Icemaker apparatus

Abstract

Abstract AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ICE IN THE FORM OF SLABS WHICH MAY BE SUBSEQUENTLY DIVIDED INTO RECTANGULAR ICE BODIES OF THE DESIRED DIMENSIONS. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF REFRIGERATED PLATES FOR CONCURRENTLY FORMING A PLUARLITY OF SUCH SLABS. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR FLOWING WATER SERIATIM OVER THE RESPECTIVE PLATES AND RECIRCULATING THE WATER BY SUITABLE PUMP MEANS. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR FREEING THE ICE SLABS FROM THE PLATES BY HEATING THE PLATES UPON COMPLETION OF THE FORMATION OF THE ICE SLABS. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A CONTROL HAVING MEANS FOR SENSING THE FAILURE OF A RELEASED ICE SLAB TO CLEAR THE LOWER END OF THE PLATE AND THEREBY AT LEAST PARTIALLY OBSTRUCT THE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING WATER FROM ONE PLATE TO THE SUBJACENT PLATE, OR RESERVOIR, AND CAUSE A CONTINUATION OF THE OPERATION OF THE RELEASING MEANS UNTIL THE SLAB IS FULLY RELEASED. THE CONTROL FURTHER INCLUDES MEANS FOR PROVIDING A VISUAL INDICATION OF THE FAILURE OF THE SLAB TO BE COMPLETELY FREED FROM THE PLATE AND DELIVERED TO THE CUTTING MEANS. FURTHER, THE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING THE WATER FROM THE LOWER END OF ONE PLATE TO THE SUBSEQUENT PLATE IS PROVIDED WITH IMPROVED MEANS FOR ASSURING FLOW OF WATER IN THE CASCADING ARRANGEMENT NOTWITHSTANDING A PARTIAL BLOCKING OF THE OUTLET OF THE CONDUCTING MEANS AS BY SLUSH ICE.

Inventors

• 👤 Oscar E Wendt

Bibliographic Details