Agitating Patents (Class 62/68)
  • Patent number: 11209202
    Abstract: A refrigeration device, a freezer device, or a device having both, with a cooled interior space and with a storage container for ice cubes located in this interior space. The device includes an ice cube maker that produces ice cubes. The ice cubes are received in the storage container. A pulse generation is provided, in which one or multiple pulses are applied to the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERATE OCHSENHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Gindele
  • Patent number: 10801768
    Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Justin Tyler Brown
  • Patent number: 10782049
    Abstract: Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sigma Phase, Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Fonte, John Heymans, Benjamin Fichera, Jason Hugenroth
  • Patent number: 10712087
    Abstract: A refrigerating device used to reduce a temperature of drinks is provided and a higher refrigerating efficiency can be obtained through a control method and a control system thereof. The refrigerating device includes a pre-refrigeration unit used to pre-refrigerate a raw material; a main-refrigeration unit in communication with the pre-refrigeration unit and used to accommodate the pre-refrigerated raw material and refrigerate the raw material further; a dispenser in communication with the main-refrigeration unit and used to dispense the frozen drink in the main-refrigeration unit; and a refrigeration system providing a refrigerating capacity to the pre-refrigeration unit and the main-refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANHU(HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai Cui, Dong Zhou, Weide Chen, Linjie Huang, Bi Xie
  • Patent number: 10604337
    Abstract: Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Sigma Phase, Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Fonte, Robert Devaney, John Heymans, Nicholas Fonte, Ian McGirty
  • Patent number: 9599389
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Kevin M. Chase, Tony L. Koenigsknecht, Ronald L. Voglewede, Matthew E. Young
  • Publication number: 20150128620
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy system, and more particularly to an air conditioning system for air conditioning rooms, comprising an energy source for heat pump systems, in which energy and/or heat is stored in a latent energy or heat storage system, comprising an ice slurry production device (100) for producing ice slurry from a liquid ice slurry brine (10), which operate according to a method for air conditioning rooms, in which energy or heat is stored or buffered in a latent energy or heat storage system and/or removed or extracted therefrom, wherein ice slurry is provided as the latent energy or heat storage system, or according to a method for producing ice slurry from an ice slurry brine (10), comprising the following steps: filling a housing (110) with the liquid ice slurry brine; cooling the liquid ice slurry brine by bringing it in contact with a heat exchanger device (220) disposed in the housing (110) while stirring the ice slurry brine (10) so as to generate the ice slurry, wherein, when an i
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Hubert Langheinz KALTETECHNIK
    Inventor: Hubert Langheinz
  • Publication number: 20150107276
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, KEVIN M. CHASE, TONY L. KOENIGSKNECHT, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE, MATTHEW E. YOUNG
  • Patent number: 9003822
    Abstract: An apparatus for breaking ice clumps in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an ice storage bin, an axle rotatably supported by an ice storage bin, an actuator operatively coupled to the axle and an ice breaker operatively coupled to the actuator. The ice breaker moves in a reciprocal manner upon the driving of the axle and the actuator. Such reciprocal movement of the ice breaker breaks ice clumps in the storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wayne E. Lawson, Daniel S. Renz, Arun Madhav Talegaonkar, Geoffrey Lee Ranard
  • Publication number: 20150082812
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. BOARMAN, Brian K. CULLEY, Gregory Gene HORTIN
  • Patent number: 8950197
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Kevin M. Chase, Tony L. Koenigsknecht, Ronald L. Voglewede, Matthew E. Young
  • Patent number: 8869540
    Abstract: A machine for producing liquid and semi-liquid food products with a continuous cycle comprises a containment tank (5) for basic liquid or semi-liquid food products comprising an outfeed hole (6), a whipping and freezing cylinder (2) having an infeed for the basic food products connected to the tank (5) outfeed hole (6), and comprising a mixer for whipping and freezing of the basic food products and for obtaining an end product, a pump (7) acting in the containment tank (5) and comprising an intake duct (8) for drawing the basic food products from the tank (5) and a delivery duct (9) for transferring the drawn products towards the tank (5) outfeed (6). The machine also comprises a flexible delivery pipe (11) connected to the pump (7) delivery duct (9) and to the tank (5) outfeed (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Carpigiani Group—Ali S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gino Cocchi, Gianni Zaniboni, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 8857205
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for freezing an alcoholic beverage, including placing an alcoholic beverage into a beverage receptacle; dispensing a predetermined amount of the alcoholic beverage into a plurality of freezing cavities; transferring liquid nitrogen from a coolant reservoir to a plurality of coolant chambers; exposing the plurality of freezing cavities to the liquid nitrogen to freeze the alcoholic beverage; and removing the frozen alcoholic beverage from the freezing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Jason S. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8833090
    Abstract: A drink dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber that contains a cooling fluid therein. A refrigeration unit is disposed within the housing. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator coil extending into the cooling fluid such that a frozen cooling fluid bank forms about the evaporator coil. An agitator is disposed within the housing. The agitator extends into the cooling fluid for circulating the cooling fluid about the frozen cooling fluid bank. Dispensing valves mounted onto the housing dispense drinks from the drink dispenser. An electronic control system is disposed within the housing. The electronic control system is coupled with the agitator such that the electronic control system cycles the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period. Cycling the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period promotes stable growth of the frozen cooling fluid bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lancer Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa L. Breton-Hall, Rodney L. Neiman, Frank Taylor, Jr., Jeremiah A. Hong
  • Publication number: 20140165600
    Abstract: A clear ice maker having an ice tray with a thermally conductive cold plate, where the cold plate has a top surface and a bottom surface, with a thermoelectric cooling device thermally coupled to the bottom surface. Water is dispensed onto the top surface, and the bottom surface is cooled such that a portion of the water adjacent the top surface is frozen, to form a layer of ice. Then the ice tray is oscillated about a transverse axis of the ice tray, such that the water freezes in successive layers from the top surface of the cold plate upwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
  • Publication number: 20140165601
    Abstract: An ice making tray has an array of individual ice cube compartments. A mechanical oscillating mechanism is coupled to the tray and rotates the tray from a horizontal plane in opposite directions along an axis through an angle ? of about 20° to 40°, such that water in the tray moves between ice cube compartments. The frequency of oscillation (?) is harmonically related to the frequency of movement of water in the tray and is about equal to or about twice the frequency of movement of water in the tray. In a preferred embodiment, the floor of the tray is a thermally conductive material in contact with a thermoelectric plate used to freeze the water as well as being subsequently heated to release the formed ice cubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, MARK E. THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20140165617
    Abstract: An ice-making apparatus for an appliance having a housing with an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended in the interior volume. The ice tray has a cold plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and a containment wall surrounding an edge portion of the cold plate to retain water. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the cold plate. An intake conduit extends into the interior volume over the ice tray and is configured to draw ambient air into the interior volume over the ice tray, and the ambient air is above freezing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
  • Patent number: 8733121
    Abstract: A frozen treat dispenser (11) dispenses a snow cone and/or a slushy, and has at least an ice storage bin (14) for storing ice (10), a cup de-nesting mechanism (49) to separate a cup from a stack having a plurality of cups, an ice grinder (21) to grind ice from the ice storage bin to produce snow (82), a flavor dispenser (25), a cup transport mechanism (23) to move the cup to a first position (40A) whereby the ice grinder can at least partially fill the cup with the snow and to a second position (40B) whereby the flavor dispenser can dispense at least one flavor onto the snow in the cup, and a processor (152) to control the operation of at least one of the cup de-nesting mechanism, the ice grinder, the flavor dispenser, or the indexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Richard J. Soderman
  • Patent number: 8701435
    Abstract: A frozen product dispenser is characterized by at least two product freeze barrels for receiving product therein and for freezing the product for dispensing, and a refrigeration system for chilling the at least two barrels. The refrigeration system has at least two evaporators for and heat transfer coupled to each barrel, separate and controllable expansion valves each having an outlet coupled to an inlet to an inlet to an associated one of the evaporators, at least two compressors having outlets coupled to inlets to the expansion valves and inlets coupled to outlets from the evaporators, and at least one condenser in fluid circuit between outlets from the compressors and inlets to the expansion valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Gist, Kyle B. Elsom, Gregory M. Billman, Nikolay Popov, Santhosh Kumar, Daniel C. Leaver
  • Patent number: 8567210
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Hee Park, Tae-Hee Lee, Joon-Hwan Oh, Young-Jin Kim, Ho-Youn Lee
  • Publication number: 20130276468
    Abstract: A refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice and a method thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an ice tray of the ice making device may include at least one receiving part that receives water for freezing into the clear ice, the at least one receiving part having an opening provided at a top portion thereof through which the water is supplied and the clear ice is discharged from the at least one receiving part. At least one oscillator may be disposed on the ice tray, the at least one oscillator structured to keep the water moving during the ice production process. The at least one oscillator may also be used to vibrate the ice tray to release the clear ice into a collection tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Sascha Buehrle, Manfred W. Staebler
  • Patent number: 8516716
    Abstract: A circular sealing gasket can be interposed between a rear rim of a laundry dryer drum tubular body and a rear wall of the dryer casing. The laundry dryer may also comprise a substantially circular, basin-shaped lid or cover fixed to the rear wall, substantially coaxial to the tubular body, so as to form a cavity on the rear wall that communicates with a hot-air generator. A circular gasket-supporting collar may have a nominal diameter greater than that of the tubular body rear rim. The collar may be fixed to the periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover and/or to the rear wall, coaxial to the tubular body. The circular sealing gasket can be force fitted into the gasket-supporting collar so as to come in abutment against a periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover around the perimeter thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation, N.V.
