US2493149A - Apparatus for making ice - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1950 w. B. KIRKPATRICK 2,493,149

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Filed Jan` 2l, 1948 5 Sheets-Shea?l l ATTO RN EY Jan- 3 1950 w. B. KIRKPATRIQK 2,493,149

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Filed Jan. .21, 1948 5 sheets-sheet 2 UUE u nuuuuuuuuuu INVENTOR.

37 73 [gym Jan, 3, 1950 Filed Jan'. 2l, 1948 w. B. KIRKPATRICK 2,493,149

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @mgm A rrd/mary Jan. 3, 1950 w. B. KIRKPATRICK 2,493,149

ABPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Filed Jan. 2l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 3, 1950 w. B. KIRKPATRICK '2,493,149

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Filed Jan. 2l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 *u JNVENToR.

Patented Jan. 3, 1,950

JNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Willis B. Kirkpatrick, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application January 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,463

11 Claims. l

This invention relates to the manufacture of ice and it has for its object to provide a novel and improved apparatus for making ice cubes economically and in large volume.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient machine for producing ice cubes of uniform size with at square tops and in a form clear enough to be readily merchantable.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type specified which is capable of full automatic operation and is therefore especially adapted for use in hotels, restaurants, cafes, soda dispensaries and the like.

Another object is to provide a novel ice cube machine which freezes the cubes in individual compartments, thaws the ice cubes from the walls of said compartments, and automatically discharges them onto a delivery chute or conveyor, in the shortest possible time and with a minimum of maintenance and supervision.

Still another object is to provide an ice cube machine of the foregoing type having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Ice cubes which are frozen in stationary trays,

as in a conventional household refrigerator, are

not commercially saleable because the tops of the cubes are always uneven and the cubes are also objectionably white or cloudy due to the absence of agitation while the water is freezing. Another objection to such cubes is that they contain occluded salts and other impurities, which can only be avoided by constantly removing and replenishing the core water during the freezing operation.

For these and other reasons, nearly all the ice cubes which the trade supplies in large quantities to hotels, restaurants, etc., are made by subdividing large cakes of ice produced in commercial ice plants. In practice, a cake of ice weighing usually three hundred pounds is placed in a machine having a series of saws which saw the cake into approximately two thousand cubes. This process entails considerable expense due to the waste of about thirty percent of the ice from the cuts made by the saws, the labor required to handle the cakes of ice and the snow or saw-dust produced by the saws, and the repairs to the machine consisting chiefly in the replacement of the saws when they become dull or cracked.

Another objection to the above-mentioned cutting machines is the poor quality of the ice cubes which they produce. The cubes are not regular in size due to the tapering sides and irregular tops of the cakes of ice from which they are cut, and more particularly due to the gradual wearing of the edges of the saws. Furthermore, the cubes sawed from the center of the ice cake are usually opaque or cloudy due to the presence of suspended matter and impurities which collect in the center of the cake because of their lower freezing point and are finally trapped and solidified with whatever air is present to form what is known in the trade as the core in the ice cake.

My invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art by providing a machine which automatically freezes ice cubes of uniform size with the surfaces forming perfect cubes of crystal clear ice. In the embodiment disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, my machine comprises a rotatable cylinder or drum containing a multiplicity of open-ended ice cube compartments having bottom and side walls extending into and forming a part of the interior of the drum through which a refrigerant is circulated. The rotatable drum has an outer shell-like cover preferably composed of two semi-cylindrical walls which are hinged together along one longitudinal edge so that the cover is adapted to open or close upon the drum in a manner somewhat similarto the operation of a hinged bracelet or clamshell bucket.

The drum, containing the open-ended ice cube compartments on its cylindrical surface, is adapted to rotate continuously while the machine is in use. At the start of the freezing operation the cover is closed upon the drum and locked thereon, in a manner hereinafter described, so that the cover rotates with the drum. When so closed upon the drum, the cover forms a flat top 'for the open ends of all the ice cube compartments and insures the formation of flat-topped ice cubes during the freezing operation.

The hinged cover of the machine contains a plurality of apertures or holes which permit water to pass into and out of the ice cube compartments as the drum and cover rotate as a unit during the freezing operation. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the cover contains one such hole for each ice cube compartment, and proper centering of said holes above the various compartments is assured by the locking means which secure the cover to the drum.

