Ice transport system
US6571573B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2400/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention comprises a pneumatic ice transport system having a primary ice reservoir and a blower connected to a venturi. The ice reservoir includes an ice dispensing mechanism for dispensing of ice there from into an ice flow tube. The venturi suction intake is connected by a tube to the discharge end of the ice chute. The outlet of the venturi is connected to a tube for directing the ice to a remote location. In operation, the blower provides a large volume of relatively low pressure air to the venturi. A heat exchanger can be connected between the outlet of the blower and the air inlet of the venturi. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger uses forced air and melt water from the primary storage bin to cool the air stream produced by the blower. The heat exchanger serves to lower the temperature of that air to at or below ambient. The ice and the associated transport structures of the present invention through which the ice is transported, can also be maintained in a sanitary condition through the use, separately, or in combination, of ozone, chlorine or microbially resistant plastics.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.