Ice making unit, refrigeration system and refrigerator

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of ice making appliance, and provides an ice making unit, which comprises an ice making box, and a refrigeration box is arranged on the top of the ice making box; the ice making box comprises a heat conduction plate, a plurality of ice cells extending downward and having open bottoms are fixed on the heat conduction plate; the ice making box further comprises a water blocking plate for blocking the open bottoms of the ice cells; a de-icing motor for driving the water blocking plate to open and close is further fixed on the side wall of the ice making box; a heating device is arranged on the heat conduction plate; the refrigeration box is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; the ice making unit further comprises a water storage tank connected with a main water pipe, a plurality of branch water pipes are connected with the main water pipe, and the number of the branch water pipes is the same as that of the ice cells; each branch water pipe is connected with one ice cell. Thus, the refrigeration box is arranged on the top of the ice making box, and the heating device is arranged on the heat conduction plate of the ice making box. When de-icing, the water film is formed between the ice block and the inner wall of the ice cell by heating, and the ice block is separated from the inner wall of the ice cell under the action of gravity, so that the adhesion between the ice block and the inner wall of the ice cell is avoided. The present application further provides a refrigeration system and a refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and particularly relates to an ice-making unit, a refrigeration system and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the common method for making ice involves placing an ice-making container filled with water into a freezer, where it freezes into ice cubes, which are then removed and collected. This entire process requires manual operation, and the ice cubes tend to stick to the inner wall of the ice-making container when detached, necessitating additional twisting or dropping, which can easily cause damage.

[0003] The ice-making process can only rely on natural cooling, which cannot be accelerated and affects the user experience.

[0004] In conclusion, the existing technology obviously has inconveniences and defects in practical use, so it is necessary to improve it. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned shortcomings, this invention primarily provides an ice-making unit that solves the technical problems of low automation in the ice-making process and uneven ice detachment.

[0006] To address the above problems, the present invention provides an ice-making unit, including an ice-making box, wherein a refrigeration box is provided on the top of the ice-making box; The ice maker includes a heat-conducting plate, on which multiple downward-extending ice trays with bottom openings are fixed; the ice maker also includes a water-blocking plate for sealing the bottom openings of each ice tray; an ice-removing motor for driving the water-blocking plate to open and close is also fixed on the side wall of the ice maker; and a heating device is provided on the heat-conducting plate. The refrigeration box is equipped with an air inlet and an air outlet; It also includes a water storage tank, which is connected to the main water pipe. The main water pipe is connected to a number of branch water pipes equal to the number of ice trays. Each branch water pipe is connected to one ice tray.

[0007] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, the water storage tank is disposed above the ice-making box; each water distribution pipe is inserted from the top of the refrigeration box and connected to the corresponding ice tray.

[0008] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, the ice grids on the heat-conducting plate are arranged in two rows along the length direction, and the ice grids in each row are equally spaced; there are two water-blocking plates and two ice-removing motors, and each water-blocking plate is connected to the corresponding ice-removing motor through a swing arm frame.

[0009] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, the water-blocking plate is provided with a sealing plug for sealing the bottom opening of the ice tray.

[0010] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, the heat-conducting plate and the ice tray are an integral structure, and both are made of metal.

[0011] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, a water injection pump is connected between the water storage tank and the main water pipe.

[0012] According to the ice-making unit of the present invention, the heating device is an ice-melting condenser; an ice-making evaporator is also fixed on the heat-conducting plate; the ice-melting condenser and the ice-making evaporator are respectively disposed on two sides of the heat-conducting plate.

[0013] A refrigeration system includes the ice-making unit described above; comprising a compressor, a main condenser, a capillary tube, and a main evaporator connected in sequence; a first control valve and a first three-way pipe are connected in series between the compressor and the main condenser, and the first control valve and the first three-way pipe are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-melting condenser. A second control valve and a second three-way pipe are connected in series between the main evaporator and the compressor. The second control valve and the second three-way pipe are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-making evaporator.

[0014] A refrigerator has the aforementioned refrigeration system; including a refrigerator inner liner and a freezer inner liner located below it; a refrigerator compartment is formed in the refrigerator inner liner, and a freezer compartment is formed in the freezer inner liner; a water tank of the ice-making unit is disposed in the refrigerator compartment; a refrigeration box is disposed in the interlayer between the refrigerator inner liner and the freezer inner liner; the ice-making box is installed on the top of the freezer compartment; The back of the refrigerated inner liner and the frozen inner liner are also provided with an air supply seat and an air return seat; the air inlet of the refrigeration box is connected to the air supply seat, and the air outlet is connected to the air return seat.

[0015] According to the refrigerator of the present invention, a ventilation duct is connected between the air inlet and the air outlet of the refrigeration box.

[0016] In summary, the ice-making unit of the present invention, by setting a cooling box on the top of an inverted ice-making box and setting a heating device on the heat-conducting plate of the ice-making box, allows for the removal of ice. During removal, a water film is formed between the ice and the inner wall of the ice tray through heating, and the ice falls off under gravity, preventing the ice from sticking to the inner wall of the ice tray. The present invention also provides a refrigeration system and a refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making unit of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure in direction A; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure in direction B; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water-blocking plate of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box of the present invention; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure in the C-direction; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure of the present invention; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure in the middle D direction; Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Internal structure diagram of the E-direction; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system of the present invention under normal operating conditions; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the rapid ice-making working state of the refrigeration system of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system of the present invention in its de-icing working state; In the diagram: 1-Ice tray, 11-Water blocking plate, 111-Sealing plug; 12-Ice removal motor, 13-Swing rod bracket, 14-Heat conduction plate, 15-Ice melting condenser, 16-Ice making evaporator; 2-Refrigeration box, 21-Air inlet, 22-Air outlet, 23-Ventilation duct; 3-Water storage tank, 31-Main water pipe, 32-Distribution water pipe; 4-Refrigerator inner liner, 41-Refrigerator compartment, 42-Return air seat, 43-Air supply seat, 44-Refrigerator air duct plate; 5-Freezing inner liner, 51-Freezing compartment; 6-Compressor, 61-Main condenser, 62-Capillary tube, 63-Main evaporator, 64-First control valve, 65-Second control valve, 66-First tee pipe, 67-Second tee pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0018] See Figure 1 This invention provides an ice-making unit, including an ice-making box with a cooling box 2 on top; it also includes a water storage tank 3 connected to a main water pipe 31, and the main water pipe 31 is connected to a number of branch water pipes 32 equal to the number of ice trays 1; each branch water pipe 32 is connected to one ice tray 1; water can be automatically added to each ice tray 1 through the water storage tank 3. This invention can control the total water volume released from the water storage tank 3 each time water is added according to the volume of each ice tray 1, and distribute it evenly to each ice tray 1 through the branch water pipes 32. Furthermore, a flow meter is provided at the connection between the water storage tank 3 and the main water pipe 31 to facilitate control of the water volume.

[0019] Optionally, a water pump is connected between the water storage tank 3 and the main water pipe 31 to inject water into the ice tray 1.

[0020] In one embodiment, the water storage tank 3 is positioned above the ice maker; each water distribution pipe 32 is inserted from the top of the refrigeration box 2 and connected to the corresponding ice tray 1; water is injected into each ice tray 1 by gravity flow.

[0021] Combination Figure 5 The ice maker includes a heat-conducting plate 14, on which a plurality of downwardly extending ice trays 1 with open bottoms are fixed; the ice maker also includes a water-blocking plate 11 for sealing the bottom of each ice tray 1; and an ice-removing motor 12 for driving the water-blocking plate 11 to open and close is fixed on the side wall of the ice maker. Combination Figure 3 In one embodiment, the ice grids 1 on the heat-conducting plate 14 are arranged in two rows along the length direction, with each row of ice grids 1 being equally spaced; there are two water-blocking plates 11 and two ice-removing motors 12, with each water-blocking plate 11 connected to the corresponding ice-removing motor 12 via a swing arm frame 13; like Figure 3 As shown, the left and right ice-removing motors 12 rotate clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, the swing arm frame 13 rotates outward and drives the water-blocking plate 11 to move downward and outward, thereby opening the bottom opening of the ice tray 1, allowing the ice block to detach and fall; The left and right de-icing motors 12 rotate in opposite directions, and the two water blocking plates 11 respectively block the corresponding row of ice grids 1, so as to carry out the next water injection and ice making.

[0022] See Figure 4 Furthermore, the water-blocking plate 11 is provided with a sealing plug 111 for sealing the bottom opening of the ice tray 1, thereby improving the sealing performance of the ice tray 1.

