Waterway integration device and refrigerator with same

Abstract

The invention aims at providing a waterway integration device and a refrigerator with the waterway integration device, the waterway integration device comprises a filter, a water valve and a kettle which are sequentially communicated, the filter and the water valve are arranged in the first direction, the kettle is provided with a butt joint part connected with the water valve and a liquid storage part arranged in the first direction with the butt joint part, and the butt joint part and the liquid storage part are arranged in the first direction. The butt joint part and the water valve are oppositely arranged in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the liquid storage part and the filter are oppositely arranged in the second direction, and the liquid storage part and the filter both extend in the first direction; the liquid storage part and the filter are oppositely arranged in the second direction, and the liquid storage part and the filter extend in the first direction, so that a gap between the kettle and the filter can be reduced, and the occupied space of the waterway integration device is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration devices, and more particularly to a waterway integration device and a refrigerator having the same. Background Art

[0002] Currently, for the convenience of users, many refrigerator products are provided with a waterway integration device inside the refrigerator. Specifically, the filter, water valve, and water kettle are integrated together so that the external water source can supply water to the dispenser and ice maker after being filtered. The waterway integration device also facilitates unified fixing and maintenance.

[0003] In the existing waterway integration device, in order to save volume, the filter, water valve, and water kettle are usually arranged adjacent to each other in pairs. However, since the water kettle adopts a straight tubular structure, if the water kettle is to be arranged adjacent to the filter and water valve at the same time, it will cause a certain angle between the water kettle and the filter, resulting in a large gap between the water kettle and the filter, increasing the space occupied by the waterway integration device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a waterway integration device and a refrigerator having the same that save occupied space.

[0005] To achieve one of the above-mentioned invention purposes, an embodiment of the present invention provides a waterway integration device, including a filter, a water valve, and a water kettle that are sequentially connected. The filter and the water valve are arranged along a first direction. The water kettle has a docking portion connected to the water valve and a liquid storage portion arranged along the first direction with the docking portion. The docking portion is disposed opposite to the water valve along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the liquid storage portion is disposed opposite to the filter along the second direction, and both the liquid storage portion and the filter extend along the first direction.

[0006] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the side surface of the docking portion facing the water valve is spaced apart from the side surface of the liquid storage portion facing the filter.

[0007] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the water kettle has a water storage cavity, an inlet and an outlet communicating with the water storage cavity. Both the inlet and the outlet are located on the side of the water kettle facing the water valve, and the horizontal height of the surface where the inlet is located is not higher than the horizontal height of the surface where the outlet is located.

[0008] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the water storage cavity has a separated inlet cavity and outlet cavity. The water kettle also has a communication port communicating the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity. The inlet and the outlet are located on one side of the water kettle, and the communication port is located on the opposite side of the water kettle.

[0009] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the kettle includes a shell forming a water storage chamber and a plurality of heat exchange plates connected to the shell, the water outlet chamber has a first chamber connected to the water outlet, and the plurality of heat exchange plates are located on a side of the first chamber away from the water outlet.

[0010] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the water outlet cavity further has a second cavity connecting the first cavity and the connecting port, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cavity along the second direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cavity along the second direction.

[0011] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the kettle also includes a partition that cooperates with the shell, the shell includes a first shell and a second shell connected to each other, the partition has a first plate and a second plate connected to each other along a second direction, the first plate abuts against the first shell and the second shell at both ends along the first direction respectively, and the second plate is spaced apart from the second shell at one end along the first direction.

[0012] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the first shell is connected to the second shell along the first direction, the second shell has a first side wall and a second side wall facing away from the first shell along the first direction, the first side wall and the second side wall are spaced apart along the first direction, the first plate abuts against the first side wall, and the second plate is spaced apart from the second side wall.

[0013] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the first shell has a mounting groove matching the heat exchange fins, and a plurality of heat exchange fins are connected to the first shell and arranged in the mounting groove along a first direction.

[0014] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the center line of the docking portion and the center line of the liquid storage portion are parallel to or co-linear with each other.

[0015] In order to achieve the purpose of the above invention, the present invention also provides a refrigerator, which includes the above water channel integrated device.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, in an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid storage part and the filter are arranged relative to each other along the second direction, and both the liquid storage part and the filter are extended along the first direction, which can reduce the gap between the kettle and the filter and save the space occupied by the water channel integrated device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a waterway integrated device in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the middle kettle;

[0019] Figure 3 yesFigure 2 Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in [the figure];

[0020] Figure 4 is Figure 2 Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in [the figure];

[0021] Figure 5 is Figure 2 Exploded view of the kettle in [the figure]. Detailed implementation manners

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the specific implementation manners shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these implementation manners do not limit the present invention, and any structural, method, or functional transformation made by those of ordinary skill in the art based on these implementation manners is included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0023] It should be understood that terms such as "having", "including", and "comprising" used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or their combinations.

[0024] It should be understood that terms indicating relative spatial positions such as "upper", "lower", "outer", "inner", etc. used herein are for the purpose of facilitating description of the relationship of one unit or feature to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms of relative spatial positions may be intended to include different orientations of the device in addition to the orientations shown in the figures during use or operation.

[0025] The device can be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially related descriptive terms used herein can be interpreted accordingly. As in the present invention, for the convenience of description, when the waterway integration device is in normal use, the direction towards the ground is downward, the direction away from the ground is upward; the direction parallel to the ground is the horizontal direction, and the direction perpendicular to the ground is the vertical direction; the side close to the user is the front side, and the side away from the user is the rear side.

[0026] Referring to Figures 1 to 5 As shown, a waterway integration device provided by a preferred implementation manner of the present invention filters the externally connected water source and supplies water to the water dispenser and the ice maker to ensure the safety of the user's water use. This waterway integration device is usually placed indoors in the cold storage room to meet the user's need for taking cooling water.

[0027] Specifically, with reference to Figure 1 As shown, a waterway integration device includes a filter 10, a water valve 20, and a kettle 30 that are connected in sequence. In this embodiment, the filter 10 is connected to the externally connected water source. After filtering the externally connected water source, the filtered water is conveyed to the water valve 20 by the water pressure of the externally connected water source, and is controlled by the water valve 20 to be conveyed to the kettle 30 or the ice maker for the user to use.

[0028] Further, the filter 10 and the water valve 20 are arranged along a first direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first direction may be Figure 1 the front-rear direction in, that is, the filter 10 is located on the front side of the water valve 20, so as to facilitate the user to replace the filter element of the filter 10 from the front side.

[0029] With reference to Figure 2 shown, specifically, the water kettle 30 has a docking portion 30a connected to the water valve 20 and a liquid storage portion 30b arranged along the first direction with the docking portion 30a. In this embodiment, the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b are connected to each other to jointly form the water kettle 30, and the liquid storage portion 30b is located on the front side of the docking portion 30a.

[0030] Further, the docking portion 30a and the water valve 20 are oppositely arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 are oppositely arranged along the second direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the second direction may be the up-down direction. Arranging the water valve 20 and the filter 10 and arranging the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b along the first direction (i.e., the front-rear direction) can save the occupied space of the waterway integration device in the second direction (i.e., the up-down direction); arranging the docking portion 30a and the water valve 20 and arranging the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 along the second direction (i.e., the up-down direction) oppositely can save the occupied space of the waterway integration device in the first direction (i.e., the front-rear direction). Thus, the overall waterway integration device is more compact and the occupied space is reduced.

[0031] Further, both the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 extend along the first direction. In this embodiment, the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 extend along the same direction (i.e., the front-rear direction), which can reduce the gap between the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10, thereby reducing the occupied space of the waterway integration device. The outer contour of the liquid storage portion 30b is centrosymmetric (for example, the cross section is rectangular), so the extension of the liquid storage portion 30b along the first direction may be that the center line of the liquid storage portion 30b extends along the first direction. The outer contour of the filter 10 is centrosymmetric (for example, the cross section is circular), so the extension of the filter 10 along the first direction may be that the center line of the filter 10 extends along the first direction.

[0032] Arranging the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 oppositely along the second direction and extending both the liquid storage portion 30b and the filter 10 along the first direction can reduce the gap between the water kettle 30 and the filter 10 and save the occupied space of the waterway integration device.

[0033] Further, the side surface of the docking portion 30a facing the water valve 20 and the side surface of the liquid storage portion 30b facing the filter 10 are spaced apart from each other. In this embodiment, as Figure 2After the docking part 30a and the liquid storage part 30b are connected to each other, the outer contour of the entire water kettle 30 is in an "L" shape. Considering that the width of the water valve 20 along the second direction is smaller than the width of the filter 10 along the second direction, it is preferred that the side of the docking part 30a facing the water valve 20 is higher than the side of the liquid storage part 30b facing the filter 10, so as to make full use of the space between the docking part 30a and the water valve 20. Without increasing the occupied space of the water circuit integration device, the water storage capacity of the water kettle 30 is increased.

