Patent US4255941A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4255941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice making machine and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-12-05
•
Granted: 1981-03-17
•
Expires: 1999-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An evaporator unit for an ice making machine is formed of two vertical series of semi-cylindrical ice-forming molds joined tangentially back-to-back creating a cascade of fluid conduits between them through which refrigerant is passed. Water flows from a weir down over the exposed surfaces of the ice-forming molds until they become filled with ice whereupon hot gas is momentarily passed through the fluid conduits to release an assembly of ice pieces from the evaporator unit. Thereafter, the ice making cycle is repeated by continuing the water and refrigerant flow to produce another assembly of ice pieces.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose B. Bouloy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:54
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C5/00; F25C5/02; F25C5/04; F25C5/08; F25C5/10; F25C1/00; F25C1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An ice machine evaporator unit comprising: a first series of ice-forming molds, each mold of the series being substantially a semi-cylinder, said molds having their longitudinal axis parallel to one another and being joined tangentially at the lip thereof to adjacent molds with the joined lips lying in a plane, a second series of ice-forming molds structured similarly to said first series, said first and second series of molds being assembled in back-to-back tangential contact forming therebetween a cascade of fluid conduits of approximately triangular cross-section, the longitudinal axis of said conduits being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ice-forming molds, conduit means at the ends of said fluid conduits joining said fluid conduits for seriatim flow of fluid there through, weir means at one end of said assembly of first and second molds for flowing water over the exposed surfaces of said ice-forming molds, and collector means at the end of said assembly opposite to said weir means for receiving water discharged from said ice-forming molds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An ice machine evaporator unit comprising: a first series of ice-forming molds, each mold of the series being substantially a semi-cylinder, said molds having their longitudinal axis parallel to one another and being joined tangentially at the lip thereof to adjacent molds with the joined lips lying in a plane, a second series of ice-forming molds structured similarly to said first series, said first and second series of molds being assembled in back-to-back tangential contact forming therebetween a cascade of fluid conduits of approximately triangular cross-section, the longitudinal axis of said conduits being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ice-forming molds, conduit means at the ends of said fluid conduits joining said fluid conduits for seriatim flow of fluid there through, weir means at one end of said assembly of first and second molds for flowing water over the exposed surfaces of said ice-forming molds, and collector means at the end of said assembly opposite to said weir means for receiving water discharged from said ice-forming molds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 wherein said weir means is a trough of rectangular cross-section with an open top.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 wherein said collector means is a trough of trapesodial cross-section with an open top.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 which comprises pump means to circulate water from said collector means to said weir means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 wherein said plane in which said joined lips lie is a substantially vertical plane and said longitudinal axis of said semi-cylinders run substantially horizontally.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The evaporator unit of claim 5 wherein there are a multiplicity of vertical contoured webs that subdivide said horizontal semi-cylinders into a multi-cavity mold grid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The evaporator unit of claim 6 wherein said weir means is positioned longitudinally above the top of said mold grid and said collector means is positioned longitudinally below the bottom of said mold grid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 that is connected to a refrigeration unit for circulation of refrigerant through said fluid conduits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The evaporator unit of claim 1 having float controlled valve means for discharging make-up water into said collector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US82593A
Cited
US1545893A
Cited
US2129473A
Cited
US2493270A
Cited
US2949752A
Cited
US3054274A
Cited
US3778018A
Cited
US4107943A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |