US3020730A - Ice making apparatus - Google Patents

Description

G. W. HARRIS, SR

Feb. 13, 1962 3,020,730

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z up; my I Feb. 13, 1962 Filed Aug. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G1 1 bar? WHarr S,Sn

JNVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,020=,7 30 ICE MAKING APPARATUS Gilbert W. Harris, Six, Portland, reg.,.assignor to Water Process Corporation, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Qregon Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,270 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-307) This invention relates to ice making machinery, and more particularly to apparatus for manufacturing blocks of ice of convenient size for handling using individual molds for each block. The invention is characterized by a number of novel features wherein blocks of ice of superior quality are produced, and produced rapidly and substantially automatically.

Generally, it is an object ot this invention to provide improved icemaking machinery that is considerably more compact and eificient in operation than apparatus previously known.

Another general object is to provide improved ice making machinery constructed and arranged so that a minimum amount of heat loss takes place in the apparatus, and enabling, as a result, the efiicient production of'ice.

A still further general object is to provide improved mechanism for eliminating impurities and turbidity from ice blocks.

There is a need for ice making machinery operable to freeze blocks of ice in a size permitting immediate sale without first having to cut. up the blocks. The usual equipment employed in manufacturing block ice comprises ice cans, brine, brine tanks and conveyor systems. The blocks produced are. relatively massive, and require cranes and the like for their handling. The blocks must be divided into blocks of smaller size before distribution. Further, the presence of the brine during. the freezing process and handling of the ice has produced contamination problems. The manufacturing equipment has been bulky, inefficient and expensive to install.

According to this invention individual blocks of ice of a size convenient for sale or distribution are made in separate molds. Thus the blocks are ready for sale with out cutting or extensive handling. The apparatus employed for producing the blocks is constructed to enable removal of the ice blocks from the molds by flotation.

The constructoinalso permits the forming of ice blocks with minimal amounts of water in excess of that going into the formation of ice subjected to the cooling process. As a result, savings in the energy used in the extraction of heat from the water results. The molds for making the ice are provided with novel means for cooling and heating them in sequence, whereby icefirst may be formed and then loosened f'om the molds.

According to an embodiment of this invention, the icemaking unit comprises a frame, and a basin portion for holding water mounted on' the frame. Depending downwardly from the bottom of this basin portion and joined thereto are a plural number of recessed molds. These are tapered toward their bottom ends, and have often top ends that connect with the interior of the basin portion. The bottoms of the'molds are closed, and water is confined during manufactureof ice to the interior of the: molds and the basin.

For aerating and removing impurities from the forming ice, each of the molds 'is provided with an air jet means that projects. through the base of the mold and includes a constricted orifice for directing a regulated stream of air up through the mold. The diameter of'the orifice is relatively small, and in the usual instance. may

range from 0.01 to 0.02". Compressed air (.at rela- -tively low pressure) is fed through the orifice to produce .the air stream. The: air. acrates the ice, and thusremoves Patented Feb. 13, 1962 turbidity therefrom. It also causesimpurities to 'float t'o the top of the mold and intothe basin, where-they may be removed. Relatively small amounts of air aroused (due to the small diameter of the orifice feedingthe air and the low pressure ofthe air), and any heating effect of the air-is-relati-vely minor.

Because of thesmall diameter orifice used, it has been found important that means be provided for condensing and removing moisture from the air. Moisture and foreign particles in the air quickly cause clogging of the orifice and stop the jet stream. 'Thus inanembodiment of the invention, a compressor is employed for compressing air, and the compressed air is sent through a condenser section Where a coolant cools the compressed air to produce moisture condensation. The air, with moisture removed therefrom, is't-hen sent throughthe jets, and continuous operation results. To remove condensed moisture from the conduit feeding air to the jets, a slap ing header section is provided that slopes downwardly to a bleeder valve. This latter valve is left open during operation of the machine. The bleeder valve performs the function of allowing the draining of moisture from the header section. It also'provides a means automatically for controlling the pressure of the air admitted through the jets. As ice forms in the molds, the air streams finjd increasing resistance topassage through the molds, and thepressure of the air increases. The bleeder valveprevents more than a moderate increase in pressure from occurring while permitting some slight increase.

