Ice maker

Abstract

A commercial ice maker purges water from a sump via a passive drain valve instead of an active drain pump. The ice maker uses a large freeze plate, but still can accommodate the passive drain valve within a standard enclosure footprint. A bottom wall of the ice maker has a drain passaging groove formed in an upper surface. The drain valve is supported above the bottom wall and drain tube is at least partially received in the drain passaging groove. The drain valve can include a valve body that has a valve seat and a movable valve member that opens and closes a valve passage through the valve seat. The valve member radially overlaps the valve seat along a longitudinal axis when the valve member is closed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An ice maker for forming ice, the ice maker comprising;
 a refrigeration system comprising an ice formation device;   a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device, the water system comprising:
 a water reservoir configured to hold water to be formed into ice, 
   drain passaging fluidly coupled to the water reservoir such that water in the water reservoir can drain through the drain passaging, the drain passaging having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, and   a drain valve for selectively opening and closing the drain passaging;   wherein the drain valve comprises a valve body defining a valve passage fluidly coupled between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion of the drain passaging, the valve body including an annular valve seat extending longitudinally along an axis and facing radially inwardly with respect to the axis;   wherein the drain valve further comprises a valve member that is movable with respect to the valve body between an open position in which the valve member is positioned with respect to the valve body to allow water to flow through the valve passage from the upstream end portion of the drain passaging to the downstream end portion and a closed position in which the valve member engages the valve body to block flow through the valve passage from the upstream end portion of the drain passaging to the downstream end portion; and   wherein the valve member comprises an annular sealing surface extending longitudinally along the axis, the annular sealing surface configured to radially overlap and sealingly engage the valve seat along the axis when the valve member is in the closed position.   
     
     
         22 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the annular sealing surface has a length extending along the axis of at least 1 mm and wherein the annular sealing surface is configured to sealingly engage the valve seat along substantially the entire length when the valve member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         23 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the sealing surface tapers radially inwardly as it extends along the axis. 
     
     
         24 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the valve seat tapers radially inwardly as it extends along the axis. 
     
     
         25 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the valve member is movable along the axis from the open position to the closed position in a closing direction and wherein each of the sealing surface and the valve seat taper radially inwardly as it extends along the axis in the closing direction. 
     
     
         26 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the sealing surface is a substantially conical surface. 
     
     
         27 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the valve seat is a substantially conical surface. 
     
     
         28 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the valve seat and the sealing surface each have a cone angle and wherein the cone angles of the valve seat and the sealing surface are substantially the same. 
     
     
         29 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the sealing surface has a cone angle in an inclusive range of from about 30° to about 70°. 
     
     
         30 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein valve seat and the sealing surface include surface portions that are substantially the same shape but face in opposing directions. 
     
     
         31 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the open and closed positions of the valve member are spaced apart along the axis. 
     
     
         32 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the valve member is spaced apart along the axis from the valve seat when the valve member is in the open position. 
     
     
         33 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the sealing surface and the valve seat sealingly engage one another at an annular seal interface that extends along the axis when the drain valve is closed. 
     
     
         34 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the seal interface has a length extending along the axis and the length is at least about 1 mm. 
     
     
         35 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the seal interface is substantially conical. 
     
     
         36 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the valve body comprises an inlet tube and an outlet tube extending transverse to the axis, an outer chamber extending along the axis and fluidly coupled to the inlet tube, and an inner chamber extending along the axis within the outer chamber and fluidly coupled to the outlet tube. 
     
     
         37 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the inner chamber has a free end portion that opens inside the outer chamber and defines the valve seat. 
     
     
         38 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the valve passage includes a first segment in the inlet tube, a second segment between the outer chamber and the inner chamber, a third segment in the inner chamber, and a fourth segment in the outlet tube. 
     
     
         39 . The ice maker as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the valve is configured so that water flows sequentially through the first, second, third, and fourth segments as it flows downstream through the valve passage.