US3208233A

US3208233A - Home ice cube maker and unitary control

Info

Publication number: US3208233A
Application number: US237011A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Linstromberg
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1962-11-13
Filing date: 1962-11-13
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28
Also published as: DE1626282A1; GB1004000A

Description

I Sept. 28, 1965 J LINSTROMBERG 3,208,233

HOME ICE CUBE MAKER AND UNITARY CONTROL Filed Nov. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l 16 60MPA 5 s 0% 43 i 2 WA 713% g 63(WARM) 555555 50 4 10, 56 67 62(col.l 51 33 F Iii/QM 7 4 H53 251? 5/ /07" OFF I POWER SWITCH I n q SUPPLY I 36 53 Ki W 00 0 yawn/a 5w/ 'c/$ 42 60/1/7720: 58

(I? M0 70k L IN VENTOR.

J' Z m5 25 51/737; imam g9 Sept. 28, 1965 W. J. LINSTROMBERG 3,208,233

HOME ICE CUBE MAKER AND UNITARY CONTROL Filed Nov. 13, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 28, 1965 w. J. LINSTROMBERGY 3,208,233

HOME ICE CUBE MAKER AND UNITARY CONTROL Filed NOV. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,238,233 HOME ICE CUBE MAKER AND UNITARY CONTROL William I. Linstromberg, Evansville, Ind, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,011 15 Claims. (Cl. 62137) This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and particularly to ice maker apparatus.

In one well-known form of ice maker apparatus, a mold is provided in which water is frozen by suitable refrigerating means. The resultant ice body is forced from the mold and delivered to a suitable collecting bin by suitable ejecting means. Such an ice maker may be associated with a cabinet defining a refrigerated chamber and may be arranged to utilize the refrigeration unit in conjunction therewith. Conventionally a thermostatic control is provided for sensing the temperature of the chamber and controlling the operation of the refrigerating unit to maintain the temperature between preselected maximum and minimum values.

The present invention comprehends an improved refrigeration apparatus generally of the type discussed above wherein the ice maker is arranged in a novel manner for improved coaction with the chamber refrigerating means and refrigerating unit. Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved refrigeration apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigeration apparatus having new and improved means for controlling the operation of an ice maker and associated refrigerated chamber means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such an apparatus having a novel control arrangement utilizing a single thermostat to control both the ice body forming cycle and the chamber refrigerating cycle.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigeration apparatus wherein the thermostat is arranged to cause continuous operation of the refrigerating unit during the formation of ice bodies in the mold.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigeration apparatus wherein the thermostat is arranged to preclude operation of the refrigerating unit during ejection of the ice bodies from the mold.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigeration apparatus wherein the thermostat is arranged further to cycle a refrigerating unit seriatim on and off whenever the operation of the ice body maker is terminated in response to a full condition of the collecting bin.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such refrigeration apparatus wherein the control is arranged to terminate the operation of the ice maker as a result of a full condition of the collecting bin only when the ice maker mold is empty, thereby to provide improved correlation between the temperature sensed by the thermostat and the temperature of the chamber to be refrigerated.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such refrigeration apparatus which is simple and eco nomical and which provides substantially trouble-free functioning.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a refrigeration apparatus embodying the invention with portions thereof broken away and with portions thereof shown schematically;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the control thereof, with the front cover removed;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse section of the mold illustrating the disposition of the ejector blade as at the end of the ejection cycle;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram of another form of refrigeration apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the control assembly of the modified embodiment; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical transverse section of the mold of the second embodiment illustrating the disposition of the ejector blade as at the end of the ejection cycle.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1-4 of the drawing, a refrigeration apparatus generally designated 10 is shown to include an insulated cabinet 11 defining a chamber 12 to be refrigerated. The cabinet 11 is provided with a front opening 13 selectively closed by an insulated door 14. Refrigeration of the chamber 12 is provided by means of an evaporator 15 disposed within the Walls of the cabinet 11. A suitable compressor 16 is provided for delivering refrigerant to evaporator 15 through a conventional condenser 17 and capillary 18, the refrigerant being returned to the compressor 16 by means of the return duct 19.

An ice maker generally designated 20 is disposed within chamber 12 for making ice bodies which may be collected in a suitable bin 21 accessible through cabinet opening 13. The ice maker 20 includes a mold 22 to which water is delivered through a suitable inlet 23 controlled by a solenoid operated water valve 24 connected to a suitable water supply line (not shown). The operation of the refrigeration apparatus 10 is controlled by a control 25 disposed within chamber 12 adjacent the front end of the mold 22. As shown in FIGURE 1, control 25 includes a sensing arm 26 which extends downwardly to the collecting bin 21 and which, as discussed more fully subsequently, functions to control the operation of the ice maker 20 in accordance with the level of ice bodies collected in bin 21.

