公开(公告)号：US20230272958A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-31

申请号：US18310604

申请日：2023-05-02

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/22

CPC classification number: F25C1/22

Abstract: A commercial ice maker purges water from a sump via a passive drain valve instead of an active drain pump. The ice maker uses a large freeze plate, but still can accommodate the passive drain valve within a standard enclosure footprint. A bottom wall of the ice maker has a drain passaging groove formed in an upper surface. The drain valve is supported above the bottom wall and drain tube is at least partially received in the drain passaging groove. The drain valve can include a valve body that has a valve seat and a movable valve member that opens and closes a valve passage through the valve seat. The valve member radially overlaps the valve seat along a longitudinal axis when the valve member is closed.

公开(公告)号：US11686519B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

申请号：US17378997

申请日：2021-07-19

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/25 ,  F25C1/12

CPC classification number: F25C1/25 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25C2400/14 ,  F25C2600/04 ,  F25C2700/04

Abstract: A batch ice maker can execute a pulsed fill routine in which a control system pulses water from a water supply into the sump until the sump reaches a predefined freeze routine starting level. Pulsing may begin after continuously filling the sump to a fill-approach level. A batch ice maker can execute a differential freeze routine in which the control system circulates water from a sump to an ice formation device until water level decreases by a predefined differential amount from a high control water level based on the water level in the sump at a point in time after the sump was filled to a freeze routine starting level. The high control water level can be set based on water level in the sump when sump water temperature reaches a predefined pre-chill temperature. The predefined pre-chill temperature can be associated with a switchover from sensible cooling to latent cooling.

公开(公告)号：US11674731B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-13

申请号：US17147965

申请日：2021-01-13

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/22

CPC classification number: F25C1/22

Abstract: A commercial ice maker purges water from a sump via a passive drain valve instead of an active drain pump. The ice maker uses a large freeze plate, but still can accommodate the passive drain valve within a standard enclosure footprint. A bottom wall of the ice maker has a drain passaging groove formed in an upper surface. The drain valve is supported above the bottom wall and drain tube is at least partially received in the drain passaging groove. The drain valve can include a valve body that has a valve seat and a movable valve member that opens and closes a valve passage through the valve seat. The valve member radially overlaps the valve seat along a longitudinal axis when the valve member is closed.

公开(公告)号：US11668507B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17319209

申请日：2021-05-13

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co, Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt ,  Edward Hartman

IPC: F25C1/12 ,  F25B39/02 ,  B23P15/26 ,  F25B39/00

CPC classification number: F25C1/12 ,  B23P15/26 ,  F25B39/00 ,  F25B39/02 ,  F25B39/022 ,  F25B2339/023

Abstract: An ice maker evaporator assembly having an evaporator pan with a back wall and left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the back wall, and a freeze plate located within the evaporator pan. Refrigerant tubing is thermally coupled to the back wall of the evaporator pan opposite the left, right, top and bottom sidewalls. A first layer of insulation is formed on the refrigerant tubing. An evaporator housing having a housing back wall and housing left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the housing back wall is attached to the evaporator pan and covers refrigerant tubing. A second layer of insulation is formed on top of the first layer of insulation.

公开(公告)号：US11519652B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-06

申请号：US16823002

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C5/187 ,  F25C1/045

Abstract: An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.

公开(公告)号：US20220349641A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-03

申请号：US17570860

申请日：2022-01-07

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/25 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F28D1/047 ,  F25B39/02 ,  F25B47/02

Abstract: An ice making machine having a refrigeration system designed for hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, and particularly propane (R-290), that includes dual independent refrigeration systems and a unique evaporator assembly comprising of a single freeze plate attached to two cooling circuits. The serpentines are designed in an advantageous pattern that promotes efficiency by ensuring the even bridging of ice during freezing and minimizing unwanted melting during harvest by providing an even distribution of the heat load. The charge limitations imposed with flammable refrigerants would otherwise prevent large capacity ice maker from being properly charged with a single circuit. The ice making machine includes a single water circuit and control system to ensure the proper and efficient production of ice. Material cost is conserved as compared to a traditional dual system icemaker.

公开(公告)号：US20210293463A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US16823002

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C5/187 ,  F25C1/045

Abstract: An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.

公开(公告)号：US10677505B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US16590484

申请日：2019-10-02

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/25 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F28D1/047 ,  F25B39/02 ,  F25B47/02 ,  F25B25/00 ,  F25B40/00 ,  F25B5/02 ,  F25B6/02

Abstract: An ice making machine having a refrigeration system designed for hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, and particularly propane (R-290), that includes dual independent refrigeration systems and a unique evaporator assembly comprising of a single freeze plate attached to two cooling circuits. The serpentines are designed in an advantageous pattern that promotes efficiency by ensuring the even bridging of ice during freezing and minimizing unwanted melting during harvest by providing an even distribution of the heat load. The charge limitations imposed with flammable refrigerants would otherwise prevent large capacity ice maker from being properly charged with a single circuit. The ice making machine includes a single water circuit and control system to ensure the proper and efficient production of ice. Material cost is conserved as compared to a traditional dual system icemaker.

公开(公告)号：US10571180B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-25

申请号：US15819132

申请日：2017-11-21

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt ,  Edward W. Hartman

IPC: F25C1/12 ,  F25B39/02 ,  B23P15/26 ,  F25B39/00

Abstract: An ice maker evaporator assembly having an evaporator pan with a back wall and left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the back wall, and a freeze plate located within the evaporator pan. A serpentine tubing is thermally coupled to the back wall of the evaporator pan opposite the left, right, top and bottom sidewalls. A first layer of insulation is formed on the serpentine tubing. An evaporator housing having a housing back wall and housing left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the housing back wall is attached to the evaporator pan and covers serpentine tubing. A second layer of insulation is formed on top of the first layer of insulation.

公开(公告)号：USD1067235S1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-18

申请号：US29865953

申请日：2022-08-22

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Designer： Kevin Knatt