Ice machine including a condensate collection unit, an evaporator attachment assembly, and removable sump

• US 7,032,406 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Services AG (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies Incorporated (The Manitowoc Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Richard T., Funk, Howard G., Mueller, Lee G., Hollen, Michael C., Lafond, Marty J., Gutman, Thomas G., Kutchera, Steven P., Kampert, Mathew E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US10/913,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 62285-291, 623/47, 622/98, 62515-524, 623/52, 165/76
• US Class Current: 62/347
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/12 Means for sanitation
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/14 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2700/04 Level of water
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/14 Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays

Abstract

An ice machine includes an evaporator, a condensate collection unit, positioned below the evaporator and configured to collect condensate from a back surface of the evaporator. First and second mounting brackets attached to the first and second sides of the evaporator, respectively, and are attached to first and second side panels positioned within the ice machine. A pump deck resides below the evaporator and has a chambered section, and a sump is positioned within the chambered section. The condensate collection unit is coupled to a water discharge line, such that condensate is removed from the ice machine and does not come into contact with water that is recirculated to the evaporator. The first and second mounting brackets and first and second flanges on the sump permit easy installation and removal of the evaporator and the sump from the ice machine.

Claims

1. An ice machine comprising:

(a) a food zone;

(b) an evaporator having a front surface positioned within the food zone and a rear surface positioned outside of the food zone;

(c) a condensate collection system configured to collect condensate from the rear surface of the evaporator and drain the condensate away from the food zone; and

(d) a water system configured to deliver water to the front surface of the evaporator.

2. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the condensate collection system comprises a collector positioned below the evaporator and coupled to a condensate discharge line that directs the condensate to a discharge collector.

3. The ice machine of claim 2 further comprising a check valve positioned within the condensate discharge line that prevents water being discharged from the food zone after a freezing cycle from flowing into the condensate discharge line.

4. The ice machine of claim 3 wherein the check valve comprises:

(a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet;

(b) a ball within the housing, the ball having sufficient buoyancy to float on water; and

(c) structure within the housing that cooperates with the ball to allow the flow of water from the inlet through the outlet, but stops the reverse flow of water from the outlet though the inlet.

36. The ice machine of claim 1 wherein the water system further comprises a water recirculation line and a water discharge line.

37. The ice machine of claim 36 further comprising a discharge collector coupled to the water discharge line and to the condensate collection system.

5. An ice machine comprising:

(a) an evaporator having a front side configured to form ice cubes, a back side opposite the front side, and a lower surface;

(b) a condensate collection unit positioned below the evaporator and configured to collect condensate from the back side of the evaporator, the collection unit having an outlet; and

(c) a water system having a water recirculation line and a water discharge line, wherein the outlet is coupled to the water discharge line.

6. The ice machine of claim 5 wherein the condensate collection unit comprises:

(a) an elongated trough having the outlet positioned at one end of the trough; and

(b) an interface plate overlying the elongated trough, the interface plate having a lower surface engaging the elongated trough and an upper surface adjacent to the lower surface of the evaporator.

7. The ice machine of claim 6 wherein the interface plate comprises a corrugated plate having a series of openings therein in spaced relationship to the corrugations, and

wherein the upper surface includes a gasket seal integral with a portion thereof that forms a seal with a portion of the lower surface of the evaporator.

8. The ice machine of claim 5 wherein the outlet is coupled to the water discharge line by a water pathway that comprises a check valve and a coupling attached to the water discharge line.

9. The ice machine of claim 8 further comprising a water sump positioned below the condensate collection unit and configured to collect water from the front side of the evaporator.

10. The ice machine of claim 9 further comprising a water pump having an intake positioned in the water sump and a discharge port coupled to the water recirculation line.

11. The ice machine of claim 10 further comprising:

a pump deck supporting the water pump;

wherein the water pump comprises a pump motor and an impeller housing, wherein the intake is located in the impeller housing, and wherein the pump deck is configured to support the water pump such that the pump motor resides above the pump deck and the impeller housing resides below the pump deck.

12. The ice machine of claim 10 further comprising a stop valve in the recirculation line wherein the stop valve in a closed position diverts water from the discharge port to the water discharge line.

13. The ice machine of claim 12 wherein the coupling comprises a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is coupled to water recirculation line at a position upstream from the stop valve, and wherein the second port is coupled to the check valve.

14. The ice machine of claim 8 wherein the condensate collection unit further comprises a water foil extending from a bottom surface thereof and configured to direct water from the front side of the evaporator to the water sump.

15. The ice machine of claim 5 wherein one or more components of the condensate collection unit and the water recirculation system comprise molded plastic components having an antimicrobial additive.

