Refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator which comprises a refrigerating chamber, an ice making chamber is arranged in the refrigerating chamber, heat insulation is achieved between the ice making chamber and the refrigerating chamber through a barrier, and a heat preservation material is arranged in the barrier; the ice maker assembly is arranged in the ice making chamber and is used for making ice; and the refrigerator is arranged on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier body, is in contact with the thermal insulation material and comprises a refrigerant pipeline, and the refrigerant pipeline is arranged in the barrier body in an L-shaped structure and is used for exchanging heat in the ice making chamber. The ice-making chamber is arranged in the refrigerating chamber and is insulated by the barrier body, and the L-shaped refrigerant pipeline is embedded into the thermal insulation material of the barrier body, so that a special shell and a complicated air duct system of the independent ice-making chamber are omitted through the integrated design, and the number of parts and assembly procedures are greatly reduced; and a direct heat exchange path between the refrigerant pipeline and the ice-making chamber can shorten the cold transfer distance, so that the refrigeration efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and more particularly to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Ice makers and refrigerators meet the needs of automatic ice making. These devices integrate the ice-making module into the refrigeration or freezing space. In terms of classification, the ice-making chamber can be set up independently or shared with the refrigerator cavity. It includes refrigeration components, heat insulation structure and air circulation system. In use, users focus on high ice-making efficiency, good space utilization and low production cost.

[0003] One ice-making solution uses refrigerant pipes to directly contact the ice-making unit for heat exchange. This method has a fast cooling response, but the heater is prone to causing ice blocks to stick together during the defrosting process. Another solution uses air ducts to deliver cold air to the ice-making chamber. The air duct components are located outside the chamber. This design increases the insulation requirements, leading to increased material costs.

[0004] In summary, while the above solutions can improve the refrigeration effect, they are structurally complex. The independent ice-making room solution requires specialized components and isolation structures, high component processing precision, cumbersome assembly steps, complex production line layout, and insufficient space optimization, which not only increases manufacturing costs but also leads to reduced production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a refrigerator to solve the problem of low production efficiency.

[0006] This application provides a refrigerator, including: The cold storage room includes an ice-making compartment. The ice-making chamber and the cold storage chamber are insulated by a barrier, and the barrier is filled with heat-insulating material. An ice maker assembly, located within the ice-making chamber, is used for making ice; An ice storage container, disposed within the ice-making chamber, is used to store ice produced by the ice-making machine components; A refrigerator is disposed on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier body and in contact with the insulation material. The refrigerator includes a refrigerant pipe, which is disposed in an L-shaped structure within the barrier body and is used for heat exchange inside the ice-making chamber.

[0007] By placing the ice-making chamber inside the refrigerator and insulating it with a barrier, and embedding L-shaped refrigerant pipes into the barrier insulation material, this integrated design eliminates the need for a separate outer shell for the ice-making chamber and a complex air duct system. This significantly reduces the number of parts and assembly steps. Furthermore, the direct heat exchange path between the refrigerant pipes and the ice-making chamber shortens the distance of cold energy transfer, thereby improving refrigeration efficiency.

[0008] In some feasible embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a freezer compartment, in which a freezing evaporator is disposed, the freezing evaporator being connected to a refrigerator via refrigeration piping, the refrigerator being used to provide cooling capacity to the freezer compartment and the ice-making compartment.

[0009] The evaporator is connected to the refrigeration unit via refrigeration pipes, enabling the freezer and ice-making chambers to share the same refrigeration system and optimize the allocation of refrigeration resources.

[0010] In some feasible embodiments, a fan is provided in the ice-making chamber, which is located on the side wall or top wall of the ice-making chamber to drive the airflow in the ice-making chamber. After the airflow is driven, the air comes into contact with the ice-making machine components to perform heat exchange.

[0011] The fan drives the airflow in the ice-making chamber and exchanges heat with the ice-making components, promoting a more even distribution of heat inside the ice-making chamber and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0012] In some feasible embodiments, the barrier is an L-shaped structure, including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall being perpendicular to the second sidewall, one end of the first sidewall being connected to the first inner wall of the refrigerator compartment, the other end of the first sidewall being connected to one end of the second sidewall, the other end of the second sidewall being connected to the second inner wall of the refrigerator compartment, and the first inner wall being perpendicular to the second inner wall. The barrier and the refrigerator compartment form a closed ice-making chamber structure.

[0013] The barrier is an L-shaped structure that works in conjunction with the inner wall of the refrigerator to form a closed ice-making chamber structure, optimizing the spatial layout of the ice-making chamber and increasing the refrigerator's volume ratio.

[0014] In some feasible embodiments, the refrigerant conduit includes a first pipe segment and a second pipe segment connected to each other, the first pipe segment extending along a first sidewall of the barrier, and the second pipe segment bending from the first pipe segment and extending along a second sidewall of the barrier.

[0015] The first and second sections of the refrigerant pipeline extend along the two side walls of the barrier, respectively, refining the L-shaped arrangement to improve the targeting and efficiency of heat exchange.

