Method and system for electronically controlling the location of the formation of ice within a closed loop water circulating unit
US6125639A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 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. A method and system is provided 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. A method and system is also provided for improving the clarity of the ice. Water is preheated prior to introducing the water to the closed loop water circulating unit. 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. Another ice-making apparatus is provided for decreasing the cycle time for forming ice. A fine spray of supercooled water is sprayed onto a chilled ice mold resulting in little or no run off water to recirculate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.