초록 ▼

An ice maker having structure for forming an ice column which is passed through a constricting nozzle. A delivery structure is arranged to receive the ice column and cause selectively the shearing of the ice column into full sized ice bodies, approximately half size ice bodies, or cracked ice. The d

An ice maker having structure for forming an ice column which is passed through a constricting nozzle. A delivery structure is arranged to receive the ice column and cause selectively the shearing of the ice column into full sized ice bodies, approximately half size ice bodies, or cracked ice. The delivery structure may include a breaker tube having an inwardly directed projection and defining a deflecting structure for shearing the ice at preselected intervals. The delivery structure may further include a selectively installable adapter defining a second inwardly directed projection for causing shearing of the ice column at preselected intervals less than that effected by the projection in the breaker tube. A blade may be removably associated with the adapter for selectively causing shattering of the ice column so as to form cracked ice, when desired. An extension tube may be associated with the breaker tube for delivering the ice bodies and cracked ice in any direction from the ice maker.

대표청구항 ▼

In an ice maker having means for forming ice, means defining a constricting nozzle, and means for urging the ice through the nozzle to form a solid column of hard ice, the improvement comprising: a breaker tube defining a delivery passage disposed to receive the ice column for longitudinal movement

In an ice maker having means for forming ice, means defining a constricting nozzle, and means for urging the ice through the nozzle to form a solid column of hard ice, the improvement comprising: a breaker tube defining a delivery passage disposed to receive the ice column for longitudinal movement therethrough along a preselected path, said delivery passage having a cross section larger than that of the ice column permitting the ice column moving from the nozzle to be spaced inwardly of a first sidewall portion of the tube; and a second, inwardly projecting sidewall portion of the breaker tube disposed generally oppositely of said first sidewall portion and projecting into said path of movement of the ice column to define deflecting means arranged to cause a sufficient deflection of the hard ice in said column to shear the column at spaced intervals thereby forming the hard ice into a series of discrete ice bodies, said second sidewall portion of the breaker tube comprising an indented portion of the tube.