Method and apparatus for transporting ice

Abstract

An ice transportation system includes an ice storage, a negative pressure system, a positive pressure system, a valve assembly, and an ice delivery control system. The ice storage delivers ice into the negative pressure system. The negative pressure system develops a partial vacuum that facilitates ice delivery from the negative pressure system into the valve assembly. The valve assembly receives the ice and meters the ice to the positive pressure system. The positive pressure system develops a plenum condition that facilitates ice delivery from the positive pressure system into an ice receptacle. The ice delivery control system controls the ice storage, the negative pressure system, the valve assembly, and the positive pressure system in the delivery of ice to the ice receptacle.

1 . An ice transportation system, comprising:
 an ice storage;   a negative pressure system adapted to receive ice from the ice storage;   a positive pressure system adapted to deliver ice to an ice receptacle;   a valve assembly that interfaces the negative pressure system and the positive pressure system; and   an ice delivery control system coupled with the ice storage, the negative pressure system, the valve assembly, and the positive pressure system, wherein the ice delivery control system controls the delivery of ice from the negative pressure system to the positive pressure system.   
     
     
         2 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly regulates the flow of ice from the negative pressure system into the positive pressure system while maintaining an airlock condition that preserves a partial vacuum in the negative pressure system and a plenum condition in the positive pressure system. 
     
     
         3 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:
 a housing including an output tube communicating with the positive pressure system, wherein the housing defines a chamber including an input aperture communicating with the negative pressure system and an output aperture communicating with the output tube; and   a metering system disposed in the chamber for metering ice flow from the input aperture to the output aperture.   
     
     
         4 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein, the ice flow rate of the negative pressure system is synched to the ice flow rate of the positive pressure system, and the valve assembly interfaces the negative pressure system with the positive pressure system such that ice does not accumulate within the ice transportation system. 
     
     
         5 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 3 , wherein the metering system and the chamber combine to maintain the airlock condition within the valve assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 3 , wherein the metering system is a rotary gate valve. 
     
     
         7 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 3 , wherein the metering system comprises a valve and a driver. 
     
     
         8 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the driver is an electric motor. 
     
     
         9 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the valve comprises blades and a shaft, wherein the blades connect to and rotate around the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 9 , wherein the shaft connects to and is rotated by the driver. 
     
     
         11 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 9 , wherein the blades and the chamber create pockets within the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the pockets compartmentalize the chamber creating an airtight seal within the chamber that separates the partial vacuum of the negative pressure system and the plenum condition of the positive pressure system. 
     
     
         13 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the pockets store and transport ice within the chamber, moving ice from the input aperture to the output aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotation of the blades allows ice to fill the pockets when the pockets reside under the input aperture and allows ice to discharge into the output tube when the pockets reside over the output aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ice storage includes an ice storage sensory system that monitors ice levels within the ice storage;   the ice storage is coupled with an ice source that delivers ice to the ice storage; and   the ice delivery control system is electrically connected with the ice source and the ice storage sensory system, wherein:
 the ice delivery control system activates the ice source to deposit ice within the ice storage responsive to a signal from the ice storage sensory system indicating the ice storage requires ice, and 
 the ice delivery control system deactivates the ice source responsive to a signal from the ice storage sensory system indicating the ice storage holds a desired amount of ice. 
   
     
     
         16 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice storage further includes an ice delivery device that moves ice stored within the ice storage into the negative pressure system. 
     
     
         17 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ice request unit that outputs an ice request signal to the ice control system. 
     
     
         18 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 16 , wherein the ice request unit is a stand-alone device. 
     
     
         19 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 16 , wherein the ice request unit is integrated with the ice receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 16 , wherein the ice delivery control system is electrically connected with the ice storage, a vacuum motor of the negative pressure system, a vacuum motor of the positive pressure system, the valve assembly, and the ice request unit. 
     
     
         21 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the ice delivery control system, responsive to an ice request signal from the ice request unit, activates an ice delivery device within the ice storage to facilitate ice delivery from the ice storage to the negative pressure system, the vacuum motor of the negative pressure system to facilitate ice delivery from the negative pressure system to the valve assembly, the valve assembly to facilitate a metered delivery of ice from the negative pressure system to the positive pressure system, and the vacuum motor of the positive pressure system to facilitate ice delivery from the positive pressure system to the ice receptacle; and   the ice delivery control system, responsive to a signal from the ice request unit indicating a desired amount of ice has been delivered to the ice receptacle, deactivates the ice delivery device within the ice storage, the vacuum motor of the negative pressure system, the valve assembly, and the vacuum motor of the positive pressure system to stop ice delivery to the ice receptacle.   
     
