US3040542A - Product level control for ice maker - Google Patents

Description

June 26 1962 W. LINSTROMBERG 3' PRODUCT LEVEL CONTROL FOR CE MAKER F11ed Feb. 2, 1959 4 sheetssheet 1 June 26, 1962 W. J LINSTROMBERG 3'o40,542

PRODUCT LEVEL CONTROL FOR CE MAKER 4 sheetssheet 2 F11ed Feb. 2, 1959 Jun 26, 1962 W LNSTROMBERG 3,040'542 PRODUCT LEVEL CONTROL FOR CE MAKER F11ed Feb. 2 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 26, 1962 w LINSTROMBERG 3,040,542

PRODUCT LEVEL CONTROL FOR ICE MAKER' F11ed Feb. 2, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WATER ENTERS DEGREE5 REVOLUTION 0F 5HAFT 0 catch 65 to perrnit ftee access to the Space norInally occupied by the containef.

Aftel the c011tainer has been elT1;)tied and returned to its nonnal position below control arIn end 49 the control arm may be released ffom its Taised position by a slight mOvment to the left to remove it from catch s, whereupon I)ivot link 4 is pivoted by spfing 62' to eect engagen]ent of actuating nleans 47 vvith can1 48 and 1)errit the above-described autonlatic 0 erati011 to be resumed.

vvhile I have shovvn and described one en1bodiInent of Iny invention, it is t0 be u lderSt()0d that it iS capable of many m0dicati0nS Changes, therefore in the construction and arrangement Inay be made 'vvithout departing fr0n the spirit and Scope of the invention aS defined in the appended claims.

The en1bodin]ents of the invention in vvhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follovvs:

l. Apparatus fol' contr01ling electrical drive lneans of an ice body maker as a function of the level of ice bodies accun1ulated in a receptacle therein, comprising: a switch for continuously controlling the electrical enel gization of the drive nleans; nleans carrying said svvitdh 1T10vable t0 and from a preselected 1)0Sition; a contT01 arIT1 for sensing the level of ice bodies in the rece tacle, said control arm being operatively associated with the Switch cal'rying Ineans for Inoven1ent thereby'ffon1 a 1st p0sition coffesponding to a preselected level of the ice bodies in the receptacle to a second )0Sitidn above said iirst 1)()Sitiol1 as a result of movement of the Switch carrying means away froIn said preselected 1)()Siti()11; nlea11S biasing the control arn1 in a) directip1 away froIn said second 1)Siti011tovvard Said TSt ()siti011; and Ineans operated by the drive tneans fol bodily positioning the szitch, Said switch 1)0Sitioning nTeans pernitting the svvitch to de-energize the drive Ineans vvhen the contr01 arm is precluded fronl being Inoved in said direction beyond Said first ;0Sition 2. The apparatus of claim 1 Wherein said Switch carrying n1eans includes a link having an aperture a11d the contr0l arIl includes an end portion having alost ntion connection with the link in said aperture.

3 The apparatus of clain1 1 Wherein the switch positioning n1eans conpriSes a canT 0peratively as80ciated vvith the Switch carrying Ineans f01' controlling n10venlent thereof fron and to the preselected positi011.

- 4. Apparatus for controlling electrical drive 1Tleans of an ice body n1aker as a function of the level of ice v bodies accuInulated il a Teceptacle thefein, c0mprising: a Switch for c()1ti110usly controlling the electrica1 ene[ gization of the drive tneans; Ineans calTying Said Svvitch 10Vable to and froIn a preselected position; a co11tr01 arn1 for Sensi11g the level of ice bodies in the receptacle, said contr01 arn1 Separably engaging the svvitch carryi11g nleans for nlovenent thereby fronl a St position corresponding t() a preselected level of the ice bodies in the receptacle to a Second 1)osition above said Tst positionas a re- Sult of 1T10venlent of the Svitch carrying n1eal]s avvay from said reselected 0Siti01; Ineans b...asing the control arm in a direction a'ay from said second position to- Ward Said first I)0Sition; and means operated by the drive means for bodily positioning the Svvitch, Said switch positioning nleans arranging the switch to de-energize the drive 1T1eans vvhen the contr01 al'm iS precluded fronl being moved in said direction beyond Said first 1ositi011.

Apparatus foT cOntrOlli g an electrical I10tor of an ice body Inake1 as' a function of the leve1 0f ice )0 dieS accun]ulated in a rece )tacle therei!i, comprising: a Svvitch assembly including a pivotany movable m0uning mem ber and a contr01 Svvith on the Inounting Inen1her elec tfically ass0ciated with the motor, Said switch )eing biased to de-energize the IIl()tol'; ;am nean T()tated hy the I10t0T; a control arm 0peratively aSSOciaed vvith the switch assembly OT )iv0tal n10venlent to sense the level 0f ice bodies accumulated in the rece )tacle; and Tneans biasing the S'itch assembly against the cam means t0 Over()Ine the )ias of the Svvitch and theey energize the n0tor; Totation 0f Said cam IIleans causing n10vement of the contr01 arm u wardy from a iirst :0Siti0n t0 a Second )()Siti01, he switch opening as a Tesult of T0tation of the cam meals when the 011tfOl arm is held a])ove a pOSit0n c0Trp0nding to a preselected level of ice 'bodies in the Teceptacle.

6- Ap arauS f0 controning an elecical motol' 0f an ice )ody nlaker as a function of the level of ice')0dieS accumulated in a receptacle therein, con]prising: a Svvitch assenTbly including a 1)iv()t...ble nTounting nlenber and a normally open control Switch o1 the n1011nting nle[nber electrica11y ass0ciated With the mot0r, cam meanS Totated by the Ino0r; a contr01 arn1 connected to Said mounting memer foT movement t0 sense the level of ice )Odies}aCcunTulated il1 the leceptacle; and Eneans baising the switch aSsem)ly a)gainst the cam means t0 close the SWic and thereby energize the 1T10tor, n]0ven]ent Of said can1 n1eans auSing In0veInen of the control arn1 upwardly from a Tst positOl1 to a second 0Siti0n, the Switch 0Pening aS a result of nTovernent the cam Ineans when the contr01 arn1 iS held above a )Ositi0l corre Sponding to a reselected level 0f ice )OdieS in '[he re ceptcle' lefeellceS Cted in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 7l7,495 AnderIi Sept. 13, Z 7l7 497 Kner1' Se1)t 13 195 2,717,498 shagaloff sept. 13 l9 2,717,04 Knerf Sept l3, 19 Z,778,l98 Heath Ian. 22, 197 2,949,749 Reddi Aug. 23 1960

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