Ultrasonic assisted pickling device and refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides an ultrasonic assisted pickling device and a refrigerator. The ultrasonic assisted pickling device comprises: an ultrasonic base, the upper surface of which has a continuous horizontal surface; and a container, the lower surface of which has at least one protrusion protruding downward, and the lower surface of each protrusion is a continuous surface flush with each other; the container is configured to be operably placed on the ultrasonic base, so that the lower surface of each protrusion abuts against the upper surface of the ultrasonic base; the ultrasonic base is configured to generate ultrasonic waves in a controlled manner, so that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the container through each protrusion. The advantage of the present invention is that it can achieve a better pickling effect at a lower salt concentration and in a shorter time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of refrigeration and freezing equipment, in particular to an ultrasonic assisted pickling device and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] At present, the evaluation of the storage performance of refrigerators is no longer simply to extend the storage time. Some users have also put forward requirements for the realization of certain auxiliary functions (such as pickling).

[0003] The traditional method of pickling is to first promote full contact between the marinade and the meat by manually rubbing it, and then place it in the refrigerator to remain still to ensure that the quality of the ingredients does not change during the pickling process at a low temperature.

[0004] However, the low temperature environment of the refrigerator will slow down the pickling process. Long-term pickling increases the waiting time of users and affects the freshness of the ingredients themselves. In addition, the salt concentration of the pickling liquid is high, which is not good for health. Summary of the invention

[0005] An object of the first aspect of the present invention is to overcome at least one defect in the prior art and provide an ultrasonic assisted pickling device that can achieve better pickling effect at a lower salt concentration and in a shorter time.

[0006] A further object of the first aspect of the present invention is to prevent the heat generated by the ultrasonic generator from affecting the marinating of food.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides an ultrasonic assisted pickling device, comprising:

[0009] an ultrasound base, the upper surface of the ultrasound base having a continuous horizontal surface; and

[0010] A container, wherein the lower surface of the container has at least one protrusion protruding downward, and the lower surfaces of the protrusions are continuous surfaces flush with each other;

[0011] The container is configured to be operably placed on the ultrasonic base so that the lower surface of each protrusion abuts against the upper surface of the ultrasonic base;

[0012] The ultrasonic base is configured to controllably generate ultrasonic waves so that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the container through the protrusions.

[0013] Further, the ultrasonic base comprises:

[0014] A base body, which defines an interlayer cavity inside, and the interlayer cavity is filled with an interlayer medium for conducting ultrasonic waves; and

[0015] At least one ultrasonic generator is fixed to the lower surface of the base body.

[0016] Furthermore, a plurality of ultrasonic generators are provided, and a protrusion is correspondingly provided on the lower surface of the container just above each ultrasonic generator.

[0017] Furthermore, a plurality of grooves that are sunken downward are formed on the upper surface of the base body, and the shape of the grooves matches the shape of the protrusions so as to be used for positioning the protrusions; and

[0018] The bottoms of the grooves are continuous surfaces flush with each other, and are configured so that when the protrusions are correspondingly inserted into the grooves, the lower surfaces of the protrusions abut against the bottoms of the grooves.

[0019] Furthermore, the bottom of the base body is recessed upward to form a mounting groove, and each ultrasonic generator is fixed in the mounting groove.

[0020] Furthermore, the container and the base body are both made of stainless steel.

[0021] Furthermore, the specific heat capacity of the interlayer medium is configured to be between 1 KJ / (kg·K) and 5 KJ / (kg·K).

[0022] Furthermore, the sound intensity of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic base transmitted to the upper surface of the ultrasonic base is 0.2 W / cm 2 ~0.8W / cm 2 .

[0023] Furthermore, the container is filled with pickling liquid for pickling food, and the sound intensity of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic base transmitted to the upper surface of the pickling liquid is 0.05W / cm 2 ~0.5W / cm2.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a refrigerator having a storage compartment defined therein, wherein

[0025] Any of the above-mentioned ultrasonic-assisted pickling devices is arranged in the storage room.

[0026] The ultrasonic assisted pickling device of the present invention comprises an ultrasonic base and a container, and the container is operably placed on the ultrasonic base. During the pickling process, the food to be pickled is first placed in the container, and then the ultrasonic base is used to generate ultrasonic waves, which can be transmitted to the container in a relatively concentrated manner through the protrusions and act on the food, causing the food to vibrate slightly, and during the continuous vibration process, the pickling liquid can be more fully and quickly immersed in the food, so that the food is evenly flavored and the pickling effect is better. In addition, since the action of ultrasonic waves can significantly improve the immersion capacity of the pickling liquid, the concentration of the pickling liquid does not need to be high, thereby reducing the cost of preparing the pickling liquid.

[0027] Furthermore, the ultrasonic base of the present invention includes a base body and an ultrasonic generator, and the ultrasonic generator is installed on the lower surface of the base. Since the base body has an interlayer cavity inside, and the interlayer cavity is filled with an interlayer medium, the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic sounder acts on the food in the container after passing through the interlayer medium. In this way, the interlayer medium can absorb the heat generated by the ultrasonic generator during the working process, play a role in heat dissipation of the ultrasonic generator, prevent the heat from being transferred to the food, and avoid affecting the pickling of the food.

[0028] Based on the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will become more aware of the above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. Moreover, the same reference symbols are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components. In the accompanying drawings:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an ultrasound-assisted pickling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of part A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0036] It should be understood that, in the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 The refrigerator may include a box body 100, and one or more storage compartments 200 are defined inside the box body 100. The storage compartments 200 may be configured to form a frozen storage space, a refrigerated storage space, a variable temperature storage space, etc. according to the refrigeration temperature. The number, function, and layout of the specific storage compartments 200 may be configured according to requirements.

[0038] The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device 300 of the present invention can be set in a refrigerated storage space (or a variable temperature storage space with the target temperature set above the freezing point), and it is not excluded that it can also be set in a frozen storage space. The temperature in the refrigerated storage space is generally configured to be above 0°C, and is used to store fresh fruits and vegetables or food that is stored for a short time. In this embodiment, the refrigerated storage space can be used to place food to be pickled (i.e. food that has been coated with marinade on the surface or immersed in pickling liquid), and the ultrasonic-assisted pickling device 300 is used to speed up the pickling speed and improve the pickling effect. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device 300 is specifically introduced below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Reference Figures 2 to 5 The ultrasonic assisted pickling device 300 includes an ultrasonic base 310 and a container 320. The upper surface of the ultrasonic base 310 is a continuous horizontal surface. The lower surface of the container 320 has at least one protrusion 321 protruding downward, and the lower surface of each protrusion 321 is a continuous surface flush with each other. The container 320 is configured to be operably placed on the ultrasonic base 310, so that the lower surface of each protrusion 321 abuts against the upper surface of the ultrasonic base 310. The ultrasonic base 310 is configured to generate ultrasonic waves in a controlled manner, so that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the container 320 through each protrusion 321.

[0040] In the actual pickling process, the ultrasonic assisted pickling device 300 of the present invention first places the food to be pickled in the container 320, and then uses the ultrasonic base 310 to generate ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves can be transmitted to the container 320 in a relatively concentrated manner through the protrusions 321 and act on the food, causing the food to vibrate slightly. In the continuous vibration process, the pickling liquid can be more fully and quickly immersed in the food, so that the food is evenly flavored and the pickling effect is better. Since the action of ultrasonic waves can significantly improve the immersion capacity of the pickling liquid, the concentration of the pickling liquid does not need to be high, which reduces the cost of preparing the pickling liquid. In addition, the container 320 is directly placed on the ultrasonic base 310. When the container 320 needs to be cleaned, the container 320 can be directly removed from the ultrasonic base 310, which is simple and convenient to operate.

[0041] In some alternative embodiments, the lower surface of the container 320 may not be provided with the protrusion 321, but may be directly placed on the ultrasonic base 310. However, this design will make the ultrasonic waves transmitted to the lower surface of the container 320 more diffuse, which has a poor effect on the food, and requires increasing the power of the ultrasonic generator 312, which is not conducive to energy conservation. In addition, the ultrasonic generator 312 will generate a lot of heat when working in a high-power state, and the heat transmitted to the container 320 will also affect the marinating of the food.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic base 310 includes a base body 311 and at least one ultrasonic generator 312. The base body 311 defines an interlayer cavity inside, and the interlayer cavity is filled with an interlayer medium 313 for conducting ultrasonic waves, and the interlayer medium 313 fills the interlayer cavity. Each ultrasonic generator 312 is fixed to the lower surface of the base body 311. In this way, when the ultrasonic generator 312 is working, the ultrasonic waves generated by it can act on the food in the container 320 through the interlayer medium 313, and the interlayer medium 313 can absorb the heat generated by the ultrasonic generator 312 in time, dissipate the heat of the ultrasonic generator 312, prevent the heat from being transferred to the food, and avoid affecting the marinating of the food.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, the specific heat capacity of the interlayer medium 313 can be configured to be between 1KJ / (kg·K) and 5KJ / (kg·K). The interlayer medium 313 can be a specific mixed solution, which is not a dangerous item, is not flammable, has good safety, is non-toxic and harmless, and complies with the relevant additives law and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standard requirements.

[0044] Furthermore, a plurality of ultrasonic generators 312 may be provided, and a protrusion 321 is provided on the lower surface of the container 320 just above each ultrasonic generator 312. The protrusion 321 is provided just above the ultrasonic generator 312, so that when the ultrasonic generator 312 generates ultrasonic waves, most of the ultrasonic waves can be transmitted to the container 320 through the protrusion 321, and only a small part of the ultrasonic waves is dispersed around, thereby improving the utilization rate of the ultrasonic waves and reducing energy loss. In addition, the simultaneous action of multiple ultrasonic generators 312 can speed up the immersion speed of the pickling liquid, shorten the pickling time, and ensure the freshness of the food.

[0045] Preferably, a plurality of ultrasonic generators 312 may be arranged in a matrix on the lower surface of the base body 311 so that the ultrasonic waves are evenly transmitted to the food, thereby improving the uniformity of marinating the food.

[0046] Considering that after the container 320 is placed on the base body 311, the position of the container 320 needs to be adjusted to ensure that the protrusion 321 at the bottom of the container 320 is located directly above the ultrasonic generator 312, and the ultrasonic generator 312 is arranged below the base body 311 and is not easy to observe directly. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure that the container 320 is quickly adjusted to a suitable position.

[0047] To solve this problem, the upper surface of the base body 311 of the present embodiment is formed with a plurality of grooves 314 that are concave downwards. Each groove 314 is located directly above the ultrasonic generator 312. The shape of the groove 314 matches the shape of the protrusion 321, and is used to position the protrusion 321. When the user places the container 320 on the base body 311, each protrusion 321 is correspondingly inserted into the groove 314, thereby ensuring that the protrusion 321 at the bottom of the container 320 is located directly above the ultrasonic generator 312, and the operation is simple and convenient. In addition, the bottom of each groove 314 is a continuous surface that is flush with each other. When the protrusion 321 is correspondingly inserted into the groove 314, the lower surface of the protrusion 321 and the bottom of the groove 314 can be in close contact with each other. If there is a gap between the two, the ultrasonic wave will be greatly attenuated when it is transmitted to the gap, affecting its effect.

[0048] Since the ultrasonic generator 312 is disposed at the bottom of the base body 311, during the pickling process, the weight of the base, the weight of the container 320, the weight of the pickling liquid, and the weight of the food are all applied to the ultrasonic generator 312, which may easily cause damage to the ultrasonic generator 312. Therefore, to solve this problem, in this embodiment, the bottom of the base body 311 is recessed upward to form a mounting groove 315, and the ultrasonic generator 312 can be fixed in the mounting groove 315.

[0049] In some preferred embodiments, the container 320 and the base body 311 can be made of stainless steel or aluminum-magnesium alloy, and the wall thickness of the container 320 and the base body 311 themselves can be 0.6mm~0.8mm, so as to save materials while ensuring that the container 320 and the base body 311 have sufficient structural strength.

[0050] In a specific embodiment, the sound intensity of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic base 310 transmitted to the upper surface of the ultrasonic base 310 is 0.2W / cm2 to 0.8W / cm2. The inventors have experimentally determined that this sound intensity can achieve a better pickling effect with lower energy consumption.

