Ice storage bucket with self-locking valve

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve, comprising: a bucket body with an ice outlet; an ice stirring assembly; a self-locking valve assembly, comprising a door panel, a fixing frame, a handle, a self-locking member, a first connecting rod group and a second connecting rod group, wherein the door panel is correspondingly arranged at the ice outlet and its upper part is rotatably connected with the bucket body, the fixing frame is fixedly mounted on the bucket body above the door panel, and the handle is rotatably mounted on the fixing frame; the first connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the lower part of the door panel and the second connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the first end of the self-locking member; when the door panel is in a closed state, there is interference between the second end of the self-locking member and the first connecting rod group; in the process of driving the handle to open the door panel, the handle first drives the self-locking member to release the interference with the first connecting rod group, and then drives the door panel to pull up and open. The present invention uses a mechanical method to control the opening and closing of the door panel, and has stable operation and strong operability. The door panel has a self-locking structure to avoid being pushed open to cause ice to be discharged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ice making equipment, and in particular to an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a refrigeration machine that generates ice by cooling water through an evaporator with the refrigerant of the refrigeration system. It uses a refrigeration system and water as a carrier to make ice by passing it through a certain device under power-on conditions. The shapes of the ice cubes generated vary depending on the principles and production methods of the evaporator. People generally classify ice makers into granular ice machines, flake ice machines, plate ice machines, tube ice machines, shell ice machines, etc. based on the shape of the ice.

[0003] The ice storage bucket is an important part of the ice maker, which is used to receive and store ice cubes prepared by the ice maker; the existing ice storage bucket has an ice outlet and a valve for controlling the opening or closing of the ice outlet, and an ice stirring and discharging assembly is generally provided inside the ice storage bucket, which drives the stirring component to rotate through a power component to stir the ice cubes in the bucket body so that the ice cubes are evenly distributed in the bucket body, and can push the ice cubes to the ice outlet to achieve automatic ice discharging; the valve of the existing ice storage bucket generally controls the opening or closing of the ice outlet through an electric control method or a mechanical linkage method, and the existing mechanical valve assembly generally controls the door panel to flip upward to open the ice outlet or flip downward to close it through a linkage method and does not have a self-locking structure, so that the ice cubes pushed by the ice stirring and discharging assembly when working will act on the door panel to push the door panel open to cause accidental ice discharging, and there is room for improvement. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the defects in the above-mentioned prior art and provides an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve, which uses a mechanical method to drive the door panel to open or close the ice outlet, and has stable operation and stronger operability; when the door panel is in a closed state, there is interference between the self-locking part and the first connecting rod group, which can limit the door panel from flipping up and opening, thereby preventing the ice cubes from pushing the door panel open and causing accidental ice discharge when the stirring and ice-discharging component is working; at the same time, the handle can conveniently open the ice outlet for ice discharge by first controlling the self-locking part to unlock and then pulling the door panel to flip up.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve, comprising:

[0006] A barrel body having an ice outlet;

[0007] The ice-splitting assembly is used to stir the ice cubes in the bucket to produce ice, and includes a stirring component and a power component for driving the stirring component to rotate;

[0008] The self-locking valve assembly includes a door panel, a fixing frame, a handle, a self-locking member, a first connecting rod group and a second connecting rod group. The door panel is correspondingly arranged at the ice outlet and its upper part is rotatably connected to the barrel body. The fixing frame is fixedly installed on the barrel body above the door panel, and the handle is rotatably installed on the front end of the fixing frame.

[0009] The first connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the lower part of the door panel, and the second connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the first end of the self-locking member;

[0010] When the door panel is in a closed state, there is interference between the second end of the self-locking member and the first connecting rod assembly to limit the door panel from flipping upward to open;

[0011] When the handle is driven to open the door panel, the handle first drives the self-locking member to move in a directional manner through the second connecting rod group to eliminate the interference with the first connecting rod group, and then drives the door panel to be pulled up and opened through the first connecting rod group.

