US2976697A - Automatic icemaker - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1961 R. R. DAHL 2,976,697

AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER Filed May 4, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ INVENTOR.

ROBERTMR. DAHL ATT March 28, 1961 R. R. DAHL AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1959 THERMOSTAT 80 OPERATED F l G. 8

WATER HEATER THERMOSTAT RESET HEATER MEASURING FILL SOL INVENTOR. ROBERT R. DAHL ATTO R March 28, 1961 Filed May 4, 1959 R. R. DAHL AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. ROBERT R. DAHL March 28, 1961 R. R. DAHL AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 4, 1959 WINVENTOR. ROBERT R. DAHL llll IIH]! [Ill IOO

March 28, 1961 R. R. DAHL AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1959 INVENTOR. ROBERT R. DAHL ATTORNEYS United ates Patent AUTOMATIC ICEMAKER Robert R. Dahl, Lincolnwood, 11]., assignor to The Dole gage Company, Morton-Grove, 11]., a corporation of ois This invention relates to improvements in ice makers and more particularly relates to an improved form of automatic ice maker for use in household refrigerators.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of ice maker of the self-releasing rotatable tray type arranged with a view toward utmost simplicity and efiiciency in operation and control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of ice maker of the self-releasing rotatable tray type in which a metering device is provided to fill the molds with a measured volume of water, and in which the pressure of the water filling the metering device supplies the pressure to rotate the molds to accommodate the release of ice cubes therefrom by the heat of the water filling the empty molds.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ice maker of the rotatable type in which control of thefreezing and releasing of the ice pieces is by a thermal element and an electric heater therefor, 'in which the 7 power for rotating theice tray to bring the tray into position to release the ice pieces therefrom, is attained by'the filling of a metering device, metering water to fill the empty ice molds, and in which an ice level sensing arm movable vertically during each cycle of rotatable movement of the molds, controls operation of the ice maker and eflects the continued cycle of the ice maker until the storage basket for the ice pieces is full.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of ice maker of the rotatable tray type in which one ice mold faces in a direction to discharge frozen ice pieces therefrom when the other ice mold isin position to be filled with water, in which the ice mold is oscillatably driven under the control of a thermostat sensing the freezing of the water into ice pieces, and in which the instigation of oscillatahle movement of the mold is controlled by an ice level sensing arm, continuing the ice making operation and retaining the thermostat from instigating anoperation of oscillatably moving the mold, when the storage basket for the ice pieces is full.

These and other objects of the invention willappear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an ice maker constructed in accordance with the invention, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view of the ice maker shown in Figure 1, looking at the ice maker toward the opposite end thereof from the drive mechanism therefor;

"Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear end view of the ice maker illustrating the drive mechanism therefor and showing the metering device, supplying the power to drive the ice maker, in vertical section;

arts of the drive mechanism not shown in Figure 3;.

Figure 5 is a. view in side elevation of the metering decuit diagram'for efiecting operation of the ice maker and carrying the ice makerthrough its ice making cycles. a

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 a storage basket 10 for frozen ice pieces. The storage basket 10 has an open top having a rotatable freezing receptacle or ice tray 11 extending therealong and mounted thereabove. As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the ice tray 11 is oscillatably mounted on a shaft 15, rotatably mounted in a bearing boss 16 extending from an attachment flange 17 of a thermally responsive actuator 19. The attachment flange is shown in Figure 1 as being mounted on a rear wall 20 of the refrigerator cabinet. The thermally responsive element also has a forwardly spaced flange 21 abutting an inwardly spaced wall 22 of the refrigerator cabinet.

The ice tray 11 is constructed on principles similar to those shown and decsribed in an application Serial No. 740,898, filed June 9, 1958, now Patent No. 2,939,298, by Carl C. Bauerlein and entitled Self-Releasing Ice Mold.

The ice tray 11 is shown as being generally triangular in form, having two sets of oppositely facing vmolds 23 having a common radial wall 24 in heat conductivity with each set of molds. The molds 23 have outer wall portions 25, shown in Figure 2 as extending inwardly toward the center of rotation of the tray at equal angles with respect to a radial line extending through the center of rotation of the tray and the centerline of the wall 24.

Partitions or dividers 26 extend between the common radial wall 24 and the insides of the outer wall portions 25 to divide the tray into the molds 23, herein shown as being a series of individual prism like molds. The dividers 26 are tapered from the inner to the outer ends thereof to provide ice prism molds diverging outwardly from the bottom of a particular mold to the top, when the mold is in the water receiving position shown in Figure 2, and diverging outwardly and downwardly when the particular mold has been rotated to anice releasing position.