Each of the molds is provided with side walls and a. bottom. About the exterior of each mold are heating and cooling means. The "side walls and bottom of a mold are made of heat-conductive material, and heat transform and from the contents of the mold takes place both at the bottom and sides, resulting in efficient forming of an ice block. An insulating strip around the top of each mold and between the mold and thebasin' prevents ice formation beyond a certain height in the mold. Columns of air encircle each depending mold and separate the molds. Water used in freezing is carried only in the mold cavities and in the basin above the molds. The construction is simple, employs air as part of the insulating medium in the apparatus, .makes. possible fast heating and cooling of the molds, and reduces substantially the overall charge of water requiredfor the formation of a given quantity of ice. I

Thus it is a more specific object'of the invention to provide improved machinery for manufacturing block ice wherein any water. in'the apparatus to be transformed turbidity and impurities, and .whereinsaid .air jet exhausts exclusively into the mold cavity .and maximumbenelits are derived from minimum amounts. of air Still another object of. the invention is.to provide im proved air jet means for removing turbidity informing ice wherein the-jet meansis fedwithifiltered. andrdehumidified -a.ir, enabl-ing1tlre useof a small-.-, diameter j ct means and compressed air at relativelyq1ow1pressures, wit-houtineurring;frequent clogging ofthe jet A still further object is to provide an improved construction for supplying compressed air in streams to mold cavities for ice wherein means is provided automatically for removingcondensed moisture from the compressed air and at the same time for stabilizing the pressure of the air in the air streams as ice forms in the molds.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, the same being described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-making unit embodying the invention, showing the top of a cabinet for the unit and the basin and depending mold portions present in the unit;

FIG. 2 is a section view, generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and slightly enlarged, showing details of the basin and a mold depending therefrom, and illustrating by dashed lines how ice forms in the mold;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the air jet means provided at the base of each mold;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a typical piece of ice formed in the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the means for heating and cooling the ice molds and of the mechanism delivering compressed air to the air jet means.

7 Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 indicates generally an ice making unit of the invention. As shown, this comprises a cabinet frame 12 of rectangular configuration mounting near the top of the unit and above the floor a basin portion indicated at 14. The latter comprises side and end walls 16 and 18, respectively, and a bottom 20. Basin portion 14 has projecting downwardly from the base thereof recessed mold portions 22. The mold portions are tapered, and have sides 26, 28 that converge toward each other at the bottom of the molds. Bottoms 24 close off the bases of the molds. The mold portions are opened at their top ends, and their interiors connect with the interior of basin 14.

The basin and mold portions may be made of one piece of material. Preferably the mold portions are comprised of heat-conductive material, such as aluminum and the like, to make etficient the transfer of heat to and from the molds. The basin portion, since it is not used as a heat conducting medium and is most efiicient if insulated,

:may be made of material other than aluminum. Thus in the embodiment illustrated, the mold portions are separate from the basin portion and are joined to the basin portion by screws 30. Extending along the sides and covering the base of the basin portion 14 outwardly of the molds is a layer of insulating material indicated at 32. The molds are joined to portion 14 through a layer of insulating material 33. Layer 32 inhibits the absorption of heat by water in the basin portion and contributes to greater efficiency. By separating the tops of the molds from the basin 14 with insulating material 33, ice formation at the top of the molds is prevented, which makes possible the forming of regularly shaped ice blocks and contributes to easier removal of ice blocks after they are formed.

It has been found that during the manufacture of ice,

' unless the water being transformed to ice is aerated, the

finished ice blocks will be turbid or cloudy. To aerate the ice and prevent thisturbidity, and also to remove impurities from the water, provision is made for directing a stream of air into the bottom of each mold. Thus there is included at the base of each mold a conduit section or pipe means 36 for feeding compressed air to the mold. At the end of each conduit section 36 is a plug or air jet means 38. Plug 38 is provided with a constricted passage 40 connecting the interior of the mold and the interior of conduit section 36. The end of passage 40a that opens to the mold constitutes a constricted orifice in an air jet means that extends through bottom 24. Passage 40 and aperture 40a have relatively small diameters.

