US3026685A - Control mechanism for an ice making apparatus - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. C. BAUERLEIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS March 27, 1962 Filed July 15 March 27, 1962 c. c. BAUERLEIN 3,026,685

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1962 c. c. BAUERLEIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 s zasss CGNTRUL MEHANISM FOR AN ICE MAKING APFARATUS (Zarl C. Bauer-loin, Lincolnwood, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, Iii, a corporation of Illinois Filed July 15, 1959, er. No. 827,258 11 Claims. (Cl. 62-135) This invention relates to a novel ice making apparatus and more particularly relates to a means for controlling the operation of an electrical switch for the ice making apparatus both as a function of the temperature of the ice tray and as a function of the level of ice blocks in an ice block collection tray.

This invention is especially directed to pivotal or rotatable ice trays of the type wherein the ice tray is constructed with a plurality of ice molds formed therein facing in different directions along the longitudinal axis thereof which are so arranged that upon filling of an upwardly facing mold with relatively warm water, heat will be transferred from the water filling the upwardly facing mold to a downwardly facing mold through the heat conducting walls of the ice tray to effect gravitational ejection of the ice blocks from the downwardly facing molds. Such ice trays are generally pivotally or rotatably mounted on a wall of a freezing compartment and are pivoted or rotated during each cycle of operation to permit ejection of ice blocks from downwardly facing molds and simultaneous filling of upwardly facing molds.

It is contemplated that a thermostat having an element extensible therefrom upon predetermined ambient temperature conditions be mounted within the ice tray and be so associated with an electrical switch that an actuating plunger therein can be operated by extensible movement of the element. It is further contemplated that a means be provided for sensing the level of ice cubes or blocks within a collection tray disposed below the ice tray which acts to transmit extensible movement of the element from the thermostat to the switch to operate the sWitCh as a function of the level of ice within the collection tray.

It will hereafter become apparent that I have also devised a means for mounting the thermostat within the ice tray at the pivotal or rotational axis thereof so that, in effect, the thermostat will be rendered insensitive to the movement of the tray. Furthermore, in order to achieve a high degree of thermal conductivity from the fluid within the tray to the interior of the thermostat, the thermo' stat is formed integrally with the tray and preferably of a similar good heat conducting material such as aluminum or the like.

Controlling the operation of an electrical switch in the manner set forth above has been found to be quite advantageous in controlling the operation of an automatic ice making apparatus for a number of reasons. If, for instance, a slug valve having electrically controllable valve means at the outlet is associated with the ice tray to effect filling of the tray then filling of the tray can be controlled both as a function of the ambient temperature within the ice tray and as a function of the level of ice cubes in the collection tray. If a thermostat is used in which the element is extensible therefrom only in relatively low temperature ranges then actuation of the electrical switch controlling the fill cycle of the ice tray can be prevented until after the water within the ice tray has frozen into ice blocks.

Similarly, the electrical switch may be used to control the operation of the motor means acting to pivotally or rotatably move the ice tray to effect ejection of the cubes therefrom to the collection tray. By using a thermostat in which an element is extensible therefrom when the ambient temperature about the thermostat has decreased to a predetermined low temperature range and mounting the thermostat in the ice tray the thermostat will only be operable to actuate the electrical switch for initiating rotatable movement of the ice tray after the water within the upwardly facing molds in the ice tray have been frozen into ice blocks. The means sensing the level of ice cubes within the collection tray will then be operable to prevent actuation of the electrical switch when the collection tray is filled to prevent ejection of any more ice cubes into the collection tray.

The electrical switch could, of course, simply comprise a line switch in the entire electrical system for the ice making apparatus.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved means for controlling the operation of an ice making apparatus.

