Method and apparatus for freezing liquids

Claim 1

A METHOD OF FREEZING A LIQUID COMPRISING, SUPPLYING THE LIQUID TO BE FROZEN TO AN ANNULAR REFRIGERATED SURFACE TO FREEZE A LAYER OF PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING THICKNESS ON THE SURFACE, ROTATING AN ICE REMOVING DEVICE HAVING A BLUNT HELICAL ICE ENGAGING SURFACE RELATIVE TO THE FREEZING SURFACE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE FREEZING SURFACE, SUPPORTING THE ICE ENGAGING SURFACE FOR LIMITED AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE FREEZING SURFACE TO ALLOW THE ICE ENGAGING SURFACE TO SCREW ALONG THE FROZEN LAYER WHEN THE LAYER COINTACTS THE ICE REMOVING SURFACE, AND YIELDABLY OPPOSING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE ICE ENGAGING SURFACE TO PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE ICE LAYER IN A DIRECTION ALONG THE FREEZING SURFACE TO BREAK THE BOND BETWEEN THE LAYER AND THE SURFACE.