Abstract: An apparatus for preparing frozen products having a mix tank, a freezing chamber, a liquid mix supply means, a dispensing device, a freezing means for the freezing chamber comprising independent first and second freezing systems, and a frozen control means comprising a first and second frozen control means for said first and second freezing systems respectively, and making it possible that liquid mix in the freezing chamber may be always frozen in good condition. Further an apparatus for preparing frozen products having a frozen and chilled control means for the freezing means independently, and making it possible that liquid mix is stored in the freezing chamber when the freezing operation does not occur.

Abstract: An ice-making machine includes a hopper (10) which is provided with means for automatically switching the machine off when the ice collected in the hopper rises to a predetermined level. The hopper comprises a cup-shaped bowl (14) covered with a flanged collar (24) slidable within the bowl. The collar (24) in turn is covered with a lid (32) which is press fitted onto its upper cylindrical part (28). Magnetic switches (38 and 40) are attached to collar (24) and magnetically sensitive contacts of the switches are mounted in bowl (14). The switches are connected in series in the circuit of the drive motor of the ice-making machine and are normally closed. When ice fills the bowl to a predetermined level, the lid and the collar, which is rigidly connected to the lid, are lifted, thereby breaking the contacts and turning the ice-making machine off. When, after consumption of ice, its level in the bowl is lowered, the lid and the collar descend, closing the contacts and reenergizing the ice-making machine.

Abstract: A soft ice cream machine which has a controller in contact with a freezing chamber. The controller is provided with temperature information from a temperature sensor, which senses when the temperature of the ice cream is approaching a temperature which could bring about freeze-up and disables the compressor until the mixture warms up a selectable amount. The controller automatically switches the refrigeration compressor and the mixer and auger to a standby condition when the controller senses that the dispensing spigot has not been actuated. The controller further senses when the temperature of the ice cream in the freezing chamber is approaching a temperature which would give an inadequately frozen product unacceptable to consumers.

Abstract: The front wall of a freezing barrel supports a rod-like projection extending into the inner area of the freezing chamber. Such rod-like projection is hollow and encloses a temperature sensor to directly measure the temperature of the mix being frozen. The rod-like projection also provides partial pivotal support for a mixing blade in the freezing chamber. The machine includes a temperature readout on a front panel thereof with plus or minus readings and also includes a fill light on such panel designating when fill material is to be added. A dial is also provided for precise setting of the temperature of the freezing chamber by specific degrees.

Abstract: A control for controlling the time at which ice is harvested from an ice maker as a function of the temperature conditions within a below-freezing compartment in which the ice maker is located. The control includes sensing means for sensing the temperature within the compartment, first calculating means for calculating at preselected time intervals a time-related number based on a first temperature-dependent function when the temperature sensed by the sensing means is above a predetermined temperature, and second calculating means for calculating at the preselected time intervals a time-related number based on a second temperature-dependent function when the temperature sensed by the sensing means is at or below the predetermined temperature. The control further includes means for accumulating temperature-dependent time increments based on said calculated numbers and comparing the accumulated sum to a predetermined amount to determine whether an ice harvesting operation should be initiated.

Abstract: Method for freezing a slug of water to form an ice plug in a section of a pipeline for hydrostatic testing purposes. The ice plug is formed by transferring thermal energy from the slug of water through the walls of the pipeline to a cryogenic cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen. A section of the pipeline is filled with water and is enclosed by an insulated chamber. The chamber is filled with liquid nitrogen to form a pool around the pipeline. The liquid nitrogen is agitated by discharging a stream of nitrogen vapor through the pool. Heat exchange occurs as a result of heat transfer directly from the surface of the pipeline to the liquid nitrogen by the action of convection currents produced by the vigorous agitation of the liquid associated with the motion of the nitrogen vapor. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid nitrogen is diffused over the surface of the pipeline by means of a permeable layer of material which is easily wetted by the liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: A fluid supply system wherein a first valve is controlled to deliver a predetermined amount of fluid in series flow arrangement with a second flow valve which is automatically actuated by said fluid flow to terminate the flow of fluid after a predetermined quantity of fluid flow in the event the first valve does not terminate the flow of fluid after the preselected amount of fluid is delivered.

Abstract: Closed flow-through apparatus and method for gassifying a dairy-type confection mix by applying a pressure head of nitrous oxide to an enclosed receptacle and projecting the mix into the receptacle and atomizing it therein. Atomization is accomplished by projecting a stream of said mix against a surface in said receptacle or toward a rapidly driven impeller. A metered quantity of an edible refrigerant, such as Freon 115, is also distributed into the mix. After gassification, the saturated mix is vented under the pressure of the pressure head into a freezing chamber which is provided with a valved outlet and a motor driven dasher. A control circuit provides an automatic mode as well as a wash cycle and a dasher drive mode.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker mechanism includes a face cam on a timing motor driven disc formed with a plurality of concentric cam tracks. The disc is supported on one side of a circuit board, said board having a plurality of flexible blade switches cantilever supported on its other side. The mechanism further includes a plurality of slidable cam follower plunger pins each of which is contacted by an associated blade switch such that each pin is biased into spaced follower relation with one of the cam tracks. In operation the circuit board control circuit interconnects ice maker cycling means with the motor to initiate rotation of the disc whereby the cam track profile effects predetermined movement of its associated pin in one direction causing the contact on an associated blade switch to open with its stationary contact.

Abstract: A flexible ice tray for an automatic ice maker allowing improved temperature sensing and ice harvesting. An inverted channel is formed in the bottom wall of at least first and second ice cube sensing pockets along the tray's axis of rotation. A separate member, in the form of a rectangular sectioned block of insulation, is removably positioned on the underside of the tray and cooperates with the inverted channel to define a sensing well for enclosing a temperature sensor tube positioned on the rotational axis. The tube sensor is insulated so as to respond only to the change in temperature in the first and second pockets, while the block prevents rapid bottom freezing of the cubes being sensed. The block is retained in a shiftable manner with respect to the tray to provide substantially uniform stiffness for all the tray pockets whereby twisting of the tray allows flexing of the sensing pockets to insure the release of the ice pieces formed therein.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker having a motor starting circuit that is unaffected by barometric pressure changes thus obviating the need for altitude adjustment of the ice maker. A mercury column thermostatic sensor is used to provide control that will be accurate regardless of the ambient or altitude pressure while also having the ability to rapidly reset, thus eliminating the need for a back contact thermostat. The sensor, upon sensing the last ice cube to freeze in the ice tray, opens so that a rectifier SCR will be switched to conducting, shorting out a diode bridge circuit and energizing the ice maker motor after which the basic ice maker circuits lock the motor in its running mode for one cycle of ice harvesting.

Abstract: An automatic electronic ice-making control system for automatic ice-making machines including an ice-making chamber in which is arranged a semiconductor temperature sensitive element which may comprise a thermistor, which translates temperature changes into resistance changes and for terminating an ice-making cycle a differential amplifier is provided in which said thermistor is connected as a temperature sensitive element, a variable resistance element sensitive to ambient changes being provided in said differential amplifier in series connection with said thermistor across a voltage source, the variable resistance element compensating the characteristics of the thermistor in accordance with atmospheric ambient temperature changes to actuate with an output signal derived from the differential amplifier a Schmidt circuit and relays in accordance with temperature conditions prevailing in the ice-making chamber and compensated for ambient temperature changes, thereby to terminate the ice-making operation upon p

Abstract: Refrigerant is cooled under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature to a temperature below that of the freezing point of water under atmospheric conditions and is then passed through an automated plant for making cans of ice and an ice storage facility. The plant includes machinery for automatically filling ice making cans and discharging the ice from the cans once it is formed.

Abstract: An ice clutch control for an automatic ice maker wherein a drive motor continually turns a threaded drive rod extending within a liquid filled temperature sensing tube which in turn is positioned within a pocket of an ice cube mold. Upon the freezing of the water in the mold the temperature of the sensing tube and the liquid charge contained therein is frozen solid causing the rod to thread in the solid liquid resulting in axial travel of the rod so as to exert a thrust on coupling means thereby initiating the ice harvesting sequence of the ice maker. Upon completion of the harvesting operation the temperature of the sensing tube is raised by the fill water in the mold which melts the frozen liquid therein freeing the threaded rod from the coupling means for resumption of its independent rotation by the drive motor until the liquid charge is refrozen during the next ice making cycle of the ice maker.