Ice making assembly and water dispenser

Abstract

The application discloses an ice making assembly and a water dispenser, and belongs to the technical field of ice making equipment. The ice making assembly comprises a cold water cavity, an ice making cavity and a balance cavity. The cold water cavity is used for making cold water. The ice making cavity is used for making ice. The balance cavity is connected with the cold water cavity and the ice making cavity. The balance cavity is arranged to supply water to the ice making cavity when the water level is higher than a first water level, and to overflow to the cold water cavity when the water level is higher than a second water level. The second water level is higher than the first water level. According to the ice making assembly, the water level in the ice making cavity can be maintained at a set water level by arranging the balance cavity. The water level in the ice making cavity does not need to be detected by arranging a water level detection element, and the water feeding mode of the ice making assembly can be simplified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and in particular to an ice-making component and a water dispenser. Background Technology

[0002] With the diversification of lifestyle needs, water dispensers with ice-making functions are gradually becoming commonplace in households. Ice-making devices in related technologies typically input water directly from the cold water chamber into the ice-making unit. A water level detection element needs to be installed in the ice-making unit to stop water intake once the water level reaches the set level.

[0003] However, the installation of a water level sensor complicates the structure of the ice-making device, increasing its cost. Furthermore, some ice-making devices have stirring structures or other features inside the ice-making chamber, making it inconvenient to install a water level sensor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this invention is to provide an ice-making assembly that, by setting a balance chamber, can maintain the water level in the ice-making chamber at a set level, eliminating the need for a water level detection element to detect the water level in the ice-making chamber, thus simplifying the water intake method of the ice-making assembly.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a water dispenser.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making assembly includes: a cold water chamber for cooling water; an ice-making chamber for making ice; and a balancing chamber connecting the cold water chamber and the ice-making chamber, wherein the balancing chamber is configured to allow water to enter the ice-making chamber when the water level is higher than a first water level, and to overflow into the cold water chamber when the water level is higher than a second water level, wherein the second water level is higher than the first water level.

[0007] According to the ice-making assembly of the present invention, by setting a balance chamber, the water level in the ice-making chamber can be maintained at a set water level, eliminating the need for a water level detection element to detect the water level in the ice-making chamber, thus simplifying the water intake method of the ice-making assembly.

[0008] In addition, the ice-making assembly according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features: In some embodiments, the ice-making chamber is connected to an ice-making outlet for ice output, and the second water level is lower than the ice-making outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, the minimum distance L1 between the second water level and the ice-making outlet and the maximum distance L2 between the first water level and the second water level satisfy the condition 0.02≤L1 / L2≤1.

[0010] In some embodiments, the ice-making chamber is connected to an ice-making inlet, the balance chamber is connected to a connecting port and an overflow port that is connected to and higher than the connecting port, the connecting port is connected to the ice-making inlet, the first water level is not lower than the connecting port and the ice-making inlet, the overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber, and the second water level is not lower than the overflow port.

[0011] An ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cold water chamber for cooling water; an ice-making chamber for making ice, the ice-making chamber being connected to an ice-making inlet and an ice-making outlet; and a balancing chamber connected to a connecting port and an overflow port that is connected to and higher than the connecting port, the overflow port being higher than the ice-making inlet and lower than the ice-making outlet, wherein the connecting port is connected to the ice-making inlet for water to enter the ice-making chamber from the connecting port, and the overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber for overflow from the overflow port into the cold water chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ice-making inlet is not lower than the connecting port, and at any two points in the channel between the connecting port and the ice-making inlet, the height of the point closer to the ice-making inlet is not less than the height of the point closer to the connecting port.

[0013] In some embodiments, the balancing cavity and the ice-making cavity are at least partially horizontally arranged side by side; and / or, the lower edge of the ice-making inlet is not higher than the inner bottom surface of the ice-making cavity; and / or, the ice-making cavity extends in a vertical direction, the ice-making outlet is located at the upper end of the ice-making cavity, and the ice-making inlet is located at the lower end of the ice-making cavity.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ice-making assembly includes a cold water tank, and both the cold water chamber and the balance chamber are located in the cold water tank.

[0015] In some embodiments, the cold water tank includes a tank body and a partition, the partition being located inside the tank body and separating the cold water chamber and the balance chamber within the tank body, and the overflow port being located on the partition.

[0016] In some embodiments, the partition is connected to the side wall of the box body, and the balance cavity is formed between the partition and the side wall of the box body. The communication port is located in the part of the side wall of the box body used to form the balance cavity.

[0017] In some embodiments, the upper edge of the partition has a notch, which forms the overflow port.

[0018] In some embodiments, the overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber via an overflow pipe.

[0019] In some embodiments, the ice-making assembly includes a water pump connected to both the cold water chamber and the balance chamber, the water pump being configured to drive water from the cold water chamber to the balance chamber, and the water pump being connected to the bottom of the cold water chamber.

[0020] In some embodiments, the ice-making assembly includes an ice-making device, which includes: an ice-making shell, an ice-making cavity disposed within the ice-making shell, an ice-making outlet located at the upper end of the ice-making shell, and an ice-making inlet located at the lower end of the ice-making shell; a stirring member, which extends vertically through the ice-making cavity, and the stirring member includes spiral blades extending spirally in the vertical direction, the spiral blades being located within the ice-making cavity; and a driving member, which is kinetically connected to the stirring member and is used to drive the stirring member to rotate.

[0021] In some embodiments, the connection port is higher than the highest water level in the cold water chamber.

[0022] The water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the aforementioned ice-making component. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a water circuit diagram of an ice-making component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an ice-making component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of an ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of an ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 This is another partial schematic diagram of an ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a cold water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 This is another schematic diagram of a cold water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a cold water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 9 This is another cross-sectional view of a cold water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of an ice-making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of an ice-making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 12 This is a flow diagram of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 14 This is an internal schematic diagram of a water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 15 This is a flow diagram of a water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Reference numerals: Water dispenser 1000, Ice-making assembly 10, First water level 1001, Second water level 1002, Cold water tank 11, Cold water chamber 1101, Balance chamber 1102, Connecting port 1103, Overflow port 1104, Tank body 111, First plate 1111, Second plate 1112, Connecting plate 1113, First pump interface 1105, Second pump interface 1106, Partition 112, First side 1121, Second side 1122, Notch 1123, Guide rib 1124, Insulation layer 113, Ice-making device 12, Ice-making chamber 1201, Ice-making outlet 1202, Ice-making inlet 1203, Ice-making outer... Shell 121, stirring component 122, drive component 123, water pump 13, refrigeration unit 14, compressor 141, condenser 142, throttling element 143, control valve 144, first evaporator 1451, second evaporator 1452, minimum distance L1 between second water level 1002 and ice outlet 1202, maximum distance L2 between first water level 1001 and second water level 1002, ambient temperature water tank 21, hot water tank 22, hot water valve 23, hot water circulation valve 24, ambient temperature water valve 25, hot water tank exhaust pipe 26, cold water valve 27, drive pump 31, first liquid level detection component 32, second liquid level detection component 33, water tank 2000. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The present invention provides an ice-making assembly 10, which can utilize the principle of connecting pipes to achieve water intake into the ice-making chamber 1201, thereby achieving stable water intake into the ice-making chamber 1201 and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated 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 intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0041] like Figure 1 According to a first aspect of the present invention, the ice-making assembly 10 includes a cold water chamber 1101, an ice-making chamber 1201, and a balance chamber 1102.