[0016] In some feasible embodiments, the cooler is in contact with the outer end of the barrier via a heat-conducting plate, the outer end being the end exposed in the cold storage compartment; the heat-conducting plate is adhered to the surface of the refrigerant pipe.

[0017] The refrigerator contacts the outer end of the barrier body through a heat-conducting plate, which enhances the heat transfer efficiency between the refrigerator and the barrier body, thereby ensuring a stable cooling effect in the ice-making chamber.

[0018] In some feasible embodiments, a water collection tray is provided in the ice-making chamber. The water collection tray is located on the barrier body below the ice-making assembly and is used to collect condensate generated during the ice-making process. The rear end of the water collection tray is fitted to the back of the refrigerator compartment and connected to the drain pipe of the refrigerator.

[0019] The drip tray is located below the ice maker assembly and connected to a drain pipe to effectively collect and drain condensate, preventing water accumulation in the ice maker chamber.

[0020] In some feasible embodiments, the refrigerant pipeline is equipped with a heater, which is arranged side by side at specific intervals next to the refrigerant pipeline for generating heat by electricity, raising the temperature inside the ice-making chamber, and removing condensed frost.

[0021] The heaters are arranged side by side at specific intervals next to the refrigerant pipes. When powered on, they can effectively remove condensation and frost inside the ice-making chamber and prevent ice blocks from sticking together.

[0022] In some feasible embodiments, an ice-feeding rod is provided at the bottom of the ice storage container, and the ice-feeding rod rotates or translates to push the ice blocks in the ice storage container.

[0023] The ice delivery rod pushes the ice blocks in the ice storage container by rotating or translating, which simplifies the ice retrieval operation and improves the convenience of use.

[0024] In some feasible embodiments, an ice crusher is provided in the ice-making chamber, and the ice crusher is located at the outlet of the ice storage container for crushing the ice produced by the ice-making machine components.

[0025] Ice crushers break down ice blocks into smaller ice particles, meeting users' needs for different ice particle sizes and enhancing their versatility.

[0026] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this application provides a refrigerator, including: a refrigerator compartment with an ice-making compartment inside; the ice-making compartment and the refrigerator compartment are insulated by a barrier, and the barrier is provided with insulation material; an ice maker assembly is disposed in the ice-making compartment for making ice; an ice storage container is disposed in the ice-making compartment for storing ice made by the ice maker assembly; and a refrigerator is disposed on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier and in contact with the insulation material, the refrigerator including a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant pipe being disposed in an L-shaped structure in the barrier, and the refrigerant pipe being used for heat exchange inside the ice-making compartment. By placing the ice-making compartment in the refrigerator compartment and insulating it with a barrier, and embedding the L-shaped refrigerant pipe in the insulation material of the barrier, this integrated design eliminates the dedicated outer shell and complex air duct system of the independent ice-making compartment, significantly reducing the number of parts and assembly steps, and the direct heat exchange path between the refrigerant pipe and the ice-making compartment can shorten the cold transfer distance, thereby improving refrigeration efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 Provided for the embodiments of this application Figure 1 A sectional view along direction A. Figure 3 Provided for the embodiments of this application Figure 1 A sectional view taken along direction B. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Among them, 1-freezer compartment; 2-refrigerator compartment; 3-ice making compartment; 31-barrier body; 311-outer end of barrier body; 32-drain tray; 33-ice crusher; 4-ice making machine assembly; 41-ice box; 5-ice storage container; 51-door; 52-ice delivery rod; 6-refrigerator; 61-refrigerant pipe; 62-heat conduction plate; 63-heater; 7-fan. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following examples do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application.

[0031] In the field of refrigerator technology, some solutions provide a refrigerator structure to simplify the ice-making compartment cooling system. The ice-making compartment in the refrigerator includes an outer shell, a heat-conducting inner shell, and a cooling component. The ice-making compartment is formed inside the heat-conducting inner shell, and the outer shell surrounds the outside of the heat-conducting inner shell, forming an accommodating cavity between the two. The cooling component is placed in this cavity.

[0032] In this design, the cooling component is in the form of a coil, tightly wrapped around the outer wall surface of the heat-conducting inner shell. This arrangement allows the cooling energy generated by the cooling component to be transferred to the interior of the ice-making chamber through the heat-conducting inner shell, thereby achieving a direct cooling effect.

[0033] Furthermore, the structural complexity is reduced by eliminating the air duct assembly, but the coiled winding method of the cooling components requires precise machining and assembly processes, and the heat-conducting inner shell needs to have a specific curved surface to accommodate the winding, which increases the difficulty of the manufacturing process.

[0034] When the refrigeration components are wound around the outer wall of the heat-conducting inner shell, the piping layout covers the entire shell surface. Although this results in a large heat exchange area, the installation process is cumbersome, requiring long pipes to be gradually coiled and fixed, which can easily lead to reduced production efficiency. In addition, this coiled structure may result in uneven heat distribution during defrosting, affecting the defrosting effect.

