Abstract: A refrigerated chamber includes, inside a metal wall and a foam insulating layer thereof, a sheet metal tank, in which, depending on levels of filling with liquid nitrogen, various compartments of the tank divided by separations, of different height are filled with LN.sub.2. Thereby, different cooling powers are available for varying temperature ranges between ambient temperature and the temperature of the liquid nitrogen. In this way one avoids an excessive consumption of nitrogen. Filling with LN.sub.2 is effected from a separating tank by means of a horizontal small-diameter pipe which during operation of the chamber is always exposed to and cooled by liquid nitrogen. Nitrogen in the form of a sweeping gas emerges in a boiling state from the tank and is guided through a cutting space (41') and can be heated by a heating plate fixed to sheet metal deflectors.

Abstract: An ice block press device (10). The press (10) includes a compression chamber (12) into which raw ice particles (20) are fed through an opening (82). A ram (16) is employed to urge ice particles (20) deposited through an input chute (18), through the opening (82) into the compression chamber (12). The ram (16) cyclically reciprocates to push the particles (20) into the chamber (12). As additional amounts of raw ice are urged into the chamber (12), a compacted volume of accumulated ice begins to extend through the opening (82) outside the chamber (12). When this occurs, the ram (16) is precluded from achieving its fully extended position. Upon sensing this condition, a knife (80) is driven to cut the block to a uniform length.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in an ice making apparatus having a cabinet provided with means for forming a plurality of ice bodies and an ice collecting bin therebelow for storing formed ice bodies. The improvement comprises a water storage tank positioned in the ice collecting bin and having an open top portion for receiving a select portion of the plurality of ice bodies formed by the forming means and to melt the same to provide fresh water. The top portion is positioned to prevent entry of ice bodies from the collecting bin. Means are provided for delivering a desired quantity of fresh water from the tank to a water dispenser associated with the cabinet.

Abstract: A selective ice cube and crushed ice dispenser having a crusher section including a crusher arm mounted to a horizontal shaft axially rotatable in either direction, and a stationary crusher arm mounted to one side of the shaft. When the shaft is driven in one direction, ice pieces fed to the crusher section are caught and crushed between the rotating and stationary crusher arms. However, when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction, the ice pieces escape down the side of the shaft opposite the stationary crusher arms thereby avoiding being crushed. The ice piece feed within the ice piece receptacle is also rotatably driven by the shaft and is operable to feed ice pieces to the crusher section regardless of which direction the shaft is being driven.

Abstract: A cooling chamber on a microtome has an internal space which is observable and accessible from above and which accommodates an object holder and a tool for processing the object. The cooling chamber structure also includes a supply tank for accommodating a liquid cryogenic agent, the tank communicating with the cooling chamber space by way of a downwardly leading feed conduit for evaporated gaseous cryogenic agent. The feed conduit is directly in the form of a heater which can produce a controllable heating action so that the gaseous cryogenic agent can be heated along its flow path from the tank into the cooling chamber space, to provide for uniform temperature distribution in the cooling chamber space.

Abstract: A histological tissue freezing process is provided. The process includes an aerosol can with an adjustable flow rate spray unit for spraying a chemical, monochlorodifluoromethane, onto a portion of a histological tissue specimen before sectioning thereof. The use of monochlorodifluoromethane has the dual advantage reducing ozone depletion and producing a colder spray. The spray means has a horizontal hinged spray bar with a passage with a spray outlet and has a horizontal hinged actuator plate with a trigger for slightly turning the actuator plate unit and spray bar. A tube has a passage connecting to the spray bar passage. The tube has an upper end coupled to the spray bar and an intermediate end extending through a can upper wall and a lower end disposed inside the can. The tube lower end has an adjustable orifice opening. The tube also has a latching unit, a compression spring, and seal ring.

Abstract: A channel block ice making system includes a plurality of elongated channels and an associated refrigeration system for supplying coolant to the walls of the channels to form long, heavy channel blocks of ice. Water is recirculated from one end of said channels to the other end thereof, and after the channel blocks of ice are solidly frozen, the excess water including salts and the like is drained off, the outer surfaces of the channel blocks of ice are warmed, and they are advanced so that the ends of the blocks of ice protrude from the ends of the channels, where standard size blocks of ice are cut off. Fins on the sides of the channels score the blocks of ice so that the standard size blocks may be later automatically broken into smaller blocks and packaged. A door or gate is provided for retaining water within the channels during the freezing process, and for permitting subsequent easy removal of the ice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cryogenic removal of solid materials includes a wand connected in fluid communication with a cryogen fluid source. The wand directs the cryogen against a selected portion of solid material. The wand has a spray nozzle to direct the spray against an inner exposed surface of energetic material typically contained within a munition casing. The wand is connected to a mounting element to allow movement of the wand within the munition body. The munition is mounted on a rotatable base for rotating the munition and to expose the material to the cryogenic fluid spray. The cyrogenic fluid spray, such as liquid nitrogen, is utilized in a dry washout process to freeze and embrittle the surface layer either by precooling and fluid spray, or by spray alone. The embrittle layer is then eroded away by the spray into small particles for removal by pneumatic transport, vacuum, or other collection and removal system. A mechanism may be provided for vibrating the material to loosen the particles.

Abstract: An improve microtomy device is disclosed comprising a microtome and a thermostatically controlled refrigeration means controllable by a microprocessor and accommodated in an instrument cabinet, the improvement comprising, providing an upper part of the instrument cabinet in the form of a movable cover, which cover encloses a slidable transparent pane arranged above the microtome to define an inspection window disposed in a front portion of the cover. The pane is heatable and can be removed from the cover and/or shifted into a rearward portion of the cover to open the inspection window for cleaning purposes. The improved device provides convenient accessibility to the interior of the instrument and improved control of operations.

Abstract: An ice barrier for a selective ice cube and crushed ice dispenser having a crusher section including a crusher arm mounted to a horizontal shaft axially rotatable in either direction, and a stationary crusher arm mounted to one side of the shaft. When the shaft is driven in one direction, ice pieces fed to the crusher section are caught and crushed between the rotating and stationary crusher arms. However, when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction, ice pieces escape down the side of the shaft opposite the stationary crusher arm thereby avoiding being crushed. The ice barrier is frictionally coupled for rotation with the shaft between a first position in the whole ice piece path and a second position out of the path. Accordingly, the ice barrier blocks the whole ice piece path when the crusher is operated in the ice crushing mode.

Abstract: A rotary cutter for an auger type ice making machine mounted on a rotatable shaft thereof comprises a plurality of cutter blades for cutting ice rods extruded from ice compressing passages into ice pellets or chips. Some of the cutter blades are integrally provided at an upper edge portion thereof with an ice feeding blade having an inclination relative to the center axis of the cutter which is smaller than that of the associated cutter blade. Owing to the provision of the ice feeding blades, the ice chips resulting from the cutting are prevented from staying at the upper edge portions of the cutter blades. As compression of ice between the cutter blades does not effectually take take between the cutter blades, the ice is not unncessarily hardened, facilitating extrusion of ice from the cutter.

Abstract: A cryogenic seal, and a cryogenic ultramicrotome using the seal are presented. The seal allows a microtome arm to pass through an aperture in the wall of a cryogenic microtome chamber providing thermal insulation while allowing manipulation of the microtome arm within the chamber. The seal includes a thermally conductive seal container having a number of thermally insulating baffle inserts therein. The baffle inserts are placed within the seal container to form a plurality of baffle chambers, and each baffle insert includes an aperture which is larger in circumference than the external circumference of the microtome arm. Within each baffle chamber is a baffle membrane, each membrane having an aperture through which the microtome arm passes in sliding contact.

Abstract: Method for covering with snow artificial slopes for downhill or cross-country skiing, comprising the formation of an ice layer forming the bottom of the run, the on site production of snow by machining said ice layer by forming chips having a predetermined thickness, the keeping of the thickness of the ice layer forming the run bottom, the maintenance of the desired characteristics and quality of the snow. The machine for implementing such method comprises: a raisable curved blade (5) which is front-mounted for smoothing the snow surface; as a tool, a cylindrical cutter (7) provided with teeth and driven by a hydraulic motor (8) and housed in a casing (10) of which the bottom forms a vault and opens at the rear to deposit snow on the ground; as reconstitution means, a water sprinkling ramp (12) arranged under the vault; a comb (14) provided with tracers (25).

Abstract: An improved tibial component is provided for a knee prosthesis, wherein the tibial component includes a pair of tibial tray members adapted to accommodate independent longitudinal shifting during patient function while retaining a secure and stable fixation with respect to patient bone. The two tibial tray members comprise medial and lateral members for supporting the medial and laternal condyles of a knee joint. These tray members are interconnected by a slide key arrangement which restrains the tibial tray members against relative movement in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions, while permitting relative shifting in a longitudinal direction corresponding generally with a central axis of the patient's tibia. In the preferred form, the two tibial tray members cooperatively define a common anchoring post and include one or more antirotation fins for mechanically locking with patient bone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for dividing parallelipipedic blocks 1 of deep frozen foodstuffs and feedstuffs into smaller parallelipipedic units (slabs). Disposed below a conveying path 8 for the blocks 13 to be divided is another conveying path 3 having a conveying direction T2 opposite to the conveying direction T5 of the first conveying path. Disposed above and below the first conveying path 8 are multi-blade circular saws 12, 16 which subdivide the supplied blocks 13 into slices. Associated with the top circular saw 12 is an interception and applicator unit 14, 15 for the material cut up by the circular saw 12. The material cut up by the circular saw 16 is intercepted by the blocks 12 conveyed under the circular saw 16. Associated with a deflecting unit 4 for the blocks 1 disposed between the bottom conveying path 3 and the top conveying path 8 is a dimensioning unit 11 preceded by a once-through freezing chamber 10.

Abstract: Animal or plant derived materials are prepared for extraction of desired substances therefrom by grinding said materials at or below their Brittleness Temperature. This treatment allows fracture of the materials into small particles with high surface area to volume, as well as high volume to mass ratios, and disrupts membranes of tissues, organs, cells or organelles which would otherwise prevent or limit separation of desired biomolecules.

Abstract: An apparatus of making a soft ice-drink comprises an ice mechanism, disposed on an apparatus bed, including a shaver casing having a slit to which a shaving blade is exposed and a shaved ice discharge chute, rotatable blades, provided within the shaver casing, for cooperating with the shaving blade to shave ice blocks charged into the shaver casing, and a first drive motor for rotating the rotatable blades, a mixing mechanism, disposed on the apparatus bed and under the ice shaving mechanism, including rotary blades, rotatably supported within a container disposed beneath the shaved ice discharge chute, for mixing together a liquid material such as a syrup present within the container and shaved ice pieces discharged into the container and smashing the shaved ice pieces into granules of ice, and a second drive motor for rotating the rotary blades at high speeds, and a control circuit for controlling operations of the first and second drive motors.

Abstract: A process for increasing tree unit shelling efficiency includes a means of temporarily hardening the kernels of unshelled nuts to increase the efficiency of conventional nut hulling and/or shelling means. Quick freezing is used to sufficiently lower the temperature of the kernels of unshelled nuts to freeze the liquid matter contained in the kernels with minimal ice crystal formation. A higher percentage of nut kernels remain intact during hulling and/or shelling. The hulls and/or shells of the nuts remain substantially unaffected by quick freezing.

Abstract: To prepare an existing buried main made from a material which is tough at ambient temperature for replacement by a new main of the same or a larger size via a mole device by fracturing the existing main by compressive and impact forces and by widening the bore for the insertion of the new main that is clamped to the mole device, a liquefied gas having as low a boiling point as possible at atmospheric pressure is sprayed against the conduit wall from a cooling carriage that is pulled through the existing main prior to the movement of the mole device therethrough, thereby cooling the existing main to a temperature causing low-temperature embrittlement of the material of the existing main.