Means are provided for admitting water or other liquid to the ice cube compartments during the freezing operation. In the preferred embodie ment of the invention, the outer surface of the hinged cover has a plurality of longitudinal ribs containing pockets or scoops which trap water from a suitable supply source and direct it through the above-mentioned apertures into the ice cube compartments when tilted to the proper pouring angle by the rotation of the covered drum. The limited quantity of water thus admitted to each cube compartment is largely frozen in said compartments before the compartments assume a downwardlyetilted. position due to the rotation fof' the covereddum, any unfrozen excess simply. dripping out through the apertures and slopping over into a stationary tank beneath the drum..

The water supply referred to above may comprise a spray pipe which pours refrigerated"water' admitted to the cube compartments builds-up lthe" ice therein, until the ice cubes are fully, formed.' At the conclusion of the freezing operation the temperature of the refrigerant circulating throughfth'e drum is raised sufficiently to thaw the ice cubes from the walls of the cubecompartinents, after which the cover is opened and brough'ttoa stop with the open edge atthebottorn.. ofthe machine to permit the rapid.. discharger of ice cubesby gravity as the V`drumcontinues to rotate.

Although the novel features which are char,- acteristic of this invention are set forth more in-,detailfin the claims appended hereto, .the na' ture andA scope of theinvention may be -better understoodv by referring to thefollowing; description, taken in connection with the yaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof,l in which certainspecic embodiments havebeen vsetlforth for purposes of illustration.

Inthe drawings:

Fig; lisa front elevation of an'icecubeemaking machiney embodying the invention, with thetfdis chargechutefshown in section;

Fig: 2is'anfenlarged transverse section through the machine of Fig. 1; i

Fig.13fis a longitudinal section through -oneof theleslof ice cube compartments withtheloutr coverclosed position;

lisa-perspective view of the feed pipeand tra-y for supplying liquid to the ice cube coin partments;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view'oflthe peripheral portion ofthe machine, corresponding witliFg. 2 butshowing liquid trapped in the scoops which feed same to the ice cube compart-v ments;

Fig'. 6" is a front elevation of the. machine proper, with parts of the operating mechanisms -shown in section;

Fig.' '7 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig; 6 but with the outer cover open to discharge The rotatable drum A comprises a cylindrical '4 wall I having circular end plates 2 secured to a hollow shaft 3 which is journaled in bearings 4 carried by standards 5 and is adapted to be rotated by means of a pulley 6 (Figs. 1 and 6).

In the embodiment illustrated, the cylindrical wall I of drum A is integral with the end plates 2 thereof, the drum preferably being made of two semi-cylindrical metal castings welded together to form a :duid-tight unit.

Al'suitable refrigerant; eitherxgaseous or liquid, is supplied to thev interior-of drum A through one end of the hollow shaft 3, entering the drum through openings I in the shaft adjacent one end plate- 2,: (Fig. 2) and then, after circulating throughout the interior of the drum, passing through similar openings 'I in shaft 3 adjacent the. oppositeendplate 2, and thence out through thefar end of the shaft. It will be understood that tlie-A central portion of shaft 3 is solid to prevent the refrigerant from being short-circuited directl'ythrough th'e shaft.`

The.cylindrical'wall I of drum: A1 containsza. plurality; of spacedlles'of ice. cube compartments 8 the bottom and side walls.of.;whichzextend into and 'form s permanent part of` the refrigerantcontaining interior. chamber. of the drum,` and'. the outer ends-ofwhich are open (Figs. 2, 3, 5and 9); Theesid walls` of the compartmentsl taper. inwardly slightly toward the bottom walls thereof (Figs.` 3' and 5) -to facilitate `the Adischarge offthe ice'A cubes from said compartments at-` they conclusion of `each freezing operation.

The outer shell 'or cover B- of tlie-machinecomfprises a separable cylinder composed of two semi# cylindrical walls I9' whichare joined along'one oftheir meeting 'edges by alongitudinal hingevl 25 Thus, when the two semi-cylindrical halves I0 -of coverB areJ forced apart they will swing open about'their'hinge I2 somewhatflike a clam-shell bucket, causing the ends of'said cover diametri= cally opposite thel hingel I2to separate (Fig. 7) an'd'permit the' discharge of ice' cubes fromI the cube compartments Bof drum'A, as hereinafter more 'fully described.`

The two semi-cylindrical walls IB ofthe cover B are preferably aluminum' castings having a smooth interior lining I3 of hardrubber' since I have found that such a rubber liningyiseasiiy separated'from the tops ofthe icecubes incompartments 8 when it is vdesiredto discharge the ice' cubes;` The `water or' other liquid to befrozen incompartments 8 is admitted to said compartments' through' apertures hereV shown? as rec' tangular holes I4lin'ed`withmetal ferrules' (Figs. 2j* 3 and 5). which .extend'through the'Walls ID and'linings I3, there being onesuch hole I4 allot; tedtoea'ch' cube compartm'ent'. Each of these holeslliliis'aligne'd with the" center of oneof the cubeicompartments Swhen the cover B'is closed during'the'freezing operation, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The outer convex surfaces of. the two semicylindrical walls I0 `of`cover Bare provided with longitudinal'ribs, I5 which are preferably, cast integral with saidwallsand.` are positionedbetween each longitudinal leof holes I4, as shown in Figs.V 1, Zand 6. Each of `these longitudinal ribs contains-.af series of spaced pockets orscoops I 6! havingtheir mouths` positioned adjacent the variousholes` Ill'leadingf to the/cube compartmentsfso thatliquid trapped in said. scoops during the rotation'. of drumV A and cover. B, in a mannerhe-reinafter describecbwill spill over; into the4 holes I @ra-nd thenceinto the -respectivefcube compartments s when tipped suiciently by the rotary motion of the machine.

I shall now describe the means by which the cover B is locked upon the drum' A so as to cause thecover to rotate with the drum in the proper relation to insure the continuous feeding of liquid to the cube compartments 8 during the freezing operation. Disposed about the periphery of each circular end plate 2 of rotatable drum A are a plurality of spaced recesses I8, as shown in Fig. '7, and these recesses are adapted to receive the similarly spaced rollers I9 which are mounted inside the end rims of cover B, as also shown in Fig. '7. Now, in the position shown in Fig. 7 the two semi-cylindrical walls I of cover B are spread apart on their hinge I2, and in order for.

the walls IIE of the cover to close upon the drum A it is necessary for the rollers I9 on the cover to enter the recesses I8 in the end plates 2 of the drum.

The mechanism for opening and closing the cover B about its hinge I2 is best shown in Figs. 6, 'I andV 8. At each end rof cover B I provide a bell crank consisting of a pair of levers which are jointly rfulcrumed at 2| to the reciprocating plunger 23 of a pneumatic or hydraulic motor 24 and have their other ends fulcrum'ed at 25 to the ends of the respective semi-cylindrical walls I9 of cover B adjacent the free ends of said walls Iii. The motors 24 each contain two ports 26 and 2l for the admission of a fluid such as compressed air when it is desired to operate the motors to open or close the cover B. The mechanism for operating these motors automatically will be described later. For the present, with cover B shown in open position in Fig. '7, it may be said that in order to close said cover upon the drum A a fluid such as compressed air is admitted through port 2l of each of the two motors 2t, thus forcing the plunger 23 upwardly (as viewed in Fig. 7) and operatingr the levers 20 to move the semi-cylindrical walls I9 of cover B to the closed position shown in Fig. 8. During this upward movement of plunger 23 the air in the upper part of motor cylinder 24 escapes to the atmosphere through a port 28 in the plunger, a similar port '29 being provided in the opposite end of the plunger for the escape of air whenever the plunger moves downwardly (as viewed in Figs. .1 and 8) to open the cover.

It will be understood that the drum A is rotating continuously during the above-mentioned cover closing operation, and, as soon as the drum rotates to a point where the recesses I8 in its end plates 2 register with the rollers I9 on the ycover B, the said rollers I9 will enter the recesses I8 and the cover will close tightly about the cylindrical surface of the drum, causing the cover to rotate with the drum. During all the time that the cover B is rotating with the drum A it Will be noted that the outer or free end of the plunger 23 of each fluid motor 24 is retracted, as shownin Fig. 8. This free end of each plunger 23 carries a roller 30 which rides in a stationary circular channel-shaped track 3| secured to the standard 5 at each end of the machine as best shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7. These stationary tracks 3| are cut away at the bottom of the machine; that is, a segment is cut out of the bottom of each track 3 I, as shown in Figs. 'I and 8, so that the plunger 23 can descend and thereby open the cover B only when said cover B is in the position shown in Fig. '7 with the hinge I2 at the tcp and the separable edges of cover walls I8 (diametrically opposite the hinge I2) at the bottom. Il? the fluid motors 24 should beenergized to open the cover B at any other time (that is, while the rollers 30 of plungers 23 are ridingin the tracks 3 I) the plungers will be unable to move and the cover B will remain closed until the motors 24 (which are carried by the cover andV shown in Fig. "I, the machine is ready to discharge ice cubes from the cube compartments 9 through the opening at the bottom of the cover B.V` As previously stated, the longitudinal ribs I5 on' the outer convex surface of cover B contain a.

series of spaced pockets or scoops I6 having their mouths positioned adjacent the various apertures or holes I4 leading to the ice cube compartments so that liquid trapped in saidV scoops I6 duringV the rotation of drum A and cover B will spill over into the holes I4 and thence into the respective cube compartments 3 when tipped sufficientlyby the rotary motion of the..

machine. The liquid (usually water) supply means comprises an elongated spray pipe `34 mounted on a stationary plate or apron 35 prefer-1 ably made of rubber which extends along the face of the cover B adjacent the bottom thereof. Since drum A and cover B rotate in a clockwise direc-- tion as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7, the pipe 34l and apron 35 may be mounted in about the eight oclock position where the scoops I Gon the rotating cover B begin to assume an upright position.

The pipe 34 contains a series of spaced slots 36A (Figs. 2 and 3) which direct a steady film of water over the plate 35 and into the scoops I6 on the cover 8. Y

The excess water flowing over the plate 35 drops into a tank or trough 31 which is mountedl beneath the machine and contains a refrigerantcirculating coil 38 for maintaining the water in. trough 3'! just above the freezing temperature A pump 39 (Fig. l) feeds the cold Water from trough 31 tothe spray pipe 34 continuously during the freezing operation. Figs. 2 and 5 show water trapped in certain of the scoops I B on cover B 'just' before the rotation of the drum-and cover (in a` clockwise direction in Figs. 2 and 5) has tilted such trapped water through the holes I4 into the cube compartments 8. As the drum and its cover rotate beyond the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the water will spill over into the cube compartments 8; and, since such Water is already just above the freezing point, it will be largely frozen before the slowly rotating drum, which preferably makes only four or iive revolutions per minute, tilts the respective cube compartments to a Water draining position. However, any unfrozen water remaining in the various compartments Will drainV out through the holes I4 in the cover into the trough 3l when a downwardly tilted position is reached. As the covered drum continues to rotate, each successive charge of cold water ad# mitted to the cube compartments 8 will build up increasing iilms of ice therein, until the ice cubes i are fully formed each with perfectly flat sides and.`

bottom, and also with a perfectly flat top due lto anatra 7. thefsmoothfsurface of the hard rubber lining |11' of` coverf-B which lim'its the height sof fthey ice built up: in: :the cube :compartments ln. describing' the :operation :of the machine shown rin 1 tone', it will of course `be understoodthat itis possible iorvan attendant to Aperiorm'the various operations fmanua'llyor by actuating` .individual.electrical` or Apneumatic controls, if.=desire'd. Howeverr-sincelthis machine iis especially adapted for use in hotels, restaurantaetc., whereiulltautomatic operation is desirable','Ifshall describe the .entire sequence of operations as -per formed automatically under .the control 'of any suitablefelectrlical timing device. The -tirn'e `control'nnechanism itself will not be described, howevensmce formsno :part of the present invention.

1 .henzthe machineshown in Figs. 1 to'f8 vis'iset in operation, the shaft-.3` :carrying drumA i's'rotated through `the .pulley 6, andsaid drum A contmues to rotate at all times while the .machine isin Iuse. Likewise the refrigerant, either gaseous or liquid, flows through 4one end yof the 4hollow .shaft 3 `and circulates through lthe :interior of A in intimate contactwith the bottom andx-sidefwalls of the cube compartments 8 which form aipart Aof the interior chamber of the drum, thefreirigerantpassing out through the opposite enclof shaft 3 to lthe refrigerating apparatus (not shown). Throughout the 'freezingroperation the refrigerant .ismaintained at `a suitable low freezing temperature; but during 'the thawing :operaion, hereinafter described'the temperature of the refrigerant is raised to a 'point which quickly thaws the ice cubes from the walls of the :cube compartments; that iis, the cycle ofthe refrigerant is reversed :as in conventional household refrigeratedicefboxes during the vthawingo'i period. At the start of operations refrigerant also circulates 1through :the -coil 38 in Vwater trough .3.1, and continues so to circulate while `'the machine is l'in use.

At the :sta-rt of operations the cube compartments 8 vof drum A areempty and the cover 'B is closed upon the drum, the pneumatic motors 124 being held in` the4 cover closed position shown ln Figs; 46 and 8- by compressed airflowing from the air lines 4| (Fign) through portsin' packing glands 442 lof shaft bearings V4, valve ports V43 of solenoids t44, and' ports 21 of 'motors 24. Accordingly, the cover B islocked upon the drum A and rotates `with said drum as previously vdescribed. The" pump 39 (Fig. 1`=) is likewise. set vin' operation, -feeding water from thetrough 31 to the vspray pipe 34.

the drum A and cover B rotate.asa'unit'-(in a clockwise Ydirection inxFig. 2) the cold 'water issuing :from spray pipe 34 is `directed. by the apron -35 in'to the scoops vI6 which, when vsuillciently tilted' bythe rotation of the drum, Vdump thewater through the holes I 4 into the cube compartmentsl. Each successive chargefofwater admittedtoacompartments 8 in this manner builds upithe-ice inV said'cubes, the agitation-.of the created vboth by the flow of the water and the movement -of the drum or cylinderinsuringthe formation of crystal-clear cubes, until the :ice cubes are fully formed, as previously described. The freezing -time isfdetermined ,in advance :for each type and size ofmachine constructed in vaccordance with thef invention, the freezing time .for the machine-shown in Figs. 1 totbeingfortyeiive minutes when the internal temperaturefofth drum createdi bythe refrigerantlis the-conclusion `of the predetermined :freezing period the automatic control mechanism (not shown) stops the pump 39 -and thus 4shuts ofi the supply of waterto the spray pipe34. At thesame time the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the interior refrigerating chamber is raised to a thawing -temperatureby reversing the cycle of the refrigerant, thus thawing the ice cubes from the walls of the cubecompartments 8, and likewise 'thawing the flat metal tops between the compartments 8 vfrom the interior lining I3 ofcover B to facilitate the opening of said cover. After a predetermined thawing period, which .is set 'by the timing mechanism, the ice cubes are ready to be discharged.

.The automatic control mechanism now 'establishes an electrical circuit through contact brushes 45 and rings 46 (Figs. 1 and 6) thereby actuating solenoids 44 in a directionto close. their valve ports 43 and open their ports 41 (Fig. 6). As a result, compressed air from the air lines 4l and the ports in packing glands 42 of shaft bearings l4 .now iiows through valve :ports 41 of solenoids 44 and ports 26 of uid motors 24, moving the pistons and plungers 23 of said .motors 24 in a downward direction as viewed in Fig. 8. That is, the cover will open when Athe motors 24 are in* aA nearlyv vertical-l .position at the Abottom `of the machine so that the plungers 23 can descend into the open spaces between the ends of the stationary tracks 3|. As previously explained, if the fluid motors 24 happen to 'be energized to open the cover B while the Arollers 3 of plungers `23 are riding in the tracks 3|, the plu-ngers lwill not operate until their rollers 3U emerge from said tracks 3l at the bottom of the machine, at which time ysaid plungers will descend, the bell crank levers 2) will open the cover B upon its hinge L2, and the free ends of plungers 23 carrying rollers :30 will strike against the stationary brackets 32 'to restrain the cover B from rotating with the drum A.

The drum A continues to rotate, and, as each longitudinal file lof cube compartments 8 yarrives at the bottom of the machine, the ice cubes v therein vwill fall by gravity upon an `inclined delivery -chute 49 which is mounted on the water trough 31 and is suitably perforated -at 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) to permit water toV drip through into said trough. After the lapse of sufiicient time to 1 discharge all the ice cubes, which will require no more than one or two revolutions of the drum A while the cover B is open, the cycle Aof operations is repeated.