[0035] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a refrigerator in which the refrigeration components are arranged in an L-shape instead of coiled winding. The L-shape arrangement, where the refrigeration pipes are configured with a combination of straight segments and right-angle bends, facilitates installation and positioning within the insulation layer, reducing the steps involved in pipe forming and fixing. The L-shape arrangement avoids complex winding processes, lowers the requirements for component precision and assembly skills, and thus helps solve the problems of high production costs and complex processes. The refrigerator structure provided in this application is described in detail below.

[0036] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the refrigerator includes: Refrigeration compartment 2, with an ice-making compartment 3 inside; The ice-making chamber 3 and the refrigerator chamber 2 are insulated by a barrier 31, and the barrier 31 is provided with heat-insulating material inside. Ice maker assembly 4 is disposed inside the ice-making chamber 3 and is used for making ice; An ice storage container 5 is disposed inside the ice-making chamber 3 and is used to store ice produced by the ice-making machine assembly 4; The refrigerator 6 is disposed on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier 31 and in contact with the insulation material. The refrigerator 6 includes a refrigerant pipe 61, which is disposed in an L-shaped structure inside the barrier 31. The refrigerant pipe 61 is used for heat exchange inside the ice-making chamber 3.

[0037] Specifically, in the inner liner of the refrigerator compartment 2, a barrier 31 is set to define the boundary of the ice-making compartment 3. The barrier 31 is filled with insulation material, so that while the ice-making compartment 3 is physically located inside the refrigerator compartment 2, it is thermally independent of the refrigerator compartment 2. This avoids the need to build a separate outer shell with a complete insulation layer for the ice-making compartment 3, simplifying the cabinet structure.

[0038] Furthermore, the cold storage compartment 2 already has a mature insulation system. By using its inner wall as part of the boundary of the ice-making compartment 3, the space utilization can be maximized, the use of additional parts can be reduced, thereby reducing production costs and simplifying the assembly process.

[0039] The refrigerator compartment 2 is a compartment inside the refrigerator that maintains a temperature above freezing point and is used for refrigerating and storing various foods. The ice maker compartment 3 is an independent cavity located inside the refrigerator compartment 2, used for ice making and ice storage. The ice maker compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 2 are thermally insulated by a barrier 31. The barrier 31 is filled with insulation material, such as polyurethane foam, to block heat transfer and prevent the cold air from the ice maker compartment 3 from leaking into the refrigerator compartment 2, while also reducing the amount of heat transferred from the refrigerator compartment 2 into the ice maker compartment 3.

[0040] Ice maker assembly 4 may include an ice container, which is a container for holding water and freezing it into ice at low temperatures, for example, made of a metal or plastic with good thermal conductivity. Ice maker assembly 4 is integrally disposed within ice chamber 3, receives water supply, and utilizes the low-temperature environment of ice chamber 3 to make water into ice cubes.

[0041] An ice storage container 5 is also installed inside the ice-making chamber 3. It is a device for collecting and temporarily storing ice blocks produced by the ice-making machine component 4. Users can take ice blocks from the ice storage container 5. A door 51 is provided on one side of the ice storage container 5, which cooperates with the front of the ice-making chamber 3 to form a complete chamber.

[0042] The cooler 6 is located on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier 31, which faces the interior space of the ice-making chamber 3. The cooler 6, as a cold source, is not suspended or placed in the free space of the ice-making chamber 3, but is embedded in the structure of the barrier 31.

[0043] Specifically, the refrigerant pipe 61 of the refrigerator 6 is located on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier 31 and is in direct contact with the insulation material inside the barrier 31. At this position, the refrigerant pipe 61 is separated from the ice chamber 3 by only the thickness of the inner wall of the barrier 31, thereby achieving the most direct and shortest heat exchange with the air inside the ice chamber 3.

[0044] The refrigerant pipe 61 is arranged in an L-shape within the barrier 31, meaning that the pipe's path is approximately a right-angle bend. This arrangement allows the pipe to cover two adjacent walls of the barrier 31. The refrigerant pipe 61 is used for heat exchange inside the ice-making chamber 3. When the low-temperature refrigerant flows within the pipe, it exchanges heat with the surrounding insulation material and the inner wall of the barrier 31 through the pipe wall, thereby absorbing heat from the ice-making chamber 3 and lowering its temperature.

[0045] In some embodiments, the barrier 31 has an L-shaped structure, including a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall is perpendicular to the second sidewall. One end of the first sidewall is connected to the first inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2, and the other end of the first sidewall is connected to one end of the second sidewall. The other end of the second sidewall is connected to the second inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2. The first inner wall is perpendicular to the second inner wall. The barrier 31 and the refrigerator compartment 2 form a closed ice-making chamber 3 structure.

[0046] Within the refrigerator's crisper compartment 2, there are corner or edge areas that can be used to house the ice-making compartment 3. The first and second sidewalls of the barrier 31 extend along the two vertical inner walls of the crisper compartment 2, respectively. For example, the first sidewall is arranged along the rear inner wall of the crisper compartment 2, and the second sidewall is arranged along the lower inner wall of the crisper compartment 2.

[0047] The L-shaped structure can make full use of the right-angled corners of the refrigerator compartment 2, reduce the space occupied by the main body of the refrigerator compartment 2, and avoid building an independent hexahedral shell for the ice-making compartment 3, thus simplifying the overall structure.

[0048] After the inner liner of the refrigerator compartment 2 is formed, the prefabricated L-shaped barrier 31 is fixed to the designated position. One end of the first side wall can be connected to the first inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2 by adhesive or snap-fit, for example, the rear inner wall. The other end of the first side wall is connected to one end of the second side wall, and the other end of the second side wall is connected to the second inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2, for example, the lower inner wall.

[0049] By connecting the barrier 31 to the inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2, the existing inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2 can be used as part of the boundary of the ice-making compartment 3, avoiding the need to build an additional complete isolation structure, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps, and lowering production costs.

[0050] In actual operation, the enclosed structure of the ice-making chamber 3 is formed by the L-shaped portion of the barrier 31 and the inner wall of the refrigerator chamber 2. Specifically, the first and second side walls of the barrier 31 cover the right and lower sides of the ice-making chamber 3, while the upper, left, and rear sides of the ice-making chamber 3 are directly formed by the inner wall of the refrigerator chamber 2.

[0051] For example, the rear inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2 serves as the rear wall of the ice-making compartment 3, the left inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2 serves as the left wall of the ice-making compartment 3, the upper inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 2 serves as the top wall of the ice-making compartment 3, and the L-shaped structure of the barrier 31 seals the right and lower sides of the ice-making compartment 3. This layout makes the ice-making compartment 3 an independent cavity embedded inside the refrigerator compartment 2, but without the need for a separate insulation shell.

[0052] The inner walls of the refrigerator compartment 2 already have an insulation layer, which can be directly used as the walls of the ice-making compartment 3 to maximize the volume ratio and avoid redundant construction. When the ice-making compartment 3 is in use, the cold energy is transferred through the refrigerator 6 inside the barrier 31. Since the barrier 31 is L-shaped, the refrigerator 6 can be arranged along its side walls to achieve uniform cooling. The entire ice-making compartment 3 structure remains stable during refrigerator operation, and the insulation material of the barrier 31 prevents cold energy loss and ensures ice-making efficiency.

[0053] Correspondingly, since the refrigerant pipe 61 is disposed within the barrier 31, in some embodiments, the refrigerant pipe 61 includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected to each other, the first pipe section extending along a first side wall of the barrier 31, and the second pipe section bending from the first pipe section and extending along a second side wall of the barrier 31.

[0054] Because the L-shaped structure of the barrier 31 has two walls, the pipes can fully utilize the available space by covering the pipes along these walls, avoiding pipe tangling or crossing, simplifying the layout. When the pipes extend along the walls, they come into direct contact with the insulation material, and the cold energy is directly transferred to the ice-making chamber 3 through the pipe walls and the inner wall of the barrier 31, reducing heat loss.

[0055] The first and second pipe sections correspond to the two vertical walls of the barrier 31, respectively. This arrangement allows the pipe to cover a wider area and the temperature distribution in the ice chamber 3 to be more uniform. The refrigerant flowing in the pipe enters from the first pipe section, absorbs heat, and then flows to the second pipe section to continue the heat exchange process. The entire pipe system does not require a complex support structure and can be directly embedded in the insulation layer of the barrier 31, which can reduce the difficulty of assembly.

[0056] For example, the first sidewall of the barrier 31 is the rear wall of the ice chamber 3, and the second sidewall is the right sidewall of the ice chamber 3. The first pipe section extends vertically along the rear wall with the same length as the wall height, and the second pipe section bends from the bottom of the first pipe section and extends horizontally along the right sidewall with the same length as the wall width. When the refrigerant flows in the pipe, it first cools the air near the rear wall through the first pipe section, and then cools the right sidewall area through the second pipe section.

[0057] This arrangement ensures that the ice-making chamber 3 receives cooling on the left, right, and rear sides, avoiding localized overheating or overcooling. The combination of the pipes and the barrier 31 reduces additional space occupation, making the ice-making chamber 3 more compact. During operation, the refrigerant pipe 61 continuously works to maintain the low temperature of the ice-making chamber 3 and support the ice-making machine component 4 in making ice.

[0058] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a freezer compartment 1, in which a freezing evaporator is disposed, and the freezing evaporator is connected to the refrigerator 6 via a refrigeration pipe, the refrigerator 6 being used to provide cooling capacity to the freezer compartment 1 and the ice-making compartment 3.

