CA1203694A - Ice product and method and apparatus for making same - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An ice product is disclosed having improved liquid displacement characteristics and which is of a configuration which provides for splash resistance and resistance to bridging between adjacently stored products. The apparatus and method for producing the improved ice product is disclosed in the form of an ice making machine having one or more com-bination evaporator and ice form assemblies, each of the assem-blies being provided with a plurality of pockets or recesses in which the ice product is formed during a freezing or re-frigeration cycle, the ice products being subsequently dis-charged to an associated storage area during a subsequent harvest cycle. In a preferred construction of the present invention, the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies are arranged in a generally vertical orientation and ice make-up water is communicated to a manifold arrangement disposed above each of the assemblies, which water is intended to cascade over the surfaces of the ice forms and freeze within the pockets or recesses therein. The combination evaporator and ice form assemblies are designed such that a unique heat transfer is effected between the evaporator coils and the water freezing within the ice pockets, whereby substantially symmetrically-shaped ice products are formed within the pockets. Alternative embodiments of the present invention disclose the ice form assemblies being mounted in horizontal and inclined orientations and with the water being supplied thereto by means of associated water spray bars or the like.

Description

~3~4 Generally spPaking, the present invention is directed toward a new and irnproved ice making machine for producing ice cubes of the type which are commonly utilized for cooling beverages and the like and toward a new method of making ice products.
Th;s is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 371,23~, filed February 19, 1981.
The present invention is directed to~lard an ice making machine ~or producing an ice product and which incorp-orates a novel combination evaporator and ice form assembly andmethod of making ice products. The assembly,in one form of the present inventior, includes a combinatien evaporator and ice form plate which is intended to be vertically arranged and have ice make-up water cascaded over the opposite sides ther~of such that the ice product or "cubes" are Formed in ice forming pockets or recesses formed on the opposite sides of the assembly. A
novel water manifold arrangement may be provided adjacent the top of the ice form assemblies for distributing the ice make-up w~ter -thereover.
~n Accordin9 to the present ;nvention there is provided a ice making machine ~hich has a refrigeration system inclllding a combination evaporator and ice forminc~ assembly, the assembly h~ving at least one ice forming pocket formed thereon, the pocket being at least in part defined by relatively heat inslJlating material of thickness that varies at predetermined locations across the sur-face oF tne poc~et in o~cler to corres-pondingly vary at the precletermined locations the thickness oF the ice procll~ct prodnced therein. Means is provided for ~ B 3~

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communicating a source of ice make-up water to the assembly, and means supports the assembly in a generally vertical orientation. ~ater distribution means is disposed adjacent an uppermost portion of the assembly -for distributing make-up water from the source thereof to the ice formed so that the water may cascade over the form and free2e thereon under the influence of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator.
More speclfically, the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies each include an evaporator conduit that is arranged in a predetermined configuration so as to cooperate with a plurality of heat transfer elements which partially define the ice ~orming pockets. As is well known in the art, the evaporator conduit serves to communicating refrigerant through the evaporator assembly to effect freezing of the ice make-up water communicated to the ice forming pockets, and during the harvest c~ycle, hot refrigerant gases are circulated through the conduit to effect release of the thereto formed ice cubes, as will hereinaFter be described in detail. An assemb-lage of the evaporator conduit and associated heat transfer elements is a monolithic structure resulting -From subjecting such assembly to a moldin~ operation wherein a poly~eric material, such as plastic, is molcled around and through the interstices of the assembly to define the marginal edge portions of the ice forming pockets. ~he heat transfer members are formed such that the pockets on the opposite sides of the assemblies are staggered with respect to one another to provide for a highly compact arrangement which is efficlent insofar as space re~uirements and also insofar as the energy requirements needed ib~:J

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to effect heat transfer from the ice ma~e-up water being supplied to the ice forming pockets, ~hereby the ice producing capacity of the present invention, for a given measure of space and a given refrigeration system, is considerably greater than various types o-f pr;or art arrangements. An additional feature of the present invention resides in the elimination of the need of any spray bars or other water distributing devices which have been heretofore rotatably or oscillatably mounted in prior art arrangements for supplying water to associated ice molds. Accordingly, the number of moving parts of the present ;nvention is minimized to the extreme, whereby to provide for economy of pro~-lctior, mairitendnce~ and so to assure fcr a long and effective operational life, as will hereinafter be described in detail.
Another aspect of the invention resides in the method of makiny an ice product and includes the steps of introducing ice make-up water into an open-sided ice form having an interior surface and operating heat removing means adjacent the form.
Relatively non-heat transfer means is provided between the heat removing means and the surface so that the make-up water will gradually freeze within the form and produce an ice product, the cross-sectional thickness of which will vary in inverse relation to the magnitude o~ the thickness of the relative non-heat trans-fer means.
It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ice making machine and method for making ice.

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~2Q36~4 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description ta~en in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCNPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevated perspective view o~ an`
ice making machine incorporating the principles of the present in~ention therein;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a portion 1 n 0~ th~ ice making section of the ice making machine shown .in Fi~ure l;
Figure 3 is an e~ploded assembly view of one of ~h~ combination evaporators and ice form assemblies embodying the present invention;

~, 3~2Q3694 Figure 4 is an enlarged fra~mentary cross sec~ional view of a portion of the assembly sho~;n in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a long;tudinal cross sectional vie~ of the wateT manifold member incorporated in the structure shown in ~igure 4;
Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional ~ie~ of the water distribution enclosure member incorporated in the structure shown in Figure 4, ~ FiguTe 7 is a top elevational view of ~he structure shown in Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of one of the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies incorporated in the ice making machine shown in Figure 1 and turnecl 90 from its normal operatin~ ~osition Figure 9 îs an enlarged transverse cross sectional view of one of the heat transfeT elements and associated ~efrigerant conduits embodied in the assembly shown in Figure 8;
Pigure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view ~f the heat transfer element shown in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is an enlarged fTagmentary assembly view of a pcrtiDn of the evaporator conduit and two o the associated heat transfer elements incorporated in the assembly ~` shown in Figure 8;
~igure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the heat transfer element shown in ~igure 10;
~i~ure 13 is a view si~ilar to Fi~ure 12 and illu-strates the portion of the heat t~ansfer elem~n~ thereof in 3~) a preformed con~iguration;

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Figure 14 is an enlarged side elevational vie-;
of one of the ice forming poc~ets or cups embodied in the assembly shown in Figure ~;
Figure 15 is an enlarged transverse cross section~l ~ie~ ta~en substantially along the line 15-15 of Figure 14 and discloses the shape o the ice product being formed within the ice forming pocket as it increases in size during the freezing cycle of the ioe making machine of the . present invention;
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of one of the ice products or ice "cubes" produced by the ice making ~achine of the present invention;
~igure 17 is a transveTse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the lines 18-18 of Figure 16;
~igure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side ele-vational view of the lower end of one of the combination evapnrator and ice forming assemblies embodied in the ice making machine of the present invention;
Figure 20 is a view similar to ~igure 8 and illustrates a modified embodiment o the combination evaporator and ice form assembly of the present invention;
~igure 21 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line Zl-21 o the refrigerant conduit incorporated in the assembly shown in Figure 20;
Figure 22 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sec-tional view taken substantially along the line 22-22 of ~i~ure 20;

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Figure 23 is a side ele~ational view, partially broken away, of another modified embodiment of the com-bination evaporator and ice form assembly of the present invention;
Figure 24 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 24^24 of Figure 23;
Figure 25 is a view similar to Figure 24 and illustrates yet another embodiment of the combination evaporator and ice foTm assembly of the present invention;
Figure 26 is a view similar to Figure 25 and illustTates yet another embodiment of the present invention wheTein the evaporator coil of the combination evaporator and ice form is arranged in a generally helical con~iguration;
Pigure 27 is a transverse cross sectional vie~
of an alternate embodlment of an ice maXing machine of the present invention and illustrates the application of ice make-up water to the ice forms by means of a water spraying mechanism located below the combination evaporator and ice form assembly;
2n Figure 28 is a view similar to ~igure 27 and illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the combination evaporator and ice form assembly is ~ounted in an inclined orientation;
Figure 29 is ~ view similar to Figure 2 and illustrates yet another embodîment of the ice maXing machine of the present invent.ion;
Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 7 and com-prises a to~ elevational view of the s~ruct~-re shown in ~igure 29;

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Figure 31 is a side elevational view of one of the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies embodied in the ice making mach.ine shown in Figures 29 and 30;
Figure 32 is a side elevational view of the com-bination evaporator and ice form assemblies shown in Figure 31, as seen in operative association with their associated make-up water manifold and water sump components;
Figure 33 is an enlarged fragmen-tary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33-33 of Figure 32;
Figure 34, which appears on the same sheet as Figure 32, is a bottom elevational view of the sump structure shown in Figure 32, as seen in the direction of the arrow 34 thereof;
Figure 35 is an end elevational view of the sump structure shown in Figure 34, as seen ln the direction of the arrow 35 of Figu.re 32;
Figure 36, which appears on the same sheet as Figure 32, is a top elevational view, partially broken away, of the water manifold components shown in Figure 32;
Figure 37 is an exploded assembly view, partially 20 sch~matic, of the water manifold assembly shown in Figure 36;
Figure 38 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one o:E the combination evaporator and ice forms and associated water manifold and sump embodied in the structure shown in Figure 32; and Figure 39, which appears on the same sheet as Figure 31 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the water manifold structure depicted in Figure 38.

