U.S. patent number 3,654,772 [Application Number 05/070,082] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-11 for ice maker.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Robert W. Curry, III.
United States Patent |
3,654,772 |
Curry, III |
April 11, 1972 |
ICE MAKER
Abstract
An ice maker of the type comprising a mold including a plurality
of cavities interconnected by fluid passages and ejecting means for
ejecting ice pieces from the mold. In order to separate the ice
pieces, the ejection axes of adjacent cavities slant relative to
one another so that the connecting ice webs formed in the passages
are broken during ejection of the ice pieces.
Inventors: |
Curry, III; Robert W.
(Louisville, KY) |
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22093005 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/070,082 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/353;
62/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C
1/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25C
1/04 (20060101); F25c 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/353,71,345 ;249/7G
;18/3WP |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wayner; William E.
Claims
I claim:
1. An ice maker comprising:
a mold containing at least two cavities interconnected by a passage
extending from the top towards the bottom of said cavities whereby
the ice pieces formed in said cavities are interconnected by a web
of ice formed in said passage;
ejection means reciprocable in said cavities for simultaneously
ejecting said interconnected ice pieces from said mold;
the ejection axes of said cavities being at an angle relative to
one another sufficient to break said web during ejection of said
ice pieces.
2. An ice maker according to claim 1 containing a plurality of
cavities extending longitudinally thereof with the ejection axes of
adjacent cavities angling lateral relative to one another.
3. An ice maker according to claim 2 in which the ejection axes of
alternate cavities are vertical.
4. An ice maker comprising:
a mold containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced cavities and
having aligned vertical passages in the walls separating adjacent
cavities extending from the top towards the bottom of said cavities
whereby the ice pieces formed in said cavities are interconnected
by webs of ice formed in said passages;
vertically movable ejection means including pads normally forming
bottom wall portions of said cavities for simultaneously ejecting
said interconnected ice pieces from said mold and an elongate
member connecting said pads and guidingly received in said
passages;
the ejection axes of adjacent cavities of said mold being laterally
divergent relative to one another sufficient to break the web
connecting the ice pieces formed in said adjacent cavities during
ejection thereof.
5. An ice maker according to claim 4 in which the ejection axes for
alternate cavities are vertical.
6. An ice maker according to claim 4 in which the ejection axes of
all of said cavities slant laterally relative to the plane of said
passages.
7. An ice maker comprising:
a mold containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced cavities and
having aligned vertical passages in the walls separating adjacent
cavities, said passages extending from the top towards the bottom
of said cavities whereby the ice pieces formed in said cavities are
interconnected by webs of ice formed in said passages;
vertically movable ejection means including pads normally forming
bottom wall portions of said cavities for simultaneously ejecting
said interconnected ice pieces from said mold and an elongate
member connecting said pads and guidingly received in said
passages;
the ejection axes of adjacent cavities being parallel in a
longitudinal plane but laterally slanting relative to one another
whereby during ejection of ice pieces from said mold adjacent ice
pieces are caused to travel in laterally diverging paths to effect
a twisting and breaking of their connecting webs.
8. An ice maker according to claim 7 in which all of said axis
slant laterally.
9. An ice maker comprising:
a mold containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced cavities and
having aligned vertical passages in the walls separating adjacent
cavities, said passages extending from the top to the bottom of
said cavities whereby the ice pieces formed in said cavities are
interconnected by webs of ice formed in said passages;
vertically movable ejection means including pads normally forming
bottom wall portions of said cavities for simultaneously ejecting
said interconnected ice pieces from said mold and an elongate
member connecting said pads and guidingly received in said
passages;
adjacent cavities respectively having a wall portion on opposite
sides of the plane of said passages slanting inwardly from the
bottom to the top thereof whereby during ejection of ice pieces
from said mold adjacent ice pieces are caused to travel in
laterally diverging paths to effect a twisting and breaking of
their connection web.
10. An ice maker according to claim 9 in which said cavities are
substantially cylindrical in cross-section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to multiple-cavity ice makers of the
type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,017 Baker et al.
