US3559424A - Icemaking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

AN ICEMAKING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN INVERTED ICE FORMING MOLDS, A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM INCLUDING AN EVAPORATOR AND A CONDENSER COMPRISING A TANK CONTAINING THAWING WATER IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATION WITH THE HOT GASEOUS REFRIGERANT LINE OF THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM? A THAWING WATER RETAINING COMPARTMENT ADJACENT THE MOLD AND ADAPTED TO CONTAIN WATER IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE EVAPORATOR? A WATER RESERVOIR DISPOSED BELOW THE FORM, SPRAYING MEANS FOR DIRECTING WATER WITHIN THE RESERVOIR TOWARD THE FORM, A WATER INLET AND A WATER OUTLET AND FLUID CIRCUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING THE INLET WITH THE TANK AND THE OUTLET WITH THE RESERVOIR, A

PUMP FOR PUMPING WATER FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE FLUID SPRAYING MEANS AND A MOTOR FOR DRIVING THE PUMP, THE ABOVE SYSTEM BEING ADAPTED TO USE A QUANTITY OF WATER AS A COOLING MEDIUM FOR THE CONDENSER DURING THE FREEZING CYCLE, WHEREIN SUCH WATER IS HEATED A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT, THEREAFTER USING THAT HEATED WATER TO RELEASE THE ICE FROM THE ICE FORM, AND FINALLY USE THE SAME WATER TO MAKE-UP THE ICE DURING THE NEXT SUCCESSIVE FREEZING CYCLE.

Description

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,a+ m WM a United States Patent O 3,559,424 ICEMAKING APPARATUS Marcus L. Nelson, Albert Lea, Minn., assignor to King- Seeley Thermos Co., Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application Sept. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 667,117, now Patent No. 3,465,537, dated Sept. 9, 1969. Divided and this application Apr. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 812,103

, Int. Cl. F2Sc 1/04 r U.S. Cl. 62-347 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An icemaking apparatus comprising an inverted ice forming mold; a refrigeration system including an evaporator and a condenser comprising a tank containing thawing water in heat transfer relation with the hot gaseous refrigerant line of the refrigeration system; a thawing water retaining compartment adjacent the mold and adapted to contain water in heat transfer relation with respect to the evaporator; a water reservoir disposed below the form; spraying means for directing water within the reservoir toward the form; a water inlet and a water outlet and fluid circuit means communicating the inlet with the tank and the outlet with the reservoir; a pump for pumping water from the reservior to the uid spraying means and a motor for driving the pump; the above system being adapted to use a quantity of water as a cooling medium for the condenser during the freezing cycle, wherein such water'is heated a predetermined amount, thereafter using that heated water to release the ice from the ice form, and iinally use the same water to make-up the ice during the next successive freezing cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 4This is a divisional application of the United States Letters Patent application, Ser. No. 667,117 liled Sept. 12,

1967, for Ice Making Apparatus, now Pat. No. 7,465,537,

verted ice cube molds or forms adapted to have water sprayed therewithin by means of a water spraying device located below the forms. Surrounding the ice cube forms is awarm Water basin or platen which is adapted to be lled with thawing water after the freezing portion of the cycle has `been completed, whereupon thel ice cubes which were formed within the molds will drop therefrom into a chute or storage bin during a subsequent, harvest portion of the operational cycle. After the ice cubes have thus been formed and released, the thawing water is transferred to a sump tank to be used for supplying water to the spraying device during the next freezing portion of the cycle. The condenser comprises a tank filled |with water in heat transfer relation with the hot refrigerant line of the refrigeration system. During the freezing cycle thiswater serves as the primary cooling medium for the condenser and is thereby warmed. At' the conclusion of the freezing cycle water from this tank is delivered to the basin or platen and Serves as the thawing medium during the harvest cycle.A During.

3,559,424 Patented Feb. 2, 1971 lCC improvement over the aforesaid apparatus. In particular, the icemaking apparatus of the present invention incorporates a novel arrangement of component parts wherein the water not used in making cubes during one freezing cycle is automatically carried away from a water reservoir by means of an overflow arrangement, thereby obviating the need for any complicated valve mechanisms and valve actuating devices. The overflow arrangement is achieved through the provision of a pair of unobstructed fluid passageways, the first of which is adapted to communicate thawing Water from an ice platen into a water reservoir, and the second of which communicates the reservoir with a water outlet or drain. The passageways are designed and arranged such that a preselected quantity of water is automatically retained within the reservior, also without the use of any valves or valve actuating mechanisms.