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DESCRIP~ION 0~ TllE P~E~ERRED E~ ODI~E.~'~S

Re~erring now in detail to the dra~ings, an ice ma~ing machine 1~, in accordance ~ith one preferred embodiment of the present invention~ is shol~n generally as comprisin~ an enclosure or cabinet ~2 having an upper ice making section 14 and a lower ice receiving and/or storage section 16 which is provided with a suitable access door or the ]ike 18. As best seen in ~igure 7, the upper ice making section 14 of the enclosure 12 includes a pair of laterally spaced, generally vertically disposed end wall sections 20, 22 and front and rear wall sections which extend later~lly between the end wall sections 20, 22 and are identified by the numerals 24, 26, respectively.
Disposed interiorly of the ice makin~ section 14 is a su~Dorting ~artition or ~all~ generally designated by the numeral 30, which is arranged generally parallel to the end wal~ sections 20, 22 and extends between the ~ont wall section 24 and the rear wall section 26 so as to dil~ide the interîor of the section 14 into a re~rigeration area 32 and an ice making area 34. As is convention~l in the art, the refrigerating area 32 is provided with a suitable refrigeration compressor 36 and condenser 38 ~hîch cooperate with an evaporator system in the area 34 (later to be described), all of which are connec*ed throuvh con- :
ventional refrigeration lines and function in the usual manner such that gaseous refrigerant at ~elatively high pressure is supplied by the compressor 3~ to the condenser 3B, the refrigerant being cooled and liq~ified as it passes through the condenser 38. The thus cooled and liquified ~efri~erant ~lows from the condenser 3~ to the evaporator(s) where the refrigerant is vaporized by the transfer of heat _ 9 _ ~ ~ 3 6 9~
thereto from ~ater ~ ic.Ll i s beinf~, for-7~ed into ice . ~!le gaseous refrigera~ tllen flows from the eva~orator(s) bac~
to the inlet or suct;on side Or the com~ressor 36 for recyclin~. .
It will be appreciated, of course, that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific construction of the enclosure 12 of the ice maki.ng machine 10 (or the enclosure 302 of the machine 300 here-inafter described), since the principles can be adopted in various types of enclosures and/or may be incorporated with various existing types of refrigeration systems which do not necessarily require that the vari~us structural components making up the present in~ention be operatively disposed within an enclosure, such as the enclosure 12.
Additionally, the structural relationship of the ice making section 14 being disposed above the ;ce storage section 16, as is depicted in ~igure 1, is in no way intended to be limitin~ to the principles of the present invention since the ice storage area which is associ~ted with the ice making apparatus of the present invention may be located above, adjacent or ~emote therefrom without departing from the scope of ~he present invention~
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the ice making machine 10, and in particular, the ice makin~ area 34 thereof,is adapted to operatively contain one or more combination evaporator and ice form sssem~lies which arè adapted to receive ice make-up water fro~ a suitable snurce thereof and cooperate with ~he refrîgeration system in the area 32 o~ the enclosure 12 or prodl~cin~ ~he ice product5 which, for the purposes 3699~
of convenience~ will hereafter be referred to as ice "cubes", although in a trues~ technical sense, the ice product pro-duced by the ice ma~ing machine of the present invention does not compris~ ice in geometric cube form. By way of example, in Figure 2 the ice making machine lO is shown as being provided with four of the aforesaid ice making assem-blies which are ~enerally designated by the numeral 50 and are arranged in generally spaced parallel relationship within the enclosure area 34. It will be appreciated, of course, that the ice ma~ing machine lO (or the machine 300 described hereinafter) may be provided with more or less of such assemblies 50 without departing rom the scope or fair meaning of the present invention and that the orientation thereof ~ithin the enclosure 12 may;be modified somewhat ~ithout departing from the inventive concepts hereof.
As best seen in Figures 3,4 and 19, each of the ~ssemblies 50 comprises an upper water manifold section 52, an intermediate generally flat plate-like comb~nation evaporator and ice form section 54, and a lowersump and ice directing section 56, with the various assemblies 50, as previously described, being arranged in side-by-side relation within the ice maXing area 34 of *he enclosure 12, as best seen in ~igure 2. By virtue of the fact ~hat eacll of the assemblies 50 shown in ~igure 2 of the present invention~ and particularly, the seotions 52, 54 and 56 thereo, a~e substantia~ly identica1 in construction and operation, the following detailed description of one of the assemblies 50 is intended to be applicable to each of 3~2~36~
said assemblies 50 incorporated in the ice ma~in~
machine 10.
As best seen in ~igures 4 and 6, the water manifold section 52 of the assembly(s) 50 comprises an elongated open upper sided enclosure 58 comprising a pair of spaced parallel, generally ver~ically disposed side walls 60, 62 and a bot~om wall which extends generally horizontally between the side walls 60, 62 and defines therewith an elongated cavity, generally designated by the numeral 66.
As shown in ~igure 6, the opposite ends of the enclosure 58 are closed by upstanding end wall sections, and the inner side of the bottom wall section 64 is formed with a generally downwardly depressed cen~ral area 68 within whlch a series of generally longitudinally aligned,vertically disposed slots 70 are formed which communicate the interior o the cavity 66 with the underside of the enclosure 58.
The underside of the bottom wall section 64 is formed with an e~ongated continuous recess 72 which cooperates in a manner hereinafter to be described with the associated combination ice form and evaporator section 5~ of the assembly 50. One end of the enclosure 68 is provided with an o~erflow section, generally designated by the numeral 74, which is provided with a suitable overflow passage 76 in the lower end thereof and int~ which ice ma~e-up water in excess of the quantity required to form ice within the assembly 50 during a particular freezing cycle, along with any undesirable water contaminants~ may be communicated back to the system drain or the like, as is well known in the art.

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As sho~n in Figures 3, 4 and 5, d~s~osed l~thin the elongated cavity 66 of the encl~sure 58 is a generally tubular-shaped water conduit member, generally designated by the numeral 80. The member 80 comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped body section ~2 having a downwardly directed water dis~ribution sec~ion B4 formed along the lower side thereof and extending generally coextensive thereof. The cylindrical sec~i~n 82 is formed with an elongated internal tapered bo~e 86 having an inlet end 8S
at one end thereof which is intended to be connected to a suitable source of ice make-up water (not shown)~ such as a conduit which connects the conduit member 80 to the associated water sump via a suitable water pump. ~he opposite end of the tapered bore 86 is closed so that all water being.communicated there-into will be communicated to a plurality of generally longitudinally spaced, vertically disposed discharge or outlet ports 90, As best seen in Figure 4, the ports 90 are arranged generally vertically above the plurality of slots 70 formed in the bottom wall section 64 of the enclosure 58. The purpose of the tapered con~iguration of the bore 86 is to provide or the uniform distribution of water to the plurality of discharge ports ~0, with the reduction in diameter ~f the bore ~6 from the inlet end 8~
thereof to the closed ~pposi~e end thereof ~eing correlated with the sum of the areas ~f the ports 90 such tha~
relatively unif~rm ~uanti~y of water is discharged down-wardly through the p~rts 9D al~ng the entire longi~udinal plurality thereof, whereby a uni~o~m supply of water will be i~tr~duced into the interior ~ the enclosure 58 and ~ 2~ 3~
bc communicated doh~n~-~ardly through the plurality of slots 70 for purposes heTeinafter ~o be described.
ReferTing now in detail to the combination ice form and evaporator section 54 of the assembly 50~ as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 8, the section 54 comprises a relatively thin, generally rectangularly-shaped monolithic body 96 ~hich is formed with a plurality of ice forming pockets, ~ecesses or forms, generally designated by the numeral 98~ on the opposite sides thereof. The ice forming pockets are arranged in vertical 1~ rows, with the rows on one side of the section 54 being staggered with the rows on the opposite side thereof, but with the poc~ets 98 in each of the rows being vertically aligned with recpect to the pockets 98 of the row thereof on the opposite side of the body 96. Disposed within the section 54 is an elongated evap-orator conduit~ generally designated by the numeral 100, ~hich is formed into a serpentine configuration consisting of a plurality of generally horizontally disposed, spaced parallel conduit sections 102 which are inteTconnected with one another in a serial fashion by means of generally U-shaped intermediate sections 104, as best depicted in Figure 11. The evaporator conduit 100 includes an inlet end section 106 and an outlet section 10~ which are connected in a conventinnal manner with the rerigeration system of the ice making machine lO,whereby `refrigerant may be circulated through the conduit 100 to effect the freezing of ice make-up water communicated to the plurality of pockets 98 during a freezing cycle of the present invention, and whereby hot refrigerant gases may be circulated through the conduit lDn during a harvest cycle to effect release of the ice cubes ormed during ~he previous freezing cycle, as will be hereinafter described in det~îl.

