U.S. patent application number 15/254320 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-16 for high pressure ice making device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Howe Corporation. Invention is credited to Bruce Lindberg, Jeffrey A. Mackowiak.
Application Number | 20170074570 15/254320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58257136 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170074570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mackowiak; Jeffrey A. ; et
al. |
March 16, 2017 |
HIGH PRESSURE ICE MAKING DEVICE
Abstract
An ice making device and a method of making ice. A stream of
water is pressurized by a water supply device so that a high
pressure water can be supplied to a freezing surface in a housing.
The housing is operated at a pressure that is greater than
atmospheric pressure. The water supply device may comprise a pump,
a pressurized water tank, or a chamber with two or more valves.
Inventors: |
Mackowiak; Jeffrey A.; (Oak
Lawn, IL) ; Lindberg; Bruce; (Chicago, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Howe Corporation |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58257136 |
Appl. No.: |
15/254320 |
Filed: |
September 1, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62219378 |
Sep 16, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 1/14 20130101; F25C
2600/04 20130101; F25C 1/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/14 20060101
F25C001/14; F25C 1/22 20060101 F25C001/22 |
Claims
1. An ice producing device comprising: a housing configured to be
pressurized; at least one freezing surface disposed inside of the
housing configured to produce ice; a refrigerant zone in thermal
contact with the at least one freezing surface and disposed between
an inlet and an outlet, the refrigerant zone configured to receive,
via the inlet, a refrigerant so as to absorb heat from the at least
one surface; a water supply device configured to receive water at a
first pressure and provide a high pressure water at a second
pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first; a water
supply line configured to supply a stream of the high pressure
water into the housing; and, a flaker disposed inside of the
housing and configured to remove ice from the freezing surface.
2. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a water pump.
3. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a pressurized water tank.
4. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a chamber having two or more valves.
5. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a chamber having three or more valves.
6. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a chamber having at least four valves.
7. The ice producing device of claim 1 wherein the water supply
device comprises a controller for controlling one or more valves
associated with the water supply device, wherein the controller is
in communication with the one or more valves associated with the
water supply device.
8. The ice producing device of claim 1 further comprising a
controller and at least one sensor in communication with the
controller.
9. The ice producing device of claim 8 wherein the controller is in
communication with the water supply device and configured to adjust
the second pressure.
10. A process of producing ice, the process comprising:
pressurizing a chamber in a housing; increasing a pressure of water
from a water supply line to provide a high pressure water, the high
pressure water having a pressure that is greater than the pressure
of water in the water supply line; passing the high pressure water
to the chamber in the housing; absorbing heat from the water in the
chamber of the housing along a freezing surface to provide ice;
and, removing the ice from the freezing surface.
11. The process of claim 10 wherein the pressure of the water is
increased with a water supply device.
12. The process of claim 11 wherein the water supply device
comprises a water pump.
13. The process of claim 11 wherein the water supply device
comprises a pressurized water tank.
14. The process of claim 11 wherein the water supply device
comprises a chamber having two or more valves.
15. The process of claim 11 wherein the water supply device
comprises a chamber having three or more valves.
16. The process of claim 11 wherein the water supply device
comprises a chamber having at least four valves.
17. The process of claim 10 further comprising: adjusting the
pressure of the high pressure water.
18. The process of claim 17 further comprising: obtaining a process
condition, wherein the pressure of the high pressure water is
adjusted based upon the process condition.
19. The process of claim 18 wherein the process condition comprises
at least one of: a pressure within the housing; a level of ice
within the housing; and, a pressure within a vessel for high
pressure water.
20. The process of claim 19 wherein the process condition is
obtained by at least one sensor in communication with a controller
configured to adjust the pressure of the high pressure water.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/219,378 filed on Sep. 16, 2015, the entirety of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an ice making device, and
more particularly to an ice making device that produces flaked or
shaved ice under high pressure, as well as a process for making ice
under high pressure.