Mold 22 may be refrigerated by any suit-able means such as by conventional forced air refrigeration; herein as shown in FIGURE 4, ice maker 20 illustratively includes a roll-bond evaporator portion 27 forming a shelf for supporting and refrigerating the mold 22. The ice bodies I are formed in suitable cavities 28 in mold 22 and, as discussed more fully subsequently, are ejected from the cavities 28 by an ejector blade 29 carried on a. selectively rotatable shaft 30 to sweep through the cavities 28 and force the ice bodies upwardly therefrom as shown in FIG- URE 4. To facilitate the removal of the ice bodies from the cavity a mold heater 31 is provided adjacent the evaporator 27.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the control 25 controls the operation of the refrigeration apparatus to provide improved refrigeration of chamber 12 and formation of ice bodies in ice maker 20. More specifically, control 25 includes a housing 32 which encloses a bimetallic thermostat 33 in thermal contact with the mold 22 closely adjacent the forward cavity 28 thereof to sense the temperature of the water W within cavity 28. The thermostat 33 is carried on a support 34 around which extends an electric heater 35. Also within housing 32 is provided a drive motor 35 driving shaft 30 to make one revolution during each ejection cycle wherein the ice body is swept from the cavity 28 and delivered to the collecting bin 21. The motor 36 further drives three

cams

37, 38 and 39 which may be formed integrally as by molding.

As shown in FIGURE 3 cam 37 coacts with a shutoff plate 40 to control a shutoff switch 41. Cam 38 con-- trols a holding switch 42 and cam 39 controls a water valve switch 43. The sensing arm 26 is provided with an upper horizontally extending portion 44 pivotally carried on a support 45 and is biased by a coil spring 46 thereon and having a free end 46a engaging the support 45 to urge the sensing arm 26 downwardly and urge the shutoff plate 40 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 3 to bear against the cam 37. Switch 41 includes an actuator 47 which is biased against a flange 48 on the shutoff arm 40 by means of a spring 49. The switch further includes

fixed contacts

50 and 51 and moving contact 41a which as shown in FIGURE 3 closes across

contacts

50 and 51 when the sensing arm 26 is in the lower position. However, when cam 37 is positioned so as to permit rotation of the shutoff plate 40 in a clockwise directions, the actuator 47 moves in a counterclockwise direction about a pivot 52 until spring 49 moves to an overcentered position thereby causing

contacts

50 and 51 to become separated. When the sensing arm 26 returns to the downward position the spring 49 is again moved to the arrangement of FIGURE 3 causing the contacts to engage each other.

Switch 42 comprises a normally open switch having

fixed contact terminals

53 and 54, a moving contact 4211, and an actuator 55 cooperating with cam 38 to close contact 42a across

contacts

53 and 54 at preselected times. Switch 43 comprises a normally open switch having

fixed contact terminals

56 and 57, a moving contact 43a, and an actuator 58 arranged to be operated by cam 39 for closing the switch at preselected times.

A' limit switch 58 is further provided within the housing 32 which is thermostatically controlled to open at approximately 135 F. and close at approximately 95 F. As will be discussed more fully in the description of the operation of the control apparatus, the limit switch 58 is arranged in the circuitry to preclude overheating of the mold heater 31 should the circuit malfunction to otherwise continuously energize the mold heater.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus 10 and in particular the control 25 thereof will be considered in detail. As shown, the control 25 is connected to a suitable power supply line, such as a 115 volt 60 cycle power supply, by means of

lead lines

59 and 60. Assuming that the cavities 28 on mold 22 are presently filled with water in the process of being frozen into ice bodies I and that the collecting bin 21 is not full, the control functions as follows. Thermostat 33 includes a moving contact 61 connected to lead 60 and selectively engaging a pair of

fixed contacts

62 and 63. As the water in cavities 28 is not completely frozen the thermostat is arranged with the moving contact 61 in engagement with fixed contact 63. The holding switch 42 is open between

contact terminals

53 and 54 and the water valve switch 43 is open between

contact terminals

56 and 57. The limit switch 58 is in its normally closed position and thus the compressor 16 which is connected between contact 63 and limit switch 58 is energized through switch 58 to lead 59. Thus the ice maker is being continuously refrigerated to complete the formation of the ice bodies I therein.

When the water W is completely frozen in the cavities 28, the thermostat switch contact 61 moves from contact 63 to contact 62. This breaks the circuit to the refrigeration unit compressor 16 and establishes a circuit through the normally closed shutoff switch 41 to the mold heater 31 and reset heater 35 connected in series to the limit switch 58 and thusly through the limit switch 58 to lead 59. The motor 36 is connected in parallel with

heaters

31 and 35 and thusly is concurrently energized to cause rotation of the

cams

37, 38 and 39. After a small amount of rotation of cam 38 the holding switch 42 is operated to close the circuit between

contact terminals

53 and 54 thereby energizing the

heaters

31 and 35 and motor 36 regardless of the condition of the thermostat 33 or shutoff switch 41. The rotation of cam 37 4.- causes the plate 40 to rotate the sensing arm portion 44 to raise the sensing arm 26 upwardly from the collecting bin 21 and simultaneously cause the actuator 47 to open the shutoff switch 41 to break the circuit between

contact terminals

50 and 51.

The shaft 36 is rotated by the operation of motor 36 to cause the ejector blades 29 to engage the ice bodies in the mold cavities 28. Should the ice bodies adhere to the walls of the cavities 28, resisting the force of the eiector blades, the motor 36 will stall. However, the mold heater 31 continues to be energized through holding switch 42 thereby quickly melting the bond between the ice body and the mold to free the ice bodies therefrom and permit the motor to resume rotation of the shaft 36 to the position of FIGURE 4. The rotation of motor 36 continues until cam 37 permits plate 40 to return to the position of FIGURE 3 whereupon the sensing arm 26 returns to the position within the collecting bin 21 and the shutoff switch 41 is restored to the closed position.

The energization of thermostat heater 35 causes the thermostat 33 to reset during this time. Thus the compressor 16 is again energized. Further, the rotation of cam 39 causes the actuation of water valve switch 43 to close the circuit between

contact terminals

56 and 57 and thereby open the solenoid operated water valve 24 causing water to be delivered to the mold cavities 28 through the inlet 23. After a preselected time the cam 39 has rotated sufficiently further to permit re-opening of the water valve switch 43 thereby closing the water valve solenoid 24 to terminate the delivery of water to the cavities.

When the shaft 36 is rotated to the final position of FIGURE 4, the cam 38 causes the holding switch 42 to open thereby breaking the circuit between

contact terminals

53 and 54 and de-energizing the

heaters

31 and 35 and motor 36, thereby re-establishing the control as shown in FIGURE 2 for subsequent cycle of operation.

The above described operation of the control 25 continues until such time as the level of ice bodies in collecting bin 21 reaches a preselected level precluding the downward movement of sensing arm 26 as discussed above and thereby maintaining the shutoff switch 41 in the open position. Thus, when the water in the mold cavities becomes completely frozen the resultant movement of the mold thermostat switch 61 to engage contact terminal 62 can not initiate a subsequent ejection cycle as the circuit is broken between

contact terminals

50 and 51, thereby precluding energization of the motor 36 and the

heaters

31 and 35. The ice maker 20 remains in this condition until the level of ice bodies is lowered as by removal of a portion or all thereof from the collecting bin 21 to allow the sensing arm 26 to move downwardly to the lower position shown in FIGURE 3 and thereby permit the shutoff switch 41 to close between

contact terminals

50 and 51.

As discussed above the control 25 serves to maintain the refrigeration unit compressor 16 energized during the formation of the ice bodies in the mold. However, when the level of ice bodies in bin 21 is sufficient to preclude further operation of the ice maker 20, the thermostat 33 operates to cycle the compressor 16 and thereby maintain the temperature in chamber 12 between preselected maximum and minimum temperatures. More specifically, under this condition, the cycling of thermostat switch 61 between

contact terminals

62 and 63 has the effect solely of energizing cyclically the compressor 16 as each of

switches

41 and 43 is maintained open, as discussed above. The cycling of the thermostat switch is controlled by the temperature within chamber 12 with which the thermostat communicates as the reset heater 35 is not energized due to the open condition of switch 41. However, the ice in the mold 22 does lower the temperature sensed by the thermostat to somewhat below the temperature of the chamber and this temperature lag must be con sidered in setting the thermostat for the selected control temperature of the chamber. Illustratively should it be desired to maintain the chamber 12 below a temperature of 25 F. and the temperature lag caused by the ice bodies in the mold is approximately 3 F., the cut-in or reset temperature setting of the thermostat 33 would be approximately 22 F.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 57, a modified form of control 125 is shown to comprise a control generally similar to control 25 but arranged to eliminate the temperature lag discussed above in the control of the compressor 16 caused by the presence of the ice bodies in the mold and sensed by the thermostat. The control 125 is arranged to prevent the delivery of water to the mold when the operation of the ice maker is terminated by the sensing of a full bin condition whereby no ice bodies will form in the mold to affect the actuating temperature of the thermostat.