The wall portions 25 are shown as terminating into drip troughs or retainers 29, extending along the outer edges thereof to collect the drops of water dropping from the thawing surfaces of the ice prisms, as the ice prisms are released by the heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, and to return the water to the molds when the tray is turned to position the molds 23 into a position to be filled, it being understood that the heat of the water filling the molds thaws the frozen water in the troughs or drip retainers 29. The drip retainers 29 are shown as being spaced in advance of the ends of the partitions 25 to accommodate the flow of water from one mold to the other, as one mold is filled, and to thereby accommodate the use of a single spout 3t supplied. with water by a liquid measuringdevice 31, to successively fill the individual ice molds. p

' Drying racks in the form of parallel spaced bars 33, spaced beneath the ice tray 11 and extending along each side thereof, are provided to cooperatewith the drip retainers 29, to support the released ice'prismsfduring freezing of the water in the upwardly facing molds, and to thereby accommodatethe wetted surfaces of the ice prisms, thawed bythe heat of the water filling the molds, to dry by freezing, as the water in the upwardly facing ice molds freezes. As the water freezes in the upwardly facing molds 23 and the tray is turned to bring an emptysetfof'ice: molds. 23 into position to be filled with water, the ice prisms will be released from the drying rack 33 and drip retainer 29, to fall into the storage ba'sketlO in a dry condition. I 1

An end wall 35 of the ice tray 11, adjacent the'thermally responsive actuator 19, has 'a camming lug 3651projecting therefrom and shown .in Figure" 2 as having its center in alignment with a radial, line'extending through the axis of rotation of the mold and the center'lineof the wall 24. The camrning lug 36 projects toward the thermally responsive actuator 19; and engages the underface of a pivoted follower 37, suitably. secured to a transverse shaft 39. The transverse shaft 39 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as having an angularly and downwardly turned portion 40 havingahorizontally extending lower end portion 41 having an ice level sensing shoe 43, mounted thereon and extending therefrom.

The lower face of the follower 37 isshown as being relatively wide and as being engaged by the camming lug 36, as the ice tray 11 moves from the solid line position shown in Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in this figure, in one direction of movement of the ice tray, and from the dotted line position to the solid line position shown, in an oppositedirection of movement of the ice tray, to raise and lower the ice level sensing shoe 43 each time the ice tray is moved intoposition to accommodate the discharge of ice cubes therefrom. When the storage basketis filled 'with ice pieces to a predeterminedlevel, theice level sensing shoe 43 will be held I in an elevated position and-prevent the'recycling operation of the ice maker. 7 As'sshown in Fignres l', 2"and'7 a cam 44ismounted on the shaft 39, and is oscillatably movedby-said shaft. The cam 44 has a cam face 45 engaging the outer end portion of aplunger 46, slidably mounted within a housing 47 for the thermally responsive actuator 19. The plunger 46 is shown as being sealed to a cover 49 of the thermally responsive actuator by a flexible diaphragm 50, and as having an inner-end portion 51 engaging an outwardly extending-spring arm 53 extending outwardly from a resilient catch 55, engaging an over center lever 56 of the thermally responsive actuator, to hold said lever from operating toaengage a movable switch arm 57-with a stationary contact 59, upon retractable movement of apiston 60 of a-thermally responsive element 61,

and to thereby prevent turning of the ice tray 11 into a discharge position, when the storage basket 10 is filled with ice pieces.-

The thermally responsive actuator is similar, to that shown and described in my joint application with Donald E. Miller, Serial No. 801,087, filed March 23, 1959, and

entitled Analog Thermostat," so need only be described herein insofar as is necessary to render my present invention clearly understandable. The thermally responsive element 61 is a well known form of power or high motion solid fill type of thermally responsive element, in which a fusible thermally expansible material within a casing 63, acts against a flexible membrane or diaphragmtnot shown), to extensibly move the power member or piston 60 from acylinderdd, upon fusion of the thermally expansible material.

The thermally responsive element 61 is mounted on the bottom of acage 65 forming a support for the stationcontact' 59 and'the movable switch arm 57. An

annular spring retainer 66 is mounted in the cage 65 and elfndingoutwardly and angularly inwardly therefrom.

tai e es l t n i hsn s The casing 63 of the thermally responsive element 61 is enclosed by a generally cylindrical container 70, spaced from said casing in radial and axial directions and abutting the bottom of the cage 65 and suitably secured thereto in water tight relation with respect thereto. The container 70 forms a chamber, filled with water or a like freezable material having; similar variations of temperature with time as the water in the ice tray 11. The container 70 has a tube- 71 of -lowheat conductivity extending fromthe bottom thereof, through the cover 49 for the ho'using'47' and;'extendingitowardthe ice tray: 11 in the evaporator compartment of the refrigerator. The tube 71 is closed at its outer end by a plug 72 which may be of high heat conductivity. The plug 72 and tube 71 retain ice crystals; therein upon meltingof the water within the container 70 which serve'to seed the water in the contaiuer 70 with ice crystals and inhibit supercooling thereof as in my joint application with Donald E. Miller, Serial No. 801,087. 1 l a The container 70 is encircled by a resistor heater 73, whichserves to heat the water in the containerjtl and reset the thermally responsiveelement, to effect extensible movement of the piston 60.

The switch arm 57- extends through a slot (not shown) in a slotted leg 74 of a terminal 75, mounted in "and extending outwardly ofaninsulating plate 76, suitably mounted in the -cage 65, Theover center lever 56 is also rockingly mountedin theslotted leg74 and abuts the end of the piston 60 and is rockedthereby in one direction upon'extensiblef movement ofsaid piston. A tension spring 76, connected'between the outer end portion of an arm 77 of the over-center-lever 56 and the insulator plate 78, is provided to bias the over-center arm 56 into engagement with theend of the-pistonfll; The switch arm 41 also extends through a slotted portion (not shown) of the arm 74, to be moved by said arm out of engagement with the stationary" contact -59 into engagement with a stationary contact 80, upon; increases'in temperature ef-' fected by energization of the resistor heater 73. The con tact 59 is mounted onan inwardly extending end portion 810i 'a terminal8-3, mounted in the insulatingplate 78 and extendingoutwardly therefrom. The oontacttlll'is likewise mounted on the inner end portion of a terminal 84, mounted inthe insulating plate 78 and extending outwardly therefrom. a i

Duringeach cycle of operation of the icemaker, as the ice pieces are discharged from the ice tray ll-into the storage basket 10, the over-fill shoe43 willbe raised by the carnming lug 36. This will eflfect movement ofjthe cam 44 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 7 and accommodate outward movementof the plunger 46 to follow the cam face 45 by the bias of the spring 53. The catch 55 will at the same time be moved into the position shown in Figure 7, in position to catch the end of the over-center lever 56and prevent engagement of the switch arm 57 with the stationary contact 59 when the piston 60 has been extended by increases in temperature of the thermally responsive element, effected by energization ofthe resistor heater73, and is then retracted by the the return spring 67 upon deenergization of said resistor heater and freezing of the water in'the tray 11. Asthe ice tray 11 continues its rotatable movement to the discharge position shown" by dotted lines in Figure 2, the sens-ing'shoe 43-will then drop, moving'the cam 45 in a counterclockwise direction and depressing the plunger as and moving the'catch 55 out of position toengage the end of the over-center arm 56, andto therefore-'accom inodate therecycling of the -icemalcer.

When, howeventhe storage basket 10 is filled with'ice pieces to a level which will prevent dropping -of-the ice level sensing shoe 43, the resilient arm 53 will extend the plunger 46 with respect to the housing 47. The resilient catch 55'will be in-the position-shown inFigureTtoengagethe over-Eenter 56 andpreventtheengagement ofthelswitch arm 57 with the stationary contact 59, ,until aware the sensing shoe 43 again drops by the removal of ice pieces from the storage basket 10.

Referring now to the metering device 31 and the means for oscillatably driving the ice tray 11, said metering device may be mounted on a back wall of the refrigerator andv is similar to that shown and described in the aforementioned Bauerlein application Serial No. 763,254, so need only herein be described in sufiicient detail to render my present invention readily understandable.

The metering device 31 includes a casing 85 having a piston 86 movable therealong. A piston rod 87 extends from the piston 86 and is slidably guided in an upper end wall 88 'of the casing 85 and has rack teeth 89 thereon, meshing with a gear 90 on a transverse shaft 91 suitably mounted on the housing 85.

