An ice maker

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ice making machine, comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a first evaporator which are connected in sequence according to the flow direction of the refrigerant, wherein the outlet of the first evaporator is connected to the air intake of the compressor, and further comprising a three-way solenoid valve, a diverter valve, a second evaporator, and a gas-liquid separation tank. The inlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor, the first outlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the inlet of the condenser, the second outlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the inlet of the first evaporator, the outlet of the second evaporator is connected to the air intake of the compressor, the first outlet of the diverter valve and the second outlet of the diverter valve are connected to the inlet of the first evaporator and the inlet of the second evaporator respectively, and the gas-liquid separation tank receives the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator and then returns the refrigerant to the condenser, thereby solving the problem that the liquid refrigerant accumulates in the gas-liquid separation tank and causes the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to gradually decrease, and also avoiding the liquid hammer phenomenon of the compressor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of small household appliances, in particular to an ice maker. Background Art

[0002] The refrigeration components of the ice maker mainly include a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube and an evaporator. The compressor absorbs the refrigerant gas in the evaporator, compresses it into high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas and sends it to the condenser for cooling. The condenser then sends the refrigerant liquid into the capillary tube. At this time, the capillary tube processes the refrigerant and sprays it into the evaporator, thereby absorbing the surrounding heat inside the evaporator, causing the temperature around the evaporator to drop. The evaporator is used in conjunction with the ice-making components to achieve the preparation of bullet ice or ice cubes; when defrosting is required, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas of the compressor is directly sent to the evaporator to heat the evaporator to achieve the purpose of defrosting. At this time, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant forms a refrigerant liquid inside the evaporator. At this time, the refrigerant liquid is directly sent into the compressor, which is prone to "liquid hammer" phenomenon, causing damage to the compressor.

[0003] Therefore, the utility model patent with authorization announcement number CN2804740Y discloses a small household ice maker, in which a liquid accumulator is installed on the rear side of the evaporator, and the liquid accumulator is used to separate the liquid and gaseous refrigerant, solving the problem of liquid refrigerant entering the compressor. However, in this process, the refrigerant will remain in the liquid accumulator, resulting in the separated liquid refrigerant being unable to be removed. Over time, it is easy to cause a reduction in the refrigerant in the refrigeration components, resulting in a reduction in the refrigeration effect.

[0004] Therefore, how to design an ice-making machine that can increase the ice-making speed has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently by people in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the background technology, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an ice maker to solve the problem that the refrigerant in the refrigeration system is gradually reduced, affecting the refrigeration effect.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] 1. An ice making machine, comprising an ice making component and a refrigeration system providing a cold source for the ice making component, the refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a first evaporator connected in sequence according to a refrigerant flow direction, the first evaporator outlet being connected to an air intake port of the compressor, a three-way solenoid valve, a diverter valve, a second evaporator, and an air-liquid separator, the solenoid valve inlet being connected to an air exhaust port of the compressor, the first solenoid valve outlet being connected to an air intake port of the condenser, the second solenoid valve outlet being connected to an inlet of the first evaporator, the second evaporator being mounted on the condenser, the second evaporator outlet being connected to an air intake port of the compressor, the diverter valve inlet being connected to an outlet of the expansion valve, the first diverter valve outlet and the second diverter valve outlet being connected to an inlet of the first evaporator and an inlet of the second evaporator, respectively, the air-liquid separator comprising an air inlet of the separator connected to the outlet of the first evaporator, an air outlet of the separator connected to an air intake port of the compressor, a drain port being connected to the inlet of the condenser, the air inlet of the separator, the exhaust port of the separator, and the drain port being connected to each other, and a valve core for sealing the drain port or the exhaust port of the separator is further provided in the air-liquid separator.

[0008] Furthermore, the gas-liquid separation tank is provided with a driving mechanism for controlling the valve core to switch between the ice-making state and the ice-removing state. The ice-making machine includes a central control unit, and the three-way solenoid valve, the diverter valve and the driving mechanism are all electrically connected to the central control unit. In the ice-making state: the solenoid valve inlet is connected to the first outlet of the solenoid valve, the first outlet of the diverter valve and the second outlet of the diverter valve are connected to the diverter valve inlet at the same time, and the valve core blocks the drain port; in the ice-removing state: the solenoid valve inlet is connected to the second outlet of the solenoid valve, the diverter valve inlet is connected to the second outlet of the diverter valve, the first outlet of the diverter valve is closed, and the valve core blocks the exhaust port of the separation tank.

[0009] Furthermore, a first partition and a second partition are provided in the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank, and the first partition is located below the second partition. The first partition and the second partition separate the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank into an air inlet chamber, a liquid discharge chamber and an exhaust chamber. The liquid discharge chamber is located below the air inlet chamber, and the exhaust chamber is located above the air inlet chamber. A first channel is provided on the first partition, and a second channel is provided on the second partition. The air inlet of the separation tank is connected to the air inlet chamber, the exhaust port of the separation tank is connected to the exhaust chamber, and the liquid discharge port is connected to the liquid discharge chamber.