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Disp~sed between each pair of adjacent conduit sections 102 of the evaporator conduit 100 is a heat transer element llO,which elements 110, together with the conduit 100, are preferably fabricated of a high heat conductive material, such as copper. The heat transfer elements 110 embodied in the section 54 are best depicted in Figures 11 through 13 and may be originally ormed of relatively thin stamped metal strips so as t~ ha~e a plurality of ears or lobes 112 formed along the longitudinally opposite ed~es thereofj with the lobes 112 defining recesses or notches 114 therebetween, as best shot~n in ~igure 13. In accor-dance ~ith the principles of the present inventionS the i~eat transfer elements 110 are formed (as by stamping~ with a series of pockets or recesses, ~enerally designated by the numeral 114. ~lore particularly, and as shotm in Figures 9 through 11, a series of longitudinally disposed recesses 116 are formed in the elements 110 in an alternate ashion, such that when the elements 110 are seen in side eleva-tional view, the elements 110 appear to have a series o alternate concave and convex surfaces with the concave surfaces defining the recesses 116 Oll each side thereof.
Each of the pockets or recesses 116 has a pair Df the aforementioned ears or lobes laterally aligned therewith, and during the aorementioned forming or s~ampin~ operation in which the pockets 116 are formed in the elements 110, the associated lobes 112 are deformed upwardly and down-wardly (as viewed in Figure 9) relative to the plane of the elements lln~ dependin~ on the concave or convex dcformation produced in the elements 110 during the forming o~er~tion, with the result that laterally aligned lobes 112 ~ 3~
are alternately formed up~-~ardly and do~n~rardly along the len~th of the elements 110, the upwardly deformed ears 112 being identified in Figure 9 by the reference numeral 112a, and the downwardly deformed ears 112 being desig-nated in Figure 9 by the numeral 112b.
The plurality of upwardly and do~.nwardly formed lobes 112a and 112b along the length of each of the transfer elements 110 define longitudinal edge channels, as best seen in Figure 9 and identified by the numeral 118, the dimensions of which are such as to correlate with the lateral spacing between the spaced parallel sections 102 of the evaporator conduit 100, with the result that the heat transfer elements 110 of the section 54 may be inserted interjacent or between the conduit sections 102 from the opposite sides of the serpentine formation thereof`in the manner best shown in Figure 11. Thus, the plurality of elements 110 may be inserted from the opposite side edges o the serpentine formed conduit 100 in ~he manner sho-.n in Figure 11 to a position where they are totally nested or contained between the sections 102 thereof, as is depicted in Figure 8. After the plurality o elemen~s 110 have thus been assembled onto the evaporator conduit ~00, the entire assemblage thereo~ is preferably subjected to a soldering operati~n, ~ the like~ whereby the elements 110 are fixedly secured to the conduit 100 in a manner such tha~ efficient heat transfer is achie~ed between the conduit sections 102 and the elements 110. Thereafter, the assembly Df the conduit 100 and heat transf~r elements 110 is intendea to be put into a suitable mold or the like, such as a plastic injecti~n mold, whereupon a suitable ~ 2~t3~9~
polymeric plastic material, 5u~ ~ ~ol~eth~lene or o~her a~ro-priate material having ~he ~equired moldable and sanitary characteristics, is formed around the aforesaid assemblage t~ pr~vide the one-piece monolithic body 96. During the ~olding ~peration, liquid plastic material will flow in and around the ~arious interstices and exterior surfaces of the evaporator conduit 100 ~nd plurality of heat trans-fer elements 110 to secure the structural integrity of these respective components in their respec~ive operative relat~onship, and simultaneuusly, the plurality o~ ice forming pockets 98 are formea in the opposite sides ~f the body 96, with each of the pockets 9~ corresp~nding to one of the pocXets 116 formed in the heat ~ransfer ~lements 110 50 as to provide ~he aforementi~ned staggered orien-tation of the ~ce forming pockets 98, the specific con-iguration or shape o which is hereinafte~ described.
With reference to ~igure 4, it will be seen that the plastic material from which the section 54 is abricated and which is ~enerally designated by *he numeral 120, is fo~med with a plurality of spaced, parallel laterally extending recesses 122 within the upper end 12~ thereof. The uppe~ end 124 is ada~ed to be nestingly Teceived wi~hin the recess 72 formed in the underside cf the enclDsure ~B, whcreby ice make-up wa~er passi~g downwardly ~hrough the slots 70 will flow laterally outwardly with respect t~ ~he secti~n ~4 within the recesses 122 and will the~eafter be directed downwardly a~ *he water enga~es gene~lly ~ertically extend;ng surfaees 125 located at the lower eages D~ the ~eCe55 ~2 D resultin~
3D in the ice ~ak~-up w~tel ~ein~ de1e~ted downwardly 5D

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that it ~Till cascadc along and over the ~pposite sides of the section 54 and thereby flow over and into the plurality of ice form poc~ets 98 during operation of the machine, as will later be described.
With reference to ~iguTe 19, the ice directing section 56 is generally intended to serve the function of directing ice formed within the plurality of pockets 98 away from the water sump at the lower end of the assembly 50 during the ice harves~ cycle so that the ice will drop downwardly toward and into some type of an ice s~orage area, such as the ice storage section 16 depicted in Figure 1, with the section 56 serving the secondary function of separating ice make-up water that is cascaded over the opposite sides of the sec,ion 54 from the ice so that the make-llp water will flo~ into the associated sl.~p and be utilized during subsequent operation of the machine 10.
Toward this end, the ice directing section 56 in Figure 19 is intended to be coextensi~e of the width of the associated section 54 and includes a generally 1at or horizontally ~0 extending base portion 126 and upstanding side walls 12S
and 130 which are inclined upwardly and inwaTdly as seen at 132 and 134 and terminate in ~enerally horizontal upper edge portions 136 and 13~ which are arranged along the opposite sides of the section 54. The inclined side portions 132, 134 serve to de1ect or direct the ice dropping downwardly off of the sides of the section 54 away from the lower end thereof and are formedwithsuitable apertures or pe~forations, geneTally desi~nated by the numeral 140, whereby îce ma~e-up water being cascaded over the opposite sides ~ the section 54 may 1OW

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through the perforation 140 into an interior sump area 142 which may be communicable with a su;table water pump or the like so that the water may be recirculated. It is to be noted that the section 56 depicted in Figure 19 is more or less schematic in nature and that the arrangement shown in connection with the ice making machine 300 here-inafter described consists of a more preferred for~ o the invention. Regardless, however, the section 56 is intended to illustrate how the ice cubes formed within the pockets 98 and subsequently dropped downwardly there-from during a harvest cycle will be deflected outwardl}r away from the lower end of the section 56 and thereafter drop downwardly into an associated ice storage area.
Referring to Figures 14 and 15, each Df the pockets 98 is of a generally square shape when viewed from the side thereof ~i.e., comprise four equal length side edges) and includes a central depressed or concave section 150 which is defined by the outer surface o the por~ion of the heat transfer element 110 located there-below and which is bounded by four inwardly inclined side surfaces 152, 154 and 156, 15~ which are of a generally arcuate configuration and are formed in the plastic material 120 embodied in the section 54. In a preferred construction of the present invention, the longitudinal and lateral side edges of each of the pockets 98 are common to the pockets 98 adjacent thereto, as depicted in Figure 14, whereby to maximize the ice ma~ing capac.it~
o the section 54, i.e., the number of ice cubes that can be produced along each side the~eof. It will be seen tilat while the central part o each of the pockets 98 îs ~ 2~36~
form~d by the central part of the associated recess 116 of the subjacent heat transfer elements 110, the outer marginal surfaces of each of the pockets 98 are spaced from the surface of ~he underlying recess 116 in increas-ing amounts toward the outer peripheral edges o the pockets 98. Thus, the thickness of the plastic material 120 between the heat transfer elements 110 and the inner surface of each of the pockets 98 increases gradually from zero toj thickness ~or a film of minimal .thickness of the.plastic 120 over the central part o~ the underlyin~
heat transfer elements 110) to a maximum thicXness directly at the peripheral edges of the pockets 98, which construc-tion contributes to one of the primary features of the present invention. More particularly, the aforesaid construction results in the ice cubes formed ~ithin the pockets 98 being generally symmetrical in shape on the opposite sides thereof even though the ice is formed in molds (or poc~ets) which, during the reezing of the ice make-up wat~r, are disposed adjacent only one of the sides ~0 o the ~ce product being formed. Stated another way and with re~erence to Figures 16 through 18i the ice product which is formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is of a generally square shape, i.e., four equal length sides, in side elevational view and co~sists of upper and 13wer opposed con~ex sides 164 and 166, spaced parallel side edges 168 and 170, and spaced parallel top and bottom edges 172 and 174 which are arranged perpendicular to the side edges l68 and 170.
The opposite surfaces 164 and 166 ~ the ice product are substantially symmetrical to one another and ~2~3~

