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: In an auger type icemaker comprising an auger in a refrigeration cylinder, an extrusion head disposed in the upper end of the auger, and a plurality of bosses disposed in the extrusion head ice compressing passages and extending axially downward and radially outward, to prevent choking of ice particles in the refrigeration cylinder, the bosses extending further downward at a predetermined distance from the lower end surface of the extrusion head and partially overlap the auger. The diameter of the auger corresponding to the overlapping portion is smaller than that of the other portions.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for identifying certain disabling abnormal conditions in an ice maker. The system includes a display panel having a pair of indicator lights and a push button switch, which when used together with a legend enables the operator to determine which particular abnormal condition needs correction.

Abstract: A plurality of knives (100) carried by driven means (36) to travel in circular paths along an inside, cylindrical freezing surface (16) of a refrigerated double-walled drum (12) to remove salt water ice formed thereon. A substantially flat lower surface (122) extends along the bottom of a knife leading section (106) and a substantially flat lower surface (124) extends along the bottom of a knife trailing section (108). In a direction transversely to the length of knife (100), the leading and trailing lower surfaces (122, 124) are disposed substantially normal to the drum freezing surface (16), and in the direction extending rearwardly along the length of knife (100), the leading lower surface (122) is inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal while the trailing lower surface (124) is inclined downwardly at an angle substantially greater than the angle of inclination of the lower leading surface (122).

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-making evaporator and method for fabrication thereof is provided. The evaporator includes a hollow tubular member on which is provided a tubular coil. The tubular coil is expanded into tight engagement with the tubular member. Refrigerant is passed through the tubular coil and expanded to cause freezing of water which is flowed over the tubular member. The ice-making evaporator may be used per se as an ice-making device or it may be used as the evaporator of a heat pump system to not only make ice but improve efficiency of operation of the heat pump system.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improvement to a freezing plate type continuous ice making machine. Such machines continuously form chunks of hard ice without alternating freezing and harvesting cycles. The improvement comprises apparatus to control the temperature of the inlet water supplied to the freezing plate. The control is accomplished by a thermal, electrical and mechanical feedback loop that automatically increases the water inlet temperature as a result of excessive ice buildup on the freezing plate. In theory the control operates as a negative feedback loop actuated by excessive ice buildup on the freezing plate. As a result the inlet water temperature is prevented from falling below the proper temperature for continuous smooth operation of the ice making machine.The apparatus of the loop comprises the mechanical and electrical drive mechanism for the ice cutter or scraper and an inlet water heat exchanger in thermal communication with the electric drive motor for the ice cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and dispensing a cold product comprises a scraper member operable to scrape a forming wall which is maintained near or below freezing temperature. A substance comprising the product in fluid form is directed to the scraper member and sprayed onto the forming wall during relative movement between the piston member and the wall where it forms a thin layer and the scraper removes the formed product. A cleansing fluid is selectively supplied in one instance to cleanse the apparatus between different substances dispensed, and in another instance, to cleanse and sanitize the apparatus.

Abstract: An electric refrigerator with an automatic ice-making unit which comprises in combination a cooling unit including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator with a refrigerating chamber and an auger type automatic ice-making unit with an ice-storing chamber.

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: A passage to supply the coolant and impellers having scraper vanes extending toward the surface of said passage are arranged in proximal relation to each other in a space for housing the liquid to be cooled. At least one of the coolant passage and the impeller is made movable in relation to the other. By the relative movement of the passage and the impeller, the motion of forcibly removing the cooled liquid from the heat exchange portion of the passage surface and the motion of supplying the high temperature liquid to the said heat exchange portion are repeated.

Abstract: A conventional Reynolds-type ice maker evaporator assembly such as is used in a drink dispensing machine is modified to accommodate a novel form of seal assembly for prevention of water seepage into the transmission or gear box, to allow conventional ball bearings to be replaced with roller bearings and to accommodate a unique grease fitting arrangement so that both the upper and lower ends of the auger may be lubricated.

Abstract: A comestible freezer has a freezing barrel with a cold wall, an input end and an output end and a feeder therewithin having a ribbon auger flight helix and a stationary blending bar within the helix. A portion of the ribbon auger flight helix has an outward twist or skew diverging from a radial plane through the axis of the helix and outwardly toward the barrel wall whereby to exert a component of thrust on the comestible toward the cold wall. A portion of the ribbon also has an inward twist or skew diverging from the radial plane and inwardly toward the blending bar whereby to exert a component of thrust on the comestible toward the bar.

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: A cooler for mixtures of crystals and crystallizing liquid in the production of sugar and related products comprises a bundle of vertical pipes for the passage of such a mixture from a bottom chamber to a top chamber. The vertical pipes are surrounded by a cooling medium, and in the interior of the pipes plungers are provided which have a somewhat smaller diameter than the inner wall of the pipes so as to form a slot-like passage along the inner wall of each pipe. The plungers are moved up and down through the pipes. The cooler is especially adapted for promoting crystallization by a rapid drop of temperature.

Abstract: Scraped-surface heat exchangers and similar apparatus employing scraper blades hinged to a shaft so as to scrape a fluid being processed from an elongated cylindrical wall are improved so as to obviate any need either for separate bearings at opposite ends of the shaft or for special skids to be used in disassembly and reassembly and so as to allow the blades to be biased against the wall without separate springs. Each blade bears on the wall not only at its leading or scraping edge but also at a trailing or bearing surface, so as to center the shaft and facilitate its rotation, so as to hold the edge in uniform relation to the wall, and so as to bias the edge of the blade against the wall.