[0059] Freezer compartment 1 is the compartment in the refrigerator that maintains a temperature below freezing point and is used for freezing and storing food. Freezer compartment 1 is equipped with a freezing evaporator, which absorbs heat by evaporating refrigerant inside, thereby absorbing heat from the freezer compartment 1 and creating a low-temperature environment. The freezing evaporator can be composed of coils and fins to increase the heat exchange area.

[0060] The refrigeration piping is a pipe that connects the various components of the refrigeration system. Refrigerant flows inside the piping, and the refrigeration piping transfers the refrigerant between different components to complete the refrigeration cycle. In this embodiment, the refrigeration piping connects the refrigeration evaporator and the refrigerator 6, so that the two share the same refrigerant source.

[0061] When the refrigeration pipeline connects the refrigeration unit 6 to the refrigeration evaporator, the refrigeration unit 6 not only provides cooling capacity to the ice-making chamber 3, but also participates in cooling the freezer chamber 1. In this way, the refrigerant can flow through the refrigeration unit 6 and continue to flow to the refrigeration evaporator, or the two heat exchangers can work together in parallel or series.

[0062] For example, the refrigeration piping connects the refrigerator 6 and the evaporator in series. After the refrigerant is discharged from the compressor, it first flows through the condenser to dissipate heat. After passing through the throttling device, it flows into the refrigerant pipe 61 of the refrigerator 6 to provide cooling for the ice-making chamber 3. After absorbing heat, the refrigerant continues to flow through the refrigeration piping to the evaporator, where it evaporates again and absorbs heat to provide cooling for the freezer chamber 1. Finally, it returns to the compressor to complete the cycle. This series connection allows the refrigerant to serve the two chambers in sequence, resulting in a simple system structure.

[0063] In actual operation, when the refrigerator starts working, the compressor starts, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration pipes, the low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the refrigerator 6 exchanges heat with the insulation material of the barrier 31 through the pipe wall, cools the ice-making chamber 3, and the refrigerant flows to the freezing evaporator, exchanges heat with the air in the freezing chamber 1 through the fins and coils, and maintains the low temperature of the freezing chamber 1.

[0064] Throughout the process, the refrigeration piping ensures the orderly distribution of cooling capacity. For example, when ice-making chamber 3 needs to make ice, the system can prioritize the refrigerant flow of refrigerator 6 to quickly reduce the temperature of ice-making chamber 3; after ice making is completed, the flow rate is adjusted back to normal to ensure the temperature of freezer chamber 1 remains stable.

[0065] To improve the temperature uniformity and ice-making efficiency inside the ice-making chamber 3, in some embodiments, a fan 7 is provided inside the ice-making chamber 3. The fan 7 is located on the side wall or top wall of the ice-making chamber 3 and is used to drive the airflow inside the ice-making chamber 3. After driving the airflow, the air comes into contact with the ice-making machine assembly 4 to perform heat exchange.

[0066] The fan 7 generates airflow by rotating its blades to drive air movement. In this embodiment, the fan 7 is installed on the side wall or top wall of the ice-making chamber 3. The side wall refers to the vertical surface around the ice-making chamber 3, and the top wall refers to the horizontal surface above the ice-making chamber 3. The fan 7 drives the blades to rotate through a motor, applying force to the air and causing the air in the ice-making chamber 3 to change from a static state to a flowing state.

[0067] When the fan 7 drives the airflow, the airflow will come into contact with the ice maker component 4. That is, heat energy is transferred between the surface of the ice maker component 4, which has a lower temperature, and the flowing air, which has a relatively higher temperature. The cold energy is transferred from the ice maker component 4 to the air, and the air temperature continues to circulate in the room after it is reduced.

[0068] Ice chamber 3 is a closed space where the air inside flows slowly under natural conditions. When the ice maker component 4 is working, its surface temperature is low. However, if the air is still, the cooling capacity can only be transferred through natural convection and radiation, which is inefficient and can easily lead to uneven temperature inside ice chamber 3. When the fan 7 is powered on, the motor starts and drives the blades to rotate. The blades exert thrust on the surrounding air, causing the air to flow in a directional manner.

[0069] After the airflow is formed, a circulating airflow is created within the ice-making chamber 3. For example, when the fan 7 is installed on the right side wall, the airflow can blow along the side wall to the opposite left wall and then return to form a circulation. When the fan 7 is installed on the top wall, the airflow can blow downwards towards the ice-making component 4 and then diffuse outwards. The flowing air comes into contact with the ice-making component 4, specifically by the airflow sweeping across the outer surface of the ice container. Because forced convection can break the thermal boundary layer, it significantly accelerates the heat transfer rate. When the low-temperature surface of the ice container comes into contact with the flowing air, heat is rapidly transferred from the air to the ice container, the air is cooled, and the ice container continuously receives cooling energy to maintain the low-temperature ice-making state.

[0070] The heat exchange process is continuous. The cooled air continues to flow under the drive of fan 7, constantly exchanging heat with other components or air in the ice-making chamber 3, making the temperature of the entire ice-making chamber 3 more uniform. The airflow generated by fan 7 breaks the thermal insulation layer of static air, thereby accelerating the cooling rate of ice-making machine component 4.