SUMMARY O-F THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to ice making apparatus and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus for forming ice cubes by means of spraying water into a plurality of inverted molds, wherein the same water that is used for making the cubes is used as a condensing medium and means for releasing the cubes from the ice forming molds.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved icemaking apparatus.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an icemaking apparatus which utilizes the same Water as a condensing medium, as a means for releasing the cubes from their associated forming molds, and for the water used in making the cubes.

yIt is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ice making apparatus of the above character which obviates the need for any drain valves or the like for releasing water not used in forming the cubes during the freezing portion of the operational cycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice making apparatus of the above described character which includes a water reservoir and means for automatically controlling the water level within the reservoir such that there is suicient water therein to make up a batch of ice cubes during the next successive freezing cycle.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ice making apparatus which utilizes a novel control orifice for continually discharging thawing water from a thawing water platen to a water reservoir.

-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 lFIG. l is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of an icemaking apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. l, as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 thereof; l

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow 5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, anice making apparatus 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown as comprising an exterior enclosure or cabinet, generally designated 12, that is preferably provided with insulation 14 along the exterior walls thereof and includes a lower compartment 16 and an upper compartment 18. Generally speaking, the lower compartment 16 contains a refrigeration system consisting, except as hereinafter stated, of substantially conventional elements, and the upper compartment 18 comprises means for producing a supply of ice in cubed form, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

As best seen in FIGS. l, 6 and 7, the refrigeration system incorporated in the cemaking apparatus of the present invention comprises a usual compressor 20 that is supported by means of suitable support brackets or the like 22 that are rigidly secured to the lower end of the cabinet 12 by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 24. The compressor 20 is provided with an inlet conduit 26 and an outlet conduit 28, the latter of which leads to a condenser, generally designated 30. Condenser comprises a closed tank 34, which houses a pair of interleaved helically formed coils 32 and 33 which are soldered or otherwise bonded to each other in continuous surface engagement throughout their lengths so as to provide for eficient heat transfer therebetween. The inlet of coil 32 is directly and continuously connected to the high pressure line 28 leading from the compressor. The outlet 94 of coil 32 leads to the evaporator, as described below. Tank 34 contains a body of water which, during one freezing cycle, serves as a primary cooling medium for the condenser; during the next harvest cycle serves as thawing water for the ice cubes; and provides the makeup water for the next freezing cycle.

A water inlet line 36 which is adapted to be connected with a suitable source of fresh potable water leads through a T-connection 46 and a solenoid valve mechanism, generally designated 38, to the inlet 40 of tank 34. Valve 38 is mounted on the top of the tank 34 by a suitable fitting 42. The valve mechanism 38 may -be of any conventional construction adapted to be actuated in response to an electrical signal communicated thereto by means of suitable electrical conductors, generally designated 43, wherelby the valve mechanism 38 will selectively communicate water flowing through the water inlet conduit 36 to the standpipe 40, with the result that such Iwater will flow into the tank 34. The water outlet conduit 96 extends upwardly from the lower compartment 16 to the icemakiug mechanism located in the upper compartment 18, as Iwill hereinafter be described.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the T-tting 46 functions to connect one end of an auxiliary water conduit 48 to the supply conduit 36. The opposite end of the conduit 48 is connected to a usual pressure responsive modulating type valve mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 50, the sensing chamber whereof is also connected by means of a suitable pressure line 52 and T-fitting 54 with the outlet conduit 28 of the compressor 520. Thus, valve mechanism responds to the refrigerant pressure within the conduit 28 of the compressor 20. Increases in this pressure above a predetermined minimum causes valve 50 to proportionately and progressively move from the closed position toward the open position and decreases below a predetermined maximum, cause a progressive and proportional movement toward the closed position. When the valve mechanism 50 is fully or partially open, the auxiliary water conduit 48 is connected to another auxiliary conduit 56 which opens into the previously mentioned second coil 33 in the condenser 30. The outlet 44 of the coil 33 may lead directly to drain. Thus, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, the water iu tank 34 constitutes the primary cooling medium for condenser 30, but additional cooling effect is produced by a progressively controlled flow of Iwater through the auxiliary coil 33. In the event the internal pressure of the refrigerant in the compressor 20 exceeds a predetermined level this minimizes the water consumed by the apparatus 10.

