Abstract: An auger type ice making apparatus having a discharge section comprising a modified elbow portion and a discharge tube extending outwardly therefrom with pressure applying apparatus mounted on the upper end of the auger for rotation therewith and located in the modified elbow and having a generally cylindrical outer surface immediately adjacent to the upper end of the auger and a generally conical outer surface extending upwardly therefrom and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the modified elbow comprises an oval surface opposite to the generally conical outer surface and wherein a portion of a radially outwardly extended flange on the upper end of the generally conical outer surface is located in an arcuate recess in the oval surface and with at least one cutter extending radially outwardly from the generally cylindrical outer surface. Also, apparatus is provided for distributing the refrigerant for improved performance.

Abstract: In an auger type ice making machine having an upright evaporator housing the internal wall of which is formed with a cylindrical freezing surface, and an auger mounted for rotary movement within the evaporator housing to scrape ice crystals off the freezing surface and to advance the scraped ice crystals toward an upper end of the housing, an extruding head assembly mounted on the upper end of the evaporator housing includes a cylindrical head member coaxially coupled with the upper end of the evaporator housing, the head member having an internal cylindrical wall formed with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced radial projections forming a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced compression chambers to which the scraped ice crystals are successively introduced under the action of the auger, and a thrust mechanism mounted on an upper end of the auger to compress radially outwardly the ice crystals introduced into the compression chambers in accordance with rotation of the auger.

Abstract: In an ice storage type food service counter with an ice storage tank, an ice supply device is provided to automatically produce chips of ice and supply the same into the ice storage tank, and an agitating device is provided to agitate and level the chips of ice stored in the ice storage tank. Under the ice storage tank, a water supply tank is arranged to store an amount of ice making water, and a discharge tank is arranged to store the water of melted ice discharged from the ice storage tank through a drain hole. Within the ice storage tank, there is provided an overlfow pipe having an upper end opening into the interior of the ice storage tank and extending downward to discharge therethrough the pieces of ice located above the upper end thereof into either one of the water supply tank or the discharge tank.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for efficient transfer of sensible heat between a highly viscous fluid and a secondary fluid. This exchanger has an annular passage formed between an inner cylinder and outer cylinder. The highly viscous fluid passes through the annular passage while the secondary fluid passes both inside the inner cylinder and outside of the outer cylinder making both cylinders heat transfer surfaces. A scraper mechanism rotates within the annular passage which scrapes both heat transfer surfaces. This scraping action serves to both continually clean the surfaces and to enhance the heat transfer efficiency.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous production of flake ice comprises one or more refrigerated discs mounted on a hollow shaft. Each disc rotates in the vertical plane and includes a plurality of narrow internal channels which extend substantially over all of the operative portion of the disc and are of substantially equal length. The discs form the evaporator of a refrigeration circuit, and an evaporative refrigerant is circulated to the channels in each disc via the hollow shaft. During each cycle, water is applied to both external flat surfaces of each disc at a first angular location and the film of water which adheres thereto freezes as the disc rotates. The ice sheet so formed is removed from both sides of the disc at a second angular location by scraper blades.

Abstract: An ice maker having an auger which rotates within a cylindrical body on the inner surface of which ice crystals are formed to scrape the crystals off the surface and advance them upwardly in to the extruding passage of an extruding head above the auger to form hard bodies of ice which are broken into pieces and stored in a reservoir surrounding the head. A thrust bearing disposed between the head and a portion of the auger shaft extending above the head is made up of two thin disks of different low friction materials both of which are hygroscopic. The bearing assembly operates in the moist atmosphere of the housing so that the hygroscopic elements absorb moisture which produces dimensional changes in the disks to compensate for material lost by frictional wear.

Abstract: In an auger type ice making machine, an ice breaker mounted on an upper shaft portion of the auger includes a plurality of ice breaker elements adapted to be coaxially coupled as a unit, the breaker elements each having a circular body portion formed with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced blades which extend radially outwardly at a predetermined angle, and the blades of the respective breaker elements being formed to be aligned at their lower edges in a condition where the breaker elements have been coaxially coupled at their body portions. The body portions of the breaker elements are connected to each other in such a manner that the blades of the breaker elements are circumferentially equally spaced at a selected angle.