[0010] Furthermore, the valve core includes a valve stem arranged longitudinally and passing through the first channel and the second channel, and a sealing plug is installed on the valve stem. In the ice making state, the sealing plug blocks the first channel, and in the ice removing state, the sealing plug blocks the second channel.

[0011] Furthermore, the first partition is in the shape of a cone with an opening upward, and the sealing plug includes a first sealing plug and a second sealing plug installed on the valve stem. In the ice-making state, the first sealing plug blocks the first channel and the second sealing plug opens the second channel. In the ice-defrosting state, the first sealing plug opens the first channel and the second sealing plug blocks the second channel.

[0012] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a driving shell installed on the gas-liquid separation tank, a driving chamber is provided in the driving shell, one end of the valve stem extends into the driving chamber, and also includes an electromagnet and a spring. The electromagnet is sleeved on the outside of the valve stem, one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the driving chamber, and the other end of the spring is fixedly connected to the valve stem. The electromagnet is electrically connected to the central control unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the ice-making component includes an ice-making trough installed in the inner cavity of the casing, a storage trough, and an ice-making box rotatably installed in the ice-making trough. A storage basket for placing ice cubes is provided in the storage trough. The bottom wall of the storage trough is used to store clean water. It also includes a water pump for drawing water. The water pump is connected to a water supply pipe for delivering water to the ice-making box. An ice-splitting plate is rotatably installed on the ice-making box. The first evaporator is arranged above the ice-making box. The first evaporator is provided with an ice-making stick extending into the ice-making box.

[0014] Furthermore, the ice-making component also includes a diversion cavity arranged between the ice-making groove and the storage groove. The diversion cavity is connected to the ice-making groove through a water inlet. The bottom wall of the diversion cavity is provided with a drainage pipe extending to the bottom of the storage groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the bottom wall of the storage tank is provided with a downwardly recessed drain outlet, the front wall of the housing is provided with a blocking hole aligned with the drain outlet, and a blocking cap is provided in the blocking hole for being threadedly connected to the drain outlet and blocking the drain outlet.

[0016] Furthermore, it includes an inverter board electrically connected to the ice-making component and the refrigeration system. The inverter board is installed on the rear wall of the inner cavity of the casing. A battery detachably connected to the inverter board is provided on the outside of the casing. The inverter board is also provided with a charging port connected to an external power supply.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: by adding a three-way solenoid valve, a diverter valve, a gas-liquid separation tank, and a second evaporator to the refrigeration system, the refrigerant in the refrigeration system can complete the conversion between the ice-making state and the ice-removing state only during the one-way flow process. The expansion valve is used instead of the conventional capillary tube to achieve rapid flow of the refrigerant and improve the refrigeration effect of the refrigeration system.

[0018] The second evaporator is installed on the condenser, which can cool the condenser and provide a stable low-temperature environment for the ice maker. When the second evaporator is in the de-icing state, the refrigerant in the diverter valve flows back to the compressor through the second evaporator, providing sufficient refrigerant for the compressor;

[0019] In the de-icing state, the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator is received by the gas-liquid separator, and then the refrigerant is returned to the condenser, solving the problem of liquid refrigerant accumulation in the gas-liquid separator causing the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to gradually decrease. At the same time, the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator is returned to the condenser to further cool the condenser and avoid liquid hammer in the compressor.

[0020] In the de-icing state, the diverter valve will completely direct the refrigerant processed by the expansion valve to the second evaporator, preventing the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant there from combining with the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant inside the first evaporator, which would cause the temperature of the first evaporator to drop and affect the de-icing effect;

[0021] The second evaporator cools the condenser, making the ice maker suitable for even harsher high-temperature environments and expanding the scope of application of the ice maker. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram from a first angle of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a second angle schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the expansion of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the expansion of the ice making components;

[0027] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system from the first angle;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a second angle schematic diagram of the refrigeration system;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system from the third angle;

[0031] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the piping for the ice-making process;

[0032] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the piping for the de-icing process;

[0033] Figure 12 It is a structural diagram of the gas-liquid separation tank;

[0034] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of Example 2.

