Refrigeration appliance

Abstract

This application discloses a refrigeration device, belonging to the field of refrigeration technology. The refrigeration device includes: a housing, an ice-making refrigeration system, and an ice maker. The ice-making refrigeration system includes a first throttling section, a flow branch, and a first control valve. The ice maker includes an ice-making evaporator. The inlet of the ice-making evaporator is connected to the ice-making refrigeration system through the first throttling section or the flow branch, and its outlet is connected in series to the refrigeration evaporator of the ice-making refrigeration system. The first control valve is used to control at least the on / off state of the flow branch. The refrigeration device has an ice-removing mode and a defrosting mode. The ice maker is configured to switch to the ice-removing mode after ice making is complete, in which case the flow branch is open. The ice maker is also configured to switch to the defrosting mode after the refrigeration evaporator has worked for a target cycle in a non-ice-making state, in which case the flow branch is open. Using this structure significantly improves ice-removing efficiency, comprehensively improves ice quality, and extends the service life of the ice maker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigeration technology, and in particular relates to a refrigeration device. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, most existing ice makers adopt a de-icing solution by directly attaching heating wires above the ice evaporator. However, this de-icing method has many drawbacks: First, the heat conduction efficiency is low. The heating wires can only locally heat the upper part of the ice evaporator, causing the refrigerant in the upper part to vaporize, but the liquid refrigerant in the lower part flows slowly, thus prolonging the de-icing time (usually about 1 hour). Second, in order to ensure food safety, the ice evaporator is usually made of food-grade stainless steel. However, stainless steel has a low thermal conductivity, which further reduces the heating efficiency. This means that the heater needs to reach a high temperature (e.g., 200°C) to achieve de-icing. This not only consumes a lot of energy, but also easily causes the ice to partially melt, affecting the quality of the ice. In addition, high-temperature heating may also accelerate the aging of the equipment and reduce the service life of the ice maker. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application proposes a refrigeration device that significantly improves de-icing efficiency, comprehensively enhances ice-forming quality, and extends the service life of the ice maker.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a refrigeration device, comprising: a housing, an ice-making refrigeration system, and an ice maker, wherein the housing forms a compartment; the ice-making refrigeration system includes a first throttling section, a flow branch, and a first control valve, and the ice maker is installed in the compartment and includes: chassis, An ice-making evaporator is installed in the housing. Its inlet is connected to the ice-making refrigeration system through the first throttling section or the flow branch, and its outlet is connected in series to the refrigeration evaporator of the ice-making refrigeration system. The first control valve is used to control the on / off state of the flow branch at least. An ice-making container is installed in the housing, and the ice-making portion of the ice-making evaporator is adapted to extend into the ice-making container; An ice storage container is installed in the housing; A water tank is installed in the casing and forms a water circulation path with the ice-making container; wherein, the refrigeration equipment has an ice-removing mode and a defrosting mode, the ice maker is configured to switch to the ice-removing mode after completing ice making, in which the flow branch is open; the ice maker is configured to switch to the defrosting mode when the refrigeration evaporator has worked for a target cycle in a non-ice-making state, in which the flow branch is open.

[0005] According to the refrigeration equipment of this application, the aforementioned overflow branch configuration allows a large amount of unthrottled hot refrigerant to flow into the ice-making evaporator, achieving efficient de-icing after ice making and automated defrosting in non-ice-making states. On the one hand, this significantly shortens the de-icing time and greatly improves de-icing efficiency; it also significantly improves the situation where ice partially melts due to prolonged localized heating, thereby comprehensively improving the quality of ice formation; and it reduces the aging effects and safety hazards caused by localized extreme high temperatures resulting from the use of heating elements, extending the service life of the ice maker. On the other hand, it effectively alleviates the passive frosting problem caused by the series connection of the ice-making evaporator and the refrigeration evaporator. By using the operating cycle of the refrigeration evaporator itself as a trigger condition, hot refrigerant is actively introduced for periodic defrosting, promptly removing the frost layer on the surface of the ice-making evaporator, thereby significantly improving the heat exchange efficiency of the ice-making evaporator, thus shortening the ice-making cycle and reducing ice-making energy consumption.

[0006] According to one embodiment of this application, a first control valve is used to control the on / off state of the flow branch and the first throttling section; the ice-making refrigeration system further includes: The second throttling section and the refrigeration evaporator, wherein the inlet of the refrigeration evaporator is connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the outlet of the second throttling section, and the second throttling section is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section, the ice-making evaporator and the refrigeration evaporator; The second control valve has three ports connected to the condenser outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the first throttling section, and the inlet of the second throttling section, respectively.

[0007] According to one embodiment of this application, the three valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the compressor outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the condenser, and the inlet of the flow branch.

[0008] According to one embodiment of this application, the three valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the outlet of the condenser, the inlet of the second control valve, and the inlet of the flow branch.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this application, the ice-making and refrigeration system further includes: The second throttling section and the refrigeration evaporator are connected, with the inlet of the refrigeration evaporator connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the outlet of the second throttling section. The second throttling section is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section, the ice-making evaporator, and the refrigeration evaporator. The four valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the condenser outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the flow branch, the inlet of the first throttling section, and the inlet of the second throttling section.

[0010] According to one embodiment of this application, the ice-making container is rotatably mounted on the housing, and the ice-making container is provided with an overflow port; the ice storage container forms a separately arranged ice storage cavity and a water passage cavity, the ice storage cavity is arranged vertically opposite to the ice-making part of the ice evaporator, the bottom of the water passage cavity is provided with a drain port, and the overflow port is configured to always be arranged vertically opposite to the water passage cavity during the rotatable process of the ice-making container.

[0011] According to one embodiment of this application, the bottom of the ice storage cavity is provided with a concave-convex shape.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, the bottom of the water passage cavity is provided with a concave-convex shape.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, at least a portion of the recessed area at the bottom of the water passage cavity is provided with the drain outlet.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the ice maker further includes: A water guide channel is installed on the housing, located above the ice storage container and to the side of the ice making container in the direction of rotation. The housing is provided with an ice-removing port for taking out and putting in the ice storage container, and the water guide channel is provided with a water outlet in the area away from the ice-removing port. A water-blocking plate is provided with a downward protrusion at the lower edge of the water outlet.

[0015] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is one of the cross-sectional views of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a second cross-sectional view of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is the third cross-sectional view of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is the fourth cross-sectional view of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the ice storage container provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of the ice storage container provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the ice storage container provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the system structure of the refrigeration equipment provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 10 This is the second schematic diagram of the system structure of the refrigeration equipment provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 11 This is the third schematic diagram of the system structure of the refrigeration equipment provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0017] Figure label: 10 ice makers; Casing 100, ice outlet 103; Water barrier plate 170; Water guide channel 180, water outlet 1801, first water guide plate 181, water-blocking flange 182; Ice evaporator 200, distribution unit 210, ice column 220; Ice container 300, overflow outlet 303; Ice storage container 400, partition 410, first plate 411, second plate 412, ice storage cavity 401, water outlet 402, water passage cavity 404, drain outlet 405, drainage space 406, heat insulation space 407, protrusion 430, first section 451, second section 452. Water tank 500; Ice-making and refrigeration system 800, first control valve 802, second control valve 803, compressor 810, condenser 820, first throttling section 830, refrigerated evaporator 840, overflow branch 850, second throttling section 860, refrigerated evaporator 870, filter device 880. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0019] This application discloses a refrigeration device.

[0020] The refrigeration equipment in this application embodiment can be understood as a broad refrigeration storage device, including but not limited to refrigerators, freezers, display cases, beverage cabinets, wine cabinets, refrigerated display cases, cosmetic storage cabinets, and refrigerated vending machines. The refrigeration equipment has various structural forms, such as vertical, horizontal, small wall-mounted, or vehicle-mounted types.

[0021] The refrigeration equipment includes a cabinet, which may include a cabinet and a door. The cabinet can form a compartment for storage, and the door is installed on the open side of the cabinet to close the compartment.

[0022] The cabinet may include an outer shell, an inner liner, and an insulation layer. The cabinet may be made of plastic, metal, or glass.

[0023] The inner liner may be disposed within the outer shell, and the inner liner may include at least one of a shell, a plate, a panel, or a gasket for forming a compartment. The inner liner may be integrally formed from a single shell, or it may be assembled from multiple plates. Alternatively, at least one of the shell and the plate may form the main structure of the inner liner, and the panel or gasket may be installed on the inner wall of the main structure of the inner liner to form a multi-layered plate structure, or the main structure of the inner liner may have a notch, and the panel or gasket may seal the notch.

[0024] The insulation layer can insulate the interior and exterior of the room, reducing the influence of the external environment on the interior temperature and maintaining it at a set suitable temperature. In some embodiments, the insulation layer may include a foamed insulation layer; in some embodiments, the insulation layer may include a vacuum insulation panel; in some embodiments, the insulation layer may include both a foamed insulation layer and a vacuum insulation panel.

[0025] The foamed insulation layer can be formed between the outer shell and the inner liner through a foaming process. For example, it can be formed by injecting polyurethane foam mixed with polyurethane and foaming agent between the inner liner and the outer shell and allowing it to foam. The vacuum insulation panel can include a core material and an outer skin material that contains the core material and seals the interior to a vacuum or near-vacuum pressure.

[0026] The insulation layer is not limited to the aforementioned foamed insulation layer and vacuum insulation panel layer, but may also include various other materials used for thermal insulation.

[0027] The room can store various items such as food, medicine, and cosmetics. The room can be designed to be open on at least one side to facilitate the access of items.

[0028] A refrigeration unit may contain one or more compartments. When a refrigeration unit comprises two or more compartments, each compartment may serve a different purpose and maintain a different temperature. Therefore, the compartments can be separated from each other by partitions containing insulation.

[0029] The compartments can be configured to maintain different temperature ranges depending on their purpose, and may include refrigerator compartments, freezer compartments, or variable temperature compartments, differentiated by purpose and / or temperature range. Refrigeration compartments maintain temperatures suitable for refrigerated storage, while freezer compartments maintain temperatures suitable for frozen storage. "Refrigeration" can refer to cooling items to a low temperature that prevents freezing, for example, a refrigerator compartment can maintain a temperature between 0°C and 10°C, or between 0°C and 5°C. "Freezing" can refer to cooling items to a frozen state or maintaining a frozen state, for example, a freezer compartment can maintain a temperature between -20°C and -1°C, or between -40°C and -1°C (e.g., a dual-compressor system / dual-refrigerant design can achieve even lower cooling temperatures), or between -60°C and -1°C (e.g., a dual-compressor system / dual-refrigerant design can achieve even lower cooling temperatures). Variable temperature compartments can be selected by the user or automatically switched to be used as refrigerator or freezer compartments.

[0030] Of course, the different compartments of the room may have other names, including but not limited to vegetable room, fresh food room, cooling room, ice making room, etc., which are essentially different zones of cold storage room, freezer room or variable temperature room. The terms cold storage room, freezer room, variable temperature room, etc. used below should be understood to cover all rooms with corresponding uses and temperature ranges.

[0031] In some embodiments, the refrigeration unit may include at least one door for opening and closing the open side of a compartment. A door may be configured to open and close one or more compartments. The door may be rotatably or slidably mounted on the front of the cabinet. The door may be hinged to the cabinet, or the door may be integrated with a drawer.

[0032] The door can be configured to seal the compartment when closed, and the door can also include an insulation layer to insulate the compartment when the door is closed.

[0033] In some embodiments, the door may include an outer door panel forming the front of the door, an inner door liner forming the back of the door and facing the compartment, and a door insulation layer disposed between the outer door panel and the inner door liner.

[0034] The inner edge of the door lining may be fitted with a door seal that fits snugly against the cabinet when the door is closed, thus sealing the compartment. The inner door panel may include a door shelf that protrudes into the compartment for storing items such as beverages, medicines, or other items.

[0035] In some embodiments, the outer door panel may also be provided with a display screen, an exterior panel, etc.

[0036] In some embodiments, the refrigeration equipment does not have high insulation requirements, such as display cases and beverage cabinets. The door of the refrigeration equipment may include a transparent panel, such as a glass panel or an acrylic panel. Of course, the door may also be designed as a multi-layered transparent panel, and in some embodiments, a vacuum may be drawn between the multi-layered transparent panels to improve insulation performance.

[0037] Refrigeration equipment can be classified into French door type, double door type, bottom-mounted freezer type, top-mounted freezer type, or single-door refrigeration equipment according to the layout of the doors and compartments.

[0038] In some embodiments, the refrigeration equipment may include a refrigeration system for supplying cold air to a room.

[0039] In some embodiments, the refrigeration system may include a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration system may also include a semiconductor refrigerator, such as a thermoelectric element, which can utilize the Peltier effect to heat and cool the compartment.

[0040] In some embodiments, the cabinet may form a compressor compartment, in which the compressor and condenser may be located, and the compressor compartment and the compartment may be separated and insulated from each other.

[0041] The following is for reference. Figures 1-11 A refrigeration device according to an embodiment of this application is described.

[0042] In some embodiments, the refrigeration equipment includes: a housing, an ice-making refrigeration system 800, and an ice maker 10.

[0043] The box forms a compartment, and the structural form of the box can be referred to the description of the above embodiment.

[0044] The ice maker 10 is installed in the compartment, and the ice maker 10 can be installed in the cold storage compartment.

[0045] like Figures 1-5 As shown, the ice maker 10 includes: a housing 100, an ice evaporator 200, an ice container 300, an ice storage container 400, and a water tank 500.

[0046] The ice evaporator 200 is installed on the housing 100, and the installation method includes but is not limited to welding, snap-fit ​​and threaded connection; the ice container 300 is used to hold the liquid to be made into ice. The ice container 300 is installed on the housing 100 in a flip-up manner. Flip-up means that the ice container 300 can rotate around the flip axis at a certain angle. The maximum rotation range can be 85°-360°.

[0047] The ice-making section of the ice-making evaporator 200 is adapted to extend into the ice-making container 300. When the ice-making evaporator 200 is cooled to a suitable temperature, the liquid to be made into ice in the ice-making container 300 can freeze and adhere to the ice-making section of the ice-making evaporator 200.

[0048] The ice storage container 400 is located below the ice evaporator 200, which can be directly below or diagonally below; the ice storage container 400 forms an ice storage cavity 401 that is suitable for being arranged opposite to the ice making part, and the ice in the ice evaporator 200 can fall into the ice storage cavity 401.

[0049] The ice storage container 400 is removably installed on the housing 100. The housing 100 is provided with an ice dispensing port 103 for taking out and putting in the ice storage container 400. When the ice storage container 400 is pulled out at least partially from the ice dispensing port 103, it is convenient to take out ice.

[0050] Water tank 500 is installed on housing 100, and water circulation is formed between water tank 500 and ice container 300. Water tank 500 is located below ice storage container 400, so that water (melting water or other water) in ice storage container 400 can flow into water tank 500.