Referring now to the contents of the upper compartment 18 of the cabinet 12, as best seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the upper compartment 18 is provided with a generally vertically extending ice conveying chute 60 which defines a horizontally disposed shoulder or ledge 62 around the upper end thereof. Fixedly mounted on the shoulder 62 is a generally rectangular shaped 'water containing vessel or platen, generally designated 64, which comprises a bottom wall section 66 and four vertically extending wall sections 68. As shown in FIG. 3, the sections 66 and 68 of the platen 64 define a central cavity 70 within which a usual refrigeration coil or evaporator 72 is located, the evaporator 72 comprising inlet and outlet lines 74 and 76, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The platen 64 is preferably fabricated of a molded rubber material or the like and is formed with a plurality of symmetrically oriented openings, generally designated 78, in the lower end thereof, which openings 78 are defined by upwardly extending tapered ange portions 80 integrally formed on the upper side of the bottom 'wall section 66. The flange sections 80 define radially outwardly extending annular grooves or recesses 82 which are adapted to removably receive radially outwardly extending shoulder portions 84 formed around the lower ends of a plurality of circular ice-forming molds or cups 86, as seen in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the platen 64 is formed with an overflow passage 88 which is elevated above the bottom wall section 66 and is adapted to automatically communicate water out of the cavity 70 in the event the level or upper surface thereof rises above a position indicated by the line in FIG. 3. The passage 88 is disposed above a water reservoir, hereinafter to be described, and is adapted to communicate water within the cavity 70 downwardly to the reservoir, whereby this -water may thereafter be utilized in forming ice during the ice making portion of the operational cycle of the apparatus 10, as will be described.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the platen 64 is provided with a discharge orifice or passage 92 that is formed in the bottom wall section 66 at a position overlying the aforesaid water reservoir. In operation of the ice making apparatus 10, the orifice 92 is adapted to release or dribble water contained within the cavity 70 of the platen 64 to the reservoir. The size of the orifice 92 is carefully selected so that the rate of transfer of water from the platen 64 to the water reservoir is such that during the subsequent freezing cycle of the apparatus 10, there will be sufficient water in the reservoir to form the ice cubes within the cups 86. It will be noted that in practice, the freezing cycle may, if desired, be initiated somewhat prior to all of the water being communicated from the cavity 70 to the water reservoir via the orifice 92, provided, of course, that a suicient quantity of water is providedin the reservoir to supply the pumping means for pumping the water toward the cups 86, as will be apparent.

A particular feature of the above described construction resides in the fact that the dribbler orifice 92 provides an unobstructed fluid passage from the cavity 70 to the reservoir and controls the rate of transfer of such water without the use of any complicated valving devices or valve actuating mechanisms. That is, Water will flow automatically to the reservoir via the orifice 92 without the need for any mechanical linkages and the like usually required for opening and closing fluid valves. Another feature will be seen from the fact that there is no need to provide the platen 64 with a special drain connection since any water transmitted to the cavity 70 in excess of the water level indicated by the reference numeral 90 will be automatically communicated via the passage 88 to the reservoir which is provided with its own drain arrangement later to be described. Accordingly, only a simple drain circuit need Ibe provided in the apparatus of the present invention.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the inlet and outlet lines 74 and 76 of the evaporator 72 are connected with the high and low pressure refrigerant conduits 94 and 96, respectively, which extend upwardly from the lower compartment 16 to the upper compartment 18, whereby to complete a usual circuit between the condenser 30, compressor 20 and evaporator 72, it being understood that the connection between lines 94 and 74 includes a usual pressure reducing device such as a capillary tube or expansion valve (not shown). Thus, it will be seen that gaseous refrigerant at relatively high pressure supplied by compressor 20 to condenser 30 is cooled and liquied as it passes through condenser 30. The thus cooled and liquied refrigerant flows from the condenser 30* upwardly through the conduit 94 and the pressure reducing device (not shown) to the inlet line 74 of the evaporator, wherein it is vaporized by the transfer of heat thereto from the water `being formed into cubes. The gaseous refrigerant ilows from the evaporator through the outlet line 76, which is jointed to the inlet or suction side of the compressor. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper end of the conduit 94 communicating refrigerant to the evaporator 72 may be provided With suitable insulation means 95. The previously mentioned outlet conduit 96 from tank 34 leads directly into the cavity 70 of the platen 64 and delivers water thereto during the harvest portion of the operational cycle, as will hereinafter be described.