complementary in shape in ~espect to the interior surface of the pockets 98, with the resul~ ~hat the ice product is of a "pillow" shape in its finally produced f~rm.
The p~imary reason for the ice productbeing generally symme~rically-shaped, and pursuan~ t~ the principles of the present inYention~ is that the plastic material 120 which defines the outer marginal portions of the ice pocXets 98 acts as an insulating media between the ice make~up wate~ being cascaded over the opposite sides of the section 54 and the heat transfer elements 110 which transfer heat between the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator conduit 100 and the ice make-up water. ~5~re particularly, and as best shown in Figure 15, it will be seen that by virtue of the fact that the heat transfer ~lements 110 are juxtapositioned directly adjacent an~.actuall~ form the centralportionof each of the pockets 98, maximum heat transfer will occur at the cente~ thereof due to the fact that little or no plastic material 120 is provided between the surface of the elements 110 and the pockets 98.
2n Accordingly, the ice make-up water will free~e more readily at the central portion of the pockets 98 during a ~reezing operat;on. Howeverg because the thickness of the plastic material 120 increases between the heat transfer elements 110 and outer marginal edges oX the pockets 98, a gradually decreasing amount of heat will be transfe~red to the elements 110 toward the outer edges of the p~ckets 98 due to the fact that the plastic material 1~0 acts as a heat insulatin~ ~nvn-heat conduc~ive) media between the ice make up water and the sdjacen~ suraces vf the heat 3~ transfe~ e~ements llD~ ~cc~dingly, the ice ~ill gradually ~ Z~ 3 ~ 9 ~
build up within the pocXets 98 in the manner best depicted in Figure 15, with the ice growing thicker and thicker at the central portion of the ice product, as depicted in the successive "gro--th linest' during a freezing operation.
This results in the outer surface of the ice product, i.e., the surface which is no~ in contac~ with ~ne interior periphery of the pocket 98 being conve~ shaped and of substantially the same configuration as the surface of the ice product which is in actual contact with the peripheTy of the pockets 98, with the resul~ that the ~inal ice product appears generally symmetrical in sha~e, as shown by the c~oss-sectional views in Figures 17 and 18.
With specific reference to ~igure 15, it is to ~e noted that each ice cube that is formed within one o the pockets 98 has the side thereof confron~ing the pocket 98 ~rojecting outwaTdly, i.e., is of a greater convex shape, than the opposite side thereof, i.e., the side ~acing away from the pocket 98, however, at such time as the subsequent harvest cycle begins and hot gasses are communicated through ~ the evaporator conduit 100, the elements llO will begin to warm up, resulting in meltage of, the portion of the formed ice cube disposed adjacent the elements llO. Such meltage effects release of the cubes from the pockets 9B and also ~esults in the side of the cubes having the maximum convex shape being melted away SD that the cubes are of the shape shown in Figures 17 and 18 at the time that they drop down-war~ly out of the pockets 98 into a subjacent ice storage area. ~hus, one of the principals ~f the present invention resides in the formation of ice cubes tha~ initially have 12~369~
one convex side thereof which is of greater con~ex shape than the opposi~e side thereof, but which is melted a~a~
during the harvest portion of the machine so that both of the sides of the final ice product are symmetrical once the product is harvested. Additionally, of course, ~ne of the other important principals of the present in-vention is that a generally symmetrical ice productJ i.e. 9 an ice product having substantial symmetrical convex sides, can be formed in an ice mold ha~ing only a single concave surface as a result o properly correlating the amount of relatively non-heat conductive material 120 between a central heat transmittin~ element and the inner peri~heral surface o the mold.
The abDve described ice product is considered to be a signi~icant ~ortion o~ the present invention in that said product has been found to embody a number of highly improved features over comparable ice products known in the art. In particular, because of the basically square, yet rounded coniguration of the ice product, highly im-~0 ~roved anti-bridging characteristics are achieved ~hereby.
That is, due to the fact that "point" contact is primaril~
maintained between adjacent ice "cubes" in a storage container thereof, as opposed to surface ~r line contact with ~rior known cubes, bridging o~ freezing together of adjacently oriented c~bes is minimized to the extreme, which results in convenient dispensing thereof even after ~rolonged ~eriods of storage. Another feature of ~he ice ~roduct achieYed in acc~rdance ~ith the presen~ in-~ention resides in highly improved displacement and ~3D3~4 splash resistant characteristics. }~ore particularl~, by virtue of the fac~ that the ice ~roduct nests in a highl~
im~roved fashion, a ~reater number of the ice "cubes" can be placed within a given size container or receptacle, resulting in co~mercially desirable fluid displacement characteristics. Similarly, due to the fact that the ice product of the ~resent inven~ion does not have any concavities nr rela~ive~y flat surfaces, the splashin~
of liquid when it is poured or other-~ise directed into a container or receptacle of the ice ~roduct is minimized . to the extreme so as to obviate undesirable s~illage, etc.
~ eferring now to ~igures 20 through 22, a slightl,~
modified embodiment o~ the invention and in particular, the combination ice and evaporator section theTeof, is desig-nated by the numeral 200. The section 200 differs from the aoredescribed section 54 from the standp~int that instead of utilizing a plurality of heat trans~er elements 110 and a separate evaporator conduit, the pri~ary heat transfer path bett~een th.e refrigerant and the ic.e make-u~
~0 w~ter is achieved by a plurality o spaced ~arallel con-duits, generally designated by the numeral 202 and best de-picted in ~igure 20. The conduits 202 are connected at the;r opposite ends to a pair o generally transversely arranged manifold members 204 and:206 which are cons~rueted such that serial refrigerant flow may be provided from an inlet conduit 218 throughout the entire 5.eries o~ conduits 2n2 to an outlet conduit 220 which, together wi~h ~he conduit ~1~ is connected to the associated refrigeration ,system. The conduits 202 sre formed with al.ernate t3~g~
staggered ice form ~ockets or recess~s 2()~ on ~he onno~it~
sides thereof and are gencrally flattened in the manncr best shown in the Figures 21 and 22 so as to define the recesses 208 and so as to a]so define refrigerant flo-: paths 210 and 212 along the opposite side portions of the condui.ts 2n2, as sho~n in Figure 21. I~ith this arran~ement, the con-duits ser~e the two-fold function of providing refrigerant flow ~aths and providing heat transFer surfaces for the central portions o~ the ice form pockets 216 which are analo~ou~ to 1~ the aforedescribed pockets 98 and which are formed in a monolithic plastic body 214 analogous to the abo~re-described plastic material 120. In accordance with certain princi~les of the ~resent invention, it is contem~lated that the plurality of conduits 202 may be deformed to their undulated, poc~et defining configurations shol~n in Figure 22 in a suitable forming press or the like and thereafter'be secure at their opposite ends to the associated manifold member~
204 and 206, a~ter l~hich time the entire assemblage con-sisting o~ the manifolds 204 and 206 and pluralit,~ of

2() conduits 202 could be placed bac~ into the press forming dies l~hich would serv~ the tl~o-fold purpose of acting as th~ mold into ~hich the plastic mater;al 214 is injected.
Thus, the same apparatus could be used for deforming the conduits 202 and providing the mold for the ~lastic materi~l 214. In one preferTed arrangement of the modified ice form and evaporator section 200, the conduits 202 are fabricated from 3/4 inch thin ~al] copper tubing which may be deformed con~istent ~ith the confi,~uration shown in ~igllre~ 21 and 22.

3~9~
~r course, oth~r si~e tubing could be utilized Wit]lOUt ~leparting from the scope of the pr~sen~ invention.
It is to be noted that the principles of the present invention are not necessarily limited to a con-struction 1~herein the plurality of ice forming pocke~s are disposed along one or both si~es of generally flat or planar combination ice form and evaporator member, as is the case with the ice machine hereinabove described and the ice machine 300 hereinafter described. In particular, it ic.con~emplated th~.t the prînciples of the present invention will also be applicable $o a combination eva~or-ator and ice orm arrangement ~here the plurality of ice forming Poc~ets are disposed on the sides of a multi-sided (more than two sides) structure and to~ard this end, reference is made to Figures 23 and 24 wherei~ an alternate embodiment of the combin~tion ice form and e~a~orator mem-ber is disclosed and generally designated by the numeral 230. The member230 is shown, by way o example and without int~nding to limit the scope of the present invention~ as comprisin~ a :Four-sided heat transfer member 232 consisting of ~our, substantially ident.ical vertical sides 234, 236, 238 and 240 arran~ed in edge-to-edge relation. The member 230 is fabricated o~ a suitable heat transfer material, such as a thin sheet of copper, with each o~ the four sides 234-240 being ormed wit}l a plura.lity o three vertically s~aced ice orming pockets 242, as best seen in ~igure 23.
Disposed interior~y o~ the heat transfer element 232 is a generally cylindrically-shaped manifold membe~ 244, the ~Z~3~9i4 outer periphery of which is adapted for conti~uous engagement with ~he inner surface of the central portion of eac}l o~ the pockets 242, with the manifold member 244 deining a central chambe~ which is communicable with the refrigerant capillary tube 257 and outlet pipe 258 which function to supply refrigerant between an associated refrigeration system and the interior of the manifold 244, whereupon hea~ transfer occ~rs between the manifold 244 and the central part of each of the plurality of ice form pockets 242 formed in the sides 234-240 of the heat transfer element 232. The four apexes 254 of the hea~ transfer element defined with the outer periphery of the manifold 244, a plurality of four chambers 246, 248, 250 and 252 which may function as means to receive tap or potable thawing water during the harvest cycle to assist in re-leasing ice cubes from the p~cXets 242. The outer surface of the heat ~ransfer member 230 is provided with a suitable heat insulating material, generally designated by the numeral 25~, which is ormed in essentially the same manner as the plastic 120 of the ice machine 10 so as to cooperate wi~h the concave suraces of the pockets 242 in defining the ice form recesses into which water is communicated during the ree2ing cycle. It is to be noted that instead of the water flowing in~o the chambers 246 252 during a harvest cycle~ hot refrigerant gas may be supplied to said chamber consistent with the principles of the other embodiments of the present inYenti~n described herein. Additionally, the embodiment of the present invention sh~wn in Figures 23 and ~ 2~ 3 ~ ~ ~
24 may be readily modi-fied to have the refrigerant flo~ in and through the chambers 246, 248, 250 and 252 and defrost-make-up water enter the center cylindrical member 244 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Figures 25 and 26 illustrate yet alterna~ive embodiments to the present invention wherein the plurality of ice forming pockets or recesses need not necessarily be disposed upon relatively ~lat or planar evaporator members~
In partîcular, these Figures illustxate multi-sîded heat transfer members (shown as eight-sided members) with each side being provided with a series of verkically aligned pockets within ~hich ice cubes are to be formed. In the embodiment shown in Figure 25, the heat transfer member is designated by the numeral 260 and is shown as consisting of multiple sides 262 which define apexes 264 therebetween and have a plurality of ice forming pockets 266 therein. Each of the pockets 266 1S adapted to be cooperatiYe with an evaporator conduit 268 which extends generally parallel to the rows of pockets 266 and is secured interiorly of the 2n member 260, whereby heat transfer is effected between the evaporator conduits 268 and the central portion of each of the poc~ets 266 in essentially the same manner as herein-abov~ described. The embodiment shown in Figure 26 is similar to that shown in ~igu~e 25, wit~ the corresponding parts bein~ designated by like numerals; howe~er, instead vf the generally vertically arranged evaporator c~nduits 268 juxtaposition each of the Ye~tical rows of pockets 266 in the embodiment of Figure 25, a generally helically arranged evap~ator conduit 27~ i~ disp~sed interi~rly of the assembly 260' and adapted for contact for the central - 2~ -~ Z~ 3 ~9 ~
portion of each of the poc};ets 266' for effecting heat transfer between the refrigeran~ in the conduit 270 and the ice make-un ~ater introduced into the pocXets 266' during a freezing cycle.
Figures ~7 and 28 illustrate two additional alternate embodiments of the present in~ention and depict that the principles thereof may find application to ice making mach;nes wherein the ice make-up water is sprayed directly upon the combination ice form and evaporator members, instead of being cascaded thereo~er as is the case with the ice making machines 10 and 300 as described herein. Additionally, Figures 27 and 28 illustrate that the principles of the present invention lend themselves to applications wherein the combination ice form and e~aporator member is disposed in either a hori~ntal or inclined position, as opposed to a vertical ~rien-tation. ~ore particularly, and with reference to ~igure 27, a combination ice orm evap~rator assefi~bly 272 is sho~n as being of substantiall)~ the 5ame construction as depicted in Figure 8, with ~he exception that the assembly 272 has the ice forming poc~ets 274 ~hereof formed only on the lower side thereof. The assembly 272 is provided with suitable evaporator conduits ?76 which may be analogous to the aforedescribed conduit 100 and have a plurality of heat transfer elements 278 inter-posed be~ween adjacent sections of the conduit 276 so as to partia~ly define the ice formin~ pockets 274 which face downwardly. The assemb~y is pro~îdec1 with the he~einabove described he~t insulating plastic material, - 2~ -~Z1~36~

~enerall~ designate(l b~ the numeral 2gO ~ ich, together with the heat transfer elements 278 define the ~ockets 274 which are preferabl,v of substantially the same con-figuration as the hereinabove described pockets 98.
The entire assembly 272 is operatively supported upon a generally hori~ontallv arranved ledge or flange 282 with a ~pray enclosure 284 l~hich inclucles a ~ater spr~,v bar 286 adjacent the lo~er end thereof havinv suitable drive ~eans 288 for effecting rotation or 1~ oscillatory movement of the spray bar 286 so that ice make-up water will be sprayed or directed up-~rardl,v to~ard the underside of the assembly 272 and into the pockets 274, resulting in ice cubes forming therein during a freezing cycle. A suitable screen or the ]i~e 2~0 is disposed bet-een the underside of the assembl)~ ~72 and the spray bar 286, whereb}~ ice release~ from the poc~ets 274 during a subsequent harvest cycle .~ill drop do-~n-~artll~
onto the screen and be directed through an ice openino ~2 to ~ remotely located ice storave area or the li~e, gen-2n erally designated by the numeral 2~4, ~hich ma~ be locate~l belo~- the enclosure 2R2~
The arrangement sho~n in Figure 2~ is substan-tia]ly identical to that sho~.~n in Figure 27 ~ith the correlative components being desi~nated ~y liXe numeralc with a prime suffix, l.~ith the exce~tion that the combin-ation ice form ~nd evaporator assembl~ 2 7 ' is mounted in a re]atively inclined orientation, as opposed to the gencrallv horizontal position sho-~n in ~ipllre 27. The inclin~1 orientation lends itself to rapid release of the 369~
ic~ plod~lct~ formed dnring a plece~in~ ~rec~ing c~cle h~
means of a hot ~,as de-frost and/or hot water l~hich ma~
either be sprayed or cascaded upon the underside of the ice form assembly 272', as will be described in connection with the overall operation of the ~resent invention Referring no~ to Figures 29-39, an ice ~akin,~
machine 30n, in accordance t~ith another preferred embodi-ment of the present in~ention, is shol~n generall~ as com-prising an exterior housing or enclosure 302 ha~ing a front or ~orl~ard, generally vertically disposed ~all section ~n~
and a rearl~ard, generally v~ertically disposed wall section 3n6. Extending bet~een the front and rear wall sections 304 and 306 at the laterally opposite sides or ends of the enclosure 3~2 is a pair of upstanding end wall sections 308 and 31n. A ge,nerally vertically disposed partltion 312 also extends bet~een the ~all sections 304, 306 and di~tides the interior of the enclosure 3~2 into ~ refri-geration arca 314 and an ice ma~ing area 32n l~hich are re~pectively disposed at the lefthand and righthand sides of thc machine 300 a~ it is depicted in Figures 2~ and 3n.
As was the case in connection ~ith the herein-above described ice ma~in~, machine 10, the refrigeration area 314 is provided ~.ith con~entional refrigeration equi~ment, ~enerally designated by the numeral 316, including a compressor, condenser, etc , with the area 314 also housin~ a water pumn 318 ~.hich is intended to sllpply ma~e-u~ water to the ice m~ing a~paratus disposed within the ic~ ma~in~ arca 32n in a manner hereinafter to b~ describe~l.

