Ice tray and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ice tray and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the ice tray comprises an ice tray body and a cover plate connected to the ice tray body; the ice tray body is formed by integral die casting and comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is provided with an ice grid, the second surface is provided with a groove, the cover plate is connected to the groove and is sealed with the side of the groove, a refrigerant channel is formed between the cover plate and the groove bottom of the groove; the ice grid comprises a bottom close to the second surface and an open end away from the second surface, the size of the open end is larger than the size of the bottom; in the ice tray applied by the present invention, when making ice, the refrigerant can directly contact the ice tray body for heat exchange after entering the refrigerant channel, without the need for conduction through an intermediate medium, effectively preventing heat loss and improving the heat utilization rate of the refrigerant, and the size of the open end of the ice grid is larger than the size of the bottom of the ice grid, so that the side wall of the ice grid is formed as an inclined surface from top to bottom, and this structural design can effectively shorten the deicing time and improve the deicing efficiency when deicing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ice making, and in particular to an ice tray for an ice maker and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a device that generates ice by cooling and solidifying water through an ice tray. An existing ice tray generally includes an ice tray body, a plurality of ice grids are formed on one side of the ice tray body, and a refrigerant pipe is formed on the other side of the ice tray body. The refrigerant pipe extends along the bottom of the plurality of ice grids, so that refrigerant, such as coolant, can contact the bottom wall of the ice grid for heat exchange after entering the refrigerant pipe, thereby turning the water in the ice grid into ice.

[0003] However, the ice tray of the existing ice maker is generally first made into an ice tray body and a refrigerant pipe independently, and then the refrigerant pipe is bent and welded to the bottom of the ice tray body. After the refrigerant enters the refrigerant pipe, it is conducted through the refrigerant pipe to exchange heat with the ice tray body. During the ice making process of this type of ice tray, since the contact area between the refrigerant pipe and the ice tray body is limited and the refrigerant cannot directly contact the ice tray body for heat exchange, it is easy to cause heat loss and affect the ice making efficiency; and the ice grid on the existing ice tray body is not easy to separate the ice cubes from the ice tray after ice is made, which makes it difficult to remove ice cubes and takes a long time to remove ice, thus affecting the ice making production efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new ice tray and a manufacturing method thereof to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ice tray and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the ice tray can effectively reduce heat loss, shorten ice-removing time, and improve ice-making efficiency.

[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical scheme: an ice tray, comprising an ice tray body and a cover plate connected to the ice tray body; the ice tray body is made by die-casting and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is provided with an ice grid, the second surface is provided with a groove, the cover plate is connected to the groove and is sealed with the side of the groove, and a refrigerant channel is formed between the cover plate and the bottom of the groove; the ice grid includes a bottom close to the second surface and an open end away from the second surface, and the size of the open end is larger than the size of the bottom.

[0007] Furthermore, the refrigerant channel includes a first end and a second end, the cover plate is provided with a first through hole corresponding to the first end, and a second through hole corresponding to the second end; a step portion is formed on the side of the groove, and the cover plate is pressed against the step portion.

[0008] Furthermore, a plurality of ridges are provided in the groove, the top surfaces of the plurality of ridges are flush with the top surface of the step portion and are connected to the cover plate by stir friction welding, and the cover plate is connected to the side of the groove by stir friction welding.

[0009] Furthermore, the groove is rectangular with two long sides and two short sides, the plurality of ridges extend in directions parallel to the long sides of the groove, and at least one end of each ridge is connected to the short side of the groove, thereby dividing the refrigerant channel into a circuitous curved shape.

[0010] Furthermore, the groove is rectangular with two long sides and two short sides, the plurality of ridges extend in directions parallel to the short sides of the groove, and at least one end of each ridge is connected to the long side of the groove, thereby dividing the refrigerant channel into a circuitous curved shape.

[0011] Furthermore, the ice trays are provided in plurality and arranged in at least two rows, and the bottom of the groove is further provided with a recessed portion toward the first surface, and the recessed portion is located between the side walls of two adjacent ice trays.

[0012] Furthermore, the ice tray includes a bottom wall and four side walls connected to the bottom wall, each two adjacent side walls are connected by an arc transition, and the four side walls are inclined relative to the bottom wall, so that the size of the opening end is larger than that of the bottom.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner edges around the opening end have an arc-shaped portion, and the arc length of the arc-shaped portion is 1-3 mm.

[0014] Furthermore, three of the side walls have a first angle with the bottom wall respectively, the first angle is an obtuse angle, another side wall has a second angle with the bottom wall, the second angle is greater than the first angle, and the second angle is 102 to 114 degrees.

[0015] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an ice tray, the manufacturing method comprising:

[0016] Providing an aluminum alloy material, and die-casting the aluminum alloy material through a die-casting device to form an ice tray die-casting part having an ice grid on one surface and a groove on the other surface;

[0017] The ice tray die casting is de-molded and sandblasted to obtain an ice tray body;

[0018] Providing an aluminum alloy plate or an aluminum plate, and punching the aluminum alloy plate or the aluminum plate through a punching die to form a cover plate;

[0019] Positioning the cover plate on a side of the ice tray body having the groove;

[0020] The periphery of the cover plate and the side of the groove are welded and sealed to form a refrigerant channel between the cover plate and the bottom of the groove; or, a sealant is applied between the periphery of the cover plate and the side of the groove to form a refrigerant channel between the cover plate and the bottom of the groove;

[0021] Providing a plastic outer frame, fixing the plastic outer frame to the outer side of the ice tray body by screws, and applying neutral silicone weather-resistant glue at the gap between the ice tray body and the plastic outer frame;

[0022] The ice tray has a bottom portion close to the bottom of the groove and an open end away from the bottom of the groove, and the size of the open end is larger than the size of the bottom portion.

[0023] The ice tray of the present invention is provided with an ice grid on the first surface of an ice tray body, a groove on the second surface, a cover plate is connected to the groove and is sealed to the side of the groove, a refrigerant channel is formed between the cover plate and the bottom of the groove, when making ice, the refrigerant can directly contact with the ice tray body for heat exchange after entering the refrigerant channel, without the need for conduction through an intermediate medium, effectively preventing heat loss and improving the heat utilization rate of the refrigerant, and the size of the opening end of the ice grid is larger than the size of the bottom of the ice grid, so that the side wall of the ice grid is formed into an inclined surface from top to bottom, and when the heat medium is injected into the refrigerant channel after ice making is completed, the ice cubes in the ice grid can quickly undergo a deformation reaction and separate from the ice grid, so that the defrosting time is greatly shortened and the defrosting efficiency is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a schematic exploded perspective view of the ice tray of the first embodiment of the present invention from another angle;

[0026] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an ice tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a perspective exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an ice tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 It is a perspective exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8It is a perspective exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Fig. 9 FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded schematic diagram of an ice tray according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] See also Figures 1 to 3 A first embodiment of the present invention provides an ice tray, comprising an ice tray body 10 and a cover plate 20 connected to the ice tray body 10; the ice tray body 10 is formed by integral die casting and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is provided with an ice tray 11, the second surface is provided with a groove 12, the cover plate 20 is connected to the groove 12 and is sealed to the side of the groove 12, and a refrigerant channel 30 is formed between the cover plate 20 and the bottom of the groove 12; the ice tray 11 includes a bottom 111 close to the second surface and an open end 112 away from the second surface, the size of the open end 112 is larger than the size of the bottom 111, that is, the cross-sectional size of the open end 112 is larger than the cross-sectional size of the bottom 111, so that the ice tray 11 is formed into a structure with a larger top and a smaller bottom.

[0035] The ice tray of the present invention is provided with an ice tray 11 on the first surface of an ice tray body 10, a groove 12 on the second surface, a cover plate 20 is connected to the groove 12 and is sealed to the side of the groove 12, and a refrigerant channel 30 is formed between the cover plate 20 and the bottom of the groove 12. When making ice, the refrigerant can directly contact the ice tray body 10 for heat exchange after entering the refrigerant channel 30, without the need for conduction through an intermediate medium, thereby effectively preventing heat loss and improving the heat utilization rate of the refrigerant. The size of the open end 112 of the ice tray 11 is larger than the size of the bottom 111 of the ice tray 11, so that the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 is formed as an inclined surface from top to bottom. After ice making is completed, when the heat medium is injected into the refrigerant channel 30, the ice cubes in the ice tray 11 can be quickly deformed and separated from the ice tray 11, so that the defrosting time is greatly shortened and the defrosting efficiency is improved.

[0036] The ice tray body 10 is an integrally formed structure, preferably formed by aluminum alloy die-casting, which has good corrosion resistance and does not require additional anti-corrosion processes, thereby reducing production costs; the cover plate 20 is formed by stamping an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate; a groove 12 is formed by die-casting on the second surface of the ice tray body 10, and the groove 12 is rectangular, having two long sides and two short sides, and each adjacent two sides are connected by an arc transition, and the two long sides and the two short sides are respectively provided with step portions 121. When the cover plate 20 is connected to the groove 12, the peripheral edge of the cover plate 20 is pressed against the step portion 121, and the cover plate 20 is sealed and connected to the side of the groove 12, thereby forming the groove bottom between the cover plate 20 and the groove 12. Refrigerant channel 30, preferably, the cover plate 20 and the side of the groove 2 are sealed by stir friction welding, the microstructure of the heat affected zone of the welding joint changes little, and the residual stress is relatively low, so that the cover plate 20 and the ice tray body 10 are not easy to deform after welding, and a longer weld can be completed at one time, with high welding efficiency and good sealing; preferably, the surface of the cover plate 20 is flush with the second surface, that is, when the cover plate 20 is connected to the groove 12, the cover plate 20 does not protrude from the second surface; the first surface of the ice tray body 10 is die-cast to form a plurality of ice grids 11, and the plurality of ice grids 11 are arranged in a matrix shape corresponding to the groove 12, and the ice tray body 10 is a trapezoidal body, and the area size of the first surface is larger than the area size of the second surface.

[0037] The refrigerant channel 30 includes a first end 31 and a second end 32, the first end 31 is the injection end of the refrigerant channel 30, and the second end 32 is the outflow end of the refrigerant channel 30, the cover plate 20 is provided with a first through hole 21 corresponding to the first end 31, and is provided with a second through hole 22 corresponding to the second end 32; the first through hole 21 can be used as a refrigerant inlet, and the second through hole 22 can be used as a refrigerant outlet, so that after the refrigerant enters the refrigerant channel 30 from the first through hole 21 through the first end 31, heat conduction is performed to cool the water in the ice tray body 10 and the ice grid 11 to make the water into ice, and after the ice making is completed, the refrigerant can flow out from the second end 32 of the refrigerant channel 30 through the second through hole 22. In some embodiments, connecting pipes are welded or threaded in the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 of the cover plate 20, respectively. The connecting pipes are connected to the through holes, so that the first end 31 and the second end 32 of the refrigerant channel 30 can be connected to the refrigeration system through the connecting pipes to inject or discharge the refrigerant. The connecting pipes can be made of copper pipes, which have high structural strength and are not easy to corrode.

[0038] The groove 12 is provided with a plurality of ridges 13, which divide the refrigerant channel 30 into a curved shape extending in a circuitous manner. The top and bottom 111 of the plurality of ridges 13 are connected to the cover plate 20 and the groove bottom of the groove 12 respectively. The top surface of the ridge 13 is flush with the top surface of the step portion 121 and is connected to the cover plate 20 by stir friction welding. The connection strength is high, which can effectively prevent the refrigerant channel 30 from deforming due to temperature changes when the ice tray body 10 is making ice, thereby ensuring the integrity of the refrigerant channel 30. Preferably, the ridge 13 is integrally extended from the groove bottom of the groove 12, that is, the ridge 13 is also integrally formed by die-casting the ice tray body 10; of course, in other embodiments, the ridge 13 can also be integrally extended from the bottom surface of the cover plate 20. When the cover plate 20 is connected to the groove 12, the bottom 111 of the ridge 13 is sealed and connected to the groove bottom of the groove 12.

[0039] In this embodiment, the ridges 13 are provided in plurality and extend in parallel to the long side of the groove 12, and at least one end of each ridge 13 is connected to the short side of the groove 12. Figure 1 In this embodiment, three ridges 13 are provided in the groove 12, all extending in a direction parallel to the long side of the groove 12. One end of two of the ridges 13 located next to each other are connected to one of the short sides of the groove 12, and the other end is not connected to the short side of the groove 12. One end of another ridge 13 located in the middle is connected to another short side of the groove 12, and the other end is also not connected to the short side of the groove 12. As a result, the three ridges 13 divide the refrigerant channel 30 in the groove 12 into a tortuous "bow" shape, thereby increasing the path length of the refrigerant channel 30 and allowing the refrigerant channel 30 to cover each ice tray 11, thereby improving the refrigeration effect.

[0040] The ice tray 11 includes a bottom wall 113 and four side walls 114 connected around the bottom wall 113. Each adjacent two side walls 114 are connected in an arc transition, and the four side walls 114 are inclined relative to the bottom wall 113, so that the size of the opening end 112 of the ice tray 11 is larger than the size of the bottom 111. The side walls 114 of the ice tray 11 are formed as an inclined surface from top to bottom (i.e., from the opening end 112 to the bottom 111). After ice making is completed, the ice tray 11 is placed in a refrigerant-free state. When a heat medium (such as a high-temperature liquid) is injected into the channel 30, the heat medium quickly contacts the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, so that the bottom 111 of the ice cube begins to melt or deform and thus separates from the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11. The size of the opening end 112 of the ice tray 11 is larger than the size of the bottom 111, and the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 is an inclined surface, so that the ice cubes in the ice tray 11 can be quickly separated from the ice tray 11 and fall off under the cooperation of gravity, so that the ice-removing time is greatly shortened and the ice-removing efficiency is improved. Each adjacent two side walls 114 are connected in an arc-shaped transition, and each side wall 114 and the bottom wall 113 are also connected in an arc-shaped transition, which can also make the ice cubes more rounded and easier to separate from the ice tray 11 when removing ice.

[0041] Furthermore, three of the side walls 114 of the ice tray 11 respectively have a first angle R1 with the bottom wall 113, and the first angle R1 is an obtuse angle. Another of the side walls 114 has a second angle R2 with the bottom wall 113, and the second angle R2 is greater than the first angle R1. The second angle R2 is 102 to 114 degrees. Preferably, the second angle R2 is 108 degrees, and the first angle R1 is 92 to 98 degrees, so that three of the side walls 114 and another of the side walls 114 are inclined relative to the bottom wall 113, and the inclination angle of another of the side walls 114 is greater than the inclination angles of the other three side walls 114. After many tests, the inventor of the present application found that such a design can effectively prevent air from mixing into the ice cubes, making the ice cubes made from the ice tray 11 more crystal clear.

[0042] Preferably, see Figure 2 The inner edges around the opening end 112 of the ice tray 11, that is, the inner edges of the four side walls 114 close to the opening end 112, are rounded to form an arc portion 115, and the arc length of the arc portion 115 is 1-5mm, preferably 1-3mm, and more preferably 2mm; due to the tension of water, the inner edge of the opening end 112 without the arc portion 115 will allow more water to be retained in the ice tray 11. After ice is formed, the excessive volume will cause deformation and easily damage the ice tray body 10, thereby reducing the service life of the ice tray. In addition, the provision of the arc portion 115 can allow water to fill each ice tray 11 more quickly, thereby improving the ice making efficiency.

[0043] Support feet 14 are respectively provided at the four corners of the second surface of the ice tray body 10, and threaded holes are provided in the support feet 14. A plastic frame (not shown) is covered on the outer sides of the ice tray body 10 and is threadedly connected and fixed to the support feet 14 by screws. Neutral silicone weather-resistant glue is applied to the gap between the ice tray body 10 and the plastic frame, so that the plastic frame is sealed to the outer side of the ice tray body 10. The plastic frame can be made of ABS material, which has high structural strength and corrosion resistance. The plastic frame can protect the ice tray body 10 and prevent it from being corroded.

[0044] See also Figure 4 , is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the ice tray of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in this embodiment, the two ends of one of the three ridges 13 are respectively connected to the two short sides of the groove 12. Specifically, the two ends of the ridge 13 of the middle one of the three ridges 13 are respectively connected to the two short sides of the groove 12, and only one end of the other two ridges 13 is connected to the short side of the groove 12, dividing the refrigerant channel 30 between the cover plate 20 and the bottom of the groove 12 into two and arranged side by side with each other, and the flow path of each refrigerant channel 30 is The circuitous U-shape, correspondingly, each of the refrigerant channels 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32, and the cover plate 20 is provided with a first through hole 21 and a second through hole 22 corresponding to the first end 31 and the second end 32 of each refrigerant channel 30, so that each refrigerant channel 30 can be connected to the refrigeration system separately, so that the user can activate one of the refrigerant channels 30 to make ice for some ice cubes 11 on the ice tray body 10, or activate two refrigerant channels 30 at the same time to make ice for all ice cubes 11 on the ice tray body 10, so that the user has multiple choices and is more convenient for the user to use. The other features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so they are not repeated here.

[0045] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6, is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the ice tray of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that in this embodiment, the bottom of the groove 12 of the ice tray body 10 is further formed with a recessed portion 33, and the recessed portion 33 is located between the side walls 114 of the two adjacent ice trays 11. The recessed portion 33 is further recessed from the bottom of the groove 12, so it is connected to the refrigerant channel 30, and is also equivalent to a part of the refrigerant channel 30, and is also equivalent to the bottom of the groove 12, so that when the refrigerant, such as coolant, enters the refrigerant channel 30, in addition to being able to contact the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, it can also enter the recessed portion 33 and contact the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, thereby increasing the contact area between the refrigerant and the ice tray 11, which can effectively improve the conduction efficiency and make the ice making efficiency higher. Preferably, the recessed portion 33 is V-shaped, so that the refrigerant can quickly flow into the recessed portion 33 to contact the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11. Of course, in the second embodiment, the recessed portion 33 may be formed on the bottom of the groove 12 corresponding to each of the refrigerant channels 30 to increase the ice making efficiency of the ice tray body 10. Other features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so they are not described here.

[0046] See also Figure 7 , which is the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Different from the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the ridges 13 are provided in plurality and extend in parallel to the short side of the groove 12, at least one end of each ridge 13 is connected to the long side of the groove 12. In this embodiment, each two adjacent ridges 13 are in contact with different long sides of the groove 12, so that the refrigerant channel 30 in the groove 12 is divided into a continuous circuitous channel extending in the length direction of the ice tray body 10. In this embodiment, the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 on the cover plate 20 are respectively welded and fixed with connecting pipes 40. The connecting pipes 40 are preferably copper pipes. The edges of the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 on the cover plate 20 are respectively extended to form convex portions 23, so as to increase the welding stability of the connecting pipe 40. The other features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so they are not repeated here.

[0047] In addition, in the present embodiment, a recessed portion 33 may be further provided at the bottom 111 of the groove 12, and the recessed portion 33 extends between the side walls 114 of the two adjacent ice trays 11, so that when the refrigerant enters the refrigerant channel 30, in addition to being able to contact with the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, it can also enter the recessed portion 33 to contact with the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, thereby increasing the contact area between the refrigerant and the ice tray 11, which can effectively improve the conduction efficiency and make the ice making more efficient.

[0048] See also Figure 8, which is the fifth embodiment of the present invention, is different from the fourth embodiment in that the two ends of one of the middle ridges 13 are in contact with the two long sides of the groove 12 respectively, and the remaining ridges 13 are also in contact with the long sides of the groove 12 at only one end, thereby dividing the refrigerant channel 30 into two independent refrigerant channels 30 extending in a circuitous manner, and correspondingly, the first end 31 and the second end 32 of each refrigerant channel 30 on the cover plate 20 are respectively provided with the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22, and each first through hole 21 and each second through hole 22 has a connecting pipe 40 welded therein. The other features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated here.

[0049] In addition, in the present embodiment, a recessed portion 33 may be further provided at the bottom 111 of the groove 12, and the recessed portion 33 extends between the side walls 114 of the two adjacent ice trays 11, so that when the refrigerant enters the refrigerant channel 30, in addition to being able to contact with the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, it can also enter the recessed portion 33 to contact with the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, thereby increasing the contact area between the refrigerant and the ice tray 11, which can effectively improve the conduction efficiency and make the ice making more efficient.

[0050] See also Fig. 9 , which is the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Different from the above-mentioned first embodiment, in this embodiment, the first end 31 and the second end 32 of the cover plate 20 corresponding to the refrigerant channel 30 are respectively provided with a first connecting column and a second connecting column, the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 are respectively arranged in the first connecting column and the second connecting column, and the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 are also threadedly connected with a connecting pipe 40 respectively.

[0051] Specifically, the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 are respectively provided with internal threads, and the ends of the two connecting pipes 40 are respectively provided with external threads. The ends of the two connecting pipes 40 are respectively inserted into the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 and threadedly connected with the first connecting column and the second connecting column, so that the end pipe openings of the connecting pipes 40 are covered in the connecting columns, the sealing is better, and the connection is more stable.

[0052] Furthermore, a protrusion 41 is formed on the outer wall 114 of the end of each connecting tube 40, and the protrusion 41 is located between the external thread of the connecting tube 40 and the middle part of the connecting tube 40. The setting of the protrusion 41 facilitates the user to operate the threaded connection or disassembly of the connecting tube 40 and the connecting column, and after the connecting tube 40 is connected to the connecting column, the protrusion 41 can cover and shield the top of the connecting column; preferably, the protrusion 41 is a hexagonal structure to facilitate user operation.

[0053] In order to further increase the sealing of the connection between the connecting pipe 40 and the connecting column, a sealing ring (not shown) is also provided at the end of the connecting pipe 40. The sealing ring on the connecting pipe 40 is located between the external thread of the connecting pipe 40 and the protrusion 41, so that when the connecting pipe 40 is connected to the connecting column, the sealing ring is squeezed and connected between the end of the connecting column and the protrusion 41, thereby increasing the sealing of the connection between the connecting pipe 40 and the connecting column and ensuring that the refrigerant does not leak when passing through the connecting column.

[0054] In some other embodiments, a sealant (not shown) may be provided between the external threads of the connecting tube 40 and the internal threads of the first through hole 21 and the second through hole 22 to increase the sealing performance of the connection between the connecting tube 40 and the connecting column.

[0055] In this embodiment, the connecting pipe 40 is a copper pipe, the cover plate 20 is an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate, the connecting pipe 40 is threadedly connected to the first connecting column and the second connecting column, and the connecting pipe 40 is a copper pipe, which has high heat conduction efficiency, high material strength, and is not easy to corrode. Other features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so they are not repeated here.

[0056] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the ice tray, the method comprising:

[0057] Step one, providing an aluminum alloy material, and die-casting the aluminum alloy material through a die-casting device to form an ice tray die-casting having an ice grid 11 on one surface and a groove 12 on the other surface; specifically, in this step, an aluminum alloy die-casting mold can be designed and manufactured first, and a die-casting machine of matching tonnage can be selected according to the structure and size of the mold, and a suitable aluminum alloy substrate can be used, and reasonable die-casting process parameters can be selected for molding and die-casting, thereby obtaining an aluminum alloy ice tray die-casting.

[0058] Step 2, removing the casting mouth of the ice tray die casting and sandblasting it to obtain the ice tray body 10; specifically, in the cover step, the ice tray die casting is removed by a grinder, the casting mouth is polished, and then a sandblasting machine is used to sandblast the inside of the ice tray 11 to remove the oxide layer on the surface of the die casting, thereby obtaining the ice tray body 10.

[0059] Step three: provide an aluminum alloy plate or an aluminum plate, and punch the aluminum alloy plate or the aluminum plate through a stamping die to form a cover plate 20.

[0060] Step 4: Position the cover plate 20 on the side of the ice tray body 10 having the groove 12 , for example, by pressing the cover plate 20 against the side of the ice tray body 10 having the groove 12 using a jig.

[0061] Step 5: weld and seal the periphery of the cover plate 20 and the side of the groove 12, preferably by friction welding, to form a refrigerant channel 30 between the cover plate 20 and the bottom of the groove 12; or, apply sealant between the periphery of the cover plate 20 and the side of the groove 12 to form a refrigerant channel 30 between the cover plate 20 and the bottom of the groove 12. By using friction welding, the strength of the weld can reach the same strength as the material of the cover plate 20 and the ice tray body 10, and the welding efficiency is high and the quality is stable.

[0062] Step six, provide a plastic frame, preferably formed by injection molding of ABS material, fix the plastic frame to the outside of the ice tray body 10 by screws, and apply neutral silicone weather-resistant glue at the gap between the ice tray body 10 and the plastic frame, so that the ice tray body 10 and the plastic frame form a whole. The plastic frame can protect the ice tray body 10 and prevent it from being corroded.

[0063] Among them, there are multiple ice trays 11 made in the above step one, each of the ice trays 11 has a bottom 111 close to the bottom of the groove 12 and an open end 112 away from the bottom of the groove 12, and the size of the open end 112 is larger than the size of the bottom 111, so that the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 is formed as an inclined surface from top to bottom. After ice making is completed, when the heat medium is injected into the refrigerant channel 30, the side edges of the ice cubes in the ice tray 11 can be quickly deformed and separated from the ice tray 11, so that the defrosting time is greatly shortened and the defrosting efficiency is improved.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above step 2, it also includes spraying water-based paint or electrophoretic water-based paint on the surface of the ice tray body 10, and the water-based paint is food grade; the surface coating of this process has excellent adhesion, salt spray resistance, and corrosion and rust resistance; the coating surface will not be corroded due to long-term influence of air and moisture, resulting in damage to the substrate and affecting the sanitary quality of water and ice cubes.