This serves to restrict the volume of air passing through each mold over a given time. A large volume of air is undesirable as it introduces heat and makes for less efficient operation. It should be noted that the stream of air is fed directly to the mold interior with bottom 24 closing off any escape of air around the outside of the mold.

Surrounding each of the depending mold portions is a system of cooling coils or windings 42 (that carry a circulated coolant) and electric heater coils of windings 44. These are wrapped around the exterior of the molds with their inner surfaces contacting the heat-conductive mold walls. Over the coils 42, 44 and providing a heat-com ducting medium between outer portions of the coils and the mold is a layer of heat-conductive mastic material 46. This mastic material contributes to better extraction of heat from the mold when using cooling coils 42, and transfer of heat to the mold when using heater coils 44. Note that by providing each mold with both walls and a bottom 24, heat transfer may take place over an enlarged area. It should also be noted that the construction de scribed confines water to a location within and above" below basin 14. Ordinary atmospheric air may contain considerable moisture. The presence of moisture in the air has been found severely to impair operation of the apparatus when a small aperture 40a is used in the air jet means. This is for the reason that the moisture tends to crystallize as ice over the aperture and plug it up. Means 50 thus includes dehumidification means 50a for removing excess moisture from the air.

Specifically, and referring again to FIG. 5, 60 indicates an air compressor having an intake 62 for drawing air from the atmosphere. The latter is covered by an air filter 64 that removes solid foreign particles. Compressor 60 is driven by an electric motor 66 turned on and off by control switch 68. Compressed air from compressor 60 passes from outlet 69 of the compressor through a conduit means 70 to the jet means 38. Conduit means 70 includes section 7011, an inverted loop or trap section 70b and a header section 700. Connections to the jet means 38 (by conduit sections 36) are from header section 700. The

header section slopes downwardly from the connections with jet means 38 to an outlet or discharge end 72 connecting with sewer line 74. At discharge end 72 the header section is provided with a bleeder valve, indicated at 76.

Heater coils 44 are connected in parallel to source condoctors 80, 82. One of the conductors connects to a switch 84 used for turning on and off the heaters. The circuit for coils 44 also includes a thermostat control switch 86 actuated by a thermostat 88. Switch 86 normally is closed, but should the molds reach a certain temperature, the thermostat operates to open switch 86 and cut off the supply of electricity to heaters 44.

Coolant or refrigerant is supplied cooling coils 42 by a refrigerator system indicated generally at 90. This includes a compressor 92 which compresses refrigerant and discharges it through a heat exchanger 94. Here air dissipates heat from the compressed refrigerant, and the refrigerant thence passes to a reservoir 96. Proceeding from reservoir 96 the refrigerant passes through a control valve 98, conduit 100, and an expansion valve 102. From but not as easily as water.

turning refrigerantito compressor" 92. Thus conduit 104 is operable to extract some heat from the compressed air flowing throu'ghsection 700. Section 70a constitutes a condenser section where condensation of moisture in the compressed air takes place through cooling of the compressed air. Condensed moisture is carried along by air flowing in conduit means 70 to header section 70c, whence it flows by gravity down. sloping header section 70c to valve 76 and out the valve to sewer 74. The bleeder valve functions as a means for removing condensed moisture from the conduit means 70. supplying air to jet means 38.

To complete the description of the apparatus, a water supply line 120 controlled by a valve 122 is used to fill the basin 14 and the various molds depending therefrom.

Line 124 is a drain line connecting to the sewer, and line 126 is an overflow line also connected to the sewer and determining the maximumlevel of the water in the basin.

In operation, air is compressed by compressor 60 and thence delivered by conduit means 70 to the various air jet means. Bleeder valve 76 is left open. On traveling through condenser section 70a, water is condensed from the air, and this eventually travels through trap section 70b, header 70c and valve 76 to the sewer.

