Method and system for electronically controlling the location of the formation of ice within a closed loop water circulating unit
US5931003A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2700/04
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for electronically controlling the location of the formation of ice within a closed loop water circulating unit and efficiently harvesting ice includes a method and system for making ice using supercooled water. When a desired degree of supercooling is reached in the closed loop water circulating unit, a pump associated with the ice-making machine is stopped so as to initiate ice seeding on the ice mold. After the pump is restarted, the supercooled water flows over the seeded molds to rapidly form ice on the ice molds. The completion of ice formation in the mold is sensed by reservoir water temperature, water level, timing or other inputs to enable a controller to automatically control a harvest cycle timely. A method and system is also provided for improving the clarity of the ice. Furthermore, in an ice-making machine having two or more ice molds, a method and system is provided for allowing one mold to act as a condenser in a harvest mode, while simultaneously allowing the remaining molds to act as evaporators in the freezing mode. The ice-making method and apparatus decreases the cycle time for forming ice.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.