Abstract: Scraped surface heat exchanger, the shape of the chamber thereof and the positioning and direction of feed and discharge conduits opening into said chamber being such that, on feeding a liquid through these conduits and the chamber, the flow of said liquid will cover the entire chamber.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that can be used for continuously cooling or heating a slurry of food consisting of lumps in a non-viscous liquid. The device comprises several vertically spaced heat transfer trays in alignment with each other and each having an opening extending therethrough, that is not in alignment with like openings of adjacent trays, and having raised portions next to the openings to restrict the rapid flow of liquid through the openings, so the food slurry has to be pushed or scraped by slowly moving scraper members to each opening, where it can fall by force of gravity to an adjacent lower tray.

Abstract: An auger type ice flaking machine has an evaporator section defined in part by a vertically oriented flaker barrel with closed upper and lower ends, and a knurled longitudinally intermediate exterior side surface positioned within an annular hollow jacket structure externally and coaxially mounted on the barrel and having an outlet opening positioned adjacent its upper end and communicating with the accumulator portion of an associated refrigeration circuit. Spirally wrapped tightly around the knurled surface is a coiled length of refrigerant tubing having an open lower end, and an upper end connected to the outlet of the expansion valve portion of the refrigeration circuit, adjacent coils of the tubing being longitudinally spaced apart. During operation of the machine, refrigerant is flowed downwardly through the tubing, into the jacket interior, and then upwardly through the jacket and outwardly through its outlet opening.

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: An ice level sensor for a flake-ice icemaker of the type having an electrically grounded rotary shaft for scraping ice from a refrigerated surface into an underlying ice bin has a contact plate insulated connected to a control circuit, a metallic sensing arm suspended from and electrically connected to the shaft for sweeping a path in the ice bin, the sensing arm moving against the plate on contact with accumulated ice thereby completing an electrical circuit through the drive shaft and causing the control circuit to stop the icemaker.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for viscous materials comprises a vertically disposed annular space. The materials to be processed are fed in at the bottom of the annular space and the processed materials are removed at the top. A vertically disposed rotating shaft and a multiplicity of essentially radial arms which are attached to the shaft and to the ends of which vertical components are attached. The vertical components travel around in the annular space as the shaft rotates, so that the inlet of the materials to be processed debouches tangentially into an annular chamber beneath the annular space. The width of the annular chamber is greater than the width of the inlet and is greater that the width of the annular space.

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: A method of and apparatus for continuously processing substances containing cocoa butter or similar fats, especially chocolate masses, in a tempering machine with several stages of cooling on cooling surfaces followed by stages of heating on heating surfaces. The mass is supplied through mass chambers, in which it is stirred by powered impellers, to the cooling stages and to the heating stages. A cooling medium flows through cooling chambers adjacent to the cooling surfaces and a heating medium flows through heating chambers adjacent to the heating surfaces. Enough cooling medium flows through the cooling chambers to generate turbulence. The mass in the mass chambers is stirred powerfully enough to thoroughly blend it. The mass is removed from the cooling and heating surfaces without being touched by the mixing impellers in an operation that involves a shearing gradient in the cap between the cooling and heating surfaces and the mixing impellers of from 500 to 4000 sec.sup.-1.

Abstract: An auger-type ice making machine has a refrigerating cylinder having upper and lower bearings, an auger supported rotatably within the refrigerating cylinder by the upper and lower bearings, a water supply valve for supplying water to the refrigerating cylinder, a drain valve in fluid communication with the refrigerating cylinder for discharging water therefrom, an electric detector assembly including an electrode member having its one end extending into the refrigerating cylinder, and an electric control circuit electrically connected to the electrode member to receive a detection signal from the electric detector assembly. The electric control circuit determines on the basis of the detection signal that the impurity concentration of the water has increased beyond a predetermined level.

Abstract: A cylindrical freezing drum for a slice ice making machine and method of producing the freezing drum. The freezing drum is supplied with a freezing medium to one side of a drum wall and with a water to an opposite side thereof and cooperates with a scrapper arrangement for successively scrapping off the ice produced on the drum, with the drum being made of steel and provided with an exterior metallic coating. The metallic coating is an aluminum coating applied by an arc spray method. At least one cylindrical side of the steel drum is provided with a corrosion protective metallic coating by applying to the drum surface a layer of aluminum and thereafter turning the drum surface to an accurate cylindrical shape.

