Abstract
The present invention is a clear ice cube maker that makes clear ice cubes with zero cloudiness in their center. One embodiment of the present invention makes clear ice cubes through a combination of the proper freezing temperature, the direction of freezing water in an ice cube mold, and the proper vibration frequency applied to water. It discloses what constitutes the proper vibration frequency for each water mass in each mold to simultaneously make multiple clear ice cubes with zero cloudiness in their center, and it discloses how to calibrate and simultaneously properly apply the proper frequency to the water in each ice cube mold cavity.
Claims
1. A clear ice making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a surface to freeze water, a mold positioned in proximity above the surface to freeze water, a vibrator, wherein the vibrator is adjusted to vibrate water in the mold at a frequency to raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water during freezing of the water, and wherein the device is further configured so the water freezes substantially from a bottom position of the mold to a top position of the mold from cold going through a bottom wall of the mold.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ice produced has zero visible cloudiness in its center.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the vibrator is adjustable allowing a user to vary the frequency for different water masses and conditions.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface to freeze water is configured having a segment with a temperature lower than −10 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising more than one vibrator.
6. A clear ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a thermostat, multiple molds, a vibrator, the vibrator providing a frequency to water to raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water in the multiple molds, the multiple molds configured having sidewalls and a lid, the device further configured to allow the water to freeze substantially through one of the walls, and wherein a clear ice cube produced has zero visible cloudiness in its center.
7. A clear ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a high pressure cutoff control, multiple molds, and a vibrator calibrated to raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water in the multiple molds.
8. (canceled)
9. The device of claim 7, wherein the vibrator is adjustable so a user can change the vibration frequency.
10. A clear ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a thermostat, multiple molds, a vibrator, the vibrator configured so a user can adjust the vibrators vibration to raise a bubble in water to the surface of the water in the multiple molds.
11. The device of claim 10, further comprising more than one vibrator.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a lid wall to reduce water splashing outside the multiple molds when the water is vibrated.
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. A method to simultaneously make multiple clear ice cubes having zero visible cloudiness in their center, comprising the following steps: 1. Providing a compressor. 2. Providing an expansion valve. 3. Providing multiple molds. 4. Filling the multiple molds with water. 5. Determining the proper vibration needed to raise a bubble in the water in the multiple molds for given conditions. 6. As the water is freezing in each of the multiple molds apply the proper vibration determined by the step 5 to the water in the multiple molds.
23. An ice cube making device, comprising: a mold having water therein, wherein a segment of the mold is heated, and a vibrator calibrated to raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water.
24. An ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, multiple molds having water therein, a vibrator calibrated to simultaneously raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water in the multiple molds as the water is starting to freeze, and means functioning to keep air temperature in proximity above the surface of the water above freezing preventing the surface of the water from freezing from the air above the surface of the water.
25. An automatic clear ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a thermostat, multiple molds, means functioning to automatically fill the multiple molds with water, wherein the water freezes from cold going through a segment of the multiple molds, a vibrator configured to vibrate the water in the multiple molds to raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein a clear ice cube produced has zero visible cloudiness in its center.
27. A clear ice cube making device, comprising: a mold made with a polymer having a sidewall and a bottom wall, wherein a segment of the bottom wall has a thickness thinner than a thickness of a segment of the sidewall, the polymer is configured to allow cold to go through the bottom wall and freeze water from a bottom position of the mold to a top position of the mold, the mold further configured so a segment of the sidewall contacts a segment of a mold receiver when the mold is inserted into an opening in the mold receiver.
28. A method to make ice comprising the following steps: 1. Provide a mold. 2. Fill the mold with flavored water. 3. Start freezing the flavored water through a wall of the mold. 4. Agitate or vibrate the flavored water during the freezing of the flavored water at a rate to raise a bubble in the flavored water to the surface of the flavored water. 5 Add a handle.
29. A clear ice making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, a thermostat, a mold having walls, a vibrator, wherein the device is configured so water freezes from cold going through a wall of the mold, and further comprising a vibration adjuster to aid in vibration distribution.
