公开(公告)号：US20210222931A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-22

申请号：US16746838

申请日：2020-01-18

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt ,  Curt Cayemberg

IPC: F25C1/045 ,  F25C1/246 ,  F25C5/20 ,  F25C1/25

Abstract: An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

公开(公告)号：US10890368B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-12

申请号：US16001351

申请日：2018-06-06

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt ,  Steven Lee Trulaske, Sr.

IPC: F25C5/10 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25B47/02 ,  F25B49/02

Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.

公开(公告)号：US20200256605A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US16864346

申请日：2020-05-01

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

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

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：US20190234664A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16375003

申请日：2019-04-04

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/12 ,  F25C5/182 ,  F25C5/04 ,  F25C1/25

CPC classification number: F25C1/12 ,  F25C1/25 ,  F25C5/04 ,  F25C5/182 ,  F25C2400/04 ,  F25C2400/14 ,  F25C2500/08 ,  F25C2700/02

Abstract: An ice making machine having a refrigeration system and a water system, the water system having a water reservoir located below a freeze plate adapted to hold water, and a sprayer assembly located below the freeze plate for spraying water from the water reservoir toward the pockets. An inclined ice slide is positioned below the freeze plate and above the sprayer assembly directing fallen ice toward an opening. A divider assembly separating the water system from the ice storage bin includes a plurality of dividers, wherein the dividers may rotate outwardly away from the opening to allow formed ice to fall into the ice storage bin. Each divider is formed from a generally rectangular body having a front face with a triangular-shaped thickness and an extension flap extending away from the body opposite the front face.

公开(公告)号：US10330366B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-25

申请号：US15846788

申请日：2017-12-19

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： John Allen Broadbent ,  Kevin Knatt

IPC: F25C1/25

Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.

公开(公告)号：US10054352B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-21

申请号：US15077194

申请日：2016-03-22

Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Inventor： Kevin Knatt ,  Steven Lee Trulaske, Sr.

IPC: F25C5/10 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25B47/02 ,  F25B49/02

CPC classification number: F25C5/10 ,  F25B47/022 ,  F25B49/02 ,  F25B2341/065 ,  F25B2600/2501 ,  F25B2600/2513 ,  F25B2700/2117 ,  F25B2700/21174 ,  F25B2700/21175 ,  F25C1/12 ,  F25C2600/04 ,  F25C2700/12 ,  Y02B30/72

Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.