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,018 Shaw issued Dec. 29, 1964. An ice maker
of this type comprises a mold including a plurality of vertically
aligned cavities spaced from one another with the walls between
adjacent cavities each having a passage extending from the top to
the bottom thereof for distributing a charge of water between the
cavities, a motor driven ejecting means including pads normally
positioned in the lower portions of the cavities and movable to a
position adjacent the top of the mold for ejecting the ice pieces
from the cavities and pivoted sweep or rake means for sweeping the
ejected ice pieces into an ice storage receptacle. The ice pieces
ejected from the mold are interconnected by webs of ice formed in
the passages. Some of these webs are broken during sweeping of the
ice pieces from the mold and discharge thereof into a storage
receptacle. The fact that some of the stored ice pieces are still
connected by webs is of little consequence in most applications of
the ice maker since the webs can be easily broken by hand as the
ice pieces are removed from the receptacle. However when the ice
maker is used in combination with an automatic ice dispenser, such
as that described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,994 Alvarez
assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which is
designed to dispense individual ice pieces, it is desirable that
all of these webs be severed prior to discharge of the ice pieces
into the dispenser receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an ice
maker of the above-described type in which the mold cavities are so
constructed and arranged as to break the ice webs during ejection
of the ice pieces from the mold.
In accordance with the present invention, a multiple-cavity ice
maker of the above described type is provided with a cavity
orientation which effects a breaking of the interconnecting webs of
ice during simultaneous ejection of the ice pieces from the mold
cavities. To this end, the cavities of the mold are arranged or
oriented so that the ejection axes of adjacent ice pieces diverge
sufficiently to twist and break their interconnecting web as the
ice pieces are ejected from the mold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an ice maker
embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line
2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the mold shown in FIG. 2;
and
FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of an ice maker mold
showing a modification of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown an
automatic ice maker comprising a mold 1 adapted to be supported on
a wall of a freezer compartment of a household refrigerator. The
mold includes a plurality of generally cylindrical ice cavities 3
arranged in a straight line longitudinally of the mold and
separated from one another by mold end wall portions, each of which
includes a vertical passage 4 extending from the top to the bottom
of the cavities. These aligned vertical passages provide means for
the flow of water from one cavity to another during the mold
filling operation. Means for ejecting ice pieces from the cavities
includes a plurality of pads or pistons 6, which to a substantial
extent form the bottoms of the cavities 3 and which are
interconnected by a bar 7 slidably received within the passages 5.
The passages also guide the bar in the operation of the ice maker
to eject ice pieces.
Power and control means for operating the ice maker are generally
contained within a housing 9 secured to one end of the mold and
include a motor (not shown) connected through drive means
comprising a lever 11 and a rod 12 to the pads 6 whereby the pads 6
and the ice pieces supported thereon can be elevated simultaneously
to a position above the mold cavities 3.
The ice maker also includes a heater 15 for warming the mold to
thaw or break the bond between the ice pieces and the cavity walls
prior to operation of the ejecting means. After the ice pieces have
been raised by the pads to a position substantially above the mold
cavities, an elongated rake or sweep 16, pivotally supported above
the upper surface of the mold and normally positioned at the rear
side of the cavities, is designed to move across the top of the
cavities and sweep the ice pieces into a storage receptacle.
As is described in the above mentioned Shaw and Baker et al patents
to which reference is made for a more detailed description thereof,
the automatic operating cycle of an ice maker of this type
comprises filling of the cavities 3 with water, freezing of this
charge of water into ice, heating of the mold by energization of
the heater 15 to free the formed ice pieces from the cavities,
ejection of the ice pieces by movement of the ejection means
including pads 6 from their lower position in the bottom of the
cavities to a raised position slightly above the upper surface of
the mold, pivotal movement of the sweep 16 across the top of the
mold for engaging the ejected ice pieces and sweeping the ice
pieces from the mold surface and return of the sweep and the pads
to their normal position in preparation for the introduction of
another charge of water into the cavities.
As the charge of water introduced into the mold fills both the
cavities and the passages connecting these cavities, the freezing
of this charge of water produces a plurality of ice pieces
interconnected by webs of ice formed in the passages. When the ice
mold has the cavity and passage configuration and arrangement of
the type disclosed in the aforementioned Shaw and Baker patents
wherein the passages and cavities are in vertical alignment, the
ice pieces ejected from the mold are interconnected by webs of ice.
In accordance with the present invention, the mold cavities are so
constructed and arranged that the webs of ice connecting adjacent
ice pieces are twisted and broken during ejection of the ice pieces
from the mold cavities. This twisting and breaking of the ice webs
is accomplished by orienting adjacent mold cavities so that ice
pieces formed in these cavities have angularly offset ejection
paths or axes. The terms "ejection axis" or "ejection path" as used
herein refer to the path or direction which a cavity causes an ice
piece to follow during the ejection thereof from the cavity.
