Full-water self-control type ice maker water tank

Abstract

The utility model relates to ice maker technical field discloses a full water automatic control formula ice maker water tank, embeddedly installed in the ice maker inside, including water tank, the water tank is located in the lower half of ice maker, water tank upper end outside is provided with the sink, the sink with water tank is fixedly connected towards ice maker outer surface one side, the connecting surface of sink with water tank is opened to have the drain, the lowest of drain is same with the highest water level inside water tank, when the water level inside water tank reaches the highest point, the water in the water tank flows into the sink through the drain, the bottom of sink is opened to have the water pipe hole, the water pipe hole below is connected with the drain pipe, the upper end of drain pipe is connected with water pipe hole, and the lower end extends to the outside of ice maker, the utility model has the automatic control formula drain structure to full water water tank, solves the problem that the circuit structure of additional detection water level is needed in the water tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice maker technology, specifically to a full-water self-controlled ice maker water tank. Background Technology

[0002] The water tank of an ice maker, as a core component for water storage and supply, directly affects ice-making efficiency and equipment stability. Traditional water tank structures typically use float valves or electronic water level sensors to control the water inflow, ensuring a continuous water supply during the ice-making process and preventing the evaporator from burning dry due to water shortage. This design is widely used in commercial and household ice makers, and its advantages lie in its simple structure, low cost, and ability to meet basic water level control requirements. In addition, some high-end models also employ a circulating water pump design to improve water resource utilization and reduce waste. The rational design of the water tank plays a crucial role in the energy efficiency ratio, ice-making speed, and long-term reliability of the ice maker; therefore, optimizing the water tank structure has always been one of the key directions for improving ice maker technology.

[0003] However, existing ice maker water tanks still have significant drawbacks, such as: mechanical float valves are prone to jamming, and after long-term use, scale or impurities may cause control failure; electronic water level sensors rely on external power, increasing energy consumption and having a high failure rate. This invention's full-water self-regulating ice maker water tank, through an innovative overflow pipe structure, achieves mechanical automatic circulation or intelligent reuse, enhancing system stability and energy efficiency, and overcoming the aforementioned shortcomings of traditional water tanks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (I) Technical problem to be solved: In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model provides a full-water self-controlled ice maker water tank with a self-controlled drainage structure for a full water tank, which solves the problem of needing to add an additional circuit structure to detect the water level inside the water tank.

[0005] (II) Technical Solution: To achieve the above-mentioned purpose of automatic drainage of the full water tank, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a full water self-controlled ice maker water tank, embedded in the ice maker, including a water tank located in the lower half of the ice maker, a water trough provided on the outer side of the upper end of the water tank, the water trough being fixedly connected to the side of the water tank facing the outer surface of the ice maker, a drain outlet being provided on the connection surface between the water trough and the water tank, the lowest point of the drain outlet being the same as the highest water level inside the water tank, when the water level inside the water tank reaches the highest point, the water inside the water tank flowing into the water trough through the drain outlet; a water pipe hole is provided at the bottom of the water trough, a drain pipe is connected below the water pipe hole, the upper end of the drain pipe is connected to the water pipe hole, and the lower end extends to the outside of the ice maker.

[0006] Preferably, an ice basket is provided on the upper part of the water tank, and the ice basket has an integrally formed partition that divides the interior of the ice basket into an ice storage area and a water inlet area. A water leakage hole is provided at the bottom of the ice storage area, and a pipe channel is provided at the bottom of the water inlet area.

[0007] Preferably, an ice-making structure is provided above the ice basket, the ice-making structure is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the other end of the water inlet pipe, except for the one connected to the ice-making structure, is connected downward to the inside of the water tank through the pipe channel.

[0008] Preferably, the upper two sides of the water tank are provided with inwardly extending reinforcing ribs to form a shelf, the ice basket is placed on the shelf, and the drain hole and the corresponding position directly below the pipe channel are both inside the water tank.

[0009] Preferably, there are two drain outlets, which are respectively located at both ends of the connection surface between the water tank and the water trough, and are symmetrically distributed along the center line of the water tank.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom surface inside the water tank has a downward slope around the water pipe hole towards the center of the water pipe hole, and a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the water pipe hole and the drain pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the highest point of the entire drain pipe is the connection point between the drain pipe and the water pipe hole.

[0012] Preferably, the water tank and the water trough are integrally formed; the reinforcing rib structure and the water tank are integrally formed.

[0013] Preferably, the ice basket is removable by pulling it out from the top of the water tank, and the water tank is immovable when the ice maker is in operation.

[0014] Preferably, the ice maker has a water tray at the bottom, and the drain pipe extends to the water tray. The drain pipe is a rigid structure. The water tray at the bottom of the ice maker is a pull-out type.