Fig. :9 illustrates .a modiiicationof the invention in which the fluid motors 24 for opening and closing the cover B are actuated by thesame fluidk refrigerant (preferably gaseous) which is used for freezingand thawing the ice cubes, thus eliminating the necessityfora separate lair compressor such as is required in .the lmachine of Figs. 1 Vto 8. rlhe yfluid motors 24 of Fig. 9 are constructed as previously described except .that their p'lungers.23do not contain any escape ports (such asthe air escape ports 28 and 29'of Figs. 7 and 8). Furthermore, some of the valve ports controlled bythe solenoids 44 in Fig. 9 diier'from the ports and :connections -in Figs.4 l to 8;l hence those elementswwhich `are unchanged in Fig. v9 have been givenY the same reference numerals as in Figs. l to 8, wliilethe new elements in Fig. 9 'have been assigned new reference numerals vin the drawing.

'Ih'e gaseous refrigerant, whichv circulates under pressure through the hollow shaft V3 in Fig. 9, will likewise flowthrough an opening 52 in shaft 3-m1difthe packing gland f4'2iat the left of Fig. '9

into the duct 53 leading tothe solenoid valve at said left end of the machine; and refrigerant from the fluid motor 24 at the right of Fig. 9 may, under conditions hereinafter described, be discharged through duct 54 and right-hand packing gland 42 into an opening 55 in hollow shaft 3 and thus returned to the refrigerant-circulatory system. In Fig. 9 the cover B is closed upon the drum A, and at such time the fluid motors 24 are maintained in the cover-closing position (similar to Fig. 8) by refrigerant gas owing from shaft 3 at the left of Fig. 9, through duct 53, solenoid valve port 43 and port 21 of left-hand fluid motor 24, as Well as through pipe 56 andport 21 of the right-hand fluid motor 24.

Now, when the control mechanism actuates the parallel-connected solenoids 44 to open the cover B, the left-hand solenoid 44 closes its port 43 and opens its port 41. Thereupon, the refrigerant passes from duct 53 through said port 41 into the port 26 of left-hand iluid motor' 24, aswell as through pipe 51 and port 25 of the right-hand fluid motor 24 in Fig. 9. At the same time, the operation of the right-hand solenoid opens its port 58 so that the refrigerant gas expelled by the outwardly moving pistons of both uid motors 24 may be discharged through said port 58 and through duct 54 andV shaft opening 55 to the interior of hollow shaft 3 which returns the gas to the circulatory system. In all other respects the machine of Fig. 9 operates in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 8.

Although certain specific embodiments have been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of open-ended ice cube compartments with bottom and side walls extending into the interior thereof and forminga chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said carrier, a coverfor said carrier comprising separable walls adapted when closed to surround said carrier and close the ends of said cube compartments, means for opening and closing said cover, cooperating locking means on said carrier and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, means to prevent opening of said cover except in position to discharge the contents of said ice cube compartments downwardly by gravity, said cover having apertures for admitting liquid to said cube compartments, and means for supplying liquid to said apertures during rotation of said carrier and cover.

2. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of open-ended ice cube compartments with bottom andl side walls extending into the interior thereof and forming a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said carrier, a cover for said carrier comprising separable walls adapted when closed to surround said carrier and close the ends of said cube compartments, means for opening and closingv said cover, cooperating locking means on said carrier and cover securing same together to rotate-in unison when said cover is closed, means to prevent opening of said cover except in position to discharge the contents of said ice cube compartments downwardly by gravity, said coverV having apertures leading tosaid cube compartments for the admisvsion of liquid thereto, scoops for the reception of liquid on said cover adjacent said apertures for tilting said liquid into said apertures during the rotation of said carrier and cover, and means for supplying liquid to the scoops on said cover.

3. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of open-ended ice cube compartments with bottom and side walls extending into the interior thereof and forming a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said carrier, a cover for said carrier comprising a pair of hinged walls surrounding said carrier and closing the ends of 'said cube compartments when said cover is closed, means for opening and closing said cover upon its hinge, cooperating locking means on said carrier and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, means to prevent opening of said cover except when inverted to discharge ice cubes downwardly by gravity, said cover having apertures leading to said cube compartments for the admission of liquid thereto, and means for supplying liquid to said apertures during rotation of said carrier and cover.

4. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of open-ended ice cube compartments with bottom and side walls extending into the interior thereof and forming a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said carrier, a cover for said carrier comprising a pair of hinged walls surrounding said carrier and closing the ends of said cube compartments when said cover is closed, means for opening and closing said cover upon its hinge, cooperating locking means on said carrier and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, means to prevent opening of said cover except when inverted to discharge ice cubes downwardly by gravity, said cover having apertures aligned with said cube compartments for the admission of liquid thereto, scoops for the reception of liquid on said cover adjacent said apertures for tilting said liquid into said apertures during the rotation rof said carrier and cover, and means for supplying liquid to the scoops on said cover.

5. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of open-ended ic'e cube compartments with bottom and side Walls extending into the interior thereof and forming a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said carrier, a 'cover for said carrier comprising a pair of hinged walls surrounding said carrier and closing the ends of said cube compartments when said cover is closed, means including motor elements on the ends of said cover having plungers movable outwardly and inwardly to open and close said cover upon its hinge, cooperating locking means on said carrier and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, means cooperating vwith the plungers of said motor elements to prevent outward movement of said plungers except with said cover inverted to discharge ice cubes downwardly by gravity, said cover having apertures aligned with said cube compartments for the admission of liquid thereto, and means for supplying liquid to `said apertures during rotation of said carrier and cover. 1

6. An ice making machine comprising a.rotat able carrier having a plurality of open-ended ice cube compartments with bottom and side walls extending intoY the interior thereof and tormingf a chamberv for the fcirculationlfof aretrigerani.I about said compartments, 'means 4for rotating said carrier, a cover for said carrier'comprising. a pair of hinged walls ysurrounding said vcarrier and closing the ends of said cube com- .partments when said cover is closed, means including; motor elementsfon the ends Vof said cover having plungers movable outwardly and. inwardly toopenand closesaidcover upon its 4hinge-,goooperating locking means ony said earrierandcover securing sametogether to'rotate in unison when said Vcover closed, meansv cooperating with. the plungersorv said motor elements to prevent outward movement of sa-id plungers except withsaid ycover inverted toi discharge ice cubes .downwardly 4by' gravity, said cover having apertures aligned with said cube compartments vfor the admission of. liquid thereto, scoops for the reception Aof liquid on said cover 'adjacent said aperturesA for .tilting said liquid: into said apertures `during the rotation :of vsaid carrier and. cover, and means for supplying liquid to thescoops on. said cover.

711m icemaking machine comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum having a plurality of openended .icecube compartments with bottom and side walls extending into the interior of said'd-:um and forming therewith `a chamber for thefcirculation of a refrigerant about said compartments, means' for rotating .said-drum, ra cover `for said drum comprising. ay vpair of semi-.cylindrical 'walls hinged together along .one-longitudinal edge and completely surrounding. said drum and closing the `ends* of Vsaid cubecompartments when said coveris closed, means. including motor Aelements on. vthe ends: ci -said Acover having plungers ymovable outwardly and inwardly to. open and 4close said cover upon` its hinge, cooperating locking meansron.' said and cover securing same' to gether to rotate inuirison. Ywhen said cover is closed, means cooperating with' the plungers -of said :motor .elements to prevent outward movement oisaid plungers except vwith said cover invertedl 'to discharge' ice cubes downwardly by gravity said'cover having apertures aligned with .said cube compartments for the admission rof liquid- Ythereto, scoops tor the reception of :liquid on said cover adjacent said apertures for tilting said liquid. into Vsaidy apertures during the; rotatioirtof said drum andcover, and meansI tor sup Flying liquid- `to the scoops vorrsaid cover.

-8-... A11 ice. making machine comprising `a rotatable cylindrical drum. having .a `plurality oi .openended ice cubecompartments; with4 bottom and sidewalls-iextendi-ngiinto the interior ofrsaid drum andiormting therewith a chamber for the eircu lation A.of `a refrigerant about said compartments, meanstffor rotatingsaida cover for said drum comprising :a pair-of semi-cylindrical 'walls hinged. together along 'one :longitudinal edge and completely surrounding said drumand closing the ends- .of said. cube. compartments; when said cover is closedg. means: including motor elements on the.` .ends of said cover having -plungers movable outwardly and' inwardly to open and close said `cover upon. its hinge, cooperating locking means on: said drum and cover securing sameV together to rotate in unison when. said cover is clnsed,;means cooperating with the -plungers of said motor elements 'to prevent outward movement of `said: yplungers..exceptwith said cover-inverted to discharge ice cubes downwardly by gravity, .said cover having aperturrses aligned' with cube .compartments for the admission of liquidrtheretorscoops for thereceptiomoi liquid oni 12 said cover addacentsaid vapertures for tilting said liquid into said aperturesV during the rotation of said drum and cover and means including a spray pipev extending' longitudinally of said machine lfor supplying' liquid to the scoops on said cover.