[0051] Among them, such as Figures 1-5 As shown, the housing 100 serves as the supporting structure and external enclosure frame of the ice maker 10. The interior of the housing 100 can form an installation space for accommodating the ice evaporator 200, ice container 300, ice storage container 400, water tank 500, electrical components, and water circuit components, so that the ice maker 10 can be assembled and maintained as a complete module.

[0052] The ice storage container 400 can be pulled out and installed on the housing 100 along the front and rear direction of the refrigeration equipment via a guide rail structure. The ice storage container 400 can define an ice storage cavity 401, which is used to receive ice blocks that fall off from the ice-making part of the ice-making evaporator 200.

[0053] like Figures 2-5 As shown, the bottom of the ice storage container 400 is lower than the ice-making evaporator 200 in the height direction, so that at least a portion of the ice-making part of the ice-making evaporator 200 can be immersed in the liquid in the ice storage container 400. The ice storage container 400 can be located directly below the ice-making evaporator 200, or it can be at least partially offset from the ice-making evaporator 200. The specific relative positional relationship should not affect the normal ice storage function, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0054] Water tank 500 is used to store water for ice making. Water tank 500 can also be used to collect water from melting ice. Water tank 500 can be pulled out and installed on the casing 100 along the front and rear direction of the refrigeration equipment via a guide rail structure for storing water for ice making.

[0055] like Figures 2-5 As shown, the water tank 500 is lower than the ice storage container 400 in the height direction. The water tank 500 can be located directly below the ice storage container 400, or it can be at least partially offset from the ice storage container 400. The specific relative position relationship is based on not affecting the normal discharge of ice melt water and the water circulation function. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0056] As an example, the ice maker 10 may also include structures such as electrical components and water circuit components. The water tank 500 can supply water to the ice container 300 through the water circuit components. The ice container 300 can be flipped under the drive of the electrical components, so that the water in the ice container 300 that has not frozen into ice blocks flows back to the water tank 500.

[0057] At least a portion of the ice-making section of the ice-making evaporator 200 extends into the ice-making container 300 and comes into direct contact with the liquid (such as water) inside the ice-making container 300, causing the water surrounding the ice-making section to freeze after being cooled, so as to form an ice block that is fitted outside the ice-making section. Since the ice-making section is located in the central area of ​​the ice block structure, the produced ice block is a hollow structure with a central groove.

[0058] The specific shape of the ice block may include, but is not limited to, hollow cylinder, hollow cube, hollow prism, hollow sphere, or hollow hemisphere, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0059] like Figures 2-5 As shown, the ice evaporator 200 may include a distribution member 210 and a plurality of ice-making columns 220. The ice-making columns 220 may be welded to the distribution member 210. The ice-making part of the ice evaporator 200 includes the ice-making columns 220. The ice-making columns 220 and the ice storage cavity 401 of the ice storage container 400 are arranged vertically opposite each other. The ice storage container 300, which is flipped, can selectively separate the ice storage cavity 401 and the plurality of ice-making columns 220. The ice storage container 300 can be flipped to not separate the ice storage cavity 401 and the plurality of ice-making columns 220, so that when the ice on the ice-making columns 220 falls off, it can fall into the ice storage cavity 401.

[0060] Both the distributor 210 and the ice-making column 220 have interconnected channels for the medium to pass through. The distributor 210 is connected to the ice-making and refrigeration system 800, so that the medium of the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 can flow through the channels of the distributor 210 and the ice-making column 220.

[0061] like Figures 2-5 As shown, in the ice-making state, at least a portion of the multiple ice-making columns 220 extend into the ice-making container 300 to generate ice; in the de-icing state, the ice-making container 300 is flipped to be offset from the multiple ice-making columns 220, that is, flipped to the side of the multiple ice-making columns 220, so that there is no longer an ice-making container 300 between the ice storage cavity 401 and the multiple ice-making columns 220, so that the ice generated on the ice-making columns 220 falls into the ice storage cavity 401.

[0062] The distribution component 210 is used to distribute the refrigerant of the future homemade ice refrigeration system 800 to multiple ice-making columns 220. The distribution component 210 can be, but is not limited to, a distribution plate or a distribution pipe, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0063] like Figures 2-5As shown, the ice-making column 220 can be designed as a cylinder, and multiple ice-making columns 220 can form multiple ice blocks, so that the ice blocks formed on the multiple ice-making columns 220 are hollow cylinders. Here, "multiple ice-making columns 220" means two or more.

[0064] The ice-making function can be achieved in the following ways: Figures 2-5 As shown, when the ice maker 10 is in the ice-making state, the opening of the ice container 300 faces upward, and a portion of each ice column 220 of the ice evaporator 200 can be immersed below the liquid surface in the ice container 300. The refrigerant flowing through the ice evaporator 200 evaporates and absorbs heat, causing the surface temperature of the ice evaporator 200 to drop sharply, which in turn causes the water around the ice column 220 to freeze quickly and eventually condense and adhere to each ice column 220 to form ice blocks. In some embodiments, during ice making, the water tank 500 continuously supplies water to the ice-making container 300 through the water circuit assembly. When the water level rises above the maximum capacity of the ice-making container 300, the remaining water overflows from the ice-making container 300 and falls back into the water tank 500 under gravity. In other words, throughout the ice-making process, the water tank 500 continuously supplies water to the ice-making container 300, without stopping even when the ice-making container 300 reaches its maximum water level. This ensures that the water in the ice-making container 300 remains in circulation, which reduces the formation of air bubbles in the ice. Of course, the water circuit assembly can also stop supplying water to the ice-making container 300 during ice making.

[0065] The de-icing function is achieved as follows: electrical components drive the ice-making container 300 to rotate. During rotation, the controller of the refrigeration equipment controls the rotational speed of the tilting shaft of the ice-making container 300 to maintain smooth rotation as much as possible. By driving the ice-making container 300 to tilt, the unfrozen water inside the ice-making container 300 is returned to the water tank 500. When the ice maker 10 is in the de-icing state, the opening of the ice-making container 300 faces to the side, and the ice-making container 300 does not obstruct the space below the ice-making column 220. The ice layer adhering between the ice cube and the corresponding ice-making column 220 melts into a water film when heated, greatly reducing the adhesion. Thus, the ice cube originally attached to the ice-making column 220 can be peeled off by its own gravity and fall into the ice storage chamber 401 of the ice storage container 400 below. The user can open the chamber at any time to take out the ice cube in the ice storage chamber 401.

[0066] like Figures 9-11As shown, the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 includes a first throttling section 830, a flow branch 850, and a first control valve 802. The inlet of the ice-making evaporator 200 is connected to the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 through the first throttling section 830 or the flow branch 850, and the outlet of the ice-making evaporator 200 is connected in series to the refrigeration evaporator 840 of the ice-making and refrigeration system 800. The first control valve 802 is used to control the on / off state of the flow branch 850.

[0067] In some implementations, such as Figures 9-11 As shown, the first control valve 802 can be located at the inlet of the flow branch 850 to control the on / off state of the flow branch 850 and other flow paths. In some other embodiments, the first control valve 802 can also be located on the flow branch 850 to control only the on / off state of the flow branch 850.

[0068] It should be noted that during non-ice-making periods, the refrigeration evaporator 840 needs to operate continuously to maintain the temperature of the refrigerator compartment, and the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the ice-making evaporator 200. Since the ice-making evaporator 200 is typically in a low-temperature environment, frost easily accumulates on its surface. This frost significantly reduces the heat exchange efficiency of the ice-making evaporator 200, leading to longer subsequent ice-making cycles and increased energy consumption. Related technologies often require ice makers to be shut down for natural defrosting or to add an additional defrosting heater; the former affects the user experience, while the latter further increases costs and energy consumption.

