US3089477A - Ice breaker - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1963 w. E. SAXE 3,089,477

ICE BREAKER Filed Sept. 8, 1958 mus/v70? WALTER E. 5AXE 5y ms ATTORNEYS HARE/S, A7501, F05 75/? 3 HARR/s United States Patent Ofi 3,089,477 Patented May 14, 1963 3,089,477 ICE BREAKER Walter E. Saxe, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to The Conveyor Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 759,715 4 Claims. (Cl. 125-23) The present invention relates to ice breakers and a general object thereof is to provide an apparatus which will split a conventional rectangular block of ice into small rectangular or square blocks or" substantially uniform size and shape within a minimum of small fragments.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an ice breaker which includes the following elements: a supporting structure providing a path for a conventional rectangular block of ice; two rotors mounted on the supporting structure for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path; means connected to the rotors for counterrotating them in timed relation and in such directions that successive circumferential portions of the rotors move in a downstream direction along the path as they approach each other; spaced, generally radial, primary ice picks on and projecting from each of the rotors and arranged thereon in axially spaced, circumferential bands in planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor and in circumferentially spaced, axial rows in planes containing the axis thereof, the bands on one of the rotors being in register with the bands on the other, respectively, and the rows on one of the rotors registering with the rows on the other, respectively, as the rotors are rotated in timed relation; and generally radial, secondary ice picks on and projecting from each of the rotors and located between the primary ice picks of at least one of the bands thereon, the bands on the two rotors which have the secondary ice picks therein being in register.

More particularly, a primary object of the invention is to space the primary ice picks apart in the axial rows thereof distances sufiiciently small that the registering rows on the two rotors split the conventional rectangular block of ice as it passes therebetween, and to space the points of the primary and secondary ice picks apart in the bands containing the secondary ice picks distances sufficiently small that these bands also split the block as it passes therebetween. For the standard rectangular block of ice, these distances are of the order of magnitude of 11 inches, such a standard block of ice weighing approximately 300 pounds and having dimensions of 11 inches by 22 inches by 44 inches, the block being passed between the rotors with its smallest dimension perpendicular to the axes thereof, i.e., with its smallest dimensions extending transversely of the path. With respect to the bands containing only primary ice picks, the points of these ice picks are spaced apart sufliciently far that such bands do not split the block of ice as it passes therebetween, the pick point spacing in this instance preferably being double the pick point spacing in the bands having the secondary ice picks therein.

With the foregoing construction, a standard block of ice is split into smaller rectangular blocks of substantially uniform size and shape as it is propelled along the path by and passes between the two rotors, the splitting opera tions being performed by the axial rows of primary teeth and by the circumferential bands of primary and secondary teeth. In order for this splitting action to take place, it is necessary that the spacing of the rotor axes and the distances that the points of the primary and secondary ice picks are located from the rotor axes be so related that the picks penetrate a block of the foregoing standard dimensions distances of at least 2% inches for the foregoing pick point spacings.

An important object of the invention is to provide an ice breaker which includes stationary splitting means carried by the supporting structure on the ice block path downstream from the rotors, the stationary splitting means including upstream-facing ice picks which split the smaller blocks produced by the rotors into still smaller, substantially rectangular or square blocks of substantially uniform size and shape.

More particularly, another object is to provide a stationary splitting means which includes tertiary ice picks arranged in at least one row parallel to the rotor axes and tetradic ice picks arranged in rows spaced apart along the row of tertiary ice picks and oriented perpendicularly thereof.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the ice breaking art in the light o f this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in longitudinal sect-ion, illustrating an ice breaker which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the arrowed line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 33 and 4- 4 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating the manner in which a conventional rectangular block of ice is split by the present invention.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the ice breaker of the invention includes a supporting structure 10 comprising a housing 12 which provides a chute or path 14 for a conventional rectangular ice block 16 to be split by a splitting apparatus 18 within the housing. The smaller blocks emanating from the splitting apparatus 18 may be handled in any suitable manner. For example, they may fall into a screw conveyor 20 comprising a screw 22- rotatable in a housing 24 and driven by an electric motor 26.

Considering the splitting apparatus 18, it includes two rotors 23 mounted on the supporting structure 10* within the housing 12 thereof for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path 14-, the rotor axes being vertical in the construction ill-ustrated. The rotors 28 include shafts 3%) having thereon bevel gears 32 respectively meshed with bevel gears 34 on a common drive shaft 36 suitably connected to and driven by an electric motor 38. With this arrangement, the rotors 28 are driven at equal speeds and in timed relation, the bevel gears 34 being so oriented relative to the bevel gears 32 that the rotors 28 are driven in opposite directions such that successive circumferential portions of the rotors move in the downstream direction along the path 14 as they approach each other.

