WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR ICE-MAKING MACHINE
The assembly of the present disclosure includes a one-piece, molded or formed water distribution tube and an evaporator component or top. The tube connects to the evaporator component without the use of any additional fasteners such as metal screws. A protrusion or tab formed in the tube effects the connection to the evaporator component. Water is introduced to the tuba via an inlet, where the water flow is evened out partially with a divider within the tube. The water exits through drainage holes in the tube, and passes over an evaporator to be frozen into ice.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/019,092, filed on Jun. 30, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to water distribution devices for ice-making machines. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a water distribution device that has a two-piece construction and does not require the use of any additional fasteners.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some current ice-making machine, there are devices to divert and spread a jet of water over a wide area. The water is distributed so that it can pass over an evaporator and make ice. Currently available systems have multi-component systems, which can be complicated to manufacture, and costly to manufacture. In addition, these current distribution systems have components that are connected to one another with metal fasteners or buttons. These fasteners may come loose during operation of the ice-making machine, and are reported as undesirable defects by the users of the machine.
Referring to
As described above, this configuration, of assembly 100, has several disadvantages. The multi-component assembly is complicated and time-consuming for users to put together, and difficult to service. Fasteners 122 may dislodge and enter an ice bin, or the other areas of machine where assembly 100 is used. In addition, the path of the water that goes through spout 132, through second part 130, and out over top 110 is not optimized. This creates a condition whereby the water does not fill the evaporator cells evenly.
Accordingly, there is a need to address these deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe water-distribution device of the present disclosure presents several advantages not found in currently available systems. The device of the present disclosure has a two-component construction, which provides significant cost savings in manufacture, and is easier to service and clean. The two components are connected to one another without the use of any other fasteners. In addition, as discussed in greater detail below, the water distribution device of the present disclosure provides an improved water flow path over what is currently available. The improved path of the present disclosure helps to ensure that water is more evenly distributed over the evaporator that freezes to make ice.
Thus, in one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a water distribution tube for an ice-making machine. The tube comprises an inlet, a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls, and a plurality of drainage holes within all channel. Water is introduced to all tube through all inlet, enters all channel, and drains through all plurality of holes. The tube is a one-piece, integrally formed and molded tube
In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides an assembly for an ice-making machine, comprising a one-piece, integrally formed and molded water distribution tube. The tube comprises an inlet, wherein water is introduced to the tube through the inlet, a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls, and a plurality of drainage holes within all channel. The assembly further comprises an evaporator. Water is introduced to all tube through all inlet, enters all channel, and drains through all plurality of holes on to all evaporator. The water distribution tube connects directly to all evaporator without the use of any fasteners.
In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of distributing and freezing water, comprising the steps of introducing water to a distribution tube, and passing water over an evaporator. The tube is a one-piece, integrally formed and molded water distribution tube, and comprises an inlet, wherein water is introduced to the tube through all inlet, a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls, and a plurality of drainage holes within all channel. During the passing step, all water falls through all drainage holes on to all evaporator.
Referring to the Figures, and in particular
As discussed in greater detail below, and referring to
Referring again to
Referring to
By contrast, as shown in
Thus, the way the water is channeled in assembly 200 is a significant improvement over currently available devices. By passing the water into a first side 236 of the channel 230 and retaining it there, many of the irregularities within the water flow can even out. When the water passes over divider 232 and out through drainage holes 234 in second side 238, it has a longer path to travel than in currently available devices. By hitting back wall 212 of evaporator top 210, the flow is split. This further assists with evening out any flow irregularity or surface tension effects, such as that of the “wet out” effect described above.
Evaporator top 210 can also have a more rounded or “bull-nosed” front edge 214 than is found in current designs. This prevents the problem of water splashing off the edge of the evaporator top, and not traveling into evaporator cells. The additional surface tension provided by edge 214 keeps the water from splashing away from the evaporator cells.
Referring to
Referring to
The materials used in assembly 200 can be any that are NSF approved, and suitable for contact with potable water. For example, the materials can be plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polypropylene. ABS has been found to be particularly suitable, as it is low-cost and strong enough to withstand the complex geometry of molding, and the stresses of the connection methods described above.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure.
Claims
1. A water distribution tube for an ice-making machine, comprising:
- an inlet;
- a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls; and
- a plurality of drainage holes within said channel,
- wherein water is introduced to said tube through said inlet, enters said channel, and drains through said plurality of holes, and
- wherein the tube is a one-piece, integrally formed and molded tube.
2. The tube of claim 1, wherein said inlet is integrally formed within a first of said surrounding walls.
3. The tube of claim 1, wherein said channel has a divider therein, wherein said divider projects up from said bottom surface, so that said channel is divided into a first sub channel and a second sub-channel.
4. The tube of claim 3, wherein said divider is between a first and a second of said outer walls, so that said first sub channel is between first outer wall and said divider, and second sub channel is between said divider and second outer wall.
5. The tube of claim 4, wherein said inlet is integrally formed into said first outer wall and is in direct fluid communication with said second sub channel, so that water passes through said inlet spout, accumulates in said second sub channel, and passes over said divider into said first sub channel.
6. The tube of claim 5, wherein said drainage holes are in said first sub channel, so that water passes through said inlet, accumulates in said second sub channel, and passes over said divider into said first sub channel, and out through said drainage holes.
7. The tube of claim 6, wherein said drainage holes are in said bottom surface, said first outer wall, or a combination of the two.
8. The tube of claim 3, wherein said divider has a vertical notch therein.
9. An assembly for an ice-making machine, comprising:
- a one-piece, integrally formed and molded water distribution tube, said tube comprising: an inlet, wherein water is introduced to the tube through said inlet; a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls; and a plurality of drainage holes within said channel; and an evaporator,
- wherein water is introduced to said tube through said inlet, enters said channel, and drains through said plurality of holes on to said evaporator, and,
- wherein said water distribution tube connects directly to said evaporator without the use of any fasteners.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said tube connects to said evaporator with a protrusion integrally formed within said tube.
11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said tube connects to said evaporator with a snap-, pressure-, or friction-fit.
12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said evaporator has a rounded edge over which the water passes.
13. The tube of claim 9, wherein said channel has a divider therein, wherein said divider projects up from said bottom surface, so that said channel is divided into a first sub channel and a second sub-channel.
14. The tube of claim 13, wherein said divider is between a first and a second of said outer walls, so that said first sub channel is between first outer wall and said divider, and second sub channel is between said divider and second outer wall.
15. The tube of claim 14, wherein said inlet is integrally formed into said first outer wall and is in direct fluid communication with said second sub channel, so that water passes through said inlet, accumulates in said second sub channel, and passes over said divider into said first sub channel.
16. A method of distributing and freezing water, comprising the steps of:
- introducing water to a distribution tube; and
- passing water over an evaporator,
- wherein said tube is a one-piece, integrally formed and molded water distribution tube, said tube comprising: an inlet, wherein said water is introduced to the tube through said inlet; a channel defined by a bottom surface and a plurality of surrounding raised outer walls; and a plurality of drainage holes within said channel, so that during said passing step, said water falls through said drainage holes on to said evaporator.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said channel has a divider therein, wherein said divider projects up from said bottom surface, so that said channel is divided into a first sub channel and a second sub-channel.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said divider is between a first and a second of said outer walls, so that said first sub channel is between first outer wall and said divider, and second sub channel is between said divider and second outer wall.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said inlet is integrally formed into said first outer wall and is in direct fluid communication with said second sub channel, the method further comprising the step of, between said introducing and said passing steps:
- passing said water through said inlet spout, so that it accumulates in said second sub channel, and passes over said divider into said first sub channel.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein said water distribution tube is connects directly to said evaporator without the use of any fasteners.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 31, 2015
Inventor: Lynn H. Rockwell (Valders, WI)
Application Number: 14/750,434