[0071] To enhance the heat transfer efficiency between the refrigerator 6 and the barrier 31, in some embodiments, the refrigerator 6 contacts the outer end 311 of the barrier through a heat-conducting plate 62, the outer end being the end exposed in the cold storage compartment 2; the heat-conducting plate 62 is adhered to the surface of the refrigerant pipe 61.

[0072] The heat-conducting plate 62 can be a plate-shaped component made of heat-conducting materials such as metal. The heat-conducting plate 62 can be fixedly attached to the surface of the refrigerant pipe 61 by adhesive. The cooler 6 achieves physical contact with the outer end 311 of the barrier through the heat-conducting plate 62, so that the cooling energy can be transferred from the refrigerant pipe 61 to the barrier 31 through the heat-conducting plate 62.

[0073] The cooling capacity generated by the refrigerator 6 needs to be efficiently transferred to the ice-making chamber 3. The refrigerant pipe 61 is a heat exchange component of the refrigerator 6. However, when it is in direct contact with the barrier 31, the heat conduction may be affected due to the limited contact area or uneven surface. The heat-conducting plate 62 has a large surface area and good thermal conductivity, which can make up for the insufficient contact between the curved surface of the pipe and the plane of the barrier 31, and establish a more stable and efficient heat flow path.

[0074] In actual operation, the refrigerant flows and evaporates within the pipe, absorbing heat and lowering the pipe surface temperature. The cold energy is first conducted to the adhered heat-conducting plate 62, which, due to its high thermal conductivity, quickly and evenly distributes the cold energy across its surface. Subsequently, the cold energy is transferred from the heat-conducting plate 62 to the outer end 311 of the barrier body in contact with it, and then guided to the side of the ice-making chamber 3 through the material of the barrier body 31.

[0075] During the ice-making process, the ice chamber 3 will produce a certain amount of condensation due to temperature changes and air humidity. When the ice maker component 4 is working, its surface temperature is low. When the air inside the ice chamber 3 comes into contact with the cold surface of the ice maker component 4, water vapor will condense into water droplets and drip down.

[0076] In some embodiments, a water collection tray 32 is provided in the ice-making chamber 3. The water collection tray 32 is disposed on the barrier 31 below the ice-making machine assembly 4 and is used to collect condensate generated during the ice-making process. The rear end of the water collection tray 32 is fitted to the back of the refrigerator compartment 2 and connected to the drain pipe of the refrigerator.

[0077] The drip tray 32 is located below the ice maker assembly 4, and in the lower vertical region of the ice maker assembly 4, directly catching water dripping or flowing from the ice maker assembly 4. The rear end of the drip tray 32 is near the back of the refrigerator compartment 2, and this end is fixed to the back of the refrigerator compartment 2 by means of clips or screws to ensure the stability of the drip tray 32.

[0078] Water collected in the drip tray 32 needs to be drained promptly to prevent water accumulation in the ice-making compartment 3. The rear end of the drip tray 32 is connected to a drain pipe, which can be a flexible hose or a rigid pipe, extending from the outlet of the drip tray 32 to the bottom of the refrigerator or an external water container. When the water level in the drip tray 32 reaches a certain height, the water automatically flows into the drain pipe by gravity and is discharged outside the refrigerator along the pipe.

[0079] During continuous ice-making, water vapor in the indoor air of the ice-making chamber 3 condenses into frost upon contact with low-temperature surfaces. This frost is particularly prone to adhering to the surface of the refrigerant pipe 61, which has the lowest temperature. Excessive frost can hinder heat transfer and affect cooling efficiency. In some embodiments, the refrigerant pipe 61 is equipped with a heater 63, which is arranged side-by-side at specific intervals beside the refrigerant pipe 61. The heater 63 is used to generate heat by being energized, thereby increasing the temperature inside the ice-making chamber 3 and removing the condensed frost.

[0080] The heater 63 is an electronic component that generates heat when energized. It can be composed of a metal resistance wire and an insulating shell. The heater 63 is located next to the refrigerant pipe 61, which is a metal pipe through which the refrigerant flows in the refrigerator 6.

[0081] Because direct contact could lead to excessive heat concentration, potentially damaging the pipes or causing localized overheating, heaters 63 are spaced out to allow heat to radiate evenly across the pipe surface and surrounding air. Heaters 63 can be secured with brackets or clips, and their length is parallel to the pipe, ensuring that the heating area covers the pipe section requiring defrosting.

[0082] When the defrosting cycle starts, the control system powers the heater 63. The current flows through the resistance wire inside the heater 63, and the electrical energy is converted into heat energy. The surface temperature of the heater 63 gradually rises, and the heat is transferred to the outer wall of the refrigerant pipe 61 through thermal radiation. The frost on the surface of the pipe absorbs the heat and its temperature rises to the melting point, and it gradually melts into water.