[0015] (III) Beneficial Effects: Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a full-water self-controlled ice maker water tank, which has the following beneficial effects: 1. This full-water self-controlled ice maker water tank has a water trough on its upper outer surface, with symmetrical drain outlets on both sides where the trough connects to the tank. The lowest point of the drain outlet coincides with the highest point of the water level inside the tank. Therefore, when the water level inside the tank reaches the preset highest point, water flows into the water trough through the drain outlet. A water pipe hole connected to a drain pipe is located at the bottom of the trough, allowing water entering the trough to flow into the drain pipe and then into a water storage tray or other water storage device. Compared to traditional drainage solutions that rely on electronic water level sensors or float valves, this invention eliminates the complex circuit control system, enabling self-controlled water volume control using a purely mechanical structure. Reliable water level self-control is achieved solely through a sophisticated mechanical structure, saving costs and preventing drainage failure due to circuit malfunctions.

[0016] 2. This full-water self-controlled ice maker's water tank utilizes a reinforcing rib structure at the top to form a shelf, allowing the ice basket to be placed on top of the tank, saving internal space. The ice basket is divided into an ice storage area and a water inlet area. A drain hole is located at the bottom of the ice storage area. Water from melting ice stored in the storage area flows back into the water tank through the drain hole. Water from the tank is drawn through the inlet pipe, passing through the pipe channel in the inlet area to the ice-making structure, where it forms ice blocks. The ice blocks then detach and return to the ice storage area, forming a complete closed-loop ice-making system. Compared to the complex piping layout of traditional ice makers, this invention, through its simplified structural design, achieves an orderly arrangement of the piping system, completely solving the technical problem of pipe intersection and congestion. This not only significantly improves ice-making efficiency but also optimizes the convenience of equipment maintenance, demonstrating outstanding practical value and innovative advantages. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice maker of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the drainage pipe connection of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water tank structure of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a top view of the water tank structure of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ice basket structure of this utility model.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Water tank; 11. Shelf; 2. Water trough; 21. Water pipe hole; 3. Drain outlet; 4. Drain pipe; 41. Sealing ring; 5. Ice basket; 51. Divider; 52. Ice storage area; 521. Drain hole; 53. Water inlet area; 531. Pipe channel; 6. Ice-making structure; 61. Water inlet pipe; 7. Water storage tray. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0020] Please see Figures 1-4 A fully-filled, self-regulating ice maker water tank is embedded inside the ice maker, including a water tank 1 located in the lower half of the ice maker. A water trough 2 is provided on the outer side of the upper end of the water tank 1. The water trough 2 is fixedly connected to the side of the water tank 1 facing the outer surface of the ice maker. In this embodiment, the water tank 1 and the water trough 2 are integrally formed. A drain outlet 3 is provided on the overlapping surface of the water trough 2 and the water tank 1, connecting the water tank 1 and the water trough 2. The lowest point of the drain outlet 3 is the same as the highest water level inside the water tank 1. Therefore, when the water level inside the water tank 1 reaches the preset highest point, water will flow into the water trough 2 through the drain outlet 3. A water pipe hole 21 is provided at the bottom of the water trough 2, and a water pipe hole 21 is connected below the water pipe hole 21. A drain pipe 4 is connected, with its upper end connected to the water pipe hole 21 and its lower end extending to the outside of the ice maker or other water storage device. In this embodiment, the lower end of the drain pipe 4 is connected to the water storage tray 7, which is located at the bottom of the ice maker and has a pull-out installation structure for easy removal and cleaning by the user. Compared with the existing drainage solutions that rely on electronic water level sensors or float valves, this utility model abandons the complex circuit control system and can achieve automatic water volume control using a purely mechanical structure. Reliable water level self-control function can be achieved through the cooperation of a sophisticated mechanical structure, saving costs while preventing drainage function failure due to circuit faults.

[0021] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5An ice basket 5 is installed on the upper part of the water tank 1, and an ice-making structure 6 is installed above the ice basket 5. The ice-making structure 6 is connected to a water inlet pipe 61. The ice basket 5 has an integrally formed partition 51, which divides the interior of the ice basket 5 into an ice storage area 52 and a water inlet area 53. In actual design, the volume of the ice storage area 52 should be larger than that of the water inlet area 53. The ice storage area 52 is aligned with the ice-making structure 6 and is used to receive and store ice blocks that fall off from the ice-making structure 6. The ice removal function is a common function in existing ice makers and will not be described in detail here. A drain hole 521 is also provided at the bottom of the ice storage area 52, and the drain hole 521 is aligned with the water tank 1 below. The bottom of the water inlet area 53... The system has a hollowed-out pipe channel 531. The drain hole 521 and the corresponding position directly below the pipe channel 531 are both inside the water tank 1. The pipe channel 531 provides a pipe passage for the water inlet pipe 61. The other end of the water inlet pipe 61, which is connected to the ice-making structure 6, is connected downward to the inside of the water tank 1 through the pipe channel 531. The water formed after the ice blocks placed in the ice storage area 52 melt will return to the water tank 1 through the drain hole 521. The water inside the water tank 1 will be attracted by the water inlet pipe 61 and pass through the pipe channel 531 of the water inlet area 53 to the ice-making structure 6. Ice blocks will be formed inside the ice-making structure 6, and then the ice will be removed and returned to the ice storage area 52, thus forming a complete closed-loop ice-making system.

