US3048986A

US3048986A - Automatic ice making devices

Info

Publication number: US3048986A
Application number: US854138A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erling B Archer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-19
Filing date: 1959-11-19
Publication date: 1962-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-14

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 E. B. ARCHER 3,048,986

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 590m; 15. fiecasq Aug. 14, 1962 E. B. ARCHER 3,048,986

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EYLING 5. AQCHEQ A rro /vey Aug. 1962 E. B. ARCHER 3,048,986

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'all!!!Ill/11111111111111![Ill/I E L/-6- 5. Apcuezq BY WP 1 4% United States Patent 3,043,936 AUTGMATHQ ICE MAKING DEVI CES Erling B. Archer, 33--74- 191st L, Flushing, ELY. Filed Nov. 19, W59, Ser. No. 854,138 19 Claims. (Cl. 62-345) This invention relates to automatic ice making devices, and in particular to apparatus for use in a standard refrigerator for the purpose of freezing and harvesting blocks of ice, commonly referred to as ice cubes.

There are available on the market at the present time, for use in household refrigerators, several different types of ice cube making devices, some of which are fully automatic and provide a continuous supply of ice cubes, while others are semiautomatic or even non-automatic in that they require removal of a formed batch of cubes from the storage bin and/or manual emptying of the ice mold or tray prior to the formation of the next batch of ice cubes. Several of such ice makers further require thermostatically controlled heating means in cooperative relationship with the ice mold for loosening the ice cubes from the mold surfaces so as to enable associated gripper and/or conveyor means to remove the cubes from the mold. By their very nature, these lastmentioned ice makers still further entail the provision of means for drying the wet surfaces of the removed ice cubes prior to transfer of the latter to the storage bin.

For the foregoing and a variety of other reasons, the known ice cube making devices have failed to find full acceptance in the market. As will be readily appreciated, they are extremely expensive to produce and diflicult to incorporate or install in commonly available refrigerators. Moreover, with respect to those devices which are less than fully automatic, proper functioning thereof depends on constant attention by the possessor of the refrigerator, and since freezing of a new batch of cubes in such non-automatic devices cannot be initiated until the preceding batch has been removed from the mold, the possibility of an insufficient supply of cubes in the event of a sudden, heavy demand therefor is always present. Still another problem which has not yet been satisfactorily resolved in such known ice cube making devices is that of accelerating the freezing of water in the mold, with the object of possibly reducing the freezing time for each batch of cubes to anhour or less.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide novel ice cube making devices which are substantially automatic in operation and free of the disadvantages and drawbacks inherent in known devices of this type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide automatic ice making apparatus greatly simplified in construction and capable of being employed with all refrigerators having a freezer compartment normally maintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of means, in an automatic ice cube freezing device of the aforesaid type, which are effective to reduce materially the time required for each freezing cycle.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a pivotally mounted ice mold or tray in conjunction with means for blowing cold air against the tray in all of the different positions of the latter for the purpose of accelerating the freezing period.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide cam means for effecting the ejection of ice cubes from the ice mold, which cam means may comprise two cams one of which serves to loosen the ice cubes in the tray or mold while still incompletely frozen, and the other of which serves as the actual cube ejector.

3,048,985 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 A further object of the present invention is to provide novel supply-responsive means in association with the ice cube storage means for such ice making devices, which supply-responsive means are effective to interrupt the ice-forming operation as soon as a predetermined quantity of ice cubes has been collected in the storage means.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of such ice making devices which are inexpensive to construct and maintain and which are sufliciently economical to warrant their incorporation in all standard refrigerators at a minimum of extra cost to the ultimate consumers.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly sectional illustration of a refrigerator freezer cabinet as seen from the front of the refrigerator and shows the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional, fragmentary View of the freezer cabinet as seen from one side of the refrigerator;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4- is a partly sectional, fragmentary view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates the ice cube freezing device in one stage of operation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the device in another operational stage thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective elevational View of the cam means employed as a part of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-3 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the means for clearing accumulated ice particles from the water feed tube or conduit employed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1tl- 10 in FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that a refrigerator 20, having a freezer cabinet 21 maintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water, is provided with an ice cube freezing device 22 in one of the rear corners of the freezer cabinet. The freezing device 22 comprises a substantially U-shaped sheet metal supporting frame 23 having

upstanding side members

23a and 23b and a transverse or bottom member 23c. The side member 23a of the supporting frame 23 is provided at its free, upper edge with a pair of ears 24 by means of which it is suspended on a horizontal rod 25, the latter being in turn supported adjacent the roof or top wall 26 of the freezer cabinet by means of

brackets

27 and 28. The second vertical side member 2312 of the frame 23 is provided on its outer surface with a pad 29 of rubber or other resilient, plastic material (either natural or synthetic) and at its inner surface adjacent its uppermost edge with an abutment member or bar 30 extending substantially along the entire front to rear dimension of the frame. The bottom or transverse member 230 of the frame 23 is provided with a large opening 31 which preferably is stamped out of the plate of which the frame is made.

The refrigerator 20 has a rear wall 32 which may be hollow and filled with any suitable type of insulating material. A tubular conduit 33 extends from the outer surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator to the interior of the freezer cabinet 21. Fixedly positioned at the outside of the refrigerator about the mouth of the tube or conduit 33 is an apertured mounting plate 34 which supports a solenoid valve 35. The valve 35 is normally closed and is adapted to be opened upon energization of its operating coil (not shown) via a pair of conductors 36 connected with spaced coil terminals 37 and with a control circuit still to be described. A flexible tube 38, which may be connected at one end to any suitable reservoir or source of water, communicates with the valve 35 and thus is adapted to communicate through the latter with the feed or inlet tube 33.

Located within the freezer compartment 21 is an ice mold or tray 39 which comprises a rigid, preferably metallic frame 43 and a water-receiving body 41 made of polyethylene, rubber or any other elastic (synthetic or natural) plastic material. The body 41 is divided into a plurality of pockets 42 each of substantially half-moon shape which are seperated from one another at their outer surfaces, as best shown in FIG. 2. The tray frame 43 has side edges 40a and 431;, a front edge 40c and a rear edge 40d. A roller 40 is journaled in the side edge 4% of the tray frame for a purpose to be explained more fully hereinafter.

Attached to the tray frame 40 at the front edge We thereof is an upstanding bracket 43 provided with an ear or like annular bearing member 44 through which extends a horizontal bearing pin 45 affixed to a stationary bracket 46 suspended from the roof or top wall 26 of the freezer cabinet, as shown at 47. A small cotter pin 43, or if desired a nut, lock Washer or other retaining member, is mounted on the free end portion of the bearing pin 45 and prevents accidental sliding of the bearing member 44 off the pin. The rear edge 43d of the tray frame 40 carries a bearing member or car 49 which rotatably surrounds the tube 33. The axis of the tube 33 is aligned with that of the pin 45, and the tray is thus pivotally mounted for swinging movement about this axis. Undesired movement of the tray 39 toward the rear wall of the refrigerator is inhibited by a washer or split ring t mounted on the tube 33. It will be understood that the tray 39 can be easily mounted on or removed from its

journals

45 and 33, this requiring only the removal of the cotter pin or other retaining member 48 from the bearing pin 45.

Aflixed to the tray frame 40 at the side edge 4% thereof is a counterweight 51. The balance conditions of the tray or ice mold 39 are such that when the pockets 4 2 are empty the tray is tilted upwardly to the extent permitted by a stop or like member 52 aflixed to the inner surface of the vertical member 23a of the supporting frame 23, while when the pockets 42 are filled with water or ice the tray is so unbalanced as to tend to move toward the broken-line position thereof shown in FIG. 1. Such movement is ordinarily inhibited by a latch member 53 rockably mounted on a pivot pin 54 carried by the frame member 23a and adapted to engage the underside of the tray frame side edge 40a. The latch member 53 is biased to its tray-engaging position by a small torsion spring or like element 55 and is positively connected with a downwardly extending arm 56 having at its lowermost end an extension 56a. Thus, a counterclockwise rocking of the arm 56 (as seen in FIG. 1) will cause the latch member 53 to be retracted from the tray frame 49 so as to permit the tray 39 to drop into its downwardly slanted position. The means for causing such a rocking movement of the arm 56 will be more fully described hereinafter.

The side member 23a of the supporting frame 23 is provided a short distance above the horizontal or transverse member 230 with an opening 57 in which is arranged with the aid of a conventional rubber mounting 58 an electric motor 59 having two

output shafts

60 and 61. The motor 59 is adapted to be energized through a pair of conductors 62 connected 0t any suitable source of power, for example, the main power line of the refrigerator 23 itself. The shaft 6% is connected with a reducing gear mechanism 63 mounted on the horizontal supporting frame member 230 adjacent the opening 31 of the latter, while the shaft 61 is connected to the impeller or bladed rotor (not shown) of a suction fan 64 supported from the frame member 23a by means of a mounting bracket 65.

