US3820354A

US3820354A - Ice making apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3820354A
Application number: US00261609A
Authority: US
Inventors: V Kohl; R Utter
Original assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
Current assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
Priority date: 1972-06-12
Filing date: 1972-06-12
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28
Also published as: IT972788B; CA990516A

Abstract

An ice making apparatus comprising a tubular housing member defining an ice forming chamber and providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are formed, auger means rotatably mounted in the ice forming chamber and having a generally cylindrical main body portion and a helical blade extending outwardly therefrom and terminating adjacent the inner surface of the tubular housing member, an ice compacting chamber at one end of the ice forming chamber, a discharge opening provided in the tubular housing member in general alignment with the ice compacting chamber, a discharge spout mounted on the housing member and including a mounting section fixedly secured to the member and a discharge section defining an ice discharge passage terminating at the outer end thereof at an outlet end portion, means on the spout projecting into the discharge opening and defining an ice removing element disposed within the ice compacting chamber for deflecting ice from the compacting chamber outwardly through the discharge passage toward the outlet end portion, the discharge passage being arranged tangentially of the axis of rotation of the auger and the element being disposed on the opposite side of the passage from which ice rotating in the compacting chamber approaches the passage, whereby to provide an entirely unobstructed ice flow path from the compacting chamber to the outlet end portion of the spout.

Description

United States Patent [191 Kohl et a1.

[11] 3,820,354 June 28,1974

[ ICE MAKING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Vance L. Kohl; Robert P. Utter,

both of Albert Lea, Minn.

[73] Assignee: King-Seeley Thermos Co., Ann Arbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 261,609

[52] US. Cl. 62/354, 62/298 [51] Int. Cl. F25c 1/14 [58] Field of Search 62/320, 354, 298

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,010 12/1964 Kattis 62/354 3,283,529 11/1966 Nelson 62/320 Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harness, Dickey & Pierce 5 7 ABSTRACT An ice making apparatus comprising a tubular housing member defining an ice forming chamber and providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are formed, auger means rotatably mounted in the ice forming chamber and having a generally cylindrical main body portion and a helical blade extending outwardly therefrom and terminating adjacent the inner surface of the tubular housing member, an ice compacting chamber at one end of the ice forming chamber, a discharge opening provided in the tubular housing member in general alignment with the ice compacting chamber, a discharge spout mounted on the housing member and including a mounting section fixedly secured to the member and a discharge section defining an ice discharge passage terminating at the outer end thereof at an outlet end portion, means on the spout projecting into the discharge opening and defining an ice removing element disposed within the ice compacting chamber for deflecting ice from the compacting chamber outwardly through the discharge passage toward the outlet end portion, the discharge passage being arranged tangentially of the axis of rotation of the auger and the element being disposed on the opposite side of the passage from which ice rotating in the compacting chamber approaches the passage, whereby to provide an entirely unobstructed ice flow path from the compacting chamber to the outlet end portion of the spout.

20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures lr I llllllllll ICE MAKING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the present invention is directed toward a new and improved ice making apparatus of the type comprising a tubular housing member defining an ice forming chamber and providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are formed. The ice is removed by a rotatable auger disposed within the housing member and which causes ice to be transferred upwardly toward a discharge opening from where the ice is removed. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward an ice making apparatus ofthe above described type which incorporates a new and improved discharge spout adapted to be mounted on the exterior of the housing member and define a discharge passage through which ice may pass from the ice chamber toward some ultimate destination.

