Sterilization box and ice maker facilitating maintenance

Abstract

The application discloses a sterilization box convenient to maintain and an ice maker. The sterilization box convenient to maintain comprises an outer box, one end of which is installed on the ice maker and the other end of which is open; an inner box, one end of which is inserted into the outer box through the opening and the other end of which is detachably connected and sealed with the outer box, a sterilization channel being formed between the inner wall of the outer box and the outer wall of the inner box, a light-transmitting part being arranged on the inner box and being distributed in the outer box; a water inlet and a water outlet being arranged on the outer box and being communicated with the sterilization channel; and a sterilization lamp being arranged in the inner box, the sterilization lamp being used for emitting ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light emitted by the sterilization lamp being capable of irradiating water in the sterilization channel after passing through the light-transmitting part. The inner box can be taken out from the opening of the outer box, the inner and outer walls of the sterilization channel are synchronously exposed with the inner box being disassembled, and the main waterway joint need not be disassembled when cleaning water scale, so that the maintenance is convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice maker technology, specifically to a sterilization box and ice maker that are easy to maintain. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of household and commercial ice makers, the hygiene and safety of water used for ice making are receiving growing attention. The circulating water system of ice makers is in constant contact with water, making the pipe walls prone to bacterial and microbial growth and biofilm formation. Without sterilization, this directly affects the safety of the ice for consumption. Currently, the industry commonly uses ultraviolet (UV) sterilization devices to treat the water used for ice making. The principle behind this is to use short-wave UV light to destroy the nucleic acid structure of microorganisms, thus inactivating and sterilizing them.

[0003] Existing ultraviolet (UV) sterilization devices mostly adopt a straight-tube structure: the UV lamp is placed inside a central quartz sleeve, and water flows through the straight tube cavity between the quartz sleeve and the outer shell. The UV rays pass through the quartz sleeve to irradiate and sterilize the water. This type of structure has the following drawbacks in practical applications: Calcium and magnesium ions in the water easily deposit on the outer wall of the light-transmitting sleeve, forming scale, which blocks ultraviolet rays and reduces sterilization efficiency. Cleaning scale requires disconnecting the water pipe joint, disassembling the outer shell, and removing the lamp tube and sleeve. The disassembly process involves many steps and seals, and repeated disassembly and reassembly can easily lead to seal failure and leakage. Ordinary users cannot complete the maintenance independently. When the central lamp tube shines outward, the light intensity at the edge of the water body is significantly reduced, and the uniformity of light reception is poor. If the sterilization dose needs to be guaranteed, the pipe length needs to be increased, resulting in a large overall volume that is difficult to fit into the narrow installation space inside the ice maker. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes: An easy-to-maintain sterilization box includes: The outer box is mounted on the ice maker at one end and has an opening at the other end; The inner box is inserted into the outer box through the opening at one end, and is detachably connected to and sealed to the outer box at the other end. A sterilization channel is formed between the inner wall of the outer box and the outer wall of the inner box. The inner box is provided with a light-transmitting part, which is distributed inside the outer box. The outer box is provided with an inlet and an outlet that communicate with the sterilization channel. A sterilization lamp is installed in the inner box. The sterilization lamp is used to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light emitted by the sterilization lamp can pass through the light-transmitting part and irradiate the water in the sterilization channel.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention adopts a technical solution to solve its technical problem as follows: the inner box is provided with a box cover at the end opposite to the outer box and connected to the ice maker, the box cover covers the opening and is threadedly connected to the outer box and sealed.

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention adopts the following technical solution to solve its technical problem: the edge of the box cover is provided with an outward flange, the inner wall of the outward flange is provided with threads, and the outer periphery of the outer box away from the end connected to the ice maker is provided with external threads.

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention adopts a technical solution to solve its technical problem as follows: a limiting ring is provided at one end of the outer box away from its opening, and when the box cover is threadedly connected to the outer box and sealed, the end of the inner box away from the box cover extends into the limiting ring.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by one embodiment of the present invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: the inner box includes a box cover and a light-transmitting tube. The box cover is provided with a positioning ring on the side near the outer box connected to the ice maker. One end of the light-transmitting tube is open and the other end is sealed. The open end of the light-transmitting tube is inserted into the positioning ring and bonded to the positioning ring with sealant. The light-transmitting tube constitutes the light-transmitting part.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention adopts the following technical solution to solve its technical problem: the end of the box cover opposite to the end of the outer box that is connected to the ice maker is provided with an insertion port, and the sterilization lamp is inserted into the inner box through the insertion port and is detachably connected to the inner box.

[0010] The technical solution adopted by one embodiment of the present invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: the opening of the socket is provided with an annular protrusion, the sterilization lamp is provided with multiple locking arms, and when the sterilization lamp is inserted into the inner box through the socket, the multiple locking arms respectively engage with the annular protrusion.

[0011] The technical solution adopted by one embodiment of the present invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: the light-transmitting part is annular, the sterilization lamp includes a lamp arm, the lamp arm extends into the inner box, and the lamp arm is provided with a plurality of annular lamp strips spaced apart along the axial direction of the light-transmitting part, and a plurality of ultraviolet lamp beads are arranged spaced apart on the annular lamp strips.

[0012] One embodiment of the present invention employs a technical solution to solve its technical problem by providing a reflective coating on the inner wall of the outer box.

[0013] One embodiment of the present invention employs a technical solution to solve its technical problem as follows: a light-transmitting spiral guide plate is provided inside the sterilization channel, the inner diameter of the spiral guide plate matches the outer diameter of the inner box, and the outer diameter of the spiral guide plate matches the inner diameter of the outer box.

[0014] This application also proposes an ice maker, including a main housing, a circulating water box, and the aforementioned easy-to-maintain sterilization box. The main housing has an installation cavity, and the main housing has an ice outlet at the lower end of the installation cavity. The circulating water box is disposed on the rear cavity wall of the installation cavity, and the outer box is installed on the rear cavity wall of the installation cavity and located above the circulating water box.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: the inner box can be pulled out from the opening of the outer box, and the inner and outer walls of the sterilization channel are exposed simultaneously with the disassembly of the inner box. When cleaning scale, there is no need to disassemble the main water line connector, which greatly simplifies the maintenance operation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention 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 a schematic diagram of the ice maker described in this embodiment; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the sterilization box described in this embodiment; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the installation structure of the sterilization box described in this embodiment; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of a portion of the image; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the sterilization box described in this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0017] This section will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and overall technical solution of the present invention, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] In the description of this invention, "multiple" means two or more; "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number; "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0020] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "setting," "installing," and "connecting" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrally formed connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0021] Reference Figures 1 to 5 This application presents an embodiment of a sterilization box, primarily used for water sterilization in an ice maker 20. The box includes an outer box 10, an inner box 30, and a sterilization lamp 50. One end of the outer box 10 is mounted on the ice maker 20, and the other end has an opening 11. One end of the inner box 30 is inserted into the outer box 10 through the opening 11, and the other end is detachably connected to and sealed to the outer box 10. A sterilization channel 40 is formed between the inner wall of the outer box 10 and the outer wall of the inner box 30. The inner box 30 has a light-transmitting portion distributed within the outer box 10. The outer box 10 has an inlet 12 and an outlet 13 communicating with the sterilization channel 40. The sterilization lamp 50 is disposed within the inner box 30 and emits ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light emitted by the sterilization lamp 50 passes through the light-transmitting portion and irradiates the water within the sterilization channel 40.

[0022] In this application, the inner box 30 can be pulled out from the opening 11 of the outer box 10. The inner and outer walls of the sterilization channel 40 are exposed simultaneously with the disassembly of the inner box 30. When cleaning scale, there is no need to disassemble the main water line connector, which greatly simplifies the maintenance operation.

[0023] Preferably, the inner box 30 has a lid 32 at the end opposite to the outer box 10 and connected to the ice maker 20. The lid 32 covers the opening 11 and is threadedly connected to and sealed to the outer box 10. The lid 32 simultaneously seals the end of the inner box 30, provides a detachable connection to the outer box 10, and seals the end face. The threaded connection makes disassembly and assembly simple, the clamping force is uniform and controllable, and the sealing reliability is high. Additionally, the lid 32 serves as a grip, allowing the entire inner box 30 to be pulled out easily during disassembly.

[0024] Furthermore, the edge of the lid 32 is provided with an outward flange 33, the inner wall of the outward flange 33 is provided with an internal thread, and the outer periphery of the outer box 10 away from its connection with the ice maker 20 is provided with an external thread. The outer box 10 is fitted with an external thread and the lid 32 with an internal thread, and the threaded mating surface is located outside the box body and does not come into contact with the water in the sterilization channel 40.