[0042] The cold water chamber 1101 can be used to cool water. For example, water can be stored in the cold water chamber 1101, and the water in the cold water chamber 1101 can be cooled by the cooling device 14 to lower the temperature of the water in the cold water chamber 1101; in addition, the outside of the cold water chamber 1101 can be wrapped with an insulation layer 113 to achieve heat preservation of the cold water chamber 1101.

[0043] The ice-making chamber 1201 can be used to make ice. For example, water for making ice can be introduced into the ice-making chamber 1201, and the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 can be cooled by the refrigeration device 14 to generate ice.

[0044] The balancing chamber 1102 can connect the cold water chamber 1101 and the ice-making chamber 1201. The balancing chamber 1102 can be configured to allow water to enter the ice-making chamber 1201 when the water level is higher than the first water level 1001, and to overflow into the cold water chamber 1101 when the water level is higher than the second water level 1002. The second water level 1002 is higher than the first water level 1001. The balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 can be combined to form a communicating vessel structure in which the highest water level is approximately located at the second water level 1002.

[0045] Specifically, the water intake process of the ice-making chamber 1201 may include: inputting water to be cooled and water to be made into the cold water chamber 1101, using the refrigeration device 14 to cool the water in the cold water chamber 1101, generating cold water in the cold water chamber 1101; inputting the water in the cold water chamber 1101 into the balance chamber 1102, and the water level in the balance chamber 1102 gradually rises; when the water in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the first water level 1001, the water in the balance chamber 1102 can be transported into the ice-making chamber 1201, realizing the water intake into the ice-making chamber 1201; when the water in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the second water level 1002, if water continues to be introduced into the balance chamber 1102, the water in the balance chamber 1102 will overflow into the cold water chamber 1101, while the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 remains at the second water level 1002.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making assembly 10 utilizes a communicating vessel structure formed between the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 to maintain the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 at a second water level 1002. After the water level in the balancing chamber 1102 reaches the second water level 1002, the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 will not continue to rise when water is continuously supplied to the balancing chamber 1102. Furthermore, water is only replenished from the balancing chamber 1102 to the ice-making chamber 1201 when the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 drops. Therefore, the balancing chamber 1102 can be used to isolate the cold water chamber 1101 and the ice-making chamber 1201, preventing factors such as the water level in the cold water tank 11 and the water flow rate supplied to the ice-making chamber 1201 from affecting the water in the ice-making chamber 1201, improving the stability of the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201, reducing heat exchange between the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 and the water in the cold water chamber 1101, and improving the ice-making efficiency of the ice-making assembly 10.

[0047] like Figure 1 In some embodiments, the ice-making chamber 1201 is connected to an ice-making outlet 1202 for ice output, and the ice produced in the ice-making chamber 1201 can be output from the ice-making outlet 1202. The second water level 1002 is lower than the ice-making outlet 1202. The highest water level in the balance chamber 1102 is the same as the highest water level in the ice-making chamber 1201. When the water in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the second water level 1002, it overflows into the cold water chamber 1101, and the highest water level in the balance chamber 1102 will remain at the second water level 1002. The highest water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 will also not exceed the second water level 1002. Therefore, since the second water level 1002 is lower than the ice-making outlet 1202, the highest water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 will also be lower than the ice-making outlet 1202. This prevents the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 from becoming too high and overflowing from the ice-making outlet 1202, thus improving the stability of the ice-making process. Furthermore, it prevents the cold water in the ice-making chamber 1201 from flowing out with the water overflowing from the ice-making outlet 1202, thus improving ice-making efficiency. In addition, the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 is lower than that in the ice-making outlet 1202, which can reduce or prevent the low-temperature water in the ice-making chamber 1201 from entering the cold water chamber 1101 and causing the water temperature in the cold water chamber 1101 to be too low, thereby improving the stability of the output cold water temperature.

[0048] Of course, the second water level 1002 can also be set to be no lower than the ice-making outlet 1202. This invention mainly uses the example of the second water level 1002 being lower than the ice-making outlet 1202 for illustration, which is not a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention.

[0049] like Figure 1The second water level 1002 is lower than the ice-making outlet 1202. The minimum distance L1 between the second water level 1002 and the ice-making outlet 1202 and the maximum distance L2 between the first water level 1001 and the second water level 1002 satisfy the condition 0.02≤L1 / L2≤1. Specifically, when the water in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the first water level 1001, the water in the balance chamber 1102 will flow into the ice-making chamber 1201, thus achieving water intake for the ice-making chamber 1201. When the water level in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the second water level 1002, the ice-making chamber 1201 reaches its highest water level.

[0050] When L1 / L2 is too small (e.g., L1 / L2 < 0.02), the value of L1 is small, meaning that the second water level 1002 is relatively close to the ice-making outlet 1202. When the water level in the ice-making cavity 1201 fluctuates or the ice-making component 10 is tilted at a certain angle, the highest water level in the ice-making cavity 1201 may be higher than the ice-making outlet 1202, which may affect the ice-making efficiency of the ice-making component 10. When L1 / L2 is too large (e.g., L1 / L2 > 1), the value of L1 is large or the value of L2 is small. The distance between the second water level 1002 and the ice-making outlet 1202 is too large or the distance between the first water level 1001 and the second water level 1002 is too small. The highest water level in the ice-making cavity 1201 is too low, which is not conducive to ice making and leads to a decrease in ice-making efficiency. Moreover, the distance between the first water level 1001 and the second water level 1002 is too small, which will affect the water intake of the ice-making cavity 1201 and affect the stable operation of the ice-making component 10. Therefore, in this invention, 0.02 ≤ L1 / L2 ≤ 1 ensures sufficient water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 and guarantees its ice-making efficiency, thereby improving the performance of the ice-making component 10 and facilitating rapid and stable ice production. The value of L1 / L2 can be 0.02, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.18, 0.25, 0.34, 0.5, 0.56, 0.78, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, or 1, etc.