[0023] The heat-conducting plate 14 and the ice tray 1 of the present invention are an integral structure and are both made of metal, which has good thermal conductivity and improves the ice-making speed.

[0024] See Figure 2 The refrigeration box 2 is equipped with an air inlet 21 and an air outlet 22, which can circulate low-temperature airflow. The heat in the water is conducted away and condensed into ice blocks through the heat-conducting plate 14 and the ice grid 1. Optionally, a controllable damper is provided at the air inlet 21; the opening degree of the controllable damper controls the on / off state and air volume of the low-temperature airflow.

[0025] The heat-conducting plate 14 is equipped with a heating device; when the ice is removed, the heating device delivers heat, which raises the temperature of the heat-conducting plate 14 and the ice tray 1, thereby melting the contact area between the ice and the inner wall of the ice tray 1 to form a water film, which falls off under the action of gravity, thus avoiding the ice from sticking to the inner wall of the ice tray 1.

[0026] The ice-making unit of the present invention has a cooling box 2 installed on the top of an inverted ice box, and a heating device installed on the heat-conducting plate 14 of the ice box. When removing ice, a water film is formed between the ice and the inner wall of the ice tray 1 by heating, and the ice falls off under the action of gravity, thus avoiding the adhesion between the ice and the inner wall of the ice tray 1.

[0027] Combination Figure 6In one embodiment, the heating device is an ice-melting condenser 15; an ice-making evaporator 16 is also fixed on the heat-conducting plate 14; the ice-melting condenser 15 and the ice-making evaporator 16 are respectively disposed on two sides of the heat-conducting plate 14. See Figure 10 The present invention also provides a refrigeration system having the ice-making unit described above; comprising a compressor 6, a main condenser 61, a capillary tube 62 and a main evaporator 63 connected in sequence in a cycle; A first control valve 64 and a first three-way pipe 66 are connected in series between the compressor 6 and the main condenser 61. The first control valve 64 and the first three-way pipe 66 are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-melting condenser 15. A second control valve 65 and a second three-way pipe 67 are connected in series between the main evaporator 63 and the compressor 6. The second control valve 65 and the second three-way pipe 67 are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-making evaporator 16. See Figure 10 Under normal cooling conditions: the first control valve 64 shuts off the compressor 6 and the ice-melting condenser 15, and the second control valve 65 shuts off the main evaporator 63 and the ice-making evaporator 16; refrigerant does not enter the ice-melting condenser 15 and the ice-making evaporator 16.

[0028] See Figure 11 In rapid ice-making mode: the first control valve 64 shuts off the compressor 6 and the ice-melting condenser 15, and the second control valve 65 connects the main evaporator 63 and the ice-making evaporator 16; the ice-making evaporator 16 is connected in series with the main evaporator 63, and the refrigerant enters the ice-making evaporator 16 after passing through the main evaporator 63 to generate cold energy; the cold air flow introduced into the refrigeration box 2 is then added to increase the ice-making speed.

[0029] See Figure 12 In the de-icing state: the first control valve 64 connects the compressor 6 to the ice-melting condenser 15, and the second control valve 65 shuts off the main evaporator 63 and the ice-making evaporator 16; the ice-melting condenser 15 is connected in series with the main condenser 61. The high-temperature refrigerant sent from the compressor 6 first enters the ice-melting condenser 15 and releases heat, which raises the temperature of the heat-conducting plate 14 and the ice grid 1, thereby causing the contact part between the ice and the inner wall of the ice grid 1 to melt and form a water film, which falls off under the action of gravity.

[0030] The present invention can verify the conduction time of the ice-melting condenser 15 and the ice-making evaporator 16 through experiments, and complete the de-icing and ice-making processes.

[0031] Optionally, both the first control valve 64 and the second control valve 65 are electromagnetic three-way control valves, which have high controllability.

[0032] See Figure 7The present invention also provides a refrigerator having the aforementioned refrigeration system; including a refrigerator inner liner 4 and a freezer inner liner 5 located below it; a refrigerator compartment 41 is formed in the refrigerator inner liner 4, and a freezer compartment 51 is formed in the freezer inner liner 5; the water storage tank 3 of the ice-making unit is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 41, and the water in the water storage tank 3 is kept at a low temperature and does not freeze by utilizing the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 41, thereby improving the speed of ice making.

[0033] The cooling box 2 is positioned in the space between the refrigerated inner liner 4 and the frozen inner liner 5; this makes full use of the space and avoids encroaching on storage space. See also Figure 8 and Figure 9 The back of the refrigerator inner liner 4 and the freezer inner liner 5 are also provided with an air supply seat 43 and an air return seat 42; the air inlet 21 of the refrigeration box 2 is connected to the air supply seat 43, and the air outlet 22 is connected to the air return seat 42; ice is made using the cold airflow of the refrigerator.

[0034] The ice maker is installed on top of the freezer compartment 51; the temperature of the freezer compartment 51 is used to increase the ice-making speed and preserve the ice. An ice collection box is installed below the ice maker to store the produced ice.

[0035] Furthermore, a ventilation duct 23 is connected between the air inlet 2 and the air outlet 22 of the cooling box 2; the distance between the air distribution seat 43 and the return air seat 42 is adjusted to realize the connection between the air inlet 2 and the air outlet 22.

[0036] The refrigerator of the present invention is a single-system refrigerator. The main evaporator 63 is located on the back side of the freezing inner liner 5 and supplies air to the refrigeration air duct plate 44 through the air supply seat 43 to regulate the temperature of the refrigeration compartment 41.

[0037] In summary, this invention provides an ice-making unit that uses a cooling box mounted on top of an inverted ice-making tray and a heating element mounted on a heat-conducting plate of the ice-making tray. During ice removal, a water film is formed between the ice and the inner wall of the ice tray by heating, and the ice falls off under gravity, preventing the ice from sticking to the inner wall of the ice tray. This invention also provides a refrigeration system and a refrigerator.

[0038] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ice-making unit, characterized in that, Includes an ice maker, the top of which is provided with a cooling box; The ice maker includes a heat-conducting plate, on which multiple downward-extending ice trays with bottom openings are fixed; the ice maker also includes a water-blocking plate for sealing the bottom openings of each ice tray; an ice-removing motor for driving the water-blocking plate to open and close is also fixed on the side wall of the ice maker; and a heating device is provided on the heat-conducting plate. The refrigeration box is equipped with an air inlet and an air outlet; It also includes a water storage tank, which is connected to the main water pipe. The main water pipe is connected to a number of branch water pipes equal to the number of ice trays. Each branch water pipe is connected to one ice tray.

2. The ice-making unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water storage tank is located above the ice maker; each water pipe is inserted from the top of the refrigeration box and connected to the corresponding ice tray.

3. The ice-making unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ice grids on the heat-conducting plate are arranged in two rows along the length direction, with each row of ice grids set at equal intervals; there are two water-blocking plates and two ice-removing motors, and each water-blocking plate is connected to the corresponding ice-removing motor through a swing arm frame.

4. The ice-making unit as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The water-blocking plate is equipped with a sealing plug for sealing the bottom opening of the ice tray.

5. The ice-making unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-conducting plate and the ice tray are an integral structure, and both are made of metal.

6. The ice-making unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A water pump is connected between the water storage tank and the main water pipe.

7. The ice-making unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The heating device is an ice-melting condenser; an ice-making evaporator is also fixed on the heat-conducting plate; the ice-melting condenser and the ice-making evaporator are respectively arranged on two sides of the heat-conducting plate.

8. A refrigeration system comprising an ice-making unit as described in claim 7; comprising a compressor, a main condenser, a capillary tube, and a main evaporator connected in sequence; characterized in that, A first control valve and a first three-way pipe are connected in series between the compressor and the main condenser. The first control valve and the first three-way pipe are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-melting condenser. A second control valve and a second three-way pipe are connected in series between the main evaporator and the compressor. The second control valve and the second three-way pipe are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the ice-making evaporator.

9. A refrigerator having a refrigeration system as described in claim 8; comprising a refrigerator inner liner and a freezer inner liner located below therebelow; wherein a refrigerator compartment is formed in the refrigerator inner liner and a freezer compartment is formed in the freezer inner liner; characterized in that, The water tank of the ice-making unit is located in the cold storage room; the refrigeration box is located in the interlayer between the cold storage liner and the freezing liner; the ice-making box is installed on the top of the freezing room. The back of the refrigerated inner liner and the frozen inner liner are also provided with an air supply seat and an air return seat; the air inlet of the refrigeration box is connected to the air supply seat, and the air outlet is connected to the air return seat.

10. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, A ventilation duct connects the air inlet and air outlet of the refrigeration box.

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