Patents Assigned to Natron Corporation
  • Patent number: 5931003
    Abstract: A method and system for electronically controlling the location of the formation of ice within a closed loop water circulating unit and efficiently harvesting ice includes a method and system for making ice using supercooled water. When a desired degree of supercooling is reached in the closed loop water circulating unit, a pump associated with the ice-making machine is stopped so as to initiate ice seeding on the ice mold. After the pump is restarted, the supercooled water flows over the seeded molds to rapidly form ice on the ice molds. The completion of ice formation in the mold is sensed by reservoir water temperature, water level, timing or other inputs to enable a controller to automatically control a harvest cycle timely. A method and system is also provided for improving the clarity of the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Natron Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R. Newman, David Shank, Robert E. Taylor