Control apparatus for an ice maker

Claim 2

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways of an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means including a single single-pole switch operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for operating said auger motor whenever the accumu-lation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value.

Claim 3

In an ice maker, a control circuit as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and said switch, said switch closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value.

Claim 4

In an ice maker, a control circuit as defined in claim 2, said series circuit further comprising a normally closed thermal overload switch connected in series with the auger motor and opening whenever the auger motor is overloaded.

Claim 5

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, said series circuit further comprising a noramally closed thermal overload switch connected in series with the auger motor and opening whenever the auger motor is overloaded, thermostatic safety switch means sensing the temperature of the evaporator and closing whenever the temperature of the evaporator is above a first preselected value and opening whenever the temperature of the evaporator is below a second preselected value less than said first preselected value, and relay switch means including a relay coil and a first set of normally opened contacts, said relay coil being connected in parallel with said auger motor, and said first set of normally opened contacts being connected in parallel with said safety switch means, whereby whenever said thermal overload switch opens, said first set of relay contacts opens so that said auger motor means may not be restarted unless said safety thermostatic switch means are closed.

Claim 6

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, said series circuit further comprising a noramally closed thermal overload switch connected in series with the auger motor and opening whenever the auger motor is overloaded, thermostatic safety switch means sensing the temperature of the evaporator and closing whenever the temperature of the evaporator is above a first preselected value and opening whenever the temperature of the evaporator is below a second preselected value less than said first preselected value, and relay switch means including a relay coil and a first set of normally opened contacts, said relay coil being connected in parallel with said auger motor, and said first set of normally opened contacts being connected in parallel with said safety switch means, whereby whenever said thermal overload switch opens, said first set of relay contacts opens so that said auger motor means may not be restarted unless said safety thermostatic switch means are closed.

Claim 7

In an ice maker, a control circuit as defined in claim 4, and further characterized by: said relay switch means including a second set of normally opened contacts connected with the compressor motor and closing to operate the compressor motor whenever said relay coil is energized and opening whenever said relay coil is deenergized, whereby said compressor will not be operated in the event said thermal overload switch is opened.

Claim 8

In an ice maker, a control circuit as defined in claim 5 and further compRising: manually operable switch means having a first set of normally closed contacts, a second set of normally closed contacts and a set or normally opened contacts, all of said sets of contacts being mechanically innerconnected for operation in unison, said first set of normally closed contacts being connected in a series circuit comprising said control switch means, said thermostatic safety swtich means, said auger motor overload switch means and the auger motor, said second set of normally closed contacts being connected in series with said relay coil, and said set of normally opened contacts being connected in parallel with said control switch means, said safety thermostatic switch means, and said first set of normally closed contacts.

Claim 11

A control apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said switch means comprises: relay switch means including a relay coil and a set of normally opened contacts, said relay coil being connected in parallel with said auger motor and said set of relay contacts being connected in series with said compressor motor, whereby whenever said thermal overload switch opens, said relay coil is deenergized to open said set of relay contacts to discontinue the operation of said compressor motor.

Claim 12

A control apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said switch means further comprises: manually operable switch means having a first set of normally closed contacts, a second set of normally closed contacts and a set of normally opened contacts, all of said sets of contacts being mechanically innerconnected for operation in unison, said first set of normally closed contacts being connected in a series circuit comprising said auger motor and said thermal overload switch, said second set of normally closed contacts being connected in series with said relay coil, and said set of normally opened contacts being connected in parallel with said first set of normally closed contacts, whereby whenever said set of normally opened contacts are closed, said relay coil is deenergized to prevent the operation of said compressor motor, while enabling the operation of said auger motor separately of said compressor motor.

Claim 13

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an Electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor, and control switch means comprising a single single-pole switch operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and the temperature of the evatorator is above a preselected temperature.

Claim 14

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an Electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor, and control switch means comprising a single single-pole switch operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and the temperature of the evatorator is above a preselected temperature.

Claim 15

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals and circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compessor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, and relay switch means including a relay coil and a first set of normally opened contacts, said relay coil being connected in parallel with said auger motor, and said first set of normally opened contacts being connected between said compressor motor and said input terminals.

Claim 16

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; bin sensing means for sensing the level of ice in said bin; suction line sensing means for sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals and circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means operated by said bin sensing means and said suction line sensing means for closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compessor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, and relay switch means including a relay coil and a first set of normally opened contacts, said relay coil being connected in parallel with said auger motor, and said first set of normally opened contacts being connected between said compressor motor and said input terminals.

Claim 17

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor And having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein sqid control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, and a thermostatic switch having a temperature sensing bulb element disposed in the bin and a capillary tube innerconnecting said bulb with means controlling the condition of said control switch means, wherein said capillary tube has a portion disposed adjacent to and sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line at a location adjacent the compressor.

Claim 18

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways and an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor And having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein sqid control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value, said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and control switch means closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value, and a thermostatic switch having a temperature sensing bulb element disposed in the bin and a capillary tube innerconnecting said bulb with means controlling the condition of said control switch means, wherein said capillary tube has a portion disposed adjacent to and sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line at a location adjacent the compressor.

Claim 19

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways of an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means including a single switch for operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value; said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and said switch, said switch closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value; said switch comprising a thermostatic switch having a temperature sensing bulb element disposed in the bin and a capillary tube innerconnecting said bulb element with means controlling the condition of said control switch means, wherein said capillary tube has a portion disposed adjacent to and sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line at a location adjacent the compressor.

Claim 20

In an ice maker of the type comprising a freezing cylinder having means forming passageways of an evaporator disposed circumjacent thereto, the evaporator being part of a refrigeration circuit which also includes a condenser and a compressor driven by an electric compressor motor and having a suction line connected with the evaporator, an auger rotatable within the freezing cylinder and being driven by an electric auger motor, bin means for receiving and storing an ice product produced by the ice maker, and control circuit means controlling the operation of the ice maker, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: input terminals for connection with an electric supply; control circuit means for controlling the operation of said auger motor and being connected with said input terminals, said circuit means including a single switch for operating said auger motor whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below a preselected level and the temperature of the compressor is above a first preselected value and discontinuing the operation of the auger motor whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below a second preselected value less than the first preselected value; said control circuit means comprising a series circuit connected with said input terminals and including the auger motor and said switch, said switch closing whenever the accumulation of ice within the bin is below the preselected level and the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is above the first preselected value and opening whenever either the accumulation of ice within the bin is above the preselected level or the temperature of the compressor suction line adjacent to the compressor is below the second preselected value; said switch comprising a thermostatic switch having a temperature sensing bulb element disposed in the bin and a capillary tube innerconnecting said bulb element with means controlling the condition of said control switch means, wherein said capillary tube has a portion disposed adjacent to and sensing the temperature of the compressor suction line at a location adjacent the compressor.