GB999366A - Improvements in or relating to ice-making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

999,366. Ice-making. CHICAGO STOCK YARD TURBO REFRIGERATING CO. Oct. 31, 1962, No. 41205/62. Heading F4H. In an ice-making machine a metal plate 14 has a freezing surface 16 and means for applying water on to the upper edge of said plate for flow downwards across surface 16, refrigeration means in heat exchange with the opposite surface 34 for refrigeration of the plate and a collecting trough 40 positioned below the plate and offset towards surface 34 to ensure that ice falling from surface 16 falls downwards clear of the trough. As shown, water is pumped from tank 44 via outlet 60 into distributer pan 22 where it flows through holes 26 on to distributer plates 20 and hence down the outside freezing surfaces 16 of freezing plates 14. The water and slush as it forms flows from surfaces 16 down the outside of drain plates 38 to fall into trough 40 which is inclined slightly. Water and any slush that flows from the open end 42 of the trough flows into auxiliary tank 46. The water then flows through holes 54 in the tank 46 into tank 44 to repeat the cycle, whilst any slush floats on the surface of tank 46. When a sufficient thickness of ice has formed on surfaces 16, the pump 63 and refrigerant flowing through pipes or passages 18 is turned off and warm water, e.g. at 50-75‹ F. is supplied to the inner surfaces 34 of the freezing plates 14 by distributer pipe 28 which is formed with axially aligned holes 30. The warm water is cooled by its path over surfaces 34 and is used in the next cooling cycle and is collected in tank 44. The warm water continues to flow until the ice sheet falls from the surfaces 16. By this time, however, the temperature of the water when it reaches tank 46 is almost as high as it was in pipe 28. To avoid it heating up the cold water in tank 44, the capacities of tanks 44 and 46 are designed so that the later relatively warmer water flows down overflow pipe 50. A baffle 62 (Fig. 4, not shown), is placed over outlet 60 to prevent any slush which may enter tank 44 from being circulated to the distributer.