Abstract: A straight axial length of round metal tube is deformed such that the tube cross-section is D-shaped and coiled into a helix, a coil mandrel and wheel mandrel simultaneously drawing and deforming the tube cross-section without kinking. The interiorly facing flat faces of the helix define a substantially continuous cylindrical surface which allows the helix to be rapidly mountable onto a cylindrical heat transfer evaporator tank of a flaker ice making assembly. To provide enhanced heat transfer capabilities the helix could be undersized to tightly grip the evaporator tank and the tube convolutions could be brazed or soldered either together or adjacent the corner portions and tank.

Abstract: An auger-type ice-making apparatus includes a new and improved auger or auger assembly having one or more generally spiral flight portions with one or more grooves formed transversely across the outer edges of the flight portions. The grooves interrupt the generally spirally-extending contact between the outer auger edges and the inner surface of an evaporator housing, thus reducing the area of contact therebetween and, as a result, reducing the load on the auger bearings. The grooves also provide a stress-relieved area on the flight portion during scraping of ice particles from the inner surface of the evaporator and tend to balance the forces on the auger bearings.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger assembly is disclosed and has a wall composed of a heat transmissive material and a plurality of sections of spaced-apart elongated fluid conduits also composed of a heat transmissive material disposed on one side of the wall for conveying a heat transfer fluid therethrough. The assembly includes an elongated filler member, which either has a solid outer surface or is a wire mesh structure, and which extends longitudinally through the space between at least one adjacent pair of the spaced-apart elongated fluid conduits or conduit sections. The elongated filler member is also composed of a heat transmissive material and at least in part spaced from the fluid conduit or conduit sections, thus defining at least one opening providing communication into the space between the adjacent pair of fluid conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing relatively uniform size high quality ice particles comprising a generally cylindrically-shaped ice forming chamber, a rotatable auger disposed in said chamber and adapted to cause ice formed on the inner side thereof to be formed into a generally cylindrically-shaped ice body, an ice discharge member disposed at one end of said chamber and being provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged ice discharge openings overlying said cylindrical body, whereby rotation of said auger causes said cylindrical body to move toward and into engagement with said ice discharge member so that portions of said body are forced into said openings and are thereby compacted to remove ice make-up water therefrom, the dimensions of said openings being selected so that flow passages are provided between peripheral portions of the ice body moving through the ice discharge openings and the peripheral walls of said openings to permit ice make-up water to flow back toward the freezing chamber.