[0051] In some embodiments, the ice-making chamber 1201 of the present invention may further include an ice-making inlet 1203, a balancing chamber 1102 connected to a connecting port 1103 and an overflow port 1104, the overflow port 1104 communicating with the connecting port 1103 and being higher than the connecting port 1103, the connecting port 1103 communicating with the ice-making inlet 1203, a first water level 1001 not lower than the connecting port 1103 and the ice-making inlet 1203, the overflow port 1104 communicating with the cold water chamber 1101, and a second water level 1002 not lower than the overflow port 1104. This facilitates stable communication between the ice-making chamber 1201 and the balancing chamber 1102, and improves the stability of the water level within the ice-making chamber 1201.

[0052] like Figure 1According to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention, an ice-making assembly 10 includes a cold water chamber 1101, an ice-making chamber 1201, and a balancing chamber 1102. The cold water chamber 1101 can be used to store chilled water; water can be stored in the cold water chamber 1101, and a refrigeration device 14 can be used to cool the water in the cold water chamber 1101, thereby lowering the water temperature. Additionally, an insulation layer 113 can be wrapped around the outside of the cold water chamber 1101 to achieve heat preservation. The ice-making chamber 1201 can be used to make ice; water for ice making can be input into the ice-making chamber 1201, and the refrigeration device 14 can be used to cool the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 to achieve ice making. The balancing chamber 1102 can connect the cold water chamber 1101 and the ice-making chamber 1201.

[0053] The ice-making chamber 1201 is connected to an ice-making inlet 1203 and an ice-making outlet 1202. The balance chamber 1102 is connected to a connecting port 1103 and an overflow port 1104. The overflow port 1104 is connected to the connecting port 1103. The overflow port 1104 is higher than the connecting port 1103 and is higher than the ice-making inlet 1203 but lower than the ice-making outlet 1202. The connecting port 1103 is connected to the ice-making inlet 1203 and is used to allow water to enter the ice-making chamber 1201 from the connecting port 1103. The overflow port 1104 is connected to the cold water chamber 1101 and is used to allow water to overflow from the overflow port 1104 into the cold water chamber 1101.

[0054] Specifically, the water intake process of the ice-making chamber 1201 may include: inputting water to be cooled and water to be made into the cold water chamber 1101, and using the refrigeration device 14 to cool the water in the cold water chamber 1101; inputting the water in the cold water chamber 1101 into the balance chamber 1102, and the water level in the balance chamber 1102 gradually increases; when the water level in the balance chamber 1102 is not lower than the connecting port 1103 and the ice-making inlet 1203, the water in the balance chamber 1102 can be transported into the ice-making chamber 1201, realizing the water intake of the ice-making chamber 1201; when the water in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the overflow port 1104, the water in the balance chamber 1102 will overflow into the cold water chamber 1101, while the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 is maintained at approximately the same level as the overflow port 1104.

[0055] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making assembly 10 utilizes the communicating vessel structure formed between the balance chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 to maintain the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 at approximately the same level as the overflow port 1104. After the water level in the balance chamber 1102 reaches approximately the same level as the overflow port 1104, the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 will not continue to rise when water is supplied to the balance chamber 1102. Moreover, water will only be supplied from the balance chamber 1102 to the ice-making chamber 1201 when the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 drops. Therefore, the balance chamber 1102 can be used to isolate the ice-making chamber 1201, avoiding the influence of factors such as the water level in the cold water tank 11 and the water flow rate supplied to the ice-making chamber 1201 on the water in the ice-making chamber 1201, thereby improving the stability of the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201, reducing the heat exchange between the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 and the water in the cold water chamber 1101, and improving the ice-making efficiency of the ice-making component 10.

[0056] The water supply logic of the ice-making device 12 in this invention includes: when making ice, the water pump 13 (which can be a vane pump) works to push the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102. After the balance chamber 1102 is full, the water overflows back to the cold water chamber 1101 until the ice making is completed.

[0057] Combination Figures 2 to 5 In some embodiments, the ice-making inlet 1203 is not lower than the connecting port 1103, and at any two points in the channel between the connecting port 1103 and the ice-making inlet 1203, the height of the point closer to the ice-making inlet 1203 is not less than the height of the point closer to the connecting port 1103. This includes, but is not limited to: the ice-making inlet 1203 being flush with and directly connected to the connecting port 1103; or, the ice-making inlet 1203, the connecting port 1103, and the pipeline between them being flush; or, the ice-making inlet 1203 being higher than the connecting port 1103; or, the ice-making inlet 1203 being higher than the connecting port 1103, and at least a portion of the pipeline in the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 sloping downwards in the direction from the ice-making inlet 1203 to the connecting port 1103.

[0058] When the water level in the balancing chamber 1102 is not lower than the ice-making inlet 1203, the water in the balancing chamber 1102 can flow to the ice-making chamber 1201, facilitating water intake into the ice-making chamber 1201. When the water level in the balancing chamber 1102 decreases, the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 will also decrease. When the water level in the balancing chamber 1102 is lower than the ice-making inlet 1203, the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 can flow through the ice-making inlet 1203 to the connecting port 1103 and then back into the balancing chamber 1102. Water in the channel between the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 can also be drained into the balancing chamber 1102, thus completing the drainage of the ice-making chamber 1201. Therefore, by setting the ice-making inlet 1203 to be no higher than the connecting port 1103, drainage of the ice-making chamber 1201 can be facilitated.

[0059] Additionally, the lower edge of the ice-making inlet 1203 may not be higher than the inner bottom surface of the ice-making cavity 1201, including but not limited to: the lower edge of the ice-making inlet 1203 being flush with the inner bottom surface of the ice-making cavity 1201; or, the lower edge of the ice-making inlet 1203 being lower than the inner bottom surface of the ice-making cavity 1201. When the water level in the balance cavity 1102 drops below the connecting port 1103, the water in the balance cavity 1102 can be drained into the balance cavity 1102 through the ice-making inlet 1203, which facilitates the complete drainage of the water in the ice-making cavity 1201, allowing for the replacement of stale water in the ice-making cavity 1201, improving the safety of the ice-making assembly 10, and maintaining the hygiene of the water used in the ice-making assembly 10. High-temperature sterilization can also be achieved by introducing high-temperature water into the ice-making cavity 1201. In this case, after high-temperature sterilization is completed, the water in the ice-making cavity 1201 can be drained to improve the effectiveness of high-temperature sterilization.

[0060] The relative height and connection method of the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 may include, but are not limited to, the following implementation methods.

[0061] In the first implementation method, the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are directly connected. That is, no connecting pipe is set between the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103, but the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are directly connected. This enables the direct connection between the balance chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201, facilitating the flow of water between the balance chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201.

[0062] In the second embodiment, the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are at the same height and are connected by a horizontally extending connecting pipe. This allows the ice-making chamber 1201 and the balance chamber 1102 to be separated, reducing the structural limitations on the ice-making assembly 10 and facilitating the assembly of the ice-making assembly 10.