30. An ice cube making device, comprising: a compressor, an expansion valve, multiple molds having water therein, a vibrator calibrated to simultaneously raise a bubble in the water to the surface of the water in the multiple molds as the water is starting to freeze, and means functioning to allow the water to freeze only from a bottom position of the multiple molds to a top position of the multiple molds from cold going through a bottom wall of the multiple molds.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an overall view of one embodiment the present invention
[0015] FIG. 2 is a view of the freezing plate with a refrigerant piping system.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a clear ice cube mold.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a vibration system that uniformly delivers vibration to multiple mold cavities.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows is a mechanism that goes into an ice maker to make it automatic.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a combination clear ice maker and refrigerator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows clear ice cube maker 1 having compressor 100, refrigeration line 102 and expansion valve 103 and thermostat control 104 and high pressure cutoff control 106. High pressure cutoff control 106 keeps the head pressure up on extremely low temperature refrigeration systems and is not found on home freezers or refrigerators. Cabinet 105 has vibration adjusters 107 which is between cabinet 105 and bin 108. Vibration adjusters 107 allows bin 108 to vibrate while cabinet 105 does not vibrate allowing about a uniformed distribution of vibration frequency to water in cavities 112 or mold 111 to raise a bubble (not shown) to the surface of the water (not shown). vibration adjusters 107. In one embodiment of the present invention vibration adjusters 107 are high tension coils and can be a variety of mechanisms. Vibration adjusters 107 allow the surface to freeze water 109 to freely move in a multitude of directions. When the bin 108 is touched in one embodiment of the present invention vibration adjuster 107 allows bin 108 to giggle freely atop cabinet 105 when having up to 118 pounds of water or more in bin 108. In one embodiment of the present invention freezing surface 109 is configured to have a temperature of −10 to −25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. One embodiment of the present invention has more than one bin 108 and more than one freezing surface 109 and in they are stacked. In one embodiment of the present invention freezing surface 109 moves up and down. One schooled in the art would know how to accomplish this goal and therefore an illustration is not necessary. Mold receiver 110 sits atop freezing surface 109. In one embodiment of the present invention freezing surface 109 has any shape or configuration. Freezing surface 109 Mold 111 having cavities 112 fits into openings 113. Mold receiver 110 is configured to reduce the cold from freezing surface 109 moving upwards and freezing water in cavities 112 from the sidewalls of the cavities 112, mold receiver 110 is an insulator. Adjustable vibrator with digital readout 115 sits atop cover 114 and has dial 115A so when a user finds the right frequency to raise a bubble in a water mass, they can set the dial to that frequency. In other words one embodiment of the present invention has a vibrator that is calibrated to raise a bubble in water and another multiple vibrators. In one embodiment of the present invention the vibrator is powered by a battery. In different embodiments of the present invention vibrator 115 is located on the bin 108 or multiple bins or attached directly to freezing surface 109. Embodiments of vibrator 115 include, but are not limited to a pneumatic air cylinder, offset, piston, sonic, or any other configuration of a device that vibrates. Cover 114 is configured to sit atop the cavities 112 distributing a vibration frequency evenly enough to raise a bubble in water to the surface water in a any number of cavities 112. Gas sensor 116 has a probe (not shown) that can be placed into water (not shown) in the cavities 112. On screen 117 on gas sensor 116 a user can determine if a bubble (not shown) in the water (not shown) in cavities 112 raises to the surface of the water. High magnification device 118 is removable from cabinet 105 and a user can look through the high magnification device 118 and see if the frequency of the vibration in water in cavities 112 raises a bubble to the surface of the water. In one embodiment of the present invention bin 108 is vibrated in a manner it moves up and down.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows freezing surface 109 having refrigeration pipe 119. Refrigeration pipe 119 freezes the freezing surface 109. The present invention contemplates any shape and numerous configurations for these freezing surfaces and all fall into the scope of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows clear ice cube mold 130 having sidewalls 131 and bottom wall 132. In one embodiment of the present invention clear ice cube mold 130 is made from a polymer. In one embodiment of the present invention bottom wall 130A sits atop freezing surface 109 (not shown). As the water 133 freezes the proper frequency to raise a bubble 134 to the surface 135 of water 133 is applied to water 133. Bottom wall 132, also known as freezing side, is configured so cold goes through it and freezes the water 133 from the bottom position A to top position B of mold 130. Lid 130A covers clear ice cube mold 130 so when it is vibrated water 133 splashing outside mold 130 is reduced. Bottom wall 132 is made from a polymer or an alloy. If a polymer it is configured with the proper thickness to allow cold to go through it and freeze a clear ice cube. The sidewalls 131 are made of a polymer or a material that has