    Inventors: Diego Dal Ben, Alessandro Vian
  • Patent number: 8505315
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the preparation of sterile medical ice slurry, for example having ice loadings of greater than approximately 50%. An integrated-operation ice slurry blender-based production and delivery system methods for monitoring cooling capacity of the produced and delivered slurry. All individual medical ice slurry production and delivery steps are integrated into one tightly coupled precisely sequenced and timed system. The novel procedure and equipment is simple to use and makes sterile slurry, which is ready to deliver to patients, for example, in less than 2 minutes after adding predetermined thermally preconditioned ingredient modules to a blender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, Farah J. Shareef, Brandon L. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20130074527
    Abstract: There is provided an ice making method capable of reducing the required number of gyrations of a gyration member used for making ice to have a high level of transparency and determining a point in time at which ice is to be released. The ice making method for making highly transparent ice by revolving a gyration member provided in a tray member in which water is put such that a plurality of dipping members, on which ice is generated or from which generated ice is released, are immersed, wherein a method for driving the gyration member in making ice to be supplied to a user and a method for driving the gyration member in making ice to be used for generating cold water are different in order to reduce the number of gyrations of the gyration member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: WOONGJIN COWAY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jin-Kyu Joung, You-Shin Kim, Chul-Sun Dan
  • Patent number: 8205460
    Abstract: A batch freezer for frozen food products comprises — a freezing cylinder, — a dasher designed to propel the product toward a discharge port of the cylinder, and — ma refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder, wherein the discharge port can be selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into the casing of the batch freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Flavio Russo, Bruno Sadi Henri Delande
  • Publication number: 20120096876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (20) designed for being inserted into a device (1) for preparing a frozen confection (52), said container (20) comprising at least one scraper (24) movable within the container (20) and said container (20) containing ingredients (23) for producing a frozen confection (52) when being cooled and moved. The present invention further relates to a container holder (15) adapted to receive a container (20) said container holder (15) having a heat exchange surface being in tight contact with the container (20) and comprising channels (45) allowing a cooling agent to run along the heat exchange surface. The present invention additionally relates to a device (1) for preparing a frozen confection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Sejal Jayantilal Ravji, Bruno Sadi Henri Delande
  • Patent number: 8151577
    Abstract: A frozen beverage device (10) has a container (20) and sealable cover (30) to convert a liquid (60), such as a non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage into an at least semi-frozen slurry containing ice crystals (61). Freezing device(s) (50), which may have a range of shapes, contain refrigerant to from a thin layer of ice/ice crystals on the deformable wall(s) of the freezing device(s) (50), the ice crystals (61) being released therefrom due to agitation of the liquid (60) by shaking/rotation and/or squeezing on the container (20) and/or cover (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Turbine Developments Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Publication number: 20120000217
    Abstract: Compositions of matter, uses thereof and an apparatus for production of the compositions of matter are provided. In an embodiment, an isolated gel-ice is described for use as a cold source. The gel-ice has a variety of uses, including for food processing and preservation. The apparatus is used to prepare gel-ice, and can be used to concentrate or purify a liquid, or extract from the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: NanoICE, Inc.