Abstract: Cryogenic process and apparatus for removing adherent coatings or linings from metallic substrates, especially the interiors of metal vessels or pipes. In one embodiment, a metal vessel having a polymeric interior lining is pressurized to about 900 psi, and the lining is contacted with a cryogenic liquid, preferably carbon dioxide, while this pressure is maintained. The pressure is high enough so that the cryogenic liquid does not boil. The lining is then subjected to shock by ultrasound, for example. This causes the lining to break up into small particles and fall off the metal substrate. These particles, suspended in the cryogenic liquid, are removed from the pressure vessel and separated from the cryogenic liquid, which can be reused. In another embodiment, the cryogenic liquid is injected into a pipe having an adherent mineral deposit while maintaining a pressure of about 700 psi. A stream of cryogenic liquid containing suspended mineral particles is removed from the pipe.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing frozen free-flowing particles of food product. Particles of solid food are supplied, or viscous food material is extruded, or liquid or semi-liquid food material is pumped through apertures, to a freezing stage. In the freezing stage, cryogenic substance is used to freeze the food material to a temperature at which the material is frangible. The frangible food material passes to a fracturing stage such as a fracturing mill, which produces frozen food particles of a size small enough to pass through discharge apertures of the fracturing stage. The discharged particles are screened to remove undersized particles which are recycled, the remaining frozen particles being generally within a defined size range and constituting the final product.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing ice including a plurality of elongated vertical tubes of uniform internal cross-sectional dimensions, a cylindrical shell for each tube of length less than the tube and surrounding a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the internal nominal diameter of the shell being greater than the maximum external cross-section dimensions of the tube, the shell having a spiral groove formed in the cylindrical wall thereof, the depth of the groove being such that the interior surface of the shell at the groove contacts at least part of the exterior surface of the tube thereby forming a flow path in the annular area between the exterior of the tube and the interior of the shell which is, at least in part, spiraled. Refrigerant gas is expanded in the tube-shell annular areas to chill the tubes. Water is introduced into the upper end of the tubes to flow downwardly through them and form in each tube a rod of ice.

Abstract: An apparatus for disintegrating lumps of boiled rice while cooling and freezing, comprising a cooling chamber and a freezing chamber through which boiled rice is caused to pass being carried on a mesh conveyor and thereby being cooled and frozen to a temperature from +10.degree. C. to -30.degree. C., and one or plurality of disintegrators disposed above and across the belt conveyor each comprising a rotary comb and a stationary comb both having a plurality of comb teeth disposed such that the teeth of the opposing combs are meshed with each other. In a preferred embodiment, the stationary comb of the disintegrator at the downstream of the mesh belt conveyor is disposed spaced apart from the belt conveyor by such a gap between the lower end of the comb teeth and the upper surface of the belt conveyor as allowing to pass only the individually disintegrated rice grains to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An automatic ice making machine or apparatus of the type in which ice-making water is directed in jets upwards towards a freezing grid or chamber having a large number of freezing cells. The apparatus has an ice-cutting frame having second partitioning plates at a preset spacing from and in opposition to the lower ends of the first partitioning plates of said freezing cells, and a heating means provided to the cutting frame. The second partitioning plates are heated by a hot gas pipe for melting and cutting the ice formed in the freezing cells the end of the ice formation state and the end of harvesting state being detected by a temperature sensor provided on the ice cutting frame.

Abstract: The cable C to be stripped is wound with non-touching coils and crossed layers of cable onto a drum 6 having a perforated core 10 rotatively mounted in a thermally insulated container 1. By injecting into the container liquid nitrogen under the control of a temperature sensor and by circulating the gases contained in the container through the core of the drum and the cable coils, the whole of the cable is cooled down to a temperature at which the plastics coating and, as the case may be, the outer steel sheath of the cable become brittle. The cable is then unwound and, when it has left the container, it is subjected to various mechanical stresses. The stripped cable is finally wound onto a take-up reel 3. Application in the recovery of scrap in the manufacture of power cables of large diameter and recovery of used electric cables.

Abstract: A new and improved auger-type ice-making apparatus preferably includes at least a pair of removable and interchangeable head assemblies adapted for preselectively producing either relatively dry flake or chip ice, cube ice or smaller nugget-sized ice pieces. A new and improved auger assembly preferably formed from a synthetic plastic material and a new and improved evaporator element are also disclosed, either or both of which can be incorporated into an ice-making apparatus, with or without the interchangeable head assemblies.

Abstract: A new and improved auger-type ice-making apparatus preferably includes at least a pair of removable and interchangeable head assemblies adapted for preselectively producing either relatively dry flake or chip ice, cube ice or smaller nugget-sized ice pieces. A new and improved auger assembly preferably formed from a synthetic plastic material and a new and improved evaporator element are also disclosed, either or both of which can be incorporated into an ice-making apparatus, with or without the interchangeable head assemblies. One preferred embodiment is adapted to preselectively alter the size of the cube or nugget ice pieces in order to preselectively produce a number of different sizes of ice pieces.

