Apparatus for bulk ice making and dispensing
OwnerR. Alan Schreiner, Michael S. Schreinerinventors
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Abstract
Apparatus for bulk ice making, storage and dispensing is described. The apparatus comprises an insulated horizontal container with an internal storage chamber having a blower mounted below the ceiling thereof in a position such that ice falling from ice making equipment on the top of the container into the chamber is blown throughout the chamber. Means are provided to move the settled ice into breakers and to dispense it from the chamber to the exterior of the container. Means are also provided to precool the feed water to the ice making equipment and to use chilled air from the storage chamber to maintain a low temperature atmosphere surrounding the ice making equipment to improve efficiency. Preferable the container is an insulated ocean cargo container.
Claims41
Apparatus for bulk ice making and dispensing, which comprises:
- a. a container enclosing a thermally insulated chamber having sufficient volume to store a commercial quantity of bulk ice;
- b. ice making means above and adjacent to said container, with an ice passage from said ice making means discharging into the top of said chamber;
- c. blower means disposed beneath the discharge end of said passage adjacent the ceiling of said chamber and oriented to blow discharged ice generally horizontally within said chamber, said blower means producing sufficient air flow to cause said blown ice to be distributed and settled substantially throughout said chamber;
- d. conveying means to move at least a portion of said settled ice to means to discharge said ice to the exterior of said container;
- and
- e. said exterior discharge means within said chamber and adjacent the floor thereof and communicating with the exterior of said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.