Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Ice making apparatus comprising: an upstanding, corrugated freezing plate defining a plurality of substantially vertically extending ice cube forming channels on one side thereof, a plurality of vertically spaced lugs in engagement with the opposite side of said freezing plate, each of said lugs being angled and having legs substantially parallel to and in close engagement with the adjacent surfaces of said freezing plate on said opposite side thereof so that legs of adjacent lugs surround said ice cube forming channels on said one side of said freezing plate to define vertically spaced ice cubes forming areas in said channels, a refrigeration line in engagement with said lugs, means for supplying water to said one side of said plate at the upper end thereof, whereby water flows down said one side of said plate into said channels and is frozen to form ice cubes thereon at vertically spaced locations adjacent to said lugs, and means to effect removal of the ice cubes from said plate when they reach a predetermined size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Ice making apparatus comprising: an upstanding, corrugated freezing plate defining a plurality of substantially vertically extending ice cube forming channels on one side thereof, a plurality of vertically spaced lugs in engagement with the opposite side of said freezing plate, each of said lugs being angled and having legs substantially parallel to and in close engagement with the adjacent surfaces of said freezing plate on said opposite side thereof so that legs of adjacent lugs surround said ice cube forming channels on said one side of said freezing plate to define vertically spaced ice cubes forming areas in said channels, a refrigeration line in engagement with said lugs, means for supplying water to said one side of said plate at the upper end thereof, whereby water flows down said one side of said plate into said channels and is frozen to form ice cubes thereon at vertically spaced locations adjacent to said lugs, and means to effect removal of the ice cubes from said plate when they reach a predetermined size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said refrigeration line contains a refrigerant; and said removal means comprises a thermostat positioned in one of said channels to be engaged by an adjacent ice cube when it reaches said predetermined size, and means actuated by said thermostat for supplying hot fluid to said refrigeration line to harvest the ice cubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water supplying means comprises a water storage tank positioned beneath said plate, means for conveying water from said storage tank to the upper end of said plate, and means for supplying water to said tank to maintain a predetermined level of water therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said refrigeration line is in engagement with the angled portion of each of said lugs, and the legs of each lug surround and are in close engagement with said refrigeration line to maximize temperature transfer therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lugs and said channels are substantially V-shaped in transverse cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a perforated tray is positioned between the lower end of said freezing plate and said storage tank to receive ice cubes falling from said plate and to allow excess water to pass therethrough into said storage tank for recirculation to the upper end of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein siphon means is positioned in said storage tank to remove water and impurites from the bottom portion thereof when excess water accumulates therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water supplying means comprises a water supply head having a plurality of nozzles for directing streams of water to said channels at the upper end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of freezing plates are disposed in substantially parallel relation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said thermostat is disposed at an angle to the vertical and is positioned to be engaged by an adjacent cube formed in said one channel that is below the uppermost cube to be formed therein, whereby cubes formed in said channel above said adjacent cube will temporarily stack up against said thermostat to maximize the period for harvesting the ice cubes.