[0025] Preferably, the lid 32 is provided with a sealing ring 323. When the lid 32 is tightened onto the outer box 10, the end face of the outer box 10 is in sealing contact with the lid 32 through the sealing ring 323. The sealing ring 323 is made of food-grade silicone rubber and is embedded in an annular sealing groove inside the lid 32. When tightened, the end face of the outer box 10 presses against the sealing ring to achieve axial end face sealing.

[0026] Furthermore, the outer box 10 is provided with a limiting ring 14 at the end opposite to its opening 11. When the box cover 32 is threadedly connected to the outer box 10 and sealed, the end of the inner box 30 opposite to the box cover 32 extends into the limiting ring 14. The limiting ring 14 provides radial positioning for the insertion end of the inner box 30, ensuring that the inner box 30 and the outer box 10 always remain coaxial, preventing the inner box 30 from radially shifting under water pressure fluctuations, and ensuring the installation stability of the inner box 30.

[0027] Preferably, the inner box 30 includes a lid 32 and a light-transmitting tube 31. The lid 32 has a positioning ring 321 on the side near the connection between the outer box 10 and the ice maker 20. One end of the light-transmitting tube 31 is open, and the other end is sealed. The open end of the light-transmitting tube 31 is inserted into the positioning ring 321 and bonded to it with food-grade sealant. The light-transmitting tube 31 is the main body of the light-transmitting part, made of high-purity quartz glass or high borosilicate glass, with a UVC transmittance ≥90%, ensuring sterilization efficiency. After one end of the light-transmitting tube 31 is sealed and the open end is bonded, it forms an independent closed inner cavity. The sterilization lamp 50 is placed in this inner cavity, completely isolated from water, ensuring electrical safety and preventing the sterilization lamp 50 from contacting water vapor and forming scale, significantly extending the lamp's lifespan. The positioning ring 321 ensures the coaxiality of the light-transmitting tube 31 and the lid 32, improving assembly accuracy.

[0028] Furthermore, the inner box 30 has an insertion port 324 on the end opposite to the outer box 10 and connected to the ice maker 20. The sterilization lamp 50 is inserted into the inner box 30 through the insertion port and is detachably connected to the inner box 30. The insertion port is located at the center of the lid 32. The sterilization lamp 50 can be directly inserted into the inner cavity of the light-transmitting tube 31 from the outside. When assembling the sterilization box, first connect the lid 32 of the inner box 30 to the outer box 10 by thread, and then detachably install the sterilization lamp 50 on the inner box 30. Similarly, when cleaning the inner box 30, first remove the sterilization lamp 50 from the inner box 30, and then loosen the inner box 30 to disassemble it.

[0029] Preferably, the inlet has an annular protrusion 322, and the sterilization lamp 50 has multiple elastic locking arms 51. When the sterilization lamp 50 is inserted into the inner box 30 through the inlet, the multiple locking arms 51 are respectively engaged and fixed with the annular protrusion 322. The locking arms 51 are made of elastic plastic material and are evenly distributed around the mounting base of the sterilization lamp 50. When inserted, the locking arms 51 deform inward to avoid obstruction, and after being inserted into place, the locking arms 51 spring back outward to engage with the end face of the annular protrusion 322, achieving axial positioning. This quick-release locking structure requires no tools; the installation and removal of the sterilization lamp 50 can be completed by simply inserting and removing the arms, facilitating daily maintenance.

[0030] Furthermore, the light-transmitting part is annular, and the sterilization lamp 50 includes a lamp arm 52 that extends into the inner box 30. The lamp arm 52 has multiple annular light strips 53 spaced apart along the axial direction of the light-transmitting part. The light-transmitting part has a cylindrical annular structure, and the annular light strips 53 are formed by circumferentially arranged UVC LED beads. Multiple sets of light strips are evenly arranged axially, emitting 360° circumferential ultraviolet light. After passing through the annular light-transmitting tube 31, the light evenly illuminates all the water in the outer annular sterilization channel 40, eliminating any blind spots. The axially spaced arrangement of multiple sets of annular light strips 53 ensures sufficient ultraviolet radiation throughout the sterilization channel 40, meeting sterilization requirements even with fast water flow. Compared to a single straight UV lamp, the annular light strips 53 have a more uniform light intensity distribution and less light decay in the edge areas, improving sterilization efficiency.