Each rotor has mounted thereon spaced, generally radial, primary ice picks 40 which are arranged in axially spaced, circumferential bands 42 and 44 in planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor, and which are arranged in circumferentially spaced, axial rows 46 in planes containing the axis of such rotor. The bands 42 and 44 on each rotor 23 are in register with the bands 42 and 44 on the other, respectively, and the rows 46 on eachrotor register with the rows 46 on the other, respectively, as the rotors are rotated in timed relation.

Each band 44, which is located between two pairs of the bands 42 in the construction illustrated, also includes generally radial, secondary ice picks 48 alternating with the primary ice picks 40 in such band.

The distances between the primary ice picks 40 in the rows 46, the distances between the points of the primary ice picks 40 in the bands 42, the distances between the primary and secondary ice picks 40 and 48 in the bands 44, and the distances of the primary and secondary ice picks from the axes of the rotors 28 are so related, as hereinbefore set forth, that the rows 46 of primary ice picks and the bands 44 of primary and secondary ice picks split the block '16, whereas the bands 42 of primary ice picks do not. With a standard block 16 having the dimensions hereinbefore given, and with the pick spacings hereinbefore given, the block is split into eight smaller blocks 50 of substantially the same shape and size, as shown in FIG. of the drawing. The plane in which the block 16 is split by the bands 44 of primary and secondary ice picks 40 and 48 is designated in FIG. 5 by the numeral 52, some of the points at which the block 16 is engaged by the primary and secondary ice picks 4t and 48 of the bands 44 being identified by the numerals 4i and 48 in FIG. 5. The planes along which the block 16 is split by the rows 46 of primary ice picks 40 are identified by the numeral 54 in FIG. 5, the points of engagement by the primary ice picks of such rows being identified by the number 40.

The splitting apparatus 18 also includes stationary splitting means 56, carried by the supporting structure on the path 14 downstream from the rotors 28, for splitting the blocks 50 into still smaller blocks 58 of substantially uniform size and shape as the blocks 5%) emerge from between the rotors 28. The splitting means 56 includes a bar 60 parallel to the axes of the rotors 28 and bisecting the path 14, and includes bars 62 mounted on the bar 60 in perpendicular relation thereto and extending across the path 14, each bar 62 being located midway between the bands 44 of pick-s 40 and 48 and the corresponding edge of the block 16.

The bar 60 carries a row of tertiary ice picks 64 facing upstream of the path 14 and arranged in a row parallel to the rotor axes. Each bar 62 carries tetradic ice picks 66 which also face in the upstream direction and which are in a row perpendicular to the row of tertiary ice picks 64 and perpendicular to the path 14.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawing, the plane along which the tertiary ice picks 64 split the blocks 50 as they are propelled therea-gainst by the rotors 28 is designated by the numeral 63, the points at which the picks 64 engage being designated by the numeral 64 in FIG. 6. The planes in which the tetradic ice picks 66 split the blocks 50 are designated by the numeral 78 and the points of engagement of these picks are identified by the numeral 66 in FIG. 6.

Thus, with the construction illustrated, the block 16 is split into thirty-two small rectangular blocks of substantially equal size and shape, each such block weighing approximately eleven pounds. This is accomplished with almost no formation of small, unusable fragments with the construction described, which is an important feature.

Although a construction has been disclosed for splitting a standard block into thirty-two equal blocks, the number into which the standard block is split may be varied by varying the number of bands 44 containing secondary ice picks 48, varying the number of rows 46 of primary ice picks 40, varying the number of rows of tertiary ice picks 64, varying the number of rows of tetradic ice picks 66, and the like. Consequently, although an exemplary embodiment has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow:

1. In an ice breaker, the combination of: supporting structure providing an ice block path; two rotors mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path; means connected to said rotors for rotating them in opposite directions in timed relation at the same speeds and in such directions that successive circumferential portions of said rotors move in a downstream direction along said path as they approach each other; spaced, generally radial, ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and arranged thereon in a rectangular pattern of axially spaced, circumferential bands in transverse planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor and circumferentially spaced, axial rows in planes containing the axis thereof, said bands on one of said rotors being in register with said bands on the other, respectively, and said rows on one of said rotors registering with said rows on the other, respectively, as said rotors are rotated in timed relation, the tips of said ice picks lying on circles having radii less than half the spacing of said axes so that said ice picks project less than half way across said ice block path when they project thereinto; and splitting means carried by said supporting structure and located on said path downstream from said rotors.

