US3110159A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1963 E. c. ARMENTROUT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Aug. 51, 1962 INVENTOR [re/a2? 6. Urmezzzrouz 19/5 A7 OR/Viy 1963 E. c. ARMEN'TROUT 10,

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 51, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Nov. 12, 1963 E. c. ARMENTROUT 3,110,159

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 51, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. f/erezz C @memrozza A l: A 7'0 MEX United States Patent 3,11%,159 REFRIGERATENG APPARATUS Everett C. Armentrout, New Carllsle, (lino, assignor to General Motors Corporatiomlleiroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Ang. 31, 11962, Ser. No. 226,711 9 tClairns. (El. 62-162.)

This invention relates to refrigeration and particularly to an arrangement of using freezing devices in conjunction with household refrigerator cabinets.

For some years past ice tray and grid type freezing devices supplied with household refrigerator cabinets, which are insertable into and removable from at below 32 F. temperature compartment or chamber of the cabinet, have been filled with water at a kitchen sink, carried to the refrigerator and placed in the chamber thereof for freezing the Water into ice cubes or blocks. This creates a messiness and is a troublesome act to perform causing much undue work as a result of spillage of water out of the tray of a freezing device onto a kitchen floor and the act has been complained of over and over again because the persons hands carrying out same become thoroughly wetted each time a tray is filled with water. The trend more recently in constructing new homes is to pipe water from a source of supply thereof into close proximity with a special alcove or recess in walls of a kitchen or the like for installation of a refrigerator cabinet therein similar to the established custom of providing an electrical outlet thereat for plugging an electric lead of a refrigerator thereinto. Production and sale of household refrigerator cabinets having an automatically operated ice block maker incorporated in a freezing chamber thereof has brought about or stimulated this trend and piping of water in the fashion described also affords manufacturers of refrigerator cabinets devoid of an automatic ice maker and equipped with manually removable ice block freezing devices an opportunity for overcoming a long objected to practice in the use of such portable devices.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved water filling arrangement for ice block freezing devices used in conjunction with household refrigerator cabinets.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for filling tray and grid type ice block freezing devices with water within a chamber of a household refrigerator cabinet for obviating the necessity of filling the devices at a sink remote from the cabinet and spillage of water from the devices during their portage to and insertion thereof into the refrigerator.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of my invention to lock an ice block forming device within a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet against removal therefrom while substantially filling same with water therein so as to prevent accidental spillage of water out of the device into the chamber or onto frozen food products stored therein and to provide means for unlocking the device automatically in response to a predetermined amount of water received therein whereby same is thereafter removable from the chamber for harvesting of ice blocks therefrom.

Further objects and advantagesof the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a multiple chambered household refrigerating apparatus or cabinet with its freezing or frozen food storage chamber door opened showing a freezing device adapted to contain water in the chamber in association with my invention incorpotom wall 18 in the low temperature chamber.

2 rated therein and diagrammatically illustrating a refrigerating system for the refrigerator cabinet;

FlGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryrvertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the rear end of a tray and grid type freezing device associated with a means of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 with a means of my invention broken away to show an end of a freezing device locked therein;

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 showing a freezing device partly in section being inserted in the freezing chamber of the refrigerator cabinet into engagement with a means of my invention;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing water in the tray of the freezing device and illustrating one end thereof held elevated above its support by a means of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, i show in FIGURE 1 thereof a refrigerating apparatus of the multi-chambered household type comprising a cabinet having a plurality of insulated walls ll defining an upper unfrozen food storage chamber therein, normally closed by a door 12, and a lower frozen food storage or freezing chamber 14 with its separate door 15 in open position. insulation 16 within walls ill (see FIGURE 2) of the cabinet may be of any suitable or desirable material. Chamber 14 may have a frozen food product storage bin or wire-like basket, generally represented by the reference numeral 17, slidably or rollably mounted therein, as is conventional in the art, and prelerably spaced from a lower wall or support 13 of the chamber to provide an area beneath basket 17 for the reception of freezing devices in which water is to be frozen within the chamber into ice blocks for table use in chilling salads or the like and drinks in glasses. The interior of the upper chamber of the refrigerator cabinet, closed by door 12, is cooled to a temperature above freezing say, for example, between 37 and 43 F, by a refrigerant evaporator (not shown) of a refrigerating system associated with the cabinet. This system also includes another refrigerant evaporator 19 (see FlGURE 2) for chilling air in chamber l i well below 32 F. to freeze foods, to store frozen foods in basket 17 and to freeze water in tray and grid type freezing devices adapted to be located on the support or boterating system further includes a sealed motor-compressor containing casing 21, a condenser 22, a capillary refrigerant rcstrictive tube 23 all connected by suitable conduits to one another, to evaporator 19 and to the otherevaporator within the chamber closed by door H. The refrigerant compressing and condensing or liquefying portion of the refrigerating system shown'diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 is usually located in a bottom machine compartment of the refrigerator cabinet. The refrigerator cabinet and the refrigerating system associated therewith is preferably of a modern or present-day type commonly referred to as no frost or frost proof refrigerators characterized by cooling the food storage chambers :thereof solely by drawing air away from a chamber, blowing the air over an evaporator beyond the chamber roper, to chill the air to a desired low temperature, and thereafter circulating the chilled air back into the chamber of foods stored therein. A refrigerator of this character, control of the refrigerating system associated therewith, and air circulating fans or blowers incorporated in the cabinet are shown and described more in detail in the patent to L. 3. Mann No. 2,912,834, dated November 17, 1959, and reference thereto is made for a complete or full understanding thereof. Thus it is to be noted (see hllhl The refrigto FIGURE 2) that finned type evaporator which chills ir in freezing chamber 14 below 32 F. is mounted in a compartment 26 within but spaced from walls of this chamber beneath its lower wall It). Fins 2'7 on evaporator 19 are in metal-to-metal contact with wall It and compartment '26 is provided at the front thereof, adjacent the inner face of door 15, with an air inlet opening 29. Air within chamber 3.4 is drawn, through opening 29, by a fan or blower (not shown) over evaporator 19 in compartment 26 and is discharged from this compartment through an air outlet opening (not shown) at the upper rear portion of the chamber.

As hereinbefore described, water from a suitable source of supply thereof is piped into close proximity to the point of installation of a refrigerator cabinet in newly constructed apartment buildings or homes. This enhances utility of refrigerators by users thereof and affords manufacturers of refrigerator cabinets, to be installed at such places, with an oportunity to eliminate a long objected to practice in the handling, filling and porting of ice block freezing devices used in conjunction with household refrigerator cabinets. In consideration thereof I provide the refrigerator cabinet here disclosed with a water system for filling tray and grid type ice block forming or freezing devices within the cabinet to obviate the necessity of filling such devices at a kitchen sink and also provide in the water system or present arrangement means for preventing movement of a freezing device within a freezing or frozen food chamber of the cabinet while water is being flowed into the tray of such a device so that Water will not be spilled therefrom.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings I show the refrigerator cabinet connected by a conduit 31, a magnetically operated valve 32, having a solenoid 33 lo cated thereon, to a conduit 34 communicating with a source of water supply under pressure. Conduit 31 has a fitting 36 on the rear wall of the refrigerator cabinet connecting same to an insulated conduit 37 provided with a spout-like outlet 38 projecting through and located at a side Wall of the freezing chamber I l spaced above lower wall 18 thereof for conveying water from exteriorly of the cabinet into this chamber. The solenoid valve 32 may be mounted within the bottom machine compartment of the refrigerator cabinet and conduit 34 may be a flexible pipe to permit movement of the cabinet back against a kitchen wall after its water connections have been completed. I secure, in any desirable or conventional manner, spaced-apart molded plastic guides or rails 41 to the lower wall Id of chamber I4 and the rear end of these guides terminate in or join a covered molded plastic housing 42 (see FIGURES l, 2 and 3). The guides 41 cooperate with wall 18 of chamber 14- to provide a combined guide and stationary support within the chamber for removably receiving a freezing device as will be hereinafter described. Housing 42 forms a device or means in my invention, a movable part of which is to be engaged by the tray of a freezing device upon insertion of the freezing device into chamber 14. As disclosed, the box-like housing 42 contains an electric switch, generally indicated by the reference numeral 45, comprising stationarily mounted blade-like metal terminals 43 and 44 and a movable metal contact 46 secured, by a screw or the like 47, upon a molded plastic actuator 48 which is pivotally anchored in the housing on a shaft 49 journaled in side walls thereof. Terminals 43 and 44 have wires 51 and 52 respectively connected thereto and leading therefrom (see FIGURES 2 and 3). Wire 51 is connected to the solenoid 33 of valve 32 and wire 52 is connected to a source of electric current supply which may be that leading to .the electric motor within casing 21 of the refrigerating system. Another wire 53 leads from this source of electric current supply and is connected to solenoid 33 of valve 32. Pivotally anchored actuator 48 of the means or switch device contained in housing 42 is in the form of a side bell crank lever-like member and is provided with an arm 55 having cam-like end portion 57 and spaced-apart latch or hook-like end portions 58 thereon disposed below end 57 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). The actuator 48 projects through an opening in the forward wall of housing or 42 so that cam portion 57 and hook portions 56 on this arm are exposed in the vicinity of rear ends of guides 41. Actuator 48 also has a depending arm, integral'with arm 56, terminated in a pointed end 59. A spring element 61 is pivotally mounted on or surrounds a stud or shaft 62, journaled in side Walls of housing 62, and has a raised knob or cam-like portion 63 on one arm thereof for cooperation with the pointed end 59 of the depending arm on actuator 48. The spring 61 has another arm 64 which normally bears against an adjustable screw 65 threaded into a box portion of the forward wall of housing 42. Knob 63 on spring all cooperates with the bell crank actuator 48 to impart a snap action to the electric switch means 45 and to hold the actuator either in the position shown in FIG URE 4 or in the position thereof shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. fore it is to be understood that actuator 48 is normally in the position shown in FIGURE 4- of the drawings with spring 61 holding contact 46 open or away from terminals 43 and 44- and holding cam portion 57 in a position to be engaged by an end of a tray of a freezing device upon insertion thereof into chamber I4- for moving the actuator about its pivoted mount. Screw tad is employed for adjusting tension to be applied by spring 61 to the actuator 48 and consequently knob d3 with a snap action of the electric switch 45.

