Donald E Wiley

US Patent:

20020020177, Feb 21, 2002

Filed:

Aug 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/930420

Inventors:

Gregory Billman - Mason City IA, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US
Kyle Elsom - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25B007/00
F25C001/00
F25D017/00

US Classification:

062/135000, 062/177000

Abstract:

The present invention comprises an ice harvest system for use in an ice maker. The ice maker herein includes a refrigeration system for cooling of an evaporator. Ice is formed thereon as water is pumped by a re-circulating pump to flow from a water distribution tube over the evaporator surface. Water that is not immediately frozen thereon flows into a water pan positioned there below. A pressure fitting is positioned in the pan at the bottom thereof and connected to a pneumatic tube. The pneumatic tube is connected to a pressure sensor located on a control board at a position remote from the water pan. Pressure is communicated through the tube to the pressure sensor as a function of the depth of the water in the pan. This pressure is converted by a microprocessor of the control board for interpretation as a water level in the pan. As the water level in the tray lowers due to the formation of ice, the pressure transmitted to the pressure sensor reduces from a predetermined high or full water level. A harvest point occurs which corresponds to the sensing of a predetermined low water level/low pressure point indicating sufficient ice has formed on the evaporator.

US Patent:

20020157406, Oct 31, 2002

Filed:

Apr 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/123623

Inventors:

Gregory Billman - Mason City IA, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US
Kyle Elsom - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25D017/00
F25D017/02
F25C001/00

US Classification:

062/177000, 062/188000, 062/340000

Abstract:

The present invention comprises an ice harvest system for use in an ice maker. The ice maker herein includes a refrigeration system for cooling of an evaporator. Ice is formed thereon as water is pumped by a re-circulating pump to flow from a water distribution tube over the evaporator surface. Water that is not immediately frozen thereon flows into a water pan positioned there below. A pressure fitting is positioned in the pan at the bottom thereof and connected to a pneumatic tube. The pneumatic tube is connected to a pressure sensor located on a control board at a position remote from the water pan. Pressure is communicated through the tube to the pressure sensor as a function of the depth of the water in the pan. This pressure is converted by a microprocessor of the control board for interpretation as a water level in the pan. As the water level in the tray lowers due to the formation of ice, the pressure transmitted to the pressure sensor reduces from a predetermined high or full water level. A harvest point occurs which corresponds to the sensing of a predetermined low water level/low pressure point indicating sufficient ice has formed on the evaporator.

US Patent:

20030145608, Aug 7, 2003

Filed:

Feb 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/068682

Inventors:

Gregory Billman - Mason City IA, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US
Kyle Elsom - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25C001/00
F25D017/02

US Classification:

062/074000, 062/135000, 062/188000

Abstract:

The ice maker herein works in the conventional manner wherein a refrigeration system provides for cooling of the evaporated. Water is first circulated over the evaporator as the evaporated is cooled. A temperature sensor is located in a water recirculating system and a microprocessor monitors the temperature of the calculating water. Once a predetermined non-freezing temperature is reached, for example 40 degrees Fahrenheit, water circulation is stopped. However, the compressor continues to run and cool the evaporator for a predetermined period of time to a desired lower temperature. The pump is then turned on and water again circulated over the evaporated initiating the ice making cycle. This process insures that ice adheres to the evaporator and does not prematurely slough off and/or result in the formation of slush.

US Patent:

20060042298, Mar 2, 2006

Filed:

Oct 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/259574

Inventors:

Kyle Elsom - Batavia IL, US
Thaddeus Jablonski - Palatine IL, US
Daniel Leaver - Westmont IL, US
Michael Zizas - Bloomingdale IL, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25C 1/00
B67D 5/62
F25C 5/18

US Classification:

062344000, 062137000, 222146600

Abstract:

An ice/beverage dispenser is characterized by an ice/beverage dispensing machine having an integral ice making capacity. An icemaker of the dispenser and the ice and beverage dispensing portion share an evaporator that that is utilized both for chilling beverage water for dispensing and for making ice. The evaporator is efficiently utilized in that one side of it is used for making ice and both sides of it are used for chilling water. The present invention uses a processor based control circuit that operates the refrigeration system between ice-making and water chilling modes in such manner as to ensure that cold beverages will always be served. The ice/beverage dispenser also includes a system for quickly combining and separating the ice making and beverage dispensing water supply, water drain and electrical functions.