[0035] Figure: 1, housing; 10, front wall; 11, rear wall; 12, inverter board; 13, battery; 14, charging port; 151, air inlet; 152, air outlet; 100, central control unit; 2, ice making components; 21, ice making trough; 22, storage trough; 221, drain outlet; 222, plugging vent; 23, diversion chamber; 231, water inlet; 232, drain pipe; 24, storage basket; 25, ice making box; 26, ice paddle; 27, water pump; 2 8. Water supply pipe; 3. Refrigeration system; 30. Diverter valve; 301. Diverter valve inlet; 302. Diverter valve first outlet; 303. Diverter valve second outlet; 31. Compressor; 311. Compressor exhaust port; 312. Compressor intake port; 32. Condenser; 321. Condenser inlet; 322. Condenser outlet; 33. Expansion valve; 331. Expansion valve inlet; 332. Expansion valve outlet; 341. First evaporator; 3411. First Evaporator inlet; 3412, first evaporator outlet; 342, second evaporator; 3421, second evaporator inlet; 3422, second evaporator outlet; 35, gas-liquid separator; 351, separator inlet; 352, separator outlet; 353, drain outlet; 354, valve core; 3541, valve stem; 3542, first seal plug; 3543, second seal plug; 355, drive mechanism; 3551, drive housing; 3552, Drive chamber; 3553, spring; 3554, electromagnet; 3561, first partition; 3562, second partition; 3571, first channel; 3572, second channel; 3581, air intake chamber; 3582, liquid discharge chamber; 3583, exhaust chamber; 36, three-way solenoid valve; 361, solenoid valve inlet; 362, solenoid valve first outlet; 363, solenoid valve second outlet; 37, one-way valve; 38, drying filter; 39, accumulator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following is a clear and complete description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] This embodiment provides an ice-making machine that is applicable to harsh high-temperature environments, accelerates the cooling of the condenser, and improves the ice-making speed.

[0038] Example 1:

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the ice maker includes a casing 1 , an ice-making component 2 installed in the inner cavity of the casing 1 , and a refrigeration system 3 providing a cold source for the ice-making component 2 .

[0040] Specifically, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the ice making component 2 includes an ice making tank 21 and a storage tank 22 for storing clean water, wherein Figure 6 As shown, the position of the ice-making groove 21 is higher than that of the storage groove 22. An ice-making box 25 is rotatably provided in the storage groove 22. An ice-splitting plate 26 is rotatably connected to the ice-making box 25. It also includes a water pump 27 and a water supply pipe 28. The water suction port of the water pump 27 is located at the bottom wall of the storage groove 22 to absorb clean water from the storage groove 22. One end of the water supply pipe 28 is connected to the water outlet of the water pump 27, and the other end is located in the ice-making box 25 to achieve the purpose of transporting water to the inner cavity of the ice-making box 25.

[0041] It is worth noting here that the refrigeration system 3 includes a first evaporator 341 located above the ice box 25, wherein the first evaporator 341 is provided with an ice stick that can extend below the water level in the inner cavity of the ice box 25. The refrigeration system 3 is used to provide a source of cold air for the ice stick, so that the water in the ice box 25 is frozen on the ice stick.

[0042] The ice stick here belongs to the conventional structure of the ice maker, and the structure of the first evaporator 341 and the ice stick will not be expanded here.

[0043] Among them, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, a storage basket 24 for storing ice cubes is also installed in the storage tank 22, and the storage basket 24 is located above the clean water source.

[0044] It is worth noting that the refrigeration system 3 in this embodiment includes two functions: ice making state and ice removing state.

[0045] The ice making process is as follows:

[0046] When making ice, the opening of the ice box 25 is facing upward, and the water pump 27 draws clean water from the storage tank 22 and transports it to the inner cavity of the ice box 25 through the water supply pipe 28. When the ice box 25 is full of water, the excess water overflows from the ice box 25 and then flows back into the storage tank 22, realizing the circulation of clean water. At this time, the ice stick on the first evaporator 341 in the refrigeration system 3 is inserted into the ice box 25. Since the ice stick is in a low temperature state, the water inside the ice box 25 gradually condenses ice crystals on the ice stick.

[0047] The de-icing process is as follows:

[0048] When the ice on the popsicle stick reaches a certain thickness, the ice tray 25 is turned over to pour out the uncondensed water in the ice tray 25. At this time, the water will flow back into the storage tank 22.

[0049] When the ice box 25 is turned over 90 degrees, the refrigeration system 3 is used to heat the first evaporator 341. At this time, a water film is formed at the contact position between the ice stick and the ice. The ice cubes fall onto the ice-splitting plate 26 under the action of gravity. Then the ice box 25 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the ice-splitting plate 26 is used to push the fallen ice cubes into the storage basket 24. Finally, the water pump 27 is used to continue to inject water into the ice box 25 to prepare the next round of ice cubes.

[0050] When the ice-sliding plate 26 of a conventional ice maker moves the ice cubes in the ice trough 21 to the storage basket 24 , the ice-sliding plate 26 may easily move the remaining water in the ice trough 21 into the storage basket 24 , which may easily cause the ice cubes in the storage basket 24 to melt.

[0051] Therefore, in this embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the ice-making component 2 is further provided with a guide cavity 23 located between the ice-making groove 21 and the storage groove 22, wherein the bottom wall of the ice-making groove 21 is inclined, and the side of the ice-making groove 21 close to the guide cavity 23 is lower. After the ice-making box 25 is flipped ninety degrees, the uncondensed water in the ice-making box 25 enters the guide cavity 23.

[0052] Specifically, in this embodiment, a water inlet 231 is provided between the guide cavity 23 and the ice making groove 21, and a drain pipe 232 connected to the bottom of the storage groove 22 is provided at the lowest point of the guide cavity 23. When the water in the ice making groove 21 enters the guide cavity 23 through the water inlet 231, the water will flow directly into the storage groove 22 through the drain pipe 232, avoiding the position of the storage basket 24, thereby solving the problem of ice cubes in the storage basket 24 melting due to water.

