Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C1/00—Producing ice
  • F25C1/12—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
  • F25C1/14—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes
  • F25C1/145—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies
  • F25C1/147—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies by using augers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
  • F25C5/14—Apparatus for shaping or finishing ice pieces, e.g. ice presses
  • F25C5/142—Apparatus for shaping or finishing ice pieces, e.g. ice presses extrusion of ice crystals

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fine ice making machine which produces fine ice, which has the form of powder snow or sherbet which is optimal to maintain the freshness of fresh seafood, or of high quality fruits, etc.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide a fine ice making machine characterized in that ice that is manufactured in the form of fine ice is discharged smoothly and with stable and continuous operations instead of intermittent operation.
• fine ice produced with Auger screw can be discharged in the form of soft ice or close to such a form.
• a cylinder [1] having a tubular shape is erected in a fixed form on an upper housing [2], an outer peripheral part [12] of the cylinder [1] is cooled, ice [IC] generated on the inner cylinder wall [13] is scraped with Auger screw [5] and moved as fine ice [M] upward so that fine ice is manufactured with a fine ice making machine when the fine ice that is obtained from a discharging opening [2] created in the upper housing [2] is discharged.
• a collecting part [4b] is moved from a tip part [41 1] adjacent to the upper housing inner wall [23] so that seen in a top view, a gradually widening gap [W] is created between the collecting part [4b] and the upper housing inner wall [23].
• the collecting part [4b which is arranged at the height of the discharging opening [20] ] is equipped with a collection means [4] for collecting fine ice.
• the collecting part [4b] As the collecting part [4b] is rotated, the upper part [Gl] of an aggregate [G], produced by fine ice [M] being moved upward with the rotation of the Auger screw [5], is scraped with the collecting part [4b], ice is collected in upper housing inner wall [23] and along with the rotations of the collecting part [4b], the collected fine ice [M] is then discharged from a discharging opening [20].
• the fine ice making machine of the invention described in claim 2 is further characterized in that the collecting part [4b] mentioned in claim 1 is formed with a part [41] which has an arc-shaped shape seen in a top view.
• said arc-shaped part [41] is deployed on the collecting means [4]
• an extended auxiliary arc-shaped part [42a] is created with the same shape when seen in a top view
• a collection tool [4a] is created with a ring-shaped part [42] creating an annular or circular shape of the arc-shaped auxiliary part [42a] when seen from top view.
• the fine ice making machine described in claim 4 of this invention is provided with bearings [61], which support a shaft [52] on the upper side of the Auger screw [5] and which are deployed inside the upper housing [S] below the discharging opening [20].
• a supporting boss part [62] which supports the bearings [61] is linked with multiple upright pieces [63] providing a link between the outer peripheral surface [621] and the inner part [S] of the upper housing in a fixed position in the upper housing [S].
• said collecting means [4] is attached in a fixed manner to the upper end part of said upper side shaft [52] which protrudes outside from the bearings [61].
• the fine ice making machine of this invention is characterized in that a protrusion [7] is attached in a fixed manner to an upper plate part [2b] of the upper housing [2], so that it is oriented toward the upper housing [S] and so that the lower end of the protrusion [7] protrudes downward up to the vicinity of an upper edge [45] of said collecting tool [4a].
• the upper edge [45] of the collecting tool is characterized in that it is set lower than the upper end [205] of the discharging opening [20]
• the lower edge [46] of the collecting tool [46] is characterized in that it is set lower than the lower end [206] of the discharging opening [20].
• the fine ice making machine of this invention collects the manufactured fine ice in a soft state.
• the collected fine ice can be removed smoothly and without having to apply a particular pressure on the discharging opening, the manufacturing operations can be conducted continuously and in a stable manner, without creating an overload with the main body of the manufactured ice. Since this makes it possible to obtain soft fine ice, there are many resulting beneficial effects, such as that productivity is increased and the quality of the product is improved.
• Figure 1 shows an explanatory diagram showing the main body of one mode of the fine ice making device of the present invention in a partial profile view.
• Figure 2 shows an explanatory cross-sectional diagram showing the upper part of the generator of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a horizontal profile view at the height of the collecting part of device 2 shown from the upper side.
• Figure 4 shows an expanded profile view of the periphery of the upper housing after supplying seawater.
• Figure 5 shows a top view of the main part relating to the upper housing of Figure 2.
• Figure 6 shows a vertical profile view of Figure 5.
• Figure 7 [a] shows a top view of a collecting means
• Figure 7 [b] shows a side view of a collecting tool
• Figure 7 [c] shows a profile view of a region at the height of the collecting part of Figure 7 [b].
