Patent ID: 11867550
Assignee: MANITOWOC FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC F  G | IPC G

Claim 6:
7. A method of controlling an ice maker, the ice maker comprising:
an evaporator;
a water pump for supplying water to a surface of the evaporator, so that water on the surface of the evaporator forms ice;
a sump below the freeze plate adapted to hold water that passes over the evaporator surface;
an air fitting in the sump, the air fitting defining a chamber, wherein air is in the chamber, wherein the air fitting comprises one or more openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber;
a pneumatic tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the air inside the distal end is in fluid communication with the chamber of the air fitting; and
a controller comprising a processor and an air pressure sensor, wherein the air inside the proximal end of the pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor,
wherein the air pressure sensor measures an air pressure from the air chamber of the air fitting, and the air pressure has a noise level of data associated therewith,
wherein the air pressure corresponds to a water level in the sump,
the method comprising the steps of:
sensing the noise level of data associated with the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor; and
using that data to determine if the water level is above or below the bottom of the air fitting, wherein a higher noise level corresponds to the water level being above the bottom of the air fitting and a lower noise level corresponds the water level being below the bottom of the air fitting.