A further and principal object of the invention resides in the provision of independently operable means associated with an ice making apparatus, for effecting actuation of an electrical switch, which are controlled respectively as a function of the ambient temperature Within the ice tray and as a function of the level of ice cubes within a collection tray disposed adjacent the ice tray.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a thermostat which has an element extensible therefrom upon predetermined variances in temperature which is adapted to be mounted within a rotary or pivotal ice tray so that the element is coaXially aligned with the rotational or pivotal axis of the ice tray.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the formation of an ice tray having a thermostat formed integrally therewith along the pivotal or rotational axis thereof.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device which is sensitive to the level of ice cubes within a collection tray and which is operable to control translation of movement from the thermostat element to an electrical switch to control operation of the electrical switch.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view taken partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of an automatic ice making apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention and showing the ice tray pivotally mounted in the wall of a freezing compartment;

FIGURE 2 is a view which is similar in nature to FIGURE 1 and which is also taken partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section but which shows the ice tray and its associated components in a different position;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the ice tray and its associated components illustrated in FIGURE 1 but taken along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the vertical section illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the ice tray illustrated in FIGURES 13 but which shows the ice tray in a different position from that illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view which is similar in nature to the view shown in FIGURE 4 but which shows the ice tray in a clockwise rotated position from that illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 and which shows the ice level sensing mechanism in a rotated position with respect to the ice tray;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the ice making apparatus illustrating the cooperation between the thermostat element and the ice level sensing mechanism when the sensing mechanism is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a view which is similar in nature to FIG- URE 6 but which shows the ice level sensing mechanism in a pivoted position with respect to the ice tray as in FIGURE and FIGURE 8 is a schematic wiring diagram showing, for illustrative purposes only, one manner in which the electrical switch might be employed in an ice making apparatus.

Referring initially to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, an ice making apparatus is shown as being mounted on a wall 10 of a freezing compartment such as freezing compartment of a household refrigerator. The ice making apparatus includes generally an ice tray 11 having a thermostat 12 mounted therein and having an ice level sensing bar 13 pivotally mounted thereon. An electrical switch 14 is mounted on a bracket 15 secured to the wall 10. A slug valve 16 is mounted exteriorly of the wall 10 in a manner not shown, and has a filler spout 17 extending therefrom which is sealed within a suitable aperture in the wall 10 and which overhangs the ice tray 11 to provide a means for filling the ice tray. The slug valve 16 incorporates electrically operable inlet and outlet valves such as are illustrated at 16a and 16b in FIGURE 8 and dispenses water to the ice tray upon closure of the inlet valve 16a and opening of the outlet valve 16b in a manner which is well known in the art and which is therefore only diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIGURES 1 and 2, the ice tray 11 comprises generally a confining wall 18 which has upwardly turned ends 19 and 20 formed integrally therewith and at opposite ends thereof and which is bent along its longitudinal axis as at 21 to form two elongated oppositely facing legs 22 and 23.

A common wall 24 (so called because it is common to ice molds formed on opposite sides thereof) constitutes an obtuse bisectrix of the elongated legs 22 and 23 and extends upwardly from the vertex 21 of those legs and is secured at its opposite ends to the upstanding end walls 19 and 20.

The common wall 24 has slots or grooves formed therein (not shown) which are adapted to receive a plurality of grooved equally spaced upstanding partitioning walls or fins 25, which in turn seat upon the legs 22 and 23 and which serve to divide the ice tray 11 into a plurality of separate ice molds.

