Frozen product machine

Abstract

In one embodiment, a frozen product machine comprising a cooling chamber and an evaporator is provided. The cooling chamber delivers an edible product mix. The evaporator surrounds the cooling chamber so that the evaporator and the cooling chamber define an evaporator chamber therebetween. The evaporator includes an input line and a plurality of return lines. The input line is coupled to the evaporator for receiving refrigerant in a liquid state from a condenser and for delivering the refrigerant to the evaporator chamber. The plurality of return lines coupled to a top section of the evaporator for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator chamber and for delivering the refrigerant away from the evaporator while the cooling chamber produces the edible product mix.

1 . A frozen product machine comprising:
 a cooling chamber for discharging an edible product mix;   an evaporator surrounding the cooling chamber, the evaporator and the cooling chamber define an evaporator chamber therebetween, the evaporator including:
 an input line coupled to the evaporator for receiving refrigerant in a liquid state from a condenser and for delivering the refrigerant to the evaporator chamber; and 
 a plurality of return lines coupled to a top section of the evaporator for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator chamber and for delivering the refrigerant away from the evaporator while the cooling chamber discharges the edible product mix. 
   
   
   
       2 . The frozen product machine of  claim 1  wherein the evaporator includes first and second ends and the cooling chamber extends between the first and second ends and wherein the plurality of returns lines include a first return line positioned at a first distance from the first end of the evaporator and a second return line positioned at a second distance from the second end of the evaporator, the first distance being substantially equal to the second distance. 
   
   
       3 . The frozen product machine of  claim 1  wherein the evaporator includes first and second ends and the plurality of return lines include a first return line having a first outer edge, wherein the first outer edge of the first return line is positioned proximate to the first end of the evaporator at a distance of between 0.125 and 4.0 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The frozen product machine of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of return lines include a second return line having a second outer edge, wherein the second outer edge of the second return line is positioned proximate to the second end of the evaporator at a distance of between 0.125 and 4.0 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The frozen product machine of  claim 1  further comprising a joining line coupled to the plurality of return lines and being parallely spaced from the evaporator to receive refrigerant in one of a vapor state and the liquid state. 
   
   
       6 . The frozen product machine of  claim 6  further comprising an output return line coupled to the joining line to deliver the vapor refrigerant to the condenser. 
   
   
       7 . The frozen product machine of  claim 1  wherein the input line includes a first diameter and at least one return line from the plurality of return lines includes a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The frozen product machine of  claim 1  wherein the input line is coupled to a bottom section of the evaporator and the input line and the plurality of return lines extend through the same plane. 
   
   
       9 . A frozen product machine comprising:
 a cooling chamber for receiving a liquid product mix and producing an edible frozen product mix;   an evaporator including first and second ends, the evaporator surrounding the cooling chamber such that the evaporator and the cooling chamber define an evaporator chamber therebetween, the evaporator further including:
 an input line coupled to the evaporator for receiving refrigerant in a liquid state from a condenser and for delivering the refrigerant to the evaporator chamber; and 
 multiple return lines coupled to the evaporator for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator chamber and for delivering the refrigerant away from the evaporator while the cooling chamber produces the edible product mix, the multiple return lines including:
 a first return line having a first outer edge positioned directly adjacent to the first end of the evaporator at a first distance of 0.125 inches or greater; and 
 a second return line having a second outer edge positioned directly adjacent to the second end of the evaporator at a second distance of 0.125 inches or greater; 
 
   wherein the position of the first return line at the first distance and the position of the second return line at the second distance enable a flow rate of refrigerant in the first return line to be substantially similar to a flow rate of refrigerant in the second return line.   
   
   
       10 . The frozen product machine of  claim 9  wherein the first distance is further defined as being between 0.125 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       11 . The frozen product machine of  claim 10  wherein the second distance is further defined as being between 0.125 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       12 . The frozen product machine of  claim 9  wherein the first distance is substantially similar to the second distance. 
   
   
       13 . The frozen product machine of  claim 9  further comprising a joining line coupled to the first and the second return lines and being parallely spaced from the evaporator for receiving the refrigerant in at least one of a vapor state and the liquid state. 
   
   
       14 . The frozen product machine of  claim 13  further comprising an output return line coupled to the joining line for delivering the vapor refrigerant to the condenser. 
   
   
       15 . The frozen product machine of  claim 9  wherein the input line includes a first diameter and at least one of the first and the second return lines include a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 
   
   
       16 . A frozen product machine comprising:
 a cooling chamber for receiving an edible product mix;   at least one evaporator line surrounding the cooling chamber;   an input line disposed about a bottom section of the cooling chamber for receiving refrigerant in a liquid state from a condenser and for delivering the refrigerant to the at least one evaporator line; and   a plurality of return lines disposed about a top section of the cooling chamber and coupled to the at least one evaporator line for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator chamber and for discharging the refrigerant away from the at least one evaporator line.   
   
   
       17 . The frozen product machine of  claim 16  wherein the cooling chamber includes first and second ends and the plurality of return lines include a first return line positioned about the first end of the cooling chamber and a second return line positioned about the second end of the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       18 . The frozen product machine of  claim 16  wherein the at least one evaporator line comprises a first evaporator line for surrounding a first section of the cooling chamber and a second evaporator line for surround a second section of the cooling chamber, the first and second evaporator lines being separate from one another. 
   
   
       19 . The frozen product machine of  claim 18  wherein the input line includes a first member coupled to the first evaporator line for delivering refrigerant to the first evaporator line and a second member coupled to the second evaporator line for delivering refrigerant to the second evaporator line. 
   
   
       20 . The frozen product machine of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of return lines include a first return line coupled to the first evaporator line to deliver refrigerant away from the cooling chamber and a second return line coupled to the second evaporator line to deliver refrigerant away from the cooling chamber.