. The remaining elements are connected in'the "circuit as shown.

As previously described, a water-cooled condenser 31 is employed for the refrigeration system; Condenser 31 may be connected'by a lin'e 94 to line 50 to'lsupply waterto condenser 31. :rreraauy an automatic control valve '95' is placed in line 94 and is connected 'by line 96 tocompressor 28, to permit head pressure to be applied to actuate valve 95. The water passing through condenser 31 is thus regulated in response to head pressure.

Considering the operation of the device, manual switch 93 is closed thereby actuating motor 29 to operate compressor 28 of the refrigeration system and pump P to supply water from sump 51 to header 55 for distribution in tubes 10. Water flows downwardly through distributing tubes 59 to each tube and strikes distributor 56 therein, distributor 56 directing the water toward the interior wall of the tube. Water flows downward over the interior wall of each tube 10 and returns to sump 51. The Walls of tubes 10 are refrigerated in spaced portions by means of

coils

18, 19, 20, 21 and the copper bands 11. Thus water flowing through the tubes is cooled and within a short time separate pieces of ice begin to form within the tubes 10 adjacent the refrigerated portions thereof. As ice formation continues, within a short time the spaced pieces of ice present in the tubes are so large as to impede or retard passage of cooled water therethrough so that the tubes overflow into trough 12.

Water from trough 12 flows through line 71 into overflow well 72 displacing the water therein and cooling bulb 84 so that it becomes the control point. When a predetermined low point is reached thermostat 80 is actuated, moving switch lever 81 from a first position to a second position, discontinuing operation of pump P and passage of water to tubes 10, and actuating solenoid S to move valve 47 to an open position permitting heated refrigerant vapor to flow into

coils

18, 19, 20, 21 to melt the formed pieces of ice from the interior walls of tubes 10, simultaneously water in well 72 being in heat exchange relation with line 44 is heated to shift the con trol point of thermostat 80 to capillary tube portion 83.

Capillary tube portion 83' does not become sufliciently warm to actuate thermostat 80 until all ice is removed from tubes 10 since it is in heat exchange relation primarily with liquid refrigerant condensed by heat exchange of the heated vapor with the formed ice in tubes 10.

Ice drops from tubes 10 by gravity upon reflector 22 and slides into bunker 3 through the openings in the bunker. After the last piece of ice is removed from the tubes, the hot vapor passing into suction line 42 raises the temperature of the fill in capillary tube portion 83', thereby actuating thermostat 80 to move from its second position to its first position closing the solenoid valve 47, resuming refrigeration of tubes 10, and starting pump P to supply water from sump 51 through tubes 10.

The refrigerating and harvesting cycles repeate automatically until a predetermined quantity of ice is formed. When a predetermined quantity of ice is collected in bunker 3, thermostat 87 is actuated to break the electrical circuit, discontinuing operation of the machine. Upon removal of ice from bunker 3, thermostat 87 is again actuated to begin operation of the machine.

The present invention provides an economical, automatically operable ice cube maker in which header mechanism adequately supplies or distributes water to the various tubes of the apparatus. The header mechanism is economically and quickly manufactured and is very effective in use.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ice making apparatus having a plurality of refrigerated hollow vertical tubes in which ice is formed by flowing liquid through the tubes, liquid header means for supplying liquid to the tops of the tubes, said liquid header means comprising a horizontally extending pipe having one closed end and an inlet to receive liquid from a source of supply, a

series of spaced distributing tubes placed longitudinally of said pipe and extending downward from the pipe to distribute liquid within the tubes, the first and second distributing tubes of the series extending substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, subsequent distributing tubes of the series extending inwardly from the interior wall of thepipe and'having the extended portion of each tube cut away at an angle to the axis thereof to intercept liquid from the stream flowing into the pipe, the last distributing tube of the series being substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, the distributing tubes being so constructed and arranged within the pipe as to distribute liquid entering the pipe in substantially uniform quantities to the tubes.

2. In combination with an ice making apparatus having a plurality of refrigerated hollow vertical tubes in which ice is formed by flowing liquid through the tubes 2. liquid distributor placed in the tubes to direct the liquid against the walls of the tubes, liquid header means for supplying liquid to the tops of the tubes, said liquid header means comprising a horizontally extending pipe having one closed end and an inlet to receive liquid from a source of supply, a series of spaced distributing tubes placed longitudinally of the pipe and extending downward from the pipe to distribute liquid within the tubes, the first and second distributing tubes of the series extending substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, subsequent distributing tubes of the series extending inwardly from the interior wall of the pipe and having the extended portion of each tube cut away at an angle to the axis thereof to intercept liquid from the stream flowing into the pipe, the last distributing tube of the series being substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, the distributing tubes being so constructed and arranged within the pipe as to distribute liquid entering the pipe in substantially uniform quantities to the tubes.

3. In a header for supplying water to the ice forming tubes of an ice cube maker, the combination of a horizontally extending pipe having one closed end and an inlet to receive water from a source of supply, a series of spaced distributing tubes placed longitudinally of the pipe and extending downward from the pipe to distribute water within the tubes, the first and second distributing tubes of the series extending substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, subsequent distributing tubes of the series extending inwardly from the interior wall of the pipe and having the extended portion of each tube cut away at an angle to the axis thereof to intercept water from the stream flowing into the pipe, the last distributing tube of the series being substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, the distributing tubes being so constructed and arranged within the pipe as to distribute Water entering the pipe in substantially uniform quantities to the ice forming tubes.

4. An ice making apparatus in which ice is formed in a plurality of refrigerated hollow vertical tubes by flowing water through the tubes, water distribution means for supplying water to the tubes, said distribution means including a horizontally extending pipe having one closed end and an inlet to receive water from a source of supply, a series of distributing tubes extending downward from the pipe to distribute water within the ice forming tubes, the first and second tubes of the series extending substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, subsequent tubes of the series extending inwardly from the interior wall of the pipe and having the extended portion of each tube cut away at an angle to the axis thereof to intercept water from the stream flowing into the pipe, the last tube of the series being substantially flush with the interior wall of the pipe, the tubes being so constructed and arranged within the pipe as to distribute water entering the pipe in substantially uniform quantities to the ice forming tubes, and water distributors kci tgzmes --.Git i1in thefiie ,Q th rp tgmt UNITED STATES PATENTS Grant Aug. 1239