The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1991
Georg von Blanquet, Baden-Baden, DE;
Gaggenau-Werke Haus- und Lufttechnik GmbH, Gaggenau, DE;
Abstract
A coolant circuit, for example of a refrigerator or freezer unit, includes a coolant source at a very low temperature. A finger-type chilling member is thermoconductively connected to the coolant source and is adapted to be positioned within a tank containing water that is flowed to wash around the member. Thereby, the water freezes on the member in the form of a clear ice piece. A heating device is connected to the member to selectively heat the member to detach therefrom the ice piece formed thereon. A thermal barrier is connected to the member at a position to separate the heating device and that portion of the member on which the ice piece is formed from the coolant source. The thermal barrier thus limits cooling of the member by the coolant source and also limits transfer of heat from the heating device to the coolant source. A control circuit includes a regulating circuit to operate the heating device to maintain the temperature of the member at an approximately constant value above a predetermined minimum value necessary to produce clear ice pieces.