~2~3 Ei94 ~ enerall~- s~ea~ing, th~ ice producing a~rarat~
within the ice ma~in~ area 320 of the ice m~king machine 300 com~rises a water manifold assembly, ~enerally designated by the numeral 322, a water sump assembly generally designa~ed by the numeral 324, and a plurali~
of four combination ice forms and evaporator members, generally designated by the numeral 326, which are similar in construction and operation to the aforementioned com-bination ice form and evaporator sections 54 hereinabo~re described. As will be described in connection with the o~erall operation of the ice making machine 300, the water manifold assembly 322 is intended to supply water to the plu~ality of ice form and evaporator members 326 which operate to efect freezing of the water to produce ice cubes of the type hereinabove described. Excess make-up water is accumulated witllin the water sump 324 and is re-circulated back to the water manifold assembl~
322, as will hereinafter be described in detail.
Referring now in detail to the construction of the water sump assembly 324, as depicted in Figures 34, 35 and 38, the assembly 324 comprises a one-~iece molded monolithic body 330 fabricated o a suitable polymeric material having the requisite sanitary characteristics and which is entirely open on the upper side thereof~
~he body 330 comprises an ~longated central section 332 which extends laterally of the enclosure 302, i.e., par~llel to the front and rear wall sections 304, 306 at a position below the plurality o~ e~aporator members 326. Extendin~ at generally right angles to the central - 32 _ ~ l2~36~
section 332 of the b~d>~ is a ~lurality of eight arm sections 334 ~hich are arranged in four space~ parallel rohs each consisting of two aligned arm sections 334, as best seen in Figure 34, with each row b~ing located directly below ~ne of the evaporator members 326. ~he sump assembly 324 comnrises a ~enerally ~ertically disposed side wall section 336 which extends entirely around the body 330 and which is integrally connected at its lo~`er edge to a bottom closure or wall of the water sump 324. In particular, the central section 332 of the bod~ 330 includes a downwardly sloped bottom wall portion 338 that defines, at its lowermost portion thereof, a ~.ater reservoir 340 which may, if desired, be provided with a suitable clean-out ~acility 342, i.e., clean~out plug, drain line, etc. ~he end of the central section 332 of the water sump assembly 324 adjacent the reser~oir 340 is provided with a plurality of three openings, namely, a lower opening 346, an intermediate opening 348, ~nd an upper openin~ 350 which are intended tn cooperate ~ith 2n suitable water con~uits hereinafter to be described in com-municatin~ ~ater between the interior of the sump assembl~-324 and the aforedescribed water pump 318. Each of the arm sections 334 of the body 330 is provided with a sloped bottom 3~2, all of which bott~m sections are sloped down-wardly from the outer ends thereof toward the central section 332, as best de~icted in ~i~ure 35, whereby water drop~in~ downwardly into the arm sections 334 will floh inwardly or centrally toward the central section 332 and ~e communicated ~ia the sloped bottDm 338 toward and înto ~ L2~36~a~
the reservoir 340 disposed in the loher portion ~f the cen~ral section 332 of the body 330. ~s best seen in ~igure 31, the outer end of each Df the arm sections 33~
is provided with an embossment 354 in the si~e wall section 336 thereof, which embossmen~s 354 define inteTnal recesses 356 which are intended to function in a manner hereina~ter described in operatively supporting the entire l~ater sump assembly 324 upon the lo~er ends of the plurality of four combination ice form and evaporator members 326.
Referrin~ ~ow t~ the construction of the water manifold assembly 322, as best shown in ~igures 36, 37 and 39, said assembly 322 com~rises a primary supply conduit section, generally designated by the numeral 360, which ic adapted to be connected in a manner hereina~ter to be described to the a~orementioned water pum~ 318. ~he conduit section 360 extends laterally within the ice ma~ing area 320 of the enclosure 302, i.e., parallel to the front and rear wall section 304, 306 at a position directly abo~e the plurality of evaporator members 326 and generall~
vertically aligned with and parallel to the central section 332 of the water sump assembly 324. ~he conduit section 360 is provided with a central inlet fitting 362 which is located intermediate the opposite ends thereof and is intende~ to be commlJnicable with a water su~pl~ condui~
454 which i5 connected to the water pum~ 318, as best seen in Figure 29. As illustraked in Figure 37, the primar!
co~duit section 360 is provided with a plurality of four longitudinally spaced pairs ~f oPpose~l ~utlet sections 364, 366, 368 and 370 which are snaced apart 8 distance equal - 3~-~2~6g~
to tlle lateral s~ ICi~f' bctl~een thc~ e~ aporator ~mbcrs .~6.
~ttached to each of the outlet section~ 364-3~n is ail elon~ated manifold mcrnber, one of which is shol-n in Fig~lre 39 and general]v designa~ed b~ ~he numeral 372 As sho-~n in Figure 39, each of the maniold members 372 includes an elongated bore 374 ~hich is tapered radiall~ inwardly, i.e., ~]ecreases in cross-sect;onal area to-~ard the outer end of the manifold member 372. The bore 37~ of each of the members 372 is communicable with a plurality of gener-ln all~ vertically arranged, longitudinally spaced dischar,~e ports 376 which extend betl.~een the bore 374 and the interior of an elongated cavity 378 formed in the underside of each of thc manifold members 372. As best seen in Figure 38, the cavity 378 is defined between a ~aiT of spaced apart do~n~arcll)~ extending side portions 380 and 382 ~hich are formed integrally of the manifold member 372 which, in a preferred construction of the present invention, is pre-f~rabl~ fabricated of a moldecl ~olvmeric material, such as Celcon or the like. The lo~er ends o~ the side portions 38n and 382 define water deflectin~ recesses or surfaces 38~ ~hich function in a manner hereinafter to be described in directing l~ater flo~ing do~n~arclly rom the bore 3,4 through the dischar~e ports 376 into the cavity 37~ tot~ard and o~er the o~posite sides of the combination ice form and evaporator members 326 which are disposed belol~ the manifold members 372.
The end of each of the manifold members 372 which is connected to the ~rimary conduit section ~60 is formed w;th an enlar~ed diameter counterbore 386 .hich is arran~,e~

~ 2 coaxially of the associat~d bore 374 and a~a~ted t~ ne~tingl recei~e one of the laterally outwardly extending outlet sections 364-370 in the manner shown in Figure 3~, ~hereby said outlet sec~ion 364 is nestingly received within counter-bore 386 of the manifold member 372. The end of the mani-fold member 372 confronting the conduit section 3G0 is formed with a semi-circular end surface 3~8 which is complementar,v in shape in respect to the outer periphery of the conduit section 360 and adapted to be con~inguously engaged there-.~ith upnn assembly o the manifold member onto the associated of the outlet sections 364-370. Preferably, the surface 388 of each of the manifold members 372 is of a length slightly in excess of one-half the circumference of the associated conduit section 360 such that the manifold member 372 may be "snapped" onto the conduit section 360.
As shown in Figure 36, the uppermost portion of the inner end of each of the manifold members 372 is generally step-shaped so that, as seen at 390, the upper ends of o~posed members 372 may nest together when they are ~0 assembled onto the primary conduit section 360. As will hereinafter be described in detail, ice make-up water supplied to the primary conduit section 360 via the inlet itting 362 and conduit 454 will be communicated longi-tudinally along the entire length of the conduit section 360. This water will thereater be communicate~ outwardly through the plurality o outlet sect;ons 364-370 and be introduced into the bores 374 of the plurality of manifold members 372 attached *o the opposite sides of the primary conduit section 360. The water communicated into the ~ 2~36g~
bores 374 ~i]l be ~ischarged downwardl~ thr~u~h the plurality of the discharge ports 376 and ~i~l flol~ into the cavity 37~ of each of the members 372, -hereupon the water will ~lo~ down~ardly from the cavity 37~ and cascade along the o~posite sides of the combination ice form and evaporator members 326 located therebelo~.
Referring no~ to the plurality of combination ice form and evaporator members 326, each of the members 326 is preferably of the same general construction and operation and therefore the following description of one of said members is intended to be applicable to each o the members 326 embodied in the ice making machîne 300.
The member 326 is preferably similar in con-struction and operation to the hereinabove described combination ice form e~aporator members or sections 5A
and as such, consists of a molded plastic body, generally designated by the numeral 400, havin~ a ~enerally ser-pentine-shaped evaporator conduit 402 disposed interiorl~
thereo and which is analogous in construction and oper-ation to the eva~orator conduit 100 embodied in the afore-mentioned section 54. ~he evaporator conduit 402 of each of the members 326 is communicable with the associated refrigeration system in the refrigeration area 314 by means of supply and return conduits 404 and 406. A
plurality of heat transfer elements, generally designa~ed by the numeral 408, and similar in construction and oper-ation to the elements 110 of the combination ice orm and evaporator section S4 are interposed between the spaced pa~allel portions of the evap~rator conduit 402, ~ LZ~369~
with the conduit 4~2 and plurality of elements 4n8 bein~
embedded ~ithin the plastic material of the bodv 4~ in the manner hereinabove described. ~he opposite sides of the body 400 are pro~ided with a plurality of vertical rows of ice forming poc~ets or recesses generally designated by the numeral 410 which again are silimar in construction and operation to the aforedescribed ~ockets or recesses 98 of the section 54 and accordin~l~
a further description of the pockets 410 is omitted for purposes of conciseness of description herein it being suf~icient to state that the pockets 410 are intended to have ice make-up water cascaded thereo~rer and be frozen therewithin during a freezing cycle and have the resultant ice product or ice cubes be released during a subsequent harvest cycle so as to drop do~-nwardly into an associated ice receiving area disposed below the plurality of member~ 326 as will be apparent ~ro3n the abo~-e descrip-~ion of the ice making machine 10 of the present invention.
As best seen in ~igures 31 38 and 39 the upper end o each of the members 326 is formed with a reduced thickness portion 412 which is adapted to be nestin~ly received within the lower end of the cavity 378 of the two manifold members 37~ associated therewith. The upper end po~tion 412 is ormed with a pluTality of trans~ersely extending spaced parallel slots or recesses 416 which are spaced longitudinally along the upper edge of the member 326 and are adapted to communicate with the interior o the cav~ties 37~ of the associated manifold members 372 t whereby ice make-up water within the cavi~ies 378 ~ 210 3~
m~ly flo-. dotYnl~ard1y into ~e slots 41~ and thereaft~r flo-i~ ollt~-~ardly ~ohard and impinge against the surfaces 384, where the ma~e-up water will be deflectecl do-.n-~ardl~
so as to flow or cascade over the op~o~ite sides of the body 400.
Each of the combina~ion ice orm and evaporator members 326 comprises a lower end 418 which is provided w~ith a pair of o~posed, outwardly projecting shoulders t~r ridges 420 that extend substantially along the entire length of each side of the body 400 and define outwardly and dowm~ardly inclined upper ice deflecting surfaces 422. The shoulders or ridges 420 on the opposite sides of the body 400 are formed with a plurality of spaced apart, ver~ically arranged slots 424 through which ice make-up water is intended to flo-~ after it cascades down the opp~site sides of the body 400, with such water subsequently dropping into the associated arm section 334 o the sump assembly 324. The înclined upper surfaces.
422 of the shoulclers 420 are intended to act as an ice defle~ting means, whcreby ice released ~rom the plur~lity of pockets 410 during the harvest portion o the oper-~tional cycle of the ice making machine 300 will drop downwardIy and strike or en~age the surfaces 422 and be de1ected outwardly away from the adjacent sump arm sections 334 and into the ice receiving area located below the sump assembly 324, wi th the ice ~ake-up wateT
cascading over the opposite sides of the body 400 passing down~ardly through the plurality of slots or recesses 424 directly into the sump assemhly 324 for recirculation.