[0022] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 The upper two sides of the water tank 1 are provided with inwardly extending reinforcing ribs. The reinforcing ribs and the water tank 1 are integrally formed by processing. The reinforcing ribs form a shelf 11, and the ice basket 5 is placed on the shelf 11 to save internal space of the ice maker. The ice basket 5 can be pulled out and moved on the upper part of the water tank 1. The drain pipe 4 is a rigid structure and the water tank 1 cannot be moved when the ice maker is working to avoid affecting the connection of the drain pipe 4. When the user wants to clean the water tank 1, the ice basket 5 on the upper part of the water tank 1 can be pulled out to clean the inside of the water tank 1.

[0023] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 There are two drain outlets 3, which are respectively located at both ends of the connection surface between the water tank 2 and the water container 1, and are symmetrically distributed along the center line of the water tank 2, so that the water inside the water container 1 can be discharged at a uniform speed and evenly, and avoid overflow from one side when the water volume is too large. The bottom surface inside the water tank 2 has a downward slope around the water pipe hole 21, making the water pipe hole 21 the lowest point inside the water tank 2, and preventing water residue inside the water tank 2. A sealing ring 41 is provided at the connection between the water pipe hole 21 and the drain pipe 4 to form a sealed connection. The highest point of the drain pipe 4 is the connection between the drain pipe 4 and the water pipe hole 21, which prevents the water level inside the drain pipe 4 from flowing back.

[0024] In summary, this invention, on the one hand, utilizes the upper reinforcing ribs of the water tank 1 to construct the shelf 11 and designs the ice basket 5 in partitioned sections, optimizing space utilization and forming a complete ice-making-melting water circulation system; on the other hand, through precise control of the drain outlet 3 of the water tank 2 and the drain pipe 4, it achieves automatic water level control with a purely mechanical structure, avoiding the risk of electronic component failure. Compared to traditional ice makers, this design not only simplifies the internal structure, optimizes the pipeline layout, and improves space utilization efficiency, but also significantly reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty through mechanical automatic control, while ensuring system stability and reliability. It demonstrates significant technological advancements in water and energy saving, ease of operation, and long-term durability.

[0025] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A full-automatic ice maker water tank, which is embedded in the ice maker and comprises a water tank (1), wherein the water tank (1) is located in the lower half of the ice maker, characterized in that: A water trough (2) is provided on the outer side of the upper end of the water tank (1). The water trough (2) is fixedly connected to the side of the water tank (1) facing the outer surface of the ice maker. A drain outlet (3) is provided on the connection surface between the water trough (2) and the water tank (1). The lowest point of the drain outlet (3) is the same as the highest water level inside the water tank (1). When the water level inside the water tank (1) reaches the highest point, the water inside the water tank (1) flows into the water trough (2) through the drain outlet (3). A water pipe hole (21) is provided at the bottom of the water trough (2). A drain pipe (4) is connected below the water pipe hole (21). The upper end of the drain pipe (4) is connected to the water pipe hole (21), and the lower end extends to the outside of the ice maker.

2. The full-serve ice maker water tank of claim 1, wherein: An ice basket (5) is provided on the upper part of the water tank (1). The ice basket (5) has an integrally formed partition (51) inside. The partition (51) divides the ice basket (5) into an ice storage area (52) and a water inlet area (53). A water leakage hole (521) is provided at the bottom of the ice storage area (52), and a pipe channel (531) is provided at the bottom of the water inlet area (53).

3. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 2, wherein: An ice-making structure (6) is provided above the ice basket (5). The ice-making structure (6) is connected to a water inlet pipe (61). The other end of the water inlet pipe (61) connected to the ice-making structure (6) is connected downward to the inside of the water tank (1) through the pipe channel (531).

4. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 2, wherein: The upper two sides of the water tank (1) are provided with inwardly extending reinforcing ribs to form a shelf (11). The ice basket (5) is placed above the shelf (11). The drain hole (521) and the corresponding position directly below the pipe channel (531) are both inside the water tank (1).

5. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 1, wherein: The number of drain outlets (3) is two. The drain outlets (3) are respectively located at both ends of the connection surface between the water tank (2) and the water container (1), and are symmetrically distributed along the center line of the water tank (2).

6. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom surface inside the water tank (2) is provided with a downward slope towards the center of the water pipe hole (21) around the water pipe hole (21), and a sealing ring (41) is provided at the connection between the water pipe hole (21) and the drain pipe (4).

7. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 1, wherein: The highest point of the entire drain pipe (4) is the connection point between the drain pipe (4) and the water pipe hole (21).

8. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 4, wherein: The water tank (1) and the water trough (2) are integrally formed by processing; the reinforcing rib structure and the water tank (1) are integrally formed by processing.

9. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 4, wherein: The ice basket (5) can be pulled out and moved on the upper part of the water tank (1), while the water tank (1) cannot be moved when the ice maker is working.

10. The full-automated ice maker water tank according to claim 1, wherein: The ice maker has a water tray (7) at the bottom, and the drain pipe (4) extends to the water tray (7). The drain pipe (4) is a rigid structure. The water tray (7) is a pull-out installation structure at the bottom of the ice maker.

Images