The above described types of ice making apparatus are generally shown in the US. Pat. Nos. 3,283,529 and 3,371,505, both of which disclose the use of an ice discharge spout for communicating ice from an ice compacting or forming chamber toward a conduit or other means for transmitting the ice toward an ice storage chamber or other location where such ice may be stored or used. In general, the present invention is directed toward an ice discharge spout for the aforesaid types of ice making machines, which spout embodies a number of features not shown or suggested in either of the aforesaidreferences. More particularly, the present invention resides in the novel spout design which minimizes to the extreme any back pressure or resistance to the flow or communication of ice from the ice forming or compacting chamber toward the discharge or outlet end-of the spout. This is accomplished by so orienting the axis of the discharge passage relative to the direction of rotation of the ice auger and also by properly orienting the ice deflecting element that is disposed within the ice chamber and which functions to deflect ice outwardly toward the discharge passage. Specifically, the ice deflecting element is of such a geometry and so related to the radial spacing between the auger and the housing wall and the particular orientation of the discharge passage, that said element is entirely out of alignment with the passage and as such provides an entirely unobstructed ice transmitting path along which the ice may flow from the ice chamber toward the outlet end of the spout. In the past, various deflecting fingers on analogous structures have been located directly within the flow path of the ice from the ice chamber into the discharge spout and as such, these deflecting means have, to an appreciable degree, resisted the flow of ice through the discharge passage. While such spout designs have been satisfactory for many applications in the past, more modern applications of such ice making apparatus have required that the actual ice making machine be located remote from the ice storage bin or area of use of the ice. This in turn, has necessitated the use of some type of conduit or the like for communicating the ice making machine with the remote storage bin or area of use and it has been found that the lengths of such conduits are directly related to the force required to transmit the ice from the machine to the outlet end of the conduit. By so designing the discharge spout of the ice making apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a minimum amount of back pressure or resistance to flow of the ice from the ice making machine through the conduit is experienced, with the result that for a comparable size machine, a proportionately longer ice transmitting conduit may be utilized, as compared with the conduits which could be used with the discharge spout designs of heretofore known and used machines. Thus, the present invention provides a discharge spout design which permits the use of a substantially longer ice transmitting conduit than has heretofore been possible, whereby to provide for universality of mounting or locating the ice making machine relative to where such ice is stored or dispensed.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ice making apparatus.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ice making apparatus which utilizes a novel discharge spout design.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an ice making apparatus which embodies certain improved features over the machines shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,283,529 and 3,371,505.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved discharge spout which minimizes to the extreme any back pressure or resistance to the ice flow from the ice forming chamber toward the outlet end of the spout.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved discharge spout, as above described, which is provided with an ice deflecting element that is located entirely out of alignment with the discharge passage so as to provide an entirely-unobstructed ice flow path from the ice chamber toward the outlet end of the discharge passage.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved discharge spout, as described above, which is of a relatively simple design, is economical to manufacture and may be constructed of different sizes so as to accommodate ice making machines of different capacity.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF'THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, partially broken away, of a portion of an ice making machine incorporating the principles of the present invention;

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

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the ice making machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as seen in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the ice making machine of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5+5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of the ice making machine illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, as seen in the direction of the arrow 6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, an ice forming apparatus 10 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical or tubular housing member 12 having auger means in the form of an elongated rotatable auger 14 disposed interiorly thereof. The auger 14 is formed with reduced diameter upper and lower end portions 16 and 18, respectively, which are suitably journal supported by means of upper and lower bearing assemblies 20 and 22 that are located adjacent the upper and lower ends of the housing member 12. The auger 14 comprises an elongated central body section 24 that is formed with an integral helical ramp 26 which defines a helical ice shearing edge 28 disposed closely adjacent the inner periphery of the tubular housing 12. The outer periphery of the auger 14 and the inner periphery of the tubular housing member 12 define an ice forming chamber 30 about which a refrigeration coil 32 is disposed. The coil 32 is disposed within a shroud or enclosure 34 which is in turn located interiorly of a suitable layer of insulation or the like, representatively designated by the numeral 36. A supply of water is adapted to be communicated to the ice forming chamber 30 through suitable conduits or the like (not shown), whereupon energization of the refrigerati'on coil 32 results in a thin layer of ice being continuously formed around the inner periphery or surface of the tubular member 12. As is well known in the art, upon rotation of the auger 14 by means of a suitable drive motor or the like (not shown), the aforesaid layer of ice is transferred axially upwardly by the helical ramp 26 on the auger 14 to a position where such ice is discharged in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Disposed adjacent the upper end of the body section 24 of the auger 14 is an upwardly and radially outwardly projecting section 38 which is defined by a curvilinear abuttment wall or surface 40 that terminates closely adjacent the inner surface of the tubular housing member 12. The surface 40 cooperates with the inner periphery of the upper end of the housing member 12 to define an ice compacting chamber 42 into which the ice formed in the chamber 30 is transferred by means of the ramp 26 of the auger 14 preparatory to said ice being discharged from the apparatus 10.