Abstract: An ice making machine comprises a housing having a cooled wall. A eutectic mixture is passed across the wall to be cooled below its freezing point and form ice. A blade continuously wipes the wall to move the fluid away from the wall and into the body of the fluid. The blades are moved by a drive means at a rate such that the surface is wiped prior to crystalization of the ice on the wall.

Abstract: There is provided an ice discharge section in an auger type ice making machine wherein an evaporator connected to a refrigerating system is sealingly wound along the outer periphery of a cylindrical refrigerating casing and the thin ice formed upon the inner wall surface of the refrigerating casing is scrapped off by an auger rotatably supported within the interior of the refrigerating casing so as to transfer the resulting ice flakes upwardly so that the compressed ice obtained by compressing these ice flakes by an extruding head may be discharged into an ice storage chamber via an ice discharge passage provided at the top of the refrigerating casing, characterized in that an ice transfer passage disposed within the interior of the ice storage chamber is connected to an opening of the ice discharge passage, an ice transfer passage having a drainage portion is disposed in the area immediately downstream of the opening and has an upwardly inclined surface continuing after the drainage portion, and a water coll

Abstract: An auger type ice making mahine has a refrigerator, an ice making cylinder for forming a layer of ice in cooperation with the refrigerator, and a top ice storage chamber in communication with the ice making cylinder for storing ice discharged therefrom. A bottom ice storage chamber is disposed below the top ice storage chamber for receiving and storing ice transferred from the top ice storage chamber. The top ice storage chamber is equipped with a top ice storage level detector for detecting the amount of ice stored within the top chamber, an ice dispensing gate mechanism capable of dispensing ice pieces stored in the top ice storage chamber outwardly therefrom, and an ice transfer system capable of transferring ice pieces from the top ice storage chamber to the bottom ice storage chamber. The bottom ice storage chamber is provided with a bottom ice storage level detector for detecting the amount of ice stored within the bottom chamber.

Abstract: An ice making machine having a cylindrical drum member whose inner wall is formed with surface irregularities. The ice making machine includes an adiabatic member which defines a cooling medium chamber relative to the inner wall. A rotary shaft is rotatably disposed in the drum member. The shaft has an upper portion provided with a water sprinkling pipe which is in fluid communication with a water tank through a water passage formed in the rotary shaft. A blade is fixedly secured to the shaft at a position confronting the cooling medium chamber. The cooling medium chamber is divided into a plurality of compartments to which cooling medium is respectively introduced.

Abstract: An auger type ice maker in which the auger is supported by a thrust bearing carried by the extruding head at the top of the evaporator and in which the extruding head itself is entirely symmetrical around the axis of rotation of the auger and in which means is provided for preventing rotation of the ice in the plenum formed by the extruding head above the upper end of the auger. The auger is not required to compress the ice against any plate or other means which closes the upper end of an extruding passage as ice is being delivered to lower end thereof. The extruding head is formed with radially outwardly extending lugs received in slots in the upper surface of a flange at the top of the evaporator housing which lugs also are received in slots formed in a flange at the bottom of the storage housing so as to position the housing circumferentially above the axis of rotation of the auger.

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: Cryogenic cleaning apparatus using dry ice pellets having a pellet extruder and static means to break the extruded dry ice.

Abstract: A high throughput continuous cryopump is provided. The cryopump (10) incorporates an improved method for regenerating the cryopumping surface (22) while the pump is in continuous operation. The regeneration of the cryopumping surface (22) does not thermally cycle the pump, and to this end a small chamber (91) connected to a secondary pumping source (60) serves to contain and exhaust frost removed from the cryopumping surface (22) during such regeneration. The frost is exhausted at a rate substantially independent of the speed of the cryopump which enhances the capability of the pump to achieve a high compression ratio and allow the pump to operate continuously while the cryopumping surface is being regenerated.