~2~3~g~
As best seen in ~igure 31, each o~ the combin-ation ice form and e~aporator membcrs 326 is ~ro~ided with a pair of cvlindrical lugs formed on the opposite sides thereof and located generally cen~rally of the lo~er-most portions thereof. The lugs 426, 42~ are inte~ded to cooperate with inverted ~-shaped shoulders 430 and Tetain-ing flanges 432 located between the lugs 426, 428 on each side of each of the bodies 400 in o~erati~Jely supportîng a plurality of sump covers, generally designated by the numeral 4fi0, that are disposed over the central section 332 of the sum~ assembly 324 and positioned one between each adjacent pair of members 326 so as to prevent the ice product being ormed in the pocXets 410 of the members 326 from falling downwardly into the central section 332 of the sump 324. In the embodiment o~ the present invention sholYn in ~igures 29 and 30, three of the members 460 are interposed between the our combination ice Form and evaporator members 326 and supported at their re-snective opposite ends by means v the cylindrical lugs ~26) 428, shoulders 430 and retaining flanges 432. Althou~h not shown herein, the op~osite ends of each of the sump arm sections 334 may be provided with similar type cover members which prevent the ice cubes from dropping into the ends of the sump arm sections 334, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
The lower opposi~e edges of each of the com-bination ice form and eVapOTatOr member5 326 are pro-vided with a pair o~ outwardly projecting mounting lugs -- ~o --. .

~2~3~;9~

4 -~ ancl 43~ which~ as best seen in ~i~ure 3], ~rc ~danted to be ne~tin~ly recei\ed within the recesses 356 of the associatetl embossments 354 in the arm sections 334 of the sump assembly 32~, ~hereb} the entire sump assembl~
324 is detachably suPported on the lo-~rer ends of the pluralit~ of members 326 and depend~ do-~n~ardlv there-from. The entire assembla~e consisting of ~he pluralit~
of combination ice form and e~a~orator members 3?6, sump assembly 324 and the manifold assemblv 322 mounted on 1() the upper ed~es of the members 326 is intended to be suported l~ithin the ice making area 320 of the enclosure 302 hy means of a pluralitv of out~ardl,~ extendin~ lugs 44~, 442 and 444 that are formed on the opposite si~e ed~es of the members 326 and the rear~.!ard ones of ~hich 440 and 4~2 are intended to be inserted ~ithin suitable com~lementary openings in the rear~ard wall 306 (or sanitar~;
liner, etc.) of the ice making area 32n of the enclosure 302 for oPeratively supporting members 326 theret~itllin.
The front or for~ard edges of the members 326 ha~e the lugs 444 vertically arran~ed such that they may be receivecl ~ithin suitable opening~ 448 ~ithin ~
horizontally extending retaining bar 450 ~hich extends between the end ~all 310 and partition 312 in a manner best sho~-~n in Fi~eures 29 and 31. I~'ith this arrangement, the members 32fi are suitably supported .ithin the area 32n, with the manifold assembly 322 being surmounted on the upper eclges thereof and the entire water sump assembly .~24 bein~ supported from the loi;~ermost portions thereof.

~36~4 It l~ill be apprec;ated that various other t~pes o~
su~norting means may be provided for operatively securing the members -26, manifold assernbly 322 and sum~ asscmblv 324 within ~he area 320 without clel?arting from the scope of the present invention; ho~e~er, the aforedescribed mode of operatively mountino these components lends itself to ease of construc~ion, convenience of assembly and dis-assembly for Purposes of cleaning and the li~e.
The water system of the ice making machine 300 inclu~les the aforementioned ~.rater pump 31~ l~hich is intended ~o be communicable Wit]l the water sump asse~bly 324 ~ia the openings 346, 348 and 350 formed in the end all ortion 344 thereof. In particular, the opening ~46 is adapted to be communicable with the inlet portion of t]le l~ater pump 318 via a suitable water conduit 452, ~hereas the outlet portion oF the pump 318 is ada~ted to be com~uni-cable ~ia the aforementioned water supply pipe or conduit 454 I.~ith the ~ater manifold assembly 322. The discharge from the pump 31~ is also connected to the sump assem~l~
32~ via ~ ~uitable condui`t 454 which is communicable with the o~ening 348. Finally, the pump ~18 is connectecl ~ia a suitable overflol~ conduit 456 with the opening 35n of the su~p assembl~ 324 for the purposes best described in United ~States Patent ~o. 3,55~,424 which is ineorpor-ated by reference herein. Briefly, however, it should be noted that the pump 318 includes a suitable impeller or the like (not sho~n) ~.~hich is drivin~ly connected via a ~rive shaft with the pump motor, whereupon energization of the snotor, water will be pumped from the S~Tllp assembly ~ 3~ig~
~2~ ia thc conduit 45~ to the manifold assembl~ 22.
The purpose of the conduit 456 is to communicate any l;ater ~hich may tend to rise alon~ the aforementioned dri~e shaft during operation of the pump motor bac~ to the sump as.sembl~
324 so as to minimize the neecl for pac~ings, seals or the like on the upper end of the shaft 3 as described in detail in the aforemen~ioned '424 patent. A suitable float oper-ated ~ater valve (no~ shown) is preferably emplo~ed for sensing the water level in the sump assembly 324 ancl enabling water replenishment at appropriate ti~es from any convenient water source which is commonly available, as ~ill be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Operation of each of the ice makint~ machines described hereinabove is essentially the same in that (luring a freezing cycle, ice malie-up l~ater is communi-cated to the combination ice form and evaporator component, whereupon the water cascades o~er and into the plurality of ice forming pockets, the excess l~ater being communicated back by an associated sump l-here the water may be recir-2n cul~ted. ~t the same time, refrigerant i~ circulated throu~]l the evaporator conduit or coils to reduce tlle temperature of the ice forming pockets, resulting in the ice make-up ~ater freezing in the manner best depicted in Fi~,ure I~. .4-fter a ~redetermined period of time, determined primarily by the size and shape of the ice product to be produced, the freezing c,vcle is terminated and the harvest cycle is initiated. During the har~Test cyc~e, previously for~e~ ice cuhes are released from the ice forming poc~ets in an~ one of a nu1nber of ways ~2~3~

con~ tellt .!ith th~ princ;ples of the l~r~s~nt in~ntion.
First ol~ all, a hot gas refrigerant ma) he communicated t]lTOU~h the e~anorator coil(s) in order to raise the temperature o-f the heat transfer elemen~s and hence raise the tempera~ure of the associated poc~ets, where-upon the ice cubes within the pockets l~ill be released and drop under the influence of gravity do-~nwardlv to-iard an associated ice receiving storage area. ~elease of the cubes from the pockets may be accelerated b,~ continuing to flol~ (c~scade or sPray) water over the cubes, so as to reduce the time of the harvest cycle. Of course, ~arious combinations of hot gas and continued water flo-~ ma,v be a~opted, or alternativel~, one of these methocls may be adopted exclusively. After termination of the harvest cycle, the ne~t successi~e free~ing cycle may be initiated, ~hereupon cooled and liquified refri-gerant will again be circulated through the evaporator conduit to form the next "batch" of ice ~ithin the poc~et~
of the combination ice form and evaporator members. .~s ~n will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a sui~able automatic shut-off mechanism may he provided in the control circuitry forthe present invention. ~ypically, such shut-off controls include an ice level,sensing member ~hich is actùatable in response to the ice level reaching a pre-determined height within the associ~ted storage bin for opening the control circuit, thus, effecting deenergization of thc ice ma~ing mac}~ine until ~uch ti~e as the ice level drops to some predetermined magnitllde.

