Water path structure of ice maker

Abstract

The utility model provides an ice maker waterway structure which comprises a first water inlet passage suitable for communicating a water source with a water tank and a water tank drainage passage, the water tank drainage passage comprises a drainage trunk connected to a four-way head, an ice making branch, a first drainage branch and an inflation branch, and the first drainage branch comprises a drainage valve. The inflation branch is suitable for communicating the air pump and the four-way head and comprises a first one-way valve for limiting water flow from entering the air pump, during ice making, the evaporator is communicated with the water tank and maintains the equal-height water level, and the air pump and the drainage valve are kept closed; during drainage, the evaporator stops working, the drainage valve is kept open, water flow in the water tank and the evaporator falls back to the four-way head under the action of gravity and flows into the first drainage branch, and the air pump is suitable for conveying pressurized air to enable the first drainage branch to be completely emptied. According to the utility model, the air pump is used for inflating and draining water, so that residual water in a waterway can be more effectively removed, and accumulation of water scales and breeding of bacteria can be prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of ice makers, and particularly relates to a water circuit structure of an ice maker. Background Art

[0002] In the existing ice maker technology, a Chinese patent with the application number CN201510079851.4 discloses an ice maker including pipes for water supply and drainage. The ice maker includes: a cabinet, an ice storage part arranged in the cabinet and separable from the cabinet, a first connection part, a drainage part, and an overflow socket. The first connection part is arranged on the lower surface of the ice storage part and has a first connection hole. The drainage part is arranged in the cabinet at the lower side of the cabinet and includes a drainage channel connected to an external drainage hole. The overflow socket is inserted into the first connection hole and connected to the drainage channel to connect the ice storage part to the drainage part, and a path for draining the water received by the ice storage part to the drainage channel is configured, thereby providing an ice maker with easy separation and connection. The prior art has deficiencies in drainage efficiency and leakage protection. The layout of the drainage system pipeline is complex, the water pressure is low in the later stage of drainage, and the water in the water circuit cannot be completely emptied independently, resulting in the risk of bacterial growth and equipment damage. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] Aiming at the defects of the above-mentioned prior art, the purpose of the utility model is to provide a water circuit structure of an ice maker to meet the needs of users.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides a water circuit structure of an ice maker, including

[0005] A first water inlet passage adapted to connect a water source and a water tank, where the water source is direct drinking water and / or barreled water,

[0006] A water tank drainage passage including a drainage main path, an ice-making branch path, a first drainage branch path, an air inflation branch path, and a four-way head. The four-way head includes a first passage, a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage.

[0007] The drainage main path is adapted to connect the water tank and the first passage.

[0008] The ice-making branch path is adapted to connect the second passage and an evaporator.

[0009] The first drainage branch path is adapted to connect the third passage and a waste water box and includes a drainage valve.

[0010] The air inflation branch path is adapted to connect an air pump and the fourth passage and includes a first one-way valve for restricting water flow into the air pump.

[0011] During ice making, the evaporator is connected to the water tank and maintains the same water level. The air pump and the drain valve are kept closed. During drainage, the evaporator stops working, the drain valve remains open, and the water in the water tank and the evaporator falls back to the four-way head under the action of gravity and flows into the first drainage branch. The air pump is adapted to deliver pressurized gas to completely empty the first drainage branch.

[0012] Preferably, the air pump has a manual control mode and / or an automatic control mode. In the manual control mode, the air pump can be manually controlled by the user to start and stop during drainage. In the automatic control mode, the first drainage branch includes a pressure sensor. During drainage, when the pressure sensor does not detect a change in water pressure within 1 minute to 5 minutes, the air pump automatically starts to inflate the first drainage branch. When the air pump continuously works for 5 minutes to 10 minutes, it automatically shuts down. In the automatic control mode, the air pump automatically starts after detecting no water pressure change for a certain period of time and automatically shuts down after continuously working for a certain period of time. This time control mechanism can prevent the air pump from overworking and ensure the thoroughness of the drainage process.