Abstract: In a slice-ice producing machine of the type in which water is frozen on a rotating drum and scraped off therefrom in the axial direction by means of slightly inclined scraper knives or edges provided on a stationary knife bar, the knives are arranged in two groups of mutually opposite inclination, whereby the total forces acting on the drum and the knife bar, respectively, are drastically reduced.

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: An ice-making machine includes a plurality of heat exchangers disposed inside a housing and each having an inlet and an outlet to permit circulation of coolant therethrough. Each of the heat exchangers includes a pair of oppositely directed, corrugated heat exchange surfaces to transfer heat from the fluid within the housing to the coolant. Ice-making regions are disposed between the heat exchangers. These regions each have an inlet and an outlet to enable fluid to circulate therethrough. Blade assemblies are provided in each of the ice-making regions to co-operate with the heat exchangers to inhibit deposition of ice on the heat exchangers. These blade assemblies each include at least one blade of complementary shape to the corrugated heat exchange surfaces to contact respective ones of the surfaces. The blade assemblies are rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane containing the surfaces.

Abstract: An ice machine is provided for producing cracked ice in which an ice thickness sensor is located within a freezing chamber adjacent to the surface upon which a layer of ice forms during operation. When the thickness sensor is actuated, the layer of ice is harvested. The ice sheet may be removed with a plunger operatively connected to a motor by means of a screw drive.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice-cream machine for family use, comprising a whipping vessel wherein a stirring element is rotatively actuated by a motor, said stirring element comprising a sleeve and one or more blades. In order to improve the stirring operational features, at least one blade is mounted on the sleeve by means of a removable coupling allowing both small torsional and axial motions of the blade with reference to an axis perpendicular to the sleeve axis.

Abstract: A device for tempering chocolate masses comprises a casing and a sequential series of cooling sections in the casing for cooling and working a chocolate mass to produce a stable, homogeneous chocolate product. Each of the cooling sections includes a pair of cooled upper and lower cooling surfaces and a pair of rotating upper and lower working elements which are received between the cooling surfaces therein. The working elements have helical scraping elements on the surfaces thereof which face the adjacent cooling surfaces, and the scraping elements are constructed so that as the working elements are rotated, the scraping elements on the lower working elements move chocolate outwardly along the lower cooling surfaces and the scraping elements on the upper working elements move chocolate inwardly along the upper cooling surfaces.

Abstract: A method of separating solid particles present in a liquid in which the solid particles float by subjecting the liquid to centrifugal force in a chamber thereby causing the solid particles to move radially inwardly and produce a pack of solid particles while the liquid freed of solid particles flows radially outwardly; continuously withdrawing liquid freed of solid particles from the chamber; and continuously removing solid particles from the pack.Apparatus for centrifugal separation of solid particles from a liquid in which they are buoyant, comprising a chamber adapted to be rotated about an axis; a conduit to continuously feed liquid containing the solid particles to the chamber; a conduit to continuously withdraw liquid substantially free of solid particles from the chamber; and a scraper to continuously remove solid particles from a pack of solid particles which forms in the chamber as a result of centrifugal force when the chamber is rapidly rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for forming cracked ice by producing a layer of ice on the inner wall of a cylindrical chamber, heating the chamber to loosen the ice, forcing the ice cylinder upwardly past a breaker which is stationary and allowing the ice to accummulate in a hopper. A ring-shaped conveyor provided with circumferentially-spaced paddles is driven by means of a motor mounted on one side of the hopper to carry pieces of cracked ice toward an outlet in the hopper.

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: A falling film freeze exchanger, heat exchanger or crystallizer having a plurality of spaced apart vertical tubes secured in, and penetrating, an upper circular tube sheet and a lower circular tube sheet; each tube having a top end and a bottom end; a circular cylindrical shell around the tube sheets and connected thereto; the shell having a heat exchange fluid inlet and a heat exchange fluid outlet for circulating heat exchange fluid around the tubes between the tube sheets; a header surrounding and joined to the upper part of the shell and extending above the top tube sheet and above the top end of the tubes; means to deliver a liquid process feed stream into the header; and wiper means, adapted to rotate about a vertical axis, in contact with the top ends of the tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between two media, one of which includes incrusting substances, includes a pair of end walls having a rotary shaft extending rotatably between the end walls. Between the end walls are located disc-shaped hollow members each of which has a central passage for the shaft. The members each have a through opening located on the side of the passage which opening is sealed from the interior of the member. Partitions extend within the hollow members between the peripheral inside of the member, in a place between an inlet and an outlet for the second medium, and the passage. Cleaning arms are non-rotatably connected to and extend radially from the shaft. In a heat exchanger in an assembled state, with an inlet for the first medium at one end wall and an outlet for the first medium at the other end wall, a cleaning arm is alternatively located between each member between the end walls. A cleaning arm is also located between each end wall and the member adjacent to each end wall.

