Abstract:
An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by substantially noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and a lightweight configuration for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has a support structure that substantially isolates the compressor from the atmosphere to reduce the transmission of noise and vibration.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is related to, and claims priority in, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/468,782, filed May 8, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an ice cube-making machine and, in particular, an ice cube-making machine having noise and/or vibration reduction.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     Ice cube-making machines generally comprise an evaporator, a water supply and a refrigerant/warm gas circuit that includes a condenser and a compressor. The evaporator is connected to the water supply and to a circuit that includes the condenser and the compressor. Valves and other controls control the evaporator to operate cyclically in a freeze mode and a harvest mode.  
         [0004]     During the freeze mode, the water supply provides water to the evaporator and the circuit supplies refrigerant to the evaporator to cool the water and form ice cubes. During the harvest mode, the circuit diverts warm compressor discharge gas to the evaporator, thereby warming the evaporator and causing the ice cubes to loosen and fall from the evaporator into an ice bin or hopper.  
         [0005]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an ice cube-making machine  10  without noise reducing features includes a support structure  15 , an evaporator  40 , a condenser  50  and a compressor  60 . The support structure  15  has a base  20 , a base pan  25 , and front, back, left side, right side and top panels  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 . Evaporator  40  is disposed on base  20 . Condenser  50 , with a fan assembly  55 , is secured to back panel  24 . Compressor  60  is secured to back panel  24  and/or base pan  25 . Base  20  and front, back, left side, right side and top panels  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  are secured to each other to form support structure  15  for the ice cube-making machine  10 .  
         [0006]     The inner volume of support structure  15  contains the evaporator  40 , the condenser  50  and the compressor  60  in communication with each other and in contact or communication with the atmosphere through at least the fan duct  75  disposed through back panel  24  and the louvers  80  disposed along the right side panel  28 . The fan duct  75  supplies air to the fan assembly  55 , and louvers  80  provide additional access to the atmosphere for the inner volume of the support structure  15  for assistance in cooling.  
         [0007]     In operation, the prior art ice cube-making machine  10  transmits noise to the atmosphere through fan duct  75  and/or louvers  80 . Additionally, the compressor  60  transmits vibrations to the other components of the ice-cube making machine  10 . The noise is undesirable in consumer and other locations. The vibrations can be damaging to the various components, require more maintenance, and can create additional unwanted noise. Thus, there is a need for a quiet ice cube-making machine with noise reduction and/or vibration reduction features.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     The ice cube-making machine of the present invention provides a noise reducing and/or vibration reducing structure that isolates or substantially isolates the compressor from the atmosphere and substantially reduces the travel of compressor noise out of the ice machine via ventilation louvers disposed in the side walls of the ice machine.  
         [0009]     The ice-making machine of the present invention provides a support structure having a compressor, wherein the support structure substantially isolates the compressor from the atmosphere to reduce transmission of noise from the compressor to the atmosphere. The support structure has disposed therein an isolation chamber and the compressor is disposed within the isolation chamber.  
         [0010]     The isolation chamber can be at least partially defined by one or more panels disposed in an inner volume of the support structure. The panels can have sound dampening properties that reduce or eliminate transmission of noise from the compressor through the panels. The panels can be insulated or non-insulated. The panels can be formed of a heat resistant material, such as metal, plastic, glass, etc. The isolation chamber can be partially defined by at least a portion of the support structure. That portion of the support structure can also have sound dampening properties to assist in reducing or eliminating transmission of noise from the compressor.  
         [0011]     The ice-making machine also has an evaporator and a condenser that are disposed within the support structure. The compressor can be substantially isolated from the evaporator and the condenser by means of the panels. The ice-making machine can also have a fan in communication with the atmosphere through a fan duct opening, wherein the compressor is isolated from the fan duct opening.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention Will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a prior art ice cube-making machine of the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an ice cube-making machine of the present invention having noise reduction capabilities. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The present invention can best be described by reference to  FIG. 2 , wherein a preferred embodiment of an ice-making machine of the present invention is shown and generally represented by reference numeral  100 . Ice-making machine  100  has a support structure  150 , an evaporator  400 , a condenser  500  and a compressor  600 .  
         [0016]     Support structure  150  has a base  200 , a base pan  250  and front, back, left side, right side and top panels  220 ,  240 ,  260 ,  280 , and  300 . Evaporator  400  is disposed on base  200 . Condenser  500 , with a fan assembly  550 , is secured to back panel  240 . Compressor  600  is secured to back panel  240  and/or base pan  250 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that evaporator  400 , condenser  500  and compressor  600  suitably include various valves and other components of an ice cube-making machine.  
         [0017]     Base  200  and front, back, left side, right side and top panels  220 ,  240 ,  260 ,  280  and  300  are secured to each other to form support structure  150  for the ice-making machine  100 . Support structure  150  also includes a compressor compartment  900  that is defined by isolation walls or panels  910 ,  920  and  930 , and portions of base  200 , back panel  240  and left side panel  260 .  
         [0018]     The inner volume of support structure  150  contains the evaporator  400  and the condenser  500  in communication with each other and in contact or communication with the atmosphere through a fan duct  750  disposed through back panel  240  and louvers  800  disposed along the right side panel  280 . The fan duct  750  supplies air to the fan assembly  550 , and louvers  800  provide additional access to the inner volume of support structure  150  for assistance in cooling.  
         [0019]     Compressor  600  is contained in compressor compartment  900 , which isolates the compressor from the atmosphere to reduce the noise that is emitted by ice-making machine  100 . Compressor  600  is in isolation from the evaporator  400 , the condenser  500  and the inner volume of support structure  150  due to isolation walls or panels  910 ,  920  and  930 .  
         [0020]     Also, the compressor is in isolation from the atmosphere due to portions of base  200 , back panel  240  and left side panel  260 . As a result of the isolation or substantial isolation of compressor  600  within compressor compartment  900 , compressor  600  is limited or prevented from transmitting or emitting noise to the atmosphere through support structure  150 , fan duct  750  and/or louvers  800 .  
         [0021]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that support structure  150  and compressor compartment  900  may take on alternative forms and shapes as dictated by particular design requirements. Compressor compartment  900 , including those portions of support structure  700  as shown in  FIG. 2 , can be made of a variety of materials, which helps reduce or eliminate the transmission of noises and vibrations from the compressor  600 , such as, for example, foam or other material having sound dampening properties.  
         [0022]     Also, such sound dampening materials can be secured to compressor compartment  900  to reduce or eliminate the transmission of noises and vibrations from the compressor  600 . Other embodiments of the present invention could include, but are not limited to, alternative structures to reduce or eliminate noise and vibration escaping or being transmitted to the atmosphere, which surround the compressor  600  so that the compressor is not in communication with any louvers or openings to the atmosphere.  
         [0023]     The interconnection structure that connects evaporator  400 , condenser  500  and compressor  600  in a circuit for the circulation of refrigerant and warm gas, preferably includes appropriate fittings that further reduce the transmission of noise and vibration from the compressor to the atmosphere. The interconnection structure may suitably include pipes or tubing and appropriate joining junctions having sound and vibration dampening characteristics.  
         [0024]     The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.