The molds and basin portion are then filled with water. Trap 70b is included to prevent water from flowing down through the various sections 36 and into the compressor 60in the event the compressor is off and water is present within the interiors of the molds. Note that trap section 70b is at a higher elevation than the water line in the basin14 determined by overflow line 126, such water line being indicated in FIG. at 127. After the molds are filled with water, compressor 92 may be started, and refrigerant circulated through coils 42.

During the formation of ice, the bleeder valve is effective to regulate the pressure of air flowing through the various air jet means 38. As ice forms in the molds, it offers increasing resistance to air flow. Ice tends to form as shown in FIG. 2 by the dashed lines 130a-e. Initially ice covers the bottom and sides as shown at 130a. The ice then-builds up in a mold with the top surface of the forming block passing through the positions of 130b, 1300, etc., until it levels otf at 130a. Small passages resembling veins are formed in the ice, as illustrated in FIG. 4 at 128. These passages accommodate air flow, The bleeder valve prevents air pressure from rising sharply when the ice forms, by providing an escape for larger and larger quantities of air. The valve permits a moderate increase in air pressure to occur, however, which is sufficient to assure that air flows through the forming ice. The bleeder valve, in passing off progressively more air, as ice forms, produces a reduction of heat loss in the apparatus, by cutting down on the quantities of relatively warm air passing through the forming ice.

The ice making machine may be used continuously for the production of ice blocks at regular intervals. Thus, after ice cakes or blocks are completely formed, the ice may be freed from the molds by turning off the compressor circulating refrigerant, and closing switch 84 to produce heating of the heater coils. This warms the molds and frees the ice blocks, enabling them to be floated out of the molds to prepare them for removal from the apparatus. After ice is cleared from the apparatus, the entire process may be repeated to form new ice blocks.

It should be noted that the apparatus is constructed and arranged so that the Water for freezing is carried entirely in the basin or within the molds, and not around the sides of the molds. The water capacity of the unit is relatively small compared to the weight of ice produced. Cooling and heating of the mold exteriors is done efliciently using the heating and cooling coils described. The absence of any water around the molds simplifies mounting of the molds and makes for easier maintenance. The columns of air surrounding the molds provide some degree of .mounted in a cabinet.

insulation. The molds themselves are designedto pr'omote efiicient transfer of heat to and from the interiors of the molds.

The entire apparatus may .b'e'constructed as a unit Cranes are not needed to move the ice blocks, nor is machinery necessary to reduce the size of theice blocks. The apparatus is particularly useful in locations where a steady supply of twenty-five or fifty pound blocks of ice is desired without having to. make a large capital outlay for a plant.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In block ice makingmachinery having air jetnreans for producing a stream of air through ablock of ice, air supply means for said air jet means comprising the combination of an air compressor for compressing air having an intake and an outlet, conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor and said air jet means, and a bleeder valve with an outlet wasting said air jet means included in said conduit means providing for the bleeding through its outlet of controlled amounts of compressed air from the conduit means, said bleeder valve and air jet means in concert providing for the discharge of compressed air from said air compressor.

2. In ice making m achinery'for manufacturing blocks of ice having air jet means for producing a stream of air through a block of forming ice, air supply means for said air jet means comprising an air compressor for compressing air having an intake and an outlet, conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor and said air jet means, said conduit means including a condenser section between the outlet of the air compressor and said air jet means where moisture is condensed from. air flowing in the conduit meansyand a bleeder valve connected to the conduit means on the outlet side of said condenser section providing for the passage of controlled amounts of compressed air from the conduit means, said conduit means having a section sloping substantially continuously downwardly from said air jet means to said bleeder valve whereby any moisture collecting in the section may flow out through said bleeder valve.

3. In machinery for making block ice having jet means for admitting a stream of compressed air into a block of forming ice, a compressor for compressing air having an intake and an outlet, conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor with said jet means, said conduit means having an outlet end spaced below said jet means and an inclined section sloping downwardly continuously from said jet means toward said outlet end, a bleeder valve for the conduit means providing for the exhaust of controlled amounts of air therefrom and located at said outlet end, said bleeder valve also accommodating the discharge of moisture from said inclined section.

