Pre-cooler apparatus and method for increasing ice maker output

摘要

An apparatus and method for increasing the ice production of current ice makers. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a pre- existing beverage system to cool the water input to an existing ice maker. In this apparatus and method, an electrically-driven pump circulates water through tubing immersed in the ice bank of the beverage system to supply cool water to the input line to the ice maker. In this manner, by pre- cooling the water supplied to the ice maker, the poundage of ice output per day of an existing ice maker can be increased substantially without additional cost, thereby reducing the need to purchase supplementary crushed ice or additional ice makers to meet requirements for additional ice. This apparatus and method is especially useful in fast-food restaurants during summer months when the output of ice machines is acutely insufficient to meet demand.