It will be understood that in the class of ice trays to which this invention is directed, it is desirable to form each of the components of the ice tray of aluminum or some similar material which is a good heat conductor inasmuch as ejection of ice blocks from a plurality of downwardly facing ice molds is effected by breaking the bond between those ice blocks and the walls of their respective molds by heat transmitted to the surfaces thereof through the walls of the ice tray from the relatively warm water filling an upwardly facing mold.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate the two opposed extreme rotated positions of the ice tray and the positions which the ice tray assumes, prior to filling thereof by the fluid dispensed from the slug valve 16. It may be assumed that the ice tray is initially in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and that the tray is then filled with water through the filler spout 17 of the slug valve 16. The ice tray is then maintained in this position until the water within the upwardly facing molds has been frozen into ice blocks. Subsequent to such time the tray may then be rotated to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5. When the tray has been rotated to this latter position warm water is dispensed from the slug valve 16 to the upwardly facing molds and the heat of water filling these upwardly facing molds is transmitted through the walls of the ice trays to break the bond between the ice blocks in the downwardly facing molds and the ice tray so that the blocks then fall from the ice tray to a collection tray 27 or the like. Upon freezing of water in the upwardly 4 facing molds the tray is then rotated or pivoted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and the tray is then in a position to begin a new cycle of operation.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1-3, a cylindrical member 30 is fitted within the ice tray 11 and is received within an elongated slot formed in the common wall 24. In order to provide good heat transfer from the fluid within the ice tray to the interior of the thermostat the cylindrical member 30 is preferably formed integral with the ice tray 11 in a manner which is more fully described in my copending application for patent entitled Rotatable Ice Tray, Serial No. 810,715. The method by which such a member is formed may briefly be described as follows: Each of the several interlocking components, including the cylinder 30, common wall 24, and end wall 19, are preferably formed of aluminum sheeting which has a brazing sheet or film formed over the entire surface thereof. After the various interlocking components are assembled the assembled tray is placed in a brazing furnace for a short interval so that the heat to which the assembled tray is subjected will liquify the brazing compound and flow the same into the crevices at the juncture of the interlocking components. Thereafter, the tray is cooled and, as a result of the solidification of the brazing substance between each of the interlocking members, a unitary structure results.

It has been found desirable to use pure aluminum as a core for the ice tray and to use an aluminum alloy such as a compound of silicon and aluminum for the coating so that the brazing sheet will have a melting temperature lower than that of the aluminum core. Thus, by placing the ice tray in a brazing furnace the brazing film or sheet on the ice tray will melt and flow into the joints of the several interconnected members and thereafter upon removal of the ice tray from the brazing furnace and upon cooling of the ice tray the silicon aluminum compound will fuse to form a single rigid member.

The cylindrical member 30 has one open end which is disposed in registry with an opening 31 in the end wall 19 of the ice tray 11. A mounting bracket 32 is secured as by welding or the like to the end wall 19 of the ice tray 11 and has an aperture 33 formed therein which is disposed in registry with the aperture 31 so that the interior of the cylinder 30 and the portion of the wall 19 defining aperture 31 and the portion of bracket 32 defining aperture 33 are cooperable to define an elongated chamber 34.

A flexible annular diaphragm 35 is seated within an annular recess 36 in the bracket 32 and serves to close the open end of the chamber 34.

An elongated output power shaft 38 is journalled for rotatable movement within the wall 10 of the freezing compartment and within a coaxial aperture in the bracket 15 and has its inner end externally threaded so that the shaft 38 can be threadedly secured to the bracket 32 within the threaded recess 36. Furthermore, the inner end of the shaft 38 has an outer annular groove 39 formed therearound which is adapted to receive the annular peripheral bead 40 formed integrally with the diaphragm 35 to secure the diaphragm 35 in its proper position in fluid tight relation with the bracket 32.

The shaft 38 has a recess 42 formed in the end thereof which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the aperture 33 to permit the diaphragm 35 to flex outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 30 for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent. A piston element 45 is secured as by bonding or the like to the center of the flexible diaphragm 35 and is slidably received within an aperture formed in the bracket 38 and coaxially aligned therewith.

An elongated plunger or piston element 60 is slidably disposed within an elongated aperture formed coaxially within the shaft 38 and is engageable with a depressiblc plunger 61 which extends exteriorly of the switch 14 and which is operable upon depressional movement thereof to actuate the switch to close the electrical contacts therein. The inner end of the plunger 60 is coaxially aligned but spaced from the inner end of the piston element 45 and is disposed, like the inner end of the element 45, within an arcuate relieved portion 62 of the shaft 38.

The ice level sensing mechanism 13 comprises an ice level sensing bar 50 which has a pair of spaced legs 51 and 52 formed integrally therewith which extend upwardly therefrom and which are pivotally secured to the opposite ends of the ice tray 11. The leg 51 is pivotally mounted, by means of a pivot pin 53 on a depending arm 54 of the bracket 32 while the leg 52 is pivotally mounted, by means of a pivot pin 55 to a bracket 56 which is bonded to the end wall 20 of the ice tray 11.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 3, a tension spring 58 is fitted on the inner protruding end of the pin 53 and has its free ends crossed over and engaging opposite sides of the ice level sensing bar 50. A pin 59 is secured to the lower end of the arm 54 of bracket 32 upon which the crossed-over legs of the tension spring 58 rest so that the spring acts to normally maintain the ice level sensing bar 50 in a coplanar relation with respect to the common Wall 24 of the ice tray 11.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1, 4 and 6, a mechanical transducer 65 is secured to one end of the ice level sensing bar 50 and extends upwardly therefrom having an arcuate motion translation or earn surface 66 disposed intermediate the mating ends of the plunger 69 and the piston element 45.