4. In ice making machinery for making blocks of ice from water having a basin portion for holding water, plural recessed mold portions joined to the bottom thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom, air jet means at the base of each mold portion for introducing into the bottom of the mold portion a stream of air, the improvement comprising a supply of air under pressure, means including a coolant conduit line for cooling each of said mold portions, conduit means connecting the supply of air under pressure and each of said air jet means, said conduit means including a condenser section in juxtaposition with said coolant line and constructed to enable heat transfer to take place between the two, said conduit means also including a header section below the various air jet means and means connecting the header section with each of said air jet means, said header section sloping substantially continuously downwardly toward an outlet end, and ableeder valve provided at the outlet end of said header section, said bleeder valve providing for the constant discharge of air under pressure from the header section and also accommodating the outflow of moisture from the header section.

5. The machinery of claim 4 wherein the supply of air under pressure comprises a compressor, and wherein at least a portion of the conduit means intermediate the compressor and the header section is at higher elevation than the normal water level in said basin portion.

6. In apparatus for the manufacture of block ice from water comprising a frame, a basin portion for holding water mounted in the frame having recessed mold portions laterally spaced one from another and projecting downwardly from the base of said basin portion, each of said mold portions having side walls and a bottom completely closing off the base thereof, and air jet means provided each mold portion projecting through the bottom thereof and including a constricted orifice for introducing a stream of air into the base of each mold portion, the improvement comprising air supply means for said air jet means comprising an air compressor having an intake and an outlet, and conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor with each of said air jet means, said conduit means including a trap section intermediate the air jet means and compressor spaced at higher elevation than the normal water level in said basin portion thus to prevent the How of water by gravity from the interior of a mold through an air jet means and said conduit means to said compressor, said conduit means also including a header section below the various air jet means and means connecting the header section with each air jet means, said header section sloping continuously downwardly from the connections with the air jet means to a discharge end, and a bleeder valve at the discharge end of said header section accommodating the discharge of moisture from said header section.

7. In ice making machinery, mechanism for producing a stream of air in a block of forming ice comprising air jet means; air compressor means for compressing air having an intake and an outlet; conduit means connecting said outlet with said air jet means; said conduit means having a condensor section between the outlet of the air compressor and the air jet means Where moisture is condensed from air flowing through the same, a sloping section at the discharge end of the condensor section, and means joining the sloping section to the air jet means; and bleed means at the discharge end of said sloping section accommodating the discharge of water from the conduit means and also the discharge of controlled amounts of air.

.8. In apparatus for manufacturing block ice from water, a frame; a basin portion mounted in the frame for holding water and having recessed mold portions extending downwardly from the base thereof; air jet means at the base of each mold portion communicating with its interior for the supply of a stream of air thereto; an air compressor having an intake and an outlet; a conduit connecting the outlet of the compressor with the air jet means; said conduit includnig a trap section intermediate the air jet means and the compressor spaced at higher elevation than the normal water level in the basin portion thus to prevent the flow of Water by gravity from a mold downwardly through an air jet means and into the compressor, a header section, and means connecting the header section with each air jet means Whereby the air jet means are supplied with air from the header section; and bleed means at the discharge end of the header section accommodating the discharge of water and controlled amounts of air therefrom.

9. In ice making machinery, an ice mold, and mechanism for producing a stream of air in a block of ice forming in said mold comprising air jet means, air compressor means for compressing air having an intake and an outlet, conduit means connecting said outlet with said air jet means, said conduit means having a section where compressed air is cooled followed, progressing from said outlet, by a sloping section having one end below its other end, bleed means connected to said one end of said sloping section accommodating the discharge of condensed moisture therefrom and the discharge of controlled amounts of air, and pipe means joining said sloping section and said air jet means and connecting with the sloping section at a location where moisture in the sloping section is diverted by gravity down the section to said bleed means rather than into said pipe means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,017 Beals Jan. 31, 1911 1,680,381 Jennings Aug. 14, 1928 2,221,694 Potter Nov. 12, 1940 2,595,588 Lee May 6, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,888 Great Britain June 6, 1902

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