[0003] Ice may be produced in a device by application of water onto
one or more freezing surfaces of the device. A refrigerant is
provided to the device and is in thermal contact with the one or
more freezing surfaces. As the refrigerant absorbs heat from the
water, the water will freeze on the freezing surface(s), forming a
layer of ice. The ice layer thickness and ice production rate can
be determined by several variables including but not limited to,
the water application rate and the rate at which the refrigerated
surface absorbs the heat from the water as ice is formed, to name a
few. An ice removal blade can rotate along the freezing surface(s)
and score, or otherwise scrape and break, the ice to remove the ice
from the freezing surface(s) and clear the surface. The separated
ice may fall out of the bottom of the device into, for example a
collection container. Water can be re-applied to the freshly
cleared surface, starting the process all over again. Thus, the
device can continuously produce a pressurized source of ice, which
can be beneficial and desirable in many commercial and industrial
applications such as pressurized conveyance of ice.
[0004] Since source water is typically supplied at pressures about
2.7 to 3.4 atm (40 to 50 psi), such devices may not properly
operate if the pressure of the chamber is much higher than the
pressure of the source water supply.
[0005] Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device and
process in which the pressure of the water supplied to the ice
making device is greater than the pressure of the source water.
[0006] It would be further desirable to have a device and process
in which the pressure of the pressure of the water supplied to the
ice making device is approximately the same as the pressure within
the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A new ice making device and a method for producing ice have
been invented in which a water supply device is utilized to
increase the pressure of a water stream to provide a high pressure
water stream. The term "high pressure" is in relation to the supply
of water to the ice making device and means that the pressure of
the water at the outlet of the water supply device is higher or
greater than the pressure at the inlet of the water supply device.
The high pressure water can be supplied to an internal chamber of a
device that is pressurized, and in which the ice may be formed.
This allows the ice to be produced in a pressurized
environment.
[0008] Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention, the
present invention may be broadly characterized as providing an ice
producing device comprising: a housing configured to be
pressurized; at least one freezing surface disposed inside of the
housing configured to produce ice; a refrigerant zone in thermal
contact with the at least one freezing surface and disposed between
an inlet and an outlet, the refrigerant zone configured to receive,
via the inlet, a refrigerant so as to absorb heat from the at least
one surface; a water supply device configured to receive water at a
first pressure and provide a high pressure water at a second
pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first; a water
supply line configured to supply a stream of the high pressure
water into the housing; and, a flaker disposed inside of the
housing and configured to remove ice from the freezing surface.
[0009] It is contemplated that the water supply device comprises a
water pump.
[0010] It is also contemplated that the water supply device
comprises a pressurized water tank.
[0011] It is further contemplated that the water supply device
comprises a pressurized water tank.
[0012] It is still further contemplated that the water supply
device comprises a chamber having two or more valves. The water
supply device may comprise a chamber having three or more valves.
The water supply device may comprise a chamber having at least four
valves.
[0013] It is also contemplated that the water supply device
comprises a controller for controlling one or more valves
associated with the water supply device. The controller may be in
communication with the one or more valves associated with the water
supply device.
[0014] It is further contemplated that the ice producing device
also comprises a controller and at least one sensor in
communication with the controller. It is contemplated that the
controller is in communication with the water supply device and
configured to adjust the second pressure.
[0015] In a second aspect of the present invention, the present
invention may be broadly characterized as providing a process of
producing ice by: pressurizing a chamber in a housing; increasing a
pressure of water from a water supply line to provide a high
pressure water, the high pressure water having a pressure that is
greater than the pressure of water in the water supply line;
passing the high pressure water to the chamber in the housing;
absorbing heat from the water in the chamber of the housing along a
freezing surface to provide ice; and, removing the ice from the
freezing surface.
[0016] It is further contemplated that the pressure of the water is
increased with a water supply device. The water supply device
comprises a water pump, a pressurized water tank, a chamber having
two or more valves, a chamber having three or more valves, a
chamber having at least four valves or a combination thereof.
