A method of releasing ice from a mold apparatus is disclosed which includes the steps of: providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion including a concave depression and a liquid circulating manifold and a second mold portion having a concave depression; pivotally coupling to the first mold portion to the second mold portion such that the mold apparatus is operable between an ice forming position and an ice harvesting position; assembling the mold apparatus to the ice forming position such that the concave depressions abut to from a mold cavity; injecting water into the mold cavity; cooling the mold apparatus; forming at least one ice structure within the mold cavity; circulating a warm liquid medium in the liquid circulating manifold to warm the mold apparatus; disassembling the mold apparatus to the ice harvesting position; and releasing the at least one ice structure from the mold apparatus.

A conductive protrusion assembly (100) is disclosed. The conductive protrusion assembly (100) includes a conductive cup (1) defining a chamber (C). The conductive cup (1) is supportable by a support plate (8) of the evaporator (101). A conductive lid (2) is fixed within the chamber (C), dividing the chamber into a cooling section (A) and an insulating section (B) where, the insulating section (B) of the conductive cup (1) is packed with an insulation material. The conductive lid (2) is defined with an inlet port (15a) and an outlet port (15b) for circulate a cooling fluid through the cooling section (A) and the insulating section (B) is defined with a flow passage to allow flow of a defrost fluid. The conductive protrusion assembly (100) with an insulating section (B) and a cooling section (A) enables spherical shaped ice blocks (7) to be produced without the use of a mould.

A conductive protrusion assembly (100) is disclosed. The conductive protrusion assembly (100) includes a conductive cup (1) defining a chamber (C). The conductive cup (1) is supportable by a support plate (8) of the evaporator (101). A conductive lid (2) is fixed within the chamber (C), dividing the chamber into a cooling section (A) and an insulating section (B) where, the insulating section (B) of the conductive cup (1) is packed with an insulation material. The conductive lid (2) is defined with an inlet port (15a) and an outlet port (15b) for circulate a cooling fluid through the cooling section (A) and the insulating section (B) is defined with a flow passage to allow flow of a defrost fluid. The conductive protrusion assembly (100) with an insulating section (B) and a cooling section (A) enables spherical shaped ice blocks (7) to be produced without the use of a mould.

An ice mold for forming hollow, elongated ice structures intended to be used as drinking straws. The ice mold includes an outer tube, an inner tube concentrically positioned within the outer tube, and top and bottom caps that fluidly seal a chamber defined between the outer tube, the inner tube, the top cap, and the bottom cap.

An ice mold for forming hollow, elongated ice structures intended to be used as drinking straws. The ice mold includes an outer tube, an inner tube concentrically positioned within the outer tube, and top and bottom caps that fluidly seal a chamber defined between the outer tube, the inner tube, the top cap, and the bottom cap.

Apparatus and methods for constructing ice structures are provided. An apparatus for construction of a structure from ice may include multiple tubes. Each of the tubes may be disposed in an upright position. Each of the tubes may have a constant inner diameter and/or a closed bottom. The tubes may be disposed within a frame for transport of the tubes.

Apparatus and methods for constructing ice structures are provided. An apparatus for construction of a structure from ice may include multiple tubes. Each of the tubes may be disposed in an upright position. Each of the tubes may have a constant inner diameter and/or a closed bottom. The tubes may be disposed within a frame for transport of the tubes.

An ice maker (100) includes an ice-making water tank (10), a water storage tank (20), a pipe assembly, a reversing member (40), and a driving member (50). The pipe assembly comprises a first branch pipe (310), a second branch pipe (320), and a third branch pipe (330). The first branch pipe (310) is connected to the water storage tank (20). The second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330) are separately connected to the ice-making water tank (10). The reversing member (40) is separately connected to the three branch pipes to control two of the branch pipes to be communicated and the rest one of the branch pipes to disconnected. The driving member (50) is connected to the third branch pipe in series. During ice making, the reversing member (40) controls the second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330) to be communicated and controls the first branch pipe (310) to be disconnected. The driving member (50) operates to drive the water to circulate among the ice-making water tank (10), the second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330).

An ice maker (100) includes an ice-making water tank (10), a water storage tank (20), a pipe assembly, a reversing member (40), and a driving member (50). The pipe assembly comprises a first branch pipe (310), a second branch pipe (320), and a third branch pipe (330). The first branch pipe (310) is connected to the water storage tank (20). The second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330) are separately connected to the ice-making water tank (10). The reversing member (40) is separately connected to the three branch pipes to control two of the branch pipes to be communicated and the rest one of the branch pipes to disconnected. The driving member (50) is connected to the third branch pipe in series. During ice making, the reversing member (40) controls the second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330) to be communicated and controls the first branch pipe (310) to be disconnected. The driving member (50) operates to drive the water to circulate among the ice-making water tank (10), the second branch pipe (320) and the third branch pipe (330).

A cold-water generating tank is provided for generating cold water by using the ice thermal storage method and a water cooler equipped with same. The cold-water generating tank includes a tank body which houses, on the inside thereof, an ice storage liquid cooled by means of a cooling unit; a cooling tube provided on the inside of the tank body in order to cool the ice storage liquid housed inside the tank body; and a cold-water generating unit which has a heat exchange tube forming a flow pathway where inflowing water becomes cold water through heat exchange with the ice storage liquid, and has an extension member positioned on the outer circumferential surface of the heat exchange tube in order to widen the area of contact with the ice storage liquid.