    Inventor: Snaebjorn Tr. Gudnason
  • Patent number: 7959860
    Abstract: A drape including a sensing device according to the present invention is disposed over a top surface of a thermal treatment system having a basin recessed therein. A portion of the drape is pushed down into the basin to form a drape container for collecting a sterile medium. The thermal treatment system may be of the type that either heats or congeals the sterile medium. The sensing device includes electrodes that are typically disposed through the drape and sealed. The electrodes provide signals indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks or other conditions within the drape container to the system to facilitate control of system operation. In addition, the sensing device includes a fuse to limit the drape to a single use. The system disables the fuse to indicate prior use and detects tampering to bypass the fuse, thereby preventing use of the drape for subsequent medical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Bruce R. Heymann, Calvin Blankenship, David Hendrix
  • Publication number: 20110088413
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and devices for producing two-phase coolants such as an ice slurry. Also provided are methods for producing two-phase coolants, and methods for using the two-phase coolants to lower the temperature or maintain a low temperature in any subject, system, object, device, or application where particular low temperatures are desired. Also provided are systems for determining the cooling capacity of two-phase coolants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Inventors: Joshua W. Lampe, Lance B. Becker, Diana Bull
  • Patent number: 7874167
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing saline slush for surgical applications. Producing surgical saline slush in a slush bottle that is a rigid or semi-rigid, high integrity, sturdy container that resists punctures and leaks to better maintain a sterile barrier and does not rely on having an external object placed in the fluid to mix the slush. Slush is agitated by rotating the slush bottle within a slush bottle carriage around an axis of rotation. Agitation of the slush may be increased by including an agitation feature such as at least one fin in one or more sidewalls of the slush bottle. The rotating slush bottle is chilled. One variation is to keep the sterile saline in a flexible container and tumble the flexible container in a rotating slush bottle. Other variations are suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: C Change Surgical LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers
  • Patent number: 7870749
    Abstract: A method of regulating the refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, including a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage, operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow the refrigerant through the refrigeration system of the beverage machine and cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser. The method may also include controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser or the speed of the at least one compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Doug Franck, Darren Wayne Simmons, Daniel J. Peck, Richard Carroll Staten
  • Publication number: 20100139295
    Abstract: There is described a device (3) for automatically producing clear ice, having a water and ice-forming tray (5); a cooling device (7) located at the tray (5) to cool the water in the tray (5) to a predetermined freezing temperature; a drive unit (6) for oscillating the tray (5) about a longitudinal axis (A) of the tray (5); and a number of paddles, which are fixed inside the tray (5), and, as the tray oscillates, move the water/ice in the tray (5) in the oscillation direction of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Stefano Zuccolo, Tancredi Ingrassia
  • Patent number: 7647782
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for converting liquid (60) in a container (50) to a semi-frozen slurry (61) or frozen ice particles, where a refrigerant (41) is contained within a refrigerant cavity (40) defined by two walls (20, 30), the flexing/deformation of at least one of the walls (20, 30) agitating the liquid (60) to assist the conversion thereof into the semi-frozen slurry (61) or ice particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Publication number: 20090301107
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing saline slush for surgical applications. Producing surgical saline slush in a slush bottle that is a rigid or semi-rigid, high integrity, sturdy container that resists punctures and leaks to better maintain a sterile barrier and does not rely on having an external object placed in the fluid to mix the slush. Slush is agitated by rotating the slush bottle within a slush bottle carriage around an axis of rotation. Agitation of the slush may be increased by including an agitation feature such as at least one fin in one or more sidewalls of the slush bottle. The rotating slush bottle is chilled. One variation is to keep the sterile saline in a flexible container and tumble the flexible container in a rotating slush bottle. Other variations are suggested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers
  • Publication number: 20090288429
    Abstract: A recovery system for a frozen product dispenser accommodates automatic recovery and continued operation of the dispenser in response to the output torque of a beater bar and scraper assembly drive motor exceeding a selected upper limit due to transient conditions. A controller monitors the output torque of the drive motor and, upon sensing an output torque in excess of the selected upper limit, shuts off the drive motor and operates a refrigeration system to defrost a freeze barrel within which the beater bar and scraper assembly is rotated, for a time sufficient to defrost product in the barrel. The controller then turns on the drive motor, operates the refrigeration system to refreeze product in the barrel and continues to monitor the output torque of the drive motor. The foregoing operation is repeated several times, if and as necessary, before a system error is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle B. Elsom, Vincenzo DiFatta, Daniel D. Prochaska, SR., Christopher Knight
