Cold water production device and refrigerator
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202521647010.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-08-01
AI Technical Summary
水在冷藏间室内时间长了，容易产生异味而变质
[0021]本申请实施例的冷水制取装置和冰箱中，通过设置降温组件将从水源导入水管内的水直接进行降温冷却，可以实现对水的快速冷却，可以满足用户连续使用的需求，且无需对水进行存储，可以降低水产生异味以及变质的风险。
Smart Images
Figure CN224743936U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigerator technology, and particularly relates to a cold water production device and a refrigerator. Background Technology
[0002] With the development of refrigerator technology, users' functional needs for refrigerators are constantly being updated. They not only need refrigerators to preserve food, but also need to make ice and cold water.
[0003] Currently, the cold water generation devices used in refrigerators on the market place water in a container and rely on the temperature of the refrigerator compartment for cooling. If the water remains in the refrigerator compartment for an extended period, it is prone to developing odors and spoiling. Furthermore, the cold water generation speed is slow and cannot meet the needs of users requiring continuous use. Therefore, improvements to the cold water generation devices are needed. Utility Model Content
[0004] This application provides a cold water production device and a refrigerator, which can rapidly cool water without storage, reducing the risk of water developing odors and deteriorating.
[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cold water production apparatus, comprising:
[0006] The shell has a storage space;
[0007] A water pipe includes a main body section and an inlet section and an outlet section connected to both ends of the main body section. The main body section is disposed within the accommodating space, the inlet section is used to connect to a water source, and the outlet section is exposed outside the housing.
[0008] A cooling assembly includes an inner liner, an evaporator tube, and a heat-conducting medium. The inner liner is disposed within the receiving space and has a cavity. The main body section is disposed within the cavity. The evaporator tube is attached to the outer wall of the inner liner. The heat-conducting medium is disposed within the cavity and surrounds the main body section. The evaporator tube is used for cooling and absorbs heat from the water in the main body section through the inner liner and the heat-conducting medium, thereby cooling the water in the main body section.
[0009] Optionally, the main body section is spirally curved, and the water inlet section and the water outlet section are respectively fixedly connected to the inner tank.
[0010] Optionally, the evaporator tube is spirally bent and is fixedly connected to the inner liner.
[0011] Optionally, the material of the thermally conductive medium is paraffin, thermally conductive silicone, or alcohol.
[0012] Optionally, the cooling assembly further includes a connector, the inner liner has a liquid injection hole, the connector is connected to the inner liner and covers the liquid injection hole, and the connector protrudes from the shell.
[0013] Optionally, the cooling assembly further includes a sealing plug, which is connected to the connector.
[0014] Optionally, the cooling component further includes a heat insulation layer disposed between the shell and the inner liner.
[0015] Optionally, the cold water production device further includes a temperature sensing probe and a temperature sensing tube, wherein the temperature sensing tube is inserted into the housing and contacts the main body section, and the temperature sensing probe is disposed inside the temperature sensing tube.
[0016] Optionally, the cold water production device further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the temperature sensing probe and the evaporator tube. The controller is used to control the evaporator tube to stop cooling based on the temperature of the main body section detected by the temperature sensing probe.
[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a refrigerator, comprising:
[0018] The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment have different operating temperatures;
[0019] A refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment respectively, and the refrigeration unit is used to supply cold air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment respectively;
[0020] The cold water production apparatus as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator tube of the cold water production apparatus is connected to the refrigeration component.
[0021] In the cold water production device and refrigerator of this application embodiment, by setting a cooling component, the water introduced from the water source into the water pipe is directly cooled, which can achieve rapid cooling of the water, meet the user's need for continuous use, and eliminate the need to store the water, thereby reducing the risk of water producing odor and deterioration. Attached Figure Description
[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0023] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.
[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cold water production device provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0025] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the cold water production device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0026] Figure 3 This is another cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the cold water production device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0027] Figure 4 This is another cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the cold water production device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a cooling component provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0029] Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0031] In order to improve the speed of cold water production and reduce the risk of water developing odors and deteriorating, this application provides a cold water production device and a refrigerator, which will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0032] For example, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cold water production device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a cold water production device provided in an embodiment of this application. The cold water production device 100 includes a housing 110, a water pipe 120, and a cooling component 130.
[0033] The housing 110 has a receiving space. The shape of the housing 110 can be designed to suit its location. For example, if the cold water generating device 100 is used in a refrigerator, it can be placed in the refrigerator compartment or the compressor compartment. The shape of the housing 110 determines the overall size of the cold water generating device 100. Therefore, the housing 110 can be adaptively designed according to the shape of the refrigerator compartment or the compressor compartment. For example, the housing 110 can be cylindrical, square, or irregularly shaped, etc., without specific limitations. The material of the housing 110 can be transparent to facilitate observation of the cold water preparation process inside the housing 110, increasing its visual appeal.
[0034] The water pipe 120 includes a main body section 122 and an inlet section 124 and an outlet section 126 connected to both ends of the main body section 122. The main body section 122 is disposed within the receiving space and can be spirally bent to increase the cooling water volume and thus improve the cooling speed. The inlet section 124 is used to connect to a water source. The water supply method for the cold water generating device 100 can be an external water pipe or a water valve. The outlet section 126 is exposed outside the housing 110 to allow the user to connect cold water from the outlet section 126. The water pipe 120 can be made of stainless steel to improve heat transfer efficiency and prevent rusting.
[0035] The cooling assembly 130 is used to cool the water in the water pipe 120. For example, the cooling assembly 130 includes an inner tank 132, an evaporator 134, and a heat-conducting medium 136.
[0036] The inner liner 132 is disposed within the receiving space and has a cavity, within which the main body section 122 is disposed. The material of the inner liner 132 can be the same as that of the water pipe 120, such as stainless steel, to improve heat transfer efficiency and accelerate water cooling. The shape of the inner liner 132 can match the shape of the shell 110, such as cylindrical, square, or irregularly shaped. During manufacturing, to secure the water pipe 120, the inlet section 124 and outlet section 126 of the water pipe 120 can be fixedly connected to the inner liner 132, with the portion of the water pipe 120 located within the inner liner 132 serving as the main body section 122. This can be achieved through welding, snap-fit connections, or screw connections.
[0037] The evaporator tube 134 is the source of water cooling; refrigerant flows through it to achieve heat absorption and cooling. The evaporator tube 134 can be tubular, such as spirally bent, to increase its cooling area. It can be made of copper, which is lightweight and improves heat transfer efficiency. The evaporator tube 134 is attached to the outer wall of the inner liner 132 and can be fixedly connected to it, for example, by welding or by simply fixing it in place.
[0038] A heat-conducting medium 136 is disposed within the cavity of the inner liner 132 and surrounds the main body section 122 of the water pipe 120. The heat-conducting medium 136 can be in a liquid state, and the material of the heat-conducting medium 136 can be a liquid material such as paraffin wax, thermally conductive silicone, or alcohol. Therefore, the heat-conducting medium 136 can surround the main body section 122. The inner liner 132 is sealed to reduce the risk of leakage of the heat-conducting medium 136.
[0039] The cooling process or principle of the cooling component 130 is as follows: the evaporator tube 134 is used for refrigeration and absorbs heat from the water in the main body section 122 through the inner tank 134 and the heat transfer medium 136, thereby cooling the water in the main body section 122. The evaporator tube 134 has a constricted end and a flared end; the refrigerant enters from the constricted end and exits from the flared end. When the evaporator tube 134 is cooling, it cools the heat transfer medium 136 inside the inner tank 132 through the inner tank 132. The cooled heat transfer medium 136 then cools the main body section 122, thus achieving the purpose of cooling the water.
[0040] In the cold water production device 100 of this application embodiment, the water introduced from the water source into the water pipe 120 is directly cooled by the cooling component 130, which can achieve rapid cooling of the water, meet the user's need for continuous use, and eliminate the need to store the water, thereby reducing the risk of water developing odors and deterioration.