In order to remove ice displaced into the compacting chamber 42, a discharge opening 44 is provided in the housing member 12 in generally axial or longitudinal alignment with the chamber 42. The discharge opening 44 is of a generally rectangular configuration and comprises spaced parallel axially extending

side edges

46 and 48, and axially spaced top and bottom edges 50 and 52. It will be seen that the edges 46-52 are arranged generally radially of the axis of the housing member 12.

Disposed adjacent and cooperating with the discharge opening 44 for discharging ice from the compacting chamber 42 is an ice discharge spout, generally designated by the numeral 54 and constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Generally speaking, the discharge spout 54 comprises a mounting section 56, which is adapted for attachment to the outer periphery of the housing member 12, and a discharge section 58 which is adapted to communicate ice toward a suitable conduit or other ice conveying mechanism, as will be described. The mounting section 56 of the discharge spout 54 is formed with a curvilinear or arcuate surface 60 which is defined by an imaginary circular cylinder having a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the tubular housing member 12, whereby the mounting section 56 is adapted to be mounted contiguously of the outer surface of the housing member 12, as illustrated. The opposite ends of the mounting section 56 are formed with a pair of outwardly projecting flanges or ears 62 and 64 that are provided with interiorly threaded openings or bores 66 and 68, respectively. The flanges 62, 64 are cooperable with an arcuate retaining plate, generally designated by the numeral 70, which is mounted on the diametrically opposite side of the housing member 12 from the discharge spout 54 and is formed with a pair of outwardly projecting flanges or

ears

72 and 74 which are disposed in confronting relationship with the flanges 62, 64. The

flanges

72, 74 are formed with openings or bores 76, 78 which are respectively aligned with the openings 66, 68, whereby suitable screws, bolts or similar fastening elements 80 and 82 may be inserted through the openings 76, 78 and be threadably engaged with the bores 66, 68 to positively secure the discharge spout 54 in the operative position shown in FIGS. l-3. It will be appreciated, of course, that the discharge spout 54 may be fixedly secured to the apparatus 10 in a variety of alternative ways; however, the above described cooperation of the spout 54 with the retaining plate 70 and fastening means 80, 82 has been found to be highly satisfactory and preferable.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the discharge section 58 of the spout 54 is formed with a cylindrical discharge passage 84 which, along with the section 58, is oriented at an angle to the axis of the auger 14 and housing member 12 such that the axis of the passage 84 is arranged generally tangential to the compacting chamber 42 and auger 14. More particularly, the discharge section 58 of the spout 54 is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 10 such that the center of the discharge passage 84, representatively designated by the phantom line 86, is arranged tangentially to the cylindrical body section 24 of the auger 14. The dimensions of the discharge passage 84 are such that the radius thereof is approximately equal to the radial spacing between the outer periphery of the body section 24 of the auger l4 and the inner periphery of the tubular housing member 12, as best shown in FIG. 2. The passage 84 is adapted to be communicable at its inner end with the compacting chamber 42 and at the outer end thereof with a suitable conduit, pipe or the like which is intended to carry ice produced by the apparatus 10 to some destination where the same may be conveniently used. The outer end of the discharge section 58 is preferably formed with an externally threaded end portion 88 for facilitating operative connection of the aforesaid conduit, pipe or the like (not shown) to the discharge spout 54.

In order to positively orient the discharge spout 54 relative to the discharge opening 44, the inner surface 60 of the mounting section 56 is formed with an integral radially inwardly projecting section, generally designated by the numeral 90, that is adapted to be nestingly received within the discharge opening 44 upon operative mounting of the discharge spout 54 on the exterior of the housing 12. More particularly, the section 90 is of a generally rectangular configuration and complementary in size and shape to the discharge opening 44. Toward this end, the section 90 comprises a pair of side edges 92, 94, a top edge 96, and a bottom edge 97, all of which edges 92-97 are adapted to juxtaposition the edges 46-52, respectively, of the discharge opening 44.