In describing this arrangement of the cavities, reference is first
made to FIG. 1 of the drawing in which it will be seen that the
ejection axes of the cavities are vertical and parallel in a
longitudinal plane, that is in a plane passing longitudinally of
the mold, as for example through the passages 4. In other words, in
the longitudinal plane, the ice pieces move vertically from the
cavities and follow the same vertically oriented paths as the
ejection pads 6.
A twisting of the webs formed in the passages 4 is obtained by
laterally orienting adjacent cavities so that ice pieces ejected
therefrom follow laterally angling or divergent paths. In the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the
drawing, this has been accomplished by forming every other mold
cavity so that its ejection axis, that is the path followed by an
ice piece ejected therefrom will be angled laterally of the mold.
For example, in a five cavity mold such as that illustrated in FIG.
1, the first, third and fifth mold cavities such as the cavity
shown in FIG. 2 in solid lines and indicated by the numeral 3a are
vertically oriented so that they have an ejection axis which is
vertical in the longitudinal and lateral planes while the remaining
or alternate mold cavities, one of which is shown in dotted lines
in FIG. 2 and indicated by the numeral 3b, laterally slant relative
to the cavities 3a whereby ice pieces being ejected from these
cavities 3b follow a path which is non-vertical and hence divergent
from the ejection axes of the ice pieces from cavities 3a. Since
the ice pieces formed in 3a follow a vertical ejection axis while
the ice pieces formed in 3b follow a non-vertical axis, all of the
webs of ice formed in the passages 4 as subjected to a twisting
action which causes these webs to break between the initial and
final stages of the ejection cycle.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 of the
drawing, the mold cavities are so arranged that all of their
ejection axes are non-vertical in their lateral planes. More
specifically, the alternate cavities illustrated in solid lines and
indicated by the numeral 3c slants laterally in one direction so
that their ejection axes also slant in that direction while the
intermediate cavities indicated by the numeral 3d and shown in
dotted line slant in the opposite lateral direction with a
corresponding slanting of their ejection axes. In the operation of
the mold shown in FIG. 4, all of the ice pieces follow angularly
displaced or non-vertical paths as compared with the plane of the
passages 4 thus making it possible to provide a greater
web-twisting action than in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
The lateral angling of the ejection axes of the cavities also has
an additional advantage. Since the pads 6 follow a vertical path
during the ejection cycle while the ice pieces in such cavities
follow a non-vertical path, these ice pieces are laterally titled
with reference to the pads resulting in an early breaking of the
bonds between the pads and the ice pieces. The ice pieces then
slide laterally along the surface of the pads during the remaining
portion of the ejection stroke and are free of the pads prior to
being swept into the storage receptacle by the sweep 16.
Accordingly, the sweep 16 does not have to furnish the energy
necessary to break any ice bonds between the ice pieces and the
pads.
From a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be
seen that the ejection axes or paths followed by ice pieces being
ejected from the various cavities is determined by the inclination
of a side wall portion of the cavities. More specifically, to
provide a laterally slanting ejection axis, it is necessary that a
lateral wall portion of a cavity, that is a wall portion about
90.degree. removed from a passage 4, such as the side wall portion
indicated by the numeral 17 in FIG. 2 or the wall portions 18 and
19 of the adjacent cavities in FIG. 4 slant inwardly from bottom to
top in order to direct the ice piece being ejected in an angular
path relative to a vertical plane extending through the passages
4.
The remaining wall portions of the various cavities may have any
shape or configuration which will not interfere with the free
ejection of ice pieces from the cavities. For example, instead of
being cylindrical as illustrated, the cavities may be rectangular,
oblong, oval or of any other cross-sectional shape provided these
cavities also have a draft or taper which will permit the ice
pieces to freely travel out of the cavities. Thus the adjacent
cavities may be described either in terms of being cavities having
angularly divergent ejection axes or paths for the ejected ice
pieces or as respectively having opposed wall portions, that is
wall portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane of the
ice webs, which angle inwardly from bottom to top.
While there has been shown and described specific embodiments of
the present invention, it will be understood that is is not limited
thereto and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such
modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *