US2657547A - Automatic sediment purger for tube ice machines - Google Patents

Description

H. v. HEUSER 2,657,547

AUTOMATIC SEDIMENT PURGER FOR TUBE ICE MACHINES Nov. 3, 1953 Filed May 29 1950 INVENTOR. Hen/y f/euser I BY ATTORNEY Fig. 1

Patented Nov. 3, 1953 AUTOMATIC SEDIMENT PURGER FOR TUBE ICE MACHINES Henry V. Heuser, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Henry Vozt Machine Company, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application May 29, 1950, Serial No. 164,875

4 Claims. (Cl. 62107) The present invention relates to ice-making machines, and relates in particular to an automatic sediment purger for clearing the water of sediment precipitated out by the freezing operation.

In machines of the tube type water is introduced into a supply tank through a level-controlled valve, and from the tank the water is pumped to the tops of the ice tubes of the freezer. Part of the water flowing down through the tubes is frozen and remains in the tubes, and the excess water, cooled to near freezing by its passage through the freezer, is returned to the tank.

The freezing action concentrates the mineral content in the water returned to the tank to the oint where the mineral content precipitates out. As water is being continuously added to replenish the water removed by freezing, this mineral sediment builds up to a quantity which is objectionable, because of the possibility that the sediment may circulate with the water and become frozen into the ice. Heretofore it has been necessary to manually drain and clean the supply tank at intervals to remove this sediment. This requires the attention of an operator, and also has the disadvantage that during intervals between cleaning there may be some sediment frozen into the ice. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide for automatic removal of sediment from the supply tank, so as to prevent the sediment accumulating and circulating with the water to be frozen.

In accordance with" the present invention, the supply tank is constructed with a low point or sump to which sediment tends to gravitate, and an overflow conduit is connected to the tank at this low point. A level-controlled inlet valve is adjusted so that during the freezing cycle it will maintain a liquid level slightly below the overflow level but high enough so that when the pump is stopped at the end of each freezing cycle and the waterin suspension in the circulating system is returned to the supply tank, the overflow level is exceeded in the tank and water is discharged from the tank through the overflow pipe connection at the sump. As the overflow pipe is connected to the low point or sump in the tank,

'nection with the accompanying drawing illus- Figure 2 of modifications.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a conventional freezer I of the tube type, which may comprise a jacket 2 for containing a. refrigerant surrounding water tubes 3, and through which tubes flows water or other liquid to be frozen. At the end of the freezing cycle a hot fluid is introduced into the jacket to thaw loose the solidified ice rods in the tubes, and the tubes are cut or broken by a severing device 4, the

- pieces being deflected by a baifie 5 to a grid 6 from the escape of water carries along a substantial part of the sediment, thus removing it from the tank. Thus, the purging of the water tank auto,-

maticallyfoccurs at the end of each freezing cycle, without draining the whole tank.

The invention will be explained in greater detail in the follow ng description taken in conwhich they fallto a storage bin 1. A water supply tank 8 is located below the grid, and a pump 9 draws waterfrom the tank to a distributing chamber II at the top of the freezer, from which the water is distributed to the tubes. Excess water flowing through the tubes passes through grid 6 back to the tank 8.

A. float l2 or other automatic level-controlled device operates an inlet valve l3 for the water tank to admit sufficient water to maintain a substantially constant level of water in the tank. By this arrangement, as the water level in the tank drops due'to loss of water by freezing in the tubes, the replacement water is added. The excess water returned to the tank becomes chilled in its'passage through the ice tubes so that the water supplied to the distributing chamber II at the .topsof the tubes is close to the freezing point. The tank 8 has a sloping bottom I4, and at its lowest point there is connected a pipe which serves as an overflow and drain pipe. The overflow pipe l5 extends upward and has a bend It at or'a'bovethe operating level of water in the tank, and the drain pipe I! is normally closed by a valve [8. Because the overflow pipe I5 is connected at the low point of the tank, sediment will gravitate to this point, and at each overflow the sediment will be flushed out the overflow pipe.

