Ice making machine evaporator with joined partition intersections

A crisscross grid capable of substantially completely contacting a substantially planar surface of an evaporator pan of an ice making machine, the grid comprised of:

• a first plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a centerline, and at least one weep hole disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of proximal a second one of the edges and not disposed along a centerline and along the first one of the edges between two of the parallel slots;
• and
• is going on a second plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges,
• wherein the first and second plurality are mated substantially perpendicularly to one another by engagement of the slots to provide the crisscross grid having a plurality of intersections, and wherein each slot has a dimension that provides tight clearance at each of the plurality of intersections with its mated partition to provide a capillary path at each of the plurality of intersections and at the contact area of the evaporator pan and each of the plurality of intersections.

A partition for use in forming a crisscross grid, the partition comprising:

• a length having two opposed edges;
• a height;
• a partition width;
• and
• a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a first slot width wider than the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and each slot having at least two protrusions disposed on opposite sides inside of the slot width, wherein the protrusions provide the slot with a second slot width substantially equal to the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid.

A crisscross grid comprised of:

• a first plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a partition width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a centerline and at least one weep hole disposed proximal a second on of the edges along the centerline, each slot having a first slot width wider than the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and each slot having at least two protrusions disposed on opposite sides inside of the slot width, wherein the protrusions provide the slot with a second slot width substantially equal to the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid;
• and
• a second plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a partition width, and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a first slot width wider than the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and each slot having at least two protrusions disposed on opposite sides inside of the slot width, wherein the protrusions provide the slot with a second slot width substantially equal to the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid,
• wherein the first and second plurality are disposed substantially perpendicular to one another by engagement of the slots.

A method of fabricating an evaporator plate for an ice making machine comprising:

• providing a substantially planar evaporator pan;
• providing a crisscross grid comprised of:
• a first plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a centerline, and at least one weep hole disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of proximal a second one of the edges and not disposed along a centerline and along the first one of the edges between two of the parallel slots;
• and
• a second plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, wherein the first and second plurality are mated substantially perpendicularly to one another by engagement of the slots to provide the crisscross grid having a plurality of intersections, wherein each slot has a dimension that provides tight clearance at each of the plurality of intersections with its mated partition to provide a capillary path at each of the plurality of intersections and at the contact area of the evaporator pan and each of the plurality of intersections;
• and
• joining the crisscross grid to the evaporator pan by soldering/brazing, wherein soldering/brazing material substantially completely wicks into points of contact at the plurality of intersections between the first and second plurality and the contact area of the evaporator pan and each of the plurality of intersections.

A method of fabricating an evaporator plate for an ice making machine comprising:

• providing a substantially planar evaporator pan;
• providing a crisscross grid comprised of:
• a first plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a partition width and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot having a centerline and at least one weep hole disposed proximal a second on of the edges along the centerline, each slot having a first slot width wider than the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and each slot having at least two protrusions disposed on opposite sides inside of the slot width, wherein the protrusions provide the slot with a second slot width substantially equal to the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid;
• and
• a second plurality of substantially parallel partitions, each partition comprising a length having two opposed edges, a height, a partition width, and a plurality of substantially parallel slots disposed along a first one of the edges, each slot—having a first slot width wider than the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and each slot having at least two protrusions disposed on opposite sides inside of the slot width, wherein the protrusions provide the slot with a second slot width substantially equal to the partition width of a partition disposed therein for forming the crisscross grid, and wherein the first and second plurality are disposed substantially perpendicular to one another by engagement of the slots;
• and
• joining the crisscross grid to the evaporator pan by soldering/brazing, wherein soldering/brazing material substantially completely joins points of contact between the first and second plurality and points of contact between the first and second plurality and the evaporator pan.