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 machine comprises an evaporator structure submerged in suitable ice-forming liquid in a holding tank. The evaporator structure comprises a cylindrical single-tube evaporator disposed vertically on a support frame on the base of the tank and connected to refrigeration plant externally of the tank. A rotary scraper assembly having a scraper blade for scraping ice continuously off the outer cylindrical surface of the evaporator is mounted in the tank, so that the ice floats to the top of the liquid for pumped removal from the tank if required. The scraper assembly is rotated by a motor mounted above the tank. The evaporator and scraper structure form a unit which can be used in different liquid holding tanks.

Abstract: An improved flake ice making machine is disclosed wherein flake ice is broken away from a submerged refrigerated surface by a rotating auger. A tank surface opposite the refrigerated surface has screw thread guides affixed to it which cooperate with the rotating auger to lift ice flakes over the tank wall and into an ice receiving channel encircling the tank wall. A sweeper arm rotates with the auger and sweeps the ice in the channel towards a discharge opening. Pressure sensitive switch means are connected for stopping rotation of the auger in response to an excessive accumulation of ice in the event of blockage of the discharge opening. The auger is supported only to a drive shaft extending through the evaporator so that there are no submerged bearings or bearing surfaces.

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: An ice making apparatus is disclosed which includes a refrigeration system and a new and improved combination evaporator and ice-forming assembly for making flake or chip ice. The combination assembly preferably includes a generally horizontal freezer plate with a freezer surface thereon, which is adapted for receiving make-up water thereon. An evaporator means in close physical proximity with the opposite side of the freezer surface functions to form a thin layer of hard-frozen surface ice on the freezer surface and a rotatable ice breaker disposed closely adjacent the freeze surface fractures the substantially fully frozen ice surface layer from the freezer surface into formed ice particles. Preferably, at least the freezer plate and the evaporator coil are integrally encased and molded into a monolithic freezer member composed of a molded polymeric material, with the freezer surface exposed for forming the ice layer thereon. The ice breaker is also preferably composed of a molded polymeric material.

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: The invention relates to a method for controlling and optionally regulating the level of liquid P.sub.2 S.sub.5 in a cooling device. To this end, an inert gas is introduced into the cooling apparatus arranged in inclined position. More particularly, the inert gas is introduced into the cooling apparatus' lower end portion through an inlet opening thereinto near a P.sub.2 S.sub.5 -feed inlet, and forced to bubble through the liquid P.sub.2 S.sub.5. The pressure difference which establishes in accordance with the P.sub.2 S.sub.5 liquid level in the device is measured and variations in the respective pressure difference are utilized for regulating the supply of liquid P.sub.2 S.sub.5 to the cooling device so as to maintain a predetermined liquid level therein.

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: 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.

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 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: An auger-type icemaker for producing hard chip ice of high quality comprises a refrigerated cylinder for forming ice grown on an inner wall surface thereof, a scraper auger rotatably mounted in the refrigerated cylinder for scraping off the ice on the inner wall surface of the refrigerated cylinder, and upper and lower bearing by which said scraper auger is rotatably supported in the refrigerated cylinder. The upper bearing has standard peripheral surfaces and a plurality of axial ribs projecting radially outwardly from the standard peripheral surfaces into abutment against the inner wall surface of the refrigerated cylinder. The standard surfaces include slant surfaces extending upwardly and radially outwardly progressively toward the inner wall surface of the refrigerated cylinder, and parallel surfaces extending upwardly contiguously from the slant surface and substantially parallel to the inner wall surface of the refrigerated cylinder.