     
         22 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the valve assembly comprises a driver coupled with a rotary gate valve; and   the ice delivery control system is electrically connected with and controls the driver such that activation of the driver rotates the rotary gate valve and facilitates the transport of ice from the negative pressure system to the positive pressure system while maintaining an airlock condition within the valve assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:
 a housing defining a chamber including an input aperture communicating with the negative pressure system, the chamber further including:
 a first plenum input port communicating with the positive pressure system, 
 a first plenum output port aligned with the first plenum input port and communicating with the positive pressure system, 
 a second plenum input port communicating with the positive pressure system, and 
 a second plenum output port aligned with the second plenum input port and communicating with the positive pressure system; and 
   a metering system disposed in the chamber for metering ice flow from the input aperture to one of the first plenum output port and the second plenum output port.   
     
     
         24 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 23 , wherein the positive pressure system comprises:
 a first plenum input tube coupled with the first plenum input port;   a first plenum output tube coupled with the first plenum output port; and   a first valve disposed in the first plenum input tube, wherein opening the first valve applies the plenum condition to the first plenum input port, thereby delivering ice from the metering system into the first plenum output tube via the first plenum output port.   
     
     
         25 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 24 , wherein the positive pressure system comprises:
 a second plenum input tube coupled with the second plenum input port;   a second plenum output tube coupled with the second plenum output port; and   a second valve disposed in the second plenum input tube, wherein opening the second valve applies the plenum condition to the second plenum input port, thereby delivering ice from the metering system into the second plenum output tube via the second plenum output port.   
     
     
         26 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 23 , wherein the metering system and the chamber combine to maintain the airlock condition within the valve assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 23 , wherein the metering system is a rotary gate valve. 
     
     
         28 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 25 , wherein the metering system comprises a valve and a driver. 
     
     
         29 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 28 , wherein the driver is an electric motor. 
     
     
         30 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 28 , wherein the valve comprises blades and a shaft, wherein the blades connect to and rotate around the shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 30 , wherein the shaft connects to and is rotated by the driver. 
     
     
         32 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 30 , wherein the blades and the chamber create pockets within the chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 32 , wherein the pockets compartmentalize the chamber creating an airtight seal within the chamber that separates the partial vacuum of the negative pressure system and the plenum condition of the positive pressure system. 
     
     
         34 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 32 , wherein the rotation of the blades:
 fills the pockets when the pockets reside under the input aperture;   moves the ice toward the first plenum output port and the second plenum output port; and
 discharges the ice into the into the first plenum output tube via the first plenum output port when the first valve is open and into the second plenum output tube via the second plenum output port when the second valve is open. 
   
     
     
         35 . The ice transportation system according to  claim 25 , wherein:
 the ice delivery control system, responsive to an ice request signal, activates an ice delivery device within the ice storage to facilitate ice delivery from the ice storage to the negative pressure system, a vacuum motor of the negative pressure system to facilitate ice delivery from the negative pressure system to the valve assembly, one of the first and the second valves, the metering system of the valve assembly to facilitate a metered delivery of ice from the negative pressure system to the positive pressure system, and a vacuum motor of the positive pressure system to facilitate ice delivery from the positive pressure system to an ice receptacle; and   the ice delivery control system, responsive to a signal indicating a desired amount of ice has been delivered to the ice receptacle, deactivates the ice delivery device within the ice storage, the vacuum motor of the negative pressure system, the activated one of the first and the second valves, the metering system, and the vacuum motor of the positive pressure system to stop ice delivery to the ice receptacle.   
     
     
         36 . A method of transporting ice, comprising:
 delivering ice into a negative pressure system;   creating a partial vacuum in the negative pressure system thereby flowing ice from the negative pressure system into a valve assembly;   metering ice from the valve assembly to a positive pressure system;   creating a plenum condition in the positive pressure system thereby flowing ice from the positive pressure system into an ice receptacle; and   maintaining an airlock condition in the valve assembly that preserves the partial vacuum in the negative pressure system and the plenum condition in the positive pressure system.   
     
     
         37 . The method of transporting ice according to  claim 36 , wherein metering ice from the valve assembly to a positive pressure system, comprises:
 rotating a rotary gate valve of the valve assembly, the rotary gate valve including a plurality of pockets;   delivering ice into a pocket when the pocket is rotated to communicate with an input aperture; and   delivering ice from the pocket when the pocket is rotated to communicate with an output aperture.   
     
     
         38 . The method of transporting ice according to  claim 36 , wherein metering ice from the valve assembly to a positive pressure system, comprises:
 rotating a rotary gate valve of the valve assembly, the rotary gate valve including a plurality of pockets;   delivering ice into a pocket when the pocket is rotated to communicate with an input aperture;   delivering ice from the pocket when the pocket is rotated to communicate with a first plenum output port having the plenum condition applied thereto; and   delivering ice from the pocket when the pocket is rotated to communicate with a second plenum output port having the plenum condition applied thereto.   
     
     
         39 . The method of transporting ice according to  claim 36 , wherein ice delivery to the ice receptacle begins when an ice request unit outputs an ice request signal and ends when the ice request unit ceases output of the ice request signal.