Scotsman Group LLC

William J Black

Matthew W Allison

Gary L Van Riper

Melvin A Baker

Daniel G Skell

Michael A Manthei

Robert P Utter

Matt W Allison

Christopher J Wilson

Mark A McKinney

Joseph T Piatnik

An icemaker having a means for bypassing a head pressure control valve thereof depending upon the ambient air temperature surrounding a remotely located condenser of the icemaker. The method and apparatus involve a first bypass conduit which is coupled to an outlet of the condenser upstream of the head pressure control valve and a first bypass valve disposed in the first bypass conduit. A second bypass conduit is in communication with an inlet of the condenser and also with the head pressure control valve. A second bypass valve is disposed in the second bypass conduit. A thermostat controls each of the bypass valves such that the first bypass valve is closed and the second bypass valve opened when the sensed ambient air temperature around the condenser is below a predetermined temperature, to thereby permit normal operation of the head pressure control valve. When the ambient air temperature is at or above the predetermined temperature, the first bypass valve is opened and the second bypass valve is closed, which causes condensed refrigerant to bypass the head pressure control valve completely. The above-described arrangement permits a high set point of the head pressure control to build more heat in a compressor during the freeze cycle of the icemaker when the condenser is experiencing low ambient air temperature conditions, and further allows the head pressure control valve to be bypassed entirely when the ambient air conditions are relatively high during the freeze cycle, and the head pressure control valve is therefore not needed.

Apparatus and method for head pressure control valve disabling for an

A fault restart routine for an icemaker having a microprocessor-based system controller. The fault restart routine provides at least a limited number of attempts at automatically restarting the icemaker after a shutdown has occurred because of a detected fault condition. If the fault condition is not a water inlet fault, the routine waits a first predetermined period of time before attempting to restart the icemaker. If the fault is detected as being a water inlet fault, then the system controller waits for a second predetermined time period before restarting the icemaker. If after restarting the icemaker, the icemaker completes one complete cycle of operation (i.e., a complete FREEZE cycle and a complete HARVEST cycle), then the fault restart routine is exited and a previously generated fault code is cleared. If the icemaker does not full one complete cycle of operation within a predetermined number of restart tries, then the system controller generates a fault signal to the LED display and no further attempts at restarting the icemaker are made. The method alleviates the need for an operator or attendant to manually attempt to restart the icemaker in the event a fault condition occurs, which fault condition may only be temporary and/or due to environmental conditions such as power surges or brown-outs, and which does not require operator intervention. The method further protects the icemaker by automatically shutting down the icemaker if after the predetermined number of restart tries the fault condition is still present.

Fault restart method

An icemaker incorporating a hot gas bypass system for introducing a supplemental quantity of refrigerant from a condenser into a compressor of the icemaker during a harvest cycle. The system includes a harvest bypass valve disposed in a bypass conduit coupled between an input port of the compressor and the inlet of a remotely disposed condenser. The harvest bypass valve is opened by a system controller of the icemaker during a harvest cycle which allows refrigerant in the condenser to migrate back into the input port of the compressor during the harvest cycle. In this manner, it can be insured that a sufficient quantity of refrigerant is available to carry out the harvest cycle. The adding of a supplemental quantity of refrigerant is further accomplished through a single valve and does not add appreciably to the overall cost or complexity of the icemaker.

Hot gas bypass system for an icemaker

A method for preventing the formation of icy slush within the sump of an ice maker. The method includes the steps of monitoring the temperature of the water being circulated through the ice maker and detecting when the temperature reaches about 32.degree. F. When the water reaches about 32.degree. F., the water pump is turned-off to allow residual water on evaporator plates of the ice maker to freeze and form ice crystals thereon. The water pump is turned-off for a predetermined period of time sufficient to allow the residual water remaining on the evaporator plates to freeze, which is preferably about 40 seconds, before it is turned back on. Thereafter, circulating water gradually freezes to the ice crystals formed on the evaporator plates. This prevents the water in the sump from cooling below about 32.degree. F. which would cause an icy slush to form in the sump. The above cycle is repeated after ice is harvested from the evaporator plates.

Method for preventing formation of ice slush in an ice maker

Splash panel for ice/beverage dispenser

A method and apparatus for controlling an ice making machine by monitoring water level in a sump used for water recirculation over an evaporator plate. Self-diagnostic means are also provided for automatic shutdown upon detection of malfunction during various cycles.

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Gurnee, IL, United States of America

William J Black