16. An ice machine comprising:

(a) first and second side panels each having fastener structures therein;

(b) an evaporator having a front side ice molding surface configured to form ice cubes and having first and second sides positioned between the first and second side panels, respectively;

(c) mounting brackets attached to each of the first and second sides of the evaporator;

(d) each mounting bracket having fastener structures therein,

wherein the fastener structures in the mounting brackets align with corresponding fastener structures in the first and second side panels to enable the evaporator to be supported between the first and second side panels.

17. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the mounting brackets further include a slot configured to receive pegs extending from each of the first and second side panels, and wherein the slot is further configured to allow manipulation of the evaporator, such that the evaporator can be temporarily supported between the first and second panels.

18. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the mounting brackets further include pegs extending therefrom and wherein the first and second side panels include a slot configured to receive pegs extending from the mounting brackets, and wherein the slot is further configured to allow manipulation of the evaporator, such that the evaporator can be temporarily supported between the first and second panels.

19. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the mounting brackets further comprise a gasket integral with a inner surface portion of each mounting bracket and forming a seal between each mounting bracket and an adjacent one of the first or second sides of the evaporator.

20. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the fastener structures in the mounting brackets and in the first and second side panels comprises openings configured to receive a fastening device.

21. The ice machine of claim 20 wherein the fastening device comprises molded plastic screws.

22. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the mounting brackets each comprise an elongated molded plastic body having an outer surface contoured to mate with seating fixtures embossed in a corresponding first or second side panel.

23. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein the slot comprises a first slot located at near an upper end of each mounting bracket and a second slot located near a bottom end of each mounting bracket.

24. The ice machine of claim 16 wherein one or more components of the ice machine comprise molded plastic components having an antimicrobial additive.

25. An ice machine having a water sump that can be easily removed without the use of tools, the ice machine comprising:

(a) a mechanical compartment and a water compartment;

(b) a pump deck separating the mechanical compartment from the water compartment,

(c) the pump deck having a chambered section with a sidewall and hanger members in the sidewall;

(d) a sump positioned in the chambered section, the sump having a floor and opposing sidewalls;

(e) first and second flanges extending from the opposing sidewalls; and

(f) flange hanger structures in each of the first and second flanges that engage support structures within framing members of the ice machine,

wherein the hanger members and the flange hanger structures support the sump in the chambered section.

26. The ice machine of claim 25 wherein the hanger members and the flange hanger structures are configured such that the sump can be removed from the ice machine without the use of tools.

27. The ice machine of claim 25 wherein the hanger members comprise tabs projecting from the sidewall and underlying a peripheral portion of the floor of the sump.

28. The ice machine of claim 25 wherein the support structures within framing members comprise sockets in an inner surface of first and second vertical panels, and wherein the flange hanger structures comprise shafts extending from each flange and into the socket in an adjacent one of the first or second vertical panels.

29. The ice machine of claim 28 wherein the flanges are configured such that the shafts exert a lateral force upon the sockets.

30. The ice machine of claim 25 wherein the framing members and the flange hanger structures are configured such that the sump can be lowered from the chambered section by rotating about an axis extending though the panel hanger structures and the flange hanger structures.

31. The ice machine of claim 30 wherein the sump can be removed from the ice machine by lowering the sump from the chambered section and pressing the first and second flanges toward one another.

32. An ice machine comprising:

(a) an evaporator having a front, a back, a bottom, and first and second sides;

(b) a condensate collection unit positioned below the bottom of the evaporator and configured to collect condensate from the back surface of the evaporator;

(c) first and second mounting brackets attached to each of the first and second sides of the evaporator, respectively;

(d) first and second side panels coupled to each of the first and second mounting brackets, respectively;

(e) a pump deck having a chambered section and hanger members positioned in the chambered section;

(f) a sump positioned in the chambered section, the sump having first and second flanges extending from opposite walls of the sump and rotationally coupled to the first and second side panels, respectively,

wherein the sump is supported in the chambered section by the hanger members and by the first and second flanges.

33. The ice machine of claim 32 further comprising:

(a) a water curtain having side edges and positioned adjacent to and spaced away from the front side of the evaporator, wherein the water curtain provides a surface for excess water to flow to the sump; and

(b) guides in a lower portion of each mounting bracket that capture excess water flowing along the side edges of the water curtain and return the excess water to the water sump.

34. The ice machine of claim 32 wherein the first and second mounting brackets have slots receiving pegs protruding from each of the first and second side panels, such that the evaporator can be temporarily positioned between the first and second side panels prior to coupling the first and second mounting brackets to the first and second side panels, respectively.

35. The ice machine of claim 32 wherein the first and second flanges comprises flexible flanges, and wherein the sump can be decoupled from the first and second side panels by pressing the first and second flanges toward one another.