[0053] After using a conventional ice maker, it is necessary to drain excess water from the storage tank 22 to prevent mold from forming inside the ice maker. In the conventional case, the drain port of the storage tank 22 is located at the bottom of the ice maker, which is inconvenient for draining water.

[0054] Therefore, in this embodiment, if Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the bottom wall of the storage tank 22 is provided with a downwardly recessed drain outlet 221, and the front wall of the casing 1 is provided with a blocking hole aligned with the drain outlet 221, wherein a blocking cap 222 can be installed inside the blocking hole, and the blocking cap 222 is screwed into the drain outlet 221 to block the drain outlet 221. When the water in the storage tank 22 needs to be drained, the blocking cap 222 is opened, and the water in the storage tank 22 will flow out through the drain outlet 221.

[0055] Under normal circumstances, a small household ice maker with the authorization announcement number CN2804740Y can be referred to, wherein the refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a capillary tube, a liquid reservoir, and a four-way solenoid valve, wherein the exhaust port of the compressor, the return air port of the compressor, the interface of the condenser, and the outlet of the liquid reservoir are respectively connected to the four outlets of the four-way solenoid valve;

[0056] In cooling mode, the four-way solenoid valve connecting the compressor's exhaust port and the two condensing gas outlets is connected, and the compressor's return air port is connected to the two outlets of the liquid accumulator. After being compressed by the compressor, the refrigerant is discharged from the exhaust port and enters the condenser through the four-way solenoid valve. After being cooled by the condenser, the refrigerant becomes a high-pressure liquid with a certain degree of supercooling. It then enters the capillary tube for throttling and pressure reduction, and flows into the evaporator as a low-pressure, low-temperature liquid. It absorbs heat in the evaporator and vaporizes. It then enters the compressor's return air port through the liquid accumulator, restarting the refrigeration cycle.

[0057] In de-icing mode, a four-way solenoid valve connects the compressor's exhaust port to the liquid reservoir, and the compressor's return port to the condenser's extended pipe section. High-temperature, high-pressure gas discharged from the exhaust port passes through the four-way solenoid valve and the liquid reservoir and enters the evaporator. The temperature of the evaporator tube wall suddenly rises, melting any ice on the evaporator tube wall and causing it to fall off, completing the de-icing process. The refrigerant then flows through the capillary tube and condenser back to the compressor.

[0058] During the above process, in the de-icing mode, the refrigerant flows in the refrigeration system in the opposite direction to that in the cooling mode. A capillary tube is used here instead of an expansion valve. The capillary tube's primary function is to allow bidirectional refrigerant flow, while the expansion valve only allows unidirectional refrigerant flow. Compared to an expansion valve, the use of a capillary tube reduces the refrigerant's flow rate, resulting in a longer refrigerant circulation cycle. After passing through the capillary tube, the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid and enters the condenser. It is worth noting that in the cooling mode, the refrigerant in the condenser flows from downward to upward. Although liquid refrigerant exists in the condenser and absorbs heat and vaporizes there, due to the large amount of refrigerant in the condenser, some of the liquid refrigerant will flow back into the compressor after reverse flow, potentially damaging the compressor. This defect is not mentioned in the aforementioned public documents.

[0059] However, in this embodiment, the expansion valve 33 is used in the refrigeration system 3 to replace the traditional capillary tube. Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the refrigeration system 3 includes a compressor 31, a three-way solenoid valve 36, a condenser 32, an expansion valve 33, a diverter valve 30, a first evaporator 341, a second evaporator 342 and a gas-liquid separation tank 35. Specifically, the first evaporator 341 is installed above the ice box 25 to prepare ice cubes, and the second evaporator 342 is installed on the condenser 32 to accelerate the cooling of the refrigerant in the condenser 32. Figure 10 As shown, the diverter valve 30 includes a diverter valve inlet 301, a first diverter valve outlet 302 and a second diverter valve outlet 303, wherein the first diverter valve outlet 302 is connected to the first evaporator inlet 3411 of the first evaporator 341, the second diverter valve outlet 303 is connected to the second evaporator inlet 3421 of the second evaporator 342, the expansion valve outlet 332 of the expansion valve 33 is connected to the diverter valve inlet 301, the expansion valve inlet 331 of the expansion valve 33 is connected to the condenser outlet 322 of the condenser 32, the solenoid valve inlet 361 of the three-way solenoid valve 36 is connected to the compressor exhaust port 311 of the compressor 31, the second evaporator outlet 3422 of the second evaporator 342 is connected to the compressor intake port 312 of the compressor 31, and the gas-liquid separation tank 35 is provided with a diverter valve. The separation tank air inlet 351, the separation tank exhaust port 352, the drain port 353 and the valve core 354, wherein the valve core 354 is used to control the medium entering the separation tank air inlet 351 to enter the separation tank exhaust port 352 or the drain port 353. Specifically, the solenoid valve first outlet 362 of the three-way solenoid valve 36 is connected to the condenser inlet 321 of the condenser 32, the solenoid valve second outlet 363 of the three-way solenoid valve 36 is connected to the first evaporator inlet 3411 of the first evaporator 341, the first evaporator outlet 3412 of the first evaporator 341 is connected to the separation tank air inlet 351 of the gas-liquid separation tank 35, the separation tank exhaust port 352 is connected to the compressor suction port 312 of the compressor 31, and the drain port 353 is connected to the condenser inlet 321 of the condenser 32.

[0060] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the central control unit 100 is also included, and the valve core 354 of the gas-liquid separation tank 35, the three-way solenoid valve 36 and the diverter valve 30 are all electrically connected to the central control unit 100.

[0061] The operating principle of the refrigeration system formed by the above connection relationship is as follows:

[0062] Ice making process:

[0063] At this time, if Figure 10As shown, the central control unit 100 controls the solenoid valve inlet 361 to be connected with the first solenoid valve outlet 362, and the solenoid valve inlet 361 to be disconnected from the second solenoid valve outlet 363. The first outlet 302 and the second outlet 303 of the diverter valve are both connected with the diverter valve inlet 301. At this time, the refrigerant can be supplied to the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342. The valve core 354 connects the separation tank air inlet 351 with the separation tank exhaust port 352, and the valve core 354 closes the separation tank air inlet 351 and the drain port 353.

[0064] Through the above arrangement, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant pushed out by the compressor exhaust port 311 flows to the condenser 32 through the three-way solenoid valve 36, and the refrigerant flows to the expansion valve 33 in the form of high-pressure liquid. At this time, the expansion valve 33 processes the refrigerant into a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid and ejects it. Then, the refrigerant is diverted to the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342 through the diverter valve 30. Among them, the refrigerant in the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342 absorbs heat and vaporizes, thereby reducing the temperature around the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342. Ice cubes can be formed by using the ice-making stick on the first evaporator 341. Since the second evaporator 342 is installed on the condenser 32, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, at this time, the second evaporator 342 can accelerate the cooling of the refrigerant in the condenser 32 and speed up the circulation speed of the refrigerant. The refrigerant discharged from the first evaporator 341 flows in through the separation tank air inlet 351, and then flows out from the separation tank exhaust port 352 and flows back to the compressor intake port 312, realizing the circulation of the refrigerant. At this time, the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator 341 is stored in the gas-liquid separation tank 35, reducing the occurrence of liquid hammer in the compressor 31.

[0065] It is worth mentioning here that it also includes a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature of the ice maker, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically connected to the central control unit 100. When the external ambient temperature changes, the central control unit 100 controls the distribution of the refrigerant in the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342 through the diverter valve 30, thereby being able to control the temperature of the first evaporator 341 and the second evaporator 342; the second evaporator 342 is used to accelerate the cooling of the condenser 32 to solve the problem of slow cooling of the refrigerant in the condenser 32 in a harsh high-temperature environment, and at the same time, it can speed up the flow rate of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system 3.

[0066] De-icing process:

[0067] At this time, if Figure 11As shown, the central control unit 100 controls the solenoid valve inlet 361 to be connected with the solenoid valve second outlet 363, the solenoid valve inlet 361 to be disconnected from the solenoid valve first outlet 362, the diverter valve inlet 301 to be connected with the diverter valve second outlet 303, and the diverter valve inlet 301 to be disconnected from the diverter valve first outlet 302. At this time, the refrigerant processed by the expansion valve 33 stops flowing to the first evaporator 341, the valve core 354 connects the separation tank air inlet 351 with the discharge port 353, and the valve core 354 closes the separation tank air inlet 351 and the separation tank exhaust port 352.

[0068] Through the above arrangement, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant pushed out of the compressor exhaust port 311 is directly sent to the first evaporator 341 through the three-way solenoid valve 36. At this time, the closing temperature of the first evaporator 341 rises suddenly, so that the ice cubes on the popsicle sticks of the first evaporator 341 can be separated. After flowing through the first evaporator 341, the refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separation tank 35 in liquid form, and then flows to the condenser 32 through the drain port 353. Since the first solenoid valve outlet 362 of the three-way solenoid valve 36 is disconnected from the solenoid valve inlet 361, the refrigerant flowing out of the drain port 353 flows into the condenser 32. To the inside of the condenser 32, the refrigerant surges inside the condenser 32, and then flows to the diverter valve 30 through the expansion valve 33. Here, the diverter valve 30 diverts all the refrigerant to the second evaporator 342. At this time, the ambient temperature of the second evaporator 342 drops rapidly, achieving the cooling of the condenser 32. The refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporator 342 flows back to the compressor 31 through the compressor intake port 312. The refrigerant inside the compressor 31 is replenished, which can make the refrigeration system 3 operate stably, avoid liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor 31, and reduce the risk of liquid hammer in the compressor 31.