In order to provide a fluid tight seal between the surface 60 and the outer periphery of the housing member 12, the surface 60 is provided with an inwardly extending groove or recess 98 which extends entirely around the section 90 of the spout 54, which groove or recess 98 is provided with a sealing element 99 adapted to sealingly engage the outer periphery of the housing member 12 circumjacent the discharge opening 44 upon assembly of the spout 54 on the housing member 12.

In order to effect removal of ice from within the compacting chamber 42 and cause said ice to pass into said discharge passage 84, an ice removing element or blade, generally designated by the numeral 100, projects into the compacting chamber 42, which element 100 is formed integrally of the discharge spout 54, and in particular, is formed integrally of the section 90 thereof, as best seen in FIG. 2. The element 100 is generally defined by a pair of intersecting, axially extending surfaces, the first of which is'designated by the numeral 102. The surface 102 is defined by an imaginary circular cylinder having an axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger 14 and having a diameter approximately equal to the radial spacing between the outer periphery of the auger body section 24 and the inner periphery of the housing member 12. This imaginary circular cylinder is identified in FIG. 2 by the numeral 104 and is shown as having an axis located at 106. The surface 102 defined by the cylinder 104 intersects a generally flat axially extending surface 108 which lies along a plane extending generally tangential to the body section 24 of the auger 14, which plane is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 and identified by the numeral 110. It will be noted that the plane 110 intersects the axis 86 of the passage 84 at approximately the surface of the auger body. The intersection of the surfaces 102 and 108 define a generally axially extending ice engaging edge 112 which is arranged closely adjacent the outer periphery of the body section 24 of the auger 14. It will be seen that the intersection of the surfaces 108 and 102 is also substantially coincident with the downstream side of the discharge passage 84.

It is to be noted that the element 100 is located downstream with respect to the direction of rotation of the ice within the member 12, as indicated by the arrow 113 and entirely out of axial alignment with the discharge passage 84. This, together with the fact that the section 90 of the spout 54 projects interiorly of the discharge opening 44 so that no peripheral portion of the discharge opening 44 in any way restricts the area of the passage 84, and the additional fact that the discharge passage 84 is oriented tangentially of the axis of rotation of the auger 14 and compacting chamber 42, results in a highly efficient transfer of ice from the chamber 42 into the passage 84. This has been found to be extremely important in that for certain applications, the ice produced by the apparatus is communicated a substantial distance within a suitable conduit or the like after the same leaves the discharge spout 54, and any reduction in the effort, i.e., reduction in backpressure, required to transfer the ice from the compacting chamber 42 to the spout 54 enables the ice to be transferred a proportionately greater distance through the aforesaid conduit or the like, as compared with the various prior art devices disclosed in the aforementioned patents.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a slightly modified embodiment of the present invention wherein an ice discharge spout 200 is shown in operative association with an ice forming apparatus 202 having a tubular housing member 204 within which a rotatable auger 206 is provided. It will be noted that the spout 200 is particularly adapted for an ice forming apparatus of a slightly smaller capacity than the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 and that the various features of the aforedescribed spout 54 are also incorporated in the spout 200 so as to provide for the efficient transfer of ice from an ice compacting chamber 208 defined between the outer periphery of the auger 206 and the inner periphery of the housing 204. More particularly, the discharge spout 200 comprises a mounting section 210 and a discharge section 212 which are analogous to the

sections

56, 58 of the aforedescribed spout 54, with the discharge section 212 defining an annular discharge opening or passage 214 which is communicable at its inner end with a discharge opening 216 formed in the housing 204. It will be seen that the side edges of the opening 216 lie along a plane generally tangential of the auger axis, as opposed to radially thereof in the case of the above de scribed opening 44. The mounting section 210 of the spout 200 comprises a pair of flanges 218 and 220 which are cooperable with fastening elements 222 and 224 and a retaining plate 226 in operatively securing the spout 200 to the outer periphery of the housing 204, as previously described.