[0063] In the third implementation method, the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are at different heights, with the ice-making inlet 1203 being higher than the connecting port 1103. The ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are connected by a connecting pipe. This connecting pipe includes a first pipe section that extends downwards at an angle from the ice-making inlet 1203 to the connecting port 1103. This first pipe section connects the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103, facilitating water intake from the balance chamber 1102 into the ice-making chamber 1201 during water intake and drainage from the ice-making chamber 1201 into the balance chamber 1102 during drainage.

[0064] In the fourth embodiment, the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are at different heights, with the ice-making inlet 1203 being higher than the connecting port 1103. The ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 are connected by a connecting pipe. The connecting pipe between the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section. The first pipe section extends downward at an angle from the ice-making inlet 1203 to the connecting port 1103. The first pipe section and the second pipe section are connected in series between the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103. The second pipe section extends horizontally.

[0065] Of course, the relative height and connection method between the ice-making inlet 1203 and the connecting port 1103 in this invention can also be other methods, such as setting the connecting port 1103 to be higher than the ice-making inlet 1203; or, for example, setting a pipe with a central upward or downward protrusion between the connecting port 1103 and the ice-making inlet 1203. This is easily understood by those skilled in the art, and will not be elaborated further in this invention.

[0066] Combination Figures 1 to 4 The balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 are at least partially horizontally arranged side-by-side. For example, the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 are distributed along the left-right direction; or the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 are distributed along the front-back direction. The balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 can be adjacent or separated. For example, the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 can be located in the same housing, or they can be distributed adjacently; alternatively, the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 can be located in different housings, and the sidewalls of the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 can be spaced apart. This side-by-side arrangement facilitates water flow between the balancing chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201, enabling stable and rapid water intake and drainage in the ice-making chamber 1201, thus improving the ice-making efficiency and stability of the ice-making assembly 10.

[0067] like Figure 11The ice-making chamber 1201 extends vertically, with the ice-making outlet 1202 located at the upper end and the ice-making inlet 1203 located at the lower end. By placing the ice-making inlet 1203 at the lower end of the ice-making chamber 1201, it is convenient to allow water to enter and drain the ice-making chamber 1201, thereby optimizing the safety and stability of the ice-making assembly 10 and ensuring hygiene. Furthermore, the ice-making outlet 1202, located at the upper end of the ice-making chamber 1201, facilitates the cooling of the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 into ice, and also allows for convenient output of the ice produced in the ice-making chamber 1201 from the ice-making outlet 1202, simplifying the structure of the ice-making assembly 10 and optimizing its performance.

[0068] In this invention, the balance chamber 1102 and the cold water chamber 1101 can be integrated into the same housing, or they can be placed in different housings and connected by an overflow pipe. As mentioned above, the balance chamber 1102 is designed using the principle of communicating vessels to supply water to the ice-making device 12. Since the water in the balance chamber 1102 originates from the cold water chamber 1101, the low water temperature easily produces condensation, requiring the balance chamber 1102 to be wrapped with insulating foam. This invention integrates the balance chamber 1102 and the cold water chamber 1101 into a single design. A water storage area and overflow structure are designed on the cold water chamber 1101 near the ice-making device 12. This water storage area serves as the balance chamber 1102. The connecting pipe from the vane pump to the balance chamber 1102 is also located inside the cold water chamber 1101. Since the balancing chamber 1102 and the connecting pipes are all located inside the cold water chamber 1101, and the cold water chamber 1101 is wrapped with insulating foam, there is no need for additional insulation for the balancing chamber 1102 and the corresponding pipes. This invention integrates the balancing chamber 1102 and the cold water chamber 1101 into a single design, eliminating the need for parts such as the balancing box, balancing box cover, balancing box insulating foam, and pipe insulation cotton, thus reducing mold investment, lowering costs, and improving assembly efficiency.

[0069] like Figures 5 to 9 In some embodiments, the cold water chamber 1101 and the balancing chamber 1102 are housed within the same enclosure. The ice-making assembly 10 includes a cold water tank 11, with both the cold water chamber 1101 and the balancing chamber 1102 located within it. This simplifies the structure of the ice-making assembly 10, improves the efficiency of its production and assembly, and facilitates the overflow of water from the balancing chamber 1102 to the cold water chamber 1101, thus simplifying the flow path between the balancing chamber 1102 and the cold water chamber 1101.

[0070] like Figures 6 to 9The cold water tank 11 includes a main body 111 and a partition 112. The partition 112 is located inside the main body 111 and divides the main body 111 into a cold water chamber 1101 and a balancing chamber 1102. An overflow port 1104 is located on the partition 112. By integrating the cold water chamber 1101 and the balancing chamber 1102 into the same tank, the structure of the cold water tank 11 can be simplified, assembly can be facilitated, and costs can be reduced. In addition, by using the partition 112 to separate the cold water chamber 1101 and the balancing chamber 1102, when the water level in the balancing chamber 1102 reaches the overflow port 1104, the overflowing water can smoothly enter the cold water chamber 1101 through the partition 112, which facilitates the overflow of water in the balancing chamber 1102. Moreover, it eliminates the need for pipes, flow channels, and other structures to connect the overflow port 1104 with the cold water chamber 1101, simplifying the flow path, reducing leakage points, and optimizing the performance of the ice-making component 10.

[0071] The partition 112 has a first side 1121 and a second side 1122, the first side 1121 being formed as the inner side of the cold water chamber 1101, and the second side 1122 being formed as the inner side of the balance chamber 1102.

[0072] like Figures 6 to 9 A partition 112 connects to the side wall of the main body 111, forming a balancing cavity 1102 between the partition 112 and the side wall of the main body 111. A connecting port 1103 is located in the part of the side wall of the main body 111 used to form the balancing cavity 1102. The balancing cavity 1102 can be formed between the side wall of the main body 111 and the partition 112, simplifying the structure of the cold water tank 11. Furthermore, an overflow port 1104 provided in the partition 112 allows water in the balancing cavity 1102 to overflow into the cold water chamber 1101. Simultaneously, the connecting port 1103 located in the side wall of the main body 111 facilitates communication between the balancing cavity 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201, further simplifying the structure of the cold water tank 11.

[0073] like Figure 8 The upper edge of the partition 112 is provided with a notch 1123, which forms an overflow port 1104. This can reduce the height of the overflow port 1104, preventing water in the balance chamber 1102 from overflowing from the upper edge of the tank body 111, thus improving the stability of the cold water tank 11. In addition, by providing the notch 1123, the overflow direction of the balance chamber 1102 can be constrained, thereby improving the stability of the cold water tank 11.