[0069] It is worth mentioning here that the advantage of the diverter valve 30 directing the refrigerant processed by the expansion valve 33 to flow completely to the second evaporator 342 is that the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant generated by the compressor 31 is directly transported to the first evaporator 341. If the diverter valve 30 transports the low-temperature refrigerant processed by the expansion valve 33 to the first evaporator 341 at this time, the temperature of the first evaporator 341 will drop, affecting the ice-removing speed of the ice sticks. The use of the second evaporator 342 can provide a stable low-temperature environment for the ice maker, which can reduce the melting rate of the ice cubes in the storage basket 24.

[0070] Since the expansion valve 33 is connected to the rear side of the condenser outlet 322, the refrigerant in the condenser 32 flows backward at a slow speed. When the discharge port 353 in the gas-liquid separation tank 35 delivers liquid refrigerant to the condenser inlet 321, the refrigerant is likely to impact the first outlet 362 of the three-way solenoid valve 36, which may cause damage to the three-way solenoid valve 36. Therefore, in this embodiment, if Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, a one-way valve 37 is installed between the first outlet 362 of the solenoid valve and the condenser inlet 321. The one-way valve 37 here can make the refrigerant in the three-way solenoid valve 36 flow to the condenser 32 in one direction, reducing the impact of the refrigerant flowing out of the drain port 353 on the three-way solenoid valve 36.

[0071] In order to reduce the dust and impurities in the refrigerant and filter them, and reduce the ice blockage or dirt blockage of the refrigeration system 3, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, a drying filter 38 is installed between the condenser outlet 322 and the expansion valve inlet 331 , and the drying filter 38 is used to filter impurities in the refrigerant to ensure stable operation of the refrigeration system 3 .

[0072] In order to further increase the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system 3 and ensure that the liquid refrigerant is delivered to the expansion valve 33 at a stable pressure, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, an accumulator 39 is installed between the drying filter 38 and the expansion valve inlet 331. The accumulator 39 is used to provide a stable pressure for the refrigeration system 3. At the same time, during the de-icing process, the refrigerant mainly flows to the second evaporator 342 through the diverter valve 30. At this time, there is a lot of liquid refrigerant inside the pipeline section. The accumulator 39 can be used to temporarily store the excess refrigerant to ensure that the refrigerant can flow to the expansion valve 33 at a stable speed, thereby reducing the impact of the refrigerant on the expansion valve 33.

[0073] In this embodiment, in order to process the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator 341, a gas-liquid separation tank 35 is provided. Specifically, Figure 10 and Figure 12As shown, the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank 35 is provided with a first partition 3561 and a second partition 3562 distributed up and down, wherein the first partition 3561 is located below the second partition 3562. At this time, the first partition 3561 and the second partition 3562 separate the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank 35 into an air inlet chamber 3581, a liquid discharge chamber 3582 and an exhaust chamber 3583, wherein the liquid discharge chamber 3582 is located below the air inlet chamber 3581, and the exhaust chamber 3583 is located above the air inlet chamber 3581. The first partition 3561 is provided with a first channel 3571 that connects the air inlet chamber 3581 and the liquid discharge chamber 3582, and the second partition 3562 is provided with a second channel 3572 that connects the air inlet chamber 3581 and the exhaust chamber 3583. Specifically, the air inlet 351 of the separation tank is connected to the air inlet chamber 3581, and the liquid discharge chamber 3582 is connected to the liquid discharge chamber 3583. 582 is connected, the separation tank exhaust port 352 is connected to the exhaust chamber 3583, the first channel 3571 and the second channel 3572 are aligned, the valve core 354 is vertically arranged, and the valve core 354 is provided with a sealing plug for blocking the first channel 3571 or the second channel 3572. In the refrigeration state, the sealing plug blocks the first channel 3571, and the refrigerant output from the first evaporator 341 flows back to the compressor 31 through the separation tank air inlet 351 and the separation tank exhaust port 352; in the de-icing state, the sealing plug blocks the second channel 3572, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant provided by the compressor 31 enters the first evaporator 341, heating the first evaporator 341, thereby melting the position where the ice cubes contact the ice sticks, realizing the shedding of the ice cubes, and the gaseous refrigerant condenses into liquid, and flows to the condenser 32 through the separation tank air inlet 351 and the drain port 353.

[0074] During the de-icing process, the refrigerant output from the first evaporator 341 is in liquid state. In order to ensure that the refrigerant flows to the condenser 32, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 12 As shown, the first partition 3561 has a conical structure, wherein the opening at the top of the cone formed by the first partition 3561 is larger, and the first channel 3571 is located at the tip of the cone, so that the liquid refrigerant flows to the drainage chamber 3582 under the action of its own gravity. For this purpose, the bottom wall of the drainage chamber 3582 is inclined, and the lowest point of the drainage chamber 3582 is located at the position of the drainage port 353.