Abstract: A device for making fragmented ice. It has a more or less vertical and externally chilled cylinder (1), a water intake at the bottom of the cylinder, an ice outlet (15) at the top of the cylinder, a powered conveyer worm (5) that is mounted in the cylinder and that continuously scrapes off the thin coating of ice that forms on the inside (2) of the wall of the cylinder with at least one thread (6 or 7) and conveys it in the form of a spiral (12) toward the ice outlet (15). It also has several cutters (16) distributed at regular intervals over the space (9) between the threads and a deflector (17) in the space between the threads and at the top of the threads to compact the ice and to produce grains or fragments of ice of desired dimensions and with a relatively narrow tolerance.

Abstract: An icemaker for automatically and continuously producing clear ice in cubes comprising (a) a triple-walled stationary evaporator drum disposed with a plurality of equally-spaced, radially outwardly projecting ridges, (b) a rotary perforated water distribution tube overlying the evaporator drum for delivering a continuous and predetermined amount of water to the freezing surface thereof, a water pump for supplying water to the distribution tube, and a rotary, sequentially-functioning cutter assembly which coacts with the water distribution tube to break, size and remove cubes from the layer of ice formed on the freezing surface of the evaporator drum.

Abstract: A cryostat microtome apparatus comprises a cooling enclosure which can be set to a predetermined internal temperature and a microtome disposed in the enclosure. The enclosure is supported on a support assembly which is vertically adjustable to permit stepless adjustment of the height of the enclosure, for adaptation to operator requirements. A mechanical actuating assembly and/or a gas spring assembly is provided for height adjustment of the apparatus.

Abstract: Soft-ice mixture, consisting of water or milk and commercially available powder, is frozen solid in a cylindrical container, then presented to a machine whereby the container is pressurized and which has an agitator that engages the surface of the solid to exert force along a narrow zone, whereby the material is locally melted. The momentarily melted material is immediately whipped by the agitator, before it refreezes. The agitator rotates at high speed (2,000 rpm) but advances into the material very slowly. For such action the agitator shaft is surrounded by an outer driver confined to rotation in one direction, with which the shaft has a splined connection, and the shaft in turn surrounds a threaded inner driver, with which the shaft has a threaded connection. For driving the agitator downward the inner driver is rotated in said direction, but slower than the outer driver; for driving it upward the inner driver is also rotated in said direction, but faster than the outer driver.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus including a machine for producing and harvesting a flake ice product and transferring said product to an ice extruding chamber in which the product is compressed into a hard column of ice that can be broken into ice chunks or "cubes" of predetermined length and be transported to a remotely located ice storage bin, dispenser or the like.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing ice including a plurality of elongated vertical tubes of uniform internal cross-sectional dimensions, a cylindrical shell for each tube of length less than the tube and surrounding a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the internal nominal diameter of the shell being greater than the maximum external cross-section dimensions of the tube, the shell having a spiral groove formed in the cylindrical wall thereof, the depth of the groove being such that the interior surface of the shell at the groove contacts at least part of the exterior surface of the tube thereby forming a flow path in the annular area between the exterior of the tube and the interior of the shell which is, at least in part, spiraled. Refrigerant gas is expanded in the tube-shell annular areas to chill the tubes. Water is introduced into the upper end of the tubes to flow downwardly through them and form in each tube a rod of ice.

Abstract: An ice making machine with an improved cube cutter is disclosed. A pair of oscillating pivotal cutter bars are disposed adjacent and beneath vertical ice making columns. The cutter bars are arranged to pivot in opposite directions so that as a rod or tube of ice falls therebetween, it is cut off into a cube, which then falls between the cutters into an appropriate receptacle.

Abstract: An ice breaking head for an ice producing machine is adjustable for producing harvested ice of selected sizes. The ice making machine has a cylinder, the inner surface of which produces commercial sheet ice. The ice is harvested by forcing the ice from out of the cylinder toward an ice breaking head. The position of ice breaking head is adjustable to vary the size of the ice harvested. The head has an ice breaking surface which contains fins for facilitating the breaking of the ice sheet. It is journalled on a mounting post which has keys or ribs of increasing heights which match corresponding keyway slots in the bore of the head so that the spacing of the head, and hence the size of the ice harvested, can be adjusted by changing the rotational position of the head on its mounting post.