• Figure 8 [a] is a diagram explaining collection of fine ice by a collecting part
• Figure 8 [b] is a profile view diagram showing the status after the passage of a period of time
• Figure 8 [c] is a diagram explaining discharging to the discharging opening after the status shown in [b].
• Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of the part shown in Figure 8 [a].
• Figure 10 shows a diagram showing another mode of Figure 9.
• Figure 1 1 shows a perspective view of the main part of a generator seen from above the main part of the upper housing with the upper plate part removed.
• Figure 12 shows a vertical profile view diagram of a fine ice making machine contrasted to Figure 2.
• Figure 13 shows a horizontal profile view diagram at the level of the impeller in Figure 12.
• Figure 1 ⁇ Figure 1 1 show one embodiment of the fine ice making machine of this invention.
• Figure 1 shows an overall explanatory diagram of one part thereof
• Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the upper part of the generator of Figure 1 in profile view
• Figure 3 shows a profile view at the height of the collecting part of Figure 2
• Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the periphery of the upper housing of Figure 2
• Figure 5 shows a top view of the main part relating to the upper housing of Figure 2
• Figure 6 is a vertical profile view diagram of Figure 5
• Figure 7 [a] is a top view diagram of a collection means
• Figure 7 [b] is a side view diagram of a capturing tool
• Figure 7 [c] is a profile view diagram of the region at the height of the collecting part of Figure 7 [a]
• Figure 8 explains collection of fine ice by a collection part in an explanatory diagram which shows discharging to the discharging opening
• Figure 9 is an enlarged view diagram of Figure 8 [a]
• Fine ice making machines include machines for continuous manufacturing of fine ice using a so called scraping method, which is one of the methods that are used for continuous manufacturing of fine ice M from salt water SW obtained from seawater, etc.
• a tubular cylinder 1 is arranged in upright position so that it is firmly attached to an upper housing that is secured and provided with a lid.
• the outer peripheral part 12 of the cylinder 1 is cooled, the ice IC generated in inner cylinder wall 13 is scraped with an Auger screw 5, fine ice M is created and moved upward in the device so that the fine ice M is discharged from a discharging opening created in the upper housing 2.
• the reference to "upright arrangement in which an upper housing 2 having a the shape of a cylinder provided with a lid is firmly attached to a tubular cylinder 1 " as used in the present invention includes also the case when the upper housing 2, which is provided with a firmly attached cylinder 1 , is attached vertically, while it may be also erected slightly inclined toward the upper housing 2.
• the term “upward” refers to upward direction on paper surface, for example as shown in Figure 2, while the term “downward” refers to downward direction on paper surface, creating the vertical direction.
• the fine ice making machine is equipped with an ice making part of generator A [the main unit of the ice making machine], a refrigerating device R, and a salt water supplying part K [ Figure 1].
• the refrigerating device R is equipped with a known type of compressor MC and with a condenser CN.
• An expansion valve V is connected to the compressor MC and to the condenser CN, and a refrigerant pipe PE is connected to a refrigerant flow path 19 of the cylinder 1, so that a refrigeration cycle is created in which a refrigerant RF is circulated to cool the inner cylinder wall 13.
• ice IC which is formed with a cylindrical, film-like shape, is formed and deposited with a thickness in the range from several nm to dozens nm on the peripheral surface of the inner cylinder wall 13 with the refrigerating device R [ Figure 4].
• the salt water supplying means is equipped with a well known type of pump P, with a filter F and with an ultraviolet ray sterilizing device UV.
• Salt water SW such as seawater [or just water] having a prescribed concentration is fed into the cylinder of the device.
• the salt water SW, incorporated by pump P, passes through the filter F and after passing through the ultraviolet ray sterilizing device UV, it is injected from the lower housing 3 into the inner part of the cylinder [ Figure 1].
• the term salt water [SW] as it is used in this invention includes also water which has no salt content.
• the generator A which is a component part [ice making part] of the ice making machine manufacturing fine ice M, is equipped with a cylinder 1, a cylinder housing 2, a lower housing 3, as well as with an Auger screw 5 and a gear motor 8.
• the cylinder 1 is in the present embodiment a cylindrical body in which a refrigerant flow channel 19 is formed as shown in Figure 2 between the outer peripheral face of the inner cylinder main part 14 and the inner peripheral face of the outer cylinder auxiliary part 15.
• a lower housing 3 which has a cylindrical bottom and is provided with a fixed lid that can be attached and removed, is firmly attached on the opening part of the lower end cylinder of the cylinder 1 , and the lower part of the Auger screw 5 is provided with bearings on the lower housing 3.
• an upper housing 2 which is provided with a cylindrical shape having a lid, is firmly attached to the upper end of the cylindrical opening part of the cylinder 1 so that the lid can be attached or removed, and bearings 61 [sliding bearings are used in this case] provide axial support for the upper part of the Auger screw 5 on the upper housing 2, so that the Auger screw 5 is arranged upright inside the cylinder 1.
• the Auger screw 5 is equipped with a main body 51 on which a scraping blade 55 is deployed, as well as with a shaft 52 which is extended from the main body 51 on the upper side in the upward direction, and with a shaft 53 extended on the lower side in the downward direction from the main body 51.
• the scraping blade 55 which is formed with a protruding spiral shape as shown in the figure, scrapes the ice IC located on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 51 contained inside the cylinder 1.
• the Auger screw 5 is provided with bearings inside the lower housing 3 so that the lower side shaft 53 is protruding from said lower housing 3 [Figure 1].
• a gear motor 8 is connected to the lower side shaft 53 protruding in the lower part. Cooled salt water SW and film-shaped ice IC generated on the inner cylinder wall 13 create fine ice M which is scraped with said scraping blade 5. As the solid, fine ice M that is scraped with the scraping blade 55 is dispersed into the salt water SW between the Auger screw 5 and the inner cylinder peripheral wall 13, the rotations of the Auger screw 5 push the fine ice M in the upward direction with the scraping blade 55 which has a helical shape.
• said housing 2 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a lid which is firmly attached with removable nuts and bolt on the upper plate part 2b on the side of the upper cylinder opening of the main cylindrical part 2a.
• discharging opening 20 in the inner wall of the cylinder is located in a region approximately at the height of the central part of the main part 2a.
• An exit pipe 21 is fixed by welding so that it is protruding outward, creating the connected shape shown in Figure 3 ⁇ Figure 8, relative to the main cylindrical part 2a, from the points connecting the discharging opening 20 with the upper housing inner wall 23 of the pipe inner wall 210.
• said bearings 61 provide axial support for the upper side shaft 52 of the Auger screw 5, and a boss 62 which supports the bearings 61 is arranged inside the upper housing S in the region below the discharging opening 20, so that it is fixed to the upper housing 2 and connected with multiple upright pieces 63 to outer peripheral surface 621 and upper housing inner wall 23.
• four plate-shaped upright pieces 63 are arranged at an interval of 90° in top view as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, and the boss 62 and the housing inner wall 23 are connected in a fixed manner. It is preferred when the upper edge of the upright piece 63 is set higher than the boss upper surface 622.
• the liquid surface SW1 of the salt water SW is normally set higher than the boss upper face 622 inside the cylinder 622, and although ripples may appear for example during the operation of the stator of the Auger screw 5, they can be suppressed. Moreover, it is desirable when a convex groove 622a is created so that it runs in the radial direction from the region of the bearings 61 to the region of the boss outer face 621 on the boss upper face 622 [ Figure 5, Figure 1 1]. Even if the liquid surface SW1 of the salt water SW is pushed down below the boss upper face 622 by the fluctuations of the liquid surface, the salt water SW passes through the convex groove 622a because frictional heat generated by the bearings 61 under rotations of the Auger screw 5 is cooled down and eliminated.
• the upper side shaft 52 of the Auger screw 5 is supported by the bearings created in the upper housing 2, while a collecting means 4 is firmly attached to the upper end of the upper side shaft 52 so that it protrudes from the bearings 61 in the upward direction inside the upper housing 5.
• the collecting means 4 which is rotated according to the rotations of the rotary shaft of the Auger screw 5, is additionally provided with a collecting part 4b disposed on the radially outward portion inside the main part 2a which has a cylindrical shape.
• the collecting part 4b is facing in the direction of the rotations from the front end part 411 adjacent to the upper housing inner wall 23 so that seen in top view, a gradually widened construction is created for the gap W between the collecting face 43 and the upper housing inner wall 23 which is opposite to it.
• the collecting means 4 creates a collecting device which collects fine ice M created on the collecting part 4b.
• a separate rotary shaft body is created in the Auger screw 5, and although this collecting means 4 can be also attached and rotated, a fixed collecting means 4 is used here which is fixed to the upper side shaft 5 of the Auger screw 5, and a rotation driving source for the collecting means is not required.
