EP0290001A2 - Ice-making device - Google Patents

Abstract

Ice-making device, in which the ice is made in at least one vertical goblet-type receptacle (1), the opening of which faces upwards, this receptacle being intended to be filled each time with the appropriate quantity of water, and associated with the evaporator (2) of a refrigerating agent circuit (3, 4, 5), comprising appropriate means of heating (6), with the aid of which it is possible to detach the small block of ice made from the walls of the receptacle (1) containing the same, and thus to remove it from the mould, this device being characterised in that it comprises thrust means (9, 109; 14, 15) which are arranged in the bottom of the goblet-type receptacle (1) and are capable of carrying out an axial movement rising along this receptacle, such as to cause the ejection of the small block of ice situated above these means, as well as a corresponding downward movement into the rest position of the latter. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the manufacture of ice, advantageously usable, thanks to its minimum size, and to its high efficiency, on means of locomotion, such as boats, trailers, and others.

The device according to the invention is of the type in which the ice is produced in at least one cup container, with an essentially vertical axis, and with its opening facing upwards, the shape of which is such as to allow the small blocks of mold to be removed from the mold. manufactured ice, this container being associated with the evaporator of a refrigerant circuit, and being intended to receive each time a measured quantity of water. This cup container has suitable heating means, activated for a short period, after each small block of ice has been manufactured, in order to detach it from the walls of the container, and to allow the release of the same.

Ice devices of this type have indisputable advantages, but also important problems from the point of view of the extraction of each small block of ice from the respective container, problems which are currently solved in a rather empirical manner, by a completely manual operation.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing an ice-making device, of the type described above, in which the ejection of each small block of ice from the respective cup container is mechanized, means of simple construction , preferably with automatic control, being used.

According to the invention, the means for ejecting each small block of ice produced comprise a thrust member, arranged at the bottom of the container in a cup, and capable of effecting an upward axial movement along this container, such as to cause the ejection of the small block of ice located above this organ, as well as a corresponding movement of descent into its rest position.

The movement of this thrust member can be caused by any actuation means.

In a preferred embodiment of the ice-cream device, according to the invention, this pushing member consists of a piston, normally housed with fluid tightness in the lower part of a container in a cylindrical cup, the bottom of this container being connected to a source of pressurized fluid, causing, as a result of the control of the respective control valve means, the upward movement of the piston and, consequently, the ejection of the small block of ice produced. The successive downward movement of the piston to the bottom of the container can be carried out simply by gravity, or else using any actuation means. In the case where this pressurized fluid is water, the invention can provide a conduit, connecting, by means of suitable valve means, the bottom of the cup container to its opening, the water previously introduced into the container, below the piston to raise it, being pumped, by this piston itself, during its descent phase, in the upper part of the container, in order to thus obtain the quantity of water measured necessary for the manufacture of the small successive block of ice.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique, partiellement en section, d'une première forme de réalisation d'un dispositif à fabriquer de la glace, suivant l'invention;
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire d'une deuxième forme de réalisation de ce dispositif.

The aforementioned and other characteristics of the device for the manufacture of ice cream according to the invention, as well as the advantages arising from the same will be very clearly explained below, thanks to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this device, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and shown in the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view, partially in section, of a first embodiment of an ice-making device, according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of this device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a device for the production of ice cream, according to the invention, comprises a cup container 1, arranged vertically, and having a cylindrical tubular body 101 open at its upper end and ending at its lower end by a base 201. This cup container 1 is intended to receive each time a predetermined quantity of water, which will be converted into a small block of equivalent ice, the aforesaid container being cooled by the evaporator 2, associated therewith. a refrigerant circuit, including the compressor 3, the condenser 4, and the capillary tube expansion valve 5, are shown diagrammatically.

The evaporator 2 is preferably of the cylindrical jacket type, this jacket, indicated by 102, being formed between the tubular body 101 of the cup 1 and a sleeve 202 of larger diameter, arranged coaxially outside the tubular body above. At its upper end, this jacket 2 is closed by an annular element 302, while its lower end is closed by a flange 211 projecting from the base 201.

