Integrally formed, modular ice cuber having a stainless steel evaporator and a microcontroller

• US 5,291,752 A
• Filed: 12/18/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinton O. Schahrer, Duane D. Flim, James J. Wilson, Robert J. Alvarez, Scott E. Bredesen, Todd E. Kniffen
• Original Assignee: Clinton O. Schahrer, Duane D. Flim, James J. Wilson, Robert J. Alvarez, Scott E. Bredesen, Todd E. Kniffen
• Inventors: Wilson, James J., Kniffen, Todd E., Alvarez, Robert J., Schahrer, Clinton O., Bredesen, Scott E., Flim, Duane D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/993,386
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 62/344, 62/347, 62/441, 62/442, 62/447, 312/405, 220/307
• US Class Current: 62/344
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/024 with elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/12 by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2700/04 Level of water
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/10 using hot refrigerant; using fluid heated by refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/187 with ice level sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49366 Sheet joined to sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49893 Peripheral joining of opposed mirror image parts to form a hollow body

Abstract

An ice maker module is built on an integrally formed plastic base. One or more ice making modules are stacked on top of an ice bin. Integrally formed within the plastic base is "wet" compartment within which are disposed multiple numbers of evaporators on which water is frozen into ice cubes. The plastic base also separates the wet compartment from a dry compartment in which is mounted refrigeration components and control circuitry. The evaporators are constructed of two plates of stainless steel. Icing sites are located on the flattened sides of a serpentine refrigeration channel formed between depressions in the stainless steel plates. A microcontroller operates the ice making process. Harvesting of the ice cubes is initiated after the ice maker has used an amount of water necessary to make the ice. An ultrasonic range finder monitors the amount of ice in the bin.

Claims

1. A housing for an ice making apparatus, the housing having a reduced number of seams that may leak water and yet provide access to the ice making apparatus, the housing comprising:

an integrally formed member defining three of four side walls and a bottom of a four-sided first compartment and a bottom of an adjacent second compartment, one side wall separating the first and the second compartments, wherein the three walls and bottom are joined without seams;

the first compartment housing an ice making means over which water is circulated for making ice, and the second compartment housing means for chilling the ice making means; and

removable wall means for enclosing the forth side of the first compartment and defining a forth wall of first compartment.

2. The housing of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir for collecting and holding water being circulated over the means for making ice, the reservoir formed in the bottom of the first compartment.

3. The housing of claim 2 wherein the reservoir is integrally formed in the bottoms of the first and the second compartments, the reservoir extending from the first compartment, under the side wall separating the first and the second compartments, and into the second compartment.

4. The housing of claim 2 wherein the first compartment is adapted to receive and support above the reservoir an ice making means.

5. The housing of claim 1 wherein the integrally formed member is adapted for being supported on top of a bin for holding ice, the bottom of the first compartment having defined therein an opening communicating with an interior of the enclosure through which ice passes.

6. The housing of claim 5 wherein the integrally formed member is adapted for supporting a second housing for an ice making apparatus above the first housing, the first compartment of the first housing receiving ice through an opening defined in the bottom of the second housing and passing it through to the first housing.

7. The housing of claim 1 wherein the integrally formed member is made of a non-corrosive material impervious to water.

8. The housing of claim 7 wherein the integrally formed member is a plastic rotocast structure.

9. The housing of claim 1 wherein the integrally formed member includes:

a bottom section;

a first wall section extending vertically from the base and dividing the base into two sections, the first wall forming a side wall for the first compartment;

a second wall section perpendicular to the first forming a back side wall for the first compartment; and

a third wall section perpendicular to the second and opposite from the first forming a third side for the first compartment.

10. The housing of claim 1 wherein the removable wall means includes an integrally formed flange section running laterally across a portion of an inside bottom surface of the removable wall means of the wall and extending inwardly into the compartment and downwardly toward the bottom of the first compartment such that water running down the inside wall of the cover means is deflected into the reservoir.

11. The housing of claim 10 wherein the removable wall means further includes flange means extending inwardly into the first compartment for snugly engaging portions of inside surfaces of two opposite side walls of the first compartment, to inhibit water from leaking between edges of the opposite side walls and the removable wall means.

12. The housing of claim 11 wherein the removable wall means forms a wall of the second compartment for permitting access to the means for chilling the ice making means, the housing further including a condenser, coupled to the bottom of the second compartment, forming a third wall of the second compartment;

and further includes air cooling means, coupled to the bottom of the second compartment, forming a fourth wall of the compartment, the air cooling means pressurizing the second compartment to force air out of the second compartment evenly across the condenser.