The refrigerator cabinet disclosed is furnished with one or more receptacles or tray and grid type freezing devices and such are preferably of the character shown and fully described in the patent to V. G. Sharpe et al. No. 2,874,553, dated February 24, 1959, adapted, after ice blocks have been frozen therein, to. be invertingly placed upon a bucket to eject the ice blocks thereinto. A bucket into which ice blocks are ejected may be of the type carrying a manually operable lever thereon for tilting walls of the grid in the tray as shown and described in the V. G. Sharpe et al. Patent No. 2,835,113, dated May 20, 1959. One of the unitary freezing devices is generally represented by' the reference numeral (see FIGURES l and 2) and comprises a receptacle or tray having a tiltable grid wall structure lockedtherein against removal therefrom which tray is provided with a downturned top bounding rim. The function or operation of the improvement herein disclosed by manually manipulating a freezing device '73 will now be explained. Assume that ice blocks are desired to be frozen in a freezing device for harvest therefrom. A freezing device 70 is manually inserted into chamber 14- and slid, intermediate the guides 41, rearwardly therein on support or Wall 18 with the actuator 43 of the switching and locking device or means in the normal position thereof as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The top bounding rim on the tray of freezing device 79 engages or abuts cam 57 on actuator 48 and an additional push or rearward force applied to the freezing device will shift or move arm 55 of the actuator, against tension of spring 61, upwardly about its pivotal mounting. This movement of actuator simultaneously rides the pointed end 59 on the depending ann thereof over knob 63 on spring fill and shifts the latch or hook portion 58 on arm 56 up wardly in front of the flange at the rear end of the tray bounding rim and under this 'rirn. The actuator 48 therefore instantaneously snaps electrical contact 46 of the electric switch 45 into engagement with terminals 43 and 44 thereof, raises the rear end of freezing device 7%) upwardly above its support or wall 18 and locks the freezing device, with its rear end elevated relative to support 18, to housing 42 as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. Closing of switch 45, by contact 46 bridging terminals 43 and 44, energizes solenoid 33 to open valve 32 for directing water under pressure through conduit 31 and the spout outlet 38 of conduit 37 into the tray of freezing device 70. The latching or locking of hook portion 58 on actuator 4-8 to the tray of device 70' prevents this freezing device from being moved outwardly of chamber 14 while water is being flowed into the tray thereof. Spring 61 is calibrated, by screw 66 tobe overcome by the weight of a predetermined amountof water discharged into the freezing device 76 and when a certain level of the body of water received therein is reached its weight will swing arm 56 on actuator 48 downwardly about shaft 49. The pointed arm end 5% of actuator 48 again rides past the cam or knob 63 on spring 61 to the left thereof as viewed in FIGURE 5 thus causing opening of the contacts 43 and 46 of switch 45 and de-energization of solenoid 33 whereupon magnetic valve 32 closes automatically and stops flow of water through the conduit outlet or spout 38. This lowers the elevated end of the tray of the freezing device upon or into metal-to metal contact with support or chamber wall 13, returns actuator 48 to its normal position shown in FIGURE 4 and simultaneously unlocks device 7 whereupon it may thereafter be removable from chamber 14. Hence the freezing device 70 after once being manually placed on a stationary support in chamber 14-, .to initiate discharge of water thereinto, cannot be moved out of water receiving relation with the water outlet during filling of the freezing device and therefore my improvement insures against ilow or discharge of water from the water outlet into the frozen food storage chamber. By making the'locking means of a freezing device 7% unlockable automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined amount of water received therein the freezing device may after ice blocks are frozen in the tray thereof be removed front chamber 14 for harvest of the ice blocks. It is to be understood that while I prefer the presently disclosed arrangement other modified forms of my invention for accomplishing the ultimate result are possible. For example, the solenoid valve might be eliminated and a mechanical Water valve actuated directly by-the actuator 43 substituted there-for whereby to also eliminate the electric switch 45 employed in the present illustration. The conception of such an actuated device within housing 42 with the wa ter valve portion outside chamber 14 is well within the realm of my invention.