[0069] Based on this, such as Figures 9-11 As shown, the refrigeration equipment has a defrosting mode and a de-icing mode. The ice maker 10 is configured to switch to the de-icing mode after completing ice making. In the de-icing mode, the overcurrent branch 850 is turned on. The ice maker 10 is also configured to switch to the defrosting mode when the refrigeration evaporator 840 has reached the target cycle in the non-ice making state. In the defrosting mode, the overcurrent branch 850 is turned on.

[0070] In actual implementation, such as Figures 9-11As shown, the overflow branch 850 includes the following two triggering conditions: First, after the ice maker 10 completes one ice-making process, the refrigeration equipment can automatically switch to the defrosting mode. In the defrosting mode, the overflow branch 850 is controlled to be open, while the first throttling section 830 is controlled to be closed. At this time, the overflow branch 850 acts as a bypass pipe, and the flow resistance of the overflow branch 850 is much smaller than that of the first throttling section 830. When the hot refrigerant enters the overflow branch 850, since it bypasses the first throttling section 830, no throttling and cooling effect will occur, and it will directly enter the ice-making evaporator 200 at a higher temperature. The hot refrigerant flows through the ice-making evaporator 200 to achieve defrosting. Second, when the ice maker 10 does not perform an ice-making operation, when the cumulative working time of the refrigeration evaporator 840 reaches a preset target cycle (for example, the refrigeration evaporator 840 runs for 2 hours), the refrigeration equipment can automatically switch to the defrosting mode. In defrosting mode, the control flow branch 850 is turned on, while the first throttling section 830 is turned off. Similarly, the unthrottled hot refrigerant enters the ice evaporator 200 to melt the frost layer accumulated on the outer surface of the ice evaporator 200, the outer wall of the ice container, and the surrounding pipes and casing.

[0071] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the aforementioned overflow branch 850, allows a large amount of unthrottled hot refrigerant to flow into the ice-making evaporator 200, achieving efficient de-icing after ice making and automated defrosting in non-ice-making states. On the one hand, this significantly shortens the de-icing time and significantly improves the de-icing efficiency; it also significantly improves the situation where ice blocks partially melt due to prolonged local heating, thereby comprehensively improving the ice-making quality; and it reduces the aging effects and safety hazards caused by localized extremely high temperatures due to the use of heating elements, extending the service life of the ice maker 10. On the other hand, it effectively alleviates the passive frosting problem caused by the series connection of the ice-making evaporator 200 and the refrigeration evaporator 840. By using the operating cycle of the refrigeration evaporator 840 itself as a trigger condition, hot refrigerant is actively introduced for periodic defrosting, promptly removing the frost layer on the surface of the ice-making evaporator 200, thereby significantly improving the heat exchange efficiency of the ice-making evaporator 200, thus shortening the ice-making cycle and reducing ice-making energy consumption.

[0072] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the first control valve 802 is used to control the opening and closing of the overflow branch 850 and the first throttling section 830; the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 also includes: a second throttling section 860, a freezer evaporator 870 and a second control valve 803.

[0073] The inlet of the refrigeration evaporator 870 is connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator 840 and the outlet of the second throttling section 860. The second throttling section 860 is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section 830, the ice-making evaporator 200 and the refrigeration evaporator 840. The three valve ports of the second control valve 803 are respectively connected to the outlet of the condenser 820 of the ice-making refrigeration system 800, the inlet of the first throttling section 830 and the inlet of the second throttling section 860.

[0074] In other words, the second control valve 803 controls the on / off connection between the condenser 820 and the first throttling section 830 and the second throttling section 860. Thus, the operation of the first control valve 802 can switch between de-icing and defrosting modes, while the operation of the second control valve 803 can switch between ice-making and compartment cooling modes.

[0075] It should be noted that, as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, a filter device 880 is provided between the inlet of the second control valve 803 and the outlet of the condenser 820. The filter device 880 can filter the refrigerant upstream of the second control valve 803, intercepting contaminants in the refrigerant, thereby significantly reducing the risk of blockage of the second control valve 803.

[0076] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the aforementioned second throttling section 860, refrigerated evaporator 870, and second control valve 803, achieves the switching of the first control valve 802's control over defrosting and the second control valve 803's control over the switching of the compartment's cooling and ice-making functions. This reduces the complexity of system debugging and maintenance, thereby achieving functional modularity and control specificity. Furthermore, if one of the first control valve 802 or the second control valve 803 malfunctions, it will not affect the operation of the corresponding function of the other, thus achieving fault isolation and improving the overall fault tolerance and reliability of the refrigeration equipment.

[0077] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the three valve ports of the first control valve 802 are respectively connected to the outlet of the compressor 810, the inlet of the condenser 820, and the inlet of the overflow branch 850 of the ice-making and refrigeration system 800.

[0078] In other words, such as Figure 10 As shown, the overflow branch 850 is connected between the outlet of the compressor 810 and the inlet of the ice evaporator 200. At this time, the overflow branch 850 is connected in parallel with the series circuit consisting of the condenser 820, the filter device 880 and the first throttling section 830.

[0079] In this case, such as Figure 10As shown, when the ice maker 10 is in ice-making mode, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - first control valve 802 - condenser 820 - filter device 880 - second control valve 803 - first throttling section 830 - ice-making evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0080] In de-icing mode, such as Figure 10 As shown, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigeration evaporator 840 - freezing evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0081] In defrost mode, such as Figure 10 As shown, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigeration evaporator 840 - freezing evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0082] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment has a structural design in which the ice-making evaporator 200 can be selectively connected to the outlet of the compressor 810 through the first control valve 802 and the overflow branch 850. This allows the high-temperature refrigerant leaving the compressor 810 to be directly sent into the ice-making evaporator 200 through the overflow branch 850, thereby maximizing the de-icing temperature, improving the de-icing efficiency as much as possible, and shortening the de-icing cycle.

[0083] In some embodiments, such as Figure 11 As shown, the three valve ports of the first control valve 802 are connected to the outlet of the condenser 820, the inlet of the second control valve 803, and the inlet of the overflow branch 850, respectively.

[0084] In other words, such as Figure 11 As shown, the flow branch 850 is connected between the outlet of the condenser 820 and the inlet of the ice-making evaporator 200. At this time, the flow branch 850, the filter device 880 and the first throttling section 830 are connected in parallel in a series path.

[0085] In this case, such as Figure 11 As shown, when the ice maker 10 is in ice-making mode, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - first control valve 802 - filter device 880 - second control valve 803 - first throttling section 830 - ice-making evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0086] In de-icing mode, such as Figure 11As shown, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0087] In defrost mode, such as Figure 11 As shown, the refrigerant flow path is as follows: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0088] Understandably, because the flow direction of the compressor 810 outlet frequently and abruptly switches from the condenser 820 to the overflow branch 850, a large amount of refrigerant accumulates in the condenser 820 and its upstream pipeline. Due to the lack of driving force, this refrigerant remains on the condenser 820 side, resulting in insufficient refrigerant flow actually participating in the de-icing cycle in a short period of time, and slow pressure build-up, thus affecting the start-up speed and initial effect of de-icing.

[0089] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the structural design of the ice-making evaporator 200 selectively connected to the outlet of the condenser 820 via the first control valve 802 and the overflow branch 850, allows the condenser 820 to incorporate de-icing and defrosting cycles. This enables the refrigerant accumulated in the condenser 820 to be pushed out, so that there is sufficient heat transfer during de-icing and defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for the compressor 810 to establish a pressure difference, accelerating the start-up speed of de-icing and defrosting, and thus comprehensively optimizing the de-icing and defrosting effects.

