Alternate path for refrigerant flow on a split system icemaker

Abstract

An ice-making machine and method that uses an accumulator to accumulate liquefied refrigerant when warm gasified refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator after a freeze cycle. During a harvest cycle, a set of valves operates to bypass the condenser and direct the discharged gasified refrigerant from the compressor through the accumulator and then to the evaporator. The warm gasified refrigerant converts the liquefied refrigerant to gaseous refrigerant. This enhances the suction pressure to the compressor during the next ensuing freeze cycle, thereby increasing the efficiency of the accumulator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An ice-making machine comprising: 
 an evaporator, an accumulator, a compressor and a condenser connected in a circuit for the supply of liquefied refrigerant to said evaporator during a freeze cycle and of gasified refrigerant to said evaporator during a subsequent cycle, wherein said accumulator accumulates liquid refrigerant during said subsequent cycle;    a bypass line that passes through said accumulator; and    a valve means that connects said bypass line in said circuit during said subsequent cycle so that said gasified refrigerant bypasses said condenser and passes through said accumulator to thereby convert at least a portion of said accumulated liquefied refrigerant to a gaseous state.    
     
     
         2 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said accumulator is disposed between said evaporator and said compressor.  
     
     
         3 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said valve means disconnects said bypass line before another freeze cycle starts.  
     
     
         4 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said subsequent cycle is a harvest cycle in which ice formed on said evaporator during said freeze cycle is harvested.  
     
     
         5 . The ice making machine of  claim 3 , further comprising a controller that controls the operation of said valve means.  
     
     
         6 . A method of making ice comprising: 
 a) supplying a liquefied refrigerant to an evaporator during a freeze cycle;    b) accumulating liquefied refrigerant during a subsequent cycle; and    c) supplying gasified refrigerant to said evaporator during said subsequent cycle in a manner whereby said accumulated liquefied refrigerant is converted to a gaseous state.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said subsequent cycle is a harvest cycle in which ice formed on said evaporator during said freeze cycle is harvested.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step b) accumulates liquefied refrigerant in an accumulator, and wherein step c) supplies said gasified refrigerant via a bypass line that passes through said accumulator.  
     
     
         9 . An ice-making machine comprising: 
 an evaporator, an accumulator, a compressor and a condenser connected in a circuit for the supply of liquefied refrigerant to said evaporator during a freeze cycle and of gasified refrigerant to said evaporator during a subsequent cycle, wherein said evaporator is disposed in a first location and said accumulator, said compressor and said condenser are located remotely from said first location so that noise due to said compressor and said condenser is substantially reduced at said location, and wherein said accumulator accumulates an increased amount of liquid refrigerant during said subsequent cycle due to being located remotely from said location of said evaporator;    a bypass line that passes through said accumulator; and    a valve means that connects said bypass line in said circuit during said subsequent cycle so that said gasified refrigerant bypasses said condenser and passes through said accumulator to convert said accumulated liquefied refrigerant to a gaseous state.    
     
     
         10 . The ice-making machine of  claim 9 , wherein said accumulator is disposed between said evaporator and said compressor.  
     
     
         11 . The ice-making machine of  claim 9 , wherein said valve means disconnects said bypass line before another freeze cycle starts.  
     
     
         12 . The ice-making machine of  claim 9 , wherein said subsequent cycle is a harvest cycle in which ice formed on said evaporator during said freeze cycle is harvested.  
     
     
         13 . The ice making machine of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller that controls the operation of said valve means.