[0083] At the same time, heater 63 also heats the surrounding air. The hot air rises and forms convection, which accelerates the melting of frost in other areas of the ice-making chamber 3.

[0084] During the heating process, in order to avoid areas that are not defrosted or overheated, the heaters 63 are arranged side by side. The side-by-side arrangement can make the heat evenly distributed along the pipe axis. For example, the heaters 63 can be installed below or to the side of the pipe, with a spacing of 5 mm. When defrosting is performed, the frost on the pipe surface is completely melted after 10 minutes of power supply.

[0085] Throughout the defrosting process, the heat effect of heater 63 is concentrated in refrigerant pipe 61 and adjacent space, with little impact on the ice in ice storage container 5. The spaced and side-by-side arrangement limits heat diffusion and prevents defrosting heat from being directly conducted to the ice storage area.

[0086] The melted water flows into the water tray 32 and is then discharged, restoring the ice chamber 3 to a clean state. The control system automatically starts and stops the defrosting program based on the temperature sensor or timer settings to ensure thorough defrosting and energy saving.

[0087] To facilitate the use of ice, in some embodiments, the ice storage container 5 is provided with an ice delivery rod 52 at the bottom. The ice delivery rod 52 rotates or translates to push the ice in the ice storage container 5.

[0088] Ice delivery rod 52 is a mechanical component located at the bottom of ice storage container 5. It can be made of metal or high-strength plastic and has a rod-shaped or plate-shaped structure. The function of ice delivery rod 52 is to apply a pushing force to the ice blocks in ice storage container 5 through its own movement, thereby changing the position of the ice blocks.

[0089] During the storage of ice in the ice storage container 5, the ice blocks may accumulate or stick together, making them inconvenient to retrieve. The ice delivery rod 52 is installed at the lower part of the ice storage container 5, for example, by fixing it to the bottom of the container side wall via a bearing structure, or by mounting it to the container bottom plate via a sliding rail structure. The connecting mechanism of the ice delivery rod 52 is connected to a drive motor, which, upon receiving a control signal, drives the ice delivery rod 52 to move.

[0090] The ice delivery rod 52 can move in two ways: rotational motion and translational motion. When it rotates, the ice delivery rod 52 rotates around its central axis, and the protrusions or spiral patterns on the rod contact the ice block, pushing the ice block toward the container outlet. When it translates, the ice delivery rod 52 moves in a straight line along a horizontal or inclined direction, directly pushing the bottom ice block forward.

[0091] Different ice states require different pushing forces. Rotary motion is suitable for handling loose ice, while translational motion is suitable for handling tightly packed ice. For example, when a user presses the ice-retrieving button, the control system starts the motor, and the ice-feeding rod 52 first performs three rotational movements to break up the surface ice, and then performs continuous translational movements to push the ice towards the outlet.

[0092] In actual operation, the trajectory of the ice delivery rod 52 is precisely calculated. For rotational motion, each 90-degree rotation of the rod can move approximately five standard ice blocks. For translational motion, each reciprocating movement can move an ice block ten centimeters.

[0093] The surface of the ice delivery rod 52 is coated with an anti-stick coating to reduce adhesion to the ice. After pushing, the ice delivery rod 52 automatically resets and is ready for the next operation, which can avoid the trouble of using an ice shovel or shaking the container when the user manually takes ice.

[0094] To integrate the ice-crushing function, in some embodiments, an ice crusher 33 is provided in the ice-making chamber 3. The ice crusher 33 is located at the outlet of the ice storage container 5 and is used to crush the ice produced by the ice-making component 4.

[0095] The ice crusher 33 is an electric device installed inside the ice-making chamber 3, and for example, it consists of a motor, blades, and a housing. It is understood that the structure of the ice crusher 33 is prior art, and it can be any of the prior art models, and it can be installed inside the ice-making chamber 3. The specific structure will not be described in detail.

[0096] The ice crusher 33 can break whole ice blocks into smaller ice particles or ice chips. The ice crusher 33 is located at the outlet of the ice storage container 5, and the outlet is an opening or channel on the ice storage container 5 for taking out ice blocks.

[0097] Ice blocks are stored in ice storage container 5. When a user needs to take ice blocks, the ice blocks are moved to the outlet by ice delivery rod 52 or by gravity. Ice crusher 33 is fixedly installed at the outlet channel of ice storage container 5, with its inlet end connected to the outlet of ice storage container 5 and its outlet end connected to the ice taking port.

[0098] When the user selects the ice crushing mode, the control system turns on the power to the motor of the ice crusher 33. After the motor starts, it drives the internal blade assembly to rotate. The blade assembly is usually composed of staggered stainless steel blades. Ice blocks enter the crushing chamber of the ice crusher 33 from the ice storage container 5 and collide and cut with the high-speed rotating blades. The sharp teeth on the edge of the blades cut and impact the ice blocks, causing them to break into small particles. The broken ice particles fall through the screen holes at the bottom of the ice crusher 33. The screen hole diameter determines the maximum size of the ice particles.

[0099] During operation, when the refrigerator's refrigeration system starts, the low-temperature refrigerant flows in the refrigerant pipe 61. The cold energy is transferred through the pipe wall of the refrigerant pipe 61 to the insulation material and the inner wall of the barrier 31. Due to the insulation effect of the insulation material, the cold energy is mainly transferred to the direction of less resistance, i.e., inside the ice-making chamber. The cold energy passes through the outer end 311 of the barrier, rapidly cooling the air inside the ice-making chamber. The ice-making box 41 in the ice-making assembly 44 senses the low ambient temperature and gradually freezes the water inside into ice. After ice making is complete, the ice is released into the ice storage container 5 below for storage.

[0100] The entire cooling process does not require the forced convection of the duct components and fan 7 in the traditional solution. Instead, it relies on the natural conduction and radiation of cold energy, as well as the limited natural air convection within the ice chamber 3, which fundamentally simplifies the cooling system of the ice chamber 3.

[0101] In a specific operating cycle, after the controller receives an ice-making command or a temperature sensor signal, it controls the valve to allow refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant pipe 61 in the barrier 31. The refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat in the pipe. After about 20 minutes, the water in the ice box 41 is completely frozen. Then the refrigerant flow is cut off, and the ice-making process ends. This direct embedded refrigeration method has a rapid response and low energy loss.

[0102] In this application, the refrigerant pipe 61 is located inside the barrier 31 on the side of the ice-making chamber 3, rather than directly below the ice maker assembly 4. This allows heat to be applied away from the ice in the ice storage container 5 during defrosting, thereby reducing the risk of heat being directly conducted to the ice, causing it to melt and stick together. The cold air is directly transferred to the ice-making chamber 3 through the barrier 31, utilizing the refrigerator's inherent insulation layer, eliminating the need for additional insulation for the air duct and saving material costs.

[0103] The ice-making chamber 3 is integrated into the cold storage chamber 2, utilizing the existing inner wall as part of the boundary, and the refrigeration unit 6 is integrated into the barrier body 31. This simplifies the components, reduces the difficulty of processing and assembly, optimizes space utilization, and thereby reduces manufacturing costs and improves production efficiency.

[0104] Similar parts between the embodiments provided in this application can be referred to mutually. The specific implementation methods provided above are only a few examples under the overall concept of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application. For those skilled in the art, any other implementation methods extended from the solution of this application without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The cold storage room includes an ice-making compartment. The ice-making chamber and the cold storage chamber are insulated by a barrier, and the barrier is filled with heat-insulating material. An ice maker assembly, located within the ice-making chamber, is used for making ice; An ice storage container, disposed within the ice-making chamber, is used to store ice produced by the ice-making machine components; A refrigerator is disposed on the outer side of the inner wall of the barrier body and in contact with the insulation material. The refrigerator includes a refrigerant pipe, which is disposed in an L-shaped structure within the barrier body and is used for heat exchange inside the ice-making chamber.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a freezer compartment, in which a freezing evaporator is installed. The freezing evaporator is connected to the refrigerator via refrigeration pipes, and the refrigerator is used to provide cooling capacity for the freezer compartment and the ice-making compartment.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fan is installed in the ice-making chamber, and the fan is located on the side wall or top wall of the ice-making chamber to drive the airflow in the ice-making chamber. After the airflow is driven, the air comes into contact with the ice-making machine components to perform heat exchange.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The barrier is an L-shaped structure, including a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall is perpendicular to the second sidewall. One end of the first sidewall is connected to the first inner wall of the refrigerator compartment. The other end of the first sidewall is connected to one end of the second sidewall. The other end of the second sidewall is connected to the second inner wall of the refrigerator compartment. The first inner wall is perpendicular to the second inner wall. The barrier and the refrigerator compartment form a closed ice-making chamber structure.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The refrigerant pipeline includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected to each other. The first pipe section extends along a first sidewall of the barrier, and the second pipe section bends from the first pipe section and extends along a second sidewall of the barrier.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator is in contact with the outer end of the barrier through a heat-conducting plate, the outer end being the end exposed in the cold storage compartment; the heat-conducting plate is adhered to the surface of the refrigerant pipe.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A water collection tray is provided in the ice-making chamber. The water collection tray is located on the barrier body below the ice-making machine assembly and is used to collect condensate generated during the ice-making process. The rear end of the water collection tray is assembled to the back of the refrigerator compartment and connected to the drain pipe of the refrigerator.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant pipeline is equipped with a heater, which is arranged side by side at specific intervals next to the refrigerant pipeline. The heater is used to generate heat by being powered on, thereby increasing the temperature inside the ice-making chamber and removing condensed frost.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice storage container is equipped with an ice delivery rod at the bottom, which rotates or translates to push the ice blocks inside the ice storage container.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, An ice crusher is installed inside the ice-making chamber and is located at the outlet of the ice storage container for crushing the ice produced by the ice-making machine components.

Images