Patent GB-798433-A (GB)
Title: Improved ice-block release arrangements for tray-grid assemblies
IPC: F25C1/24
Filed: 1957-03-12
Abstract: 798,433. Ice-making. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. March 12, 1957 [April 4, 1956; July 11, 1956; Aug. 9, 1956; Sept. 11, 1956; Oct. 18, 1956], No. 8087/57. Class 29 Ice blocks are frozen in a trap having a grid loosely connected thereto the trap is then inverted on supports, and then a manual device is actuated to move the grid relative to the tray without straining the trap so that the blocks fall out into a receptacle. As shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the grid consists of transverse walls 24 and a longitudinal wall 25 passing through slots in walls 24 and having a projection 38 taking through an aperture 20 at one end of the tray and an ear 39 fixed to a bracket 22 at the other end. To free the blocks, the walls 24 are progressively tilted to the vertical position by a bar 26 slid along the top of wall 25 when a handle 44 is raised (Fig. 2), the handle being pivoted to the wall 25 at 46 and connected to bar 26 by links 50. After freezing, the tray is supported in inverted position on rails 55 mounted on a receptacle 53 and handle 44 is depressed (Fig. 5) to free the blocks which drop into the receptacle, tilting up of the rear end of the tray being prevented by an overhanging lip 62 on the receptacle. In the arrangement of Figs. 7 and 9, the tray is fitted with a pivoted cam lever 67 for breaking any ice bond between the tray and its support after freezing and the bar 26 is formed with a hook 68 at its front end. After freezing, the tray is inverted on supports 82, 83 in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator to the side walls of which is pivoted at 72 a handle 70 which is spring loaded to the position shown in Fig. 7 and is pivoted at 72 a handle 70 which is spring loaded to the position shown in Fig. 7 and is pivoted at 73 to a U-shaped member 74 adapted to engage behind hook 68. A receptacle 53 having been placed beneath the tray, handle 70 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 9 to move bar 26 forwards and the ice-blocks drop into receptacle 53. In a modification of this form, Figs. 21 to 23 (not shown), the handle and its associated mechanism for engaging hook 68 are mounted on receptacle 53 which also has support ledges for the inverted tray. As shown in Fig. 12, the inverted tray is supported by a cradle 92 pivoted at 96 in the freezer compartment, urged upwardly by a tension spring 100 and provided with a front handle 99. A push member 106 is pivoted at 104 located beneath pivots 96 in the freezer compartment and bears in a notch 90 formed at the rear end of bar 26. When the cradle 92 is swung down from the position shown, member 106 moves relative to the tray and displaces bar 26 forwards to free the blocks which drop into the receptacle 53. This form of tray can be supported upside down on runners in a recess in the refrigerator door and when the door is closed a push rod or a pivoted bell crank abuts the refrigerator wall and is thus moved to push the bar 26 forward by engagement with notch 90. The push rod or crank is biased by a spring to a position where it does not abut the refrigerator wall but insertion of a tray on the supports moves the rod or crank into abutting position (Figs. 15 to 20, not shown).