-- 4~ --~)36~
~ ne Or the -fe~turcs of the preserlt in~ention achie~ed, fc)r cxa~nle, b~ the ic~ maXin~ machine ~0~, resides in the fac~ that the pluralit~ of com~)ination ice form and evaporator members arc disposed in a vertical orientation ancl are spaced a~art from one another, as ~re their associated sources of ~ater, i.e., water manifolds, ancl ~.~ater sum? This arrangement provides for the stacking of successive machines, one on to~ of one another, whereby the ice produced by an upper machîne may drop do-~nt~ardly through a suitable opening in ~he lower end of the upper machîne housing - and thereafter dro~ downwardly betteen the ~ater mani-folds, evaporator members ~nd sump of a sub~acent machine to some ice storin~ or receiving area located belo~ the stacked machines. Thus, a plurality of such machines may be stac~ed one upon another with the various evaporator members, manifold and sump sections being in ~enerally vertical ali&nment so as to de~ine ice f]o~i p~ths therebet~een ~hich permit the ice from the upper machines ~0 to ~Iron do~nwardly past the evaporator members, manifold mem~)ers an-l sump me~bers of the lo~rer machine~ withou~ in any l~av interferring ~ith the operation of the lo~er machines, whereby to provide for extremely hir~h ice producing capacitv for a given amount of floor space As Previously discussed, other features of the present invention inclucle the resultant ice product havin~
hi~hly im~ro~rec1 s~lash resistance and displacement char-acteristics, as compared t~ Prio~ knol~rn ice products This is achieved by the fact that the ice prc~uc~ is 3n entirely void of any concavities and is of a basicall~

~5 ~ 3 ~79 ~
sq~lal~, y~t "rounded" configuration, -hich a~io contri-butes to im~rove~ storability ~.ithout si~7nificant bridging or freezing of the cubes during prolonged storage thereof. Additionally, the present invention Provides for universality of a~plication by virtue o~ the fact that the combination ice form and evaporator members thereof may be operatively mounted in vertical, horizontal or inclined orientations and ma~ be supplied ~ith water from a cascading water source, or alternativel!~ rom a ln source of sprayed water. By ~irtue of the fact that moving parts are minimized to the extreme, maintenance of the present in~ention ~.~ill be minimized, as ~
attendant "dol.rn-time" for repairs, service, etc.
Additionally, the present invention ill find ~ide and ~aried ~pplication due to the fact that a greatèr or lesser number of the combination ice form and eva~or-ator members may be utilized in a C7i~ren installation and such members may be easily replaced with similar members having ice forming pockets of either smaller or larger sizes so as to effect a corresponding change in the s;7e of thc ice product used. Yet additional ~eatures of the present invention reside in the extreme compactness of the ice ma~ing components thereof wherehy to vrovitle or an increase in ice makin~ ca~acity for a given size installation. ~Soreover, and of no less importance, is the fact that the ice producing capacity of the invention has been found to be significantly increased as compared to prior a~t ~e~7ices utilizing the s~me si7e energy con-suming refrigeration components, ~7ith the result that the lZ~3~
ice mal;ing machine of the present in~!ention l,:ill be foun~l to l~roduce a greater olume of ice products for a gi~en amoun~ of a~ailable energy, thereby providing for energy conservation and/or reduced operating expenses.
l~'hile it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modiication~ variation and change ~ithout departing rom the proper scope of fair m~aning of the subjoined claims.

. ~,7 _

Claims (31)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An ice making machine comprising:
a refrigeration system including a combination evaporator and ice form assembly, said assembly having at least one ice form pocket formed thereon, said pocket being at least in part defined by relatively heat insulating material of a thickness that varies at predetermined locations across the surface of said pocket in order to correspondingly vary at said predeter-mined locations the thickness of the ice product produced therein, means communicating a source of ice make-up water to said assembly, means supporting said assembly in a generally vertical orientation, and water distribution means disposed adjacent an uppermost portion of said assembly for distributing make-up water from said source thereof to said ice form, whereby said water may cascade over said form and freeze therein under the influence of refrigerant flowing through said evaporator.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said assembly is of a generally plate-like configuration and is formed with a plurality of said ice forming pockets on at least one side thereof.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said assembly comprises ice forming pockets on the opposite sides thereof.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said ice forming pockets are arranged in generally vertically arranged rows, with the pockets on one side of said assembly being staggered with respect to those on the opposite side thereof.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 which com-prises a water make-up manifold means adjacent the upper edge of said assembly.

6, The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said manifold means comprises an open upper sided enclosure having a plurality of water flow passage means on the lower side thereof communicable with said ice forming pockets.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said water distribution means comprises means defining an ice make-up water flow passage having an inlet end connected to said water source.

8, The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said passage decreases in cross-sectional size in a direction away from said inlet end thereof.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 which includes a plurality of water discharge ports communicable with said passage and adapted to direct water downwardly toward said combination evaporator and ice form assembly located therebelow.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said water distribution means is fabricated of a molded plastic material.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said assembly comprises a molded combination evaporator and ice form member having said plurality of pockets arranged in vertical rows, and which includes means defining a plurality of water flow paths adjacent the upper edge thereof communicable with said water source for permitting water to flow downwardly along the opposite sides of said assembly.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 which includes an elongated manifold disposed adjacent said member, said manifold being communicable with said source of ice make-up water and having said water flow paths for communicating said water toward the opposite sides of said member.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said water flow paths comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced, generally vertically disposed discharge ports.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said manifold has an internal tapered bore con-necting said ice make-up water source with said discharge ports so as to assure for generally uniform discharge of said water along said member.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 13 which includes a plurality of generally identically spaced parallel combination evaporator ice form assemblies, each having its own water manifold disposed adjacent the uppermost part thereof and communicable with said ice make-up water source.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 which includes an ice storage area disposed generally below said plurality of assemblies.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 5 which includes a plurality of generally spaced parallel vertically oriented combination evaporator and ice form assemblies, a water manifold assembly disposed adjacent the upper edges of said assemblies and comprising a central water distribution member arranged at generally right angles to said assem-blies, and a plurality of pairs of opposed arm sections extending outwardly from said central distribution member and arranged adjacent the upper edges of said assemblies.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said arm sections comprises a central bore communicating water from the distribution member to a plurality of longitudinally spaced ports which direct ice make-up water downwardly toward the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies disposed therebelow.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 18 wherein the bore of each of said arm sections is tapered radially inwardly away from the inlet end thereof.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 19 wherein each pair of said arm sections is surmounted upon the upper edge of one of said combination evaporator and ice form assemblies.

21. The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein the upper edge of each of said combination evaporator and ice form assemblies is provided with a plurality of transverse slots, and wherein each of said arm sections includes a pair of vertical water deflecting surfaces, whereby water being directed downwardly through said ports and into said slots will flow outwardly into engage-ment with said deflecting surfaces and thereafter be directed downwardly so as to cascade over the opposite sides of the combination evaporator and ice form assemblies associated therewith.

22. The invention as set forth in claim 21 wherein the ends of said arm sections which are arranged adjacent said central distribution member and complementary in shape with respect to the oppo-site sides of said central distribution member are adapted to partially nestingly receive the opposite sides of said distribution member.

23. The invention as set forth in claim 22 wherein said distribution member comprises first and second co-linear sections having an inlet member disposed between and interconnecting said sections and communicating ice make-up water thereto.

24. The invention as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said assemblies, said assemblies being spaced apart, and each of said assemblies being formed with a plurality of said pockets on the opposite sides thereof.

25. The invention as set forth in claim 1, which includes at least one combination evaporator and ice form assembly, and a water sump disposed below said assembly.

26. The invention as set forth in claim 25 wherein said ice making machine includes a plurality of said combination evaporator and ice form assemblies, said sump comprises a central section extending generally parallel to and spaced below said supply conduit and a plurality of arm sections extending perpendicularly away from said central section and arranged two below each of said assemblies.

27. The invention as set forth in claim 26, wherein said arm sections of said sump are spaced apart from one another and define ice passages therebetween through which ice may drop downwardly from the associated of said assemblies to an ice receiving area located below said sump.

28. The invention as set forth in claim 24, wherein said water distribution means are spaced apart from one another a sufficient distance to permit ice to drop downwardly there-between from an ice making machine located thereabove.

29. The invention as set forth in claim 26, wherein said ice making machine comprises an ice making enclosure having at least two parallel spaced apart side walls, and which includes means on at least one of said side walls cooperable with said plurality of assemblies to partially support the same within said enclosure.

30. The invention as set forth in claim 29, wherein said means securing said assemblies to said side walls at least in part comprises integral fastening elements on said assemblies.

31. In the method of making an ice product, the steps which include, introducing ice make-up water into an open-sided ice form having an interior surface, operating heat removing means adjacent said form, providing relatively non-heat transfer means between said heat removing means and said surface, whereby said make-up water will gradually freeze within said form and produce an ice product, the cross-sectional thickness of which will vary in inverse relation to the magnitude of the thickness of said relative non-heat transfer means.