The reducing gear mechanism 63 is provided with an output shaft 66 which carries at its free end a transverse extension or arm 67 which is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 1. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the arm 67 carries at its trailing outside edge 67a a hinge 63 by means of which a relatively large cam 69 is pivotally connected to the arm. This cam will hereinafter be referred to at times as the cube ejection cam, The arm 67 further carries on its outer face 67b and at a location intermediate the hinge 68 and the shaft 66 a smaller cam 73 which will hereinafter be referred to at times as the cube loosening cam. With respect to the larger cam 69, it will be seen that as long as the leading outside edge 67c of the arm s7 is disposed above the trailing edge 67a, i.e., after the arm 67 during its rotation has passed the downwardly directed vertical position thereof, the cam 63 will hang from the arm by means of the hinge 68 and will thus not be in a position to catch on the tray frame 4% when the latter is in the broken-line position thereof indicated in FIG. 1. When the arm 67 passes the upwardly directed vertical position thereof, however, the cam 69 will flip over and fall against the surface 67b of the arm 67. At this itme the operative surface 6% of the cam 69 will be in a position to engage the roller 40' in the side edge 4th: of the tray frame 40, as will be more fully explained presently.

Positioned below the supporting frame 23 is a bin or receptacle 71 which is adapted to receive ice cubes ejected from the tray 39 and to store the cubes until the same are used, a door 71' being provided, if desired to facilitate removal of the cubes from the bin. For the purpose of preventing an accumulation of an oversupply of ice cubes, the side wall 71a of the bin 71 is cut away at its uppermost edge a certain distance below the level of the upper edges of the remaining walls of the bin. Hingedly mounted on the upper edge of the bin wall 71a at 72 is a trough-shaped flange 73 to which is connected a lug or stop member 74. The flange 73 extends outwardly of the bin '71, and the stop member '74 projects into the bin 71. The flange and stop member are normally retained in the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of a light torsion spring "75. The upper edge of the flange 73 is disposed adjacent the operative posi tion of a switch arm 76 of a microswitch '77 which is connected by means of a pair of conductors 78 to the power line conductors 62 of the motor 59. The switch arm 76 is adapted to be moved to the broken-line posi tion thereof indicated in FIG. 1, so as to open the switch 77 and interrupt operation of the motor 59, when the flange 73 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction upon accumulation thereon of a predetermined quantity of ice cubes.

Aflixed to the exterior surface of the bin wall 71a by means of a pair of brackets '79 is a tube or pipe 80 the uppermost end of which is connected to a flexible conduit 81 communicating at its other end with the outlet port 64a of the suction fan 64. The bin itself is mounted on a plurality of flanges 82 (only one of which is shown) which define below :the bin 71 a substantially air-tight space 83. The lowermost end of the pipe 80 communicates with the space 83 through the flange 82 located below the wall 71a. Arranged Within the space 83, preferably by being attached to the bottom Wall 7112 of the bin 71, are several partition members 84 which do not extend all the way across the space 33 but are staggered with respect to one another so as to define a tortuous flow path for air, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.

The side wall 710 of the bin 71 opposite the wall 71a is provided with a recessed portion 85 by means of which there is defined between the bin and the adjacent side wall 21a of the freezer cabinet an elongated recess or passageway 86 the lowermost end of which communicates with the space 33 beneath the bin. Positioned atop the bin wall 71c in fluid-tight connection with the passageway 86 is a duct 87 which extends upwardly at a slant from the bin wall 710 through the opening 31 in the supporting frame 23 and terminates adjacent the downwardly slanted position of the ice mold or tray 39 (see FIG. 1). The length of the duct 87 as measured from the front to the rear of the freezer cabinet 21 is substantially the same as that of the tray 39.

Referring again to the output shaft 66 of the reducing gear mechanism as, it will be seen that there is provided on this shaft a lateral projection or arm 38 which moves with the shaft as the same rotates. The length of the arm 88 is such that at one point of its angular travel it can engage the extension 56a of the latch-operating arm 56 (see also FIG. 8). When the arm 88, while in motion, engages the extension Eda, the latter and therewith the arm 56 are rocked counterclockwise (as seen in FIG. 1) about the axis of the pivot pin 54 so as to withdraw the latch member 53 from beneath the tray frame side edge -itla. The arm or projection 88 and the cams 69 and 70 thus constitutes cam means operable to render the latch or holding means 53-55 ineffective after a predetermined time interval so as to permit the tray to move from its horizontal position to its downwardly slanted position, the cam means being also operable to effect a deformation of the tray body 41' and the consequent ejection of ice cubes therefrom while the tray is in its downwardly slanted position.

In accordance with the present invention there is fun ther provided means for ensuring that the interior of the inlet tube 33 can never become clogged by accumulated ice. Referring in particular to FIGS. 2, 9 and 10, it will be seen that attached to the tray frame side edge 4% is an upstanding bracket 39 to the uppermost end of which is connected an arcuately shaped scraper blade 90 which extends into the tube 33 substantially concentrically with the latter. When the tray 39 is in its horizontal position, i.e., filled with water or ice and resting on the latch member 53, the scraper blade 90 is substantially in the position shown in FIG. 10. When the latch 53 is withdrawn and the tray pivots downwardly, the scraper blade 90 is rotated within the tube 33 in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 16), whereby the relatively sharp edge 96a of the blade 91} scrapes any ice particles which have formed in the tube 33 from the surface of the latter. In this manner, the loosened ice particles will be swept into the tray or mold 39 when the next charge of water flows through the inlet tube 33.

Associated with the scraper blade is an arrangement for controlling the flow of water to be frozen through the valve 35 and the tube 33. As clearly shown in FIG. 9, there is aifixed to the scraper blade adjacent the free end thereof, i.e., that end which is located immediately adjacent the valve mounting plate 34, a small contact element or plate 91 which is insulated from the remainder of the blade 90 as well as from all other parts of the apparatus. The width of the contact plate 91 is such that it can bridge the gap between a pair of terminals 92 mounted on the inside of the tube 33 and connected by means of leads 93 to the terminals 37 of the solenoid valve 35. The circuitry is such that the coil of the solenoid valve is energized to open the valve only when the terminals 92 are connected to one another by the contact plate 91. The position of the element 91 is so chosen, in accordance with the present invention, that the terminals 92 are connected to one another only when the tray 39 is tilted upwardly, and that the connection between these terminals is broken approximately at the time that the tray becomes horizontal, i.e., when it is filled with the desired quantity of water.

The operation of the automatic ice cube making device according to the present invention will thus be seen to be as follows, reference being had in particular to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

At the beginning, it is assumed that the tray 39 is filled with water and that it has just come to rest in a horizontal state with the tray frame edge 40a engaging the latch member 53. The motor 59, which is preferably a small constant speed motor available commercially at very little cost, is operated continuously. The output shaft 61 rotates at the motor speed and thus drives the bladed wheel or rotor of the suction fan 64 at a relatively rapid speed to draw air from the freezer cabinet into the conduit Ell-8i This air, which is already at a relatively low temperature, is thus forced to flow through the space 83 beneath the storage bin 71. In this space, the air is passed over and further cooled by the horizontal evaporator coils (not shown) normally contained in the bottom wall 21b of the freezer cabinet, and due to the provision of the staggered partitions 84, the How path of the air through the space 83 is lengthened to increase the interval of time during which the air is cooled. Upon flowing up through the passageway 86, the already cooled air is still further cooled by contact with the vertical evaporator coils (not shown) located in the side wall 21a of the freezer cabinet. Consequently, the air flowing out of the duct 87 and into the space within the supporting frame 23 and below the horizontal tray 39 is at a much lower temperature than the ambient air in the freezer compartment drawn in by the suction fan 64. The water in the tray pockets 4-2 is thus subjected to a much lower temperature than has been possible or customary in the known freezing devices of this type and begins to solidify in a much shorter period of time than has heretofore been possible.

Concurrently with the foregoing, the output shaft 60 of the motor 59 drives the reducing tgear mechanism 63 which is so constructed that the output shaft 66 thereof rotates at a much slower speed, for example, to make one complete revolution per hour or hour and a quarter, depending on the freezing time. At this particular point of the freezing cycle, it may be assumed that the cam arm 67 is disposed at a downward slant out of the plane of the paper as seen in FIG. 1 and that, therefore, the ejection cam 69 is still lying flat against the outer surface 67b of the arm 67. After a period of approximately 20 minutes, the shaft 66 will have been rotated sufliciently far that the cam arm 67 extends at a small downward slant into the plane of the paper as seen in FIG. 1. At this time, the arm or projection 88 engages the curved contact surface 56b of the extension 560 of the arm 56 (see FIG. 8) and rocks the latter upwardly to retract the latch member 53 from beneath the tray frame 40. The tray 39 is thus permitted to drop from its horizontal, solid-line position shown in FIG. 1 to its broken-line position. Although the water in the various pockets 42 of the tray is not yet completely frozen, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the water is partly frozen into solid shells of ice each having a still fluid core of water. Thus, despite the fact that the tray drops against the abutment bar 30 before the water is entirely frozen, this entails no disadvantage for the present invention since no water can spill out of the tray.

As the rotation of the shaft 66 continues and brings the arm 67 into its horizontal position directed into the plane of the paper as seen in FIG. 1, the outer surface 70a of the small cam 70 comes into engagement with the adjacent edge 40a of the tray frame 40 and pushes the latter toward the member 23b of the supporting frame 23, which pushing action causes a slight indenting of the tray pockets 42 by the abutment bar 30, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The still not completely frozen cubes in the ace-sees tray 39 will, consequently, be slightly loosened from the inner surfaces of their respective pockets 42 without, however, being ejected from the latter. There is no danger, in the system according to the present invention, that this loosening process will result in any spilling of water from the mold. This is due to the fact that not only were the ice cubes already in solid shell form, but during the few minutes preceding the contact between the cam 70 and the tray frame 46 the cubes were located in the immediate vicinity of the duct 87 and were, therefore, subjected to the flow of extremely cold air issuing therefrom, which cold air in those few minutes effected an accelerated freezing of whatever water was still left in the tray pockets 42 to an extent much greater than could be accomplished in known devices of this type even over much longer periods of time. In this connection it is to be noted that the supporting frame 23 additionally functions as a type of shield or separator between the region in which the tray is located and the remainder of the freezer compartment, thereby ensuring that the cold air from the duct 87 is substantially completely used for freezing the water in the tray and does not diffuse into the remainder of the compartment until its freezing action has been performed.

During the so far described part of the rotation of the shaft 66, the cam 69 is still hanging downwardly from the trailing edge 67a of the arm 67, so that the tray does not hinder the upward movement of the arm. When the arm 67 passes its upwardly vertical position and begins its downward movement, however, the cam 69 falls over against the arm surface 6717, thus placing the outer surface 69a of the cam in position for engaging the roller 40' carried by the tray frame 40 (see FIG. The cam 69, upon sliding past the tray as the arm rotates, forces the tray frame a considerable distance toward the supporting frame member 23b, as a result of which the tray pockets 4-2 are greatly deformed by the abutment bar 30. The by now completely solid ice cubes 94 are thus positively ejected from the tray and fall through the opening 31 in the bottom member 230 of the frame 23 into the storage bin 71. This ejection is accomplished rapidly and without requiring too powerful a motor 59 due to the fact that the preceding loosening of the cubes by the small cam 70 considerably facilitates the final separation of the cubes of the inner surfaces of the tray pockets 42.

It will be understood that as the cam 69 pushes the tray 39 toward the frame member 23b, considerable reaction forces may be exerted on the member 23a and on the motor mounting 58. it is for the purpose of avoiding any possible damage to the affected parts of the device that the supporting frame 23 is mounted on the rod 25, whereby the frame as a unit can rock slightly about the axis of the rod 25 accompanied at worst by only a slight deflection of the member 23b.

As soon as the tray is emptied, the counterweight 51 again becomes effective to swing the tray upwardly past the latch member 53 and into an upwardly slanted position (not shown) in Which the roller 40" engages the stop member 52 affixed to the supporting frame member 23a. The contact element 91 now bridges the gap between the electrical terminals 92 mounted in the feed tube 33, whereby the solenoid valve 35 is actuated to permit water to how from conduit 38 into the tray 39. As the tray pockets 42 become filled, the tray begins to return to its horizontal position against the action of the counterweight 51, until at the time the pockets are completely filled with the desired quantity of water the tray becomes horizontal and the contact element 91 leaves the terminals 92, deactuating and closing the solenoid valve 35 to prevent further flow of water into the tray.

