Abstract: A machine for making ice flakes by freezing sea or fresh water, comprises a fixed central core and a plurality of fixed pipes surrounding the core for containing a circulating refrigerant. A hollow rotatable cylindrical drum coaxial with the core surrounds the pipes; and an anti-freeze liquid freezing lower than water substantially fills the space between the core and the drum. A spray manifold for water to be frozen extends horizontally full length of the drum and feeds a horizontal series of spaced spray nozzles that spray the water on the drum. The sprayed water then moves downwardly with the drum and then upwardly and then downwardly again; but before reaching the region of the nozzles, that is, shortly before completing one full revolution, a knife that rides on the surface of the drum scrapes the ice flakes off the drum.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a freeze crystallization subassembly having means for continuously removing crystals formed on a heat transfer surface from the surface. A scraper shuttle is moved across the heat transfer surface by a fluid being refrigerated to remove crystals from the surface. The crystals are carried to a mixer where they are mixed with incoming feed until a circulating slurry is produced. Means is provided to remove slurry from the mixer.

Abstract: Latent heat is stored in a liquid storage material having a variable phase-dependent density from which material heat is subsequently removed by heat transfer with an immiscible liquid interfaced with the storage material, such that storage material at the interface is solidified resulting in the separation thereof from the interface by buoyancy forces.

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 continuously refrigerated, automatically ejected block ice machine having means to measure and supply a specified amount of water to a water distributor which appropriately directs each measured amount of water to each of a plurality of product cells in which the ice is formed, the product cells, being an integral part of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The water which is permitted to enter the bottom of the product cell forcing up the frozen block of ice where it is harvested. Upon the completion of the water entering the product cell, means are provided to remove water proximate the cell to prevent freezing. The operation is automated through each of the product cells, each cell filled with new water and ejecting the frozen ice block, the new water permitted to be frozen and the operation repeated.

Abstract: A method of making ice wherein water in excess of the freezing capacity is directed over a cylindrical surface member that is refrigerated to a subfreezing temperature to form ice thereon and from which the ice is harvested in combination with a thermostatic water valve means having a control portion in heat exchange relationship with the low pressure side of the refrigerating means that provides the subfreezing temperature for regulating the volumetric water supply to the surface in inverse ratio to the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means so that when the temperature is higher than desired, the water flow is restricted or stopped so as to prevent waste. Then, when the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means and, thus, the cylindrical surface is sufficiently low, the volumetric flow of water is increased.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a hot mass of a confectionery to be cooled in a thin sheet on consecutively associated cooling cylinders upon which the underside and top side of the sheet, travelling in a substantially S-shaped path, are alternately cooled to the temperature required for further processing.

Abstract: An open-ended non-circular sectioned vertical tube is supported in a lower insulated housing providing a heated water reservoir to fill the tube to a predetermined level. A threaded shaft is rotated about its axis in the tube such that upon a refrigeration medium subjecting the outer surface of the tube to a below freezing temperature the water therein is frozen into an ice column starting at the tube inside surface and continuing toward the shaft. The rotating shaft advances the non-circular ice column upwardly whereupon harvesting mechanism is actuated by the column to sever the same into uniform ice pieces for transfer into an ice storage container.

Abstract: An improved freeze refining method including the steps of collecting a heterogeneons material in crystalline form from a heated melt containing pure and impure materials and removing the collected crystals while maintaining the integrity of the crystals.