[0051] In this embodiment, the container 320 contains pickling liquid for pickling food. Since ultrasound will attenuate to a certain extent when transmitted in the pickling liquid, in order to ensure that the upper and lower parts of the food are evenly flavored, the sound intensity of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasonic base 310 transmitted to the upper surface of the pickling liquid should be controlled to be 0.05W / cm2~0.5W / cm2.

[0052] According to any one of the optional embodiments or a combination of multiple optional embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0053] The ultrasonic assisted pickling device 300 of the present invention comprises an ultrasonic base 310 and a container 320, wherein the container 320 is operably placed on the ultrasonic base 310. During the pickling process, the food to be pickled is first placed in the container 320, and then the ultrasonic base 310 is used to generate ultrasonic waves, which can be transmitted to the container 320 in a relatively concentrated manner through the protrusions 321 and act on the food, causing the food to vibrate slightly, and during the continuous vibration process, the pickling liquid can be more fully and quickly immersed in the food, so that the food is evenly flavored and the pickling effect is better. In addition, since the action of ultrasonic waves can significantly improve the immersion capacity of the pickling liquid, the concentration of the pickling liquid does not need to be high, thereby reducing the cost of preparing the pickling liquid.

[0054] Furthermore, the ultrasonic base 310 of the present invention includes a base body 311 and an ultrasonic generator 312, and the ultrasonic generator 312 is installed on the lower surface of the base. Since the base body 311 has an interlayer cavity inside, and the interlayer cavity is filled with an interlayer medium 313, the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic sounder acts on the food in the container 320 after passing through the interlayer medium 313. In this way, the interlayer medium 313 can absorb the heat generated by the ultrasonic generator 312 during the working process, play a role in heat dissipation of the ultrasonic generator 312, prevent the heat from being transferred to the food, and avoid affecting the pickling of the food.

[0055] At this point, those skilled in the art should recognize that, although multiple exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications that conform to the principles of the present invention can still be directly determined or derived based on the content disclosed in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and recognized as covering all these other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic assisted pickling device, comprising: An ultrasonic base, wherein the upper surface of the ultrasonic base has a continuous horizontal surface; and A container, wherein the lower surface of the container has at least one protrusion protruding downward, and the lower surfaces of the protrusions are continuous surfaces flush with each other; The container is configured to be operably placed on the ultrasonic base so that the lower surface of each protrusion abuts against the upper surface of the ultrasonic base; The ultrasonic base is configured to generate ultrasonic waves in a controlled manner so that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the container through each of the protrusions; Wherein, the ultrasonic base comprises: A base body, which defines an interlayer cavity inside, wherein the interlayer cavity is filled with an interlayer medium for conducting the ultrasonic wave; and At least one ultrasonic generator is fixed to the lower surface of the base body.

2. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of ultrasonic generators are provided, and a corresponding protrusion is provided on the lower surface of the container just above each ultrasonic generator.

3. The ultrasonic assisted pickling device according to claim 2, wherein: A plurality of grooves sunken downwards are formed on the upper surface of the base body, and the shape of the grooves matches the shape of the protrusions so as to position the protrusions; and The bottoms of the grooves are continuous surfaces flush with each other, and are configured so that when the protrusions are correspondingly inserted into the grooves, the lower surfaces of the protrusions abut against the bottoms of the grooves.

4. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom of the base body is recessed upward to form a mounting groove, and each of the ultrasonic generators is fixed in the mounting groove.

5. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: The container and the base body are both made of stainless steel.

6. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: The specific heat capacity of the interlayer medium is configured to be between 1 KJ / (kg·K) and 5 KJ / (kg·K).

7. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: The sound intensity of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic base when transmitted to the upper surface of the ultrasonic base is 0.2W / cm 2 ~0.8W / cm 2 .

8. The ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to claim 1, wherein: The container contains pickling liquid for pickling food, and the sound intensity of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic base transmitted to the upper surface of the pickling liquid is 0.05W / cm 2 ~0.5W / cm 2 .

9. A refrigerator having a storage compartment defined therein, wherein The storage room is provided with an ultrasonic-assisted pickling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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