Patent Number: 047117591
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is an elevational view, in cross-section, of an ice basket 10 having a cylindrical, perforated metal sidewall and divided into a series of compartments, delineated by removable cruciforms 14 in accordance with the present invention. The open, upper end 12a of ice basket 10 affords limited access to the interior of the basket 10, the lower end 12b typically being enclosed by a grating or meshlike end closure (not shown) which is contiguous with support structure (not shown) for the basket 10. In a typical installation, the removable cruciforms 14 of the invention are disposed at axially displaced positions, or elevations, within the basket 10, corresponding to those of original, welded-in-place cruciforms, and thus are disposed at approximately 6 foot intervals, defining a succession of seven compartments 11-1 through 11-7 delineated by the plurality of cruciforms 14 within the basket 10, each containing initially a full charge of ice. As described in further detail hereinafter, each of the cruciforms 14 is releasably engaged on a stiffening ring (not seen in FIG. 1) for retaining same in position at the desired elevation within the ice basket 10. The cruciforms 14 are seen to perform the intended function of supporting the charges of ice within the corresponding compartments, despite the fact that sublimation has resulted in reduced charges of ice existing within the lower compartments. For example, whereas the charges of ice 9-1 and 9-2 substantially fill the corresponding compartments 11-1 and 11-2, in the lowermost compartments 11-6 and 11-7, significantly depleted charges of ice 9-6 and 9-7, respectively, remain. Whereas removal of the charge of ice at the uppermost compartment 11-1 is feasible with conventional tools since accessible through the open upper end 12a, removal of ice from the successively lower compartments is a difficult task. A preferred instrument which enables efficient and effective removal of ice from each of the successive compartments throughout the entire height of the basket 10 is disclosed in the copending application entitled "Ice Remover Auger for Ice Condention Containment", the inventors of which are coinventors herein, the application furthermore being assigned to the common assignee hereof. It thus will be understood that as the ice in each successive, lower compartment is removed, access may be gained to the corresponding removable cruciform 14 of the invention, and the same may be retracted and withdrawn, compartment by compartment, thereby to gain access to the lowermost compartment 11-7. The ice basket 10 may then be recharged with ice and the cruciforms 14 reinstalled, in compartment by compartment order. The cruciforms 14 of the invention, however, also accomodate alternative techniques and related equipment for accomplishing these same purposes, as later described herein. It furthermore should be understood that, where possible, removable cruciforms 14 in accordance with the present invention may be employed initially in a new installation, and not merely as a replacement for the conventional welded-in-place cruciforms of prior ice baskets, subsequently to their removal. However, where the removable cruciforms are to be employed in existing ice baskets as a replacement for the welded-in-place, conventional cruciforms, the latter must first be removed. Equipment for performing that function is disclosed in the copending application entitled "Ice Basket Cruciform Removal Tool", the inventor of which is a coinventor herein, the application being assigned to the common assignee hereof. The cruciform 14 of the present invention is shown in detail in the perspective, elevational view of FIG. 2 and, as assembled within an ice basket 10, in the plan view of FIG. 3, taken generally along the cross-sectional view line 3--3 in FIG. 1. Further details of the cruciform 14 of the invention are set forth in the side elevational view of FIG. 4, partly in cross-section and taken generally along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3, but wherein the sidewall 12 of the ice basket has been removed for simplicity and clarity of illustration. Additionally, the elevational view of FIG. 5 comprising a partial cross-section, taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 3, illustrates details of the internal construction of the cruciform 14. With concurrent reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the removable cruciform 14 in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of brackets 16, each of a generally V-shaped, truncated base configuration. Each bracket 16 comprises a central, base portion 17 having parallel longitudinal edges 17-1 and 17-2 from which corresponding integral legs 18 extend at a predetermined angle, so as to assume generally radial orientations relative to the sidewall 12 of an ice basket 10 in which the cruciform 14 is installed, as best seen in FIG. 3. Each of the legs 18 carries a pair of integral, upper and lower feet 19 which extend radially beyond the outer longitudinal edge of the corresponding leg 18 and define a receiving channel 20 therebetween. A pair of supoort plate assemblies 22 and 24, respectively comprising parallel, spaced plates 22a, 22b, and 24a, 24b, defining corresponding slide channels 23 and 25 therebetween, are secured to and extend in parallel relationship from one of the brackets 16, at right angles to the central portion 17 thereof. As best seen in FIG. 4, a pair of parallel, horizontal slots 26 and 28 are formed so as to extend, in alignment, through each of the parallel support plates 22a, 22b and 24a, 24b. On the other of the brackets 16 there are secured a pair of slide support plates 32 and 34, affixed thereto so as to extend at right angles from the central portion 17 in parallel relationship, and spaced apart so as to be received in telescoping, sliding relationship in the corresponding slide channels 23 and 25 of the support plate assemblies 22 and 24. Each of the slide support plates 32 and 34 has secured thereto corresponding pin pairs 36 and 38, at positions aligned with, and for being received through, the slots 26 and 28, respectively, in the mating support plate assemblies 22 and 24, to restrict, or limit, the telescoping, sliding relationship to a direction parallel to the slots 26 and 28, and a length of travel as defined by the abutment of the pin pairs 36 and 38 with the corresponding, opposite