Patent US3803871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3803871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice-making apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-20
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Granted: 1974-04-16
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Expires: 1992-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An ice-making apparatus comprises a tube of high thermal conductivity material surrounded by a jacket and enclosing successive rings or collars of low thermal conductivity and high thermal conductivity materials alternatively. Water flows through the tube and the jacket forms the evaporator of a refrigeration system. Ice blocks are thereby formed within the high thermal conductivity rings and are subsequently released by disconnecting the jacket from the refrigeration system and flushing the jacket with a hot gas supply, whereupon the released blocks are expelled by the water flow and are collected on a grid near one end of the tube. After expulsion of the blocks the cycle is repeated by reconnecting the jacket to the refrigeration system. Suitable materials for the rings are polypropylene and copper.
Inventors
- 👤 J Karas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:52
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25C1/04; F25C1/06; F16; F16D; F16D1/00; F16D1/06; F16D1/08; F16D1/0852; F16D1/0858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An ice-making apparatus comprising: an open ended tube; a jacket surrounding said tube and forming a space therewith; heat conductive and heat insulating lining segments alternately positioned inside said tube in end-to-end abutting relation to form an internal duct having a smooth cylindrical surface comprised of alternate contiguous heat conductive and heat insulating cylindrical areas; means for directing a flow of water through said duct; and means for selectively supplying a flow of refrigerant and a flow of gas at a temperature above the freezing point of water through said space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An ice-making apparatus comprising: an open ended tube; a jacket surrounding said tube and forming a space therewith; heat conductive and heat insulating lining segments alternately positioned inside said tube in end-to-end abutting relation to form an internal duct having a smooth cylindrical surface comprised of alternate contiguous heat conductive and heat insulating cylindrical areas; means for directing a flow of water through said duct; and means for selectively supplying a flow of refrigerant and a flow of gas at a temperature above the freezing point of water through said space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ice-making apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water flow directing means operates to pass water upwardly through said duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ice-making apparatus according to claim 1 in which the heat conductive segments are formed by lining collars of metal within the tube and the heat insulating segments are formed by lining collars of heat insulating material within the tube alternating with the metal collars, the ends of adjacent collars being in close abutment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ice-making apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outer surfaces of the heat insulating collars are recessed over a part of their lengths to provide annular air spaces between the collars and the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ice-making apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heat insulating collars are made of a plastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jacket has an inlet or outlet connectable into a refrigerating circuit to provide the flow of refrigerant through the spare and connectable to the circuit condenser to provide the flow of gas through the spare.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ice-making machine according to claim 1, including a water re-circulating system wherein the water supplied to the duct is returned after flowing therethrough to the said flow directing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ice-making apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the said flow directing means includes a tank to receive water returned from the duct, and means for replacing water lost from the re-circulation system as ice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-15 | 1977-10-15 | 1978-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-15 | 1981-10-15 | 1982-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-15 | 1985-10-15 | 1986-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |