Energy-efficient apparatus and method for producing transparent ice cubes with enhanced hardness

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy-efficient method and apparatus for producing high-quality transparent ice cubes. The invention provides a novel approach to ice cube production that addresses the challenges of cutting ice, preventing visible crystallization, and maintaining the structural integrity of the ice. A key aspect of the invention is the utilization of a refrigeration system that agitates water to mitigate the formation of visible bubbles and crystallization within the ice cubes. The system includes a refrigeration pipe and a cavity in both thermal and mechanical communication with the pipe, designed to vibrate or oscillate to induce one-directional freezing and ensure consistent quality. The invention also details the use of water with a specific concentration of calcium carbonate to enhance the energy efficiency of the freezing process. The refrigeration system is optimized to balance thermal transfer and structural stability, with a focus on the amplitude of water agitation necessary to produce transparent ice cubes devoid of visible imperfections. The technical advantages extend to the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants and the provision for easy mold exchange to produce ice cubes of various shapes and sizes without the need for tools or disassembly. The invention further includes an embodiment that achieves the correct water amplitude for creating transparent ice cubes with a center free of visible crystallization and bubbles. The amplitude is meticulously controlled to ensure that water droplets are propelled at least one-eighth of an inch above the water's surface, contributing to the one-directional freezing necessary for creating transparent ice cubes. The invention provides a reliable and repeatable process for producing clear ice cubes, free from the cloudiness and structural weaknesses commonly associated with less controlled freezing techniques.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An ice machine and one or a plurality of ice cubes produced by the ice machine, comprising:
 a refrigeration system,
 a refrigeration pipe and/or a thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system that draws heat from water in a cavity, 
 the refrigeration pipe and/or a thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system kept in thermal communication throughout a freezing cycle with a substantially flat surface placed under the water in the cavity, 
 the ice machine configured to provide substantially one directional freezing of the water from a bottom position of the cavity to a top open end position of the cavity during a freezing cycle; 
   the ice machine configured to generate a one or a plurality of ice cubes,
 wherein the refrigeration pipe and/or a thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system and the configuration of the cavity provide that the ice cube extends over 1.25 inches from a wall of the cavity; 
   the one or plurality of ice cubes each consisting of a continuous piece of ice of a cubic or non-cubic shape;
 the one or plurality of ice cubes each further comprising a solid center portion that forms at least 70 percent of the volume of each ice cube; and
 the solid center portion of each of the one or plurality of ice cubes lacking visible crystallization and visible clear bubbles. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The ice machine and one or a plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a vibrator, and   a refrigeration pipe having a refrigerant flowing therein that is configured to a refrigeration fitting is such a manner that the refrigerant will not leak from the pipe during a vibration cycle; and   wherein the vibrator is configured to generate a vibration of an intensity to the water;
 the vibration of an amplitude such that water droplets jump at least ⅛ th  of an inch vertically above a top surface of the water that existed prior to the time that the vibration was applied, 
 at least 90% of the water droplets jump less than 6 inches above the top surface of the water, and 
   wherein the solid center portion forms at least 91 percent of the volume of each of the one or a plurality of ice cubes.   
     
     
         3 . The ice machine and one or a plurality of ice cubes of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the cavity has a bottom wall,
 the bottom wall comprising a polymer having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.60 watts per meter-Kelvin, 
 the bottom wall and the refrigeration pipe configured such that the water freezes through the polymer providing that the ice cube extends over 1.25 inches from the wall of the cavity, and 
   at least a portion of each of the one or a plurality of ice cubes comprising a Moh hardness of 1.6 to 4.   
     
     
         4 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 , further comprising
 an oscillator,   wherein the refrigeration pipe and/or thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system consists of a refrigeration pipe,   wherein the refrigeration pipe further comprises a refrigerant flowing therein,
 the refrigeration pipe configured to secure to a refrigeration fitting in such a manner that the refrigerant will not leak from the refrigeration pipe, 
 the oscillator configured to provide an intensity to the water so that water droplets originating from the water jump at least about ⅛ th  of an inch vertically above a top surface of the water,
 and such that at least 90% of the water droplets fall back into the water, 
 and such that at least 90% of the water droplets jump less than 6 inches above the top surface of the water, 
 
   wherein the solid center portion forms at least 91 percent of the volume of each of the one or plurality of ice cubes.   
     
     
         5 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the refrigeration pipe or thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system consists of a refrigeration pipe,   wherein the refrigeration pipe further comprises a refrigerant flowing therein,
 the refrigeration system further comprising a first release opening configured to direct water upward into the cavity in a non-sprayed manner, 
   wherein each of the one or plurality of ice cubes lacks any visible intermittent water flow line, and   wherein the solid center portion forms at least 91 percent of the volume of the one or plurality of ice cubes.   
     
     
         6 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigeration system is configured such that the water directed upwards through the first release opening is in a continuous flow. 
     
     
         7 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 5 , wherein
 a bottom wall of the cavity is made of a material from the group consisting of copper, or   aluminum, and stainless steel,   a sidewall of the cavity is made from a polymer, and   the bottom wall and the sidewall form a seam,   the seam configured to provide a watertight seal.   
     
     
         8 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first release opening is configured to release water upward into only the cavity,   and the refrigeration system further comprising a second release opening,
 the second release opening is configured to release water upward into a cavity distinct from the cavity into which water is released through the first release opening. 
   
     
     
         9 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 the refrigeration system further comprising a plurality of release openings,
 each of the plurality of release openings configured to direct water upward into one of a plurality of cavities, 
 a release opening of the plurality of release openings configured to have a larger diameter than the diameter of the other of the plurality of release openings,
 the ice machine providing for water released into any of the multiple cavities released in a volume approximately of the same amount as the volume of water released into any other of the multiple cavities;
 the ice machine facilitating production of a plurality of ice cubes each having approximately the same weight. 
 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 9 ,
 wherein a release opening of the plurality of release openings has an angled tip positioned towards a sidewall of a corresponding cavity such that water released through such release opening travels upward into the corresponding cavity,
 the water impacting the sidewall before impacting the substantially flat surface,
 the surface of each of one or plurality of ice cubes formed comprising reduced or eliminated incidence of dimpling. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigeration pipe and/or a thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system consists of a refrigeration pipe,   the refrigeration pipe further comprising a refrigerant flowing therein,   a bin comprising five walls and a lid,   each of the walls of the cavity comprising food grade material;
 the cavity further comprising a polymer bottom wall such that water placed in the cavity freezes through the polymer bottom wall to produce one of the one or plurality of ice cubes, 
   and the cavity is placed into the bin,   the lid configured to cover the bin and the cavity,
 the refrigeration system further comprising a submersible water pump,
 the submersible water pump further comprising water touching aspects intended to come into contact with water,
 the water touching aspects of the submersible water pump consisting of food grade material, 
 the water touching aspects positioned to agitate the water in the cavity, 
 
 the submersible water pump configured to reposition the water touching aspects upward within the water in the cavity as the water freezes within the cavity, 
 
 each of the one or plurality of ice cubes comprising a top layer of water that is at least one inch deep after the freezing cycle is completed,
 the ice machine configured to enable removal of the top layer of water following the freezing cycle and prior to the removal of such ice cube from the cavity, 
 
 each of the one or plurality of ice cubes comprising a concentration of calcium carbonate less than 260 milligrams per liter, 
 each of the one or plurality of ice cubes comprising a portion with a Moh hardness of 1.6 to 4, 
 the ice machine further comprising a cutting module comprising at least one blade comprising at least 15 percent chromium, 
 the at least one blade configured to cut each of the one or plurality of ice cubes into a smaller non-spherical ice cube that does not exceed five inches along any axis, 
 the smaller non-spherical ice cube lacking any visible cracks and any visible chips. 
   
     
     
         12 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or plurality of ice cubes comprises a portion with a Moh hardness of at least 2. 
     
     
         13 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 11 ,
 the cutting module further comprising a plurality of blades wherein each of the plurality of blades
 is circular, 
 comprises 2 to 6 teeth per inch, 
 is placed less than 3 inches apart from any other blade on a rod, and 
 comprises a cutting surface thickness of approximately 0.25 inches 
   and wherein the cutting module operates to cut each of the one or plurality of ice cubes into smaller non-spherical ice cubes lacking any visible cracks and any visible chips.   
     
     
         14 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 13 , wherein the rod is configured to move up and down. 
     
     
         15 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the bin comprises a sidewall configured to open to release any of the one or plurality of ice cubes contained therein from the bin.   
     
     
         16 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gas pump,
 the gas pump configured to release a gas into the cavity to move water within the cavity, and 
   a compressor,
 the compressor configured to cool the gas to a temperature lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit before the gas enters the water. 
   
     
     
         17 . The ice machine and one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 16 , further comprising a stem,
 the stem configured such that an aspect of the stem is submerged in the water during the freezing cycle,   the stem further configured to spin to move the water in the cavity,
 the resulting ice cube retaining a top layer of water at least ⅛ th  of an inch deep above the resulting ice cube and within the cavity, 
   the stem further configured so it is removed from the top later of water after the freezing cycle,   the ice machine configured to retain the top layer of water during the freezing cycle and to enable removal of the top layer of water after the freezing cycle from the cavity prior to removal of the resulting ice cube from the cavity,
 the ice machine further configured to produce one or a plurality of ice cubes each comprising six sides,
 each of the one or plurality of ice cubes further comprising a portion with a Moh hardness of at least 1.6. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the stem is submerged in the water,   the stem further configured so as the water freezes the stem moves upward in the water.   
     
     
         19 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 18 , wherein the stem is attached to a lid and the lid covers the cavity, such that when the lid is in an open position the stem is retracted from the water. 
     
     
         20 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the stem is configured to correspond to a size of the cavity,   the spin rate of stem is configured to adjust to the stem configuration and the size of the cavity such that each of the one or plurality of ice cubes produced by the ice machine lacks visible crystallization and lacks visible bubbles.   
     
     
         21 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 18 ,
 the substantially flat surface comprising an opening comprising a refrigerant therein,
 the opening maintained in thermal communication with the substantially flat surface throughout the freezing cycle. 
   
     
     
         22 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 the cavity further comprising a first cavity opening and a second cavity opening, the first cavity opening and the second cavity opening located near the top of the cavity,
 the first cavity opening and the second cavity opening located within the cavity above a desired height of each of the one or plurality of ice cubes within the cavity, 
   the cavity configured to draw water in through the first cavity opening via a water pump and push water out through the second cavity opening back into the cavity.   
     
     
         23 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the refrigeration pipe comprises a diameter of ½ of an inch or larger,   is over 25 equivalent feet in length,   is configured to provide over 1,000 BTUs, and   further comprises a liquid line of a diameter of approximately ¼ of an inch or less.   
     
     
         24 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a suction pipe extending from a compressor is heated forming a heated suction pipe,
 the heating of the suction pipe generated electronically or via heating from a liquid line, 
 the heated suction pipe thereby configured to reduce the chance of the compressor freezing. 
   
     
     
         25 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a stem,
 the stem configured so a segment of the stem is submerged in the water during the freezing cycle, 
 the stem further configured to pulsate up and down in the water to move the water in the cavity to agitate the water in the cavity, 
   the agitation of the water in the cavity thereby resulting in a top layer of water at least ⅛ th  of an inch deep remaining on top of each of the one or plurality of ice cubes generated during the freezing cycle,   the ice machine further configured such that following the freezing cycle, the layer of water is removed from the top of each of the one or plurality of ice cubes prior to the removal of such one or plurality of ice cubes removed from the cavity.   
     
     
         26 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the refrigeration pipe and/or thermo-electric pad of the refrigeration system consists of a refrigeration pipe,   wherein the refrigeration pipe further comprises a refrigerant flowing therein,   the substantially flat surface comprises a metal bottom wall of a bin,   the bin comprises four sidewalls,
 the ice machine further comprising a removable insert having only four sidewalls and no bottom wall configured to be insertable into the bin,
 the four sidewalls of the removable insert and the metal bottom wall of the bin forming a second cavity,
 the second cavity further comprising four sidewalls and a bottom wall comprising a polymer, 
 
 the cavity insertable into and removable from the second cavity, 
 
   the ice machine further comprising a vibrator or oscillator that vibrates or oscillates the water so water droplets jump at least ⅛ th  of an inch vertically above a top surface of the water and then back into the water,
 the refrigeration system comprising fittings attached in such a manner so the refrigerant will not leak from the refrigeration pipe throughout a vibration cycle or an oscillation cycle. 
   
     
     
         27 . The ice machine and the one or plurality of ice cubes of  claim 26 , the refrigeration pipe mechanically attached to the metal bottom wall and maintained in contact with the metal bottom wall throughout a vibration cycle or an oscillation cycle.