[0090] In some embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 also includes a second throttling section 860 and a freezer evaporator 870.

[0091] The inlet of the refrigeration evaporator 870 is connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator 840 and the outlet of the second throttling section 860. The second throttling section 860 is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section 830, the ice-making evaporator 200 and the refrigeration evaporator 840. The four valve ports of the first control valve 802 are respectively connected to the outlet of the condenser 820 of the ice-making refrigeration system 800, the inlet of the overflow branch 850, the inlet of the first throttling section 830 and the inlet of the second throttling section 860.

[0092] In other words, the first control valve 802 controls the on / off connection between the condenser 820 and the flow branch 850, the first throttling section 830, and the second throttling section 860. Thus, the switching between ice-making, compartment cooling, de-icing, and defrosting modes can be achieved by the operation of a single first control valve 802.

[0093] It should be noted that, as Figure 9 As shown, a filter device 880 is provided between the inlet of the first control valve 802 and the outlet of the condenser 820. The filter device 880 can filter the refrigerant upstream of the first control valve 802, intercepting contaminants in the refrigerant, thereby significantly reducing the risk of blockage of the first control valve 802.

[0094] In this case, such as Figure 9 As shown, when the ice maker 10 is in ice-making mode, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - filter device 880 - first control valve 802 - first throttling section 830 - ice-making evaporator 200 - refrigeration evaporator 840 - freezing evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0095] In de-icing mode, such as Figure 9 As shown, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - filter device 880 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0096] In defrost mode, such as Figure 9 As shown, the refrigerant flow path is: compressor 810 - condenser 820 - filter device 880 - first control valve 802 - flow branch 850 - ice evaporator 200 - refrigerator evaporator 840 - freezer evaporator 870 - compressor 810.

[0097] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the aforementioned second throttling section 860, refrigerated evaporator 870, and first control valve 802, enables a single valve to control the switching of compartment refrigeration, ice making, ice removal, and defrosting functions. This greatly simplifies the piping system, reduces the number of welding points and connectors in the piping, and makes the system layout more compact and neat. It not only improves the internal space utilization of the refrigeration equipment but also reduces the risk of refrigerant leakage caused by excessive welding points. This achieves a high degree of system integration and structural simplification. At the same time, during production and assembly, relevant operators only need to assemble one valve body and its related interfaces, rather than multiple scattered valves and pipes, thereby significantly simplifying the assembly process and shortening the assembly time.

[0098] In some embodiments, the orifice diameter D of the flow channel hole on the valve core of the valve connected to the flow branch 850 satisfies: D≥2mm.

[0099] like Figure 9 As shown, when the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 includes the aforementioned third control valve 801, the orifice D of the flow channel hole on the valve core of the third control valve 801 for connecting the flow branch 850 satisfies: D≥2mm.

[0100] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, when the ice-making and refrigeration system 800 includes the aforementioned first control valve 802 and second control valve 803, the orifice D of the flow channel hole on the valve core of the first control valve 802 for connecting the flow branch 850 satisfies: D≥2mm.

[0101] The diameter D of the flow channel hole on the valve core of the third control valve 801 / first control valve 802 for connecting the flow branch 850 is 2mm, 2.5mm, 2.738mm, 3mm, 4.36mm or other values ​​greater than 2mm. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0102] It should be noted that the valve core orifice diameter of commonly used control valves is generally around 0.8mm, which has a strong throttling effect on the refrigerant. If a common control valve is used, the flow channel orifice of the valve core will produce a significant additional throttling effect on the refrigerant flowing through it, resulting in a decrease in the defrosting and de-icing temperatures.

[0103] With D≥2mm set, the orifice D of the flow channel hole on the valve core of the third control valve 801 / first control valve 802 that allows refrigerant to flow to the flow branch 850 is much larger than the orifice of a conventional control valve, thereby mitigating the throttling effect of the third control valve 801 / first control valve 802 on the refrigerant flowing through it as much as possible, so as to improve the defrosting temperature and the defrosting temperature.

[0104] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application significantly reduces the throttling effect of the control valve on the refrigerant flowing through it in the defrosting and de-icing modes by limiting D to ≥ 2 mm, thereby maximizing the temperature of the refrigerant used for defrosting and de-icing, thus improving the efficiency of defrosting and de-icing and shortening the defrosting and de-icing cycle.

[0105] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is inclined downward from at least one end near the ice outlet 103 to the other end away from the ice outlet 103, and a drain outlet 402 is provided in the area of ​​the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 away from the ice outlet 103.

[0106] In other words, with the ice outlet 103 facing the front of the refrigeration equipment, the bottom wall of the ice storage chamber 401 is at least partially inclined downward from the front end to the rear end.

[0107] In this embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, a portion of the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is inclined downwards from one end near the ice outlet 103 to the other end away from the ice outlet 103, that is, a portion of the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is inclined downwards from the front end to the rear end. The end near the ice outlet 103 can be the front side of the refrigeration equipment, that is, the side facing the door.

[0108] In other embodiments, the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is inclined downward from one end near the ice outlet 103 to the other end away from the ice outlet 103, that is, the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is inclined downward from the front end to the rear end.

[0109] The tilt angle can be adapted to the actual drainage situation and ice storage capacity requirements, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0110] In actual operation, during the ice removal process, the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 can effectively guide the melting water of the ice to flow quickly to the drain 402 located at the rear by using its own tilting trend, thereby reducing the long-term retention of the melting water of the ice in the ice storage cavity 401, so as to avoid further aggravating the melting phenomenon of the ice and reducing the occurrence of ice sticking.

[0111] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, by setting the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 to be inclined downward from at least part of one end near the ice outlet 103 to the other end away from the ice outlet 103, combined with the design of the drain outlet 402, can use gravity to guide the melted ice water to flow quickly to the drain outlet 402, shortening the residence time of the melted ice water in the ice storage cavity 401, reducing the situation where the ice melts faster due to long-term immersion in the melted water, and reducing the adhesion of ice blocks, thereby optimizing the quality of the ice blocks.

[0112] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the bottom wall of the ice storage chamber 401 includes a first section 451 and a second section 452. The first section 451 is located on the side of the second section 452 that is close to the ice outlet 103. The second section 452 is inclined downward from one end close to the ice outlet 103 to the other end away from the ice outlet 103. The drain outlet 402 is located in the area of ​​the second section 452 away from the ice outlet 103.

[0113] In this embodiment, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the bottom wall of the ice storage chamber 401 can be formed by a first section 451 and a second section 452 that are bent and connected. With the ice outlet 103 facing the front of the refrigeration equipment, the first section 451 is located in front of the second section 452. The first section 451 is set horizontally, and the second section 452 is set downward from front to back. The drain outlet 402 is set in the rear area of ​​the second section 452. The lengths of the first section 451 and the second section 452 can be adaptively designed according to the actual drainage situation and ice storage capacity requirements.

[0114] Understandably, with Figure 6 and Figure 7 For example, if the existing tilt angle of the second segment 452 remains unchanged, the first segment 451 continues to tilt and extend along the tilt trend of the second segment 452 at the same tilt angle, so that the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 is tilted as a whole. In this case, compared with the ice storage capacity above the horizontally set first segment 451 in this application, the ice storage capacity above the first segment 451 is significantly reduced.

[0115] Based on this, the first section 451 on the front side is set to be horizontal, while the second section 452 on the rear side is set to be inclined. This preserves sufficient ice storage space at the front and ensures a sufficient tilt angle to facilitate rapid drainage of melting ice water. Compared to the overall inclined structure, this maximizes the preservation of effective ice storage space at the front of the ice storage container 400 without affecting the drainage effect at the rear, thus achieving structural optimization.