The lower end of the ice chute 60 is formed with a converging wall portion 98 which defines a recessed shoulder portion 100 and terminates at the lower end thereof in a generally vertically extending wall section 102 of a water reservoir, generally designated 104. The reservoir 104 is also dened by upwardly extending wall sections 106 and 108. The lower end of the chute 60 and the upper end of the reservoir 104 are separated by a suitable downwardly inclined screen, or the like, 110 which is adapted to allow Water to drop downwardly from the lower side of the platen 64 into the reservoir 104 vbut prevents any ice cubes which are produced during operation of the apparatus 10 from falling into the reservoir 104. The ice cubes which are produced by the apparatus 10 pass down the chute 60 and along screen 110 and through door 112 to a suitable storage bin or ice cube reservoir (not shown) located within the cabinet 12. Door 112 is hingedly or pivotally mounted at 114 to the chute 60. The force of cubes falling against the inner side of the door 112 will effect opening thereof, whereby the cubes will drop downwardly into the aforementioned ice cube storage bin or reservoir.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, means for spraying water into the plurality of inverted cups 86 mounted on the platen 64 is provided by a generally U-shaped water supply conduit 116 having upwardly extending sections 118 and 120 which project through suitable sealed openings portion of the reservoir 104 by means of a suitable water conduit 140, while the outlet section 138 of the pump housing 134 is communicable with the lower end of the water supply conduit 116 through a suitable conduit 142. The pump unit 132 includes a suitable irnpeller 144 which is drivingly connected through a suitable vertically extending drive shaft 146 with a suitable electric pump motor, generally designated 148, mounted directly above the pump unit 132. The shaft 146 extends through a generally vertically disposed shaft housing 150, the interior of which is communicable through a suitable conduit 152 with the interior of the reservoir 104. The conduit 152 is located below the motor 148 and is thereby adapted to function in communicating any water which may tend to rise along the drive shaft 146 during operation of the pumping assembly 130 back to the reservoir 104, thereby obviating the necessity of providing any packing, seals or the like around the upper end of the shaft 146 to prevent water from being transmitted to the pump motor 148.

In accordance with another principle of the present invention, the reservoir 104 is provided with an overow conduit 154 which, as best seen in FIG. l, is communicable at one end with one side wall of the reservoir 104 and at the opposite end to a suitable water outlet or drain. The overow conduit 154 is positioned relative to the reservoir 104 such that it is adapted to automatically maintain a predetermined volume of water within the reservoir 104, the particular volume of water being approximately equal to that which is required to make up the next batch of ice cubes during the subsequent operational cycle, Thus, the conduit 154 automatically controls the water level within the reservoir 104 so as to assure there is a suicient quantity of water therein to form the next batch of ice cubes, and any water transmitted to the reservoir 104 in excess of the required amount will be automatically communicated to the water outlet Without requiring any drain valves or similar complex and expensive devices to be opened and closed at predetermined times during the operational cycle. It will be seen that the conduit 154 acts as a drain means for the reservoir 104, and also for the cavity 70 via the reservoir 104, overflow passage 88 and oriiice 92. Thus, only a single drain is required for both the reservoir 104 and cavity 70, with such drain means also functioning to maintain suiiicient water within the reservoir 104 for the next ice batch, thereby simplifying the water conveying circuit of the apparatus 10 to a minimum.