The top plan view of the mechanical transducer 65 is illustrated in FIGURE 6. It will be noted that the central portion of the arcuate cam is relatively thick as indicated at 67 and that the outer ends of the cam are relatively thin as indicated at 68. Since the mechanical transducer 65 is only mounted at its lower end and since it is formed of relatively flexible material axial movement of the piston element 45 toward the wall will act to flex the mechanical transducer 65 somewhat to transmit axial movement of the element 45 through the mechanical transducer to the plunger 60 to effect axial movement of the plunger 60 and, accordingly, depressional movement of the plunger 61.

Axial movement of the element 45 is so limited that if the relatively thin portion 68 of the mechanical transducer 65 is disposed intermediate the mating ends of the element 45 and plunger 69 the transducer 65 will not be efiective to transmit extensible movement of the element 45 to the plunger 69. When the thickened portion 67 is disposed intermediate the mating ends of members 45 and 6f the transducer 65 will be effective to transmit axial movement of the element 45 to the plunger 6% to thereby depress plunger 61 thus effecting actuation of the switch A gear rack 74 extends exteriorly of the slug valve 16 and is axially movable by electrically energizable motor means within the slug valve. However, since the motor means form no part of the present invention, they are consequently not herein shown or described in detail. A spur gear 71 is formed on the outer end of the shaft 38 and is disposed in mesh with the axially movable gear rack 711! so that axial movement of the gear rack will act to rotatably move the shaft, and consequently the ice tray 11, through the spur gear 71.

FIGURE 8 illustrates schematically a possible wiring circuit for an ice making apparatus such as that which is illustrated in the drawings and includes a power source 75, a master line switch 76, switch 14, a selector switch 77, and a pair of solenoid coils 78 and W for the slug valve 16 which are energized through the selector switch 77 and switches 76 and 14. As shown in FIGURE 8, the switch 14 is so connected within the electrical circuit that it constitutes, in effect, another line switch so that upon opening of the movable contact therein, energization of any of the electrical devices energizable therethrough is prevented.

The solenoid coils 78 and 79 are contemplated as being used in solenoids for controlling the actuation of the inlet and the outlet from the slug valve, respectively. The motor means for effecting axial movement of the gear rack 7 it to effect oscillatory movement of the ice tray 11 may also be connected across the power lines and be energized through the switches 76 and 14 if so desired as shown at 78a.

The electrical switch 14 is so constructed that depressional movement of the plunger 61 acts to move the movable contact to the position illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 8 (that is to the closed circuit position).

Assuming that the ice tray 11 is utilized to freeze water into ice blocks, then by filling the chamber 34 of thermostat 12 with a substance which is expansible upon reaching the freezing point of water, the piston element 45 will be axially moved in the direction of the switch 14 by flexure of the diaphragm 35 caused by expansion of the substance within the chamber 34 at the same time that the water within the ice molds in the ice tray is frozen. At such time the piston element 45 acting through the cam 67 will effect axial movement of the plnngers 60 and 61 to close the contacts in the switch 14 to thereby permit oscillatable movement of the ice tray and controlled actuation of the solenoids on the slug valve.

The chamber 34 within the thermostat 12 may be filled with any suitable substance which expands when cooled to a temperature approximating the freezing temperature of the fluid to be frozen within the ice tray. Assuming that water is to be frozen in the ice tray many substances or compounds of substances might be satisfactory for use within the thermostat 12. -I have found however that it is desirable to use water within the chamber 34 since water, of course, expands upon freezing. It will also be understood that due to the relatively small area of the chamber 34 supercooling of the water within the thermostat will be effected prior to freezing and consequent expansion thereof so that proper freezing of the ice blocks within the ice tray will be assured.