[0065] In the above step three, the cover plate 20 is further punched to form a first through hole 21 and a second through hole 22 .

[0066] In the manufacturing method of the ice tray of the present invention, the ice tray body 10, the ice tray 11 and the refrigerant channel 30 are integrally formed by a die-casting process, and the cover plate 20 and the ice tray body 10 are sealed by welding or sealant, so as to seal the refrigerant channel 30. This manufacturing method can prevent the ice tray 11 from loosening, welding layer shedding and bulging. The ice tray body 10 is integrally formed by an aluminum alloy die-casting process, with stable process parameters and automated production, which reduces product defects caused by manual production and effectively improves production efficiency and yield.

[0067] In some embodiments, the ice tray die-casting produced in step 1 above has a recessed portion 33 formed at the bottom of the groove 12, and the recessed portion 33 is located between the side walls 114 of two adjacent ice trays 11, so that when the refrigerant enters the refrigerant channel 30, in addition to being able to contact the bottom wall 113 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, it can also enter the recessed portion 33 and contact the side wall 114 of the ice tray 11 for heat conduction, thereby increasing the contact area between the refrigerant and the ice tray 11, which can effectively improve the conduction efficiency and make the ice making more efficient.

[0068] In some embodiments, the ice tray die-casting made in step 1 above, the ice tray 11 comprises a bottom wall 113 and four side walls 114 connected around the bottom wall 113, each adjacent two side walls 114 are connected in an arc transition, and the four side walls 114 are inclined relative to the bottom wall 113, so that the size of the open end 112 is larger than the size of the bottom 111. Preferably, among the four side walls 114, three of the side walls 114 have a first angle R1 with the bottom wall 113, the first angle R1 is an obtuse angle, and another side wall 114 has a second angle R2 with the bottom wall 113, the second angle R2 is larger than the first angle R1, and the second angle R2 is 105 to 110 degrees. Preferably, the second angle R2 is 108 degrees, and the first angle R1 is 92 to 98 degrees, so that three of the side walls 114 and another side wall 114 are inclined relative to the bottom wall 113, and the inclination angle of another side wall 114 is greater than the inclination angles of the other three side walls 114. The inventor of the present application has conducted multiple tests and found that such a design can effectively prevent air from mixing into the ice cubes, making the ice made from the ice tray 11 more crystal clear.

[0069] In some embodiments, step two also includes chamfering the inner edge of the open end 112 of the ice tray 11 so that the inner edge of the open end 112 of the ice tray 11 is formed into a smooth arc portion 115, and the arc length of the arc portion 115 is 1-3 mm, preferably 2 mm. Due to the tension of water, the inner edge of the open end 112 without the arc portion 115 will allow more water to be retained in the ice tray 11. After ice is formed, the excessive volume will cause deformation and easily damage the ice tray body 10, thereby reducing the service life of the ice tray. In addition, the provision of the arc portion 115 can fill each ice tray 11 with water more quickly, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency.

[0070] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several embodiments of the present invention, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be based on the attached claims.

Claims

1. An ice tray, characterized in that: The ice tray body (10) comprises an ice tray main body (10) and a cover plate (20) connected to the ice tray main body (10); the ice tray main body (10) is formed by integral die casting and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is provided with an ice tray (11), the second surface is provided with a groove (12), the cover plate (20) is connected to the groove (12) and is sealed with the side edge of the groove (12), and a refrigerant channel (30) is formed between the cover plate (20) and the groove bottom of the groove (12); the ice tray (11) comprises a bottom (111) close to the second surface and an open end (112) away from the second surface, the size of the open end (112) is larger than the size of the bottom (111); the ice tray (11) comprises a bottom wall (113) and four side walls (114) connected to the bottom wall (113), each adjacent two side walls (114) are connected by an arc transition, and the four side walls (114) are relative to the bottom wall (113). The bottom wall (113) is tilted so that the size of the opening end (112) is larger than the size of the bottom (111); the inner edges of the four sides of the opening end (112) are provided with arc-shaped portions (115), and the arc length of the arc-shaped portions (115) is 1-3 mm; wherein three of the side walls (114) and the bottom wall (113) respectively have a first angle (R1), and the first angle (R1) is an obtuse angle; another side wall (114) and the bottom wall (113) have a second angle (R2) therebetween, the second angle (R2) is greater than the first angle (R1), and the second angle (R2) is 102 to 114 degrees; the ice tray (11) has a plurality of them and they are arranged in at least two rows, the bottom of the groove (12) is also recessed toward the first surface to form a recessed portion (33), the recessed portion (33) is located between the side walls (114) of two adjacent ice trays (11), the cross-section of the recessed portion (33) is V-shaped, and the depth of the recessed portion (33) is less than the depth of the ice tray (11).

