Evaporator device with improved heat transfer and method

Abstract

An evaporator device and method of making the device. The evaporator device comprises a one-piece metallic body, which is preferably aluminum or an alloy thereof, with a refrigerant tube embedded therein. The metallic body further includes horizontal fins and vertical partitions protruding from at least one surface that define an array of ice forming cells. The one-piece metallic body is formed by a die casting process that eliminates the conventional assembly steps of separate evaporator pans, refrigerant tube pieces, vertical partitions horizontal fins and other parts.

1 . An evaporator device for an ice machine comprising a metallic body that has a winding pattern of a metallic refrigerant tube embedded therein and that is shaped to have a plurality of parallel fins protruding from a surface thereof.  
   
   
       2 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said body is a metal that is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum and aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       3 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said winding pattern is entirely embedded in said body, and wherein said winding pattern is a serpentine pattern that includes a plurality of runs that are at least partially in registration with spaces between said fins.  
   
   
       4 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant tube has first and second ends located outside said body.  
   
   
       5 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said fins are inclined downwardly at a slight angle for gravity assistance of ice removal.  
   
   
       6 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant tube is a metal that is selected from the group consisting of: copper, and stainless steel.  
   
   
       7 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic body comprises a plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said surface, wherein said vertical partitions, said fins and said surface define an array of ice forming cells.  
   
   
       8 . The evaporator device of  claim 7 , wherein said winding arrangement is at least partially in registration with one or more of said ice forming cells.  
   
   
       9 . The evaporator device of  claim 1 , wherein said surface is a first surface, wherein said plurality of fins is a first plurality of fins, and wherein said body is shaped to have a second surface with a second plurality of parallel fins protruding therefrom.  
   
   
       10 . The evaporator device of  claim 9 , wherein said winding pattern comprises a plurality of runs that are at least partially in registration with spaces between each of said pluralities of fins.  
   
   
       11 . The evaporator device of  claim 9 , wherein said metallic body further comprises a first plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said first surface and a second plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said second surface, wherein said first vertical partitions, said first fins and said first surface define a first array of ice forming cells, and wherein said second partitions, said second fins and said second surface define a second array of ice forming cells.  
   
   
       12 . A method of making an evaporator device for an ice machine comprising: 
 disposing a metallic refrigerant tube having a winding pattern in a casting die; and    casting molten metal in said die so that said molten metal forms a body that embeds said winding pattern, wherein said die is shaped to form a plurality of fins that protrude from a surface of said body.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum and aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said winding pattern is a serpentine pattern that includes a plurality of runs that are at least partially in registration with spaces between said fins.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said refrigerant tube has first and second ends located outside said body.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said fins are inclined downwardly at a slight angle for gravity assistance of ice removal.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said refrigerant tube is a metal that is selected from the group consisting of: copper and stainless steel.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said surface, wherein said vertical partitions, said fins and said surface define an array of ice forming cells.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said winding arrangement is at least partially in registration with one or more of said ice forming cells.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said surface is a first surface, wherein said plurality of fins is a first plurality of fins, and wherein said body is shaped to have a second surface with a second plurality of parallel fins protruding therefrom.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said winding pattern comprises a plurality of runs that are at least partially in registration with spaces between each of said pluralities of fins.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising a first plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said first surface and a second plurality of vertical partitions protruding from said second surface, wherein said first vertical partitions, said first fins and said first surface define a first array of ice forming cells, and wherein said second partitions, said second fins and said second surface define a second array of ice forming cells.