Process and apparatus for the manufacture of clear ice bodies
OwnerTheo Wessainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a system for producing clear ice bodies by dipping freezing fingers into a tank of water and causing the water to move about the fingers as ice builds up thereon in order to remove air and salt from the ice bodies, the amount of water required per unit weight of ice obtained (since the water remaining from each batch is ordinarily discharged on removal of the frozen fingers containing the ice bodies) is decreased by maintaining the fingers stationary and producing the water movement by moving the tank so as to produce tank-wall to tank-wall waves. The top portions of the freezing fingers are covered by the water only during the crest of the waves.
Claims10
A process for the manufacture of clear ice bodies of the type wherein freezing fingers are dipped in a tank which is opened at the top and contains water and the water is caused to flow around the fingers to remove air and salts precipitated as a result of the freezing from the ice surface on the fingers, the improvement comprising producing the flow of water by a controlled rhythmic rise and fall movement of the water level in the form of continuous water waves.
Apparatus for the manufacture of clear ice bodies of the type where freezing fingers are dipped in a tank which is open at the top and contains water and the water is caused to flow around the fingers to remove air and salts precipitated as a result of freezing from the ice surface on the fingers, comprising means for holding the freezing fingers in a stationary position during the freezing step, said tank being mounted for movement, and means for moving the tank with respect to the fingers during the freezing step to produce a controlled rhythmic rise and fall movement of water level in the form of continuous waves around the fingers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.