Abstract: A cutter for an auger type icemaker including an auger shaft with an auger edge to scrape and guide upward the ice formed on the inner surface of a refrigerated casing, an extrusion head fitted to the upper end portion of the auger shaft and provided with ice compressing passages, and a cutter attached to the upper end of the auger shaft over the extrusion head for breaking the ice from the ice compressing passages. A positioning portion is disposed on the upper end of the auger shaft to position the cutter at a predetermined circumferential location. The cutter is provided with a cutter edge supporting portion with an attaching portion which is attached to the positioning portion and which can change the positioning location of the cutter in cooperation with the positioning portion.

Abstract: The ice harvesting machine described herein comprises one in which ice, formed in vertical cylinders, bars or sheets, is periodically thawed sufficiently to allow the ice to slide downward to a perforated endless belt having upwardly extending ribs or protrusions which strike the lower end of the ice and break it into pieces which are carried away by the endless belt. In a preferred modification, this machine comprises one in which cylinders of ice are formed on the inside and outside of two pipes arranged with an annular space between the two pipes, through which annular space a refrigerant, such as freon, is circulated while water is allowed to run down the outside surface of the outer pipe and also down the inside surface of the inner pipe. These streams of water are chilled by the refrigerant in the annular space until an appropriate thickness of cylinders of ice has been formed on the outside and inside surfaces where the water had been running.

Abstract: A satellite ice plant operable by a single operator bagging ice comprising ice making apparatus; comminution apparatus for reducing the ice to a size for bagging; refrigerated storage housing which is cooled below freezing point of the ice and has a storage bin for storing the ice, conveyor for conveying the ice from the comminution apparatus to the storage bin, freeze-up prevention device disposed in the refrigerated storage housing and operable to prevent freezing up of the conveyor, ice break up apparatus for breaking up the stored ice for bagging, second conveyor interiorly of the refrigerated storage housing for conveying the ice to a bagging machine, and controls operable to automatically effect the operation of the respective elements to supply ice to the bagging machine at the signal of a operator bagging ice. Also disclosed are specific preferred pieces of apparatus for moving the stored ice, breaking it into crushed ice size, snow removal and the like.

Abstract: In connection with an arrangement in an ice machine which comprises a series of substantially parallel vertically arranged ice freezing elements which during the ice freezing phase are supplied with water, and which are provided with conduits for transport of freezing medium or thawing medium, as well as vessels arranged below the ice freezing elements and adapted for collecting surplus water, and an ice crusher box for crushing and delivery of finished produced ice, there is between the bottom of the ice freezing elements and the collecting vessels for water and the ice crusher box provided a pivotable baffle means which effectively serves to separate ice and water during the various steps of the ice producing process. During the ice freezing phase the baffle means adopts an inclined position which covers the ice collecting vessel, so as to pass the surplus water to the water collecting vessels via a stationary inclined guiding plate having a water pervious field.

Abstract: A low energy ice making apparatus employing a low volume carnot cycle refrigeration system. Ice is progressively formed on a plurality of improved evaporator plates and harvested by a secondary condenser grid heated by the warm liquid refrigerant discharged by a primary water cooled condenser. The apparatus incorporates an improved water manifold and secondary condenser grid construction.

Abstract: An ice making and crushing machine includes upright freezing plates for producing sheets of ice and and a pair of oppositely rotating ice breaking members below the plates for receiving the ice upon release by defrosting. The breaking members comprise sets of equally spaced disks each having equally spaced radial arms longitudinally aligned on the members. When rotating the disks form longitudinal pockets which receive and separate the ice in portions and crush it in successive batches. Substantially the entire area of the freezing plates is exposed to water on one side and refrigerant on the other for speeding the production of ice and the refrigerant circulating system affords equal cooling and the forming of ice of the same thickness on both plates.

Abstract: The invention resides in a method of producing artificial snow directly from ice, for ski slopes. Ice is formed on a surface exposed to an ambient temperature at or below the freezing temperature of water by flowing water onto the surface. The rate of water deposition is controlled such that all of the water deposited on the surface freezer before additional water is deposited thereon. The ice is then comminuted into snow-like particles and distributed onto the slope.