2. In an ice breaker, the combination of: supporting structure providing an ice block path; two rotors mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path; means connected to said rotors for rotating them in opposite directions in timed relation at the same speeds and in such directions that successive circumferential portions of said rotors move in a downstream direction along said path as they approach each other; spaced, generally radial, primary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and arranged thereon in a rectangular pattern of axially spaced, circumferential bands in transverse planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor and circumferentially spaced, axial rows in planes containing the axis thereof, said bands on one of said rotors being in register with said bands on the other, respectively, and said rows on one of said rotors registering with said rows on the other, respectively, as said rotors are rotated in timed relation; generally radial, secondary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and located between said primary ice picks of at least one of said bands thereon, said bands on said rotors having said secondary ice picks therein being in register, the tips of said primary and secondary ice picks lying on circles having radii less than half the spacing of said axes so that said primary and secondary ice picks extend less than half way across said ice block path when they project thereinto; and splitting means carried by said supporting structure and located on said path downstream from said rotors.

3. In an ice breaker, the combination of: supporting structure providing an ice block path; two rotors mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path; means connected to said rotors for rotating them in opposite directions in timed relation and in such directions that successive circumferential portions of said rotors move in a downstream direction along said path as they approach each other; spaced, generally radial, primary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and arranged thereon in axially spaced, circumferential bands in planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor and in circumferentially spaced, axial rows in planes containing the axis thereof, said bands on one of said rotors being 1n register with said bands on the other, respectively, and said rows on one of said rotors registering with said rows on the other, respectively, as said rotors are rotated in timed relation; generally radial, secondary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and located between said primary ice picks of at least one of said bands thereon, said bands on said rotors having said secondary ice picks therein being in register; and splitting means carned by said supporting structure and located on said path downstream from said rotors, said splitting means ineluding tertiary ice picks facing upstream of said path and arranged in at least one row parallel to said axes.

4. In an ice breaker, the combination of: supporting structure providing an ice block path; two rotors mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about spaced, parallel axes respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path; means connected to said rotors for rotating them in opposite directions in timed relation and in such directions that successive circumferential portions of said rotors move in a downstream direction along said path as they approach each other; spaced, generally radial, primary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and arranged thereon in axially spaced, circumferential bands in planes perpendicular to the axis of such rotor and in circumferentially spaced, axial rows in planes containing the axis thereof, said bands on one of said rotors being in register with said bands on the other, respectively, and said rows on one of said rotors registering with said rows on the other, respectively, as said rotors are rotated in timed relation; generally radial, secondary ice picks on and projecting from each of said rotors and located between said primary ice picks of at least one of said bands thereon, said bands on said rotors having said secondary ice picks therein being in register; and splitting means carried by said supporting structure and located on said path downstream from said rotors, said splitting means including tertiary ice picks facing upstream of said path and arranged in at least one row parallel to said axes, and said splitting means including tetradic ice picks facing upstream of said path and arranged in at least one row perpendicular to said path and perpendicular to said roW of tertiary ice picks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,449,132 Lucia Sept. 14, 1948 2,537,779 McLain et a1. Jan. 9, 1951 2,590,499 Braswell Mar. 25, 1952 2,643,522 McLain June 30, 1953 2,684,209 Gangemi July 20, 1954 2,762,410 Stahl Sept. 11, 1956 2,839,254 Smith June 17, 1958 2,919,560 Beemer et al. Jan. 5, 1960

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ICE BREAKER, THE COMBINATION OF: SUPPORTING STRUCTURE PROVIDING AN ICE BLOCK PATH; TWO ROTORS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR ROTATION ABOUT SPACED, PARALLEL AXES RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PATH; MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROTORS FOR ROTATING THEM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN TIME RELATION AT THE SAME SPEEDS AND IN SUCH DIRECTIONS THAT SUCCESSIVE CIRCUMFERENTIAL PORTIONS OF SAID ROTORS MOVE IN A DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION ALONG SAID PATH AS THEY APPROACH EACH OTHER; SPACED, GENERALLY RADIAL, ICE PICKS ON AND PROJECTING FROM EACH OF SAID ROTORS AND ARRANGED THEREON IN A RECTANGULAR PATTERN OF AXIALLY SPACED, CIRCUMFERENTIAL BANDS IN TRANSVERSE PLANES PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SUCH ROTOR AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACED, AXIALLY ROWS IN PLANES CONTAINING THE AXIS THEREOF, SAID BANDS ON ONE OF SAID ROTORS BEING IN REGISTER WITH SAID BANDS ON THE OTHER, RESPECTIVELY, AND SAID ROWS ON ONE OF SAID ROTORS REGISTERING WITH SAID ROWS ON THE OTHER, RESPECTIVELY, AS SAID ROTORS ARE ROTATED IN TIMED RELATION, THE TIPS OF SAID ICE PICKS LYING ON CIRCLES HAVING RADII LESS THAN HALF THE SPACING OF AID AXES SO THAT SAID ICE PICKS PROJECT LESS THAN HALF WAY ACROSS SAID ICE BLOCK PATH WHEN THEY PROJECT THEREINTO; AND SPLITTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND LOCATED ON SAID PATH DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID ROTORS.

Images