A diaphragm 93 is mounted within the casing 85 and has an annular rim 94 sealed to a flanged portion 95 of an upper half 96 of the casing 85 by a clamping ring 98, clamping a lower half 97 of the casing 85 into engagement with the marginal rim of the diaphragm 93. The diphragm 93 is of a generally cylindrical form and has a closed bottom abutting the inner end of the piston 86 and with the interior wall of the casing forms a measuring chamber.

A spring 99 seated on the end wall 88 and engagin g'the piston 86 is provided to retractibly move said piston and force a measured amount of fluid through an outlet 100 from the metering device. 7

As water in the ice tray 11 freezes, the return spring 67 will engage the contact arm 57 with a oontact'59. This will energize a solenoid coil 101 of the metering device 37 and withdraw a valve 103 on the inner end of an armature 104 from a pilot port 105, leading through a diaphragm valve 106 and will accommodate water under pressure in secured thereto as by a machine screw 129 threaded in the end of said collar and suitably locked to said collar. The drive rod'128 is shown as beingslidably mounted in a drive member 130 slidably guided on'the back wall of the refrigerator. The drive rod 128 has a head 131 at its upper end, abutting a shouldered portion of the member 130 and limiting downward movement of said rod. A Bodin wire 135 extends through two facing cuplike guides 132 guided in the drive member 130 and forced apart by a spring 133, to bias the upper cup-like guide into engagement with the top of the drive member 130, and the lower cup-like guide into engagement with a shouldered'portion 134 of the drive member 130. Upper and lower stops 136 and 137 on the Bodin wire 135 abut the upper and lower cup-like guides 132. Thus upon rotationof the disk 119 in a clockwise direction fromthe position shown in Figure 3, the rod 128 will move upwardlyalong the drive member 130 until the head 131 engagesthe'. end of the Bodin wire 135. The Bodin wire and drive member will then move vertically, it being understood that the spring 133 normally acts as asolidmember.

The Bodin wire 135 is slidably guided in a cable guide 1'38 extending vertically along the refrigerator wall and clamped at its upper end to a collar 142 mounted on an inturned end portion 140 of a crack 139, slidably guided in a vertically, extendingguide .141, covered by a cover plate 143. The cover plate 143 is shown as having; a

bracket 144 depending therefrom having a clamp 145 for an inlet 107 to move the diaphragm valve 106 off ,its seat, 2

and flow into the metering chamber through an inlet passageway 109. Water entering the inlet passageway 109 will force the diaphragm 93 and piston 86 to move toward the wall 88 against the bias of the spring 99 and thereby increase the volume of the metering chamber to the end of travel of the piston 86, tocontain a slug of water of a volume sufficient to fill the upwardly facing molds 23 in the ice tray 11.

When it is desired to meter a slug of water .into the molds 23 of the ice tray 11 through the filler spout 30,

the solenoid coil 101 is deenergized anda solenoid coil 111 is energized under the control of the switch arm 57 and the thermally responsive actuator 19, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

This will withdraw a valve 112 on the inner endof an armature 113 from a pilot port 114, and will accommodate water forced through a port 115 by the energy stored up in the spring 99 'to unseat the diaphragm valve117. A measured slug or volume of water will then flow through the outlet 100 and filler spout 30 to fill the upwardly fac- 5.

ing ice molds 23 with water. It will also reverse the travel of the rack 89 and the gear 90.

The oscillatable drive to the shaft 15 from the rack 89 and gear 90 includes a disk .119 on the'shaft 91 and drivenfrom the gear 90 through a one-way clutch 120. The one-way clutch 120 is herein shown as being a spring clutch of a type in which a spring 121 wrapsaround a drum -123 in one direction of rotation of the clutch to rotatably drive the disk .119 and unwraps from the drum 123 in a reverse direction of rotation of the gear 90, as is well known to those skilled in the art, so not herein shown or described further. 5 v

1 The disk 119 has spaced ratchet teeth 124 formed integrally therewith and shown in Figure 3 as being spaced 180 apart. The ratchet teeth 124 are engaged by a, pawl 125 holding the disk 1-19 from rotation in adirection opposite to the direction of said disk is driven by the one-way clutch 120.

4 The disk 119 has a collar 127 rotatably monhted thereon inwardly of the periphery thereof. IA' driye 'rod 1:

128 extends transversely through the collar 1'27 "and is the cable'guide 138 mounted thereon.

The guide 141 is formed in a guide plate or hous ing 146 extending from the housing 47 ofthe thermally responsive actuator 19 and encloses a gear 147 mounted on the outer end of the shaft 15 for oscillatably driving said shaft and the ice tray 11.