[0116] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, by setting the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 to be composed of a horizontal first section 451 and an inclined second section 452, not only ensures that the bottom wall of the ice storage cavity 401 has a sufficient slope to effectively guide the melting water of the ice to the drain outlet 402, but also avoids excessive encroachment on the front area of ​​the ice storage cavity 401 due to the overall inclination, thereby optimizing the drainage function while taking into account the ice storage capacity of the ice storage container 400.

[0117] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figures 5-7 As shown, the ice storage container 400 also forms a water passage cavity 404, and the ice making container 300 has an overflow port 303 on the side adjacent to the opening. The bottom of the water passage cavity 404 has a drain port 405. The overflow port 303 is configured to always be vertically opposite to the water passage cavity 404 during the flipping process of the ice making container 300.

[0118] In this embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figures 5-7As shown, the internal space of the ice storage container 400 can be divided into a relatively independent ice storage chamber 401 and a water passage chamber 404. Multiple ice-making columns 220 are vertically opposite to the ice storage chamber 401 of the ice storage container 400, and the multiple ice-making columns 220 and the water passage chamber 404 of the ice storage container 400 are staggered. The ice storage chamber 401 is used to receive ice blocks that fall off from the ice evaporator 200, while the water passage chamber 404 is used to receive water flowing out of the overflow port 303 of the ice storage container 300, and discharge this water into the water tank 500 through the bottom drain port 405.

[0119] The water passage cavity 404 can be distributed on at least one side of the ice storage cavity 401 along the front-back direction and left-right direction of the refrigeration equipment, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0120] As an example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the ice container 300 has overflow ports 303 on both sides adjacent to the opening.

[0121] As an example, the ice container 300 has an overflow port 303 on one of its sides adjacent to the opening.

[0122] One or more overflow ports 303 may be provided on one side of the ice container 300. "Multiple" means two or more. The shape of the overflow port 303 may be, but is not limited to, rectangular, waist-shaped, semi-circular or irregular shape. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0123] In actual operation, during the ice-making process, the water tank 500 continuously supplies water to the ice-making container 300 through the water circuit assembly. When the water level rises to exceed the maximum capacity of the ice-making container 300, the excess water will overflow from the overflow port 303 of the ice-making container 300. The overflow port 303 is directly opposite the water passage cavity 404 of the ice storage container 400 below. The overflowing water falls into the water passage cavity 404 and then flows back to the water tank 500 through the drain port 405 at the bottom of the water passage cavity 404.

[0124] During the process of the ice container 300 being overturned and drained, the unfrozen water inside the ice container 300 will be discharged from the overflow port 303 under the action of gravity. Since the overflow port 303 is always aligned with the water passage cavity 404 below during the entire overturning process, the water discharged from the overflow port 303 during the overturning process also falls into the water passage cavity 404 and flows back to the water tank 500 through the drain port 405 at the bottom of the water passage cavity 404.

[0125] In related technologies, when ice makers drain water to remove ice, the water discharged from the ice-making container usually falls directly into the ice storage container below and mixes with the ice, failing to achieve effective ice-water separation. This results in poor ice quality and makes it difficult for users to remove ice. Furthermore, the drainage process easily generates significant splashing, which may splash onto the inner wall of the machine casing or other components, potentially leading to bacterial growth, odors, or electrical hazards over time.

[0126] Understandably, this application divides the ice storage container 400 into an ice storage chamber 401 and a water passage chamber 404. Throughout the entire ice-making and de-icing cycle, the water in the ice-making container 300 always flows into the water passage chamber 404, while the ice blocks fall into the ice storage chamber 401, achieving ice-water separation. Simultaneously, the water discharged from the ice-making container 300 first falls into the water passage chamber 404, which has a certain depth, and after buffering, flows out from the bottom drain outlet 405. Compared to falling directly into the water tank, this design makes the water flow into the water tank 500 more stable, significantly reducing the splash height.

[0127] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the aforementioned separated ice storage chamber 401 and water passage chamber 404, allows the produced ice blocks to fall into the ice storage chamber 401 for storage, while the water overflowing during the ice-making process and the water discharged during the de-icing process are guided to the water passage chamber 404, realizing ice-water separation, thereby improving the quality of ice formation and the convenience of ice removal, and thus optimizing the user's user experience. At the same time, the water passage chamber 404 acts as a buffer for the water flow, allowing the water to flow out smoothly from the drain port 405 at the bottom of the water passage chamber 404 and fall into the water tank 500, greatly reducing the water flow speed and splash height, thereby effectively alleviating problems such as bacterial growth, odor, and moisture in other components caused by splashing water, and thus greatly improving the long-term hygiene and reliability of the ice maker 10.

[0128] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the ice storage container 400 includes a partition 410 disposed between the ice storage cavity 401 and the water passage cavity 404, with the water passage cavity 404 located on the side of the ice storage cavity 401 away from the ice outlet 103.

[0129] The separator 410 can be integrally formed with the ice storage container 400 or designed separately; this application embodiment does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0130] In actual implementation, such as Figure 2 As shown, users can pull out or push in the ice storage container 400 through the ice outlet 103 to retrieve ice and clean the container. With the ice outlet 103 facing the front of the refrigeration equipment, the water passage cavity 404 is located behind the ice storage cavity 401. When the user pulls out the ice storage container 400 to retrieve ice, only the ice storage cavity 401 needs to be exposed, while the water passage cavity 404 is basically hidden inside the casing 100. The user will not see any small amount of ice or water that may remain in the water passage cavity 404. At the same time, when ice gets stuck when the ice storage container 400 is pulled out, the stuck ice can roll over the separator 410 into the rear water passage cavity 404 instead of falling directly into the water tank 500 below. The user will not see any residual ice when pulling out the water tank 500, further optimizing the user experience.

[0131] In related technologies, when ice is stuck, if the user pulls hard on the ice storage container, some ice will fall into the water tank. This may cause the user to see floating ice in the water tank, leading the user to mistakenly believe that the water tank is frozen. Or, the ice may fall inaccurately when it is being removed, which seriously affects the user experience and the user's judgment of the equipment quality.

[0132] The refrigeration device provided in this application embodiment, by setting the water passage cavity 404 on the side of the ice storage cavity 401 away from the ice outlet 103, when the user pulls out the ice storage container 400 through the ice outlet 103 to take out ice, only the ice storage cavity 401 can be seen, while the water passage cavity 404 is hidden inside the casing 100, so that the residual ice or water in the water passage cavity 404 is hidden from the user's sight. At the same time, the stuck ice will roll into the hidden water passage cavity 404 instead of falling directly into the water tank 500, avoiding the situation where the user pulls out the water tank 500 and sees the residual ice inside. Thus, it takes into account both functional practicality and cleanliness, thereby maximizing the user's visual perception and experience.

[0133] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the top height of the divider 410 is lower than the top height of the side wall on the ice storage container 400 that connects to the divider 410.

[0134] The height difference between the top of the separator 410 and the top of the side wall of the ice storage container 400 connected to the separator 410 is sufficient to allow the ice block to be completely released from the clamping state. Specifically, it can be adapted to the height of the ice block, and this application embodiment does not limit it.

[0135] For example, in some embodiments, the height difference between the top of the divider 410 and the top of the side wall of the ice storage container 400 that connects to the divider 410 can be half the height of the ice block.

[0136] For example, in other embodiments, the height difference between the top of the divider 410 and the top of the side wall of the ice storage container 400 that connects to the divider 410 can also be 2 / 3 of the ice block height.