9. An ice making machine comprising a. rotatable cylindricaldrum havingv a plurality of openended ice cube compartments with bottom and side `Walls extending into the interior of said drum vand forming therewith a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant'v about .said compartments, .means for rotating said: drum, a-cover for said `drum comprising'. a pair of semi-cylindrical walls hinged togetheralongone longitudinal edge and' completely surrounding. said drum and closing the ends of said tube: compartments whensaid cover is closed, means. inciuding motor elements on the ends of said cover Ahaving plungers 'movable outwardly and inwardly' to open and close said cover upon its hinge, Ecooperating locking means-'on said drum and cover' securing same together to .rotate .unisona when said` lcover is closed, stationary -circulartracka on said machine adjacent the lends of said cover 'with an opening 'in said tracks 'at the bottom of the machine, rollers on theV plungers :of said", motor elements riding inV said tracks during the .rotation oi said cover to prevent .outward movement of said plungers except through the openingsv insaid tracks at the .bottom ofthe machine, said cover having aperturesl aligned with said cube com- Apartments.l for idle admission. of liquid thereto, scoops for the reception` of .liquid on said cover adjacent` said apertures 'lor .tilting said liquid into said .apertmfes' during the. rotation of said drum and cover', and means includinga spray pipe extending longitudinally oi said .machine for supplying liquid to the scoopsxonsaid cover;

1'0. An ice making'machine comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum having a plurality of openended ice cube compartments ywith bottom and sidewalls extending 'into the interior of said drum and. forming. therewith a chamber for the circulation ofv a refrigerant about said compartments, means for rotating said. drum, a cover for said drum comprising a pairl of semi-cylindrical Walls hinged together along one vlongitudinal edge and completely surrounding said .drum and closing the ends of said cube compartments when said cover' is closed, means including motor elements on the ends of said .cover having reciprocating -plungers movable outwardly and inwardly to open and Vclose said cover upon its hinge, cooperating locking `means on saiddrum and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, stationary circular tracks on said machine adjacent the ends of said cover with an opening in said tracksat. the 'bottom oi the machine, rollers on the plungers -of said motor elements riding in said' vtra'cl'rs during the rotation of. said cover to prevent outward movement of said plungers except through the openings in said tracks. at the bottom o'f the machine, said cover having Vapertures. aligned with 'said cube compartments for the admission of liquid thereto, scoops `for the. reception` of? liquid on said cover adjacent said apertures for tilting said liquid into said apertures during therotation of' said drum and cover, av trough for refrigerated liquid beneath said Vdrum and coverinrposition to receive excess liquid dripping ironrthe latter, and' means including a spray pipe .extending longitudinally of said machine for supplying liquid from vsaid trough to .thesliquid receivingscoops onsaid' cover.

11. An ice making machine comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum having a plurality of openended ice cube compartments with bottom and side walls extending into the interior of said drum and forming therewith a chamber for the circulation of a refrigerant about said compartments. means for rotating said drum, a cover for said drum comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical walls hinged together along one longitudinal edge and completely encircling said drum and closing the ends of said cube compartments when said cover is closed, means including motor elements on the ends of said cover having reciprocating plungers movable outwardly and inwardly to open and close s aid cover upon its hinge, cooperating locking means on said drum and cover securing same together to rotate in unison when said cover is closed, stationary circular tracks on said machine adjacent the ends of said cover with an opening in said tracks at the bottom of the machine, rollers on the plungers of said motor elements riding in said tracks during the rotation of said cover to prevent outward movement of said plungers except through the openings in said tracks at the bottom of the machine, said cover having apertures aligned with said cube compartments for the admission of liquid thereto, scoops for the reception of liquid on said cover adjacent said apertures for tilting said liquid into said apertures during the rotation of said drum and cover, a trough for refrigerated liquid beneath said drum and cover in position to receive excess liquid dripping from the latter, means including a spray pipe extending longitudinally of said machine for supplying liquid from said trough to the liquid-receiving scoops on said cover, and means for receiving ice cubes discharged by gravity through the opening in said cover at the bottcm of the machine.

WILLIS B. KIRmATRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Date 2,400,517 Kirkpatrick May 21, 1946 2,414,264 Kirkpatrick Jan. 14, 1947

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