Assuming that line switch 76 is closed a cycle of operation may thus be described as follows: The ice tray is initially disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and has just been filled with relatively warm fluid from the slug valve 16. Since the water within the ice tray is relatively warm the power element 45 of the thermostat 12 will be disposed in its retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The spring 58 will act to maintain the ice level sensing bar 5% in alignment with pins 53 and 55.

When the water within the individual molds of the ice tray 11 freezes, the temperature sensitive substance within the chamber 34 of thermostat 12 will begin to expand to flex the diaphragm 35 outwardly and to thereby axially move the power element 45. Axial outward movement of the power element 45 will act against the thickened portion 67 of the mechanical transducer 65 to effect axial movement of the plunger 60. Axial movement of plunger 6t? will react against plunger 61 to close the movable contact of the electrical switch 14 to thereby permit subsequent energization of the motor means for effecting rotatable movement of the ice tray and energization of the respective inlet and outlet solenoids of the slug valve.

When the ice tray 11 is pivoted from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 and relatively warm Water is thereafter directed to the upwardly facing molds from the slug valve 16 and the ice blocks in the downwardly facing molds will be re leased and will fall into the ice collection tray 27.

If it be assumed that the collection tray 27 is substantially filled with ice blocks as indicated in FIGURE 5 then upon clockwise pivotal movement of the ice tray (as viewed in FIGURE 5) the ice level sensing bar 50 will contact the ice blocks within the collection tray 2'7 7 and will be prevented from pivotally moving about the shaft 38. The mechanical transducer 65 will, therefore, pivotally move with respect to the ice tray 11 about the pivot pin 53 against the opposing biasing force of spring member 58 and may, for instance, be moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5.

When the mechanical transducer 65 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the thin portion 68 of the mechanical transducer 65 will be disposed intermediate the mating end portions of the power element 45 and the plunger 60 as is illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Accordingly, when the water within the upwardly facing molds subsequently freezes the thermal sensitive substance within the chamber 34 of the thermostat 12 will expand to flex the diaphragm 3'5 and to extensibly axially move the power element 45. Since, however, the thin portion 68 of the mechanical transducer is interposed between the mating end portions of the power element 45 and the plunger 60 extensible movement of the power element 45, even to its maximum extent, will not be effective to axially move the plunger 60 so that the movable contact of the electrical switch 14 will remain in the open circuit position thus preventing further rotation of the ice tray and thereby preventing actuation of either of the solenoid controlled valves in the slug valve 16.

Since the electrical switch 14 has been so connected within the circuit that it, in effect, constitutes a master line switch all power to the ice making apparatus will be cut off until the ice level sensing bar 50 has been returned to a position in alignment With pins 53 and 59 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Such movement will, of course, be prevented by abutment of the sensing bar 59 with the ice blocks in the collection tray 27 until the tray 27 is emptied.

It should further be noted that the mechanical transducer 65 will be effective to prevent energization of the ice making apparatus whenever it is pivotally moved relative to the ice tray 11 and that such relative pivotal movement may be effected during either pivotal cycle of the ice tray 11.

It will also be understood that this embodiment of the invention has been used for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. An ice making apparatus comprising a support for mounting an ice tray within a freezing compartment, a shaft journalled within said support, said ice tray comprising a liquid containing shell, a longitudinal partition mounted in said shell dividing said shell into separate compartments, a pluralty of transverse partitions mounted in and dividing each of said compartments into a plurality of molds, an elongated hollow member mounted within said tray along a longitudinal axis thereof opening to one end of said tray for containing a thermally expansible substance, said hollow member being formed of a heat conducting material, a flexible wall closing the open end of said member sealed to said one end of said tray, a piston element secured to the other surface of said flexible wall, and means mounting said tray on said shaft so that said shaft and said member are coaxially aligned.