2. The ice tray according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigerant channel (30) includes a first end (31) and a second end (32); the cover plate (20) is provided with a first through hole (21) corresponding to the first end (31), and is provided with a second through hole (22) corresponding to the second end (32); a step portion (121) is formed on the side of the groove (12), and the cover plate (20) is pressed against the step portion (121).

3. The ice tray according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of ridges (13) are provided in the groove (12); the top surfaces of the plurality of ridges (13) are flush with the top surface of the step portion (121) and are connected to the cover plate (20) by means of stir friction welding; and the cover plate (20) is connected to the side edge of the groove (12) by means of stir friction welding.

4. The ice tray according to claim 3, characterized in that: The groove (12) is rectangular, having two long sides and two short sides, and the plurality of ridges (13) extend in a direction parallel to the long sides of the groove (12), and at least one end of each of the ridges (13) is connected to the short side of the groove (12), thereby dividing the refrigerant channel (30) into a circuitous curved shape.

5. The ice tray according to claim 3, characterized in that: The groove (12) is rectangular, having two long sides and two short sides, and the plurality of ridges (13) extend in directions parallel to the short sides of the groove (12), and at least one end of each of the ridges (13) is connected to the long side of the groove (12), thereby dividing the refrigerant channel (30) into a circuitous curved shape.

6. A method for manufacturing an ice tray, characterized in that: The manufacturing method comprises: Providing an aluminum alloy material, and die-casting the aluminum alloy material through a die-casting device to form an ice tray die-casting having an ice grid (11) on one surface and a groove (12) on the other surface; The ice tray die casting is de-molded and subjected to sandblasting to obtain an ice tray body (10); Providing an aluminum alloy plate or an aluminum plate, and punching the aluminum alloy plate or the aluminum plate through a punching die to form a cover plate (20); Positioning the cover plate (20) on a side of the ice tray body (10) having the groove (12); The periphery of the cover plate (20) and the side of the groove (12) are welded and sealed to form a refrigerant channel (30) between the cover plate (20) and the bottom of the groove (12); or, a sealant is applied between the periphery of the cover plate (20) and the side of the groove (12) to form a refrigerant channel (30) between the cover plate (20) and the bottom of the groove (12); Providing a plastic outer frame, fixing the plastic outer frame to the outside of the ice tray body (10) by means of screws, and applying neutral silicone weather-resistant adhesive to the gap between the ice tray body (10) and the plastic outer frame; The ice tray (11) comprises a bottom (111) close to the bottom of the groove (12) and an open end (112) away from the bottom of the groove (12), and the size of the open end (112) is larger than the size of the bottom (111); the ice tray (11) comprises a bottom wall (113) and four side walls (114) connected to the bottom wall (113), each adjacent two side walls (114) are connected in an arc-shaped transition, and the four side walls (114) are all inclined relative to the bottom wall (113), so that the size of the open end (112) is The opening end (112) has an inner edge having an arc portion (115) around it, and the arc length of the arc portion (115) is 1-3 mm; wherein three of the side walls (114) and the bottom wall (113) respectively have a first angle (R1), and the first angle (R1) is an obtuse angle; another of the side walls (114) and the bottom wall (113) has a second angle (R2), and the second angle (R2) is greater than the first angle (R1), and the second angle (R2) is 102 to 114 degrees; The ice tray (11) has a plurality of ice trays arranged in at least two rows, the bottom of the groove (12) is also recessed toward the one surface to form a recessed portion (33), the recessed portion (33) is located between the side walls (114) of two adjacent ice trays (11), the recessed portion (33) is V-shaped, and the depth of the recessed portion (33) is less than the depth of the ice tray (11).

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