[0075] It is worth noting that the second partition 3562 can be a flat plate or a tapered plate. When a tapered plate is used, in order to allow the gaseous refrigerant to flow smoothly to the exhaust chamber 3583, the first partition 3561 and the second partition 3562 should be mirrored, with the opening downward. At this time, the sealing plug on the valve core 354 is not convenient for sealing the first channel 3571 and the second channel 3572. Therefore, in this embodiment, Figure 12As shown, the sealing plug includes a first sealing plug 3542 and a second sealing plug 3543, wherein the valve core 354 also includes a vertically arranged valve stem 3541, and the first sealing plug 3542 and the second sealing plug 3543 are both fixedly installed on the valve stem 3541, and the first sealing plug 3542 is used to seal the first channel 3571, and the second sealing plug 3543 is used to seal the second channel 3572.

[0076] In order to achieve the movement of the valve core 354 , in this embodiment, the gas-liquid separation tank 35 is further provided with a driving mechanism 355 electrically connected to the central control unit 100 . The driving mechanism 355 here is used to change the position of the valve core 354 .

[0077] Specifically, in this embodiment, Figure 12 As shown, the driving mechanism 355 includes a driving shell 3551, in which a driving chamber 3552 connected to the exhaust chamber 3583 is provided. The valve stem 3541 extends into the driving chamber 3552, wherein the driving chamber 3552 is also provided with an electromagnet 3554 and a spring 3553. The electromagnet 3554 is annularly sleeved on the outside of the valve stem 3541, one end of the spring 3553 is fixedly connected to the valve stem 3541, and the other end of the spring 3553 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the driving chamber 3552.

[0078] Through the above arrangement, when the electromagnet 3554 is not energized, the spring 3553 pushes the valve stem 3541 to extend downward, so that the first sealing plug 3542 completes the sealing of the first channel 3571. At this time, the second sealing plug 3543 opens the second channel 3572. At this time, the separation tank air inlet 351 is connected to the separation tank exhaust port 352, maintaining the ice making state; when the electromagnet 3554 is energized, a magnetic field is generated around the electromagnet 3554, driving the valve stem 3541 to move upward and compressing the spring 3553. At this time, the second sealing plug 3543 blocks the second channel 3572, the first sealing plug 3542 opens the first channel 3571, the separation tank air inlet 351 is connected to the drain port 353, and the ice maker is in the ice-off state.

[0079] In order to dissipate heat from the condenser 32, in this embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an air inlet 151 is provided on one side wall of the casing 1, and an air outlet 152 is provided on the other side, wherein the air inlet 151 and the air outlet 152 are arranged opposite to each other, and the outside wind can flow into the inner cavity of the casing 1 through the air inlet 151, and the hot air in the inner cavity of the casing 1 is discharged outward through the air outlet 152, providing a stable low-temperature environment for the ice maker.

[0080] Example 2:

[0081] This embodiment is an improvement made on the basis of the first embodiment, and the main difference lies in the positions of the condenser 32 and the second evaporator 342 .

[0082] The condenser 32, the second evaporator 342 and the compressor 31 are installed in the inner cavity of the casing 1. Specifically, one side of the front wall 10 of the casing 1 is defined as the front side, the air inlet 151 is installed on the left side, and the air outlet 152 is on the right side. The compressor 31 is installed on the rear side of the refrigeration component 2. The second evaporator 342 can be installed between the compressor 31 and the condenser 32. The condenser 32 is on the side of the storage basket 24 away from the ice-making component 2. At this time, a low-temperature environment is formed around the second evaporator 342. While cooling the condenser 32, the high temperature of the condenser 32 is prevented as much as possible from affecting the compressor 31 and the ice cubes in the storage basket 24, thereby slowing down the melting rate of the ice cubes.

[0083] like Figure 13 As shown, the condenser 32 is installed in the inner cavity of the casing 1 and close to the side of the air outlet 152, the second evaporator 342 is installed between the air inlet 151 and the condenser 32 and the second evaporator 342 is fixed on the condenser 32. At this time, the outside wind enters the inner cavity of the casing 1 from the air inlet 151, and then passes through the second evaporator 342 and the condenser 32 in turn and flows out from the air outlet 152, reducing the impact of the high temperature of the condenser 32 on the ice maker.

[0084] Example 3:

[0085] This embodiment is an improvement made on the basis of the first or second embodiment.

[0086] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the side of the housing 1 away from the front wall 10 is defined as a rear wall 11, wherein a detachable battery 13 is mounted on the rear wall 11. Figure 4 As shown, an inverter board 12 mounted on the rear wall 11 is provided in the inner cavity of the casing 1, wherein a battery 13 supplies power to the inverter board 12. The inverter board 12 can boost the DC 18V power of the battery 13 into 220V or 110V, thereby providing power for the refrigeration component 2 of the ice maker.

[0087] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, the inverter board 12 is further provided with a charging port 14 , which can be used to charge the battery 13 or directly provide power to the ice maker to ensure stable operation of the ice maker.

[0088] The inverter board 12 is also provided with a number of output ports of different sizes, which can be used to charge digital products.