[0012] It is further configured that: the handle is rotatably mounted on the front end of the fixing frame via a rotating shaft linked thereto;

[0013] The first link assembly includes a first link member and a second link member, the first end of the first link member is rotatably connected to the lower part of the door panel and the second end of the first link member is rotatably connected to the first end of the second link member, the second end of the second link member is sleeved on the rotating shaft, the second end of the second link member is correspondingly provided with a sleeve hole and a rotating slot connected to the sleeve hole, and the rotating shaft is provided with a protrusion placed in the rotating slot and capable of deflecting in the rotating slot;

[0014] The second connecting rod group includes a third connecting rod and a fourth connecting rod member, the first end of the third connecting rod member is linked to the rotating shaft and the second end thereof is rotatably connected to the first end of the fourth connecting rod member, and the second end of the fourth connecting rod member is rotatably connected to the first end of the self-locking member.

[0015] It is further configured that: the second connecting rod member includes two component parts arranged at a distance, and a connecting part arranged between the middle parts of the two component parts, and the second end of the first connecting rod member is located between the first ends of the two component parts and is connected by rotational fit through a pin;

[0016] The second end of the first connecting rod has a matching structure for matching with the second end of the self-locking part to limit the movement of the first connecting rod, and the connecting part of the second connecting rod is provided with a through hole for the self-locking part to be embedded and constrain the self-locking part to move toward or away from the matching structure of the first connecting rod.

[0017] It is further configured that: the matching structure on the first connecting rod is a limiting notch structure matching with the corner of the second end of the self-locking member.

[0018] It is further configured that: the fixing frame comprises two fixing plates arranged horizontally and spaced apart, and the two fixing plates are provided with corresponding rotating holes at their front ends;

[0019] The second connecting rod is arranged between the two fixed plates and the second connecting rod has rotating parts on both sides corresponding to the second end thereof, which are inserted into the rotating holes of the fixed plates. The handle has bending parts respectively located on the outsides of the two fixed plates. The rotating shaft passes through the second end of the second connecting rod and its two ends are respectively linked to the bending parts of the handle.

[0020] It is further configured as follows: the fixing plate is provided with a limiting slot communicated with the rotating hole, and the rotating portion of the second connecting rod is correspondingly provided with a limiting block located in the limiting slot and capable of deflecting in the limiting slot.

[0021] It is further configured to include: a control panel connected to the ice blending component signal, and a first micro switch connected to the control panel signal, wherein the first micro switch is arranged above the second connecting rod;

[0022] When the handle drives the door panel to flip upward and open, the second connecting rod can touch the first micro switch, and the first micro switch sends a signal to the control panel to control the start of the ice stirring assembly.

[0023] It is further configured to include: a second micro switch connected to the control board signal, wherein the second micro switch is arranged below the second connecting rod;

[0024] When the handle drives the door panel to flip downward and close, the second connecting rod can touch the second micro switch, and the second micro switch sends a signal to the control panel to control the ice stirring and discharging assembly to close.

[0025] It is further configured as follows: the barrel body is a double-layer structure, including an inner barrel and an outer barrel located outside the inner barrel, and an insulating cavity is formed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0027] 1. The door opening and closing are controlled mechanically, which has good working stability and high operability;

[0028] 2. The self-locking valve assembly has a self-locking structure, which can prevent the door panel from being pushed open to discharge ice when it is closed. At the same time, the locking or unlocking of the self-locking part and the closing or opening of the door panel can be controlled by turning the handle;

[0029] 3. When the door panel is opened or closed by turning the handle, the working state of the ice-mixing component can be controlled synchronously, which greatly simplifies the ice-mixing operation and reduces energy consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the vertical cross-section structure of the ice storage bucket;

[0032] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a self-locking valve assembly;

[0033] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the separation structure of the self-locking valve assembly;

[0034] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the vertical cross-sectional structure of a self-locking valve assembly;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the second connecting rod;

[0036] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the frame control logic of the ice storage bucket.

[0037] The following reference numerals are marked on the drawings in conjunction with the drawings:

[0038] 100, barrel body; 101, ice outlet; 102, inner barrel; 103, outer barrel; 104, insulation chamber; 200, ice stirring assembly; 201, stirring component; 300, self-locking valve assembly; 1, door panel; 2, fixing frame; 21, fixing plate; 211, rotating hole; 212, limiting notch; 3, handle; 31, bending part; 4, self-locking part; 5, first connecting rod; 51, limiting notch; 6, second connecting rod; 61, component part; 62, connecting part; 621, through hole; 63, rotating part; 631, limiting block; 64, socket hole; 65, rotating notch; 7, third connecting rod; 8, fourth connecting rod; 9, rotating shaft; 91, protrusion; 400, control panel; 500, first micro switch; 600, second micro switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] A specific implementation of the present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited by the specific implementation.