ends of the slots 26 and 28. As can be best appreciated from FIG. 3, the pair of brackets 16 accordingly may be compressed and/or expanded with a limited length of travel along a diameter of the ice basket 10 passing perpendicularly through the respective central portions 17 thereof, and corresponding to a symmetrically disposed, compression/expansion axis of the cruciform 14. As best seen in FIG. 4, the slide support plates 32 and 34 are slightly shorter in axial height (i.e., along the vertical axis of the cruciform 14, corresponding to the vertical axis of the cylindrical basket 10) than the corresponding support plates 22a, 22b and 24a, 24b. For example, support plates 22a, 22b and 24a, 24b, may each be approximately 4 inches in axial height whereas the slide support plates 32 and 34 may be of approximately 3.62 inches in axial height. The V-shaped brackets 16 as well may be of approximately 4 inches in axial height. The central portions 17 of the respective brackets 16 and the telescopingly engaged support plate assemblies and slide support plates 22, 32, and 24, 34, define therewithin a spring housing 40 which is of nominally square cross-section but, as described, may be compressed or expanded within a limited extent of travel along an axis perpendicular to the parallel, central portions 17. A C-shaped spring 42 is received in the housing 40. With concurrent reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, the spring 42 defines a longitudinal, or axially extending opening 43 between its free ends 42a and 42b; while illustrated in FIG. 7 as of circular cross-sectional configuration, corresponding to its installed condition in FIG. 3, the spring 42 in a free configuration (i.e., when not disposed within the housing 40) assumes a normal, expanded configuration. Accordingly, the spring 42 engages the base portions of the brackets 16 and applies a resilient biasing force thereto for maintaining the spaced relationship thereof and the nominally square cross-section configuration of the housing 40, the pins 36 and 38 abutting the ends of the slots 26 and 28. Pairs of notches 44 and 46 are formed in the spring 42 at its opposite ends, each pair preferably being symmetrically disposed about a diameter which, as seen in FIG. 7, extends transversely to a diameter passing symmetrically through the opening 43. Pairs of tabs 48 and 50, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, are formed on the upper and lower edges of the central portions 17 of both brackets 16 and extend laterally and thus radially inwardly, so as to be received in the corresponding, aligned notches 44 and 46 of the spring 42. The cylindrical sidewall 12 of the ice basket 10 has rigidly secured therein, at spaced elevations, a plurality of stiffening rings 11. A single such stiffening ring 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, which may be welded in place and/or secured to the sidewall 12 by screws 13. In use of the replaceable cruciform 14 of the invention, the brackets 16 are moved together by compressing the spring 42, as before described, thus effectively retracting the radially extending legs 18. In a specific embodiment of the cruciform, the retraction or compression reduces the effective diameter of the circumferential periphery of the legs and associated feet extensions from 11.90" (as installed and engaged within the basket 10) to 11.50". This permits lowering the cruciform 14, in a horizontal orientation, axially downwardly through the ice basket 10 to a desired elevation in alignment with a stiffening ring 11. The cruciform 14 then is released from compression while supported at the desired elevation, the C-spring 42 causing the cruciform 14 to expand, advancing the legs 18 toward the sidewall 12 of the ice basket 10 so as to receive the stiffening ring 11 in the channels 20 intermediate the feet 19 of each leg 18. Suitable apparatus for effecting the compression of the bracket 14 and its axial, elevational positioning for installation in an engaged position with a stiffening ring 11, as well as for subsequent removal thereof, as described in the foregoing and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, is disclosed in the concurrently filed and copending application entitled "Handling Tool for, and Method of Use of Ice Basket Removable Cruciform" of the common coinventors herewith and assigned to the common assignee hereof. The removable cruciform 14 of the oresent invention thus satisfies the requirement of being readily manipulated, both for installation into and removal from required elevations within an ice basket, for the purposes hereinbefore set forth. The configuration of the cruciform 14, moreover, is particularly advantageous, taking into account the maintenance functions required to be performed with respect to ice baskets of the type herein considered. Particularly, the cruciform 14 affords equivalent ice charge support functions, as those of the fixed, or welded-in-place, cruciforms of the prior art and, in fact, improves the support function in view of the generally square configuration of the spring housing 40, as compared to the relatively more simple, X-shaped configuration of the metal straps of the prior art cruciforms. Significantly, moreover, the mating configuration of the C-shape spring 42, as disposed within the housing 40, affords a central, axially aligned passage throughout the height of a given ice basket 10. Specifically, the spring 42, of approximately 3 inches in diameter for the embodiment as illustrated, when used with an ice basket of approximately one (1) foot diameter, affords a convenient central passageway or column, passing through the geometric center of the ice basket 10 throughout its height, to permit thermal drilling operations to provide an axially extending, central hole throughout the height of the ice basket through which maintenance tools may be inserted to remove and settle ice. The removable cruciform of the present invention thus will be seen to be highly effective and practical, not only as to its installation and removal and in performing its intended function as installed but also in facilitating certain maintenance operations and accommodating equipment employed for that purpose, yet is of relatively simple construction affording the benefits of ease and low cost of manufacture. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the removable cruciform insert of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.