[0034] Specifically, the water kettle 30 has a water storage cavity, a water inlet 32 and a water outlet 33 communicating with the water storage cavity. In this embodiment, the water filtered by the filter 10 flows through the water valve 20 to the water inlet 32 and flows into the water storage cavity of the water kettle 30 from the water inlet 32. After the water storage cavity is filled, the water in the water storage cavity is discharged through the water outlet 33. Quick connectors are provided on both the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 for docking with the water valve 20 or the output pipeline.

[0035] Furthermore, both the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 are located on the side of the water kettle 30 facing the water valve 20. In this embodiment, the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 are located on the same side (such as the upper side) of the water kettle 30, which can save the length of the connecting pipeline, optimize the layout of the connecting pipeline, and save the occupied space of the water circuit integration device when the water kettle 30 is docked with the water valve 20 and the dispenser. It is preferred that the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0036] Furthermore, the horizontal height of the plane where the water inlet 32 is located is not higher than the horizontal height of the plane where the water outlet 33 is located. In this embodiment, as Figure 2 , taking the example that both the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 are located on the upper side of the water kettle 30, the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 are arranged on planes at different heights. It is preferred that the horizontal height of the plane where the water inlet 32 is located is lower than the horizontal height of the plane where the water outlet 33 is located, which can avoid air bubbles accumulating in the water kettle 30 (i.e., at the water inlet 32), thus facilitating the discharge of gas at the water inlet 32.

[0037] With reference to Figure 3 shown, furthermore, the water storage cavity has a water inlet cavity 311 and a water outlet cavity 312 which are separated from each other, and the water kettle 30 also has a communication port 34 communicating the water inlet cavity 311 and the water outlet cavity 312. In this embodiment, the water inlet 32 communicates with the water inlet cavity 311, and the water outlet 33 communicates with the water outlet cavity 312. After the water flows into the water inlet cavity 311 from the water inlet 32, it flows into the water outlet cavity 312 through the communication port 34, and then flows out of the water outlet cavity 312 through the water outlet 33.

[0038] Furthermore, the water inlet 32 ​​and the water outlet 33 are located on one side of the kettle 30, and the communication port 34 is located on the opposite side of the kettle 30. In this embodiment, the water inlet 32 ​​and the water outlet 33 are arranged on both sides of the kettle 30 (preferably on both sides of the length direction of the kettle 30) relative to the communication port 34, that is, the water inlet 32 ​​and the water outlet 33 are located on the rear side of the kettle 30, and the communication port 34 is located on the front side of the kettle 30. Thus, it is ensured that water flows in from the water inlet 32, flows through various parts of the water storage cavity, and then flows out from the water outlet 33, so that the water is fully heat exchanged and cooled in the kettle 30, and it is avoided that the water flows in from the water inlet 32 ​​and is directly discharged from the water outlet 33, thereby increasing the flow and heat exchange time of the water to be cooled in the kettle 30.

[0039] Specifically, the water inlet 32 ​​and the water outlet 33 are both arranged on the docking portion 30a, and the connecting port 34 is arranged in the liquid storage portion 30b, so that the water inlet 32 ​​and the water outlet 33 are higher than the connecting port 34. At this time, the water flowing into the water storage cavity from the water inlet 32 ​​will fully flow from the bottom of the kettle 30 and then be discharged from the water outlet 33, so that the cooling effect of the cooling water is better.

[0040] Furthermore, the kettle 30 includes a shell 35 forming a water storage cavity and a plurality of heat exchange fins 36 connected to the shell 35. In this embodiment, the plurality of heat exchange fins 36 are arranged at intervals, and when the kettle 30 is in the cooling room, the heat exchange and cooling of the water in the kettle 30 can be accelerated, so that the user can quickly obtain cooling water.

[0041] Mate Reference Figure 4 As shown, specifically, the water outlet chamber 312 has a first chamber 3121 connected to the water outlet 33, and a plurality of heat exchange fins 36 are located on a side of the first chamber 3121 away from the water outlet 33. In this embodiment, the first chamber 3121 is directly connected to the water outlet 33, that is, the water in the water storage chamber 312 is connected to the water outlet 33 through the first chamber 3121. Compared with setting the heat exchange fins 36 at other places of the water outlet chamber 312, setting the heat exchange fins 36 at the first chamber 3121 can quickly cool down the water in the first chamber 3121, thereby ensuring that the temperature of the water meets the cooling requirements when it flows out of the water storage chamber.

[0042] Specifically, the water outlet chamber 312 further includes a second chamber 3122 communicating with the first chamber 3121 and the communication port 34. In this embodiment, when water flows into the water outlet chamber 312 from the communication port 34, it first enters the second chamber 3122 and then enters the first chamber 3121.

[0043] Further, the cross-sectional area of the first chamber 3121 along the second direction is smaller than that of the second chamber 3122 along the second direction. In this embodiment, the width of the first chamber 3121 along the second direction is smaller than that of the second chamber 3122 along the second direction, and the width of the first chamber 3121 along the left-right direction is equal to the width of the second chamber 3122 along the left-right direction. Compared with arranging the heat exchange fin 36 at the second chamber 3122, arranging the heat exchange fin 36 at the first chamber 3121 can accelerate the cooling of the water flowing out of the water outlet 33, avoid insufficient cooling of the output water due to too large a cross-sectional area, and improve the cooling effect. Compared with the solution without arranging the heat exchange fin 36, after arranging the heat exchange fin 36, the temperature difference between the water inlet 32 and the water outlet 33 can reach more than 5°C.

[0044] With reference to Figure 5 As shown, specifically, the kettle 30 further includes a partition 37 that cooperates with the housing 35. The housing 35 includes a first housing 351 and a second housing 352 that are connected to each other. In this embodiment, the housing 35 is made of aluminum material to avoid the generation of VOC substances (small molecule volatile substances) in the kettle 3. The first housing 351 and the second housing 352 are fixed by welding to ensure the sealing of the water storage chamber. The partition 37 is limited between the first housing 351 and the second housing 352, that is, limited in the water storage chamber, thereby dividing the water storage chamber into a left-right opposite water inlet chamber 311 and a water outlet chamber 312.

[0045] Specifically, the partition 37 has a first plate 371 and a second plate 372 that are connected to each other along the second direction. In this embodiment, as Figure 5 shown, the length of the first plate 371 along the first direction is smaller than the length of the second plate 372 along the first direction, so that the partition 37 is in an "L" shape.

[0046] Further, both ends of the first plate 371 along the first direction are respectively abutted against the first housing 351 and the second housing 352. In this embodiment, the partition 37 uses both ends of the first plate 371 along the first direction to abut against the first housing 351 and the second housing 352, which can limit the offset of the partition 37 and the housing 35 along the first direction. Both ends of the partition 37 along the second direction are respectively abutted against the first housing 351 and / or the second housing 352, which can limit the offset of the partition 37 and the housing 35 along the second direction. By providing a limiting groove 38 in the first housing 351 and / or the second housing 352, after the partition 37 extends into the limiting groove 38, the offset of the partition 37 and the housing 35 along the left-right direction is limited.

[0047] Specifically, one end of the second plate 372 along the first direction is spaced from the second housing 352. In this embodiment, the front end of the second plate 372 is spaced from the second housing 352, thereby forming a communication port 34.

[0048] Furthermore, the first housing 351 and the second housing 352 are butted along a first direction. The second housing 352 has a first side wall 3521 and a second side wall 3522 that deviate from the first housing 351 along the first direction. The first side wall 3521 and the second side wall 3522 are spaced apart along the first direction.

[0049] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 , the first side wall 3521 is located above the second side wall 3522, so that the second housing 352 is in a stepped shape, thus matching the "L"-shaped partition 37 to position the assembly between the partition 37 and the housing 35.

[0050] Specifically, the first plate 371 abuts against the first side wall 3521, and the second plate 372 is spaced apart from the second side wall 3522. In this embodiment, when the partition 37 and the housing 35 are assembled, a part of the partition 37 is first inserted into the limiting groove 38 on the first housing 351 and the second housing 352, and then the first housing 351 and the second housing 352 are driven to move towards each other along the first direction, so that the partition 37 slides in the limiting groove 38 until the front end of the first plate 371 abuts against the first side wall 3521 and the rear end of the partition 37 abuts against the first housing 351, at which time the first housing 351 and the second housing 352 are assembled in place. At this time, the front end of the second plate 372 is spaced apart from the second side wall 3522, and finally the first housing 351 and the second housing 352 are fixed.

[0051] Furthermore, the first housing 351 has a mounting groove 3511 that matches the heat exchange fins 36. In this embodiment, as Figure 4 , the mounting groove 3511 and the first cavity 3121 are oppositely arranged along a second direction, that is, the mounting groove 3511 is located below the first cavity 3121, and the mounting groove 3511 and the second cavity 3122 are oppositely arranged along the first direction, that is, the mounting groove 3511 is located behind the second cavity 3122.