In operation of the ice making apparatus 10 of the present invention, assuming the initial conditions that the plurality of inverted ice forming molds 86 are empty, that the tank 34 and reservoir 104 are lilled with water, that the valve mechanism 38 is closed and that the water inlet line 36 is connected to a suitable source of water, the freezing cycle of the apparatus 10 is initiated by starting operation of the compressor 20, for example, by means of energizing in any usual manual or automatic (such as a bin control) manner a suitable control system which is representatively shown in FIGS, l and 6 and generally 122 and 124, respectively, in the recessed portion 100 of the inclined wall section 98. The upper ends of the conduit sections 118 and 120 are provided by suitable spray nozzles or the like, 126 and 128, respectively, which are located centrally of the platen 64, whereby rthe nozzles 126, 128 are adapted to concomitantly spray water updesignated by the numeral 158. As the compressor 20 is started, refrigerant will be forced through the conduit 28 to the condenser 30, and thereafter through the condenser 30 and the conduit 94 and the pressure reducing device (not shown) to the evaporator 72. The refrigerant will thereafter flow through and be vaporized within the evaporator 72 and then be returned to the compressor 20 through the outlet line 76 and compressor inlet conduit 26. Simultaneously, the pump motor 148 will be energized by means of the aforementioned control system 158 which is operatively connected to the motor 148 by means of suitable electrical conductors 160, whereby water within the reservoir 104 will be pumped to the water supply conduit 116 and thereafter be sprayed upwardly through the nozzles 126, 128 into the inverted cups 86 supported on the lower side of the platen 64.

As a result of the water being sprayed into the cups @Lawaaiy 86, ice cubes will begin to form therewithin, with any excess water dropping downwardly through the chute 60 into the reservoir 104. During this time, the water within the tank 34 functions to cool the condenser 30, whereby to condense the hot gaseous refrigerant into a liquid, with the result that the water within the tank 34 simultaneously becomes heated preparatory to the harvest portion of the operational cycle. In the event that and if at any time during the freezing cycle the pressure in the line 28 exceeds a predetermined value, indicating a need for more cooling of the condenser than is being accomplished by the water in tank 94, the pressure responsive valve mechanism 50 will be partially or fully opened to allow a corresponding quantity of water to circulate through the auxiliary water coil 33, which water will thereby fiow in intimate heat transfer relation with respect to the refrigerant coil 32 of the condenser 30, resulting in a prompt reduction of the refrigerant pressure to within acceptable limits. The water thus transmitted through coil 33 `will be communicated to the drain, as above described.

When ice cubes have been formed within the cups 86, after a time which may be controlled by any suitable temperature-sensitive or timing device, the freezing portion of the cycle will be completed and the harvest portion of the cycle will begin. During the harvest portion, the valve mechanism 38 will be opened, with the result that fresh potable water will ow into the tank 34, which incoming water will force the water within the tank 34 that was heated during the freezing portion of the cycle, upwardly through the water outlet conduit 96 which cornmunicates this warm water into the cavity 70 defined by the platen 64. Any excess water conveyed to the cavity 70 will be discharged to the reservoir 104 through the overow passage 88. The warm water thus transmitted to the platen 64 will fiow around the upper sides of the cups 86, thereby thawing the outer surfaces of the ice cubes formed therewithin and releasing such cubes from the platen 64, whereby the cubes will drop downwardly through the chute 60 and force the door 112 open to permit the cubes to fall into the ice cube storage bin within the cabinet 12. The warm water which is conveyed to the cavity 70 will be slowly released (during the harvest cycle and the initial part of the next freezing cycle) through the dribble orifice 92, wherein such water will drop downwardly into the reservoir 104 to be used during the freezing portion of the next successive cycle, the overfiow conduit 154 assuring that the water level in the reservoir 104 will not rise above a preselected position.