It will be noted with reference to Figures 3 and 5, that as'the metering chamber is filled with water, that the rack 89 will be extensibly' moved with; respect to the casing and rotate the gear and disk 119 through 180?. This will move the collar 127 through 180", and move the rack 139 a distance substantially equal to the distance between the centers 'of the collar 27 in its two extreme positions, minus the distance from the head 131 to the end of the Bodin wire 135. This will rotate the ice tray 11 through a lesser angle than the angle of rotation of the collar 127 and will bring the upwardly facing ice molds'23 and the frozen ice pieces therein into the downwardly facing discharge. position shown in Figures l, 2 and 3. I 1

As water is metered through the outlet 100, the spring 99-will reverse movement of the rack 89, but the. disk 119 will be heldffrom rotation by the pawl 124. During the next operation of; filling the metering device, the rack 89 will again .be extensibly moved to rotate the disk 119 through 180 and bring the collar 127 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. p i p This will reverse the direction of movement ofthe rack 139, and bring the upwardly facing ice molds 23 intoa downwardly facing discharge position to accom modate the discharge of the ice pieces by the heat'of gageablefwithstationary contacts 154' in a, conductor 155 connected from the stationary contact 80 ofthe ther mally responsive actuator 19 to :the solenoid coil 111,to energize said solenoid c oil when' the switch is closed; The switch" is normally closed and has a switchbutton 156engaged by the'end of a screw 157 threaded in aright angled arm portion 159 of acontrolarm 1601 The control 'ar'm'160 may be'a continuation or rhe'raer 89, toeffeCtlve icallmovement of the'screw vertical'movemnt'ofsaidrackf I j 'lfl us when the spring, 99,hasmoved the piston 86 and diaphragm, 93 to, the extreme endflof 'itsjnieterin'g stroke, the screw 157 willl engage theswitch ibutton,156and move the movable contact153, out'of engagement withthe. stationary contacts 154m deenergizei the solenoid lll while the switch arm 57 is in engagement with the sta.-, tionary contact 80. i V I Referring now to Figures 1, 7 ,and 8 .as the water in the upwardly facing molds -izi'zis frozen, the,,,spring,67 will haveretractably moved the piston 65of the thermal element 61 to theippsition shown in Figure 7. The switch arm 5'1 will j then engage the stationary contact 59 and a circuit willbe completed throughaconductor. 1161 to the solenoid coil 101 to energize. said solenoid. coil and openthe valve 106 tQ. lTcct .fill ing of the metering chamber and extensible, movement fthe diaphragm 93 and piston '85 againstthe spring 99. The reset heater "[3 will also be energized through a conductor 162 to .start melting of the ,freezable'liquid contained withinvthe chamber 70 andto heat the thermally expansible materialwithin the casing 63rto elfect extensible movement of the piston 60. A resistor heater 163icoiledabout a pipe 165 leading from the outlet-100 from the metering device 31 tothe filler spout 30 will alsorbe energized to heat the water in thepipe 165 priorto discharge into the .ice molds 23, by energization of the, solenoid coil 111.

During filling of themetering chamber, the rack 89. willbe extensibly movedby the piston 86 to turnthe upwardly facing ice molds 23. and the frozen ice therein into a downwardly facing dischargeapositiomas previously described. As the thermally responsive element 61, is heated by the resistor heater 73, the piston 60 will be extended with respect to the cylinder 64 and move the over-center arm 56 in a direction to disengage the switch arm fromthe stationary contact 59. and to engagejsaid switch arm n with the stationary contact 80. This will take place in a, time delay interval sufficient to effect the heating of the water inuthe pipe 131 to the requiredtempsratu-re to loosen the downwardly facing ice pieces from their molds. As the. switch arm 57 engages the stationary contact 80, an energizing circuit will be completed to the solenoid coil 111' through the contacts 153 and 154 of the switch 150 and the conductor 155. The valve 117 will then open, the solenoid coil 101, therresistor heater 73 and the water heater. 163 being deenergized, upon disengagement of the switch arm 57 from the stationary contact59. The spring 99 will then force'the piston 86 and the diaphragm 93in a retractable direction toforce a imeasuredslug ofwater. through the outlet ltlllfinto the pipe 165 and forcing ,the heated water. in saidjpipe into the, upwardly. facing molds 23.; When the piston86. and diaphragm 93 .have reached the end of their metering stroke, the screw 9 1 l ?mi-P t 0 159v i l, a engaged the switch button 156, .;,to open the, ,SWitChj lSQ anddeenergize the solenoid coil 1,11. j v

The upwardly facing molds' 23.,will then have been filled with heated water, This will loosen theice pieces 7 in the downwardly facing molds 23 and accommodate v said ice pieces to tilt about the drip trough 29 onto the drier rack 33. and be retained'in this position until freezing of thewater in the upwardly facingice molds ,23 and turning of the tray 1 1 in a direction to bringdhedownwardlyj tacing-moldsflzi into position to again be filledwithwater.