[0052] Specifically, a plurality of heat exchange fins 36 are connected to the first housing 351 and are arranged in the mounting groove 3511 along the first direction. In this embodiment, the plurality of heat exchange fins 36 extend along the second direction. After the plurality of heat exchange fins 36 are arranged in the mounting groove 3511, the outer contour of the first housing 351 is in a rectangular shape (preferably a square), thus making full use of the internal space of the waterway integration device and avoiding an increase in the space occupied by the waterway integration device.

[0053] Specifically, the center line of the docking portion 30a is parallel or collinear with the center line of the liquid storage portion 30b. In this embodiment, the outer diameter profiles of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b are centrosymmetric, and the center lines of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b both extend along the first direction. The cross-sections of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b can be rectangular, circular, etc., as long as a stepped height difference is formed between the upper sides of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b. Moreover, when the center line of the docking portion 30a is parallel to the center line of the liquid storage portion 30b, it is preferable that the diameters of the lower sides of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b are coplanar, so as to make the external contour of the water path integration device neater and reduce the occupied space of the water path integration device.

[0054] Preferably, the cross-sections of the docking portion 30a and the liquid storage portion 30b are square, which is convenient for welding after the first shell 351 is docked with the second shell 351. Compared with the kettle 30 with a circular structure, there is no need for spin welding.

[0055] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a refrigerator, which is provided with the water path integration device according to the present invention.

[0056] Specifically, the water path integration device is preferably arranged in the refrigerating compartment to avoid being contaminated when the water filtering device is in use and can also accelerate the cooling of the purified water.

[0057] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to the embodiments, not every embodiment only contains an independent technical solution. This narrative way of the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0058] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of the feasible embodiments of the present invention, and they are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A waterway integration device, comprising a filter, a water valve and a kettle that are connected in sequence, wherein the filter and the water valve are arranged along a first direction, and is characterized in that, The kettle has a docking portion connected to the water valve and a liquid storage portion arranged along a first direction with the docking portion, the docking portion and the water valve are arranged opposite to each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the liquid storage portion and the filter are arranged opposite to each other along the second direction, and the liquid storage portion and the filter both extend along the first direction.

2. The waterway integration device according to claim 1, wherein The side of the docking portion facing the water valve and the side of the liquid storage portion facing the filter are spaced apart from each other.

3. The waterway integration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The kettle has a water storage cavity and a water inlet and a water outlet connected to the water storage cavity. The water inlet and the water outlet are both located on the side of the kettle facing the water valve, and the horizontal height of the surface where the water inlet is located is not higher than the horizontal height of the surface where the water outlet is located.

4. The waterway integration device according to claim 3, wherein, The water storage cavity has a water inlet cavity and a water outlet cavity separated from each other, and the kettle also has a connecting port connecting the water inlet cavity and the water outlet cavity, the water inlet and the water outlet are located on one side of the kettle, and the connecting port is located on the opposite side of the kettle.

5. The waterway integration device according to claim 4, wherein The kettle comprises a shell forming a water storage cavity and a plurality of heat exchange plates connected to the shell, the water outlet cavity comprises a first cavity connected to a water outlet, and the plurality of heat exchange plates are located on a side of the first cavity away from the water outlet.

6. The waterway integration device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water outlet cavity further comprises a second cavity communicating with the first cavity and the communication port, and a cross-sectional area of ​​the first cavity along the second direction is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second cavity along the second direction.

7. The waterway integration device according to claim 5, characterized in that The kettle also includes a partition that cooperates with the shell, and the shell includes a first shell and a second shell connected to each other. The partition has a first plate and a second plate connected to each other along a second direction, and the first plate abuts against the first shell and the second shell at both ends along the first direction respectively, and the second plate is spaced apart from the second shell at one end along the first direction.

8. The waterway integration device according to claim 7, wherein The first shell is docked with the second shell along a first direction, the second shell has a first side wall and a second side wall facing away from the first shell along the first direction, the first side wall and the second side wall are spaced apart along the first direction, the first plate abuts against the first side wall, and the second plate is spaced apart from the second side wall.

9. The waterway integration device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first shell has a mounting groove matching the heat exchange plate, and a plurality of heat exchange plates are connected to the first shell and arranged in the mounting groove along a first direction.

10. The waterway integration device according to claim 1, wherein, The center line of the docking portion and the center line of the liquid storage portion are parallel to or collinear with each other.

11. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator comprises the water channel integrated device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images