.It should, from the foregoing, be apparent that I have provided an improved method of and arrangement for filling ice receptacles or trays of freezing devices with water within a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet to thereby avoid the necessity of filling them at a kitchen sink and carrying water-filled devices therefrom for insertion into a refrigerator. By my arrangement a user of a refrigerator is relieved of wetting his or her hands each time a freezing device is to be filled with water under a faucet at a sink and the resulting wetted kitchen floor between the sink and the refrigerator cabinet is eliminated. In my invention a freezing device is placed on a stationary part or support within a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet and is in this respect to be distinguished from supporting a freezing device on a slidable support. A movable or slida-ble support for positioning a freezing device within a low temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet may be shifted part way out of the chamber during filling of the device and even though flow of water thereto is shut off by the shifting of the device, water nevertheless continues to drip from the filling spout into the chamber and shifting of the device causes water to be splashed therefrom onto frozen foods stored in the chamber.' The locking of a freezing device on a stationary or immovable support within a freezing chamber during filling of the device with water as herein disclosed overcomes this inadequacy.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

.(a) achamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 P.,

(b) a receptacle in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable thereinto and removable therefrom,

(c) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber adapted to fill said receptacle with water when same is placed in the chamber,

'(d) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(e) a device having an actuatable portion located within said chamber in the path of inserting said receptacle therein and engageable thereby,

(f) the engagement of said receptacle with said portion of said device causing opening of said valve and discharge of water through said conduit into the receptacle,

(g) said portion of said device locking the receptacle thereto upon engaging same and holding said receptacle against removal from said chamber while discharging water into the receptacle, and w (It) said portion of said device closing said valve and simultaneously unlocking said receptacle automatically in response to the discharge of a predetermined amount of water thereinto whereby the receptacle is thereafter removable from said chamber.

2 A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a chamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F., l

(b) a receptacle in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable thereinto and removable therefrom,

(c) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber adapted to fill said receptacle with water when same is placed in the chamber,

(d) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(c) means within said chamber disposed in the path of inserting said receptacle therein and engageable thereby,

(f) the engagement of said receptacle with said means causing the means to open said valve and discharge water through said conduit into the receptacle,

(g) said means also locking the receptacle upon being engaged thereby within said chamber against removal therefrom While Water is being discharged into said receptacle, and

(h) said means simultaneously closing said valve and unlocking said receptacle automatically in response to a predetermined amount of water discharged thereinto whereby. the receptacle is thereafter removable from said chamber.

3. A. refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a cabinet provided with a chamber therein,

(12) a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F.,

(c) a receptacle in which water is to be frozen within '5 said chamber manually insertable thereinto and removable therefrom,

(d) a support in said chamber for receiving and sup porting said receptacle therein,

(e) a conduct connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed within said chamber above said support adapted to fill said receptacle with water when same is placed on the support,

(f) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said sourcecf water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(g) a device having an actuatable portion located with in said chamber in the path of inserting said receptacle on said support therein and enagageable by the receptacle,

(h) the engagement of said receptacle with said portion of said device causing opening of said valve to discharge water through said conduit into the re ceptacle and holding an end of said receptacle elevated above said support,

(i) the engagement of said receptacle with said portion of said device also locking the receptacle thereto on said support against removal from said chamber while discharging water into said receptacle,