Control 125 differs primarily from control 25 in that the shutoff switch 141 comprises a single pole, single throw, normally closed switch in series with holding switch 42. As shown in FIGURE 5, the holding switch contact terminal 54 is connected to the fixed contact 150 of shutofl? switch 141 and the contact terminal 53 of the holding switch 42 is connected to lead 60. The shutoff switch 141 is arranged to be opened by the cam 37 only when the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin 21 reaches the preselected level. More specifically, the sensing arm 26 functions in connection with switch 141 in the manner shown and described in US. Letters Patent 3,040,542 to which reference may be had for a complete and detailed description thereof. Briefly, however, the shutoff switch 141 is carried on a shutoff plate 140 pivotable about a screw 165. The actuator 147 of switch 141 is urged against cam 37 by the action of a spring 166 acting against a stop 167. As indicated in FIGURE 5 the switch 141 is normally closed between

contact terminals

150 and 151. Rotation of the cam 37 to engage the high point 37a thereof with the actuator 147 causes the shutoff plate 140 to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot 165 thereby raising the sensing arm 26. Movement of the cam 37 beyond the high point permits the sensing arm to move back downwardly to the position of FIGURE 6, assuming that the level of ice bodies is below the preselected maximum level. Thus the switch 141 remains closed between

contact terminals

150 and 151. If the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin, however, is at or above the preselected level, the sensing arm will be retained against movement downward to the position of FIGURE 6 thus preventing rotation of the plate 140 to the position of FIGURE 6. This permits the cam 37 to move away from the actuator 147 and permit opening of the switch 141 thereby breaking the circuit between contact terminals 150' and 151.

The operation of control 125 is as follows. Assuming that the mold cavity 28 contains a body of water being frozen, and that the level of ice bodies is below the preselected level, the control thermostat switch will be in the warm condition as shown in FIGURE 5 whereby the circuit is open between power supply lead 60 and contact terminal 62 while the circuit is closed to contact terminal 63 thereby energizing the compressor 16. The holding switch 42 and the water valve switch 43 are open. The ejector blade 29 is in the position shown in FIGURE 7.

With the circuit thusly arranged the compressor 16 continues to operate and thereby causes freezing of the ice bodies within the mold 22. When this occurs the mold thermostat switch 61 moves from contact terminal 63 to contact terminal 62 thereby energizing the mold heater 31, the reset heater 35 and the control motor 36. Upon a small movement of motor 36, the cam 38 causes the holding switch 42 to close thereby maintaining the circuit to the

heaters

31 and 35 and control motor 36 regardless of the arrangement of thermostat switch 61.

After a small additional rotation of motor 36 the shaft 30 has moved sufficiently to cause the ejector blade 29 to engage the ice body in the mold cavity 28. After the mold heater 31 releases the ice body from the mold, the ejector blade will cause the ice body to be swept from the mold cavity 28 as previously discussed.

During this movement of the ejector blade, the cam 37 acting on the switch actuator 147 causes the above discussed movement of the sensing arm 26 upwardly from and downwardly into the collecting bin 21. Assuming that the level of ice bodies in the bin is sufficiently low to permit the return of the sensing arm to the position of FIGURE 6, the motor 36 continues operation beyond the halfway position of FIGURE 4. During this operation the thermostat switch. 61 will have returned back into contact with contact terminal 63, breaking the circuit to contact terminal 62, and re-energizing the compressor 16. The cam 39 operates the water valve switch 43 during this rotation of the cams to close the switch 43 for a preselected time and thereby open the solenoid water valve 24 to deliver a preselected quantity of water to the mold cavities 28 for the formation of a subsequent group of ice bodies in the mold 22. When the ejector blade 29 has moved fully to the position of FIGURE 7, the cam 38 permits the holding switch 42 to open thereby breaking the circuit between

contact terminals

53 and 54 thereof and thereby de-energizing the

heaters

31 and 35 and control motor 36 to reestablish the control circuit for a subsequent cycle as discussed above.