  • Publication number: 20090255276
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the preparation of sterile medical ice slurry, for example having ice loadings of greater than approximately 50%. An integrated-operation ice slurry blender-based production and delivery system methods for monitoring cooling capacity of the produced and delivered slurry. All individual medical ice slurry production and delivery steps are integrated into one tightly coupled precisely sequenced and timed system. The novel procedure and equipment is simple to use and makes sterile slurry, which is ready to deliver to patients, for example, in less than 2 minutes after adding predetermined thermally preconditioned ingredient modules to a blender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, Farah J. Shareef, Brandon L. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7591140
    Abstract: A method of regulating the refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, including a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage, operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow the refrigerant through the refrigeration system of the beverage machine and cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser. The method may also include controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser or the speed of the at least one compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Doug Franck, Darren Wayne Simmons, Daniel J. Peck, Richard Carroll Staten
  • Publication number: 20090211269
    Abstract: A controller for a drive motor for a scraper of a frozen product dispenser operates the drive motor to rotate the scraper at selected ones of a plurality of different speeds within a freeze barrel of the dispenser, in accordance with the values of sensed operating parameters of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for rotation of the scraper at speeds appropriate for, but no greater than required for, the then existent operating condition of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: David Brett Gist, Gregory M. Billman, Santhosh Kumar, Kyle Elsom, Nikolay Popov
  • Publication number: 20080202130
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a chilled or partially frozen beverage is provided. The system includes a beverage hopper (32) a chilling unit (44), a rotatable mixing member (38), a sensing member (230) for detecting an occurrence of a rotation reversal condition, a controller for generating a rotation reversal signal in response to the sensing member, and a drive motor (36) coupled to the mixing member for rotating the mixing member in a first direction and a second, reverse direction in response to a rotation reverse signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Kadyk
  • Publication number: 20080184714
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a fluid ice, wherein the temperature, the thickness and the grain size of the fluid ice is controlled. This is done by mixing ice together with at least two liquid phases, and stirring the mix together, wherein the stirring is maintained until the desired grain size and the desired temperature of the fluid ice is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Sigurgeir Sveinsson
  • Publication number: 20080127656
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for converting liquid (60) in a container (50) to a semi-frozen slurry (61) or frozen ice particles, where a refrigerant (41) is contained within a refrigerant cavity (40) defined by two walls (20, 30), the flexing/deformation of at least one of the walls (20, 30) agitating the liquid (60) to assist the conversion thereof into the semi-frozen slurry (61) or ice particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Publication number: 20070245750
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for gelling liquid propane and other liquefied gasses. The apparatus includes a temperature controlled churn mixer, vacuum pump, liquefied gas transfer tank, and means for measuring amount of material entering the mixer. The method uses gelling agents such as silicon dioxide, clay, carbon, or organic or inorganic polymers, as well as dopants such as titanium, aluminum, and boron powders. The apparatus and method are particularly useful for the production of high quality rocket fuels and propellants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Adam Elliott, Roberto DiSalvo, Phillip Shepherd, Ryan Kosier
  • Patent number: 7266952
    Abstract: An ice cream machine for cooling liquid ice cream into frozen ice cream includes an evaporator system with a secondary evaporator. The evaporator system includes a cooling chamber having an ice cream input and an ice cream output. A valve can be placed at the ice cream input to achieve dry freeze operation. The valve can prevent the cooling chamber from being completely filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Ross's Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Harold F. Ross, Daniel L. Dorn
  • Patent number: 7032391