The spout 200 is also formed with an interiorly projecting section 228 analogous to the aforedescribed section of the spout 54 and which is adapted to be n'estingly received within the discharge opening 216 of the housing member 204 upon operative mounting of the spout 200 thereon. The section 228 is formed with an integral ice removing element, generally designated 230. The element 230 is defined generally by intersecting planar and circular

cylindrical surfaces

232 and 234, respectively, the

surfaces

232, 234 defining an ice removing edge 236 located closely adjacent the body section 238 of the auger 206. It will be noted that the section 228 of the spout 200 is defined, in part, by a generally planar surface 240 which is co-planar with the aforedescribed surface 232. The surface 240 is in turn arranged generally co-planar of the surface defining the side edges of the discharge opening 216 upon assembly of the spout 200, thereby accommodating the spout 200 for a slightly smaller housing without detracting from the above discussed advantageous features of the present invention.

Due to the fact that the operation of the apparatus 10 and 202 hereinabove described are substantially identical, a detailed operation of only the apparatus 10 will be given herein for purposes of conciseness of description.

In operation of the apparatus 10, water is maintained within the ice forming chamber 30 and due to energization of the refrigeration coil 32, the aforesaid water will cause a thin layer of ice to be formed on the inner surface of the tubular housing member 12. As the ice is formed, rotation of the auger 14 will cause the ice to be axially displaced upwardly into the compacting chamber 42, with any excess water in the aforesaid ice being removed as the same is forced upwardly into the compacting chamber 42. As the ice is rotated within the chamber 42 due to rotation of the auger 14, said ice engages the element 100, whereupon the ice is transferred outwardly through the discharge opening 44 and discharge passage 84 from where the ice is subsequently transferred via a suitable conduit means or the like to some predetermined destination. As previously mentioned, a particularly important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the ice removing element 100 in no way restricts or reduces the area of the discharge passage 84 so that a minimum amount of back pressure is exerted against the ice as it is transferred from the compacting chamber 42 to the discharge spout 54. This, together with the fact that the discharge passage 84 is arranged tangentially to the auger l4 and ice compacting chamber 42, assures a highly efficient discharge of ice from the apparatus as compared to the various ice making machines known in the prior art.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments illustrated herein are well calculated to fulfill the objections above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member,

a rotatable auger mounted in said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith,

a discharge opening adjacent one end of said housing member for communicating ice from said chamber,

a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion, and

means comprising an ice deflecting element formed integrally of said discharge spout and projecting into said ice chamber for causing ice therein to move into said discharge passage,

said element being defined in part by a pair of intersecting surfaces, one of said surfaces lying along a plane and the other of said surfaces being defined by an imaginary circular cylinder,

said discharge passage and said last mentioned means providing a completely unobstructed ice flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

2. An ice making apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plane defining said one surface and said axis of said circular cylinder extend parallel to the axis of rotation of said auger.

3. An ice making apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circular cylinder has a central axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said auger and having a diameter approximately equal to the radial spacing between the inner periphery of said housing member and the outer periphery of the main body of said auger.

4. An ice making apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfaces intersect at a position approximately coincident with the downstream side of said discharge passage, whereby said element is entirely out of registry with said flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

5. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises,

a discharge spout comprising a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member, i

said discharge spout further comprising a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body and communicable at its inner end with a discharge opening formed in said housing member adjacent the upper end thereof, and

means formed integrally of said spout projecting through said opening into said ice chamber for deflecting ice from said chamber toward said passage,

said ice deflecting means, even though extending through said discharge opening, being oriented entirely out of registry with said passage, whereby a completely unobstructed ice flow path is provided from said chamber, through said opening, and into said passage.

6. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises,

a discharge spout comprising a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member,

said discharge spout further comprising a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and

an ice deflecting element formed integrally of said spout projecting interiorly of said ice chamber for deflecting ice from said chamber toward said passage,

said ice deflecting element being defined in part by a pair of intersecting surfaces, one of said surfaces lying along a plane and the other of said surfaces being defined by an imaginary circular cylinder, with said element being oriented out of registry with said passage whereby a completely unobstructed ice flow path is provided from said chamber to said passage.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein the inner side of said discharge spout is formed with an interiorly projecting section adapted to be nestingly received within said discharge opening and of substantially the same size and shape as said opening.

8. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises,

a discharge spout including a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member,

a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and

means conforming to the shape of said discharge opening and projecting interiorly of said opening from said mounting section and defining an ice deflecting element arranged out of axial alignment with said passage and adapted to deflect ice rotating within said chamber toward said passage without in any way obstructing the flow of said ice from said chamber to said passage,

said last mentioned means comprising an interiorly projecting section formed integrally of said spout and adapted to be nestingly received within said discharge opening and being of substantially the same size and shape as said opening, whereby to properly orient said passage and deflecting element relative to said opening upon assembly of said spout on said apparatus.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the side edges of said discharge opening extend generally radially of said housing, and wherein the side edges of said inwardly projecting section extend generally radially of said housing.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the auger comprises a generally cylindrically shaped auger body having a helical ramp formed around the exterior thereof, and wherein said plane intersects the axis of said discharge passage at approximately the outer surface of said auger body.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said circular cylinder defines a central axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said auger and has a diameter approximately equal to the radial spacing between the inner periphery of said housing member and the outer periphery of the main body of said auger.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said surfaces intersect at a position approximately coincident with the downstream side of said discharge passage, whereby said element is entirely out of registry with an ice flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

13. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member,

said auger comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body spaced radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said housing member,

a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a circular cross sectional discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion,

the radius of said passage being approximately equal to the radial spacing between said auger body and said housing member, and

means projecting into said ice chamber for causing ice therein to move into said discharge passage,

14. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member,

said auger body comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body spaced radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith,

a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion,

the axis of said passage being arranged generally tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and

15. An ice making apparatus comprising a tubular housing member defining an ice forming chamber and providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are adapted to be continuously formed,

auger means rotatably mounted in said ice forming chamber and having a generally cylindrical main body portion and a helical blade extending outwardly therefrom and terminating adjacent the inner surface of said tubular housing member,

an ice compacting chamber at the upper end of said ice forming chamber,

a discharge opening provided in the upper end of said tubular housing member in general alignment with said ice compacting chambers,

a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and including a mounting section fixedly secured to said member and a discharge section defining an ice discharge passage tenninating at the other end thereof at an outlet end portion,

an ice deflecting element formed integrally on said spout and projecting through said discharge opening and into said ice compacting chamber for deflecting ice from said compacting chamber outwardly through said discharge passage toward said outlet end portion,

said discharge passage being arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body and said ele ment being disposed on the opposite side of said passage from which ice rotating in said compacting chamber approaches said passage, whereby to provide an entirely unobstructed ice flow path from said compacting chamber to said outlet end portion.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said ice deflecting element is defined in part by a pair of intersecting surfaces, one of said surfaces lying along a plane and the other of said surfaces being defined by an imaginary circular cylinder.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said auger comprises a generally cylindrically shaped auger body having a helical ramp formed around the exterior thereof, and wherein said plane intersects the axis of said discharge passage at approximatley the outer surface of said auger body.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein said circular cylinder defines a central axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said auger and having a diameter approximately equal to the radial spacing between the inner periphery of said housing member and the outer periphery of the main body of said auger.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein said surfaces intersect at a position approximately coincident with the downstream side of said discharge passage, whereby said element is entirely out of registry with an ice flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

means conforming generally to the size and shape of said discharge opening and projecting into said opening from said mounting section, said last mentioned means defining an ice deflecting element arranged entirely out of axial alignment with said passage and adapted to deflect ice rotating within said chamber toward said passage without in any way obstructing the flow of said ice from said chamber to said passage.

Claims

1. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member, a rotatable auger mounted in said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith, a discharge opening adjacent one end of said housing member for communicating ice from said chamber, a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion, and means comprising an ice deflecting element formed integrally of said discharge spout and projecting into said ice chamber for causing ice therein to move into said discharge passage, said element being defined in part by a pair of intersecting surfaces, one of said surfaces lying along a plane and the other of said surfaces being defined by an imaginary circular cylinder, said discharge passage and said last mentioned means providing a completely unobstructed ice flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

5. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises, a discharge spout comprising a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member, said discharge spout further comprising a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body and communicable at its inner end with a discharge opening formed in said housing member adjacent the upper end thereof, and means formed integrally of said spout projecting through said opening into said ice chamber for deflecting ice from said chamber toward said passage, said ice deflecting means, even though extending through said discharge opening, being oriented entirely out of registry with said passage, whereby a completely unobstructed ice flow path is provided from said chamber, through said opening, and into said passage.

6. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises, a discharge spout comprising a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member, said discharge spout further comprising a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and an ice deflecting element formed integrally of said spout projecting interiorly of said ice chamber for deflecting ice from said chamber toward said passage, said ice deflecting element being defined in part by a pair of intersecting surfaces, one of said surfaces lying along a plane and the other of said surfaces being defined by an imaginary circular cylinder, with said element being oriented out of registry with said passage whereby a completely unobstructed ice flow path is provided from said chamber to said passage.

8. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises, a discharge spout includinG a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member, a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and means conforming to the shape of said discharge opening and projecting interiorly of said opening from said mounting section and defining an ice deflecting element arranged out of axial alignment with said passage and adapted to deflect ice rotating within said chamber toward said passage without in any way obstructing the flow of said ice from said chamber to said passage, said last mentioned means comprising an interiorly projecting section formed integrally of said spout and adapted to be nestingly received within said discharge opening and being of substantially the same size and shape as said opening, whereby to properly orient said passage and deflecting element relative to said opening upon assembly of said spout on said apparatus.

13. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member, a rotatable auger mounted in said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith, said auger comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body spaced radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said housing member, a discharge opening adjacent one end of said housing member for communicating ice from said chamber, a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a circular cross sectional discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion, the radius of said passage being approximately equal to the radial spacing between said auger body and said housing member, and means projecting into said ice chamber for causing ice therein to move into said discharge passage, said discharge passage and said last mentioned means providing a completely unobstructed ice flow path from said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

14. An ice making apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical housing member, a rotatable auger mounted in said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith, said auger body comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body spaced radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said housing member and defining an ice chamber therewith, a discharge opening adjacent one end of said housing member for communicating ice from said chamber, a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and defining a discharge passage terminating at an outlet end portion, the axis of said passage being arranged generally tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and means projecting into said ice chamber for causing ice therein to move into said discharge passage, said discharge passage and said last mentioned means providing a completely unobstructed ice flow path From said ice chamber to said outlet end portion of said discharge passage.

15. An ice making apparatus comprising a tubular housing member defining an ice forming chamber and providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are adapted to be continuously formed, auger means rotatably mounted in said ice forming chamber and having a generally cylindrical main body portion and a helical blade extending outwardly therefrom and terminating adjacent the inner surface of said tubular housing member, an ice compacting chamber at the upper end of said ice forming chamber, a discharge opening provided in the upper end of said tubular housing member in general alignment with said ice compacting chambers, a discharge spout mounted on said housing member and including a mounting section fixedly secured to said member and a discharge section defining an ice discharge passage terminating at the other end thereof at an outlet end portion, an ice deflecting element formed integrally on said spout and projecting through said discharge opening and into said ice compacting chamber for deflecting ice from said compacting chamber outwardly through said discharge passage toward said outlet end portion, said discharge passage being arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body and said element being disposed on the opposite side of said passage from which ice rotating in said compacting chamber approaches said passage, whereby to provide an entirely unobstructed ice flow path from said compacting chamber to said outlet end portion.

20. In an ice making apparatus of the type including an auger rotatably mounted within an ice forming chamber defined by a generally cylindrical housing member, the improvement which comprises, a discharge spout including a mounting section conforming to and adapted to be fixedly secured to said housing member, a discharge section defining a discharge passage arranged tangentially of the outer surface of said auger body, and means conforming generally to the size and shape of said discharge opening and projecting into said opening from said mounting section, said last mentioned means defining an ice deflecting element arranged entirely out of axial alignment with said passage and adapted to deflect ice rotating within said chamber toward said passage without in any way obstructing the flow of said ice from said chamber to said passage.