[0031] Preferably, the inner wall of the outer box 10 is provided with a reflective coating. When ultraviolet light shines on the inner wall of the outer box 10, the ultraviolet light is reflected by the reflective coating, thereby improving the utilization rate of ultraviolet light and improving the sterilization efficiency.

[0032] Preferably, the sterilization channel is provided with a light-transmitting spiral guide plate 60, the inner diameter of which matches the outer diameter of the inner box 30, and the outer diameter of which matches the inner diameter of the outer box 10.

[0033] The spiral guide plate 60 is coaxially arranged with the outer box 10 and the inner box 30, and is embedded in the annular sterilization channel between the outer box 10 and the inner box 30. Its inner edge is in contact with the outer wall of the light-transmitting part of the inner box 30, and its outer edge is in contact with the inner wall of the outer box 10. Through its own continuous spiral structure, it divides the originally straight annular sterilization channel into a single continuous spiral water flow channel. When the water flows into the sterilization box for sterilization, the spiral guide structure can effectively prolong the light residence time of the water in the sterilization channel, and effectively increase the total sterilization dose without increasing the product volume. At the same time, the spiral flow will drive the water to generate continuous radial tumbling and displacement, continuously transporting the water in the low light intensity area near the inner wall of the outer box 10 to the high light intensity area near the light-transmitting part of the inner box 30, breaking the laminar flow effect under direct flow and improving the light uniformity of the water in the entire flow channel.

[0034] As the water flows along the spiral channel, it forms a stable tangential scouring force on the wall surface, continuously sweeping across the outer wall of the light-transmitting part of the inner box 30 and the inner wall of the outer box 10. This can interfere with the crystallization and adhesion process of calcium and magnesium ions in the water on the wall surface, prolonging the deposition cycle of scale, maintaining the light transmittance of the light-transmitting part and the overall sterilization efficiency for a long time, and reducing the frequency of cleaning and maintenance for users. In this embodiment, the spiral guide plate 60 is made of resin material.

[0035] Referring to the attached drawings, the spiral guide plate 60 is fixed with multiple positioning posts 61. The outer box and the box cover are provided with positioning holes for the positioning posts to be inserted and positioned. During assembly, the spiral guide plate 60 is first inserted into the sealing end of the inner box 30 and one end of the positioning post is inserted into the positioning hole on the box cover. Then, the inner box 30 and the spiral guide plate 60 are inserted into the outer box together. After tightening the box cover, the two ends of the positioning post are respectively pressed against the bottom of the positioning hole on the outer box and the inner box. At the same time, the radial and axial positioning installation is achieved by the gap between the inner and outer walls of the inner and outer boxes.

[0036] During disassembly and cleaning, after the inner box 30 is pulled out, the spiral guide plate 60 can slide directly out axially from the end of the light-transmitting part, realizing the separation and cleaning of the guide plate, the light-transmitting part of the inner box, and the inner wall of the outer box, without any dead corners in cleaning.

[0037] This embodiment also proposes an ice maker 20, including a main housing 21, a circulating water box 22, and the aforementioned sterilization box. The main housing 21 is provided with an installation cavity, and the main housing 21 is provided with an ice outlet 24 at the lower end of the installation cavity. The circulating water box 22 is disposed on the rear cavity wall of the installation cavity, and the outer box 10 is installed on the rear cavity wall of the installation cavity and located above the circulating water box 22.

[0038] The ice maker 20 is also equipped with a circulating water pump 23 inside its installation cavity. The circulating water pump is partially submerged in the water in the circulating water box 22. The outlet of the circulating water pump is connected to the inlet of the sterilization box, thereby sending the circulating water in the circulating water box 22 into the sterilization channel 40 of the sterilization box. After the sterilization lamp 50 is lit, the ring light strip 53 on the lamp arm 52 emits short-wave ultraviolet light, which passes through the light-transmitting tube 31 and irradiates the flowing water in the sterilization channel 40, destroying the nucleic acid structure of bacteria and viruses in the water, thereby achieving sterilization and disinfection. The sterilized water flows out from the outlet 13 and enters the ice-making water path of the ice maker 20.