[0040] The present invention provides an ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve. Figures 1 to 7As shown, it includes a barrel body 100, an ice-stirring assembly 200 and a self-locking valve assembly 300; wherein the barrel body 100 has an ice outlet 101; the ice-stirring assembly 200 includes a stirring component 201 located in the barrel body 100, and a power component for driving the stirring component 201 to rotate, the power component is preferably a motor and can be arranged in the barrel body 100 or outside the barrel body 100 as needed, and the ice cubes in the barrel body 100 can be stirred by rotating the stirring component 201 so that the ice cubes are evenly arranged in the barrel body 100, and the ice cubes can be pushed to the ice outlet 101 of the barrel body 100 during the stirring process to achieve stirring and ice discharging; the self-locking valve assembly 300 includes a door panel 1, a fixing frame 2, a handle 3, a self-locking member 4, a first connecting rod group and a second connecting rod group, wherein the door panel 1 is correspondingly arranged at the ice outlet 101 of the barrel body 100 and its upper part is rotatable with the barrel body 100 The door panel 1 is connected with each other by a matching fit, so that the door panel 1 can be flipped upward to open or flipped downward to close around the rotating matching position; the fixing frame 2 is fixedly installed on the barrel body 100 above the door panel 1, and the handle 3 is rotatably mounted on the front end of the fixing frame 2, the first connecting rod group is arranged between the handle 3 and the lower part of the door panel 1, and the second connecting rod group is arranged between the handle 3 and the first end of the self-locking member 4; when the door panel 1 is in a closed state, there is interference between the second end of the self-locking member 4 and the first connecting rod group to limit the door panel 1 from flipping upward to open; at the same time, the priority of the handle 3 in the self-locking valve assembly 300 to drive the second connecting rod group is higher than the priority of driving the first connecting rod group, that is, in the process of driving the handle 3 to open the door panel 1, the handle 3 first drives the self-locking member 4 to move in a directional manner through the second connecting rod group to eliminate the interference with the first connecting rod group, and then the handle 3 pulls the door panel 1 to flip upward through the first connecting rod group to discharge the ice outlet 101.

[0041] Specific as Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the handle 3 is rotatably mounted on the front end of the fixing frame 2 through a rotating shaft 9 linked thereto; the first connecting rod group includes a first connecting rod member 5 and a second connecting rod member 6, the first end of the first connecting rod member 5 is rotatably connected to the lower part of the door panel 1 and the second end thereof is rotatably connected to the first end of the second connecting rod member 6, the second end of the second connecting rod member 6 is provided with a sleeve hole 64 and a rotating slot 65 connected to the sleeve hole 64, the rotating shaft 9 of the handle 3 is inserted into the sleeve hole 64 of the second connecting rod member 6 and the rotating shaft 9 is provided with a protrusion 91 placed in the rotating slot 65 and deflectable in the rotating slot 65, so that the handle 3 drives the protrusion 91 of the rotating shaft 9 to deflect in the rotating slot 65 During this stroke, the second connecting rod 6 is stationary until the protrusion 91 abuts against the side wall of the rotating groove 65, and the rotating shaft 9 can drive the second connecting rod 6, the first connecting rod 5 and the door panel 1 to work, and the second connecting rod group and the handle 3 are connected in delayed action; the second connecting rod group includes a third connecting rod 7 and a fourth connecting rod 8, and the first end of the third connecting rod 7 is linked to the rotating shaft 9 and the second end is rotatably connected to the first end of the fourth connecting rod 8, and the second end of the fourth connecting rod 8 is rotatably connected to the first end of the self-locking member 4, so that the second connecting rod group and the handle 3 are linked. In this way, the priority of the handle 3 driving the second connecting rod group to move is higher than the priority of driving the first connecting rod group.