    Abstract: An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray has at least one ice forming compartment and an ice ejector having at least one ejector member. The ice ejector is operable to (i) stir water located within the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a first mode, and (ii) urge ice out of the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a second mode. A method of making ice comprises an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a first mode of operation step and an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a second mode of operation step. During the first mode of operation step, a plurality of ejector members of the ice ejector are respectively advanced through water located within a plurality of compartments of an ice tray of the ice maker during cooling of the water in the ice tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Dennis D. Tremblay, Michael DuHack, Laurence S. Slocum
  • Patent number: 6923010
    Abstract: A slush beverage maker is provided that is easy to assemble and disassemble, has few parts, and is easy to operate. The slush beverage maker has a mixing chamber for receiving ingredients to make a slush beverage. An auger is received within the mixing chamber to mix the ingredients. An ice drum is received within the auger in the mixing chamber. An ice blade is disposed in the ice drum to stir the ice mixture received by the ice drum when making a slush beverage. A hand crank is connected to both the auger and the ice blade to rotate both simultaneously. A blowby area in the mixing chamber outside the auger provides continuous flow of the slush beverage mixture, thereby avoiding freezing the auger within the mixture. Moreover, the ice blade speeds up the heat transfer between the slush beverage mixture and the ice mixture, thereby decreasing the time required to make a slush beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Shoot The Moon Products II, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Small, Scott D. Bekerman, Leslie E. Allen, Brian D. Farley
  • Patent number: 6918258
    Abstract: A method of controlling semi-frozen liquid beverage in a dispensing machine having a bowl to contain the beverage, a motor to turn a helical auger blade within the bowl to scrape the semi-frozen beverage, and a compressor to cool the beverage. The method includes the steps of actuating the compressor to the bowl until the temperature of the beverage is cool to reach an initial set point. The compressor is deactivated after temperature of the beverage is cooled at or below a set point. Torque on the motor caused by resistance to the auger blade is sensed after a defined time period following switching off of the compressor. The compressor is activated if the torque on the motor is below a certain level and the temperature set point is lowered from the initial set point to a lower set point in order to cool the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kan-Pak, LLC
    Inventors: James P. Cunha, Dennis J. Cohlmia, James A. Steinbacher, Joel D. Hockenbury
  • Patent number: 6907743
    Abstract: Method for controlling and optimising the cycle for production of ice cream depending on the mixtures used in the ice-cream making machine, comprising a freezing cylinder exchanging heat with the evaporator of a refrigerating circuit, and a stirrer/scraper element rotating inside said freezing cylinder and actuated by a suitable electric motor, and further comprising a processing element, sensors for detecting continuously the temperature values of the refrigerating gas at the inlet and at the outlet of the evaporator and means for detecting continuously the value of the electric power used by the motor, said temperature values and said values for the electric power used by the motor being continuously input into said processing element; a software program in said processor for processing said values being able to provide an output signal which drives an impulse solenoid valve which introduces continuously the hot gases removed from the exhaust of the compressor into the main stream of refrigerating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Ali S.p.A. - Carpigiani Group
    Inventors: Gino Cocchi, Gianni Zaniboni
  • Patent number: 6863916
    Abstract: An apparatus for making frozen food products having a horizontal mixing spindle with a continuous, closed-loop, recessed, crisscrossed track around its outer lengthwise surface. A paddle wheel encircles the spindle and has a plug or guide skate that extends into the crisscrossed track and guides the paddle wheel back and forth along the length of the spindle as well as around the circumference of the spindle. A horizontal, cylindrical, cooling canister encloses the spindle and paddle wheel and is coupled to a refrigeration unit for keeping the canister and its contents cold. One end of the canister is provided with a push-type dispensing block for dispensing the frozen food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Zippy Freeze
    Inventors: Wade W. Henriksen, Craig A. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6797191
    Abstract: A method for reducing the drag on an aqueous solution in a pipe or hose system such as a snow making system includes the introduction of drag reducing polymers into the aqueous solution prior to circulating the solution in a pipe or hose. In a preferred embodiment, the drag reducing polymers are a mixture of polyethylene oxide in a carrier solution. The introduction of the polyethylene oxide in a carrier solution reduces the overall frictional drag and therefore increases the snow making efficiency by reducing the power needed to pump the water. As a result, it is easier for greater quantities of snow to be made using existing equipment due to the increased flow rate as a result of the lower drag friction. In a preferred embodiment, the polyethylene oxide is approximately 20-30% by weight and is introduced into the water pipe so resulting concentrations are approximately 30-100 weight parts per million (WPPM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard B. Philips, Theresa A. Baus