• the front end part 411 adjacent to the upper housing inner wall 23 is mounted in the vicinity of the upper housing inner wall 23 within the range of 1 ⁇ 3 mm. If the clearance ⁇ between the upper housing inner wall 23 and the front end part 41 1 is less than 1 mm [ Figure 4], there is a risk that the front end part 41 1 will rub against the inner wall of the housing. Moreover, strict requirements for dimensional precision are then created, which results in a higher cost of the device and of the design for production of fine ice. In addition, if the clearance is more than 3 mm, the performance of the collection of the fine ice M of the collecting part 45 will be greatly reduced.
• the collecting part 4b which is mounted in a region at the height of the discharging opening 20, is used not only to collect fine ice M, but it also has the role of a device removing fine ice M.
• the wording "collecting part 4b is arranged in a region at the height of the discharge port 20" means that it is sufficient when one part in the direction of the height of the collecting part 4b is included in the range at the height of the discharge port 20. This is because one role of the discharge part 4b is to remove fine ice M. It goes without saying that the entire part in the direction at the height of the collecting part 4b is also included in the range at the height of the discharge port 20.
• the collecting part 4b is set in the center of the center of rotations of the collection means 4 [axial center of Auger screw 5], so that a central angle ⁇ is formed from the front end part 41 1 which is at least 15° seen from top view.
• a collecting face 43 is provided for fine ice M opposite the upper housing inner wall 23 which has a specified length in the vertical direction.
• the collecting part 4b forms one part of the collection tool 4a. While an angle in the range of 15° is sufficient for the central angle ⁇ , if the angle of 15° is exceeded and an extended collection part 4b is created, the collection of the fine ice M can be performed with even more power. However, it is desirable when the central angle ⁇ is below 180° [while less than 90° is even more desirable].
• the wording "the gap W between the upper housing inner wall 23 and the collection face 43 on the opposite side is gradually increased” as used in this invention is not limited only to the case when the gap is literally increased, as cases when gap G is the same in one section are also included, while the same effect can be obtained in this invention.
• the wording "the gap W between the upper housing inner wall 23 and the collection face 43 on the opposite side is gradually increased" satisfies the essential requirements also with respect to the collecting part 4b which has the construction that is provided with a flat plate part 47 and bent end part 48 as shown in Figure 10.
• the liquid surface SW1 is higher than the bearings 61 [preferably higher than boss upper face 622] and the level can be controlled in a position below the collection part 4b.
• the increased temperature created by friction in the bearings 61 during the rotations of the Auger screw 5 can be reduced by the salt water S.
• the refrigerating device R is operated, film-shaped ice IC is formed on the cylinder inner peripheral wall 13 and salt water SW is dispersed at the same time between the outer periphery surface of the Auger screw 5 and the cylinder inner wall 13.
• the fine ice M progresses in the upward direction, fine ice M is scraped in the upper region with the scraping blade 55 and as the amount of the discharged fine ice M is increased, the concentration of the fine ice M in salt water SW is increased so that a sherbet form is created.
• the fine ice M which is pushed upward with the rotations of the Auger screw 5 eventually forms a cylindrical aggregate G with a thick tubular form in the gap between the outer peripheral face of the Auger screw 5 and the cylinder inner wall 13.
• the tubular aggregate G As the tubular aggregate is pushed upward, it passes beyond the Auger screw main body 51 , and when it progresses in the space between the boss outer peripheral face 621 and the cylinder inner wall 13, it tends to change into a cylindrical aggregate G which is created with a tubular thickness in the space between both parts.
• the aggregate G which has a cylindrical shape is created with approximately the same cylindrical thickness by the upper end face of the main Auger screw unit 51 and the boss upper face 622.
• the cylindrical aggregate G is lifted from the liquid surface SW1 as shown in Figure 4, and the upper end part Gl progresses upward beyond the liquid surface SW1.
• the fine ice M is rising from the liquid surface SW1, but the liquid contained therein is falling as a result of gravity and it is then removed.
• the present invention provides a fine ice making machine, wherein the fine ice M creates a cylindrical aggregate Gl with the rotations of the Auger screw 5 by an upper end part Gl, the ice is scraped with the rotations of the collecting part 4b and it is accumulated in upper housing inner wall 23 so that along with the rotations, the collected fine ice M is discharged at a position of a discharge port 20.
• the ice IC generated on the cylinder inner wall 13 is scraped by the Auger screw along with the rotations induced by a gear motor 8 and the scraped fine ice M is collected by a collection means 4.
• the fine ice M is smoothly discharged to a discharge port 20 of the upper housing 2 [the details will be described later].
• the present embodiment is equipped with a collection means 4 which has a collecting part 4b provided with a curved plate as shown in Figure 7.
• the collection tool 4 is equipped with a collection tool 4a and with a mounting part 4c.
• the collecting part 4b is secured at a predetermined height in the vertical direction and an arc-shaped part 41 is formed in the outward direction seen from top view as shown in Figure 9.
• an auxiliary arch-shaped part 42a created with the same shape seen in top view, is extended above the arc-shaped part 41 and the auxiliary arc-shaped part 42a is integrated by said arc-shaped part 41 with a ring- shaped body 42 which has one part created with a circular shape or with an elliptical shape, creating the collection tool 4a.
• the apparatus is provided with a ring-shaped body 42, the construction is simplified, and the strength of the collection means 4 is increased so that for example deformations of the arc-shaped part 41 are prevented during the collection of the fine ice M.
• the arc-shaped part 41 can be also created so that the ring shape is not created on the entire periphery similarly to the ring-shaped body 42.
• the collection means 4 is provided in the central part with an installation part 4c in the form of a plate-shaped body which is attached in a fixed manner to the Auger screw 5, creating a collecting member for collecting fine ice M with an integrated design including a pair of collection tools 4a on both sides of the installation part 4c as shown in Figure 7.
• a female screw hole is drilled in the upper face 521 of the upper side shaft 52 of the Auger screw and a trough-hole 49 is created in the corresponding position of the installation part 4c.
• the through-hole 49 is aligned with the male hole and after the installation part 4c has been placed on the upper side shaft's upper end surface 521 as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 2 and the shaft part of a bolt BT is passed through the through-hole 49, the collection means is fixed on the upper part of the upper side shaft 52 by screwing the screw into the hole.
• the collection mans 4 is fixed by a bolt to the upper end surface 521 of the upper side shaft 52 with the installation part 4c inside the upper housing S, and the installation part 4c and the upper surface are set flush so that the annular body 42 is extended outward in horizontal direction from the upper side shaft 52 [Figure 1 1].
• the arch-shaped part 41 is extended downward from the annular body 42 seen in top view.
• the collecting means 4 will be symmetrical to the central axis of the Auger screw 5 and a symmetrical product will be created.
• the collecting part 4b which is set to a circular arc shape as shown in Figure 7 [c]
• the front end part 41 1 is disposed inside the main cylindrical part 2a so that it is extend to the maximum in the outward direction [Figure 8].
• the collecting part 4b creates the cross- sectional shape in the vertical direction, etc.
• the arc-shaped part 41 which creates the construction of the collecting part 4b, is oriented in the direction of the rotations from the front end part 411 adjacent to the upper housing inner wall 23 so that an arrangement is created wherein in top view, the gap W between the upper housing inner wall 23 and the collecting surface 43 opposite to it is gradually widened [Figure 9].
• the maximum gap W is created in the direction of the progress of the rotations with the collecting part 4b, it is preferred when the gap W between the housing inner wall 23 in the end part 415 is set above the cylindrical thickness of the cylindrical aggregate G [which is here about 1 cm].
• the upper end part Gl can thus be collected without being dropped due to the rotations of the collecting part 4b.
• the angle ⁇ is set to the point of 15° in the present embodiment, the gap W already exceeds the cylindrical thickness of the cylindrical aggregate G, so that the collection is enabled to a sufficient extent.
• the inner part of the cylinder 1 will be filled with salt water SW up to the vicinity of the boss upper face 622, and the operations will be performed under the operating conditions when the refrigerating device is operated as shown in Figure 8.
• the collecting part 4b passes the discharge port 20 and comes to location [a]
• the fine snow cylindrical aggregate G of Figure 4 will as a result of the rotations of the Auger screw exceed the lower edge 412 of the collecting part 4b even during a limited time amount [lower edge 46 of the collection tool 4a], so that only a portion thereof will rise above the its lower edge, for example a portion of the height hi indicated in Figure 4.
• the fine ice M is scraped with the lower end part of the collecting part 4b applied to the upper end part Gl after salt water draining has been carried out as the aggregate floats above the liquid surface SW1, so that soft, fine ice M can be incorporated.
• the gap W between the upper housing inner wall 23 located opposite the collecting face 43 of the collecting part 4b is gradually widened, and as a larger opening is created in the direction of the progress of the rotations of the collecting part 4b, the upper end part Gl of the fine ice cylindrical aggregate G can be comfortably and easily incorporated in the enclosure.
• the collecting part 4b is in this embodiment is extended with an angle ⁇ of 15° in top view in the direction of the rotations and since an even wider gap W is created for the end part 415, the upper end part Gl of the cylindrical aggregate G consisting of fine ice can be incorporated even more securely in the enclosure.
• the fine ice M is incorporated in the enclosure, it is not pushed outside. As the fine ice M which is scraped with the lower edge part of the collecting part 4b is progressing, it is moved toward the tail of the front end part 411 and new fine ice M is scraped off and easily received by the collecting part 4b and within the confines of the upper housing inner wall 23.
• the collecting part 4b, the collection tool 4a and the upper housing inner wall 23 have the same shape at a predetermined height in the vertical direction as shown in the figure.
• FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram which shows only one of two parts, namely the collecting part 4b [collection tool 4a] in a diagram explaining the operation and the movement of the collecting part 4b. Since in reality, there are two collecting parts 4b, the burden on one collecting part 4b is only half as big, which makes it possible to collect and discharge fine ice M with a lighter burden.
• the rotational speed of the Auger screw 5 is increased, which results in a status when continuous operations are no longer possible.
• the fine ice M can be pushed out under optimal conditions and it can be discharged in the direction toward the discharge outlet 20 so that hard fine ice M is created with strong pressure.
• the rotational force of the impeller does not serve to discharge the fine ice.
• the force of the Auger screw 5 lifts the cylindrical aggregate G consisting of fine ice and when the force is applied to the fine ice M, it is then discharged outside from the discharge outlet 20 with this force. Because the ice is in the end compressed, fine ice M, which was originally soft, is in the end created in the form of a hard lump.
• the inventors of the present invention arrived at the present invention after conducing intensive research with a modification of this concept. Because the present invention is provided with said collection means 4, instead of compressing fine ice M as described in Patent Literature 1 or Figure 1 1, Figure 12, etc., delicate, fine ice with a soft texture is created. In addition, since a construction is used wherein only the fine ice M which is on the upper end part Gl is cut off and collected from the cylindrical aggregate G of fine ice M which is lifted up and transported by the Auger screw 5, which is followed by discharging it in horizontal direction by using the rotational force of the collection means 4, hardly any load is created in this manner. The device for making fine ice thus can easily perform continuous operations.
• more than 2/3 of the dimensions shown in the figure are arranged in the direction of the height of the collection tool 4a in the range of the height in the vertical direction of the discharge port 20. Fine ice M which is scraped by the collection tool 4a and the upper housing inner wall 23 can thus be easily removed to the discharge port 20. Further, the upper edge 45 of the collection tool 4a is set lower than the upper end 205 of the discharge port 20 and its lower edge is set lower than the lower end 206 of the discharge port 20.
• the upper edge 45 of the collection tool 4a is not set lower than the upper end 205 of the discharge port 20, one part of the fine ice M which is scraped with the collection tool 4a and the upper housing inner wall 23 is lifted up by the rotations of the Auger screw 5 and of the collection tool 4a until it arrives to the upper edge of the collecting face 43.
• the remaining fine ice M causes poor efficiency during discharging of the fine ice M.
• the lower edge 46 of the collection tool 4a is set lower than the lower end 206 of the discharge port 20 because otherwise, the lower part of the discharge port 20 would be blocked by the cylindrical aggregate G, the effective opening surface area of the discharge port 20 capable of removing the fine ice could be decreased and the amount of the discharged fine ice M would be eventually reduced.
• a protrusion 7 is attached in a fixed manner in the direction facing the inner part of the upper housing to the upper plate part 2b of the upper housing 2 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, so that the lower end 76 of the protrusion 7 protrudes downward all the way to the vicinity of the upper edge 45 of the collection tool 4a seen in front view.
• the distance between the lower end of the protrusion 7 and the upper edge of the collection tool 4a is set to approximately 10 mm.
• the fine ice M is scraped by the lower edge part of the collecting part 4b along with the rotations of the collection tool 4 and it is moved upward and it remains in the enclosure created by the collecting part 4b and the upper housing inner wall 23.
• the fine ice M may adhere to the upper edge 45.
• the fine ice M adheres to the upper edge 45 of the collection tool 4a icing of fine ice M occurs, the amount of the ice grows and a large amount is generated, causing concern that the load could hinder the operations.
• the frozen substance containing the fine ice M adhering to the upper edge of the collection tool 4a is removed with the mounted protrusion 7 when it collides with the protrusion 7 as a result of the rotations.
• the removed frozen substance, which falls down, is then introduced during continued operations in the vicinity of the collecting part 4b to the discharge port 20. It is desirable when the protrusion 7 is disposed on the inner cylinder S of the upper housing in the vicinity of the housing inner wall 23 in the central part of the discharge port 20 seen in top view as shown in Figure 3. This is because the frozen portion can be easily generated in the region above the collecting part 4b.
• number 18 indicates a refrigerant discharging nozzle
• numbers 160, 260, 270 indicate holes for nuts and bolts used for connecting flanges.
• the present apparatus is provided with a generator A, . a cooling device R, and a salt water supplying means K.
• salt water SW is supplied into the cylinder 1.
• the salt water supplied with a pump P is run through a filter F to remove impurities and after it has been sterilized in an ultraviolet ray sterilizing device UV, it is injected into the cylinder 1.
• the salt water SW thus creates a liquid surface coating the upper surface of bearings 61 and the upper surface of a boss 622 and liquid surface control is performed.
• compressor MC, condenser CN, expansion valve V and cylinder 1, which are connected to a refrigerant flow channel 19 with a tube for refrigerant medium RP, as well as a refrigerating device R are operated so that the expansion and compression status is changed continuously and repeatedly, refrigerating action is induced and film-shaped ice IC is generated in the cylinder inner wall 13.
• the temperature of the refrigerant RF is set
• the operations of the refrigerating device R are conducted sequentially as a gear motor 8 induces rotations.
• a hard, film-shaped ice IC is generated and grows in the cylinder inner peripheral wall 13.
• successive scraping operations are applied to the ice, which is dispersed in salt water SW present in a cylindrical gap between the cylinder inner peripheral wall 13 and the Auger screw 5, so that after a short period of time, an aggregate G having a cylindrical shape is created by the fine ice in this cylindrical gap.
• the cylindrical aggregate G floats on the liquid surface SW and its upper end part G reaches the vicinity of a collection means 4.
• the collection means 4 is attached in a fixed manner to the rotary axle of the Auger screw 5. Subsequently, as a result of the rotations of the Auger screw 5, the lower edge 46 of the collection tool 4a, [or more precisely, the lower edge 412 of the arc-shaped part 41], is exceed and when the cylindrical aggregate G is pushed upward, the upper part Gl of the aggregate body which has exceeded the lower edge part of the collection tool 4a is scraped as a result of the rotations of the collection tool 4a. The fine ice M in the scraped off upper end part Gl progresses along with the rotations of the collection tool 4a and it is then discharged at the point of a discharge port 20.
• scraping of the fine ice M is performed with the collection tool 4a and the operations in which the scraped off fine ice M is discharged toward the discharge port 20 are repeated so that normal operations are performed during which the fine ice M is produced with continuous operations.
• the fine ice M in said upper end part Gl is then incorporated in ail enclosure which is created by the collecting part 4b and a part of upper housing inner wall 23 located opposite to it.
• the cylindrical aggregate G is pushed up by the continuous operations of the refrigerating device and of the Auger screw 5 and when the lower edge 412 of the collecting part 4b is exceeded, the collecting part 4b is rotated while the upper end part Gl of the cylindrical aggregate G is scraped with the continuous operations of the Auger screw 5, the fine ice M in the scraped upper end part Gl is lifted up by the force of the Auger screw 5 and moved in the upward direction with the collecting face 43 of the collecting part 4b.
• the fine ice is incorporated and received in the space generated continuously in the enclosure, and the fine ice M which is sequentially scraped off from the upper end part Gl of the cylindrical aggregate G is smoothly incorporated in the enclosure created by the collecting part 4b and a part of the upper housing inner wall 23 so that it can be retained there.
• the arc-shaped part 42a of the ring-shaped body 42 optimally widens the collecting face 43 of the collecting part 4b in the upward direction, this also contributes to an increased amount of retained fine ice M.
• the fine ice With each rotation of the collection tool 4a, the fine ice is being continuously pushed up from the cylinder 1 towards the upper housing M and the upper end part Gl of the cylindrical aggregate G created in this manner is scraped with the lower edge part of the collection tool 4a.
• the fine ice M in the upper end part Gl is scraped along with the rotations by the upper housing inner wall 23 opposite the collecting face 43 of the collection tool 4a, the fine ice M accumulated with the scraping operations and when the discharge port 20 is subsequently reached, it is discharged, which is to say that the fine ice M scraping and discharging operations are repeated so that fine ice M is continuously produced in the form of powder snow or in the sherbet form.
• the fine ice making device which has this construction thus creates the fine ice M when the fine ice generated by the housing inner wall 13 is scraped with the Auger screw 5, and the fine ice is moved upward and higher inside the upper housing 2 so that the collecting part 4b is facing in the direction of the rotations from the front end part 41 1.
• the fine ice M can thus be collected with optimal efficiency because a gap W is created which is gradually being widened between the collecting face 43 and the upper housing inner wall 23 on the opposite side seen in top view. Because the gap W which is created between the collecting face 43 and the upper housing inner wall 23 on the opposite side is gradually widened, the fine snow M will not become backed up or accumulated in pockets created by the impeller as seen in Figure 12 and Figure 13.
• the fine ice M which is scraped with the Auger screw 5 creates a floating cylindrical aggregate G consisting of fine ice and horizontal rotations are conducted so that the collecting part 4b which is provided with the collecting part 43 at a specific length in the height direction is matched with the rotations of the rotary axle of the Auger screw 5 as shown in Figure 8. Accordingly, because the fine ice M is collected while only the upper end part Gl of the cylindrical aggregate G is scraped once the lower edge 412 of the collecting part 4b is exceeded, the burden on the gear motor 8 is very small when the fine ice M is collected and continuous operations can be conducted in a stable manner.
• the collecting part 4b is arranged in the region at the height of the discharge port 20 created on the upper housing 2, the fine ice 4b collected and retained by the upper housing inner wall 23 enters the region of the discharge port 20 as a result of the rotations of the collecting part 4b so that it can be smoothly discharged to the discharge port 20 with the rotational force of the collecting part 4b.
• the soft fine ice M or fine is that is almost soft is obtained with a particle diameter in the range of approximately 20 - 30 ⁇ when the ice is manufactured with the Auger screw 5.
• the fine ice M will not clog up the inner part of the generator A when the manufacturing machine of this invention is used for a long period of time, repeated scraping and handling of the fine ice M by the rotating collecting part 4b can be performed so that that processing operations can be conducted swiftly. Therefore, even if the air temperature or water temperature should fluctuate under the influence of external factors, and even if fluctuations of the amount of produced fine ice M should also fluctuate, problems such as occurrences of frozen sections inside the ice producing part, or occurrences of jamming will not be generated.
• the water temperature of the supplied salt water SW may correspond for example to the range of 5°C ⁇ 25°C.
• a smooth and uniform collecting face 43 can be produced when the collecting part 4b is formed with an arc-shaped part 41 seen from top view, the collecting of the fine ice M with the collection means 4 and discharging of fine ice M with the discharge port 20 can proceed smoothly.
• an extended auxiliary arch-shaped part 42a which has the same shape seen from top view as the arc-shaped part 41, and the auxiliary arc- shaped part 42a is provided with a ring-shaped body 42 which has one part created with elliptical or circular shape seen from top and a collection tool 4a is integrated with the arc- shaped part 41 , the mechanical strength of the design is further increased and the arc-shaped part is sturdy. Since the cylindrical body can be cut with the collection tool 4a in a simple manner, the cost of the design is reduced thanks to simplified manufacturing. [0037]
• the bearings 61 providing axial support for the upper side shaft 52 of the Auger screw 5 are mounted inside the upper housing S in the lower region below the discharge port 20, the heat which is generated by the bearings 61 with the rotations of the Auger screw can be autonomously eliminated when the liquid surface S of salt water SW is maintained in a position above the axial bearings 61. Also, because the boss 62 supporting the bearings 61 is fixed to the upper housing 2 which is linked with a plurality of upright pieces 63 to the outer peripheral face 62 and the upper housing inner wall 23 and the collection means 4 is attached in a fixed manner to the upper end part Gl of the upper side shaft 52 protruding upward from the bearings 61, a separated source for driving the rotations of the collection means 4 is not required.
• the protrusion 7 when the protrusion 7 is attached in a fixed manner so that it is facing the inner part S of the upper housing on the upper plate par 2b and the lower end 76 of the protrusion 7 is projecting up to the vicinity of the upper edge 45 when viewed from the front, the frozen substance containing the fine ice M and the like on top of the upper edge of the collection tool 4a can be easily removed as it is impacted by the rotations of the collection tool 4a and falls down. Therefore, a construction design is created which makes it possible to prevent early interruptions of the operations due to factors such as growth of the frozen substance.
• the discharge port 20 can be used while it is fully visible, which also makes it possible to improve production characteristics.
• the fine ice making machine of the present invention thus provides a large number of extremely useful effects that have been described above.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above as various modifications thereof can be created in order to achieve the same purpose.
• Factors such as the shape, size, number, materials, quality and other factors relating to the generator A, cylinder 1, upper housing 2, collection means 4, Auger screw 5, bearings 62, upright pieces 63, protrusion 7 etc., can be appropriately selected according to the application.
• a collection means 4 which has one, or three, or multiple collection tools 4a.

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• 2014
  • 2014-10-09 JP JP2014208148A patent/JP6142185B1/ja active Active
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