[0017] The process may include adjusting the pressure of the high
pressure water. It is also contemplated that the process includes
obtaining a process condition, wherein the pressure of the high
pressure water is adjusted based upon the process condition. The
process condition may comprise at least one of: a pressure within
the housing; a level of ice within the housing; and, a pressure
within a vessel for high pressure water. The process condition may
be obtained by at least one sensor in communication with a
controller configured to adjust the pressure of the high pressure
water.
[0018] In a third aspect of the present invention, the invention
present may be broadly characterized as providing a process for
producing ice as described herein.
[0019] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the present
invention may be broadly characterized as providing device for
producing ice as described herein.
[0020] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the present
invention may be broadly characterized as providing device for
producing ice according to one or more embodiments herein.
[0021] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the pressure of the water may be increased with a water supply
device.
[0022] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a water pump.
[0023] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a pressurized water tank.
[0024] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise more than one pressurized
water tank.
[0025] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a chamber having two or more
valves.
[0026] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a chamber having three or more
valves.
[0027] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a chamber having at least four
valves.
[0028] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a controller configured to
control the sequencing the valves for the purpose of controlling
water pressure, water level, and water flow to the ice maker.
[0029] In one, any, or all of the embodiments of present invention,
the water supply device may comprise a sensor, such as a water
sensor, level sensor, pressure sensor or the like.
[0030] These and other aspects and embodiments of the present
invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
based upon the following description of the drawings and detailed
description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The figures in the appended drawing will make it possible to
understand how the invention can be produced. In these figures,
identical reference numbers denote similar elements.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a top and side perspective view of an ice making
device according to one or more embodiments of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of an ice
making device according to one or more embodiments of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a top and side perspective view of another ice
making device according to one or more embodiments of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a top and side perspective view of another
embodiment of an ice making device according the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 5 is another top and side perspective view of still
another embodiment of an ice making device according the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] As mentioned above, a new ice making device and a method for
making ice have been invented. The device and method both generally
utilize a water supply device to increase water pressure. A stream
of relatively high pressure water can be passed to a freezing
chamber having at least one freezing surface. The freezing chamber
is under pressure as well (i.e., has a pressure greater than
atmospheric). The water will flow down the at least one freezing
surface and a refrigerant or coolant will absorb heat therefrom,
resulting in the water freezing and forming ice. The ice may be
removed from the freezing surface and used as desired. By producing
the ice under pressure, the ice can be used in pressurized
applications.
[0038] Accordingly, with reference to the attached drawings, one or
more embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with the understanding that the described embodiments are merely
preferred and are not intended to be limiting.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, a device 10 according to one or more
embodiments of the present invention includes a housing 12,
preferably having a cylindrical shape and preferably arranged
during use with its axis in a substantially vertical orientation.
While the housing 12 is described and depicted as having a
cylindrical shape, other shapes are also contemplated to be used
with the present invention, for example, square, rectangular, and
the like. Additionally, although not depicted as such, a horizontal
orientation may also be used. The housing 12 includes a top 14 and
a bottom 16 both of which are sealed to allow the housing 12 to be
pressurized (i.e., have a pressure greater than atmospheric).
Preferred pressures include pressures greater than atmospheric
pressure, including, but not limited to pressures of about 10 atm
(150 psi).
[0040] A pressurized air supply line 20 may extend through an end
cap 18 at the top 14 of the housing 12. The source of the pressured
air in the pressurized air supply line 20 is not important to the
understanding or practicing of the present invention. Additionally,
a high pressure water supply line 22 extends through the end cap 18
at the top 14 of the housing 12 to provide water into the housing
12 (discussed in more detail below). The housing 12 further
includes a refrigerant return line 24 and a refrigerant supply line
26.