[0042] Specific as Figure 5 and Figure 6 The second connecting rod 6 is arranged in an "H"-shaped structure, including two component parts 61 arranged at intervals, and a connecting part 62 connected between the middle parts of the two component parts 61; the second end of the first connecting rod 5 is located between the second ends of the two component parts 61 of the second connecting rod 6 and is connected by a pin through the second end of the first connecting rod 5 to achieve rotational matching, and the second end of the first connecting rod 5 has a matching structure for matching with the second end of the self-locking member 4 to limit the movement of the first connecting rod 5, and the matching structure is preferably a limiting notch 51 structure for matching with the corner of the second end of the self-locking member 4; the second connecting rod 6 extends upward from the first end to the second end and is provided with a A through hole 621 is provided for the self-locking member 4 to be embedded and to constrain the directional movement of the self-locking member 4. The self-locking member 4 is embedded in the through hole 621 of the second connecting rod member 6 and can move along the through hole away from the first connecting rod member 5 to release the interference with the first connecting rod member 5 (unlock), and can interfere with the first connecting rod member 5 (lock) by moving along the through hole 621 toward the first connecting rod member 5, thereby ensuring the reliability of the unlocking or locking movement of the self-locking member 4; at the same time, the self-locking member 4 is embedded in the through hole 621 of the second connecting rod member 6, and the third connecting rod member 7 and the fourth connecting rod member 8 are correspondingly arranged between the two component parts 61 of the second connecting rod member 6, so that the overall structure of the self-locking valve assembly 300 is more compact and reliable.

[0043] In the above scheme, preferably Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the fixing frame 2 includes two fixing plates 21 arranged horizontally at intervals, and the two fixing plates 21 are provided with opposite rotation holes 211 at their front ends; the second connecting rod 6 is arranged between the two fixing plates 21 and the second connecting rod 6 has a rotating portion 63 inserted into the rotation hole 211 of the fixing plate 21 on both sides of its second end, the handle 3 has a bending portion 31 respectively located on the outside of the two fixing plates 21, and the rotating shaft 9 is passed through the second end of the second connecting rod 6 and its two ends are respectively linked and connected with the bending portion 31 of the handle 3; The second end of the second connecting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the fixing frame 2 via the rotating shaft 9, and the handle 3 is rotatably connected to the second end of the second connecting rod 6 via the rotating shaft 9; preferably, the fixing plate 21 is provided with a limiting slot 212 connected to the rotating hole 211, and a limiting block 631 is correspondingly provided on the rotating portion 63 of the second connecting rod 6, which is located in the limiting slot 212 and can be deflected in the limiting slot 212, and the rotation range of the handle 3 is constrained by the cooperation between the limiting block 631 and the limiting slot 212.

[0044] In some specific embodiments, Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the ice storage bucket also includes a control board 400 connected to the ice stirring assembly 200 signal, and a first micro switch 500 and a second micro switch 600 connected to the control board 400 signal, and the first micro switch 500 and the second micro switch 600 are respectively arranged above and below the second connecting rod 6; when the handle 3 drives the door panel 1 to flip upward to open, the second connecting rod 6 can touch the first micro switch 500, and the first micro switch 500 sends a signal to the control board 400 to control the ice stirring assembly 200 to start; when the handle 3 drives the door panel 1 to flip downward to close, the second connecting rod 6 can touch the first micro switch 500. During the process, the second connecting rod 6 can touch the second micro switch 600, and the second micro switch 600 sends a signal to the control board 400 to control the ice stirring and discharging component 200 to close; in this way, when the ice outlet 101 is opened by pulling up the door panel 1 by the handle 3, the ice stirring and discharging component 200 can work to realize automatic ice discharging, and when the ice outlet 101 is closed by pressing down the door panel 1 by the handle 3, the ice stirring and discharging component 200 can stop working, and the synchronous control of the ice stirring and discharging component 200 is realized through the operation of the self-locking valve component 300, which simplifies the ice discharging operation, ensures the ice discharging effect, and reduces energy consumption.

[0045] In some specific embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the barrel body 100 of the ice storage barrel is a double-side wall structure, including an inner barrel 102 and an outer barrel 103 located outside the inner barrel 102, and an insulating cavity 104 is formed between the inner barrel 102 and the outer barrel 103, which effectively improves the overall protection effect of the ice storage barrel and effectively prolongs the storage time of ice cubes in the ice storage barrel.

[0046] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0047] 1. The door opening and closing are controlled mechanically, which has good working stability and high operability;

[0048] 2. The self-locking valve assembly has a self-locking structure, which can prevent the door panel from being pushed open to discharge ice when it is closed. At the same time, the locking or unlocking of the self-locking part and the closing or opening of the door panel can be controlled by turning the handle;

[0049] 3. When the door panel is opened or closed by turning the handle, the working state of the ice-mixing component can be controlled synchronously, which greatly simplifies the ice-mixing operation and reduces energy consumption.