Abstract: A substantially horizontal grating having a plurality of substantially parallel bars extends within an enclosure that is adapted to gravitationally receive a mass of tobacco containing a cryogen and discharge smaller tobacco particles therefrom. A plurality of rotatable shafts having a plurality of blades equally separated by spacers are disposed orthogonally over the parallel bars such that the blades are located between the parallel bars. The spacers on the shafts and the parallel bars cooperate to define a plurality of sized apertures through the grating. The blades are formed to separate portions of the mass upon rotation and to urge the portions through the sized apertures for discharge from the apparatus.

Abstract: A flake ice vending machine for vending disposable receptacles filled with a mixture of flake ice and a flavored syrup, and including an auger type ice maker, a storage bin for storing the ice formed by the ice maker, an ice slicer for slicing the ice formed by the ice maker, and a discharge chute for discharging the flake ice formed by the ice slicer. Additional mechanisms are provided for dispensing a flavored syrup into the disposable receptacle and mechanisms for washing the area in which the disposable filled receptacles are provided so as to wash away the surplus syrup and ice.

Abstract: An ice maker having structure for forming an ice column which is passed through a constricting nozzle. A delivery structure is arranged to receive the ice column and cause selectively the shearing of the ice column into full sized ice bodies, approximately half size ice bodies, or cracked ice. The delivery structure may include a breaker tube having an inwardly directed projection and defining a deflecting structure for shearing the ice at preselected intervals. The delivery structure may further include a selectively installable adapter defining a second inwardly directed projection for causing shearing of the ice column at preselected intervals less than that effected by the projection in the breaker tube. A blade may be removably associated with the adapter for selectively causing shattering of the ice column so as to form cracked ice, when desired. An extension tube may be associated with the breaker tube for delivering the ice bodies and cracked ice in any direction from the ice maker.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extrusion manifold which extrudes a continuous sheet of the mixture. The continuous sheet is directed through a chilling station where it is chilled and firmed such that the sheet maintains its extruded cross-sectional configuration. A plurality of slicers continuously slice the continuous sheet of material into continuous lengths. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extrusion manifold which extrudes a continuous sheet of the mixture. The continuous sheet is directed through a chilling station where it is chilled and firmed such that the sheet maintains its extruded cross-sectional configuration. A plurality of slicers continuously slice the continuous sheet of material into continuous lengths. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making ice are disclosed wherein ice forms on two sides of a plurality of freezing plates which are vertically arranged within a housing. A water distribution chamber positioned immediately above the freezing plates includes a plurality of inverted "V" shaped ridges in a bottom portion thereof. Each ridge corresponds to one of the plurality of freezing plates and includes a series of orifices arranged to direct water onto each side of the corresponding freezing plate. At the bottom of each freezing plate is a plastic strip which prevents ice slabs from the two sides of the plate from joining together at the bottom. Beneath the ice plates is a rotating sizer which fractures the ice slabs from the plates into pieces having a predetermined maximum size. The pieces fall through the sizer onto a screw conveyor which cooperates with a perforated lower housing to remove small undesirable ice pieces from the fractured ice.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering ice from an ice body maker to an ice delivery area selectively in the form of ice bodies or as crushed ice. The ice crusher is mounted in a housing and includes first and second crusher arms mounted to a rotatable shaft therein. A stop is provided for preventing rotation of the second crusher arm while permitting the first crusher arm to continue rotation with the shaft. The relative movement between the crusher arms effects a crushing of the ice bodies so as to permit the ice to then be delivered to the delivery area in the form of crushed ice. When the stop is positioned so as to permit rotation of both the first and second crusher arms with the shaft, the ice bodies are delivered intact thereby to the delivery area. The stop is arranged to prevent rotation of the second crusher arm in either direction when disposed to prevent movement of the second crusher arm with the shaft.

Abstract: An ice forming plate member pivots upon formation of a slab of ice of predetermined weight thereon and upon pivoting, a switch senses the pivoting and controls a refrigeration system for harvesting the ice slab by conducting heat to the ice forming plate member to release the slab of ice formed. Biasing means counterweight the ice forming plate member to prevent pivoting prior to the formation of an ice slab of predetermined weight, with the weight being approximately correlated with the thickness of the ice slab. Two or more ice forming plate members may be mechanically connected in parallel for forming two ice slabs approximately simultaneously. Heat for defrosting the two ice slabs is supplied at different rates to the two ice forming plate members to release one of the ice slabs at a different time than the other ice slab is released.