insulated properties so the water 133 does not freeze through the sidewalls. In one embodiment of the present invention the ice cube mold 130 is made from an alloy. To prevent mold 130 from freezing water from sidewalls 131 sidewalls 131 are heated or insulated and a lid wall 130A is heated or insulated. One schooled in the art would know how to accomplish this goal. Heating the lid wall 130A prevents frozen slush from forming in the top of the water until the water is totally frozen from the bottom of the mold 130. Therefore in one embodiment of the present invention the total environment within mold 130 is controlled and therefore once the vibration is calibrated it will make clear ice cubes having zero cloudiness in their center continually. This embodiment when coupled with embodiments in FIG. 4 provide for the first automatic clear ice cube maker and dispenser. By places numerous mold 130 tightly together with no space in between them filled with water 133, water 133 provides insulation so the water does not freeze through the sidewalls 133.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows adjustable vibration device 126 having pistons 127. Pistons 127 are also known as an impact vibrator(s). In one embodiment of the present invention the number of pistons 127 equal the number of cavities 128 in clear ice mold 129. In other words if there are 100 cavities 128, there are 100 pistons, 127. One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a microprocessor to adjust the frequency to each of the cavities 128 requirement. In one embodiment of the present invention freezing surface 109 is located between clear ice mold 129 and pistons 127. Pistons 127 are configured in to hit freezing surface 109 at the exact spot cavities 128 are located above at the exact same time. This provides that the vibration frequency is delivered to each of the multiple cavities 128 uniformly enough to raise a bubble illustrated in FIG. 3 to the surface of the water of each of the cavities 128 no matter the number. In one embodiment of the present invention pistons 127 are configured to stay in contact with the freezing surface 109 not moving in and out and they are configured to vibrate. This configuration provides optimum frequency distribution to all cavities 128 no matter the number. Vibration pinpoint delivered to each of the cavities 128. There are various ways to distribute the same frequency evenly or about evenly to each of the cavities 128 and are all contemplated by the present invention and fall into the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention a microprocessor, not shown, but known in the art can adjust the pistons 127 vibration to deliver a different frequency to one of the cavities 128 and a different frequency to another of the cavities 128. One schooled in the art would know how to accomplish this goal. This is one means of making multiple shaped clear ice cubes each having a different water mass at the same time. In one embodiment of the present invention pistons 127 are configured to move freezing surface 109 up and down. All means to move freezing surface 109 up and down to vibrate water in cavities 128 is contemplated by the present invention and falls into the scope of the present invention. All means functioning to move cavities 128 up and down are contemplated by the present invention and fall into the scope of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows mold 120 having cavities 121. Water is automatically filled from metered water source 121. Freezing surface 122 is turned upside down by turning and combination freezing vibration mechanism 123 that vibrates and freezes water (not shown) in cavities 121.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a combination clear ice cube maker and refrigerator 136 having freezing surface 139 that mold 111 sits atop. Mold 111 is also seen in FIG. 1. Vibrator 134 vibrates water (not shown) in mold 111 at a frequency to raise a bubble to the surface of the water. Vented area 138 allows air from outside clear ice cube maker and refrigerator 136 to keep the temperature above mold 111 warm enough so the water does not freeze from the top of mold 111 by cold air above mold 111. There are numerous ways to prevent water from freezing from the top of the mold with a heater clement (not shown) and all ways fall into the scope of the present invention. Vibrator 139 vibrates water (not shown) in mold 111.
Term Definitions and Discussion
[0026] The term “clear ice cubes” in a disclosure is ambiguous if not defined in the disclosure and that definition claimed. The term clear ice cubes is subjective, e.g., is it totally clear or partially clear? Is the clear cube cloudy in the center and perfectly clear elsewhere? Does it have a few visible bubbles or none? There is no national standard or uniform legal definition for what constitutes a clear ice cube. The only accurate and legal definition of what constitutes a clear ice cube is what is claimed. Therefore even if a disclosure states clear cubes with a “zero cloudiness center” can be produced, unless claimed, in these circumstances, it should not be considered obvious to the present invention. The present invention narrowly defines and narrowly claims what type of clear ice cubes it makes.
[0027] The term “cube” herein means any shaped ice for drinking, it does not just constitute a cube shape. The term “clear ice” or “clear ice cube” herein means, ice or an ice cube that has some visible bubbles or zero visible bubbles and zero visual cloudiness in its center.
[0028] The term “zero cloudiness” or “zero visible cloudiness” herein means a person with 20/20 vision cannot see cloudiness in the center of the cube.
[0029] The term “cloudiness” herein means the visual cloudiness found in the center of an ice cube produced in a standard metal ice cube tray and is made in the home refrigerator freezer compartment.