[0074] like Figure 8 and Figure 9In some embodiments, the partition 112 extends vertically, and a guide rib 1124 is connected to the first side 1121. The guide rib 1124 extends vertically, and its upper end extends to the lower edge of the overflow port 1104. The guide rib 1124 includes one or multiple ribs arranged side by side and spaced apart. When water overflows from the overflow port 1104 in the balance chamber 1102, it will flow along the inner surface of the partition 112 and the guide rib 1124 towards the cold water chamber 1101. By guiding the flow with the guide rib 1124, the direction of the overflowing water in the balance chamber 1102 can be constrained, thereby reducing the flow rate and range of the overflowing water, achieving noise reduction of the ice-making assembly 10, and reducing the impact on the produced ice.

[0075] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 The upper end of the guide rib 1124 extends upward to the lower edge of the overflow port 1104, and multiple diversion channels are formed in the lower part of the overflow port 1104. The lower end of the guide rib 1124 is not higher than the highest water level in the cold water chamber 1101. The baffle 112 connects to the inner side of the tank body 111, and the balance chamber 1102 is formed between the second side 1122 and the inner side of the tank body 111. The overflow port 1104 is formed between the side of the baffle 112 and the inner side of the tank body 111. That is, the side of the baffle 112 forms one side of the overflow port 1104, the inner side of the tank body 111 forms the other side of the overflow port 1104, and the overflow port 1104 is formed between these two sides.

[0076] The upper edge of the partition 112 is lower than the upper edge of the tank body 111. This facilitates the molding of the cold water tank 11 and improves the production efficiency of the cold water tank 11. In addition, it also ensures that there is a certain height difference between the upper edge of the balance cavity 1102 and the upper edge of the tank body 111, preventing water in the balance cavity 1102 from overflowing or splashing out from the upper edge of the tank body 111, thereby improving the stability of the cold water tank 11.

[0077] like Figure 8 and Figure 9In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the box body 111 includes a first plate portion 1111, a second plate portion 1112, and a connecting plate portion 1113. The first plate portion 1111 is lower than the second plate portion 1112. The lower edge of the connecting plate portion 1113 is connected to the first plate portion 1111, and the upper edge of the connecting plate portion 1113 is connected to the second plate portion 1112. This forms a receiving cavity between the second plate portion 1112 and the connecting plate portion 1113. The lower edge of the partition 112 is connected to the second plate portion 1112, and the second plate portion 1112 is used to close the lower part of the balance cavity 1102. The receiving cavity can be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the water pump 13, so that at least a portion of the water pump 13 can be accommodated in the receiving cavity at the bottom of the main body 111, which can facilitate the installation of the water pump 13, improve the space utilization of the ice-making component 10, and also shorten the length of the connecting pipe between the water pump 13 and the cold water tank 11, which can reduce the loss of cold energy and improve the energy efficiency and stability of the water dispenser 1000 containing the cold water tank 11.

[0078] like Figure 8 The lower part of the connecting plate 1113 is provided with a first pump interface 1105, and the second plate 1112 is provided with a second pump interface 1106. The first pump interface 1105 is connected to the bottom of the cold water chamber 1101, and the second pump interface 1106 is connected to the balance chamber 1102. The water pump 13 can be connected to the first pump interface 1105 and the second pump interface 1106, which can drive water to flow from the bottom of the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102, facilitating the delivery of water from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102, and facilitating the circulation of water between the cold water chamber 1101 and the balance chamber 1102, thereby achieving uniform cooling of the water in the cold water chamber 1101.

[0079] Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, the overflow port 1104 is connected to the cold water chamber 1101 through an overflow pipe. This allows for more flexible arrangement of the balance chamber 1102 and the cold water chamber 1101, simplifying the structure of the ice-making assembly 10.

[0080] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 To facilitate the transfer of water from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102, the ice-making assembly 10 includes a water pump 13. The water pump 13 is connected to both the cold water chamber 1101 and the balance chamber 1102, and is configured to drive water from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102. By driving water from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102 via the water pump 13, rapid water intake to the balance chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 is achieved, thereby improving the performance of the ice-making assembly 10.

[0081] In addition, the water pump 13 is connected to the bottom of the cold water chamber 1101. The water pump 13 can drive the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow into the balance chamber 1102. When the water level in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the overflow port 1104, the water entering the balance chamber 1102 will overflow from the balance chamber 1102 to the cold water chamber 1101. This can form a circulating flow path between the cold water chamber 1101 and the balance chamber 1102, thereby promoting the circulation of water in the cold water chamber 1101. When cooling the water in the cold water chamber 1101, the circulation of water in the cold water chamber 1101 can improve the uniformity of water temperature in all parts of the cold water chamber 1101.

[0082] like Figure 2 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The ice-making assembly 10 includes an ice-making device 12, which includes an ice-making shell 121, a stirring member 122, and a driving member 123. An ice-making cavity 1201 is disposed inside the ice-making shell 121, an ice-making outlet 1202 is located at the upper end of the ice-making shell 121, and an ice-making inlet 1203 is located at the lower end of the ice-making shell 121. The stirring member 122 is disposed in the ice-making cavity 1201 in a vertical direction and includes spiral blades extending spirally in a vertical direction. The spiral blades are located inside the ice-making cavity 1201. The driving member 123 is connected to the stirring member 122 for driving the stirring member 122 to rotate. During the operation of the ice-making device 12, water can be supplied from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balance chamber 1102. When the water level in the balance chamber 1102 reaches the overflow port 1104, the water entering the balance chamber 1102 will overflow from the overflow port 1104, while the water in the ice-making device 12 will be maintained at a level roughly level with the overflow port 1104. The ice-making chamber 1201 is cooled, causing the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 to freeze into ice. At the same time, the stirring element 122 can be driven to stir the water inside the ice-making chamber 1201, so as to form fragile ice in the ice-making chamber 1201, which is convenient to chew and eat. Then the stirring element 122 continues to rotate, and the spiral blades will drive the ice in the ice-making chamber 1201 to be output from the ice outlet 1202.

[0083] The ice-making device 12 described above can produce edible ice cubes. Due to the stirring action of the stirring element 122, the crystal structure of the ice can be altered, reducing its hardness and making it more suitable for consumption or other uses, thus increasing the edible range of the ice. Furthermore, the spiral blades facilitate ice output, improving ice-making efficiency.

[0084] With the above settings, chewable ice suitable for chewing can be generated. Chewable ice (also known as crystal ice, pebble ice, or Nugget Ice) is a small block of ice that is fluffy, porous, and soft. It is crisp and easy to bite, does not hurt teeth, and is very suitable for adding to beverages or eating directly.