[0137] In actual operation, when the ice in the ice storage container 400 accumulates too high, a narrow gap forms between the upper edge of the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401 and the top wall of the ice extraction port 103 as the user pulls the ice storage container 400 outward. Some ice blocks slide to the top of the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401, causing them to get stuck in this narrow gap and be squeezed from both sides. That is, the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401 pushes forward, and the top wall of the ice extraction port 103 presses backward, preventing the ice storage container 400 from moving outward further. When the top height of the separator 410 is lower than the top height of the side wall of the ice storage container 400 connected to the separator 410, the reduced height of the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401 allows the stuck ice blocks to fall vertically. Once ice jamming occurs, the user can slightly shake the ice storage container 400, causing the stuck ice blocks to undergo slight displacement due to the vibration, thus allowing them to smoothly pass over the separator 410 and roll into the water passage cavity 404. Once the stuck ice block enters the water-falling cavity, there is no longer any hard interference between the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401 and the top wall of the ice extraction port 103, and the ice storage container 400 can be easily extracted.

[0138] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the structural design that the top height of the partition 410 is lower than the top height of the side wall of the ice storage container 400 connected to the partition 410, provides an escape channel for ice blocks stuck when pulled out. There is no need to pull or tilt the ice storage container 400 forcefully; a slight shake can solve the ice jamming problem, making operation less strenuous and significantly improving the user experience. At the same time, it reduces structural deformation or wear caused by forced pulling, thereby extending the service life of the casing 100 and the ice storage container 400.

[0139] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the separator 410 includes a first plate 411 and a second plate 412 connected together. The first plate 411 forms one side wall of the ice storage cavity 401, and the second plate 412 forms one side wall of the water passage cavity 404. A heat insulation space 407 is formed between the first plate 411 and the second plate 412.

[0140] In this embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the first plate 411 and the second plate 412 are bent and connected to form an inverted V-shaped partition 410. The first plate 411 can form the rear wall of the ice storage cavity 401 and is used to contain the ice blocks inside the ice storage cavity 401. The second plate 412 can form the front wall of the water passage cavity 404. The first plate 411 and the second plate 412 can form an insulated space 407 with air as the heat insulation medium. This insulated space 407 can effectively reduce the heat transfer between the ice storage cavity 401 and the water passage cavity 404. On the one hand, it can slow down the melting rate of the ice blocks in the ice storage cavity 401, extend the ice storage time, and ensure the quality of the ice blocks. On the other hand, it can reduce the risk of the water in the water passage cavity 404 freezing due to absorbing the cold energy of the ice storage cavity 401, so as to prevent the water from freezing and blocking the drain outlet 405 and ensuring the normal operation of the water circulation.

[0141] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the arrangement of the first plate 411 and the second plate 412, combined with the design of the heat insulation space 407, significantly increases the thermal resistance between the ice storage cavity 401 and the water passage cavity 404, greatly weakens the heat transfer between the ice storage cavity 401 and the water passage cavity 404 through the separator 410, helps to maintain a stable low temperature environment in the ice storage cavity 401, thereby effectively slowing down the melting rate of ice, maintaining a longer ice storage time and better ice quality, and effectively preventing the ice storage cavity 401 from overcooling the water passage cavity 404, thereby significantly reducing the risk of water freezing in the water passage cavity 404 or at the drain outlet 405, and maintaining the stability of the water circulation.

[0142] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the ice maker 10 also includes a water guide trough 180.

[0143] The water guide channel 180 is installed on the housing 100. The water guide channel 180 is located above the ice storage container 400 and to the side of the ice making container 300 in the direction of flipping. The water guide channel 180 has a water outlet 1801 in the area away from the ice taking port 103. A water blocking plate 170 is provided on the lower edge of the water outlet 1801.

[0144] The water channel 180 is used to guide water splashed out of the ice-making container 300 to the outlet 1801, so that it returns to the water tank 500 below through the outlet 1801. As an example, Figures 2-4 As shown, the water outlet 1801 is distributed on the water guide trough 180 in the area away from the ice extraction port 103. With the ice extraction port 103 facing the front of the refrigeration equipment, in other words, the water outlet 1801 of the water guide trough 180 is located in the rear area of ​​the water guide trough 180. In this way, the water guide trough 180 can concentrate and guide the received water flow to the rear water outlet 1801 for centralized discharge.

[0145] The outlet 1801 of the water guide trough 180 can be directly opposite the water passage 404 of the ice storage container 400 below. The overflowing water falls into the water passage 404 and then flows back to the water tank 500 through the drain 405 at the bottom of the water passage 404.

[0146] At the lower edge of the outlet 1801, the water guide trough 180 can be integrally formed or fixedly connected with a downward protruding water blocking plate 170. The water blocking plate 170 is used to provide a forced downward flow path for the water leaving the outlet 1801, so as to prevent the water from flowing to the outer bottom wall of the water guide trough 180.

[0147] The water guide channel 180 can be designed in various structural forms, including but not limited to U-shaped channels, V-shaped channels or irregular channels, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit it.

[0148] The height of the water-blocking plate 170 can be adjusted according to the actual water flow size and flow speed, so that the water-blocking plate 170 can take into account both the water blocking effect and the miniaturization requirement. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0149] With the aforementioned water guide channel 180 and water baffle 170, the water flowing from the outlet 1801 flows along the water baffle 170 to the lower end, and under the action of gravity and surface tension, it detaches from the plate wall and drips directly into the water tank 500 below. This effectively blocks the path of water flowing along the outer bottom wall of the water guide channel 180 to the side wall of the casing 100 and then flowing forward. This significantly reduces the possibility of water from the water guide channel 180 overflowing into the room, thereby reducing odors and bacterial growth, and lowering the risk of component failure due to moisture. This optimizes the user experience and improves the reliability of the refrigeration equipment.

[0150] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the water guide channel 180 includes: a first water guide plate 181 and a water-blocking flange 182. One side of the first water guide plate 181 is connected to the housing 100; the water-blocking flange 182 is connected to the other side of the first water guide plate 181 and is bent upwards; wherein, a first notch 1821 is formed between the water-blocking flange 182 and the housing 100, the first notch 1821 is the water outlet 1801 of the water guide channel 180, and a water-blocking plate 170 is connected to the first water guide plate 181 and is bent downwards relative to the first water guide plate 181.

[0151] The first water guide plate 181 serves as the main load-bearing component of the water guide channel 180, used to receive and collect water flow. The first water guide plate 181 can be designed as a flat plate, an arc plate, or an inclined plate structure, and this embodiment does not impose any limitations on this.

[0152] The water-blocking flange 182 is connected to the edge of the first water guide plate 181 facing the movement path of the ice container 300. The water-blocking flange 182 can extend vertically or obliquely upward from the edge of the first water guide plate 181 to form a barrier, reducing the water flow from the side or splashing, so that the water flow is effectively constrained within the water guide channel 180.

[0153] The specific dimensions of the water-blocking flange 182 can be adjusted according to the flipping range and water volume of the ice-making container 300, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0154] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the water-blocking plate 170 is inclined towards the ice-making container 300 from top to bottom.

[0155] In other words, the water-blocking plate 170 is tilted from top to bottom toward the center area of ​​the housing 100.

[0156] In actual implementation, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when water flows downward along the baffle plate 170, the inclined plate wall not only relies on gravity but also applies a guiding component towards the center of the casing 100 by changing the extension direction of the plate wall. This causes the water to concentrate in an area away from the side wall of the casing 100 and drip at the lower end of the baffle plate 170. Thus, for the water to cross the baffle plate 170, it must overcome gravity and move upward along the inclined plate surface, significantly increasing the path length and difficulty for the water to flow outward around the edge of the baffle plate 170.

