Low pressure control for signaling a time delay for ice making cycle start up
First Claim
1. A method of making ice in an ice making machine comprising:
- a) compressing vaporized refrigerant, cooling the compressed refrigerant to condense it into a liquid, feeding the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device and vaporizing the refrigerant in an evaporator to create freezing temperatures in an ice-forming mold to freeze water into ice in the shape of mold cavities during an ice making mode;
b) heating the ice making mold to release the ice therefrom in a harvest mode by separating vaporous and liquid refrigerant within a receiver interconnected between the condenser and the expansion device and feeding vapor from the receiver to the evaporator, wherein the ice-forming mold, evaporator and receiver are disposed in an ice machine unit, and the compressor and condenser are disposed in a condensing unit;
c) determining if said ice making machine is on and if an ice bin switch is closed;
if said ice machine is on and said bin switch is closed, then check a low pressure switch;
then set a time delay for a predetermined time when the low pressure switch is closed; and
d) if the low pressure switch is closed, then setting a time delay for a predetermined time; and
determing if said predetermined time delay has elapsed;
(i) if said predetermined time delay has not elapsed, then return to step (d) thereby saving on the life of the compressor and starting components; and
(ii) if said predetermined time delay has elapsed, then restarting said compressor in said ice making mode.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of making ice in an ice making machine comprising: (a) compressing vaporized refrigerant, cooling the compressed refrigerant to condense it into a liquid, feeding the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device and vaporizing the refrigerant in an evaporator to create freezing temperatures in an ice-forming mold to freeze water into ice in the shape of mold cavities during an ice making mode; (b) heating the ice making mold to release the ice therefrom in a harvest mode by separating vaporous and liquid refrigerant within a receiver interconnected between the condenser and the expansion device and feeding vapor from the receiver to the evaporator, wherein the ice-forming mold, evaporator and receiver are disposed in an ice machine unit, and the compressor and condenser are disposed in a condensing unit; (c) determining if the ice making machine is on and if an ice bin switch is closed: if the ice machine is on and the bin switch is closed, then check a low pressure switch: if the low pressure switch is not closed, then return to step (i) above; or if the low pressure switch is closed, then set a time delay for a predetermined time delay; and (d) determining if the predetermined time delay has elapsed: if the predetermined time delay has not elapsed, then return to step (d); or if the predetermined time delay has elapsed, then initiate another the ice making mode.
29 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of making ice in an ice making machine comprising:
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a) compressing vaporized refrigerant, cooling the compressed refrigerant to condense it into a liquid, feeding the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device and vaporizing the refrigerant in an evaporator to create freezing temperatures in an ice-forming mold to freeze water into ice in the shape of mold cavities during an ice making mode; b) heating the ice making mold to release the ice therefrom in a harvest mode by separating vaporous and liquid refrigerant within a receiver interconnected between the condenser and the expansion device and feeding vapor from the receiver to the evaporator, wherein the ice-forming mold, evaporator and receiver are disposed in an ice machine unit, and the compressor and condenser are disposed in a condensing unit; c) determining if said ice making machine is on and if an ice bin switch is closed; if said ice machine is on and said bin switch is closed, then check a low pressure switch; then set a time delay for a predetermined time when the low pressure switch is closed; and d) if the low pressure switch is closed, then setting a time delay for a predetermined time; and
determing if said predetermined time delay has elapsed;(i) if said predetermined time delay has not elapsed, then return to step (d) thereby saving on the life of the compressor and starting components; and (ii) if said predetermined time delay has elapsed, then restarting said compressor in said ice making mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of making ice in an ice making machine comprising:
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a) compressing vaporized refrigerant, cooling the compressed refrigerant to condense it into a liquid, feeding the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device and vaporizing the refrigerant in an evaporator to create freezing temperatures in an ice-forming mold to freeze water into ice in the shape of mold cavities during an ice making mode; b) heating the ice making mold to release the ice therefrom in a harvest mode by separating vaporous and liquid refrigerant within a receiver interconnected between the condenser and the expansion device and feeding vapor from the receiver to the evaporator, wherein the ice-forming mold, evaporator and receiver are disposed in an ice machine unit, and the compressor and condenser are disposed in a condensing unit; c) determining if said ice making machine is on and if an ice bin switch is closed; (i) if said ice machine is on and said bin switch is closed, then check a high pressure switch; then set a time delay of the ice machine and the condenser for a predetermined time delay when the high pressure switch is opened; and (d) if the high pressure switch is opened, then setting a time delay for a predetermined time; and
determining if said predetermined time delay has elapsed;(1) if said predetermined time delay has not elapsed, then return to step (c)(i) above thereby saving on the life of compressor and starting components; and (2) if said predetermined time delay has elapsed, then start said ice machine and condesing unit, said compressor restarting in an ice making mode.
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Specification