[0085] During the ice-making process, the water level in the ice-making chamber 1201 can be maintained at 2 / 3 of the height of the second evaporator 1452. Due to the special structure of the ice-making device 12 that produces chewable ice, it is not possible to set a water level control structure inside the second evaporator 1452. This product sets a connecting pipe between the second evaporator 1452 and the balance chamber 1102, and uses the principle of communicating vessels to control the water level in the balance chamber 1102 to control the water level in the second evaporator 1452. Unlike traditional methods that use a level switch to control the water level in the balancing chamber 1102, this invention employs a water level compensation method. A water pump 13 draws water from the cold water chamber 1101 to the balancing chamber 1102. An overflow port 1104 is located above the balancing chamber 1102 and is connected to the cold water chamber 1101. Water in the balancing chamber 1102 that exceeds the overflow port 1104 flows back to the cold water chamber 1101. Therefore, the water level in the second evaporator 1452 is always the same as the water level at the overflow port 1104 of the balancing chamber 1102. This water level compensation method eliminates the need for a level switch, resulting in lower costs and simpler assembly. Water is drawn from the cold water chamber 1101 to supply water to the second evaporator 1452. The water in the cold water chamber 1101 is already at a low temperature, resulting in higher ice-making efficiency. At the same time, since the water used for ice making comes from the cold water zone, the ice melts during the insulation process and returns to the cold water zone. After the ice melts, the machine starts making ice again. This internal water circulation design can avoid the risk of water level rise and leakage in the cold water zone due to the melting of ice when ice is not removed for a long time.

[0086] like Figure 12 The ice-making assembly 10 includes a refrigeration unit 14, which includes a compressor 141, a condenser 142, a throttling element 143, a control valve 144, a first evaporator 1451, and a second evaporator 1452. The compressor 141, condenser 142, throttling element 143, control valve 144, first evaporator 1451, and second evaporator 1452 are connected to form a refrigerant circulation loop for refrigeration using the first evaporator 1451 and second evaporator 1452. The first evaporator 1451 and second evaporator 1452 can be connected in parallel between the throttling element 143 and the inlet of the compressor 141. The compressor 141, condenser 142, and throttling element 143 in the refrigerant loop containing the first evaporator 1451 and the refrigerant loop containing the second evaporator 1452 are shared, which simplifies the refrigeration unit 14.

[0087] The first evaporator 1451 can be configured to cool water in the cold water chamber 1101, and the second evaporator 1452 can be configured to make ice from water in the ice-making chamber 1201. The control valve 144 includes a valve inlet, a first valve outlet, and a second valve outlet. The control valve 144 is configured such that its inlet can be switched between the first valve outlet and / or the second valve outlet. The outlet of the compressor 141 is connected to one end of the condenser 142, and the other end of the condenser 142 is connected to one end of the throttling element 143. The other end of the throttling element 143 is connected to the valve inlet of the control valve 144. The first valve outlet of the control valve 144 is connected to one end of the first evaporator 1451, and the second valve outlet of the control valve 144 is connected to one end of the second evaporator 1452. The other ends of the first evaporator 1451 and the second evaporator 1452 are connected to the return port of the compressor 141.

[0088] During the operation of the refrigeration unit 14, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 141 is output from the outlet of the compressor 141 and flows into the condenser 142 connected to the outlet of the compressor 141. The condenser 142 is equipped with a heat dissipation structure (such as a fan or water cooling structure). When the refrigerant passes through the condenser 142, some of the heat in the refrigerant is carried away by the heat dissipation structure, and the temperature of the refrigerant decreases. Subsequently, the refrigerant flows to the throttling element 143. After the throttling effect of the throttling element 143 (such as an electronic expansion valve or capillary tube), the temperature of the refrigerant decreases further and flows to the control valve 144. The control valve 144 controls the flow of refrigerant. By controlling the valve 144, the refrigerant passing through the throttling element 143 can be delivered to the first evaporator 1451 and / or the second evaporator 1452. The refrigerant passing through the first evaporator 1451 can cool the water in the cold water chamber 1101, and the refrigerant passing through the second evaporator 1452 can use the water in the ice-making chamber 1201 to make ice. Subsequently, the refrigerant passing through the first evaporator 1451 and / or the second evaporator 1452 flows back to the compressor 141 and is output from the outlet of the compressor 141 under the compression action of the compressor 141. This achieves refrigerant circulation.

[0089] Employing a dual evaporator system for both refrigeration and ice making, this system achieves efficient ice making and refrigeration. The refrigerant flow can be controlled by a single inlet and two outlet valves, allowing for independent ice making and refrigeration, enabling a single unit to simultaneously provide chilled water and ice making functions. Unlike traditional dual evaporator systems (utilizing dual capillary tubes / dual expansion valves), this invention's refrigeration device 14 only requires a throttling element 143 (e.g., a capillary tube or expansion valve) in the main circuit to achieve superior ice making and refrigeration effects (primarily through matching and optimization of the two systems to obtain better capillary tube parameters and refrigerant ratios).

[0090] The water dispenser 1000 of this invention prioritizes ice making, but to improve ice-making efficiency and the taste of the ice cubes, it cools the water before ice making. Ice making begins after the water temperature in the cold water chamber 1101 drops to 10°C. If the water temperature rises to 15°C or higher, cooling is restarted. After ice making is complete (the ice storage chamber is full of ice), it switches to chilled water, stopping when the water temperature in the cold water chamber 1101 drops to 4°C. This logic is designed to meet customers' immediate ice needs, while maintaining the water temperature below 15°C even during ice making, thus improving ice-making efficiency while ensuring a certain amount of chilled water is available.

[0091] like Figure 3 In some embodiments, the first evaporator 1451 is disposed within the cold water chamber 1101. Alternatively, at least a portion of the first evaporator 1451 can be positioned below the highest water level in the cold water chamber 1101. This ensures that at least a portion of the first evaporator 1451 is in direct contact with the water in the cold water chamber 1101, improving the heat exchange efficiency and effectiveness between the first evaporator 1451 and the water in the cold water chamber 1101. Furthermore, because the water in the cold water chamber 1101 surrounds the first evaporator 1451, the loss of cooling capacity generated by the first evaporator 1451 can be reduced, thereby improving refrigeration efficiency.

[0092] In the related water dispenser 1000, the cooling water is supplied by an external first evaporator 1451 surrounding the cooling appliance, and the cooling appliance and the first evaporator 1451 are wrapped with insulation material. Since the ice-making function itself requires an ice storage container and external insulation material, this invention uses a built-in first evaporator 1451 positioned below the ice storage chamber. A single container (cold water tank 11) simultaneously cools both water and ice. The cold water tank 11 only requires one set of insulation material, reducing mold investment, lowering costs, and improving assembly efficiency. Positioning the first evaporator 1451 and the cold water area below the ice storage area effectively collects the water after the ice melts, eliminating the need for additional containers. The first evaporator 1451 built into the cold water chamber 1101 is in direct contact with the water, resulting in faster cooling efficiency. The temperature sensors of the first evaporator 1451 and the cold water chamber 1101 need to be kept at a certain distance to avoid the sensor quickly reaching the refrigeration and heat preservation point when the two are too close, while the temperature of the water at the far end is high, which would affect the water intake experience and cause the compressor 141 to start frequently. In this invention, the shortest distance between the temperature sensor of the cold water chamber 1101 and the first evaporator 1451 is 45mm.