The above cycle will be repeated until such time as the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin 21 reaches the preselected level whereupon the sensing arm 26 will be prevented from moving sufficiently downwardly to permit the pivoting of plate whereby the actuator 147 becomes spaced from cam 37 and the switch 141 is opened between

contacts

150 and 151 thereby deenergized the heaters 31 and '35 and control motor 36 notwithstanding the maintained closed position of holding switch 42. This condition results when the ejector blade 29 is in approximately the position of FIGURE 4 and prior to the time that the motor 36 has rotate d sufficiently to cause the cam 39 to close the switch 43. Thus the ice bodies are removed from the mold cavity and no further water is delivered thereto. Therefore the temperature sensed by the thermostat 33 is substantially the temperature of the chamber 12. When this condition obtains the operation of thermostat switch 61 functions similarly as described relative to control 25 in cycling the compressor 16 on and off to maintain the temperature of the chamber 12 below a preselected maximum and above a preselected minimum. In control 125 however, the cycling of the thermostat is accurately a function of the chamber temperature 12 requiring rro correction of the thermostat to compensate for the temperature lag resulting from the presence of ice within the mold as was the case in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating said chamber and for refrigerating Water disposed in said mold means to form an ice body; means for ejecting the ice body from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and activating means responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of the ice body in said mold means; and control means connected to said thermostat switch to (a) initiate operation the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold and to (b) cause the chamber refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber below a preselected maximum.

2. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for maintaining the temperature in said chamber between a preselected maximum and minimum when no liquid water is in said mold means.

3. The refrigeration apparatus of claim it wherein said control means causes the refrigerating means to operate a greater portion of the time when liquid water is in the mold means than when it is not.

4. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 1 wherein said thermostat means is disposed within said chamber.

5. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further includes means for heating the mold, means for heating the thermostat, and means to energize each of said heating means during the operation of the ejecting means and to de-energize each of said heating means upon termination of operation of the ejecting means.

6. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating said chamber and for refrigerating water disposed in said mold means to form an ice body; means for ejecting the ice body from said mold means; means for collecting the ejected ice bodies; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of the ice body in said mold means; and control means connected to said thermostat switch to (a) initiate operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold and to (b) cause the refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber between a preselected maximum and minimum when the level of ice bodies in said collecting means is at least a preselected level.

7. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control means includes means to cause the refrigerating means to commence continuous operation during operation of the ejecting means, and means for causing the refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber between a preselected maximum and minimum during non-operation of the ejecting means.

8. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control means includes means to cause the refrigerating means to commence continuous operation during operation of the ejecting means, and means for causing the refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber between a preselected maximum and minimum during non operation of the ejecting means and when no liquid water is in said mold means.

9. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating said chamber and for refrigerating water disposed in said mold means to form an ice body; means for ejecting the ice body from said mold means; means for collecting the ejected ice bodies; means for delivering water to said mold means for forming seriatim ice bodies therein; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of the ice body in said mold means; and control means connected to said thermostat (a) for initiating peration of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold, and (b) for causing the refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber between a preselected maximum and minimum and preolude'operation of said water delivering means subsequent to the ejection of the ice body from the mold 5% means when the level of ice bodies in said collecting means is at least a preselected level.

10. A refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating the chamber and water disposed in said mold means to form ice bodies therein; means for ejecting the ice bodies from the mold means; a single storage receptacle for receiving the ice bodies ejected from said mold means; thermostat means having a. single switch and actuating means associated with said mold means and responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of said ice bodies in said mold means; and a control connected to said switch including first control means for preventing operation of said injection means whenever the level of ice bodies in the storage receptacle is above a preselected level, and second control means responsive to operation of said thermostat switch (a) for initiating operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold, (b) for causing the refrigerating means to operate continuously during the formation of ice bodies in said mold means, and for (c) cycling the refrigerating means on and off as a function of the temperature within the chamber whenever the operation of said ejection means is prevented by said first control means.

1-1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating the chamber and water disposed in said mold means to form ice bodies therein; means for ejecting the ice bodies from the mold means; a storage receptacle for receiving the ice bodies ejected from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means asassociated with said mold means and responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of said ice bodies in said mold means; and a control connected to said switch including first control means for preventing further formation of ice bodies in the mold whenever the level of ice bodies in the storage receptacle is above a preselected level and second control means responsive to operation of said thermostat switch (a) for initiating operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold, (b) for causing the refrigerating means to operate continuously during the formation of ice bodies in said mold means, and (c) for cycling the refrigerating means on and off as a function of the temperature within the chamber whenever further formation of ice bodies in the mold is prevented by said first control means.

