Ice making system and method utilizing the sorption principle
AssigneeZEO-TECH Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
InventorsPeter Maier-Laxhuber, Relner Eggelhardt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ice maker utilizing the sorption principle having an air tight sorption container which stores a solid sorption medium. A vacuum pump is connected to the sorption container and is operatively coupled to an icing container. The icing container is clamped to a flat sealing surface. The vapor contained in the icing container is removed by the vacuum pump causing a decrease in vapor pressure. An aqueous liquid is fed through a closeable feeding line from a supply container to the icing container so that the aqueous liquid solidifies within the icing container.
Claims15
An ice maker comprising:
- an air tight sorption container enclosing sorption medium and having a suction opening,
- a vacuum pump coupled to the sorption container and communicating with the interior thereof to a permit decrease of the vapor pressure in the sorption container,
- an icing container separably coupled to the sorption container through the suction opening to provide a conduit for fluid flow between the icing container and the sorption container, and
- a baffle being in communication with fluid contained within the icing container so as to prevent a flow of liquid from the icing container to the sorption medium.
An ice maker comprising:
- an air tight sorption container enclosing sorption medium and having a suction opening,
- a vacuum pump coupled to the sorption container and communicating with the interior thereof to permit decrease of the vapor pressure in the sorption container,
- an icing container separably coupled to the sorption container through the suction opening, to provide a conduit for fluid flow between the icing container and the sorption container,
- a feeding line extending from a supply container to the icing container, the feeding line supplying the icing container with aqueous liquid to be solidified, and
- a baffle disposed in communication with fluid contained within the icing container so as to define means to prevent a flow of liquid from the icing container to the sorption medium.
An ice maker comprising:
- an air tight sorption container enclosing sorption medium and having a suction opening,
- a vacuum pump coupled to the sorption container and communicating with the interior thereof to permit a decrease of vapor pressure in the sorption container,
- an icing container separably coupled to the sorption container through the suction opening to provide a conduit for fluid flow between the icing container and the sorption container,
- a flat sealing surface connected to the suction opening, the flat sealing surface providing a region allowing the icing container to be attached so that no air can enter the inside of the icing container,
- a venting device coupled to the suction opening, the venting device providing a means through which the icing container can be vented to remove the icing container from the flat sealing surface, and
- a baffle disposed in communication with fluid contained within the icing container so as to define means to prevent a flow of liquid from the icing container to the sorption medium,
- wherein the sorption medium is zeolite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.