- it should here beunderstood thateach timejthe trayvll is oscillated to bringthe ice pieces and the upwardly facing molds into positionto be dischargedit-herefrom. that the overfilljshoe. .43 is raised andv lowered andthatjas the over-fili shoe 43, israised the vcam 44 will moveinposiofpositionto engage the over-centerv arm56 and accent: modate retractable movement of the piston to effect engagementofthe switch arm '57 with the stationary contact 59.,' to'eifctla next succeeding ice-making operation. The overfilllshoel 43Lth'us merely latches and 'unlatches the overcenter arm 56 during each cycle of rotation of the ice tray ,11,holding;the over-center lever 56 latched only when the ice level sensing shoe 43 is held in an elevated position by ice piecesin the storage basket 10.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it should be understood that various modifications and variations in the invention may" be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my. invention:

1. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, metering means for filling the upwardly facing molds with a measured volume of waterand loosening the ice pieces in the downwardly facing molds byithe heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, power means actuated by the pressure of the water filling said meteringmeans for moving said tray to bring the upwardly facing molds and-the ice pieces therein ina downwardly facing release position, switch means controlling the filling of said metering means, a thermally responsiveelement forioperating said switch 'means to efiect filling of said metering means upon certain low temperature conditions and to effect emptying of said meteringmeans upon certain high temperature conditions, an overfill, arm sensing the level of ice pieces discharged from .saidimolds, and means operated by said overfill arm for holding said switch means from movement to complete a 'circuitito effect filling of said metering means upon the discharge of a predetermined level of ice pieces.

2. ,In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, a storage tray in material receiving relation with respect to said ice molds, an overfill arm having anend portion engaging the ice pieces discharged onto said storage tray, a camming connection between said ice tray and overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm during each cycle of oscillatable movement of said tray, metering means for filling the upwardly facing molds with a measured volume of water and loosening the ice pieces in, the downwardly facing molds by the heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, switch meansetfecting the filling of said metering means in one position, and the emptying of said metering means and the filling of said ice molds in a second position, a

thermally responsive element operated by the freezing of the ice pieces, to, efiect movement of said switch means into one position to effect the filling of said metering means, heating means for said thermal element, heating said thermal element upon movement of said switch means ,to said one position, to reset said thermally. responsive element and move said switch means to said second position to elfect filling ofthe upwardly facing molds with watenand means operatedby said overfill arm to hold said switch means from moving to said oneposition-and to thereby prevent filling of said measuring device upon filling ofs'aid storage tray to alp'redetermined level.

3. In an automatic ic'tmaker, an oscillatabletrayhaving oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation withrespect to each othera metering device includtion 'to, accommodate the spring larm 53 t ojmove the Catch 5,. into, n sn' t n a e t e ave -c nter arms,

ndrh l lt e swit h, ns 5, fi nt sasinat sfst tionary ing a metering chamber having a movable wall portion movable in one direction by the pressure of water filling said; chamberand movable in an opposite direction to expellwater from said chamber, means driven by said movablewall, 'portion for rotating said tray inone, direction upon one operation of filling said chamberand inv an opposite direction upon a second operation of fillingsaidf'chamber, a .storagebasket in m'aterialreceiying relation with ,respectjto said tray, a pivoted 'over- 9 fill arm movable into said storage basket into position to rest upon the ice pieces discharged thereinto, a camming drive connection between said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm upon each operation of rotatably moving said tray, switch means controlling the filling and emptying of said metering device, a thermal element operative upon the freezing of the water in said ice tray to move said switch means into one position to effect filling of said metering device and the turning of said tray to a discharge position, a resistor heater for said thermal element, operative to heat said thermal element upon movement of said switch means to said one position to reset said thermal element and move said switch means to a second position, said switch means when in said second position being operative to operate said metering device to effect filling of the empty ice molds with water, and latch means operative by upward movement of said overfill arm to prevent movement of said switch means into said one position upon failure of said overfill arm to drop into said storage basket by the ice pieces discharged thereinto.

4. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, a metering device including a metering chamber having a movable wall portion movable in one direction by the pressure of water filling said chamber and movable in an opposite direction to expel water from said chamber, means driven by said movable wall portion for rotating said tray in one direction upon one operation of filling said chamber and in an opposite direction upon a second operation of filling said chamber, a storage basket in material receiving relation with respect to said tray, a pivoted overfill arm movable into said storage basket into position to rest upon the ice pieces discharged thereinto, a camming drive connection between said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm upon each operation of rotatably moving said tray, switch means controlling the filling and emptying of said metering device, a thermal element operative upon the freezing of the water in said ice tray to move said switch means into one position to effect filling of said metering device and the turning of said tray to a discharge position, a resistor heaterfor said thermal element, operative to heat said thermal element upon movement of said switch means to said one position to reset said thermal element and move said switch means to a second position, said switch means when in said second position being operative to operate said metering device to effect filling of the empty ice molds with water, and latch means operative by upward movement of said overfill arm to prevent movement of said switch means into said one position upon failure of said overfill arm to drop into said storage basket by the ice pieces discharged thereinto, comprising a catch normally in position to engage said switch means and prevent movement thereof into its first position, and moved out of position to engage said switch means each time same overfill arm drops to a lowermost position into said storage basket.

5. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, a metering device including a metering chamber having a movable wall portion movable in one direction by the pressure of water filling said chamber and movable in an opposite direction to expel water from said chamber, means driven by said movable wall portion for rotating said tray in one direction upon one operation of filling said chamber and in an opposite direction upon a second operation of filling said chamber, a storage basket in material receiving relation with respect to said tray, a pivoted overfill arm movable into said storage basket into position to rest upon the ice pieces discharged thereinto, a cam- 'ming drive connection between said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm upon each operation of rotatably moving said tray, switch means controlling the filling and emptying of said metering device, a thermal element operative upon the freezing of the water in said ice tray to move said switch means into one position to effect filling of said metering device and the turning of said tray to a discharge position, a resistor heater for said thermal element, operative to heat said thermal element upon movement of said switch means to said one position to reset said thermal element and move said switch means to a second position, said switch means when in said second position being operative to operate said metering device to effect filling of the empty ice molds with water, and latch means operative by upward movement of said overfill arm to prevent movement of said switch means into said one position upon failure of said overfill arm to drop into said storage basket by the ice pieces discharged thereinto, comprising a resilient catch, a plunger engageable with said catch, a cam operated by said .overfill arm upon raisin-g and lowering movement of said overfill arm to move said plunger and thereby move said catch into position to engage said switch means and prevent operation thereof upon raising movement of said overfill arm, and into position to release said switch means upon lowering movement of said overfill arm. 6. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable ice tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, an ice piece storage basket beneath said ice tray, metering means for filling the upwardly facing molds with a measured volume of water and loosening the ice pieces in the downwardly facing molds by the heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, power means actuated by the pressure of the water filling said metering means for moving said tray to bring the upwardly facing molds and the ice pieces therein into a downwardly facing release position, a pivoted overfill arm adapted to rest on the ice pieces in said storage basket, a camming connection between said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm in each direction of movement of said tray to a discharge position, a thermally responsive control device controlling the emptying and filling of said tray including a switch having a switch arm and two spaced stationary contacts, engaged by said switch ann in opposite directions of movement thereof, the engagement of said switch arm with one contact-effecting the filling of said metering device and the turning of said tray to a discharge position, the engagement of said switch arm with the second contact effecting the filling of said tray with a measured volume of water, a thermally responsive element for operating said' switch arm to engage said one contact upon freezing of the water in said tray, and operating said switch arm to engage said second. contact upon the heating of said thermal element,,means operated by said overfill arm to hold said switch arm from movement into said one position upon movement of said switch arm into an elevated position, and to release said switch arm upon lowering movement of said overfill arm. I v

7. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable ice tray having oppositely facing ice molds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, an ice piece storage basket beneath said ice tray, metering means for filling the upwardly facing molds with a measured volume of water and loosening the ice pieces in the downwardly facing molds by the heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, power means actuated by the pressure of the water filling said metering means for moving said tray to bring the upwardly facing molds and the ice pieces therein into a downwardly facing release position, a pivoted overfill arm adapted to rest on the ice pieces in said storage basket, a camming connection between said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering I 1 said overfill arm in each direction of movement of said tray to a discharge position, a thermally responsive control device controlling the emptying and filling of said tray including a switch having a switch arm and two switch arm with the second contact effecting the filling of said tray with a measured volume of water, a thermally responsive element for operating said switch arm to engage said one contact upon freezing of thewater in said tray, and operating said switch arm to engage said second contact upon the heating of said thermal element, means operated by said overfill arm to hold said switch arm from movement into said one position upon movement of said switch arm into an elevated position, and to release said switch arm upon lowering movement of said overfill arm, comprising a resilient catch normally biased into position to catch said switch arm and hold said switch arm from engaging said one contact, and cam operated means movable upon lowering movement of said overfill arm to release said catch.

8. In an automatic icemaker, an oscillatable ice tray having oppositely facing icemolds in heat transfer relation with respect to each other, an ice piece storage basket beneath said ice-tray, metering means for filling the upwardly facing molds with a measured volume of water and'loosening the ice pieces in the downwardly facing molds by the heat of the water filling the upwardly facing molds, power means actuated by'the pressure of the waterfilling said metering means for moving said tray to bring the upwardly facing molds and the ice pieces'therein intoa downwardly facing releaseposition, a'pivoted overfill arm adapted to rest on the ice' pieces in said storage basket, a'camming connection between'said tray and said overfill arm for raising and lowering said overfill arm in each direction of movement of said tray to a discharge position, a thermally responsive control device controlling the emptying and filling of said tray includinga switch having a switch arm and twospaced stationary contacts, engaged by said switch arm in opposite directions of movement thereof, the engagement of said switch arm with one contact efiecting the filling of said metering device and the turning of said tray'to with a measured volume of water, a thermally responsive element for operating said switch arm to engage said one contact upon freezing of the water in said tray, and operating said switch arm to engage said second contact upon the heating of said thermal element, means operated by said overfill arm to hold said switch arm from movement into said one position upon movement of said switch arm into an elevated position, and to release said switch arm upon lowering movement of said overfill arm, a cam .oscillatably driven by said'switch arm upon raisirigand lowering movement thereof, a resilient catch biased to catch said switch arm and hold said switch arm from engaging said one contact, and a plunger'operated by said cam to move said catch in a release position upon lowering movement of said switch arm,

9. In anantomatic ice maker, an ice tray having-ice molds therein, a storage tray in material receiving rela- "tion with respect to said ice molds, an overfill arm resting on the ice pieces discharged into said storage tray, means for raisingand lowering said overfill-arm during each cycle of discharge of ice pieces into said storage tray, metering means for filling the ice molds with a measured volume of water, switch means controlling the filling and emptying of said metering means, a thermal element operative upon the freezing of water in said molds to move said switch means into one position to efiectfilling of said metering means, a resistor heater for said thermal element, operative to heat said thermal element upon movement of said switch means to said one position to reset said thermal element and move said switch means to a second position, said switch means when in said second position being operative to operate 'said metering device to effect filling of the empty ice molds with water, and latch means operated by movement of said overfill arm and operative by upward move mentof said overfill arm to prevent movement of said switch means into said one position upon failure of said overfill arm to drop into said storage basket.

10. In an automatic ice maker, an ice tray having ice molds therein, metering means for filling the ice molds with a measured volume of water, a storage tray in matcrialreceiving relation with respect to said ice molds, an

overfill arm resting on the ice pieces discharged onto said storage tray, means for raising and lowering said overfill arm during each cycle of discharge of ice pieces into said storage tray, switch means controlling the filling and emptying of said metering means, a thermal element operative upon the freezing of water in said ice tray to move said switch means into one position to effect filling of said metering means, a'resistor heater for said thermal element, operative to'heat said thermal element upon movement of said switch means to said one position to reset said thermal element and move said switch means to a second position, said switch means when in said second position being operative to operate said metering means to effect filling of the empty ice molds with water, and

latch means operated by said overfill arm upon upward 'movement thereof to prevent movement of said switch means into said one position upon failure of said overfill 'arm to drop into said storage basket, comprising a catch normally in position to engage said switch means and prevent movement thereof into its first position, and moved out'of position to engage said switch means each time said ovei'fill arm drops to a lowermost position into said. storage basket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS mum-

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