[0041] Inside of the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 2, an interior
chamber 28 is provided which includes at least one surface 30 that
comprises a freezing surface 32. The freezing surface 32 is in
thermal contact with a refrigerant zone 34 that has an inlet 38 for
the refrigerant (via the refrigerant supply line 26) and an outlet
36 for the refrigerant (via the refrigerant return line 24). The
refrigerant zone 34 may comprise a flooded design, wherein the
refrigerant zone 34 is entirely filled with refrigerant, or a
circuited design, wherein the refrigerant zone 34 includes one or
more flow paths for the refrigerant. It is believed that the
circuit design is more advantageous to the flooded design because
of greatly reduced refrigerant inventory and more simple piping and
controls. A refrigerant is supplied into the refrigerant zone 34
via the refrigerant supply line 26 where it can absorb heat from
water on the freezing surface 32 (forming ice). The refrigerant
return line 24 allows for refrigerant to be removed from the
refrigerant zone 34. The refrigerant supply and removal is known in
the art. See, U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2016/0123647, the entirety of
which is incorporated herein.
[0042] A water distributor 39 will receive the water from the high
pressure water supply line 22 (see, FIG. 1) and distribute the
water onto the freezing surface 32. The refrigerant will absorb
heat from the water, resulting in the water freezing and forming
ice on the freezing surface 32. A flaker 40, also disposed in the
interior chamber 28, will score or scrape ice off of the freezing
surface 32. The water distributor 39 and the flaker 40 may be
disposed on a shaft 42 that rotates. The shaft 42 may be driven by
a motor (not shown) as is known in the art. The ice, in the
depicted embodiment, after being scraped off of the freezing
surface 32, can pass through the bottom 16 of the housing 12 via
gravity. Other configurations may also be used.
[0043] As mentioned above, in devices in which the housing 12 is
pressurized, it may be desirable to increase the pressure of the
water with a water supply device 52. Accordingly, as shown in FIG.
1, a water supply line 54 is configured to provide water from a
municipal or other source to the device 10. As mentioned above, the
pressure of the water in the water supply line 54 is typically
between 2.7 to 3.4 atm (40 to 50 psi), but may be lower than 2.7
atm (40 psi) or as high as 4.1 atm (60 psi), or even higher.
However, this may still be lower than the pressure in the housing
12. In any case, the pressure of the water in the water supply line
54 is at a pressure lower than the pressure of the housing 12 of
the ice making device 10. The water supply line 54 provides water
to the water supply device 52, which in this embodiment comprises a
water pump 56 configured to increase the pressure of the water.
[0044] After the pressure of the water has been increased, for
example, via the water pump 56, the water may be passed to a
reservoir 58 via a conduit 60. As will be appreciated, the pressure
of the water in the conduit 60 is greater than the pressure of the
water in the water supply line 54. From the reservoir 58, the water
may be supplied to the housing 12 via the high pressure water
supply line 22 and any excess water may be returned to the
reservoir 58 via a conduit 58a. In some embodiments, the pressure
of the water may be increased above the operating pressure of the
ice making device 10. In some embodiments the pressure of the water
in the high pressure water supply line 22 may be about the same as
or more than the pressure in the housing 12.
[0045] Turning to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present
invention is shown in which the water supply device 52 of the ice
making device 10a comprises a pressurized water tank 62 which also
receives the pressurized air via the pressurized air supply line
20. More specifically, the water supply line 54 again provides
water from the municipal or other source to the pressurized water
tank 62. It is contemplated that once the amount of water in the
pressurized water tank 62 reaches a certain level, a valve 64 in
the water supply line 54 may be closed, while a valve 66 in the
pressurized air supply line 20 may be opened. The opening of valve
66 in the pressurized air supply line 20 will increase the internal
water pressure within the pressurized water tank 62 to levels at or
above the pressure inside of the housing 12. As with the previous
embodiment, the conduit 60 passes the high pressure water to the
reservoir 58 so that it may be supplied to the housing 12 via the
high pressure water supply line 22 and the excess water may be
returned to the reservoir 58 via the conduit 58a.
[0046] Once the water in the reservoir 58 is exhausted, the high
pressure air supply to the pressurized water tank 62 may be
interrupted (by closing the valve 66 in the pressurized air supply
line 20) allowing the pressure within the pressurized water tank 62
to equalize. Once the pressure in the pressurized water tank 62 is
below the pressure of the water in the water supply line 54, the
pressurized water tank 62 may be refilled with plant water supply
at normal pressures by opening the valve 64 in the water supply
line 54. This will allow the process to continue so long as ice is
needed or desired. Preferably, the pressurized water tank 62 is
sized so that a suitable, uninterrupted ice production can be
provided.