2. An ice making apparatus comprising a support within a freezing compartment, an ice tray, an elongated hollow member mounted within said ice tray along a longitudinal axis thereof and opening to one end of said ice tray for containing a thermally expansible substance, a movable wall closing the open end of said member, a shaft mounted on said tray and sealing said movable wall to said one end of said tray and journalled within said support, electrical switch means disposed at the opposite end of said shaft from said movable wall having a depressible plunger cooperable therewith to effect actuation thereof, an axially movable member slidably disposed within said shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof en- 8 gageable with said plunger to effect actuation of said switch, and motion translation means interconnecting said movable wall with said axially movable member for controlling actuation of said switch means as a function of the temperature to which the substance within said member is subjected.

3. An ice making apparatus comprising a support within a freezing compartment, an ice tray, an elongated hollow member mounted within said ice tray along a longitudinal axis thereof and opening to one end of said ice tray for containing a thermally expansible substance, said elongated member being formed of a heat conducting material, a movable wall closing the open end of Said member, a shaft mounted on said tray and coaxially aligned with said hollow member sealing said movable wall to said one end of said tray and journalled within said support, electrical switch means disposed at the opposite end of said shaft from said movable wall having a depressible plunger connected therewith for effecting actuation thereof, and motion translation means interconnecting said movable wall with said depressible plunger for controlling actuation of said switch means as a function of the temperature to which the substance within said member is subjected.

4. An ice making apparatus comprising a support within a freezing compartment, an ice tray, a shaft connected to said tray at one end thereof and journalled within said support, a thermostat mounted within said ice tray having an element extensible therefrom in predetermined ambient temperature ranges about said thermostat, an axial bore within said shaft, said element being coaxially aligned with said shaft and slidably received within said bore, electrical switch means disposed at the opposite end of said shaft from said movable wall, and motion translation means interconnecting said element with said switch means for controlling actuation of said switch means as a function of the temperature to which said thermostat is subjected.

5. An ice making apparatus comprising a support for mounting an ice tray within a freezing compartment, a shaft journalled within said support, an ice tray comprising a liquid containing shell formed of aluminum clad with a brazing alloy on at least one surface thereof, a longitudinal partition mounted in said shell dividing said shell into two separate compartments, a plurality of transverse partitions mounted in and dividing each of said compartments into a plurality of molds, said partitions being formed of aluminum clad with a brazing alloy on both surfaces thereof, an elongated hollow aluminum member clad with a brazing alloy for containing a thermally expansible substance mounted within said tray along a longitudinal axis thereof and opening to one end of said tray, a flexible wall extending across the open end of said hollow member and sealed to the said end of said tray, a piston element secured to the outer surface of said flexible wall, electrical switch means disposed at the opposite end of said shaft from said movable wall, and motion translation means interconnecting said movable wall with said switch means for controlling actuation of said switch means for controlling actuation of said switch means as a function of the temperature to which the substance within said member is subjected.

6. An ice making apparatus comprising a support within a freezing compartment, an ice tray, an elongated hollow member mounted within said ice tray along a longitudinal axis thereof and opening to one end of said ice tray for containing a thermally expansible substance, a movable wall closing the open end of said member, a hollow shaft mounted on said tray and sealing said movable wall to said one end of said tray and journalled within said support, electrical switch means disposed at the opposite end of said shaft from said movable wall having a movable element cooperable therewith for actuating said switch, a collection tray for collecting frozen ice blocks ejected from said tray, motion translation means positionable between said movable element and said movable wall for transmitting movement of said wall to said element to actuate said switch as a function of the temperature within said hollow member pivotally mounted on said tray, means resiliently locking said motion translation means in one position on said tray, means for pivoting said shaft and tray, and abutment means connected with said motion translation means engageable with the ice blocks within said collection tray to pivot said motion translation means with respect to said tray to displace same from its motion translation position between said movable element and said movable wall.