[0157] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, through the structural design of the water-blocking plate 170 being inclined from top to bottom toward the ice-making container 300, causes the water flow to drip more concentratedly into the middle area inside the casing 100, greatly increasing the difficulty for the water flow to cross the water-blocking plate 170 and flow along the outer bottom wall of the water guide channel 180, further reducing the probability of water leakage into the compartment, further reducing the risk of water accumulation in the compartment, keeping the compartment clean and dry, and achieving a more reliable leak-proof effect.

[0158] In some embodiments, such as Figures 6-8 As shown, the bottom of the water passage cavity 404 is decorated with concave and convex features.

[0159] The bottom of the water passage cavity 404 can have a regular concave-convex shape, such as a wave shape or a sawtooth shape, or the bottom of the water passage cavity 404 can have an irregular concave-convex shape. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0160] In this embodiment, such as Figures 6-8As shown, the bottom of the water passage cavity 404 can be in the form of a corrugated plate. The bottom wall of the water passage cavity 404 includes multiple protrusions 430 distributed along the width direction of the ice storage container 400 and protruding upwards. The multiple protrusions 430 can be integrally formed with the bottom wall. Multiple means two or more. A drainage space 406 is formed between two adjacent protrusions 430, providing a clear guiding channel for water flow, reducing the disorderly diffusion and long-term stagnation of water on the flat bottom wall, and guiding the rapid discharge of water. At the same time, in the event of ice jamming when the ice storage container 400 is pulled out or other abnormal situations, a few ice blocks may accidentally enter the water passage cavity 404. If the bottom is flat, the ice blocks may stay and directly block the drain outlet 405. However, the uneven bottom wall structure reduces the contact area between the bottom wall of the water passage cavity 404 and the ice blocks.

[0161] In this situation, the drainage space 406 can guide the water flow to more thoroughly flush, surround, and contact the ice blocks, significantly accelerating the melting speed of the ice blocks and allowing them to melt into water and flow away as quickly as possible. Furthermore, even if some unmelted ice blocks temporarily remain near the drain outlet 405, the uneven bottom of the water passage cavity 404 makes it difficult for the ice blocks to form a perfectly flush surface with the drain outlet 405, thus effectively avoiding the risk of the drain outlet 405 becoming blocked.

[0162] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment, by setting the bottom of the water passage 404 to be uneven, guides the water flow to quickly converge and discharge, accelerates the drainage speed, and thus improves the water circulation efficiency. At the same time, in the event of a small number of ice blocks accidentally entering the water passage 404 due to situations such as ice blockage caused by pulling out the ice storage container 400, the uneven bottom wall can not only accelerate the melting of the ice blocks, but also prevent the ice blocks from sticking to the bottom wall and blocking the drain outlet 405, thereby ensuring the stability of the water circulation.

[0163] In some embodiments, such as Figures 6-8 As shown, at least a portion of the recessed area at the bottom of the water passage cavity 404 is provided with a drain outlet 405.

[0164] It is understandable that, such as Figures 6-8 As shown, the recessed area at the bottom of the water passage cavity 404 is the bottom of the drainage space 406 formed between two adjacent protrusions 430, and this position is the lowest point of the bottom wall of the water passage cavity 404. If the drain outlet 405 is located on the protrusion 430 or in a flat area that is not the lowest point, the recessed area may form a local puddle, causing the water to not be completely drained. When the drain outlet 405 is distributed in the recessed area, the drain outlet 405, in conjunction with the guiding effect of the inclined wall of the protrusion 430, can allow the water in the water passage cavity 404 to be discharged quickly and evenly, reducing water residue.

[0165] In some embodiments, each recessed area is provided with a drain outlet 405; in other words, each drainage space 406 has a drain outlet 405 at its bottom.

[0166] In some embodiments, depending on factors such as the size of the water passage cavity 404 and the strength requirements of the ice storage container 400, a drain outlet 405 may be selectively provided in a portion of the recessed area, that is, a drain outlet 405 may be provided at the bottom of a portion of the drainage space 406.

[0167] The refrigeration equipment provided in this application embodiment has a structural design in which at least part of the recessed area at the bottom of the water passage 404 is provided with a drain outlet 405, so that the water flow can naturally converge along the recessed area, reducing the dead corners of water accumulation in the water passage 404, further accelerating the drainage rate, and further improving the circulation efficiency.

[0168] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0169] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0170] In the description of this application, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0171] In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more.

[0172] In the description of this application, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or the first and second features being in contact through another feature between them.

[0173] In the description of this application, the terms "above," "over," and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0174] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0175] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, include: The cabinet, ice-making and refrigeration system, and ice maker are arranged in a compartment. The ice-making and refrigeration system includes a first throttling section, a flow branch, and a first control valve. The ice maker is installed in the compartment and includes: chassis, An ice-making evaporator is installed in the housing. Its inlet is connected to the ice-making refrigeration system through the first throttling section or the flow branch, and its outlet is connected in series to the refrigeration evaporator of the ice-making refrigeration system. The first control valve is used to control the on / off state of the flow branch at least. An ice-making container is installed in the housing, and the ice-making portion of the ice-making evaporator is adapted to extend into the ice-making container; An ice storage container is installed in the housing; A water tank is installed in the casing and forms a water circulation path with the ice-making container; wherein, the refrigeration equipment has an ice-removing mode and a defrosting mode, the ice maker is configured to switch to the ice-removing mode after completing ice making, in which the flow branch is open; the ice maker is configured to switch to the defrosting mode when the refrigeration evaporator has worked for a target cycle in a non-ice-making state, in which the flow branch is open.

2. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first control valve is used to control the on / off state of the flow branch and the first throttling section; the ice-making and refrigeration system further includes: The second throttling section and the refrigeration evaporator, wherein the inlet of the refrigeration evaporator is connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the outlet of the second throttling section, and the second throttling section is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section, the ice-making evaporator and the refrigeration evaporator; The second control valve has three ports connected to the condenser outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the first throttling section, and the inlet of the second throttling section, respectively.

3. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The three valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the compressor outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the condenser, and the inlet of the flow branch.

4. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The three valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the outlet of the condenser, the inlet of the second control valve, and the inlet of the flow branch.

5. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making and refrigeration system also includes: The second throttling section and the refrigeration evaporator are connected, with the inlet of the refrigeration evaporator connected to the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the outlet of the second throttling section. The second throttling section is connected in parallel to the series path formed by the first throttling section, the ice-making evaporator, and the refrigeration evaporator. The four valve ports of the first control valve are respectively connected to the condenser outlet of the ice-making and refrigeration system, the inlet of the flow branch, the inlet of the first throttling section, and the inlet of the second throttling section.

6. The refrigeration equipment according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The ice-making container is rotatably mounted on the housing, and the ice-making container is provided with an overflow port; The ice storage container forms a separate ice storage chamber and a water passage chamber. The ice storage chamber is vertically opposite to the ice-making part of the ice-making evaporator. The bottom of the water passage chamber is provided with a drain outlet. The overflow outlet is configured to always be vertically opposite to the water passage chamber during the inversion of the ice-making container.

7. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom of the ice storage cavity is recessed and convex.

8. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom of the water passage cavity is designed with concave and convex shapes.

9. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drain outlet is provided in at least a portion of the recessed area at the bottom of the water passage cavity.

10. The refrigeration equipment according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes: A water guide channel is installed on the housing, located above the ice storage container and to the side of the ice making container in the direction of rotation. The housing is provided with an ice-removing port for taking out and putting in the ice storage container, and the water guide channel is provided with a water outlet in the area away from the ice-removing port. A water-blocking plate is provided with a downward protrusion at the lower edge of the water outlet.

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