[0041] Since the heat transfer medium 136 is liquid, an injection hole and a sealing plug can be provided to facilitate the replacement or addition of the heat transfer medium 136.
[0042] For example, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 And see Figures 3 to 5 As shown, Figure 3 This is another cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the cold water production device provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 4 This is another cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the cold water production device provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a cooling component provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0043] The cooling assembly 130 also includes a connector 138 with a through hole. The inner liner 132 has a liquid injection hole, and the connector 138 is connected to the inner liner 132, for example, by welding. The material of the connector 138 can be the same as that of the inner liner 132. The connector 138 covers the liquid injection hole, and the through hole of the connector 138 can be coaxially aligned with the liquid injection hole. The connector 138 protrudes from the housing 110 to facilitate the replacement or addition of the heat transfer medium 136.
[0044] For example, the cooling assembly 130 also includes a sealing plug 139, which is connected to the connector 138 to seal the inner liner 132.
[0045] It should be noted that, in order to keep the inner liner 132 and the heat-conducting medium 136 inside the inner liner 132 warm, this embodiment of the application also provides a heat insulation layer 131, which wraps the inner liner 132 and the evaporator pipe 134 to keep the inner liner 132, the heat-conducting medium 136 and the evaporator pipe 134 warm and reduce the influence of the external temperature on the temperature during the cooling water process.
[0046] In order to detect the temperature of the water pipe 120 and determine when the water pipe 120 stops cooling, the cold water production device 100 of this application embodiment also includes a temperature sensing probe 140 and a temperature sensing tube 150.
[0047] The temperature sensing tube 150 is inserted into the shell 110 and contacts the main body section 122. The material of the temperature sensing tube 150 can be the same as or of the same type as the material of the inner liner 132. The temperature sensing tube 150 can be welded to the inner liner 132 to fix the temperature sensing tube. For ease of manufacturing, the inner liner 132 can be divided into two parts during the manufacturing process. One part is welded to the water pipe 120, and the other part is welded to the temperature sensing tube 150. Finally, the two parts are welded together as one.
[0048] The temperature probe 140, also known as the temperature sensor, is located inside the temperature sensing tube 150, which can be a sealed tube. The temperature probe 140 detects the water temperature inside the water pipe 120 through the temperature sensing tube 150. Furthermore, the connecting wire of the temperature probe 140 can be exposed through the temperature sensing tube 150 to facilitate the transmission of the temperature signal from the temperature probe 140.
[0049] For example, the cold water production device 100 may also include a controller (not shown in the figure), which is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 140 and the evaporator tube 134. The controller is used to control the evaporator tube 134 to stop cooling based on the temperature of the main body section 122 detected by the temperature sensor 140. In other words, when the temperature sensor 140 in the temperature sensing tube 150 senses that the temperature has reached the shutdown temperature, the cold water production device 100 stops cooling, and the shutdown temperature can be close to 0°C. Because the temperature of the heat-conducting medium 136 inside the inner tank 132 is uniform, the cooling of the water in the main body section 122 is sustained, thereby achieving the purpose of continuous cold water production.
[0050] In the cold water production device 100 provided in this application embodiment, the heat-conducting medium 136 in the inner tank 132 is cooled by the evaporation tube 134, and then the water is cooled by the heat-conducting medium 136 to achieve cold water production. The cold water production speed is fast, and the cold water can be used immediately for cooling. The cold water does not need to be stored, which can avoid the problem of bacteria and deterioration of cold water due to long storage time.
[0051] For example, please refer to Figures 1 to 5 And see Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application. This application also provides a refrigerator 1000, which includes a refrigerator compartment (not shown in the figure), a freezer compartment (not shown in the figure), a refrigeration unit 200, and the aforementioned cold water production device 100.
[0052] The refrigerator and freezer compartments operate at different temperatures and are used to store different types of food.
[0053] The refrigeration assembly 200 is the core of the refrigerator 1000, and it is used to supply cold air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment respectively. For example, the refrigeration assembly 200 may include a compressor 210, a condenser 220, an anti-condensation pipe 230, a filter 240, a solenoid valve 250, a return gas heat exchange section 260, and an evaporator 270, and the connection of the above components is shown in the figure.