Abstract: The mixer shaft is provided with radial arms supporting the ends of a set of scraping blades into scraping engagement with the wall of the freezing barrel. The ends of the scraping blades are fastened to supporting plates which in turn are secured to the supporting arms in a radially adjustable manner.

Abstract: An air cooling apparatus having a cooler including a plurality of fins arranged in substantially parallel relationship with a predetermined spacing therebetween and heat transfer tubes extending through the fins in a plurality of positions in the fins is further provided with at least one defrosting device having a plurality of projecting members of a width slightly smaller than the spacing between the fins which projecting members are each located between the adjacent two fins. The defrosting device is mounted for rotation about the heat transfer tubes and operative to remove frost from the surfaces of the cooler while rotating which frost has been formed during the operation of the air cooler.

Abstract: A freeze desalination and concentration apparatus comprising a desalination unit including mounted in the flow sequence a three-circuit heat exchanger, a condenser for a refrigerant and for melting ice mass, a cylindrical crystallizer having a separator with an auger arrangement mounted inside the crystallizer in a spaced relationship thereto and coaxially therewith. An ice-cutting device is accommodated between the crystallizer and separator, and another ice-cutting device is provided between the casing of the desalination unit and the outer ice-forming surface of the crystallizer, the lower part of the crystallizer having a perforated bottom plate, and the apparatus further comprises, directly adjacent to the desalination unit a refrigerator compressor, pumps, a pipeline for feeding a mixture of a starting solution and a part of recycled brine, the refrigerant condenser and the three-circuit heat exchanger being combined to form an integral heat-exchange system.

Abstract: A valve for regulating flow of fluid in a refrigerating system. The valve includes a valve chamber with an inlet, an outlet and a sensing bore communicating therewith and there is a valve element in the chamber for controlling flow of fluid from the inlet passage past a valve seat to the outlet passage. The valve element is urged by a spring pressed plunger toward an open position and is pressed by a thermostatically actuated piston extending through the sensing bore toward a closed position in opposition to the spring pressure.

Abstract: An ice making machine having an improved drip shield which prevents water from dripping into an ice storage bin beneath the machine. The ice machine has an inner freezing surface over which is spread water. Ice formed on the freezing surface is scraped therefrom by a rotating sweep arm having a plurality of sweeps thereon. The drip shield is frusto-conical in shape and is located at the bottom of the ice making machine and extends radially outward beyond the inner freezing surface of the machine. A portion of the drip shield adjacent the sweep arm is removed to allow ice to fall from the freezing surface into an ice storage bin. The drip shield is continuously washed by water from a spray tube located on the top portion of the drip shield and having a series of orifices therein thus preventing ice build-up on the drip shield and clogging of the machine.

Abstract: A stationary cylinder is jacketed to provide a first passage for a first heat exchange medium and forms a chamber for throughflow of a product to be heated or cooled. The cylinder contains a coaxial rotor comprising a shaft having a cylindrical outer surface and forming a second passage for a second heat exchange medium, whereby said stationary cylinder and said shaft surface are heated or cooled by said media. Each of a plurality of tubes has its opposite ends secured to the shaft and has an intermediate portion extending outside the shaft in spaced relation to its cylindrical outer surface. The second heat exchange medium is fed through one end portion of the shaft to adjacent ends of said second passage and said tubes and is discharged from the opposite ends thereof through the other end portion of the shaft. Scraper means protrude from the rotor between adjacent tubes and are operable to sweep the inner surface of the jacketed cylinder.

Abstract: A conditioning machine for chocolate masses wherein a pump forces the mass through a stack of cooling stages forming a cylinder, each having cooled top and bottom walls connected to a coolant recirculating system, each stage containing scrapers revolving about the cylinder axis for continuously detaching the mass from the cooling surfaces, each stage having two scrapers axially urged apart by an interposed spring.

Abstract: A flake ice making machine having a stationary, vertical freezer cylinder disposed in a water tank having outwardly sloped sides, a rotary member to fracture ice flakes from ice frozen on the cylinder and an upwardly directed discharge chute where ice flakes dry and are discharged by more flakes pushing the flakes up the chute. Each rotating fracturing member includes a rearwardly sloped face extending from each fracturing edge which is located on the axial center line of the cylinder and each member flares outwardly from its bottom providing a constant clearance with the inner wall of the tank. To prevent the ice from moving back down the chute after the passage of the rotating members, obstruction from the chute floor prevents such back sliding.

Abstract: An ice maker of the type where 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: An ice cream making apparatus improved in that the refrigerated cylindrical container has a product outlet at its bottom portion for hygienic removal of the product ice cream and for ease of the operation, and in that the revolving blade assembly inside the container comprises essentialy a scraper member and a pusher member, which are coaxiallly driven from below the container and adapted to not only stir and mill intimately the stock solution or emulsion but also facilitate automatic removal of the product.

Abstract: A plate type ice maker for forming chunks of hard ice in which a member provided with an ice-forming passage having a cutting edge at one end thereof is moved over a plane freezing surface to cause ice crystals scraped from the freezing surface by the cutting edge to be forced into the forming passage in which they are subjected to compressive forces sufficient to form a rod of hard ice which emerges from the other end of the passage and which engages a breaker surface which fractures the rod to form a hard piece of ice.