Ice making apparatus

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.

1 . An ice-making machine comprising: 
 a support structure having a compressor, wherein said support structure substantially isolates said compressor from the atmosphere to reduce transmission of noise from said compressor to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       2 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said support structure has an isolation chamber, and wherein said compressor is disposed within said isolation chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , wherein said isolation chamber is at least partially defined by one or more panels disposed in an inner volume of said support structure.  
   
   
       4 . The ice-making machine of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more panels have sound dampening properties that reduce or eliminate transmission of noise from said compressor through said one or more panels.  
   
   
       5 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , wherein said isolation chamber is partially defined by at least a portion of said support structure.  
   
   
       6 . The ice-making machine of  claim 5 , wherein said at least a portion of said support structure has sound dampening properties that reduce or eliminate transmission of noise from said compressor through said at least a portion of said support structure.  
   
   
       7 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator and a condenser, wherein said evaporator and said condenser are disposed on said support structure.  
   
   
       8 . The ice-making machine of  claim 7 , wherein said compressor is substantially isolated from said evaporator and said condenser.  
   
   
       9 . The ice-making machine of  claim 8 , further comprising a fan in communication with the atmosphere through a fan duct opening, wherein said compressor is isolated from said fan duct opening.