After the harvest portion of the cycle has been completed, the valve mechanism 38 will be closed to prevent While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment illustrated herein is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an icemaking apparatus, a form disposed in a substantially horizontal position and defining a plurality of open bottomed ice freezing cells with closed tops, means positioned beneath the form and directing water to the open cells for forming ice therein, water freezing means associated with the cells, first enclosure means for retaining thawing water in heat transfer relation to said form, said first enclosure means including a wall portion in surrounding relationship with respect to said cells and extending to a height approximate said closed tops of said cells and adapted to retain a preselected quantity of thawing water around the exterior of said cells, second enclosure means defining a water reservoir, a source of thawing water adapted to be communicated to said first enclosure means t0 effect release of ice on said form, means for transferring thawing Water from said source thereof to said first enclosure means during a harvest mode of the operational cycle, and a substantially unobstructed discharge passage for continuously discharging water from said first enclosure means to said reservoir regardless of the mode of the operational cycle, said passage being of a preselected size so as to communicate water to said reservoir at a controlled rate, whereby a preselected quantity of water can be communicated to said first enclosure means during said harvest mode and be retained therein adjacent said form for a length of time sufficient to release ice frozen therein, with said quantity of water being discharged from said enclosure means to said reservoir at a rate sufficient to supply said water transferring means with water for the next successive freezing mode.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first enclosure means is disposed above said reservoir and said orifice is formed in the lower side of said first enclosure means in substantialvertical alignment with said reservoir.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes water outlet means and means defining a substantially unobstructed fiow of passage from said first enclosure means to said water outlet and including means for retaining a preselected quantity of water within said reservoir.

4. In an icemaking apparatus, a form disposed in a substantially horizontal position and defining a plurality of open bottomed ice freezing cells with closed tops, means positioned beneath the form and directing water to the open cells for forming ice therein, water freezing means associated with the cells, first enclosure means including cooperable bottom and side wall portions, said wall portions extending upwardly to a height approximate said closed tops of said cells and adapted to retain a preselected quantity of thawing water around the exterior of said cells, second enclosure means defining a water reservoir, a source of thawing water adapted to be communicated to said first enclosure means to effect release of ice on said form, water outlet means, operating means and said means positioned beneath said form and including pumping means for transferring water from said reservoir toward said form to produce a batch of ice during a freezing mode of the operational cycle, and means for transferring thawing water from said source thereof to said first enclosure means during a harvest mode of the operational cycle, and means for controlling the water level within said reservoir whereby a sufficient quantity of water is automatically maintained therewithin to supply said pumping means with enough water to form ice during each successive freezing mode of the operational cycle, said last mentioned means comprising a flow passage communicating water through said bottom Wall portion of said first enclosure means, said passage being of a preselected size so as to communicate water to said reservoir at a controlled rate, whereby a preselected quantity of water can be communicated to said first enclosure means during said harvest mode and be retained therein adjacent said form for a length of time sufficient to release ice frozen therein, with said quantity of water being discharged from said enclosure means to said reservoir at a rate sufficient to supply said water transferring means with water for the next successive freezing mode.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said last mentioned means comprises an overflow conduit, one end of which is communicable with said reservoir and the other end of which is communicable with said water outlet means.

6. In an icemaking apparatus, a form disposed in a substantially horizontal position and defining a plurality of open bottomed ice freezing cells with closed tops, means positioned beneath the form and directngwater to the open cells for forming ice therein, water freezing means associated with the cells, [first enclosure means for retaining thawing water adjacent said form, said rst enclosure means including a wall portion disposed around the periphery of said form and extending upwardly to a height approximate said closed tops of said cells and adapted to retain a preselected quantity of thawing water around the exterior of said cells, second enclosure means defining a water reservoir, a source of thawing water adapted to be communicated to said first enclosure means to effect release of ice on said form, water outlet means, means defining a substantially unobstructed ow passage from said irst enclosure means to said water outlet, .said passage being of a preselected size so as to communicate water to said Vreservoir at a controlled rate, whereby a preselected qua'ntity of water can be communicated to said rst enclosure means during said harvest mode and be retained therein adjacent said form for a length of time sucient to release ice frozen therein, with said quantity of water being discharged from said enclosure means to said reservoir at a rate sucient to supply said water transferring means with water for the next successive freezing mode.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first enclosure means is disposed above said reservoir and said orilce is formed in the lower side of said iirst enclosure mean in substantial vertical alignment with said reservoir.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means comprises an unobstructed passage communicating said Water outlet with said reservoir, said last mentioned means comprising an overflow conduit, one end of` which is communicable with said rservoir and the other end of which is communicable with said water outlet means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,070 1/ 1956 Ames 62--352X' 2,891,387 6/ 1959 Cocanour 62f-348X 3,048,988 8/196-2 Nelson 62--347 3,218,8244 11/1965 Nelson 62-348 WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 62--349

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