[0047] Turning to FIG. 4, another embodiment is shown in which the
water supply device 52 of the ice making device 10b comprises an
airlock-type vessel (or chamber) 68 having at least one, and
preferably, two or more valves 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d. The valves 70a,
70b, 70c, 70d preferably comprise solenoid valves that are in
communication with each other (or a controller 100). The valves
70a, 70b, 70c, 70d will open and close in a circuit or pattern to
provide a supply of high pressure water to the housing 12.
[0048] For example, a first valve 70a in the water supply line 54
may be opened, while the remaining valves 70b, 70c, 70d are closed.
This will allow standard pressure water to enter the vessel 68.
[0049] The first valve 70a may be closed, and a second valve 70b in
the pressurized air supply line 20 may be opened. The remaining
valves 70b, 70c may remain closed. This configuration will allow
the pressure within the vessel 68 to increase by means of the
entering high-pressure air supply.
[0050] The second valve 70b may be closed and a third valve 70c in
the conduit 60 to the reservoir 58 may be opened. The remaining
valves 70a, 70d may remain closed. This will allow the high
pressure water to pass from the vessel 68 to the reservoir 58 to be
supplied to the device 10 as needed.
[0051] The third valve 70c may be closed and the fourth valve 70d
in a vent line 72 may be opened. The remaining valves 70a, 70b may
remain closed. This will allow the high pressure air in the vessel
68 to be vented to the atmosphere and the vessel 68 will return to
atmospheric pressure.
[0052] The fourth valve 70d may be closed and the first valve 70a
in the water supply line 54 may be opened. Thus, the circuit or
process may repeat as needed to supply the ice making device 10c
with high pressure water. It is contemplated that the water level
in the reservoir 58 and/or the amount of water entering the housing
12 will determine the frequency this circuit occurs in order to
allow continuous ice making.
[0053] Turning to FIG. 5, another embodiment of an ice making
device 10c is shown which is similar to the ice making device 10b
depicted in FIG. 4 and discussed above. However, in the ice making
device 10c in FIG. 5, the vessel 68 comprises both the reservoir 58
and the water supply device 52, and the device includes a
controller 80.
[0054] The controller 80 is in communication with the valves 70,
70b, 70c, 70d and controls the sequence and timing of the opening
and closing of the valves 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, such as the sequence
described above with respect to FIG. 4. The controller 80 may be in
communication with one or more sensors configured to provide a
process condition, such as, for example, a pressure sensor 82
associated with the housing 12, a pressure sensor 84 associated
with the vessel 68, a level sensor 86 associated with the vessel
68, or an ice senor 88 disposed on, for example the vessel 68 or a
collection chamber (not shown) disposed beneath the vessel 68. It
is also contemplated that the controller 80 may be configured to
adjust the pressure of the water supplied to the housing 12 based
upon the pressure of the housing 12. Thus, if the pressure in the
housing 12 is lowered, the controller 80 may recalibrate and
provide water that is similarly adjusted. Additionally, the
controller 80 may control the sequence and timing of the opening
and closing of the valves 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d to increase the
pressure in the housing 12, the pressure of the water supplied to
the housing, or both. This may be in response to a command from a
computer interface (not shown).
[0055] In any configuration, the use of the controller 80 for the
sequence and timing of the opening and closing of the valves 70a,
70b, 70c, 70d may allow for a continuous supply of high pressure
water to the ice making device 10c, and may also provide for the
ice making device 10c to adjust operating parameters.
[0056] It will be appreciated that other designs and configurations
for a water supply device may be used to provide high pressure
water to a pressurized ice machine. By providing high pressure
water the device is believed to more consistently produce ice that
can be used in applications for high pressure.
[0057] As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the
invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations
and modifications which may differ particularly from those that
have been described in the preceding specification and description.
It should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of
the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably
and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the
art.
* * * * *