[0039] The sterilization box is installed horizontally, positioned slightly above the circulating water pump, to prevent the circulating water pump from interfering with the disassembly of the inner box 30 and the sterilization lamp 50.

[0040] The disassembly and cleaning process is as follows: First, hold the end of the sterilization lamp 50 and pull it outwards to disengage the locking arm 51 from the annular protrusion 322, then remove the sterilization lamp 50 from the socket. Next, rotate the cover 32 in the reverse direction to loosen the threaded connection between the cover 32 and the outer box 10. Holding the cover 32, pull the inner box 30 out of the opening 11 of the outer box 10. At this point, the outer wall of the light-transmitting tube 31 and the inner wall of the outer box 10 are fully exposed, allowing direct cleaning of the scale on both surfaces. After cleaning, reinsert the inner box 30 into the outer box 10, tighten the cover 32 in the forward direction to seal the end face, and then insert the sterilization lamp 50 back into the socket and secure it. This completes all maintenance operations. The entire process does not require disassembling the inlet and outlet connectors of the outer box 10, nor does it require disassembling the electrical wiring; ordinary users can complete this independently.

[0041] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such equivalent modifications and substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A sterilization box that is easy to maintain, characterized in that, include: The outer box (10) is mounted on the ice maker (20) at one end and has an opening (11) at the other end. The inner box (30) is inserted into the outer box (10) through the opening (11) at one end, and is detachably connected to and sealed to the outer box (10) at the other end. A sterilization channel (40) is formed between the inner wall of the outer box (10) and the outer wall of the inner box (30). The inner box (30) is provided with a light-transmitting part, which is distributed inside the outer box (10). The outer box (10) is provided with a water inlet (12) and a water outlet (13) that communicate with the sterilization channel (40). A sterilization lamp (50) is installed in the inner box (30). The sterilization lamp (50) is used to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light emitted by the sterilization lamp (50) can pass through the light-transmitting part and irradiate the water in the sterilization channel (40).

2. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner box (30) has a lid (32) at the end opposite to the outer box (10) and connected to the ice maker (20). The lid (32) covers the opening (11) and is threadedly connected to and sealed to the outer box (10).

3. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer box (10) has a limiting ring (14) at one end away from its opening (11). When the box cover (32) is threadedly connected to the outer box (10) and sealed, the inner box (30) extends into the limiting ring (14) at one end away from the box cover (32).

4. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner box (30) includes a lid (32) and a light-transmitting tube (31). The lid (32) has a positioning ring (321) on the side near the outer box (10) connected to the ice maker (20). One end of the light-transmitting tube (31) is open and the other end is sealed. The open end of the light-transmitting tube (31) is inserted into the positioning ring (321) and bonded to the positioning ring (321) with sealant. The light-transmitting tube (31) constitutes the light-transmitting part.

5. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The lid (32) is provided with a socket (324) at the end opposite to the outer box (10) and connected to the ice maker (20). The sterilization lamp (50) is inserted into the inner box (30) through the socket (324) and is detachably connected to the inner box (30).

6. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 5, characterized in that, The opening of the socket is provided with an annular protrusion (322), and the sterilization lamp (50) is provided with multiple locking arms (51). When the sterilization lamp (50) is inserted into the inner box (30) through the socket, the multiple locking arms (51) respectively engage with the annular protrusion (322).

7. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-transmitting part is annular, and the sterilization lamp (50) includes a lamp arm (52), which extends into the inner box (30). The lamp arm (52) is provided with a plurality of annular lamp strips (53) spaced apart along the axial direction of the light-transmitting part, and a plurality of ultraviolet lamp beads (54) spaced apart are arranged on the annular lamp strips (53).

8. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the outer box (10) is provided with a reflective coating.

9. The easy-to-maintain sterilization box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sterilization channel is provided with a light-transmitting spiral guide plate (60), the inner diameter of which matches the outer diameter of the inner box (30), and the outer diameter of which matches the inner diameter of the outer box (10).

10. An ice maker, characterized in that, The device includes a main housing (21), a circulating water box (22), and a sterilization box that is easy to maintain as described in any one of claims 1-9. The main housing (21) is provided with an installation cavity, and the main housing (21) is provided with an ice outlet (24) at the lower end of the installation cavity. The circulating water box (22) is disposed on the rear side wall of the installation cavity, and the outer box (10) is installed on the rear side wall of the installation cavity and located above the circulating water box (22).

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