US4257237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical control circuit for ice making machine
Assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
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Filing: 1979-05-15
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Granted: 1981-03-24
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Expires: 1999-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A control circuit for an ice making machine having an ice forming mold and a refrigeration system for controlling the operation of the refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in the mold during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from the mold during a harvest cycle, including a timing circuit that is adapted to vary the time period of the freeze cycle in accordance with the temperatures of the ambient air and/or inlet water and to vary the time period of the harvest cycle in accordance with the temperature of the ambient air. In addition, the control circuit is further adapted to control the operation of the condenser fan during the harvest cycle in accordance with the temperature of the condensing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter H. Hoenisch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:18
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25C1/04; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1913; G05D23/1927; G05D23/193; G05D23/1931; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; F25C2600/00; F25C2600/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: first temperature responsive means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to temperature and being disposed so as to indicate ambient temperature; and timing circuit means responsive to said first temperature responsive means for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle by varying said time period in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said first temperature responsive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: first temperature responsive means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to temperature and being disposed so as to indicate ambient temperature; and timing circuit means responsive to said first temperature responsive means for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle by varying said time period in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said first temperature responsive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control circuit of claim 1 wherein said timing circuit means is further adapted to control the time period of said harvest cycle by varying said time period in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said first temperature responsive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control circuit of claim 2 wherein said timing circuit means includes a first variable timer for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle and a second variable timer for controlling the time period of said harvest cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The control circuit of claim 1 wherein said refrigeration system includes a condensing unit and a condenser fan, and wherein said control circuit further comprises temperature responsive means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to temperature and being disposed so as to indicate the temperature of said condenser, and first switching circuit means for controlling the activation of said fan during said harvest cycle in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said temperature responsive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control circuit of claim 3 wherein said first variable timer is adapted to initiate said second variable timer after said first variable timer has timed out.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control circuit of claim 5 wherein said first temperature responsive means comprises first and second temperature responsive resistance elements that are adapted to vary their resistance values in accordance with changes in the temperature of the ambient air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control circuit of claim 1 which includes second temperature response means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to inlet water temperature and wherein said timing circuit means is responsive to said first and second temperature responsive means for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control circuit of claim 7 wherein said second temperature responsive means comprises a third temperature responsive resistance element that is adapted to vary its resistance value in accordance with changes in the temperature of the inlet water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control circuit of claim 8 wherein said first and third temperature responsive resistance elements are connected in parallel and connected to said first variable timer to vary the time period of said timer in accordance with changes in the resistance values of said first and third elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The control circuit of claim 7 wherein said second temperature responsive resistance element is connected to said second variable timer to vary the time period of said second timer in accordance with changes in the resistance value of said second element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The control circuit of claim 1 further including a storage bin and bin level control means for enabling said timing circuit means when the level of ice in said storage bin falls below a first predetermined level and for disabling said timing circuit means when the level of ice in said storage bin exceeds a second greater predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control circuit of claim 11 further including circuit means responsive to said timing circuit means for preventing said bin level control means from disabling said timing circuit means during said freeze cycle and said harvest cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control circuit of claim 12 wherein said circuit means includes a fixed timer which delays operation of said circuit means for a preselected period after the beginning of said freeze cycle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the method of producing ice including the steps of: monitoring the temperature of the ambient air; and controlling the time period of said freeze cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the ambient air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the method of producing ice including the steps of: monitoring the temperature of the ambient air; and controlling the time period of said freeze cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the ambient air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control circuit of claim 14 further including the steps of controlling the time period of said harvest cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the ambient air.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control circuit of claim 15 wherein the refrigeration system includes a condensing unit and a condenser fan and further including the steps of monitoring the temperature of said condenser and controlling the activation of said fan in accordance with the temperature of said condenser during said harvest cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 which includes the additional steps of monitoring the temperature of the inlet water, and controlling the time period of said freeze cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the ambient air and inlet water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: first temperature responsive means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to temperature and being disposed so as to indicate inlet water temperature; and timing circuit means responsive to said first responsive means for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle by varying said time period in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said first temperature responsive means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises: first temperature responsive means having an electrical characteristic that varies according to temperature and being disposed so as to indicate inlet water temperature; and timing circuit means responsive to said first responsive means for controlling the time period of said freeze cycle by varying said time period in accordance with variations in said electrical characteristic of said first temperature responsive means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the method of producing ice including the steps of: monitoring the temperature of the inlet water; and controlling the time period of said freeze cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the inlet water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ice making machine having an ice forming mold for receiving water to be frozen therein, a refrigeration system, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of said refrigeration system so as to cause water to freeze in said forms during a freezing cycle and to effect release of ice from said forms during a harvest cycle; the method of producing ice including the steps of: monitoring the temperature of the inlet water; and controlling the time period of said freeze cycle in accordance with variations in the temperature of the inlet water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3714794A
Cited
US3774407A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-09-22 | 1985-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-23 | 1988-09-22 | 1989-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-09-22 | 1993-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |