Water tank and ice making equipment comprising same

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ice making equipment, particularly provides a water tank and ice making equipment comprising the water tank, and aims to solve the problem that water pumping is difficult due to the fact that air is easily accumulated between an existing water tank and a water pump. In order to achieve the purpose, the water tank comprises a connecting pipeline, a water inlet, a water outlet and an exhaust port are formed in the connecting pipeline, the water inlet is communicated with a water storage cavity in the water tank, the water outlet is used for being communicated with a water suction pump, and the exhaust port is communicated with the water storage cavity or the external atmosphere. Water flow enters the water storage cavity and then enters the connecting pipeline through the water inlet, so that gas in the connecting pipeline is exhausted through the exhaust port. Through the arrangement, water flow can smoothly enter the water suction pump, the situation that the impeller idles due to the fact that air flow blocks the position between the water flow and the water suction pump is prevented, normal water suction is ensured, and meanwhile the water suction pump is prevented from high temperature and even being damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, specifically providing a water tank and ice-making equipment including the water tank. Background Technology

[0002] With technological advancements and improved living standards, cold drink culture is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger generations who are increasingly accepting of ice-making practices, which has promoted the rapid development and widespread adoption of home ice-making equipment.

[0003] To achieve rapid mass ice production, ice-making equipment is usually equipped with a water tank. A water pump can quickly extract water from the tank for ice making. A pipe or connector is usually needed to connect the water tank and the water pump for assembly.

[0004] However, air can easily accumulate in the existing connecting pipes between the water tank and the water pump, causing the water pump to run dry and making it difficult to pump water, resulting in equipment damage.

[0005] Accordingly, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, that air easily accumulates between the existing water tank and the water pump, leading to difficulties in pumping water.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a water tank, the water tank including a connecting pipe, the connecting pipe being provided with an inlet, an outlet and an exhaust port, the inlet communicating with a water storage chamber inside the water tank, the outlet communicating with a water pump, and the exhaust port communicating with the water storage chamber or the outside atmosphere, so that when water is injected into the water storage chamber, the water flows into the water storage chamber and first enters the connecting pipe through the inlet, so that the gas in the connecting pipe is discharged through the exhaust port.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the water tank described above, both the inlet and the outlet are connected to the water storage chamber. The connection point between the inlet and the water storage chamber is lower than the connection point between the outlet and the water storage chamber, so that water can first enter the connecting pipe through the inlet. The outlet is located outside the water tank.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned water tank, the bottom wall of the water storage cavity is provided with an opening, the connecting pipe is located below the opening and is sealed to the edge of the opening, the water inlet and the vent are both provided at the position of the connecting pipe corresponding to the opening, and a dam surrounding the opening is also provided on the bottom wall of the water storage cavity, and a drain outlet communicating with the opening is provided on the dam.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned water tank, the number of vents is set to multiple, and the multiple vents are distributed at intervals on both sides of the connecting pipe along the length direction of the connecting pipe; and / or the water inlet and the vents both extend circumferentially from the side of the connecting pipe to the top of the connecting pipe; and / or the drain outlet is positioned directly opposite the water inlet.

[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an ice-making device, the ice-making device comprising an ice-making module, a circulation pipeline, a water pump and the aforementioned water tank, wherein the water pump is connected to the ice-making module through the circulation pipeline to pump water from the water storage chamber into the ice-making module for ice making, the water storage chamber being located at the bottom of the water tank, and the ice-making module being installed in the water tank and located above the water storage chamber.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned ice-making equipment, the ice-making module includes a refrigeration device and an ice-making box. The ice-making box is provided with an ice-making cavity and a circulating water inlet communicating with the ice-making cavity. The outlet of the circulating pipe is connected to the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet, so that water flows into the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet, and then flows out from the circulating water inlet and falls into the water storage cavity to form a circulating water flow. The refrigeration device is heat-exchange connected to the ice-making box to transfer cold energy to the circulating water flow in the ice-making box.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned ice-making equipment, the ice-making box includes a front panel and a back panel arranged opposite to each other, the circulating water inlet is disposed on the front panel, the refrigeration device is fixedly connected to the back panel, and the outlet of the circulating pipe is located above the ice-making box, so that water flows sequentially through the top of the ice-making box and the upper edge of the circulating water inlet into the ice-making cavity, and then through the lower edge of the circulating water inlet and the bottom of the ice-making box into the water storage cavity.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned ice-making equipment, the ice-making equipment further includes an ice storage box with an opening at the top. The ice storage box is located below the front side of the ice-making box and above the water storage cavity. A return channel is formed between the rear part of the ice storage box and the inner wall of the water tank, connecting the ice-making cavity and the water storage cavity, so that the circulating water flowing out of the ice-making cavity falls into the water storage cavity through the return channel. And / or an ice-removing port is also provided on the water tank at a position corresponding to the ice storage box. The ice storage box is slidably connected and / or pivotally connected to the water tank, and can be moved to the outside of the water tank through the ice-removing port for convenient ice removal.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the ice-making equipment described above, the ice-making equipment further includes a guide plate, which is pivotally connected to the lower part of the ice-making box. The guide plate is configured to tilt downwards in a front-to-back direction when water flows down, so as to guide the water flow into the return channel and the water storage chamber, and to tilt downwards in a back-to-front direction when ice blocks fall, so as to guide the ice blocks into the ice storage box.

[0016] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned ice-making equipment, the refrigeration device includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an ice removal pipeline. The compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator are connected by a refrigerant pipeline to form a heat exchange circulation system. The evaporator is connected to the ice-making box for heat exchange. The two ends of the ice removal pipeline are respectively connected to the exhaust port of the compressor and the inlet of the evaporator. A normally closed valve is provided on the ice removal pipeline.

[0017] When adopting the above technical solution, the water tank of the present invention includes a connecting pipe, on which an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust port are provided. The inlet communicates with the water storage chamber inside the water tank, the outlet is used to communicate with a water pump, and the exhaust port is connected to the water storage chamber or the outside atmosphere. This allows the water to flow smoothly into the water pump, ensuring contact with the impeller and guaranteeing pumping efficiency while preventing the impeller from spinning dry and damaging the equipment.

[0018] Furthermore, in this invention, both the water inlet and the vent are connected to the water storage chamber. The connection point between the water inlet and the water storage chamber is lower than the connection point between the vent and the water storage chamber, allowing water to flow into the connecting pipe first through the water inlet. The water outlet is located outside the water tank. This arrangement ensures that while water flowing into the water tank flows into the connecting pipe through the water inlet, the vent remains unobstructed, allowing the water flow to expel air from the bottom up through the vent, preventing the vent from becoming blocked before all air is expelled, and ensuring thorough venting.

[0019] Furthermore, the bottom wall of the water storage chamber of the present invention is provided with an opening, and the connecting pipe is located below the opening and sealed to the edge of the opening. The inlet and outlet are both located at positions corresponding to the opening on the connecting pipe. A dam surrounding the opening is also provided on the bottom wall of the water storage chamber, and a drain outlet communicating with the opening is provided on the dam. This arrangement provides a preferred embodiment where, when water is initially added, the water flow can only flow downwards from the drain outlet and drainage channel through the inlet into the connecting pipe, without entering the connecting pipe through the outlet, thus ensuring the unobstructed flow of the outlet.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention provides multiple vents, which are spaced apart on both sides of the connecting pipe along its length; and / or both the inlet and the vent extend circumferentially from the side of the connecting pipe to its top; and / or the drain is positioned directly opposite the inlet. By providing multiple vents, the speed and reliability of venting can be improved; the circumferential extension of the inlet and vent increases their vertical span, thereby improving the water intake efficiency and venting efficiency respectively, and also enabling simultaneous water intake and venting.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention provides an ice-making device based on the aforementioned water tank, comprising an ice-making module, a circulation pipeline, a water pump, and the aforementioned water tank. The water pump is connected to the ice-making module through the circulation pipeline to pump water from the water storage chamber into the ice-making module for ice making. The water storage chamber is located at the bottom of the water tank, and the ice-making module is installed in the water tank and located above the water storage chamber.

[0022] Because of the use of the aforementioned water tank, the ice-making equipment of the present invention achieves the same technical effects as the water tank. Compared with the ice-making equipment before the improvement, the water supply speed and reliability of the ice-making equipment of the present invention are effectively improved during the process of supplying water from the water tank to the ice-making module, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency.

[0023] Furthermore, the ice-making module of the present invention includes a refrigeration device and an ice-making box. The ice-making box is provided with an ice-making cavity and a circulating water inlet communicating with the ice-making cavity. The outlet of the circulation pipe is connected to the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet, so that water flows into the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet, then flows out from the circulating water inlet and falls into the water storage cavity to form a circulating water flow. The refrigeration device is heat-exchange connected to the ice-making box to transfer cold energy to the circulating water flow in the ice-making box. With this configuration, on the one hand, it achieves rapid production of solid ice cubes, prolongs the melting time of ice cubes in beverages, and allows beverages to maintain a refreshing icy taste for a longer period of time, improving the user's ice-using experience; on the other hand, it makes the internal structure of the ice-making equipment more compact and reasonable, improving space utilization.

[0024] Furthermore, the ice maker of the present invention includes a front panel and a back panel arranged opposite to each other. A circulation inlet is located on the front panel, and the refrigeration device is fixedly connected to the back panel. The outlet of the circulation pipe is located above the ice maker, allowing water to flow sequentially through the top of the ice maker and the upper edge of the circulation inlet into the ice-making chamber, and then through the lower edge of the circulation inlet and the bottom of the ice maker into the water storage chamber. This arrangement increases the flow rate of the circulating water within the ice-making chamber, preventing air bubbles from accumulating in the ice-making chamber, thereby helping to improve the transparency of the ice and making the ice more aesthetically pleasing.

[0025] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes an ice storage box with an opening at the top. The ice storage box is located below the front side of the ice-making box and above the water storage chamber. A return channel connecting the ice-making chamber and the water storage chamber is formed between the rear part of the ice storage box and the inner wall of the water tank, so that the circulating water flowing out of the ice-making chamber falls into the water storage chamber through the return channel. Alternatively, an ice-removing port is provided on the water tank at a position corresponding to the ice storage box. The ice storage box is slidably connected and / or pivotally connected to the water tank, allowing it to be moved to the outside of the water tank through the ice-removing port for convenient ice removal. With this configuration, on the one hand, the produced ice can be stored for convenient user access, while simultaneously freeing up the ice-making chamber for continued ice-making; on the other hand, it makes the user's ice-removal operation more convenient.

[0026] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a guide plate, which is pivotally connected to the lower part of the ice-making box. The guide plate is configured to tilt downwards in a front-to-back direction when water flows down, so as to guide the water flow into the return channel and the water storage chamber, and to tilt downwards in a back-to-front direction when ice blocks fall, so as to guide the ice blocks into the ice storage box. Through this configuration, automatic separation and guidance of water flow and ice blocks are achieved, so as to accurately guide water flow and ice blocks into the water tank and the ice storage box.

[0027] Furthermore, the refrigeration device of the present invention includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an ice-removing pipeline. The compressor, condenser, and evaporator are connected via refrigerant pipelines to form a heat exchange circulation system. The evaporator is connected to the ice-making box for heat exchange. The two ends of the ice-removing pipeline are respectively connected to the exhaust port of the compressor and the inlet of the evaporator, and a normally closed valve is provided on the ice-removing pipeline. With this configuration, on the one hand, the refrigeration device can cool rapidly and the temperature can be controlled; on the other hand, after ice forms, the high-temperature gas discharged from the compressor can be directly introduced into the evaporator by opening the normally closed valve, so that the evaporator heats up to melt the part of the ice that is in contact with the ice-making box, thus achieving automatic ice removal. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the housing and the water pump of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting pipe structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making device of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making device of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at point AA; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of a portion of the image; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit operation of the ice-making equipment of the present invention.

[0029] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Pure water tank; 2. Hot water pipeline; 21. Heating device; 22. Hot water pump; 3. Cold water pipeline; 31. Cold water pump; 4. Control valve; 5. Hot water return pipeline; 6. Water tank; 61. Make-up water pump; 62. Connecting pipeline; 621. Vent; 622. Inlet; 623. Outlet; 63. Dam; 631. Drainage outlet; 632. Drainage channel; 71. Refrigeration device; 711. Compressor; 712. Condenser 713. Evaporator; 714. De-icing pipe; 715. Normally closed valve; 72. Ice maker; 721. Front panel; 7211. Circulation inlet; 722. Rear panel; 723. Guide surface; 724. Baffle; 73. Circulation pipe; 731. Drip outlet; 74. Water pump; 75. Ice storage box; 76. Return channel; 77. Ice outlet; 78. Guide plate; 8. Water purification device; 9. Raw water tank; 10. Water intake pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications.

[0031] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," etc., which indicate directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for the convenience of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0032] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or a detachable connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Based on the background art, existing ice-making equipment often suffers from air accumulation between the water tank and the pump, leading to difficulties in pumping water. This invention provides a water tank and an ice-making device including the water tank. By installing a connecting pipe inside the water tank that communicates with the pump, and providing an inlet, outlet, and vent on the connecting pipe, the inlet connects to the water storage chamber inside the water tank, the outlet connects to the pump, and the vent connects to the storage chamber or the external atmosphere. This ensures that when water is injected into the storage chamber, the water flows into the connecting pipe through the inlet, expelling any air in the connecting pipe through the vent, and then smoothly flows into the pump, ensuring normal pumping.

[0034] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the water tank 6 of the present invention forms a water storage cavity, which can be configured as an open structure or a closed structure. The water tank 6 includes a connecting pipe 62 for connection to a water pump 74. The connecting pipe 62 is provided with an inlet 622, an outlet 623, and an exhaust port 621. The inlet 622 is connected to the water storage cavity, the outlet 623 is connected to the water pump 74, and the exhaust port 621 is connected to the water storage cavity or the external atmosphere, so as to achieve dynamic balance of the internal and external air pressure of the connecting pipe 62.

[0035] When water is added to the storage chamber, the water flows into the connecting pipe 62 through the inlet 622, expelling any accumulated air through the exhaust port 621. This allows the water to smoothly enter the water pump 74 and contact the impeller. When water needs to be pumped out, turning on the water pump 74 allows the rotating impeller to directly draw in the water, preventing airflow from blocking the water flow and causing the impeller to spin dry. This ensures normal pumping and avoids overheating or damage to the water pump 74.

[0036] Preferably, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the inlet 622 and the vent 621 of the connecting pipe 62 are both located inside the water tank 6 and connected to the water storage chamber. The outlet 623 is located outside the water tank 6 and connected to the external water pump 74. The connection between the inlet 622 and the water storage chamber is lower than the connection between the vent 621 and the water storage chamber, so that water can flow into the connecting pipe 62 through the inlet 622 first.

[0037] Specifically, after the water is injected into the water storage chamber, it first flows into the connecting pipe 62 through the inlet 622. In the connecting pipe 62, as the water level rises, the water will expel the air from the bottom up through the vent 621. During the venting process, since the vent 621 is connected to the water storage chamber at a high position, the vent 621 will not be submerged by water, preventing the vent 621 from being blocked before the air is completely expelled, thus ensuring that the air can be completely expelled.

[0038] The position of the connecting pipe 62 in the water storage chamber can be flexibly set as needed, as long as the water flow can enter through the inlet 622 and the air can be expelled through the outlet 621.

[0039] Preferably, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bottom wall of the water storage cavity of the present invention is provided with an opening, the connecting pipe 62 is located below the opening and is sealed to the edge of the opening, the water inlet 622 and the vent 621 are both provided at the positions corresponding to the opening on the connecting pipe 62, and a dam 63 surrounding the opening is also provided on the bottom wall of the water storage cavity, and a drain outlet 631 communicating with the opening is provided on the dam 63.

[0040] Specifically, the inlet 622 and the vent 621 are both located on the wall of the connecting pipe 62. The lowest point of the inlet 622 is not higher than the bottom wall of the water storage chamber to facilitate the inflow of water. A dam 63 surrounding the connecting pipe 62 is also provided on the bottom surface. A drain outlet 631 is provided on the dam 63. The drain outlet 631 is directly opposite the inlet 622 and a drainage channel 632 is provided between them. The drainage channel 632 gradually sinks down along the direction from the drain outlet 631 to the inlet 622.

[0041] More preferably, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the drain outlet 631 is a notch extending from the bottom to the top of the dam 63, with its lowest point flush with the bottom surface of the water storage chamber. The height of the dam 63 can be set between 2cm and 5cm, enclosing the connecting pipe 62 inside. Only the inlet 622 is connected to the outside of the dam 63 through the drain outlet 631. At the beginning stage of filling the water storage chamber, the water level is far from reaching the height of the dam 63. The water can only flow into the connecting pipe 62 sequentially through the drain outlet 631, the drainage channel 632, and the inlet 622, while the vent outlet 621 will not have any water flowing in due to the enclosure of the dam 63.

[0042] This ensures that the exhaust port 621 is unobstructed, so that air can be completely expelled.

[0043] As the water volume in the storage chamber increases and the water level rises, the water will gradually fill and submerge the entire connecting pipe 62 to completely expel the air, until the dam 63 is submerged. After the water filling is completed, the water pump 74 can be started at any time to pump water out. During the pumping, since both the inlet 622 and the outlet 631 are submerged in water, the vent 621 can also be used for water intake.

[0044] Preferably, the number of exhaust ports 621 in this invention is set to be multiple, and the multiple exhaust ports 621 are distributed at intervals on both sides of the connecting pipe 62 along the length direction of the connecting pipe 62. On the one hand, it improves the exhaust speed and reliability; on the other hand, it can also increase the water intake when used for water intake during the pumping stage.

[0045] Preferably, the inlet 622 and the vent 621 extend circumferentially from the side of the connecting pipe 62 to the top of the connecting pipe 62. This arrangement increases the vertical span of the inlet 622, preventing it from being completely submerged in the initial stage of water intake, while its upper part can also serve as a vent, thus improving both water intake and venting efficiency.

[0046] Specifically, such as Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the ice-making device further provided by the present invention based on the above-mentioned water tank includes an ice-making module, a circulation pipeline 73, a water pump 74 and the above-mentioned water tank 6. The water pump 74 is connected to the ice-making module through the circulation pipeline 73 to pump water in the water storage chamber to the ice-making module for ice making. The water storage chamber is located at the bottom of the water tank 6, and the ice-making module is installed in the water tank 6 and located above the water storage chamber.

[0047] Preferably, such as Figure 5 As shown, the bottom space of the water tank 6 forms a water storage cavity for storing cold water. The water inlet of the water tank 6 is connected to an external water source such as a tap water pipe or a water purification device 8 through a water replenishment pump 61, which can introduce water into the water storage cavity for storage. The water storage cavity is connected to the ice-making module through a water pump 74 and a circulation pipeline 73 to supply ice-making water to the ice-making module.

[0048] Preferably, the ice-making module of the present invention includes a refrigeration device 71 and an ice-making box 72. It should be noted that the ice-making box 72 can be configured as a closed type or an open type. When water is introduced into the ice-making chamber, it will be rapidly cooled under the action of the refrigeration device 71 and then condense into solid ice blocks. Solid ice blocks prolong the melting time of ice blocks in beverages, allowing beverages to maintain a refreshing taste for a longer period of time and improving the user's ice-using experience.

[0049] More preferably, the ice-making box 72 is provided with an ice-making cavity and a circulating water inlet 7211 connected to the ice-making cavity to form an open structure. The outlet end of the circulation pipe 73 is connected to the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet 7211 so that water flows into the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet 7211. The water flowing into the ice-making cavity can also flow out through the circulating water inlet 7211 and fall into the water storage cavity below to form a circulating water flow. The refrigeration device 71 is connected to the ice-making box 72 for heat exchange to transfer cold energy to the circulating water flow in the ice-making box 72. Specifically, during the process of circulating water flowing through the ice-making chamber, part of the water condenses to form ice, while the other part of the water that has not completely condensed flows out through the circulating water inlet 7211 and returns to the water storage chamber to continue circulating. At the same time, the water temperature in the water storage chamber is reduced. Using circulating water to make ice not only accelerates the cooling speed of the water flow and shortens the ice-making time, but also allows the ice water in the water storage chamber to be exported to meet the user's demand for ice water, thus enriching the function of the ice-making equipment.

[0050] It should be noted that, in practical applications, those skilled in the art can flexibly set the position of the circulating water inlet 7211, such as the top or side of the ice-making box 72, as long as water can flow in and out of the ice-making cavity. Such flexible adjustments and changes do not deviate from the principles and scope of the present invention and should be limited to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0051] Preferably, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the ice maker 72 of the present invention includes a front panel 721 and a rear panel 722 disposed opposite to each other. A circulation inlet 7211 is disposed on the front panel 721. A refrigeration device 71 is fixed on the rear panel 722. The outlet of the circulation pipe 73 is located above the ice maker 72. The water flow it produces can flow into the ice-making cavity through the top of the ice maker 72 and the upper edge of the circulation inlet 7211 in sequence, and flow down through the ice-making cavity. Finally, it flows into the water storage cavity through the lower edge of the circulation inlet 7211 and the bottom of the ice maker 72.

[0052] As water flows through the ice-making chamber, the refrigeration device 71 installed on the back panel 722 quickly absorbs the heat from the circulating water to make ice from the flowing water.

[0053] This design increases the flow rate of circulating water within the ice-making chamber. Utilizing flowing water for ice making prevents air bubbles from accumulating and condensing within the chamber, which would affect the transparency of the ice and thus improve its appearance.

[0054] Preferably, such as Figure 8As shown, the top of the ice box 72 is provided with a guide surface 723. The guide surface 723 is inclined downward along the direction from the back panel 722 to the front panel 721, so that the water flow from the circulation pipe 73 can flow forward into the circulation water inlet 7211 along the guide surface 723.

[0055] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the outlet end of the circulation pipe 73 is provided with multiple drip nozzles 731, and the multiple drip nozzles 731 are distributed at intervals. For example, the portion of the circulation pipe 73 located above the ice box 72 extends along the length direction of the ice box 72, and the multiple drip nozzles 731 are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the circulation pipe 73, so that the water flow is evenly dripped onto the guide surface 723, so that the water flow can flow into the ice-making cavity more evenly, thereby making the thickness of the ice more uniform.

[0056] Preferably, such as Figure 5 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes an ice storage box 75 with an opening at the top. The ice storage box 75 is located below the front side of the ice-making box 72 and can collect ice blocks discharged from the ice-making chamber. That is, after the ice blocks are discharged from the circulating water inlet 7211, they can fall into the ice storage box 75. This not only stores the ice blocks so that users can take them at any time, but also empties the ice-making chamber so that ice making can continue.

[0057] Regarding the specific location of the ice storage box 75 within the water tank 6, preferably, the ice storage box 75 is also located above the water storage cavity, that is, the ice making box 72, the ice storage box 75, and the water storage cavity are distributed vertically from top to bottom within the water tank 6, and a return channel 76 is formed between the rear part of the ice storage box 75 and the inner wall of the water tank 6, connecting the ice making cavity and the water storage cavity, so that the circulating water flowing out of the ice making cavity can fall into the water storage cavity through the return channel 76.

[0058] Specifically, the water tank 6 of the present invention is divided into an upper chamber, a middle chamber and a lower chamber. The ice box 72 is located at the rear of the upper chamber, the ice storage box 75 is located at the front of the middle chamber, the water storage chamber is formed in the lower chamber, and the return channel 76 is located at the rear of the middle chamber. Its two ends are connected to the upper chamber and the lower chamber respectively. The water flowing out from the circulation port 7211 can fall into the water storage chamber through the return channel 76.

[0059] This structural distribution makes the internal structure of the ice-making equipment more reasonable and compact, making full use of the internal space of the water tank 6, maximizing capacity and miniaturizing the equipment.

[0060] To ensure that the ice and water flowing out of the ice-making chamber fall accurately into the front ice storage box 75 and the rear return channel 76, preferably, as follows: Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a guide plate 78, which is pivotally connected to the lower part of the ice-making box 72. The guide plate 78 is configured to tilt downward in a front-to-back direction when water flows down, so as to guide the water flow into the return channel 76 and the water storage chamber, and tilt downward in a back-to-front direction when ice blocks fall down, so as to guide the ice blocks into the ice storage box 75.

[0061] For example, the guide plate 78 is pivotally connected to the bottom of the ice box 72 via a pivot, has a water guide position and an ice guide position, and is rotatable between the two positions. When the guide plate 78 is in the water guide position, it is tilted downward in a front-to-back direction so as to guide water flow into the rear return channel 76 and the water storage chamber. When the guide plate 78 is in the ice guide position, it is tilted downward in a back-to-front direction so as to guide ice into the front ice storage box 75.

[0062] When the guide plate 78 is not subjected to any external force, it is in the water guiding position. When water flows onto the guide plate 78, the weight of the water is insufficient to make the guide plate 78 rotate, so that the guide plate 78 can still remain in the water guiding position. When ice blocks fall, due to the large weight of the ice blocks, the guide plate 78 will rotate from the water guiding position to the ice guiding position under the action of gravity of the ice blocks to guide the ice blocks. After the ice guiding is completed, the guide plate 78 will automatically rotate back to the water guiding position.

[0063] It should be noted that in actual use, the weight of the rear of the guide plate 78 can be slightly greater than that of the front, or a torsion spring can be installed on the rotating shaft so that it can be kept at the water guide level when it is not subjected to external force.

[0064] Through a simple structural design, the water flow and ice blocks are automatically separated and guided, so that the water flow and ice blocks are automatically introduced into the water storage chamber and ice storage box 75.

[0065] Preferably, such as Figures 3 to 5 As shown, an ice dispensing port 77 is also provided on the water tank 6 at the position corresponding to the ice storage box 75. The ice storage box 75 is slidably connected and / or pivotally connected to the water tank 6, and can be moved to the outside of the water tank 6 through the ice dispensing port 77 when ice is being taken out, so that the top opening of the ice storage box 75 is exposed, making it convenient for the user to take out ice. After taking out ice, the ice storage box 75 is pushed back into the water tank 6 through the ice dispensing port 77.

[0066] Regarding the refrigeration device 71, it can be configured as a semiconductor refrigeration chip or as a heat exchange circulation system.

[0067] Preferably, such as Figures 7 to 9As shown, the refrigeration device 71 of the present invention includes a compressor 711, a condenser 712, an evaporator 713, and a de-icing pipe 714. The compressor 711, the condenser 712, and the evaporator 713 are connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a heat exchange circulation loop. The evaporator 713 is connected to the ice box 72 for heat exchange. The two ends of the de-icing pipe 714 are respectively connected to the exhaust port 621 of the compressor 711 and the inlet of the evaporator 713. A normally closed valve 715 is provided on the de-icing pipe 714.

[0068] On the one hand, it enables the refrigeration device 71 to cool quickly and the temperature to be controllable; on the other hand, after the ice is formed, the high-temperature gas discharged from the compressor 711 can be directly introduced into the evaporator 713 by opening the normally closed valve 715, so that the evaporator 713 can be heated to melt the part of the ice block in contact with the ice box 72, realize automatic de-icing, and allow the ice block to slide out of the ice-making chamber and fall into the ice storage box 75 automatically.

[0069] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a partition 724 disposed in the ice-making chamber. The partition 724 can divide the ice-making chamber into multiple ice-making grids. The shape and number of ice-making grids can be flexibly set as needed to meet different ice-using needs of users.

[0070] Preferably, the partition 724 of the present invention includes several horizontal plates and several vertical plates, the horizontal plates and vertical plates intersecting each other to divide the ice-making cavity into multiple square ice-making grids, thereby enabling the production of square solid ice blocks.

[0071] More preferably, the crossbars are all configured to slope downwards in a back-to-forehead direction to facilitate the outward flow of water and the outward sliding of ice blocks.

[0072] like Figure 9 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the ice-making equipment, the ice-making equipment further includes a raw water tank 9, a water purification device 8, a pure water tank 1, a hot water pipe 2, a cold water pipe 3, a hot water return pipe 5, and a water intake pipe 10. The inlet of the raw water tank 9 is connected to an external water source (such as a tap water pipe) for introducing and storing raw water. The outlet of the raw water tank 9 is connected to the inlet of the pure water tank 1 through the water purification device 8. The water purification device 8 can purify the tap water and introduce the purified pure water into the pure water tank 1.

[0073] The hot water pipe 2 is connected to the outlet of the pure water tank 1 and the water intake pipe 10 at both ends. The hot water pipe 2 is equipped with a hot water pump 22 and a heating device 21 to heat the water flow and send the hot water into the water intake pipe 10 for users to use. The inlet of the water tank 6 is connected to the outlet of the pure water tank 1 through a water replenishment pump 61. The cold water pipe 3 is connected to the outlet of the water tank 6 and the water intake pipe 10 at both ends. The cold water pipe 3 is equipped with a cold water pump 31, which can export the ice water in the water tank 6 to meet the user's demand for ice water. This forms a water circuit structure in parallel between the hot water pipe 2 and the cold water pipe 3, which realizes the mixing of cold water and hot water at the water intake pipe 10. By controlling the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water, the water temperature at the water intake pipe 10 can be adjusted to meet the drinking water needs of different temperatures.

[0074] One end of the hot water return pipe 5 is connected to the outlet of the heating device 21 through the control valve 4, and the other end of the hot water return pipe 5 is connected to the hot water return port of the pure water tank 1, which can introduce the heated water into the pure water tank 1, water tank 6, ice making module and cold water pipe 3 for high-temperature sterilization.

[0075] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water tank (6), characterized in that, The water tank (6) includes a connecting pipe (62), which is provided with an inlet (622), an outlet (623) and an exhaust port (621). The inlet (622) is connected to the water storage chamber inside the water tank (6), the outlet (623) is used to connect to the water pump (74), and the exhaust port (621) is connected to the water storage chamber or the outside atmosphere. When water is injected into the water storage chamber, the water flows into the water storage chamber and first enters the connecting pipe (62) through the inlet (622) to discharge the gas in the connecting pipe (62) through the exhaust port (621).

2. The water tank (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet (622) and the outlet (621) are both connected to the water storage chamber. The connection between the inlet (622) and the water storage chamber is lower than the connection between the outlet (621) and the water storage chamber, so that the water flow can first enter the connecting pipe (62) through the inlet (622). The outlet (623) is located outside the water tank (6).

3. The water tank (6) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the water storage chamber is provided with an opening. The connecting pipe (62) is located below the opening and is sealed to the edge of the opening. The inlet (622) and the outlet (621) are both located on the connecting pipe (62) at positions corresponding to the opening. The bottom wall of the water storage chamber is also provided with a dam (63) surrounding the opening. The dam (63) is provided with a drain outlet (631) communicating with the opening.

4. The water tank (6) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of exhaust ports (621) is set to multiple, and the multiple exhaust ports (621) are distributed at intervals on both sides of the connecting pipe (62) along the length direction of the connecting pipe (62); and / or Both the inlet (622) and the outlet (621) extend circumferentially from the side of the connecting pipe (62) to the top of the connecting pipe (62); and / or The drain outlet (631) is positioned opposite the inlet (622).

5. An ice-making device, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making module, a circulation pipeline (73), a water pump (74), and a water tank (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The water pump (74) is connected to the ice-making module through the circulation pipeline (73) to pump water from the water storage chamber to the ice-making module for ice making. The water storage chamber is located at the bottom of the water tank (6), and the ice-making module is installed in the water tank (6) and located above the water storage chamber.

6. The ice-making equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making module includes a refrigeration device (71) and an ice-making box (72). The ice-making box (72) is provided with an ice-making cavity and a circulating water inlet (7211) connected to the ice-making cavity. The outlet of the circulating pipe (73) is connected to the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet (7211) so that water flows into the ice-making cavity through the circulating water inlet (7211), and then flows out from the circulating water inlet (7211) and falls into the water storage cavity to form a circulating water flow. The refrigeration device (71) is heat-exchange connected to the ice-making box (72) to transfer cold energy to the circulating water flow in the ice-making box (72).

7. The ice-making equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The ice maker (72) includes a front panel (721) and a back panel (722) arranged opposite to each other. The circulation inlet (7211) is located on the front panel (721). The refrigeration device (71) is fixedly connected to the back panel (722). The outlet of the circulation pipe (73) is located above the ice maker (72), so that water flows into the ice-making cavity through the top of the ice maker (72) and the upper edge of the circulation inlet (7211) in sequence, and then flows into the water storage cavity through the lower edge of the circulation inlet (7211) and the bottom of the ice maker (72).

8. The ice-making equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ice-making device also includes an ice storage box (75) with an opening at the top. The ice storage box (75) is located below the front side of the ice-making box (72) and above the water storage cavity. A return channel (76) is formed between the rear of the ice storage box (75) and the inner wall of the water tank, connecting the ice-making cavity and the water storage cavity, so that the circulating water flowing out of the ice-making cavity falls into the water storage cavity through the return channel (76); and / or An ice-retrieving port (77) is also provided on the water tank at a position corresponding to the ice storage box (75). The ice storage box (75) is slidably connected and / or pivotally connected to the water tank, and can be moved to the outside of the water tank through the ice-retrieving port (77) for convenient ice retrieval.

9. The ice-making equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ice-making device also includes a guide plate (78) pivotally connected below the ice-making box (72). The guide plate (78) is configured to tilt downwards in a front-to-back direction when water flows down to guide the water flow into the return channel (76) and the water storage chamber, and to tilt downwards in a back-to-front direction when ice blocks fall to guide the ice blocks into the ice storage box (75).

10. The ice-making apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that, The refrigeration device (71) includes a compressor (711), a condenser (712), an evaporator (713), and an ice removal pipeline (714). The compressor (711), the condenser (712), and the evaporator (713) are connected by a refrigerant pipeline to form a heat exchange circulation system. The evaporator (713) is connected to the ice box (72) for heat exchange. The two ends of the ice removal pipeline (714) are respectively connected to the exhaust port (621) of the compressor (711) and the inlet of the evaporator (713). A normally closed valve (715) is provided on the ice removal pipeline (714).

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