System for Making Clear Ice

Abstract

A system able to make clear ice pieces of a wide range of sizes and shapes employing directional freezing includes an insulated cooler, containing ice molds of various shapes and sizes, configured to be placed in a freezing environment. The ice molds have holes at their bottoms to allow minerals and dissolved air to pass through during the freezing process. The ice molds are supported by separator frames. A ladder subsystem including two separator ladders allows the separator frames to be adjusted relative to the level of the mineral content of the water in establishing the clear ice pieces.

1 . A system for making clear ice comprising:
 an insulated cooler having insulated walls forming a cavity;   a support assembly located in the cavity formed with a first connection point and a second connection point;   a scaffolding assembly having at least one separator plate extending from the first connection point to the second connection point; and   an ice mold, located on the at least one separator plate, wherein the support assembly is configured to adjust a location of the at least one separator plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the support system includes a ladder assembly having a first wall formed with the first connection point and a second wall formed with the second connection point. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice mold has a bottom wall that is formed with holes configured to allow minerals and dissolved air to pass during freezing. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the ice mold has four side walls arranged to have a cross section that is shaped as square, has corners, and is configured to produce ice in the shape of a cube. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the bottom wall has at least one hole formed in each of the corners. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom wall has a hole formed in a center of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom wall has a hole formed in a center of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the ice mold has walls shaped to form various shapes. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the ice mold has walls shaped to form various shapes. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the various shapes include one of a Christmas tree, a dragon, and a skull. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ladder assembly has vertically spaced connectors configured to support the scaffolding assembly at different heights. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , where the ladder assembly is configured to adjust the scaffolding assembly to allow water with a high mineral content pass below the separator plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein separator plates of the scaffolding assembly a formed of a porous material that allows air and minerals to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . A method for making clear ice with a system including an insulated cooler having insulated walls forming a cavity, a support system located in the cavity having a first connection point and a second connection point. a scaffolding assembly having at least one separator plate extending from the first connection point to the second connection point, said method comprising:
 placing the support system in the cavity;   adding water;   adjusting a height of at least one separator plate along the support system;   cooling air above the cooler; and   directionally cooling the water for form ice above the at least one separator plate.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising allowing minerals and dissolved air in the water to pass through holes in a bottom wall of an ice mold. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising producing ice in a shape of a cube. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the scaffolding assembly to allow water with a high mineral content pass below the at least one separator plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising allowing air and minerals to pass through porous material of the scaffolding assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising separating the support system to retrieve the clear ice. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the support system is a ladder assembly and adjusting the height of the at least one separator plate along the support system includes lifting or lowering the separator plate and connecting the separator plate to the ladder assembly.