The entire operational cycle heretofore described is now repeated, and thereafter over and over again, until the bin 71 becomes filled with cubes 94. As soon as some of the cubes spill over onto the flange 73, the latter is weighed down and moved slightly to the left (as shown in FIG. 1)

E5 and shifts the switch arm'76 so as to open switch '77 and interrupt the operation of the motor 5h. When this condition obtains, no further ejection of ice cubes can take place and, of course, no refilling of the tray can take place since the contact element $1 remains stationary and does not engage the terminals 92. Only when the excess ice cubes have been removed from the flange 73 can another operational cycle be initiated.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention leads to a number of advantages unattainable by any of the known ice cube freezing devices. For example, in the known devices the ice cube tray is always located in one position, usually either on the surface covering the refrigerating coils of the freezer compartment or on a metallic plate connected to that surface. In either case, the freezing of the water takes place by conduction which, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, is a relatively slow process. The major disadvantage of this type of freezing action, which may take as long as two hours or more for each trayful of water, is that the supply of ice cubes may run short in the event of a sudden heayy demand therefor. The present invention eliminates this disadvantage by employing a forced fiow of frigid air directed against the bottom of the tray, as a result of which it is found that each tray-load of ice cubes is formed in approximately one-half the time required by the conventional freezing methods. This accelerated freezing, as effected by the present invention, is enhanced by virtue of the fact that the water in the tray, after being initially partly frozen by a stream of frigid air traveling over a considerable distance, is then brought into the immediate vicinity of the said stream of air. In this connection, it is to be noted that other means than a suction fan may be employed for bringing about the forced flow of cold air required by the present invention.

It will further be appreciated that in a broad sense the present invention contemplates the performance of an ice cube freezing operation in two stages. In the first of these stages the ice cube tray filled with water is disposed substantially horizontally, for example, in the immediate vicinity of the upper horizontal cooling coil of the freezer compartment, while in the second stage the tray, now filled with partly formed ice cubes as hereinbefore described, is disposed substantially vertically, i.e., in the immediate vicinity of the vertical freezing or cooling coils of the freezer compartment. In its more specific form, of course, the present invention provides that the normal freezing action of the aforesaid cooling coils of the freezer compartment is supplemented by a flow of frigid air around the ice cube tray in all of the positions thereof, which air has itself first been subjected to the cooling action of the freezer compartment coils.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of the apparatus according to the present invention is for the purpose of illustration only and that the disclosed structure and structural arrangements are subject to a number of changes and variations none of which involves any departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Merely by way of example, other types of valves, not actuatable by means of a solenoid, may be employed in lieu of the valve 35, and different cam arrangements could be used in lieu of the means e/ ea-7e.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic ice cube freezing and harvesting apparatus; ice mold means adapted to contain water to be frozen into ice cubes, means mounting said ice mold means for pivotal movement between a substantially horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position, air flow means for effecting a forced flow of cold air over said ice mold means and comprising duct means adapted to discharge said cold air at a location adjacent one of said positions of said ice mold means, and means operable to retain said ice mold means in said horizontal posi- 9 tion for an initial portion of the freezing period for the water therein and to release said ice mold means to swing under the weight of the partially frozen water therein to said downwardly slanted position for a final portion of the freezing period.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1; said ice mold means comprising a deformable elastic body for containing said water, and cam means operable for engaging said ice mold means to effect a deformation of said body and the consequent ejection of formed ice cubes from said body.

3. In an apparatus according to claim 2; motor means operatively connected to said cam means for moving the same at the proper time during each freezing cycle into engagement with said ice mold means to effect the ice ejecting deformation of said body.

4. In an apparatus according to claim 3; said air flow means comprising fan means, conduit means for conducting air from said fan means to said duct means, said motor means being operatively connected with said fan means for driving the same jointly with said cam means, and means located adjacent the path of flow of said air from said fan means to said duct means for reducing the temperature of said air prior to arrival of the latter at said duct means.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 3; said cam means comprising a first relatively smaller cam and a second relatively larger cam, said first cam upon engaging said ice mold means effecting a relatively minor deformation of said body to cause loosening of formed ice cubes within said body, and said second cam effecting a relatively major deformation of said body to cause the previously loosened ice cubes to be ejected from said body.