[0050] The above disclosure is only an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any changes that can be conceived by those skilled in the art should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve, characterized in that: include: A barrel body having an ice outlet; The ice-splitting assembly is used to stir the ice cubes in the bucket to produce ice, and includes a stirring component and a power component for driving the stirring component to rotate; The self-locking valve assembly includes a door panel, a fixing frame, a handle, a self-locking member, a first connecting rod group and a second connecting rod group. The door panel is correspondingly arranged at the ice outlet and its upper part is rotatably connected to the barrel body. The fixing frame is fixedly installed on the barrel body above the door panel, and the handle is rotatably installed on the front end of the fixing frame. The first connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the lower part of the door panel, and the second connecting rod group is arranged between the handle and the first end of the self-locking member; When the door panel is in a closed state, there is interference between the second end of the self-locking member and the first connecting rod assembly to limit the door panel from flipping upward to open; In the process of driving the handle to open the door panel, the handle first drives the self-locking member to move in a directional manner through the second connecting rod group to eliminate the interference with the first connecting rod group, and then drives the door panel to be pulled up and opened through the first connecting rod group; The handle is rotatably mounted on the front end of the fixing frame via a rotating shaft linked thereto; The first link assembly includes a first link member and a second link member, the first end of the first link member is rotatably connected to the lower part of the door panel and the second end of the first link member is rotatably connected to the first end of the second link member, the second end of the second link member is sleeved on the rotating shaft, the second end of the second link member is correspondingly provided with a sleeve hole and a rotating slot connected to the sleeve hole, and the rotating shaft is provided with a protrusion placed in the rotating slot and capable of deflecting in the rotating slot; The second connecting rod assembly includes a third connecting rod member and a fourth connecting rod member, wherein the first end of the third connecting rod member is linked to the rotating shaft and the second end of the third connecting rod member is rotatably connected to the first end of the fourth connecting rod member, and the second end of the fourth connecting rod member is rotatably connected to the first end of the self-locking member; The second connecting rod member includes two component parts arranged at a distance, and a connecting part arranged between the middle parts of the two component parts, and the second end of the first connecting rod member is located between the first ends of the two component parts and is connected by rotational fit through a pin shaft; The second end of the first link member has a matching structure for matching with the second end of the self-locking member to limit the movement of the first link member, and the connecting portion of the second link member is provided with a through hole for the self-locking member to be embedded and to restrict the self-locking member from moving toward or away from the matching structure of the first link member; The matching structure on the first connecting rod is a limiting notch structure matching with the corner of the second end of the self-locking component.

2. The ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing frame comprises two fixing plates arranged horizontally and spaced apart, and the two fixing plates are provided with corresponding rotating holes at their front ends; The second connecting rod is arranged between the two fixed plates and the second connecting rod has rotating parts on both sides corresponding to the second end thereof, which are inserted into the rotating holes of the fixed plates. The handle has bending parts respectively located on the outsides of the two fixed plates. The rotating shaft passes through the second end of the second connecting rod and its two ends are respectively linked to the bending parts of the handle.

3. The ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing plate is provided with a limiting slot communicated with the rotating hole, and the rotating portion of the second connecting rod is correspondingly provided with a limiting block located in the limiting slot and capable of deflecting in the limiting slot.

4. The ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a control panel connected to the ice blending assembly signal, and a first micro switch connected to the control panel signal, wherein the first micro switch is arranged above the second connecting rod; When the handle drives the door panel to flip upward and open, the second connecting rod can touch the first micro switch, and the first micro switch sends a signal to the control panel to control the start of the ice stirring assembly.

5. The ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes a second micro switch connected to the control board signal, wherein the second micro switch is arranged below the second connecting rod; When the handle drives the door panel to flip downward and close, the second connecting rod can touch the second micro switch, and the second micro switch sends a signal to the control panel to control the ice stirring and discharging assembly to close.

6. The ice storage bucket with a self-locking valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The barrel body is a double-layer structure, including an inner barrel and an outer barrel located outside the inner barrel, and a heat-insulating cavity is formed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

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