7. An actuator for an electrical switch within an ice making apparatus comprising a support, an ice tray pivotally mounted within said support, means for filling said tray and ejecting frozen ice blocks therefrom, a thermostat disposed within said tray in heat transfer relation therewith having an element extensible therefrom in a predetermined temperature range, an electrical switch having a depressible plunger cooperable therewith to effect actuation thereof coaxially aligned with said element, a mechanical transducer pivotally mounted on said tray, means resiliently holding said transducer in a fixed position on said tray, motion translation means on said transducer spaced from the pivotal axis thereof and positionable between said movable element and said plunger to transmit axial movement of said element to said plunger, a collection tray for collecting ice blocks ejected from said ice tray, and abutment means on said mechanical transducer engageable with the ice blocks within said collection tray when they have reached a predetermined level upon rotation of said ice tray to pivotally move said mechanical transducer relative to said tray to displace said motion translation means from its motion translating position between said movable element and said plunger.

8. In combination with an ice making apparatus including an ice tray oscillatably mounted in the wall of a freezing chamber and including electrically operable valve means for filling the ice tray, the improvement of means for controlling the energization of said valve means comprising an electrical switch for energizing said valve means having a movable element cooperable therewith for controlling operation of said switch, a thermal sensing unit mounted within said ice tray in heat transfer relation therewith having a member extensible therefrom upon predetermined ambient temperature conditions therearound, a mechanical transducer pivotally mounted on said ice tray at a point spaced from the axis of said member, a cam on said transducer positionable between said element and said member for transmitting axial movement of said member to said element to actuate said switch, means resiliently maintaining said mechanical transducer in a fixed position on said tray, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said transducer relative to said tray for moving said cam out of its motion translation position between said plunger and said element.

9. In combination with an ice making apparatus including an ice tray oscillatably mounted in the wall of a freezing chamber and including electrically operable valve means for filling the ice tray, the improvement of means for controlling the energization of said valve means comprising electrical switch means for energizing said valve means having a movable element extensible there from for controlling operation of said switch, a thermal sensing unit mounted within said ice tray in heat transfer relation therewith having a member extensible therefrom upon predetermined ambient temperature conditions therearound, a mechanical transducer positionable between said member and said element to transmit axial extensible movement of said member to said element to actuate said switch, and means for displacing said mechanical transducer from its motion translation position between said element and said member.

10. An ice making apparatus comprising a casing, means for cooling the interior of said casing to freeze water therein into ice blocks, an ice tray mounted within said casing having ice molds formed therein, a collection tray disposed within said casing below said ice tray, means for rejecting frozen ice blocks from said ice tray into said collection tray, a thermal sensing unit mounted within said ice tray in heat transfer relation with at least one of said ice molds having an element extensible therefrom upon predetermined fluid temperature conditions within said one of said ice molds, a slug Valve for filling said ice tray, switch means mounted on a wall of said casing for energizing said slug valve to control filling of said ice tray, an axially movable plunger having one end disposed adjacent an end of said element cooperable with said switch means to operate said switch means, cam means positionable between the adjacent ends of said element and said plunger to transmit axial extensible movement of said element to said plunger to axially move said plunger, and means for selectively positioning said cam to prevent motion translation from said element to said plunger.

11. An ice making apparatus comprising a casing, means for cooling the interior of said casing to freeze water therein into ice blocks, an ice tray mounted within said casing having ice molds formed therein, a collection tray disposed within said casing below said ice tray, means for ejecting frozen ice blocks from said ice tray into said collection tray, a thermal sensing unit mounted within said ice tray in heat transfer relation with at least one of said ice molds having an element extensible therefrom upon predetermined fluid temperature conditions within said one of said ice molds, a slug valve for filling said ice tray, switch means mounted on a Wall of said casing for energizing said slug valve to control filling of said ice tray, an axially movable plunger having one end disposed adjacent an end of said element cooperable with said switch means to operate said switch means, a mechanical transducer having a cam surface thereon positionable between the adjacent ends of said element and said plunger to transmit axial extensible movement of said element to said plunger to axially move said plunger, and means for positioning said mechanical transducer as a function of the level of ice within said collection tray to displace said cam surface from the adjacent ends of said element and said plunger to prevent motion translation from said element to said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,321 Smith June 6, 1939 2,407,058 Clum Sept. 3, 1946 2,671,839 Cox Mar. 9, 1954 2,771,749 Miller Nov. 27, 1956 2,778,198 Heath Jan. 22, 1957 2,796,741 Barton June 25, 1957 2,869,060 Chace Ian. 13, 1959

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