[0093] To address the uneven water temperature distribution within the cold water tank 11 during the refrigeration process (lower water temperature near the first evaporator 1451 and higher water temperature further away from the first evaporator 1451), the water pump 13 is activated when the cold water temperature drops below a certain temperature (15℃ for this product). This pump draws water from the bottom of the cold water chamber 1101 into the balance chamber 1102, and then overflows back into the cold water chamber 1101. The water temperature in the cold water chamber 1101 is then evenly mixed through the flow.

[0094] like Figure 1 In some embodiments of the present invention, the overflow port 1104 and the connecting port 1103 are higher than the highest water level in the cold water chamber 1101. This facilitates overflow from the balance chamber 1102 to the cold water chamber 1101, preventing backflow of water into the cold water chamber 1101.

[0095] like Figures 13 to 15 The present invention also provides a water dispenser 1000, including the aforementioned ice-making component 10. By setting the aforementioned ice-making component 10, the water level in the ice-making cavity 1201 can be maintained at no higher than the overflow port 1104 by utilizing the communicating vessel structure formed between the balance cavity 1102 and the ice-making cavity 1201. This separates the water level in the ice-making cavity 1201 from factors such as the water volume in the cold water cavity 1101 and the flow rate of water input from the cold water cavity 1101 to the ice-making cavity 1201, thereby improving the stability of the water level in the ice-making cavity 1201, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency of the ice-making component 10, ensuring the consistency of the ice produced by the ice-making component 10, and optimizing the performance of the ice-making component 10.

[0096] In this invention, the ice-making component 10 can be located at the top of the water dispenser 1000, and a water tank 2000 can be placed at the bottom of the water dispenser 1000. The water in the water tank 2000 is pumped to the ice-making component by a diaphragm pump or similar device. Alternatively, the diaphragm pump and water tank 2000 can be replaced with a water supply method equipped with a filter cartridge.

[0097] like Figure 15The water dispenser 1000 also includes a cold water valve 27, which can be used to control the output of cold water from the cold water chamber 1101. When the cold water valve 27 is open, the cold water in the cold water chamber 1101 can be output for use. When the cold water valve 27 is closed, the cold water in the cold water chamber 1101 cannot be output through the cold water valve 27. The water dispenser 1000 may have, but is not limited to, the following two working modes: In the first working mode, the cold water valve 27 is open, and the water pump 13 drives the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow to the cold water valve 27 and outputs it through the open cold water valve 27. The output cold water can be used for drinking or other needs. In the second working mode, the cold water valve 27 is closed, and the water pump 13 can drive the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow to the ice maker 12 to supply water to the ice maker 12. Of course, the above description is only some of the working modes of the present invention. The water pump 13 may also include other working modes. For example, the water pump 13 may also have a third working mode, in which the cold water valve 27 is opened and the water pump 13 can drive the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow to the ice-making device 12 and the cold water valve 27.

[0098] The cold water tank 11 is provided with an insulation layer 113 on the outside. At least a portion of the water pump 13, at least a portion of the connection channel between the water pump 13 and the cold water chamber 1101, at least a portion of the connection channel between the water pump 13 and the balance chamber 1102, and at least a portion of the connection channel between the water pump 13 and the cold water valve 27 are wrapped in the insulation layer 113.

[0099] like Figure 15 The water dispenser 1000 includes a room temperature water tank 21, a hot water tank 22, a hot water valve 23, and a hot water circulation valve 24. The room temperature water tank 21 is connected to the cold water chamber 1101 and the first tank interface of the hot water tank 22. The second tank interface of the hot water tank 22 is connected between the inlet of the hot water valve 23 and one end of the hot water circulation valve 24. The other end of the hot water circulation valve 24 is connected between the outlet of the water pump 13 and the inlet of the cold water valve 27.

[0100] Among them, by controlling the cold water valve 27, the hot water valve 23 and the hot water circulation valve 24, the water circuit in the water dispenser 1000 can include, but is not limited to, the following circulation methods.

[0101] In circulation mode 1, the cold water valve 27 is closed, the hot water valve 23 is closed, the hot water circulation valve 24 is closed, and the water in the ambient temperature water tank 21 is input into the cold water chamber 1101. The refrigeration device 14 is used to refrigerate the cold water in the cold water chamber 1101 to produce cold water. The water pump 13 is used to transport the cold water in the cold water chamber 1101 to the ice-making device 12, and the ice-making device 12 is used to make ice.

[0102] In circulation mode 2, the cold water valve 27 is open, the hot water valve 23 is closed, and the hot water circulation valve 24 is closed. Water in the ambient temperature water tank 21 can be input into the cold water chamber 1101. The refrigeration device 14 is used to refrigerate the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to produce cold water. The water pump 13 is used to transport the cold water in the cold water chamber 1101 to the cold water valve 27, and output it through the open cold water valve 27 for drinking, etc.

[0103] In flow mode 3, the cold water valve 27 is closed, the hot water valve 23 is closed, and the hot water circulation valve 24 is open. Water from the ambient temperature water tank 21 can be input into the cold water chamber 1101. The water pump 13 drives the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow into the hot water tank 22 through the hot water circulation valve 24, where it is heated. Under the driving force of the water pump 13, the water in the hot water tank 22 is transported to the ambient temperature water tank 21, and then flows into the cold water chamber 1101. Subsequently, it is transported to the hot water tank 22 by the water pump 13. Through the above settings, a circulation is formed, realizing the circulation of the water circuit. High-temperature sterilization; in addition, the water in the cold water chamber 1101 can also be pumped to the ice-making chamber 1201 and the balance chamber 1102 by the water pump 13, thereby achieving high-temperature sterilization of the ice-making chamber 1201 and the balance chamber 1102. After sterilization, the water in the hot water tank 22, the cold water chamber 1101, etc. can be drained through the drainage device. When the water in the cold water chamber 1101 is drained, the water in the balance chamber 1102 and the ice-making chamber 1201 will also flow back to the cold water chamber 1101 and finally be discharged through the cold water chamber 1101. In this way, the water used for sterilization can be discharged.

[0104] With the above structure, the water pump 13 can be used to supply water to the outside via the cold water valve 27, supply water to the ice-making device 12, and sterilize and disinfect the water system, so as to achieve multiple uses of one pump. By changing the valve status in the water dispenser 1000, the water pump 13 can be used to achieve different water functions.

