Domestic clear ice maker
AssigneesU-Line Corporation, Manitowoc Foodservice Group, Inc.
InventorsDean Byczynski, Karl R. Krumbiegel, Cary J. Pierskalla, William A. Reed, Charles E. Schlosser, Jeffrey Ziminski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ice maker in which a non-metallic shroud surrounds the metal evaporator plate and has a continuous bulbous edge that engulfs the edges of the plate. The shroud further includes a roof disposed above the plate and slopes toward the front of the plate. The water distributor of the ice maker is mounted on the roof of the shroud.
Claims3
A method of controlling the freezing and harvesting of ice cubes in a clear ice maker having a refrigeration system including an evaporator mounted to a metal evaporator plate, a compressor receiving the return refrigerant from the evaporator and connected to a condenser whose outlet communicates with an inlet to the evaporator through a restriction, a fan for cooling the condenser, and a controllable hot gas bypass between the compressor and the evaporator inlet, said ice maker also including a water circulating pump for circulating water over the evaporator plate, the method comprising:
- initiating a freeze cycle by closing the bypass and energizing the circulating pump, the compressor, and the condenser fan to circulate water over the plate and form ice thereon;
- sensing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser after the passage of a first fixed time period;
- extending the time of the freeze cycle to an amount that is directly related to the sensed temperature;
- sensing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser at a second fixed time before the end of the freeze cycle;
- and
- initiating a harvest cycle by de-energizing the circulating pump and the condenser fan and opening the bypass for a period of time that is inversely proportional to the second sensed temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.