[0054] The cold water production device 100 reuses the refrigeration component 200 of the refrigerator 1000 to achieve refrigeration. The refrigerant inlet end of the evaporator tube 134 of the cold water production device 100 is connected to the return gas heat exchange section 260, and the refrigerant outlet end of the evaporator tube is connected to the return gas heat exchange section 260 and the evaporator 270.
[0055] The cold water production device 100 can be installed in the cold storage room or in the compressor compartment.
[0056] The working principle or process of the refrigeration component 200 and the cold water production device 100 in the refrigerator 1000 is as follows: After the compressor 210 starts, it first checks whether there is a demand for cold water. If so, the solenoid valve 250 switches back to the gas heat exchange section 260 to the cold water production device 100, and the cold water production device 100 starts working. If there is no demand for cold water, the solenoid valve 250 switches back to the gas heat exchange section 260 to the evaporator 270 to cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.
[0057] When the water temperature detected by the temperature sensor 140 in the chilled water generating device 100 is lower than the set temperature, the chilled water generating device 100 stops working, and the solenoid valve 250 switches the return heat exchange section 260 to the evaporator 270 to cool the refrigerator and freezer compartments. When the temperatures of both the refrigerator and freezer compartments are lower than the set temperature, the compressor 210 stops working.
[0058] If the evaporator 270 requires cold water during the cooling process of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, the solenoid valve 250 switches back to the gas heat exchange section 260 to the cold water production device 100 for cooling. After the cold water temperature is lower than the set temperature, it switches back to the evaporator 270 for cooling. The compressor 210 stops working when the temperature of both the refrigerator and freezer compartments is lower than the set temperature.
[0059] Since the refrigerator 1000 adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.
[0060] The refrigerator 1000 of this application embodiment can meet the refrigeration needs of the refrigerator 1000 and produce cold water by reusing the refrigeration component 200 in the cold water production device 100, and can reduce the use of components and save costs.
[0061] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.
[0062] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.
[0063] The above provides a detailed description of the cold water production device and refrigerator provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
Claims
1. A cold water production device, characterized in that, include: The shell has a storage space; A water pipe includes a main body section and an inlet section and an outlet section connected to both ends of the main body section. The main body section is disposed within the accommodating space, the inlet section is used to connect to a water source, and the outlet section is exposed outside the housing. A cooling assembly includes an inner liner, an evaporator tube, and a heat-conducting medium. The inner liner is disposed within the receiving space and has a cavity. The main body section is disposed within the cavity. The evaporator tube is attached to the outer wall of the inner liner. The heat-conducting medium is disposed within the cavity and surrounds the main body section. The evaporator tube is used for cooling and absorbs heat from the water in the main body section through the inner liner and the heat-conducting medium, thereby cooling the water in the main body section.
2. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body section is spirally curved, and the water inlet section and the water outlet section are respectively fixedly connected to the inner tank.
3. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The evaporator tube is spirally bent and is fixedly connected to the inner liner.
4. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermally conductive medium is made of paraffin wax, thermally conductive silicone, or alcohol.
5. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cooling component also includes a connector. The inner liner has a liquid injection hole. The connector is connected to the inner liner and covers the liquid injection hole. The connector is exposed outside the shell.
6. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cooling component also includes a sealing plug, which is connected to the connector.
7. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling component also includes a heat insulation layer, which is disposed between the shell and the inner liner.
8. The cold water production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The cold water production device also includes a temperature sensing probe and a temperature sensing tube. The temperature sensing tube is inserted into the housing and contacts the main body section. The temperature sensing probe is disposed inside the temperature sensing tube.
9. The cold water production apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cold water production device also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the temperature sensing probe and the evaporation tube. The controller is used to control the evaporation tube to stop cooling based on the temperature of the main body section detected by the temperature sensing probe.
10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment have different operating temperatures; A refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment respectively, and the refrigeration unit is used to supply cold air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment respectively; The cold water production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the evaporation tube of the cold water production apparatus is connected to the refrigeration component.