[0105] In addition, the overflow port 1104 of the balance chamber 1102 in this invention is higher than the cold water valve 27. In this way, when the cold water valve 27 is closed, the water pump 13 can drive the water in the cold water chamber 1101 to flow to the balance chamber 1102. When the cold water valve 27 is open, since the water level in the balance chamber 1102 is higher, all or most of the water output by the water pump 13 will flow to the cold water valve 27, so as to achieve a stable output of cold water from the cold water valve 27.

[0106] like Figure 15In some embodiments, the water dispenser 1000 includes a room temperature water valve 25, the inlet of which is connected to a room temperature water tank 21. The water dispensing logic of the water dispenser 1000 includes: dispensing hot water – opening the hot water valve 23, the water in the room temperature water tank 21 pushes the water in the hot water tank 22 out by gravity, thus dispensing hot water; dispensing room temperature water – opening the room temperature water valve 25, the water in the room temperature water tank 21 flows to the water outlet by gravity, thus dispensing room temperature water; dispensing cold water – opening the cold water valve 27, and simultaneously turning on the water pump 13 (e.g., a vane pump), drawing water from the cold water tank 11 to the water outlet, thus dispensing cold water.

[0107] like Figure 15 The water dispenser 1000 includes a drive pump 31 (such as the aforementioned diaphragm pump), a first liquid level detection element 32, and a second liquid level detection element 33. The first liquid level detection element 32 detects the water level in the ambient temperature water tank 21, and the second liquid level detection element 33 detects the water level in the cold water chamber 1101. The drive pump 31 communicates with the first liquid level detection element 32 and the second liquid level detection element 33, and is used to stop the machine when both the water level in the ambient temperature water tank 21 and the water level in the cold water chamber 1101 reach their maximum levels. The drive pump 31 can be a diaphragm pump, etc., configured to pump water from the water tank 2000 to the ambient temperature water tank 21. The function of the first liquid level detection element 32 and the second liquid level detection element 33 can determine whether the water dispenser 1000 has completed water intake, simplifying the water circuit structure and control strategy of the water dispenser 1000, facilitating control, improving the stability of the water dispenser 1000, and reducing the failure rate.

[0108] The first liquid level detection element 32 and the second liquid level detection element 33 can be floats. The overall water replenishment logic includes: when the float in the cold water tank 11 or the float in the ambient temperature water tank 21 does not reach the high water level, the diaphragm pump starts working; when both the float in the cold water tank 11 and the float in the ambient temperature water tank 21 reach the high water level, the diaphragm pump stops working.

[0109] In addition, the upper part of the hot water tank 22 can be connected to the hot water tank exhaust pipe 26, and the heat pipe exhaust pipe can be connected to the upper part of the ambient temperature water tank 21. The exhaust pipe 26 can facilitate the venting of the hot water tank 22. When heating the water in the hot water tank 22, the air in the hot water tank 22 can be discharged, thereby improving the structural stability and safety of the hot water tank 22.

[0110] In the description of this invention, 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," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to 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 limitations on this invention.

[0111] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0112] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0113] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0114] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "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 the present invention. 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. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0115] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice-making component, characterized in that, The ice-making component includes: Cold water chamber, the cold water chamber being used for cooling water; An ice-making chamber, wherein the ice-making chamber is used for making ice; The balance chamber connects the cold water chamber and the ice-making chamber. The balancing chamber is configured to allow water to enter the ice-making chamber when the water level is higher than a first water level, and to overflow into the cold water chamber when the water level is higher than a second water level, wherein the second water level is higher than the first water level.

2. The ice-making assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making chamber is connected to an ice-making outlet for ice output, and the second water level is lower than the ice-making outlet.

3. The ice-making assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The minimum distance L1 between the second water level and the ice-making outlet and the maximum distance L2 between the first water level and the second water level satisfy the condition 0.02≤L1 / L2≤1.

4. The ice-making assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making chamber is connected to an ice-making inlet, the balance chamber is connected to a connecting port and an overflow port that is connected to and higher than the connecting port, the connecting port is connected to the ice-making inlet, the first water level is not lower than the connecting port and the ice-making inlet, the overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber, and the second water level is not lower than the overflow port.

5. An ice-making component, characterized in that, include: Cold water chamber, the cold water chamber being used for cooling water; An ice-making chamber, which is used for making ice, is connected to an ice-making inlet and an ice-making outlet; A balancing chamber is connected to a connecting port and an overflow port that communicates with and is higher than the connecting port. The overflow port is higher than the ice-making inlet and lower than the ice-making outlet. The connecting port is connected to the ice-making inlet for water to enter the ice-making chamber from the connecting port, and the overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber for overflow from the overflow port to the cold water chamber.

6. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making inlet is not lower than the connecting port, and at any two points in the channel between the connecting port and the ice-making inlet, the height of the point closer to the ice-making inlet is not less than the height of the point closer to the connecting port.

7. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The balancing chamber and the ice-making chamber are at least partially horizontally arranged side by side; and / or, the lower edge of the ice-making inlet is not higher than the inner bottom surface of the ice-making chamber; and / or, the ice-making chamber extends in the vertical direction, the ice-making outlet is located at the upper end of the ice-making chamber, and the ice-making inlet is located at the lower end of the ice-making chamber.

8. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly includes a cold water tank, and both the cold water chamber and the balance chamber are located in the cold water tank.

9. The ice-making assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cold water tank includes a tank body and a partition. The partition is located inside the tank body and separates the cold water chamber and the balance chamber within the tank body. The overflow port is located on the partition.

10. The ice-making assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The partition is connected to the side wall of the main body of the box, and the balance cavity is formed between the partition and the side wall of the main body of the box. The communication port is located in the part of the side wall of the main body of the box used to form the balance cavity.

11. The ice-making assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The upper edge of the partition is provided with a notch, which forms the overflow port.

12. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The overflow port is connected to the cold water chamber via an overflow pipe.

13. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly includes a water pump that is connected to both the cold water chamber and the balance chamber. The water pump is configured to drive water from the cold water chamber to the balance chamber and is connected to the bottom of the cold water chamber.

14. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly includes an ice-making device, which includes: An ice-making shell, wherein the ice-making cavity is disposed inside the ice-making shell, the ice-making outlet is located at the upper end of the ice-making shell, and the ice-making inlet is located at the lower end of the ice-making shell; A stirring element is disposed in the ice-making cavity in a vertical direction. The stirring element includes spiral blades extending spirally in a vertical direction, and the spiral blades are located inside the ice-making cavity. A driving component is connected to the stirring component for driving the stirring component to rotate.

15. The ice-making assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting port is higher than the highest water level in the cold water chamber.

16. A water dispenser, characterized in that, Includes the ice-making assembly as described in any one of claims 1-15.

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