6. In an apparatus according to claim 5; supporting frame means mounting said motor means, said cam means, said fan means and said retaining means, and abutment means carried by said supporting frame means at a location adjcent said downwardly slanted position of said ice mold means and opposite the region of action of said cam means, whereby said cam means when engaging said ice mold means press the latter toward said abutment means and cause said body of said ice mold means to be deformed by said abutment means.

7. In an apparatus according to claim 6; storage bin means positioned below said ice mold means and said supporting frame means, said mounting means for said ice mold means being located within the confines of said supporting frame means, and said supporting frame means being open intermediate said ice mold means and said storage bin means to permit ice cubes ejected from said ice mold means to fall into said storage bin means, and quantity-responsive means operatively connected with said storage bin means and operable to interrupt the operation of said motor means upon accumulation of a predetermined quantity of ice cubes in said storage bin means.

8. In an apparatus according to claim 7; said quantityresponsive means comprising substantially trough-shaped flange means pivotally connected to one side Wall of said storage bin means at a level below the top plane of said storage bin means, said motor means being provided with switch means having an operating arm disposed in the path of movement of said flange means, whereby upon movement of said flange means out of the rest position thereof due to ice cubes spilling over onto said flange means, said operating arm of said switch means is moved to interrupt operation of said motor means.

9. In an apparatus according to claim 8; feed pipe means adapted to conduct water to be frozen into said ice mold means, said feed pipe means constituting a part of said mounting means for said ice mold means, and scraper blade means carried by said ice mold means for movement therewith and extending into said feed pipe means, whereby upon pivotal movement of said ice mold means ice particles which have accumulated in said feed pipe means will be scraped off the interior surface of the latter to prevent clogging of said feed pipe means.

10. In an apparatus according to claim 9; counterweight means carried by said ice mold means at one side of the axis of pivotal movement thereof, the balance conditions of said counterweight means and said ice mold means being predetermined to ensure movement of said ice mold means when empty to an upwardly slanted position and when filled to said horizontal position.

11. In an apparatus according to claim 10; solenoid valve means controlling the inlet to said feed pipe means, a pair of spaced electrical terminals arranged in said feed pipe means and constituting a part of the energiza tion circuit for said solenoid valve means, and a contact element carried by said scraper blade means and dimensioned to bridge the gap between said electrical terminals, said contact element being positioned on said scraper blade means so as to be out of contact with said terminals whenever said ice mold means is in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions thereof and so as to be in contact with said terminals only when said ice mold means is slanted upwardly relative to said horizontal position.

12. In combination with a household refrigerator having a freezer compartment; an ice cube tray pivotally mounted in said freezer compartment for angular movement between an upwardly slanted water-receiving position, a substantially horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position, a valved feed pipe which communicates with said tray and is open when the latter is in said upwardly slanted position thereof and closed when said tray is in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions thereof, and means mounted in said freezer compartment for effecting a forced flow of cold air over said ice cube tray in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions thereof to cause accelerated freezing of the water in said tray in the respective positions.

13. in combination with a household refrigerator having a freezer compartment; an ice cube tray having a rigid frame and a resiliently deformable elastic plastic body supported by said frame, stationary pivot means mounted in said freezer compartment, said ice cube tray being swingably connected with said pivot means for angular movement between an upwardly slanted waterreceiviug position, a substantially horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position, an abutment member the length of which is coextensive with the length of said body, said abutment member being positioned in said freezer compartment adjacent said downwardly slanted position of said ice cube tray, means for efiecting a forced flow of cold air over said ice cube tray in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions thereof to cause an accelerated freezing of the water in said tray, and cam means operable for engaging an adjunct of said frame of said ice cube tray for pushing said body of said ice cube tray against said abutment member, whereby said body is deformed and formed ice cubes are ejected from said tray.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13, further comprising an electric motor operatively connected to said cam means for bringing the latter into engagement with said adjunct of said frame of said ice cube tray at a predetermined time during each freezing cycle, said means for effecting said forced flow of cold air comprising a fan for drawing air from the interior of said freezer compartment, and along the cooling coils associated with said freezer compartment, and a duct for directing the so cooled air toward said ice cube tray from below the same, said electric motor being drivingly connected to said fan.

