US3031863A

US3031863A - Ice cube ejector

Info

Publication number: US3031863A
Application number: US780276A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adolph D Corn
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1958-12-15
Filing date: 1958-12-15
Publication date: 1962-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-01

Description

y 1, 62 I v A. D. CORN 3,031,863

ICE CUBE EJECTOR Filed Dec. 15, 1958 aa/aj 05 657W w, /W

United States Patent 3,031,863 ICE CUBE EJECTOR Adolph D. Corn, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,276 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-362) This invention relates to an ice maker and in particular to means for ejecting ice bodies in an automatic ice maker.

In an automatic ice body maker, such as that disclosed in copending Robert W. Fink application 609,623, filed September 13, 1956, now issued as U.S. Patent 2,981,079, dated April 25, 1961, and owned by the common assignee, water is frozen in a mold having a frusto-conical cavity closed at its lower end by an ejector pin. Upon completion of the freezing step, the resultant ice body is forcibly ejected from the cavity by applying an impact force to the ejector pin. The structure of the present invention permits ejection of the ice bodies with substantially no, or at least greatly reduced, breakage of the ice bodies even under the considerable force required.

A principal feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved means for ejecting an ice body from a mold cavity.

Another feature is the provision of such a means which provides suitable ejection force while substantially eliminating shattering and breakage of the ice body during the ejection operation.

A further feature is the provision of such means wherein the ice body cavity is inverted substantially frustoconical and the ejector pin is provided with an upper segmentally spherical end for transferring an impact force to the ice body, the apex of the frusto-conical cavity and the radial center of the segmentally spherical end being coincident to aid in elfecting a non-shattering ejection.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of an automatic ice molding and ejecting means embodying the invention, with a portion thereof shown in vertical section; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ejector pin thereof.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, a mold is provided with an inverted frusto-conical cavity 11 having a large, open upper end-12 and a small, open lower end 13. Lower end 13 is closed by an upper end 14- of an ejector pin 15. Pin 15 is biased downwardly by a spring 16 extending between a shoulder 17 on mold 10 and an annular flange 18 on pin 15. The downward movement of flange 18 is limited by abutment with a retaining plate 19 secured to mold 10 as by screws 20. The upper portion 21 of pin 15 is cylindrical and has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of lower end 13 of cavity 11. Pin portion 2-1 is sealed to the mold 10 by means of an annular seal 22 adjacent the cavity lower end 13'.

A body of water 23 is delivered to cavity 11 through the upper end 12 thereof and is frozen therein by suitable means, such as disclosed in the above indicated Fink Patent 2,981,079. The resultant ice body 24 is then ejected upwardly from cavity 11 by sharply striking a lower portion 25 of pin 15 which extends downwardly through retaining plate 19. The impact force breaks the bond between the ice body 24 and the wall of cavity 11 and between ice body 24 and the pin upper end 14, and causes the ice body to fly upwardly from cavity 11, as shown in FIG. 1 in broken lines.

The impact force is delivered to the lower end portion 25 of pin 15 by a striker bar 26 pivotally mounted on the mold at one end 27 and urged upwardly by a strong spring 28. A cam 29 secured to a rotatable shaft 30 engages a follower block 31 on striker bar 26. As shaft 30 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, it pivots strike bar 26 in a clockwise direction until outer edge 32 of the cam moves past follower block 31 permitting the striker bar to be pulled quickly up wardly and strike sharply the lower end portion 25 of pin 15.

The impact force must be relatively large to break the ice body 24 free of the cavity wall and pin upper end 14. The instant invention provides a segmentally spherical upper end portion 14 which tends to distribute the impact forces properly to preclude shattering and breakage of the ice bodies notwithstanding the employment of a substantial impact force. More specifically, the center of curvature of the segmentally spherical end 14 is made to coincide with the apex 33 of the frusto-conical cavity 11 when the ejector pin is in the fully retracted position of FIG. 1. Thus, the wall of cavity 11 extends radially outwardly from pin end 14, substantially assuring the breaking of the bond between the ice body and the cavity wall without breakage of the ice body.

Almost simultaneously, but instantaneously after the ice body is broken free, the energy stored in striker bar 26 causes the upper portion 21 of the ejector pin tomove upwardly through lower end 13 of the cavity and eject the ice body 24 upwardly from the cavity. Shaft 30 continues to rotate and pivot striker bar 26 clockwise against the action of spring 28. Spring 16 then restores the ejector pin to the retracted position of FIG. 1, permitting the cavity to be refilled with water and a new ice body frozen therein.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Ice molding and ejecting means, comprising: a mold body provided with a cavity having an open upper end and an open lower end, said cavity being fmstoconical narrowing toward said lower end; and an ejector pin provided with an upper end extending transversely across and closing said lower end of the mold body, said upper end of the ejector pin being convex upwardly whereby an upwardly directed impact force on said pin ejects a body of ice formed in said cavity without substantial breakage of the same.

2. Ice molding and ejecting means, comprising: a mold body provided with a cavity having an open upper end and an open lower end, said cavity being frustoconical narrowing toward said lower end; and an ejector member provided with an upper end extending transversely across and closing said lower end of the mold body, said upper end of the ejector member being convex upwardly and centered on the longitudinal axis of said cavity, whereby an upwardly directed impact force on said member ejects a body of ice formed in said cavity without substantial breakage of the same.

3. Ice molding and ejecting means, comprising: a mold body provided with a cavity having an open upper end and an open lower end, said cavity being frustoconical narrowing toward said lower end; and an ejector member provided with a segmentally spherical upper end extending transversely across and closing said lower end of the mold body, sad upper end of the ejector member being convex upwardly and centered on the longitudinal axis of said cavity, whereby an upwardly directed impact force on said member ejects a body of ice formed in said cavity without substantial breakage of the same.

4. Ice molding and ejecting means, comprising: a mold body provided with a cavity having an open upper end and an open lower end, said cavity being frustoconical narrowing toward said lower end; and an ejector member provided with a segmentally spherical upper end extending transversely across and closing said lower end of the mold body, said upper end of the ejector member being convex upwardly, the apex of the frust'o-conical cavity and the radial center of said segmentally spherical end of the ejector member coinciding, whereby an upwardly directed impact force on said member ejects a body of ice formed in said cavity without substantial breakage of the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown Jan. 8, Sherman n May 3, Marchaut Aug. 9, Kitto -Nov. 20, Rundell May 31, Copeman July 11, Curry Mar. 29, Boeing July 26, Goldman Oct. 25, Fink Apr. 25,