Methods and apparatus for adjusting ice slab bridge thickness and initiate ice harvest following the freeze cycle
First Claim
1. An ice bridge thickness control for a batch water system ice making machine, wherein said ice making machine has a grid of ice-forming pockets to freeze individual cubes, and wherein said pockets comprise edges between said individual cubes, said control comprising:
- at least two floats for setting a volume of water used for making ice in a water supply for the ice making machine, wherein said at least two floats comprise an upper float that sets a maximum water level of the volume of water in a sump tank used for producing ice, and a lower float that sets a minimum water level of the volume of water in the sump tank used for producing ice, and wherein said volume of water between said upper and lower floats is used to produce ice and control said ice bridge thickness over said edges of said ice-forming pockets; and
at least two float clips, wherein each of said at least two float clips has a front side configured to hold each of said at least two floats in the sump tank and at least the float clip holding the upper float has a back side configured to engage one of a plurality vertically spaced protrusions external to the sump tank, wherein said float clip holding said upper float is vertically adjustable by engaging protrusions at different vertical levels, and wherein said float clip holding said lower float is not vertically adjustable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for adjusting and controlling ice bridge slab thickness and/or initiation of ice harvest following a freeze cycle. This adjusting and controlling is performed through the use of adjustable float clip assemblies which set the amount of water available for ice making in a batch process. The adjustable float clip assemblies provide an ice machine user with the ability to easily adjust the ice slab bridge thickness to a single or plurality of settings, and allow for changes in ice bridge slab thickness at the site of installation.
31 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An ice bridge thickness control for a batch water system ice making machine, wherein said ice making machine has a grid of ice-forming pockets to freeze individual cubes, and wherein said pockets comprise edges between said individual cubes, said control comprising:
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at least two floats for setting a volume of water used for making ice in a water supply for the ice making machine, wherein said at least two floats comprise an upper float that sets a maximum water level of the volume of water in a sump tank used for producing ice, and a lower float that sets a minimum water level of the volume of water in the sump tank used for producing ice, and wherein said volume of water between said upper and lower floats is used to produce ice and control said ice bridge thickness over said edges of said ice-forming pockets; and at least two float clips, wherein each of said at least two float clips has a front side configured to hold each of said at least two floats in the sump tank and at least the float clip holding the upper float has a back side configured to engage one of a plurality vertically spaced protrusions external to the sump tank, wherein said float clip holding said upper float is vertically adjustable by engaging protrusions at different vertical levels, and wherein said float clip holding said lower float is not vertically adjustable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11)
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6. A method of controlling ice bridge thickness in a batch water system ice making machine, wherein said ice making machine has a grid of ice-forming pockets to freeze individual cubes, and wherein said pockets comprise edges between said individual cubes, said method comprising:
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providing at least two floats for setting a volume of water used for making ice in a water supply in a sump tank for the ice machine, wherein said at least two floats comprise an upper float and a lower float; setting a maximum water level of the volume of water in the sump tank used for producing ice by said upper float; setting a minimum water level of the volume of water in the sump tank used for producing ice by said lower float; providing at least two float clips, wherein each of said at least two float clips has a front side configured to hold each of said at least two floats in the sump tank and at least the float clip holding the upper float has a back side configured to engage one of a plurality of vertically spaced protrusions external to the sump tank, wherein said float clip holding said upper float is vertically adjustable by engaging protrusions at different vertical levels, and wherein said float clip holding said lower float is not vertically adjustable; and producing ice until the volume of water between the levels set by said upper and lower floats is consumed, wherein said volume of water between said upper and lower floats controls said ice bridge thickness over said edges of said ice-forming pockets. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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Specification