(i) said elevated end of the receptacle being shiftable downwardly into a supported position on said support automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined body of water discharged into said receptacle, and

(k) the shifting of said end of the receptacle actuating said portion of said device to cause closing of said valve and unlocking of said receptacle whereby the receptacle is thereafter removable from said chamher.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a cabinet provided with a chamber therein,

(11) a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the grtergr of said chamber to a temperature well below a receptacle in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable thereinto and removable therefrom,

(d) a combined guide and support in said chamber for slidably guiding said receptacle onto said support as the receptacle is inserted into the chamber,

(e) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed within said chamber spaced upwardly of said support adapted to fill said receptacle with water when placed on the support,

(f) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(g) means within said chamber disposed in the path of sliding said receptacle therein onto said support and engageable by the receptacle,

(/1) the engagement of said receptacle with said means causing opening of said valve to discharge water through said conduit into the receptacle,

(1') engagement of said means by said receptacle also looking the receptacle on said support against removal from said chamber while discharging water into said receptacle and causing the means to hold one end of the receptacle elevated above the support, and

(j) said elevated end of the receptacle being shifted downwardly onto said support automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined amount of water discharged into said receptacle, and

(k) the shifting of said receptacle causing said means to simultaneously close said valve and unlock the receptacle for removal from said chamber.

tion:

(a) a chamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F., a

(b) a freezing device including a tray having a down turned top bounding rim thereon in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable therein and removable therefrom,

(c) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber adapted to fill said tray with water when said freezing device is placed in the chamber,

(d) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(e) means provided with a pivotally mounted actuator located within said chamber in the path of inserting said freezing device therein,

(f) said actuator having a cam portion and a hook portion thereon, (g) said cam portion being engageable by said tray rim upon inserting said freezing device into said chamber for moving said actuator about its pivotal mounting to open said valve and discharge water through said conduit outlet into the tray,

(h) the pivotal movement of said actuator hooking said hook portion thereof to said tray rim and locking said freezing device in said chamber against removaltherefrom while discharging water into the tray, and

(i) said actuator being movable about its pivotal mounting automatically in response to the discharge of a predetermined amount of water into said tray for causing said means to close said valve and for unlocking said hook portion of the actuator from said tray rim whereby said freezing device is thereafter removable from said chamber.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a chamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F.

(b) a freezing device including a tray having a down turned top bounding rim thereon in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable therein and removable therefrom,

(c) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber adapted to fill said tray with water when said freezing device is placed in the chamber, g

(d) a valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and'said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom, 7

(e) means provided with a pivotally mounted actuator located within said chamber in the path of inserting said freezing device therein,

(7) said actuator having a cam portion and a hook portion thereon,

(g) said cam portion being engageable by said tray rim upon inserting said freezing device into said chamber for moving said actuator about its pivotal mounting to open said valve and discharge water through said conduit outlet into the tray,

(h) the pivotal movement of said actuator hooking said hook portion thereof to said tray rim for locking said freezing device in said chamber against removal therefrom and for holding one end of the tray elevated relative to its other end,

(i) said actuator being movable downwardly about its pivotal mounting automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined amount of water discharged into said tray for causing said means to close said valve, and

(j) the downward movement of said actuator simultaneously lowering said one end of said tray into horizontal alignment with said other end thereof and unlocking said hook portion of the actuator from said tray rim whereby said freezing device is thereafter removable from said chamber.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a chamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F.,

(b) a freezing device including a tray in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable therein and removable therefrom,

(c) a conduit connected to a source of Water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber adapted to fill said tray with water when said freezing device is placed in the chamber,

(d) a solenoid operable valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(e) an electric switch connected to a source of electric current supply and to the solenoid of said valve for energizing and de-enengizing same,

(f) said switch having an actuator located within the chamber in the path of inserting said freezing device thereinto for engagement thereby,

(g) said switch actuator being provided with latch means thereon,

(h) said actuator being moved u-pon inserting the freezzing device in the chamber into engagement therewith for substantially simultaneously closing said switch, opening said valve and latching said latch means to said tray to lock said freezing device against removal from said chamber while water is directed through the opened valve and said conduit outlet into said tray, and

(i) said actuator also being movable automatically in response to a predetermined amount of water discharged into said tray for opening said switch, closing said valve and unlatching said latch means from the tray whereby said freezing device is thereafter removable from said chamber.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a combination:

(a) a chamber having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature well below 32 F.,

(b) a freezing device including a tray in which water is to be frozen within said chamber manually insertable therein and removable therefrom,