The refrigerant, coming from the capillary tube 5, will be supplied, at the lower part of the jacket 102, by a helical coil 6 wound around the sleeve 202, in intimate contact with the latter, and will be brought out of the upper end of this shirt.

When a small block of ice has been made in the cup container 1, the capillary tube 5 will be bypassed by the opening of a valve 7, arranged in parallel therewith, so that the refrigerant, containing a certain calorific value, can heat for a short period, by the coil 6, the body 101 of the container in a cup , the small block of ice being thus detached from the walls of the cup, ready for its ejection of the same.

The assembly constituted by the cup container 1 and by the jacket evaporator 2, properly intended for making ice, is duly insulated, and enclosed in a box 8, provided at its upper end with a cover 208 having a flared opening 218 in communication with the opening of the cup 1.

According to the invention, with a view to ejecting each small block of ice produced, a sliding water-tight piston 9, normally positioned inside the base 201 of the the above container. On the lower side of the piston 9 extends a rod 109 passing through a hole 301 in the bottom of the cup 1, and housed in its respective envelope 10, fixed to the bottom 108 of the box 8. The free end of the rod 109 is provided with a pin stop 209 establishing the extreme position of the upward stroke of the piston 9.

The casing 10 is connected by a pipe 11 to a source of pressurized water P, and by a pipe 12 to the opening of the cup 1, these pipes being controlled by a two-position valve 13, alternately cutting one either of these conduits.

After the manufacture of a small block of ice and the heating, in the above-mentioned manner, of the walls of the container 1, the valve 13 is put in its operating position shown in FIG. 1, in order to cut the conduit 12 and open the conduit 11. Consequently, through the casing 10 and the lower hole 301, the pressurized water enters the cup 1, below the piston 9, thus forcing this piston to rise until the opening of the cup and eject the small block of ice located above the piston itself. The opening 218 of the box 8 can be provided on its edge with guide means (not shown) to control the fall of the small block of ice.

After the abovementioned ejection phase, the valve 13 is put in its other operative position, in which the duct 11 will be closed, and the duct 12 will be open. Consequently, the piston 9 descends by gravity to the base 201, thereby pumping the water, located below the same, in the upper part of the cup 1, until it fills it. The device according to the invention is therefore ready for the manufacture of another small block of ice.

The pressurized water, necessary for actuating the piston 9, will be supplied from the normal hydraulic network, or by a pump, or else from a pressurized water box.

If necessary, provision may be made to insert a pressure regulator (not shown) between the power source P and the valve 13. It is possible to automate completely, using a timer device (not shown), all the successive operational phases of the ice device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of the ice device according to the invention, in which the ejection of each small block of ice takes place by means of a push rod 14 capable of engaging in all its length in the cup 1, as a result of its watertight penetration into the same, through a hole 401 in the bottom of this cup. The lower end of this rod 14 is fixed to a piston 15, these two elements being housed in a cylinder 16 arranged below the box 8 containing the freezing elements 1 and 2. At the bottom plate 116 of the cylinder 16 are connected, via the valve 13, the conduits 11 and 12 above.

Even in this embodiment, the upward stroke of the rod-piston assembly 14, 15 is effected by the push of the pressurized water, which causes the small block of ice to be ejected. Then, this assembly 14, 15 will descend by gravity into its rest position, pumping, during its downward stroke, the amount of lower water measured in the upper part of the cup 1. Of course, these operational phases depend on the switching of the controlled supply valve 13, as explained above.

In this second embodiment, the use of a push rod allows the use of a container of any shape, for example frustoconical, hemispherical, in a pyramid trunk, provided that this shape is such as to allow the release of each small block of ice.

In these two embodiments, as described above, the thrust member is capable of effecting its downward travel not only by gravity, but also by the effect of any actuation means.

One can, of course, provide in an ice device, according to the invention, a plurality of freezing containers in battery, each provided with its respective ejection member, these containers being associated with a common evaporator.

