Apparatus for manufacturing instant dry ice

Abstract

Dry ice is produced by using the internal energy stored in a pressurized CO 2 tank or cylinder, which is usually between 300 to 350 PSI, to compress CO 2 snow. This same internal energy works whether using a low-pressure refrigerated tank of 300 to 350 PSI CO 2 , or a high-pressure tank of 800 to 900 PSI CO 2 , as controlled by a pressure safety valve, to compress the CO 2 snow. No other form of mechanical energy is required to make the solidified dry ice.

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing dry ice, said apparatus comprising
 a chamber, said chamber being able to withstand a pressure of at least 300 psi,   a feed line connected to the chamber for passing pressurized liquid carbon dioxide into the chamber, and   a plurality of minute holes formed in the chamber for controlled release of pressure from an interior of the chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a size of said holes is small enough to be blocked by carbon dioxide in a solid phase as the solid carbon dioxide is forced from the chamber under pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a size of said holes is at least approximately 0.018 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said holes are symmetrically located in said chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a number of the holes is greater than 50. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes two ends, and each of the two ends is sealed by an end cap. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein an inlet end of the chamber has an inlet end cap as one of the two end caps and includes an orifice of approximately 0.050 inches. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a safety valve in said feed line controls a pressure of liquid carbon dioxide passing into the chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a trailing end of said chamber is tapered inwardly. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a movable gate is located at the trailing end of the chamber to open and close the chamber. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for manufacturing dry ice, said apparatus comprising
 a chamber, said chamber being able to withstand a pressure of at least 300 psi,   a feed line connected to the chamber for passing pressurized liquid carbon dioxide into the chamber, and   a plurality of minute holes symmetrically formed in the chamber for controlled release of pressure from an interior of the chamber.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a size of said holes is small enough to be blocked by carbon dioxide in a solid phase as the solid carbon dioxide is forced from the chamber under pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a size of said holes is at least approximately 0.018 inches. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a safety valve in said feed line controls a pressure of liquid carbon dioxide passing into the chamber. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the safety valve allows a pressure of up to 300 psi to enter the chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a number of the holes is greater than 50. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the chamber includes two ends, and each of the two ends is sealed by an end cap. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a trailing end of said chamber is tapered inwardly. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein an inlet end of the chamber has an inlet end cap as one of the two end caps and includes an orifice of approximately 0.050 inches. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus for manufacturing dry ice as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a movable gate is located at the trailing end of the chamber to open and close the chamber.