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:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1998
William J Black, Gurnee, IL (US);
Matthew W Allison, Gurnee, IL (US);
Melvin A Baker, Grayslake, IL (US);
Gary L Van Riper, Wildwood, IL (US);
Scotsman Group, Vernon Hills, IL (US);
Abstract
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.