From what has just been described, it is very clear that a device for the rapid production of ice, according to the invention, has, with regard to known devices of this type, many advantages, among which:
- complete mechanization of the ejection phase of the small blocks of ice produced;
- possibility of automating the above operational phase;
- low expenditure of water and energy;
- simple construction, minimum space requirement;
- possibility of using the water contained in a pressurized box.

These advantages make it possible to use the ice device, according to the invention, on board boats, trailers, and other means of locomotion.

Claims (8)

1. Device for the rapid production of ice, in which the ice is produced in at least one cup container (1) with essentially vertical axis, and with its opening facing upwards, the shape of which is such as to allow the release of the small blocks of ice produced, this cup container (1) being associated with the evaporator (2) of a refrigerant circuit (3,4,5), and being intended to receive each time a measured quantity of water, this container being provided with suitable heating means (6), activated for a short period, once a small block of ice has been produced, in order to detach it from the walls of the container (1) containing it, and to make it can be removed from the mold, this device being characterized by having pushing means arranged at the bottom of the cup container (1), and capable of effecting an upward axial movement along this container, such as to cause the ejection of the small block of ice located above, as well as a movement ent corresponding descent into the rest position of these means. 2. Device for the manufacture of ice according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned pushing means comprise a piston (9), normally housed with fluid tightness in the lower part (201) of the cup container, preferably cylindrical, the bottom is connected to a source of pressurized fluid, causing, as a result of the control of means associated with control valve (13), the upward movement of the piston (9) and, consequently, the ejection of the small block of ice produced, the successive downward movement of the piston up to the bottom (201) of the container (1) being able to be carried out simply by gravity, or well by any means of actuation. 3. Device for the manufacture of ice according to claims 1 and 2, wherein water under pressure is used at least for the upward movement of the ejection piston (9), characterized by the fact of comprising a conduit (11 ), connecting, via appropriate control valve means (13), the bottom of the cup container (1) to its opening, the water previously introduced into the container (1), below the piston ( 9) to raise it, being pumped, by this very piston, into the upper part of the container (1), in order to thus obtain the quantity of measured water necessary for the manufacture of the small successive block of ice. 4. Device for manufacturing ice according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the ejection piston (9) has at its lower side a rod (109) passing through a hole (301) in the bottom of the container cup (1), this rod (109) being provided at its free end with a pin stop (209) establishing the extreme position of the upward stroke of the piston (9). 5. Device for manufacturing ice according to claim 4, in which the rod (109) of the ejection piston (9) is housed in its respective casing (10), fixed coaxially below the cup container (1), the pressurized water supplied in this envelope (10) entering this container (1), through the hole (301) in the bottom of the same, of appropriate diameter, at - below this piston (9). 6. Device for the manufacture of ice according to claim 1, wherein the pushing means comprise a rod (14) capable of engaging in its entire length in the cup container (1), as a result of its leaktight penetration of fluid in the same, through a hole (401) in the bottom of this container (1), this rod (14) being supported by a piston (15), these two elements (14,15) being housed in a cylinder ( 16) fixed below the container (1), and suitably supplied, by means of control valve means (13), with pressurized fluid, to cause at least the upward stroke of the piston (15) and of the rod (14), with a view to ejecting the small block of ice. 7. Device for the production of ice according to claims 1 and 6, in which pressurized water (P) is used, at least for the upward stroke of the rod-piston assembly (14,15), characterized by having a conduit (11), connecting, via appropriate valve control means (13), the bottom of the cylinder (16) to the opening of the cup container, the water previously introduced into the cylinder (16) for raising the piston (15), being pumped, by this piston itself, during its downward stroke, in the upper part of the cup container (1). 8. Device for the manufacture of ice according to one, or more than one, of the preceding claims, in which an evaporator (2) with jacket (102) is used, around which is wound, at least partially, in intimate contact with the 'evaporator (2), a helical coil (6), supplying the refrigerant in the lower part of the jacket (102), the function of this coil (6) being to heat the container in cup (1), to reach the Aim explained above, when, as a result of a command, the expansion valve (7) with capillary tube (5), located upstream, is bypassed, using suitable valve means.

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