Importance

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Abstract

An ice cube making apparatus and method characterized by minimum excess meltage of the ice and minimum energy usage is disclosed. According to the apparatus a plurality of generally flat metalic tubes and interconnecting return bends form a serpentine evaporator path. A jacket member encloses the evaporator member to provide ice cube forming sites on both sides thereof. The jacket has internal passageways and external sites cooled by the evaporator member for forming ice cubes and includes a plurality of intersecting ridge portions whose inner surfaces form portions of the internal passageways and whose outer surfaces form the side walls for the sites for forming the ice cubes. The jacket may be made of flexible plastic material so that the filling of the jacket with water during a harvest mode causes flexing thereof to help to dislodge the ice cubes. Alternatively, the jacket is constructed of a pair of rigid plastic members which may be sandwiched together with the evaporator member inside. According to the method, a flow of water is provided across the freezing sites with the run off water collected and recirculated. During the harvest mode tap water may be provided to the internal passageways of the jacket member to uniformally warm the ice cubes and free them from the jacket, and in the case where the jacket is made of flexible plastic material it may flex to help dislodge the ice cubes. In addition, the compressor is stopped and refrigerant pressure is equalized thereacross to provide relatively warm refrigerant fluid to the evaporator member to aid harvesting.

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First Claim