US Patent:

20060207271, Sep 21, 2006

Filed:

May 19, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/437238

Inventors:

Kyle Elsom - Batavia IL, US
Thaddeus Jablonski - Palatine IL, US
Daniel Leaver - Westmont IL, US
Michael Zizas - Bloomingdale IL, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25C 1/00
B67D 5/62
F25C 5/18

US Classification:

062137000, 062344000, 222146600

Abstract:

An ice/beverage dispenser is characterized by an ice/beverage dispensing machine having an integral ice making capacity. An icemaker of the dispenser and the ice and beverage dispensing portion share an evaporator that that is utilized both for chilling beverage water for dispensing and for making ice. The evaporator is efficiently utilized in that one side of it is used for making ice and both sides of it are used for chilling water. The present invention uses a processor based control circuit that operates the refrigeration system between ice-making and water chilling modes in such manner as to ensure that cold beverages will always be served. The ice/beverage dispenser also includes a system for quickly combining and separating the ice making and beverage dispensing water supply, water drain and electrical functions.

US Patent:

20070157636, Jul 12, 2007

Filed:

Mar 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/548786

Inventors:

Gregory Billman - Hoffman Estates IL, US
Kyle Elsom - Batavia IL, US
Donald Wiley - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

F25C 5/08
F25C 1/00

US Classification:

062073000, 062137000

Abstract:

A control system for an icemaker utilizes a control scheme in which various operating conditions of the icemaker are monitored sand the icemaker is shut down if a fault condition is sensed. In response to detection of the fault condition, steps are taken to actively remove the fault. Restarting of the icemaker is then attempted if sensors indicate that normal continued operation should be possible. The operating conditions sensed include the temperature of refrigerant at an outlet from a condenser, the rate at which a water pan fills with water while water is delivered to it for subsequent delivery to and over an evaporator to freeze the water into ice on the evaporator. and the time required to harvest ice from the evaporator.

US Patent:

20170326508, Nov 16, 2017

Filed:

Jul 31, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/664810

Inventors:

- Springfield IL, US
Sheryl DYER - Springfield IL, US
Donald E. WILEY - Springfield IL, US

International Classification:

B01F 3/04
B01F 5/04
B01F 5/04
B01F 5/06
B01F 3/04

Abstract:

Disclosed is a beverage dispensing machine and a gas infused beverage dispensing system which facilitates combination of gas with in a configuration which provides a smaller footprint and provides gas infusion of a beverage on demand The system may be configured to produce only gas infused beverage or to allow the user to select gas infused beverage or chilled beverage, and, alternatively, ambient, unchilled beverage. A gas infuser of the system introduces gas to a chilled beverage stream using an injector with slots. This inline, on-demand gas infusion system provides benefits over infusion tank systems that gas infuse a relatively large volume of beverage in bulk.

US Patent:

20160059191, Mar 3, 2016

Filed:

Apr 11, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/783992

Inventors:

- Springfield IL, US
Sheryl DYER - Springfield IL, US
Donald E. WILEY - Springfield IL, US

International Classification:

B01F 3/04
B01F 5/04

Abstract:

Disclosed is a water dispensing machine and a carbonated beverage dispensing system which facilitates a combination of carbon dioxide with water in a configuration which provides a smaller footprint and reduces or eliminates dependency on remotely located carbon dioxide tanks and flavoring systems. The system may be configured to produce only carbonated water or to allow the user to select carbonated water or chilled water, and, alternatively, ambient, unchilled water. A carbonator of the system introduces carbon dioxide to a chilled water stream using an injector with slots. This inline, on demand carbonation system provides benefits over carbonator tank systems which carbonate large volumes of carbonated water in bulk.