The operation of the invention now will be explained. The ball float l2 tends to maintain the level of water in the tank 8- between a minimum and maximum level, and the overflow pipe I5 is set so that the bend it lies above the maximum level thus maintained in the tank, at which level the valve i3 is shut off by: the float. As-

the volume of the water in circulation or suspension in the system. Thus, when the pump is shut on and the water in suspension ,is returned to the tank the overflow level is reached before all the water has returned, so that a volume of Water equal to the rest of the .water will escape through the overflow and carry with it the precipitate accumulated in the tank. The amount of water purged in this way from the system is predetermined by the following formula: volume of water in tank at average level during operation .plus water in suspension, minus the volume of water at overflow level, equals the purged water. Thus, by setting the overflow level and the float level as required, the desired amount of water may be purged each time the pump stops, varying from zero for lowest setting of the fioat ball to a maximum which is the-volume of'water held in suspension during the freezing period. Because the pump is shut off at the'beginning of each thawing cycle, the sediment is automatically purged from the supply tank at such intervals.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the drain pipe l1 connects to the bottom of the tank and is provided with an inverted U-tube 2| vented at the top at 22. This arrangement operates in the same way as that shown in Figure 2, and has the additional advantage that the drain pipe I! serves to carry away the overflow from pipe 2|, thereby eliminating the additional pipe required in Figure '2. The vent 22 at the top prevents the development of a siphoning action after the overflow starts. Valve i8 ordinarily is closed and. is opened to drain the tank.

In the modification shown in Figure 4 an inverted U-shaped pipe '23 extends through the end wall of the tank and has its horizontal portion or bend 24 at the maximum water level. This eliminates the underneath connection provided in Figure 3 with a saving inheadroom of several inches. The vent '22 is controlled by a valve 25 which normally is open. When the pump stops, the return to the tank of the water in suspension raises the level, and flow through pipe 23 commences when the overflow level -0 is reached. The device may be employed as a drain by closing valve 25 which results in .a 51-,

phOn action to drain the tank.

I claim as my invention:

providing tubes subject to alternate freezing and thawing temperatures and through which water to be frozen is passed; a water supply tank providing a low point to which sediment gravitates; means connected to a higher point in the tank for pumping water from the supply tank to the tops of .the freezer tubesswhereby during the freezing period axquantity of water is maintained in suspension; means controlled by the level of water in the tank for replenishing water in the tank to a predetermined level; means for stopping flow of water to the freezer tubes during "the thawing cycle whereby the suspended water returns .to the tank toiraise the liquid level therein; andanloverflow pipe having a bend positioned between said predetermined level and raised level connected to said low point of the tank to purge settledsdlidstherethrough and to limit siphoning of water to the level of said bend.

2. In an ice making machine an enclosure subject .to alternate freezing and thawing phases through which flows water to be frozen; a water supply tank providing a low point to which sediment gravitates; means connected to said tank for pumping water from the supply tank to said enclosure during the freezing phase whereby a quantity of water is .maintained .in suspension, and the Water in suspension is returned to the tank during the thawing phase; an intermittent drain connected tosaid low point operative at a predetermined water level in the supply tank to drain water until a differential minimum level in the tank is reached; and a supply valve having level control means adjusted to maintain the maximum Water level .in the tank during the freezing phasejin a range'between below said predetermined level and .a level no lower than said differential distance below said minimum level, so that said drain becomes operative upon return of the water in suspension to the tank.

3. A tube ice-making machine as specified in claim 2 wherein the intermittent siphon comprises an inverted .U-tube having a valved connection-between thelegs of the U, and having an air vent in .said ,bend to limit siphoning.

4. A tube ice-making machine as specified in claim .2 wherein the intermittent siphon comprises an inverted U-tube passing through a wall of the tank, and having a valved vent between the .legs of the U to prevent siphoning in open position of the valve.

HENRY V. HEUSER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,436,350 Lundberg Nov. 21, 1922 1,461,673 Papin July 10, 1923 2,239,234 'Kubaugh Apr. 22, 1941 2,303,000 Ribble Nov. 24, 1942

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