(c) a combined guide and support in said chamber for slidably guiding said freezing device onto said support as the device is inserted into the chamber,

(d) a conduit connected to a source of water supply provided with an outlet disposed in said chamber spaced upwardly of said support adapted to fill said tray with water when said freezing is placed in the chamber,

(e) a solenoid operable valve interposed in said conduit between its outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(f) an electric switch connected to a source of electric current supply and to the solenoid of said valve for energizing and de-energizi-ng same,

(g) said switch having an actuator located within the chamber in the path of inserting said freezing device thereinto on the support for engagement thereby,

(11) said switch actuator being provided with latch means thereon,

(i) said actuator being moved upon inserting the freezing device in the chamber into engagement therewith for substantially simultaneously closing said switch, opening said valve and latching said latch means to said tray to lock said freezing device against removal from said chamber while water is directed through the opened valve and said conduit outlet into said tray,

(j) said latch means holding one end of said tray elevated above said support during flow of water into the tray,

(It) said actuator also being movable automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined amount of water discharged into said freezing device for shifting said one end of the tray thereof downwardly upon said support, for opening said switch and closing said valve, and

(l) the downward shifting of said tray unlatching the latch means on said actuator therefrom whereby said freezing device is thereafter removable from said chamber.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination: 1

(a) a chamber having a stationary support therein,

(b) a refrigerating system including a refrigerant evaporator for chilling the interior of said chamber to a temperature below 32 F.,

(c) a freezing device in which water is to be frozen within said chamber,

(d) said freezing device being separate from and unattached to said apparatus for manual insertion into and removal from said chamber,

(2) a conduit connected to a source of water supply outside the chamber and provided with an outlet in said chamber disposed above the support therein adapted to fill said device with water when same is placed into association with said support,

(7) a valve interposed in said conduit between its said outlet and said source of water supply for controlling flow of water therefrom,

(g) means Within said chamber at the back of said stationary support in the path of moving said freezing device into the chamber and engageable by the rear end thereof,

(It) said means upon being engaged by the rear end of said freezing device opening said valve to dis charge water through the conduit outlet thereinto and holding said rear end of the device elevated above said support while the front end of the device is supported thereon,

(i) said freezing device also being latched to said means by its engagement therewith for locking the device within said chamber against removal therefrom during discharge of Water thereinto, and

(i) said rear end of said freezing device being shiftable downwardly onto said support automatically in response to the weight of a predetermined amount of water discharged into the device for causing said means to simultaneously close said valve and unlock said freezing device for subsequent removal thereof from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,846,854 Galin Aug. 12. 1958

Claims (1)

1. A REFRIGERATING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CHAMBER HAVING A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM ASSOCIATED THEREWITH INCLUDING A REFRIGERANT EVAPORATOR FOR CHILLING THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER TO A TEMPERATURE WELL BELOW 32*F., (B) A RECEPTACLE IN WHICH WATER IS TO BE FROZEN WITHIN SAID CHAMBER MANUALLY INSERTABLE THEREINTO AND REMOVABLE THEREFROM, (C) A CONDUIT CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER ADAPTED TO FILL SAID RECEPTACLE WITH WATER WHEN SAME IS PLACED IN THE CHAMBER, (D) A VALVE INTERPOSED IN SAID CONDUIT BETWEEN ITS OUTLET AND SAID SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF WATER THEREFROM, (E) A DEVICE HAVING AN ACTUATABLE PORTION LOCATED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER IN THE PATH OF INSERTING SAID RECEPTACLE THEREIN AND ENGAGEABLE THEREBY, (F) THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID RECEPTACLE WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID DEVICE CAUSING OPENING OF SAID VALVE AND DISCHARGE OF WATER THROUGH SAID CONDUIT INTO THE RECEPTACLE, (G) SAID PORTION OF SAID DEVICE LOCKING THE RECEPTACLE THERETO UPON ENGAGING SAME AND HOLDING SAID RECEPTACLE AGAINST REMOVAL FROM SAID CHAMBER WHILE DISCHARGING WATER INTO THE RECEPTACLE, AND (H) SAID PORTION OF SAID DEVICE CLOSING SAID VALVE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY UNLOCKING SAID RECEPTACLE AUTOMATICALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE DISCHARGE OF A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF WATER THEREINTO WHEREBY THE RECEPTACLE IS THEREAFTER REMOVABLE FROM SAID CHAMBER.

Images