15. In combination with a household refrigerator having a freezer compartment; a supporting frame of substantially U-shaped cross-section and having a central bottom member and a pair of upstanding side members at the opposite ends of said bottom member, first pivot means mounted in said freezer compartment, said supporting frame having the uppermost edge of one of said ide members connected to said first pivot means for permitting rocking movement of said supporting frame, the other of said side members of said supporting frame being shorter than said one side member and normally in face to face engagement with a side wall of said freezer compartment, said bottom member of said supporting frame being provided with an opening, an ice cube tray having a rigid frame and a deformable elastic plastic body connected to the same, second pivot means mounted in said freezer compartment within the confines of said supporting frame, said ice cube tray being connected with said second pivot means for angular movement between an upwardly slanted Water-receiving position, a substantially horizontal initial freezing position and a downwardly slanted final freezing position, a feed pipe for directing water into said tray, a valve controlling said feed pipe, said valve being open in response to location of said tray when empty in said upwardly slanted position thereof and closed in response to location of said tray when filled in said horizontal position thereof, an abutment member carried by said other side member of said supporting frame and having a length which is coextensive with the length of said body of said ice cube tray, said abutment member being located at said downwardly slanted position of said ice cube tray, an electric motor mounted on said one side member of said supporting frame and provided with first and second output shafts, a suction fan mounted on said one side member of said supporting frame exteriorly of the confines of the latter and connected to said first output shaft to be driven thereby, said suction fan when driven drawing air from that section of said freezer compartment outside said supporting frame, conduit means for directing said drawn air from said suction fan along the refrigerating coils associated with said freezer compartment to enable cooling of said drawn air, a duct communicating with said conduit means and extending upwardly therefrom through said opening in said bottom member of said supporting frame for directing the cooled air toward said ice cube tray from below the same, reducing gearing connected to said second output shaft of said electric motor, cam means operatively connected to said reducing gearing and driven thereby and adapted to engage an adjunct of said frame of said ice cube tray when the latter is in said downwardly slanted position so as to displace said tray frame angularly in the direction of said abutment member, whereby said body is deformed and formed ice cubes ejected therefrom, latch means mounted on said one side member of said supporting frame and for holding said tray in said horizontal position thereof when filled with water to be frozen, means driven by said reducing gearing for releasing said latch member so as to permit movement of said tray under the weight of frozen water therein to said downwardly slanted position thereof, and a storage bin positioned below said supporting frame and adapted to receive ice cubes ejected from said tray and falling out of said supporting frame through said opening in said bottom member of the latter, said storage bin being provided with means for interrupting the operation of said electric motor upon accumulation of a predetermined quantity of ice cubes in said storage bin.

16. in an automatic ice cube freezing and harvesting apparatus; an ice cube tray mounted for pivotal movement between an upwardly slanted position, a substantially horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position, a feed pipe for directing water into said tray, a valve controlling said feed pipe, a member connected to and movable with said tray and controlling the operation of said valve so that the latter is closed when said tray is in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions, and open only when said tray moves to said upwardly slanted position thereof, and means for effecting a forced flow of cold air over said tray when filled with water and located in both said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions thereof to effect an accelerated freezing of said water in the respective positions.

17. In an apparatus according to claim 16; means operable to releasably hold said tray, when filled, in said horizontal position, and cam means operable to render said holding means ineffective after a predetermined time interval so as to permit said tray to move to said downwardly slanted position thereof.

18. in an apparatus according to claim 17; said tray comprising a resiliently deformable body for containing said water, and said cam means being further operable to effect a deformation of said body and the consequent ejection of formed ice cubes from said body while said tray is in said downwardly slanted position.

19. In an automatic ice cube freezing and harvesting apparatus; resiliently deformable ice mold means adapted to contain Water to be frozen into ice cubes; means mounting said ice mold means for pivotal movement between an upwardly slanted position, a substantially horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position, counterweight means connected with said ice mold means and operable to move said ice mold means when empty to said upwardly slanted position, air flow means for effecting a forced flow of cold air over said ice mold means and comprising means defining a duct adapted to discharge said cold air at a location adjacent said ice mold means, means operable to releasably retain said ice mold means when filled in said horizontal position thereof until rendered ineffective so as to permit movement of said ice mold means to said downwardly slanted position thereof, feed pipe means for directing water to be frozen into said ice mold means, valve means controlling said feed pipe means and responsive to the location of said ice mold means so as to be open only upon location of said ice mold means in said upwardly slanted position and so as to be closed upon location of said ice mold means in said horizontal and downwardly slanted positions, and means for effecting a deformation of said ice mold means and consequent ejection of ice cubes therefrom upon said ice mold means being located in said downwardly slanted position.

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