[0089] The ice maker utilizes a detachable battery 13 to replace the conventional 220V voltage power supply, so that the ice maker can be used outdoors, and the charging port 14 can be used at home.

[0090] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and it is intended that all variations that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising an ice-making component and a refrigeration system for providing a cold source for the ice-making component, the refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a first evaporator connected in sequence according to the flow direction of the refrigerant, the outlet of the first evaporator being connected to the air intake of the compressor, characterized in that: It also includes a three-way solenoid valve, a diverter valve, a second evaporator and a gas-liquid separation tank, the three-way solenoid valve inlet is connected to the compressor exhaust port, the three-way solenoid valve first outlet is connected to the condenser inlet, the three-way solenoid valve second outlet is connected to the first evaporator inlet, the second evaporator is installed on the condenser, the second evaporator outlet is connected to the compressor suction port, the diverter valve inlet is connected to the expansion valve outlet, the diverter valve first outlet is connected to the first evaporator inlet, the diverter valve second outlet is connected to the second evaporator inlet, the gas-liquid separation tank includes a separation tank air inlet connected to the first evaporator outlet, a separation tank exhaust port connected to the compressor suction port, and a liquid discharge port connected to the condenser inlet, the separation tank air inlet, the separation tank exhaust port and the liquid discharge port are connected to each other, and a valve core for sealing the liquid discharge port or the separation tank exhaust port is further provided in the gas-liquid separation tank; The gas-liquid separation tank is provided with a driving mechanism for controlling the valve core to switch between the ice-making state and the ice-removing state. The ice-making machine includes a central control unit, and the three-way solenoid valve, the diverter valve and the driving mechanism are all electrically connected to the central control unit. In the ice-making state: the inlet of the three-way solenoid valve is connected to the first outlet of the three-way solenoid valve, the first outlet of the diverter valve and the second outlet of the diverter valve are connected to the inlet of the diverter valve at the same time, and the valve core blocks the drain port; in the ice-removing state: the inlet of the three-way solenoid valve is connected to the second outlet of the three-way solenoid valve, the inlet of the diverter valve is connected to the second outlet of the diverter valve, the first outlet of the diverter valve is closed, and the valve core blocks the exhaust port of the separation tank; The ice-making component includes an ice-making trough installed in the inner cavity of the casing, a storage trough, and an ice-making box rotatably installed in the ice-making trough. A storage basket for placing ice cubes is provided in the storage trough. The bottom wall of the storage trough is used to store clean water. It also includes a water pump for drawing water. The water pump is connected to a water supply pipe for delivering water to the ice-making box. An ice-splitting plate is rotatably installed on the ice-making box. The first evaporator is arranged above the ice-making box. The first evaporator is provided with an ice-making stick extending into the ice-making box.

2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first partition and a second partition are provided in the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank, and the first partition is located below the second partition. The first partition and the second partition separate the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separation tank into an air inlet chamber, a liquid discharge chamber and an exhaust chamber. The liquid discharge chamber is located below the air inlet chamber, and the exhaust chamber is located above the air inlet chamber. A first channel is provided on the first partition, and a second channel is provided on the second partition. The air inlet of the separation tank is connected to the air inlet chamber, the exhaust port of the separation tank is connected to the exhaust chamber, and the liquid discharge port is connected to the liquid discharge chamber.

3. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The valve core includes a valve stem arranged longitudinally and passing through the first channel and the second channel. A sealing plug is installed on the valve stem. In the ice making state, the sealing plug blocks the first channel. In the ice removing state, the sealing plug blocks the second channel.

4. The ice making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first partition is in the shape of a cone with an opening upward, and the sealing plug includes a first sealing plug and a second sealing plug installed on the valve stem. In the ice making state, the first sealing plug blocks the first channel and the second sealing plug opens the second channel. In the ice removing state, the first sealing plug opens the first channel and the second sealing plug blocks the second channel.

5. The ice making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The driving mechanism includes a driving shell installed on the gas-liquid separation tank, a driving chamber is provided in the driving shell, one end of the valve stem extends into the driving chamber, and also includes an electromagnet and a spring. The electromagnet is sleeved on the outside of the valve stem, one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the driving chamber, and the other end of the spring is fixedly connected to the valve stem. The electromagnet is electrically connected to the central control unit.

6. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-making component also includes a diversion cavity arranged between the ice-making groove and the storage groove. The diversion cavity is connected to the ice-making groove through a water inlet. The bottom wall of the diversion cavity is provided with a drainage pipe extending to the bottom of the storage groove.

7. The ice making machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the storage tank is provided with a downwardly concave drain outlet, the front wall of the casing is provided with a blocking hole aligned with the drain outlet, and a blocking cap is provided in the blocking hole for being threadedly connected with the drain outlet and blocking the drain outlet.

8. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: It includes an inverter board electrically connected to the ice-making component and the refrigeration system. The inverter board is installed on the rear wall of the inner cavity of the casing. A battery detachably connected to the inverter board is provided on the outside of the casing. The inverter board is also provided with a charging port connected to an external power supply.

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