12. A refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating the chamber and water disposed in said mold means to form ice bodies therein; means for ejecting the ice bodies from the mold means; a storage receptacle for receiving the ice bodies ejected from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means associated with said mold means and responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of said ice bodies in said mold means; and a control connected to said switch including first control means for preventing ejection of subsequently formed ice bodies whenever the level of ice bodies in the storage receptacle is above a preselected level and second control means responsive to operation of said thermostat switch (a) for initiating operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold, (b) for causing the refrigerating means to operate continuously during the formation of ice bodies in said mold means, and (c) for cycling the refrigerating means on and off as a function of the temperature within the chamber whenever the ejection of subsequently formed ice bodies is prevented by said first control means.

13. A refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating the chamber and water disposed in said mold means to form ice bodies therein; means for ejecting the ice bodies from the mold means; a storage receptacle for receiving the ice bodies ejected from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means associated with said mold means and responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of said ice bodies in said mold means; and a control connected to said switch including first control means for preventing operation of said ejection means whenever the level of ice bodies in the storage receptacle is above a preselected level, and second control means responsive to operation of said thermostat switch (a) for initiating operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold, (in) for causing the refrigerating means to operate continuously during the formation of ice bodies in said mold means, (c) for causing the refrigerating means to be de-energized during operation of the ejecting means Whenever the temperature sensed by said thermostat is below a preselected upper temperature, and (d) for cycling the refrigerating means on and off as a function of the temperature within the chamber Whenever the operation of said ejection means is prevented by said first control means.

14. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating said chamber and for refrigerating Water disposed in said mold means to form an ice body; means for ejecting the ice body from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (-b) the formation of the ice body in said mold means; control means connected to said thermostat switch to (a) initiate operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold and to (b) cause the chamber refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber below a preselected maximum; and means for delivering heat to said thermostat means during operation of said ejecting means to quiclsly reset said thermostat switch for maintaining the temperature in said chamber.

15. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: means defining a chamber; mold means; means for refrigerating said chamber and for refrigerating water disposed in said mold means to form an ice body; means for ejecting the ice body from said mold means; thermostat means having a single switch and actuating means responsive to (a) the temperature of said chamber and to (b) the formation of the ice body in said mold means; control means connected to said thermostat switch to (a) initiate operation of the ejecting means only when the temperature of said chamber is below a preselected low temperature and the ice body is fully formed in said mold and to (-b) cause the chamber refrigerating means to maintain the temperature in said chamber below a preselected maximum; means for heating said mold means for freeing the ice body therefrom during the ejection operation; and means for cyclically interrupting energization of said heating means to preclude overheating of said mold means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,501 9/55 Andersson 62-353 X 2,757,520 8/56 Sampson et al. 62344 2,844,008 7/58 Barton 62-351 X 2,963,885 12/60 Loewenthal 62-l35 X 3,005,322 10/ 61 Harle 62-353 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. MEYER PERLIN, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,208,233 September 28, 1965 William J. Linstromberg It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 71, for "activating" read actuating line 75, after "operation" insert of column 8, line 7, strike out "single"; line 14, for "injection" read ejection Signed and sealed this 20th day of September 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents

Claims

6. REFRIGERATION APPARATUS COMPRISING: MEANS DIFINING A CHAMBER; MOLD MEANS; MEANS FOR REFRIGERATING SAID CHAMBER AND FOR REFRIGERATING WATER DISPOSED IN SAID MOLD MEANS TO FORM AN ICE BODY; MEANS FOR EJECTING TYE ICE BODY FORM SAID MOLD MEANS; MEANS FOR EJECTING THE EJECTED ICE BODIES; THERMOSTAT MEANS HAVING A SINGLE SWITCH AND ACTUATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO (A) THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID CHAMBER AND TO (D) THE FORMATION OF THE ICE BODY IN SAID MOLD MEANS; AND CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID THERMOSTAT SWITCH TO (A) INITASTE OPERATION OF THE EJECTING MEANS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID CHAMBER IS BELOW A PRESELECTED LOW TEMPERATURE AND THE ICE BODY IS FULLY FORMED IN SAID MOLD AND TO (D) CAUSE THE REFREGERATING MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE IN SAID CHAMBER BETWEEN A PRESELECTED MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM WHEN THE LEVEL OF ICE BODIES IN SAID COLLECTING MEANS IS AT LEAST A PRESELECTED LEVEL.