Air transport system for ice maker

Claim 2

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: means including a conduit for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to adjacent said storage bin for transporting ice bodies thereinto from said ice body maker; means for bypassing fluid about said storage bin; means for temporarily retaining the transported ice bodies adjacent said storage bin substantially out of the flow path of the flowing fluid; selectively positionable foraminous means controlling delivery of ice bodies to said retaining means; and means for selectively arranging the retaining means to pass the retained ice bodies from said retaining means to the storage bin with a portion of the fluid being diverted to said retaining means for facilitating the passing of the ice bodies therefrom.

Claim 3

The ice body storing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises means defining a holding space having a discharge opening, a retaining member selectively closing said opening, and means for cyclically positioning said retaining means to open said discharge opening for passing the retained ice bodies therefrom to said storage bin.

Claim 4

The ice body storing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage bin is provided with means for controlling the level of ice bodies therein comprising thermostat means for discontinuing delivery of the ice bodies to the storage bin when the level therein reaches a preselected level.

Claim 5

The ice body storing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes means for selectively causing the ice bodies being transported by said flowing fluid to bypass said retaining means for delivery to another location.

Claim 6

The ice body storing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid flowing means includes duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times.

Claim 7

The ice body storing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid flowing means includes duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times, and means for directing ice bodies being transported selectively (a) to said retaining means, or (b) through said duct means with the flowing fluid.

Claim 8

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to adjacent said storage bin for transporting ice bodies thereinto from said ice body maker; means for temporarily retaining the transported ice bodies adjacent Said storage bin substantially out of the flow path of the flowing fluid; and means for selectively arranging the retaining means to pass the retained ice bodies from said retaining means to the storage bin, said fluid flowing means including duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times, and means for directing ice bodies being transported selectively (a) to said retaining means, or (b) through said duct means with the flowing fluid as an incident of the level of ice bodies in said storage bin reaching a preselected level.

Claim 9

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to adjacent said storage bin for transporting ice bodies thereinto from said ice body maker; means for temporarily retaining the transported ice bodies adjacent Said storage bin substantially out of the flow path of the flowing fluid; and means for selectively arranging the retaining means to pass the retained ice bodies from said retaining means to the storage bin, said fluid flowing means including duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times, and means for directing ice bodies being transported selectively (a) to said retaining means, or (b) through said duct means with the flowing fluid as an incident of the level of ice bodies in said storage bin reaching a preselected level.

Claim 10

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to adjacent said storage bin for transporting ice bodies thereinto from said ice body maker; means for temporarily retaining the transported ice bodies adjacent said storage bin substantially out of the flow path of the flowing fluid; and means for selectively arranging the retaining means to pass the retained ice bodies from said retaining means to the storage bin, said fluid flowing means including duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times, and means for directing ice bodies being transported selectively (a) to said retaining means, or (b) through said duct means with the flowing fluid, said means for directing ice bodies comprising a foraminous member selectively disposed across said duct means to pass said flowing fluid to said duct means while preventing transport of the ice bodies to said duct means when the level of ice bodies collected in said storage bin is below said preselected level, and disposed to pass both the flowing fluid and ice bodies transported thereby to said duct means when said level reaches said preselected level.

Claim 11

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to adjacent said storage bin for transporting ice bodies thereinto from said ice body maker; means for temporarily retaining the transported ice bodies adjacent said storage bin substantially out of the flow path of the flowing fluid; and means for selectively arranging the retaining means to pass the retained ice bodies from said retaining means to the storage bin, said fluid flowing means including duct means for conducting the flowing fluid away from adjacent said storage bin substantially at all times, and means for directing ice bodies being transported selectively (a) to said retaining means, or (b) through said duct means with the flowing fluid, said means for directing ice bodies comprising a foraminous member selectively disposed across said duct means to pass said flowing fluid to said duct means while preventing transport of the ice bodies to said duct means when the level of ice bodies collected in said storage bin is below said preselected level, and disposed to pass both the flowing fluid and ice bodies transported thereby to said duct means when said level reaches said preselected level.

Claim 12

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: a diverter device adjacent said storage bin; means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to said diverter device for transporting ice bodies thereto from said ice body maker; and means for temporarily retaining the ice bodies adjacent said storage bin, said diverter device defining a branched duct having an inlet portion receiving the flowing fluid and transported ice bodies, a first outlet leg leading to said retaining means, and a second outlet leg leading to a fluid delivering position, and control means including a foraminous baffle for selectively directing ice bodies entering said inlet portion to either of said outlet legs, said foraminous baffle causing said flowing fluid to apply a static fluid pressure to said first leg when said control means is directing the flowing fluid and ice bodies to said second leg and said retaining means is arranged to retain said ice bodies.

Claim 13

In an apparatus having a storage bin for storing ice bodies remotely of an ice body maker, the improvement comprising: a diverter device adjacent said storage bin; means for flowing a fluid from the remote ice body maker to said diverter device for transporting ice bodies thereto from said ice body maker; and means for temporarily retaining the ice bodies adjacent said storage bin, said diverter device defining a branched duct having an inlet portion receiving the flowing fluid and transported ice bodies, a first outlet leg leading to said retaining means, and a second outlet leg leading to a fluid delivering position, and control means including a foraminous baffle for selectively directing ice bodies entering said inlet portion to either of said outlet legs, said foraminous baffle causing said flowing fluid to apply a static fluid pressure to said first leg when said control means is directing the flowing fluid and ice bodies to said second leg and said retaining means is arranged to retain said ice bodies.

Claim 14

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 further including means responsive to the level of ice bodies collected in said storage bin for causing said control means to deliver ice bodies through said first leg when said level is below a preselected level and to deliver the ice bodies through said second leg when the level reaches said preselected level.

Claim 15

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 further including means for selectively closing the distal end of said first leg against fluid flow to said storage bin.

Claim 16

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein said control means includes a deflector screen for passing fluid from said inlet portion to said second leg while deflecting ice bodies to said first leg for delivery to said storage bin.

Claim 17

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inlet portion and second leg define coaxial tubular portions of said diverter device.

Claim 18

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fluid flowing means includes means for recirculating the fluid.

Claim 19

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein a pluraliTy of storage bins and associated diverter devices are provided, said diverter devices being connected in series relationship for selective delivery to the associated storage bins.

Claim 20

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein a plurality of storage bins and associated diverter devices are provided, said diverter devices being connected in series relationship for selective delivery to the associated storage bins to successively fill said storage bins.

Claim 21

The ice body storage apparatus of claim 9 wherein said control means is arranged to utilize the kinetic energy of the moving ice bodies to effect delivery thereof into said first leg.