US3844134A - Auger type ice cube maker - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for making hard clear ice cubes or other shapes at a relatively rapid rate in which an auger rotating in a stationary freezing chamber having a cylindrical wall advances slush ice toward an indexable cube-forming unit comprising a shaping plate having openings therein into which the slush ice is forced against a spring-loaded pressure plate so that when the ice in the openings has been compressed to a degree at which hard, clear ice forms, the pressure plate is moved to initiate an indexing of the forming unit to a location at which the pressure plate is actuated to eject the cubes to a collecting and storage mechanism.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Krueger et al.

1 51 Oct. 29, 1974 AUGER TYPE ICE CUBE MAKER 3,034,311 5/1962 Nelson 62/354 x 3,593,539 ll 1971 F' dl [751 lnvemors Harvey Kmge" carpe'ltelsvuei 3,686,890 sl1972 L y ma ii 62/354 x Charles G. Neumann, Palatme; Peterson Hofiman Estates Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin 0 Attorney, Agent, or FirmShenier & OConnor [73] Assignee: Reynolds Products, Inc.,

Schaumburg, Ill. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1972 A machine for making hard clear ice cubes or other shapes at a relatively rapid rate in which an auger 1'0- [211 App! 314,781 tating in a stationary freezing chamber having a cylindrical wall advances slush ice toward an indexable 52 US. Cl. 62/354 cube-forming unit comprising a Shaping Plate having 51 1m. (:1. F25C 1/14 Openings therein into which the Slush ice is forced Field O Search 62/354, 347, 75, 320, 74; against a spring-loaded pressure plate so that when the 100/147 X 192 ice in the openings has been compressed to a degree at which hard, clear ice forms, the pressure plate is [56] References Cit d moved to initiate an indexing of the forming unit to a UNITED STATES PATENTS location at which the pressure plate is actuated to 530,526 12/1894 Holden 62/354 x elect the cubes to a collectmg and Storage mechamsm' 2,646,594 7/1953 Field 62/345 X 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 AUGER TYPE rcE CUBE MAKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are two general types of ice making machines known in the prior art. The first and more familiar of these is a machine in which water is poured into iceforming chambers and issubjected to the action of a refrigerant until true ice is produced. By true ice is meant hard, clear ice forms. While machines of this type produce high quality ice, they are by their nature extremely inefficient. The reason for the inefficiency of ice cube making machines of this type is the poor heat transfer characteristics of ice itself. When an attempt is made to freeze a relatively thick piece of ice by direct heat transfer alone, a tremendous refrigeration effort is required. For example, the conventional ice cube manufacturing machine requires a one-half horse power compressor and will produce only approximately 110 pounds of ice per day.

The second principal type of icemaker known in the prior art is one in which ice crystals which are scraped from a freezing surface to provide slush ice are forced through a die or the like to produce a rod or rods of ice which can be broken into pieces. An icemaker of this type is shown for example, in Reynolds U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,624. A machine of the type shown in the Reynolds patent is a'great deal more efficient than is the conventional ice cube-making machine described hereinabove. For example, the icemaker described in that patent will produce approximately 300 pounds of ice per day using a one-third horse power compressor.

While a machine of the type in which slush ice is forced through a forming die is much more efficient than is a conventional ice cube maker, the former machine produces ice which is inferior in quality to that produced on the conventional machine. In the art of manufacturing cubes or chunks of ice of various shapes, a very definite distinction is made in the art between cube ice, such as that produced on the conventional machine and flake ice formed under pressure. The former is hard and clear and regular in nature. On the other hand, the flake ice produced by machines of the type in which slush ice is compressed to produce the chunks, the ice is not generally clear, is not regular in nature, and is not as hard as cube ice produced on conventional machines. The basic reason for that fact is that the ice making delivery capacity of a machine of the latter type varies with changes in ambient temperature and with the condition of the refrigerating system. That is, while the rate at which machines of this type deliver ice is constant, the quality of the ice varies considerably.

We have invented an auger ice cuber which overcomes the defects of ice making machines of the prior art. Our auger ice cuber is adapted to form high quality ice shapes in a highly efficient manner. Our cuber is more efficient than are direct heat transfer ice making machines of the prior art. Our cuber produces a better quality ice than do slush or flake ice producing machines of the prior art. Our machine permits the shape of the ice pieces to be changed with relative ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber which overcomes the defects of ice chunk producing machines of the prior art.

Another object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber which produces cubes or other shapes of ice of high quality in an efficient manner.

A further object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber which is more efficient than are direct heat transfer ice cube making machines of the prior art.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber which produces higher quality ice than do slush orflake ice producing machines of the prior art. A still further object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber which permits the shape of the ice chunks produced to be changed with relative ease.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of an auger ice cube make in'which a rotating auger scrapes ice crystals from a cylindrical freezing surface and forwards the resultant slush ice toward an iceforming plate having openings into which the slush ice is forced against the action of the spring-loaded pressure plate which closes the other ends of the openings until the ice has been subjected to sufficient pressure to form hard, clear pieces and to move the pressure plate against the action of its loading springs to initiate an indexing movement of the forming plate to a location at which the pressure plate is actuated to eject the ice pieces into a collecting and storage mechanism. The ice shaping plate may readily be changed so as to permit the formation of pieces of different shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an elevation with parts in section of our auger ice cube maker.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the auger ice maker shown in FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of our auger ice maker shown in FIG. 2 and taken along the lines 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of one form of electrical control circuit which may be used with our auger ice cube maker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, our auger ice cube maker, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes a base plate 12 which supports the ice maker system indicated generally by the reference character 14, and the ice harvester system, indicated generally by the reference character 16. The ice maker system 14 includes a generally cylindrical freezer chamber 18 supported on a boss 20 at the base of a quill 22. The assembly of the chamber 18 and quill 22 is supported on a base plate 24 secured to the upper end of a gear housing 26. A jacket 28 surrounding the chamber 18 houses the refrigerating coils 30 which are insulated therefrom by a suitable insulating material 32. A cap 34 closes the upper end of the space enclosed by the chamber 18 and the jacket 28. Our machine insystem 16 and to move the unit 56 to cludes a frame plate 36 having an opening 35 in which cap 34 is located.

The gear box 26 has an output shaft 40 which is connected by a coupler 42 to the drive shaft 44. We thread the upper end of an auger 46 to the shaft 44. It will be seen that the quill 22 supports the auger along its length for rotary movement and that shaft 44 is adapted to drive the auger. We so construct the auger as to have at least three flights which are adapted to engage the inner surface of chamber 18 to scrape ice crystals from the surface and to advance them upwardly as viewed from the FIG. 3 in the form of slush ice.

A nut 48 threaded onto the upper end of a vertical shaft 50 secures an indexing plate 52 to shaft 50 for rotation therewith in a manner to be described. Our machine includes a pair of cube-forming units indicated generally by the respective reference characters 54 and 56, each of which units is mounted on plate 52 so as to be movable therewith. Since the two units 54 and 56 are substantially identical, we will describe in detail only the unit 54.

Unit 54 includes an ice shaping plate 58 secured in a suitable opening in indexing plate 52 by means of screws 62. We provide the plate 58 with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ice forming chambers 60 adapted to receive slush ice being advanced upwardly by the auger 46.

A bolt 64 having a head 66 extends through a central opening in plate 58 with its head 66 disposed in a recess 68 below the opening. A key 70 or the like prevents relative rotation between the bolt 64 and the plate 58. A pressure plate 72 is mounted for axial movement rela tive to the bolt 64 by means of a suitable guide 74. The dimensions of the plate 72 are such that it normally covers the upper ends of the ice shaping openings 60. A pile of springs 76 surrounding the guide 74 are adapted to load the pressure plate 72. A spring loading cap 78 positioned along the length of the bolt 64 by means of an adjusting nut 80 determines the pressure exerted by the springs on the plate 72. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, we so regulate the pressure exerted by springs 76 that plate 72 moves slightly upwardly when hard clear ice pieces have been formed in openings 60. In response to that movement the indexing plate is rotated through approximately 180 to move the unit 54 to a location adjacent the harvesting a location adjacent the ice-forming system 14. i

The harvester and storage system 16 includes a harvester drive motor 82 and a gear system 84 the output shaft of which drives a shaft 86 carrying a sprocket wheel 88 for rotation therewith. A pitch chain 90 driven by sprocket wheel 88 drives a sprocket wheel 92 on a shaft 94 supported in a thrust bearing 96. Shaft 94 is adapted to be clutched to the shaft 50 by a clutch 98.

As has been explained hereinabove, when the pressure exerted by the auger 46 on slush ice being forced upwardly into the chambers 60 is sufficiently great, hard clear ice forms in the chambers. The pressure required to form hard clear ice is sufficiently great to raise the plate 72 slightly to actuate a switch 100. Actuhereinbelow, actuation of switch 104 deenergizes clutch 98.

As the unit 54 in which hard cubes have been formed arrives at its position adjacent to the storage unit 16, a cam 105 on the machine frame strikes the pressure plate to move it downwardly to eject the cubes from the openings 60. Cubes thus ejected from the openings pass downwardly through a chute 106 to an opening 108 in a reservoir feed tube 110. Cubes moving into the tube 110 are adapted to be advanced upwardly into a storage chamber 112. To achieve this purpose, we mount a feeding screw 114 on the shaft 86 for rotation therewith. Further we provide the upper end of shaft 86 with agitators 116 for preventing the cubes fed upwardly from freezing together.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one form of electrical circuit which may be used to control the operation of our machine includes a pair of conductors 120 and 122 connected to the terminals 124 and 126 of a suitable source of electrical energy. A push button PB! is adapted to be actuated to energize a relay winding R to close a pair of normally open switches R1 and R2. Closing of the switch R1 results in concomitant energization of both the freezing unit drive motor 38 and the storage unit motor 82. Closing of the switch R2 completes a holding circuit for winding R through a normally closed push button switch PB2 which may be operated to stop the machine. Closing of switch 100 momentarily energizes clutch 98 to couple shaft 94 to the shaft 50. Cam 102 closes switch 104 after shaft 50 beginss to rotate and provides a holding circuit for the clutch 98 for a half revolution of the shaft 50. At the end of that half revolution, switch 104 opens and clutch is deenergized.

In operation of our auger ice cube maker button FBI is pushed to energize both motors 38 and 82. As motor 38 rotates auger 46 is driven to scrape crystals of ice from the inner surface of the cylindrical freezing chamber 18. These ice crystals are advanced upwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 in the form of slush ice and are advanced into the openings 60 under the pressure of the auger'and against the action of the pressure plate 72. Ultimately, the pressure being exerted on this slush ice is sufficiently great to transform theslush ice into hard clear high quality ice. As that occurs, the pressure plate 72 is raised slightly to actuate switch 100 to energize clutch 98 to couple shaft 94 t0 shaft 50. Switch 104 provides a holding circuit for the clutch 98 for a half revolution of shaft 50 in the course of which the unit 54 moves from adjacent to the ice making system 14 to the unloading and harvesting system 16. Upon arrival at the harvesting location a cam 105 strikes the pressure plate to eject the ice pieces from the chamber 60 to cause them to fall down chute 106 and into the screw 114 which advances them upwardly to the storage chamber 112.

Our system operates to produce ice of consistently high quality. This is achieved without regard to various conditions of refrigeration such, for example, as relatively high ambient temperatures, clogged or dirty condensers and the like. We achieve this resukt by adjusting the pressure exerted by springs 76 on the pressure plate 72. This can readily be done by turning the nut 80 on the bolt 64. In actual practice we have found that slush ice can be transformed into a clear hard piece of ice by compressing it to approximately 1,000 psi. Our machine does not deliver ice on a constant basis as do other slush or chip ice makers but holds the ice back until the necessary compressive force has been exerted on the slush ice. Operation of the unit is not affected by the design of the openings in the ice-forming plate. We can, moreover, readily change the shape of the piece of ice produced merely by replacing one shaping plate 58 with a shaping plate having openings 60 of a different configuration.

it will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided an ice cube maker which overcomes the defects of ice cube making mechanisms of the prior art. Our auger ice cube maker produces higher quality pieces of ice than do slush or chip ice making machines of the prior art. Our ice maker is more efficient than are direct heat transfer ice cube making mechanisms of the prior art. Our machine combines the advantages of high quality ice with high efficiency. The shape of the pieces of ice produced by our ice maker may readily be changed at will.

it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. it is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. it is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming pieces of hard clear ice including in combination, a forming unit comprising a shaping plate having an open-ended forming chamber therein, a pressure plate adapted to close one end of said forming chamber, and means for urging said pressure plate against said forming plate with a predetermined force, means mounting said forming unit for movement from an ice-making station to an iceharvesting station, means at said ice-making station for urging slush ice into the forming chamber through the other end thereof against the action of said pressure plate to form a clear hard piece of ice in said forming chamber, means responsive to movement of said pressure plate under the action of said piece of ice against the action of said urging means for moving said forming unit from said ice-making station to said harvesting station and means at said harvesting station for actuating said pressure plate to eject said piece of ice.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said shaping plate has a plurality of forming chambers therein.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said forming unit mounting means an indexing plate having an opening for receiving said shaping plate and means detachably mounting said shaping plate in said opening.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said slush ice urging means comprises means forming a generally cylindrical ice crystal forming surface, an auger adapted to scrape ice crystals from said surface and means for driving said auger.

Claims (4)

1. Apparatus for forming pieces of hard clear ice including in combination, a forming unit comprising a shaping plate having an open-ended forming chamber therein, a pressure plate adapted to close one end of said forming chamber, and means for urging said pressure plate against said forming plate with a predetermined force, means mounting said forming unit for movement from an icemaking station to an ice-harvesting station, means at said icemaking station for urging slush ice into the forming chamber through the other end thereof against the action of said pressure plate to form a clear hard piece of ice in said forming chamber, means responsive to movement of said pressure plate under the action of said piece of ice against the action of said urging means for moving said forming unit from said ice-making station to said harvesting station and means at said harvesting station for actuating said pressure plate to eject said piece of ice.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said shaping plate has a plurality of forming chambers therein.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said forming unit mounting means an indexing plate having an opening for receiving said shaping plate and means detachably mounting said shaping plate in said opening.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said slush ice urging means comprises means forming a generally cylindrical ice crystal forming surface, an auger adapted to scrape ice crystals from said surface and means for driving said auger.

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