An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward
An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward one end of the auger, by which it is compressed and moved by a paddle toward a flange, in which it is delivered to an ice breakup device, by which the ice is diverted into a compression zone, with water being squeezed from the ice and the ice delivered to a transport tube and then to an ice retainer. Filling the retainer or jamming of ice nuggets inside the transport will effect a shut-down of the apparatus. Various water level controls for a water reservoir are provided, whereby the auger is flooded inside and outside, for enhancing ice formation. Nugget-type ice is provided by the ice making apparatus. The apparatus allows for changing the nugget size/shape without negative ice hardness consequences.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An ice making apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, comprising: (a) a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type; (b) a freezing chamber with a generally hollow cylindric
What is claimed is: 1. An ice making apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, comprising: (a) a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type; (b) a freezing chamber with a generally hollow cylindrical inner wall and means for receiving water therein for forming ice on said cylindrical inner wall; (c) a rotatable ice auger sized to fit inside said freezing chamber and comprising means for scraping ice formed on the wall of said chamber and conveying the ice from the wall of said chamber, along said rotatable auger, to ice compression means; (d) means to cause rotation of said ice auger; (e) means for supplying water to said freezing chamber; (f) ice compression means for receiving ice from said freezing chamber and compressing it into compacted solid form while squeezing water therefrom; and (g) said auger being tubular, with exterior and interior surfaces, with flight means on its exterior surface for scraping ice, and having a hollow interior surface and having means for receiving water therein. 2. The ice making apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are irrigation port means in said tubular auger, between said exterior and interior surfaces, for passage of water therethrough. 3. The ice making apparatus of claim 2, including water conduit means for returning water squeezed out of ice by said ice compression means and returning the water to said auger. 4. An ice making apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, comprising: (a) a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type; (b) a freezing chamber with a generally hollow cylindrical inner wall and means for receiving water therein for forming ice on said cylindrical inner wall; (c) a rotatable ice auger sized to fit inside said freezing chamber and comprising means for scraping ice formed on the wall of said chamber and conveying the ice from the wall of said chamber, along said rotatable auger, to ice compression means; (d) means to cause rotation of said ice auger; (e) means for supplying water to said freezing chamber; (f) ice compression means for receiving ice from said freezing chamber and compressing it into compacted solid form while squeezing water therefrom; and (g) said auger being tubular, with exterior and interior surfaces, with flight means on its exterior surface for scraping ice, and having a hollow interior surface and having means for receiving water therein, wherein there are irrigation port means in said tubular auger, between said exterior and interior surfaces, for passage of water therethrough, wherein said flight means include leading ice-engaging surface means on one side of said flight means for engaging ice and moving it toward one end of the freezing chamber and trailing surface means on said flight means; with said irrigation port means being disposed through the auger on the other side of said flight means, adjacent the trailing surface means. 5. An ice making apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, comprising: (a) a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type; (b) a freezing chamber with a generally hollow cylindrical inner wall and means for receiving water therein for forming ice on said cylindrical inner wall; (c) a rotatable ice auger sized to fit inside said freezing chamber and comprising means for scraping ice formed on the wall of said chamber and conveying the ice from the wall of said chamber, along said rotatable auger, to ice compression means; (d) means to cause rotation of said ice auger; (e) means for supplying water to said freezing chamber; (f) ice compression means for receiving ice from said freezing chamber and compressing it into compacted solid form while squeezing water therefrom; and (g) said freezing chamber and its said auger being generally horizontally disposed, with said auger being driven for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. 6. The ice making apparatus of claim 5, wherein said auger is hollow, with exterior and interior surfaces, and having means for receiving water therein, with irrigation port means through said auger, between said exterior and interior surfaces, for flooding substantially the entire hollow cylindrical inner wall of said freezing chamber. 7. The ice making apparatus of any one of claims 5 and 6, including water conduit means for receiving water squeezed out of ice by said ice compression means and returning the water to said auger. 8. The ice making apparatus of any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein there are flight means on the exterior surface of said auger, which flight means include leading ice-engaging surface means on one side of said flight means for engaging ice and moving it toward one end of the freezing chamber and trailing surface means on the other side of said flight means; with said irrigation port means being disposed through the auger on the other side of said flight means, adjacent the trailing surface means. 9. An ice making apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, comprising: (a) a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type; (b) a freezing chamber with a generally hollow cylindrical inner wall and means for receiving water therein for forming ice on said cylindrical inner wall; (c) a rotatable ice auger sized to fit inside said freezing chamber and comprising means for scraping ice formed on the wall of said chamber and conveying the ice from the wall of said chamber, along said rotatable auger, to ice compression means; (d) means to cause rotation of said ice auger; (e) means for supplying water to said freezing chamber; (f) ice compression means for receiving ice from said freezing chamber and compressing it into compacted solid form while squeezing water therefrom; and (g) said auger having a generally tapered outer surface whereby the distance between the outer surface of the auger and the cylindrical inner wall of the freezing chamber gradually increases as ice is conveyed along the auger, and wherein the auger has flight means on its exterior surface for scraping ice from the cylindrical inner wall of the freezing chamber.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Hiramatsu, Shinya, Cooling unit and manufacturing method of the same.
Brunner, Roger P.; Follett, Steven R.; Greene, Matthew S.; Hettinger, Robert; Rice, Michael A.; Yautz, Michael S., Dispenser device for ice and water, components thereof and process of cleaning same.
Brunner, Roger P.; Follett, Steven R.; Greene, Matthew S.; Hettinger, Robert; Rice, Michael A.; Yautz, Michael S., Dispenser device for ice and water, components thereof and process of cleaning same.
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