An ice machine includes an evaporator with a plurality of individual ice-forming cells. Each ice-forming cell is open at a lower end. A water distributor is coupled to the evaporator and configured to deliver water to the upper end of each ice-forming cell. A refrigeration system in the ice machine
An ice machine includes an evaporator with a plurality of individual ice-forming cells. Each ice-forming cell is open at a lower end. A water distributor is coupled to the evaporator and configured to deliver water to the upper end of each ice-forming cell. A refrigeration system in the ice machine is configured to cool each of the plurality of ice-forming cells, such that individual ice cubes are formed in each ice-forming cell. A water recirculation system includes a water collection unit positioned between the evaporator and a water sump. The water collection unit collects water flowing from the ice-forming cells in first and second chambers. A water detection probe is positioned in the second chamber. A harvest cycle is initiated when the water level in the second chamber falls below a specified level. A method of operating the ice machine is also provided.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. An ice machine comprising: (a) an evaporator having a plurality of individual ice-forming cells, each cell having a closed perimeter and an opening at a lower end; (b) a water distributor coupled to the evaporator and configured to deliver water at or near an upper end
The invention claimed is: 1. An ice machine comprising: (a) an evaporator having a plurality of individual ice-forming cells, each cell having a closed perimeter and an opening at a lower end; (b) a water distributor coupled to the evaporator and configured to deliver water at or near an upper end of each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells; (c) a water disperser in an upper end of each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells, wherein the water disperser is configured to disperse the flow of water from the water distributor into the upper end of the ice-forming cells so that the water flows downward inside the perimeter of the individual ice-forming cells; (d) a water recirculation system including a sump, a water pump positioned within the sump, and a water recirculation line coupled to the water pump and to the water distributor; and (e) a refrigeration system configured to cool each of the plurality of ice-forming cells from outside the perimeter, such that individual ice cubes are formed in the ice-forming cells. 2. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the refrigeration system is further configured to heat each of the ice-forming cells during a harvest cycle, such that the ice cubes are released and delivered from the lower end of each ice-forming cell. 3. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the evaporator comprises: (a) a thermally conductive plate extending in a first plane, wherein each of the plurality of ice-forming cells are positioned within the thermally conductive plate, and wherein each cell has longitudinal axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane; and (b) a heat transfer conduit secured to the thermally conductive plate in proximity to each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells. 4. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the thermally conductive plate, the ice-forming cells, and heat transfer conduit comprise copper metal. 5. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the ice-forming cells and the heat transfer conduit are solder bonded to the thermally conductive plate. 6. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the heat transfer conduit is thermally coupled to each of the individual ice-forming cells such that water coming in contact with an inner wall of each individual ice-forming cell will freeze into ice on the inner wall. 7. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the individual ice-forming cells are positioned in an array of holes in the thermally conductive plate. 8. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the thermally conductive plate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein side walls depend from the lower surface along a perimeter of the thermally conductive plate. 9. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the plurality of ice-forming cells are positioned within the thermally conductive plate such that the first plane crosses a midsection of each ice-forming cell. 10. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the thermally conductive plate comprises a rectangular plate having a long side and a short side, and wherein the array of holes comprises rows extending parallel to the long side and columns extending parallel to the short side. 11. The ice machine of claim 10 wherein the heat transfer conduit comprises a serpentine tube secured to the lower surface and to the side walls of the thermally conductive plate and traverses between adjacent rows of the ice-forming cells. 12. The ice machine of claim 11 wherein the serpentine tube is configured such that a heat transfer fluid entering the serpentine tube is first directed between adjacent inner rows of the ice-forming cells. 13. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein a bottom portion of each individual ice-forming cell extends below the lower surface of the thermally conductive plate, and wherein the evaporator further comprises a thermal insulator surrounding the bottom portion of the individual ice-forming cells. 14. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the water disperser is configured to direct a flow of water under pressure from the water distributor onto an inner wall at the upper end of the ice-forming cell. 15. The ice machine of claim 14 wherein the water disperser further comprises a splash plate positioned within the water disperser by L-shaped arms attached to an inner surface of the water disperser. 16. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the water disperser comprises a first tube section having a first diameter and a second tube section downstream of the first tube section and having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, and wherein the second tube section is coupled to the upper end of the ice-forming cell. 17. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the water disperser further comprises a splash plate positioned within the first tube and attached to an inner wall of the first tube by L-shaped arms, such that the splash plate is positioned down stream from a point of attachment of the L-shaped arms to the inner wall of the first tube. 18. The ice machine of claim 17 wherein the splash plate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the lower surface of the splash plate is aligned with a transition point between the first tube and the second tube, such that the flow of water contacting the splash plate passes between the splash plate and the L-shaped arms and is uniformly dispersed on an inner wall of the second tube. 19. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual ice-forming cells are arranged in rows, and wherein the water distributor further comprises a manifold coupled to the water recirculation line and having a plurality of water supply lines, wherein each supply line is coupled to each water dispenser in a row of individual ice-forming cells. 20. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the evaporator comprises: (a) a first thermally conductive plate; (b) a second thermally conductive plate below the first thermally conductive plate; and (c) a heat transfer conduit secured to the first and second thermally conductive plates in proximity to each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells, wherein each of the plurality of ice-forming cells comprises a first cell positioned within the first plate thermally conductive plate and a second cell positioned within the second thermally conductive plate, and wherein the first and second cells are connected together by a thermally insulating coupler. 21. The ice machine of claim 20 wherein the thermally insulating coupler comprises injection molded plastic having low water absorption and a lateral dimension substantially the same as the lateral dimension of the first and second cells. 22. The ice machine of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a water collection unit positioned below the evaporator and above the sump, the water collection unit having a first chamber separated from a second chamber by a weir, wherein each chamber includes a drain hole in a bottom surface thereof; and (b) a water detection probe positioned within the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is configured to collect water flowing through the plurality of individual ice-forming cells and to direct the water though the drain hole in the bottom surface of the first chamber and over the weir into the second chamber. 23. The ice machine of claim 22 wherein the second chamber includes an outer wall opposite the weir, the outer wall having a vertical height less than a vertical height of the weir, such that water can flow from the second chamber over the outer wall and into the sump. 24. The ice machine of claim 23 wherein the second chamber is configured such that a reduction of water flow from the plurality of individual ice-forming cells will reduce a water level in the second chamber to a position below a sensing end of the water detection probe. 25. The ice machine of claim 22 wherein the bottom surface of the first chamber is inclined such that water will flow toward the weir, and wherein the drain hole in the first chamber is located in proximity to the weir. 26. An ice machine comprising: (a) a multi-level evaporator having at least two levels, wherein each level includes a plurality of individual ice-forming cells, each ice-forming cell having a closed perimeter and an opening at a lower end, wherein the ice-forming cells are vertically aligned to form vertical cell stacks, and wherein a thermal insulator is positioned between the ice-forming cells in the vertical cell stacks; (b) a water distributor coupled to the evaporator and configured to deliver water at or near an upper end of each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells in an uppermost level; and (c) a water recirculation system including a sump, a water pump positioned within the sump, and a water recirculation line coupled to the water pump and to the water distributor, wherein the water distributor is configured to deliver water to the multi-level evaporator such that the water flows downward from the uppermost level in each cell stack and out of the multi-level evaporator through a lowermost level and into the sump. 27. The ice machine of claim 26 further comprising a refrigeration system configured to cool each of the plurality of ice-forming cells from outside the perimeter, such that individual ice cubes are formed in the ice-forming cells. 28. The ice machine of claim 26 wherein each level of the multi-level evaporator comprises: (a) a thermally conductive plate; and (b) a heat transfer conduit secured to the thermally conductive plate in proximity to each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells, wherein each of the plurality of ice-forming cells comprises an elongated metal structure having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the thermally conductive plate. 29. The ice machine of claim 28 wherein the elongated metal structure has a cross sectional geometry selected from the group consisting of square, circular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and octagonal. 30. The ice machine of claim 28 wherein each of the ice-forming cells are attached to the thermally conductive plate at a midsection of the ice-forming cell. 31. An ice machine comprising: (a) evaporator means having a plurality of individual ice-forming cells, each cell having a closed perimeter and an opening at a lower end; (b) water distributor means coupled to the evaporator means for delivering water at or near an upper end of each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells; (c) water recirculation means for recirculating water that passes through the ice-forming cells back to the water distributor means; (d) water flow sensing means for determining the amount of water passing through the ice forming cells; and (e) refrigeration means for cooling each of the plurality of ice-forming cells from outside the perimeter, such that individual ice cubes are formed in the ice-forming cells. 32. The ice machine of claim 31 wherein the evaporator means comprises a multi-level evaporator having at least two levels, wherein each level includes a plurality of individual ice-forming cells, wherein the ice-forming cells are vertically aligned to form vertical cell stacks, and wherein a thermal insulator is positioned between the ice-forming cells in the vertical cell stacks. 33. The ice machine of claim 31 wherein the water flow sensing means comprises: (a) a water collection unit positioned below the evaporator means and upstream of the water recirculation means, the water collection unit having a first chamber separated from a second chamber by a weir, wherein each chamber includes a drain hole in a bottom surface thereof; and (b) a water detection probe positioned within the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is configured to collect water flowing through the plurality of individual ice-forming cells and to direct the water though the drain hole in the bottom surface of the first chamber and over the weir into the second chamber. 34. The ice machine of claim 31 further comprising a water disperser in an upper end of each of the plurality of individual ice-forming cells, wherein the water disperser includes a splash plate positioned within the water disperser and attached to an inner wall thereof, wherein the splash plate directs a flow of water entering the upper end of the ice-forming cell outward onto an inner surface of the ice-forming cell.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (23)
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