[0013] Preferably, it further includes a water inlet passage, which includes a water inlet main path, a first water inlet branch, and a second water inlet branch connected through a three-way reversing solenoid valve. The water inlet main path includes a water inlet solenoid valve for controlling the on / off of water inlet, a pressure reducing valve device for adjusting water pressure, and a water pump for pumping water, which are arranged in sequence. The water inlet main path is adapted to connect to the water source and the reversing solenoid valve. The first water inlet branch is adapted to connect the reversing solenoid valve and the water tank. The second water inlet branch is adapted to connect the reversing solenoid valve and the water outlet nozzle. The water inlet main path and the first water inlet branch are adapted to form the first water inlet passage, and the water inlet main path and the second water inlet branch are adapted to form the second water inlet passage.

[0014] Preferably, the water inlet main path further includes a flow meter arranged between the water pump and the reversing solenoid valve, and the flow meter is adapted to achieve quantitative water output of the water outlet nozzle.

[0015] Preferably, the water outlet nozzle is arranged in an ice bucket suitable for storing ice cubes. The ice bucket includes a water outlet pipe independently arranged from its ice storage space, and the water outlet pipe is adapted to connect the water outlet nozzle and the second water inlet passage.

[0016] Preferably, it further includes a condensate drainage passage, which includes a water receiving tray arranged below the evaporator for collecting condensate and a second drainage branch for connecting the water receiving tray and the waste water box. This design expands the drainage function of the ice maker, can effectively collect and discharge the condensate below the evaporator, and avoid equipment damage or efficiency reduction caused by water accumulation.

[0017] Preferably, it further includes a first ice bucket drainage passage and a second ice bucket drainage passage adapted to drain the melted ice water in the ice bucket. The ice bucket includes a bucket bottom and an ice outlet nozzle. The first ice bucket drainage passage is adapted to communicate the bucket bottom with the waste water box, and the second ice bucket drainage passage is adapted to communicate the ice outlet nozzle with the waste water box. By providing the first ice bucket drainage passage and the second ice bucket drainage passage, the melted ice water can be discharged from the bucket bottom and the ice outlet nozzle respectively, improving the cleanliness of the ice bucket and the ice making efficiency.

[0018] Preferably, the first drainage branch, the second drainage branch, the first ice bucket drainage passage and the second ice bucket drainage passage are connected to the waste water box through a five-way joint. The second drainage branch and the second ice bucket drainage passage include a second one-way valve adapted to restrict the passage of air flow and the backflow of water flow.

[0019] Preferably, a liquid level sensor adapted to monitor the water level is provided in the water tank. The liquid level sensor includes a float that moves up and down as the water level rises and falls, capable of accurately monitoring the change of the water level in the water tank. The water tank includes a high water level mark and a low water level mark. When the float rises to the high water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve closes and the water pump shuts down. When the float drops to the low water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve opens and the water pump starts. The automatic control mechanism reduces manual intervention, improves the operation convenience and the system reliability, and avoids affecting the ice making effect or causing equipment damage due to too high or too low water level.

[0020] Preferably, it further includes a water leakage protection device provided at the bottom end of the ice maker. The water tank includes an overflow port, and the overflow port is communicated with the water leakage protection device through an overflow pipe. There is a height difference between the overflow port and the water leakage protection device, so that the overflow water flow accelerates under the action of gravity, ensuring that when the water tank overflows, the water leakage protection device can detect it in time and take corresponding protection measures. When the water leakage protection device monitors the overflow situation, the water inlet solenoid valve closes and the water pump shuts down. This design helps to protect the ice maker and its surrounding environment and avoid losses caused by the overflow of the water tank.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present utility model are:

[0022] (1) By using an air pump for inflation drainage, the residual water in the water circuit can be more effectively removed, especially in the case of complex drainage pipelines or the presence of non-pressure water, which helps to prevent the accumulation of water scale and the growth of bacteria, and effectively guarantees food safety.

[0023] (2) By setting a manual control mode, it allows users to manually control the start and stop of the air pump as needed, providing operational flexibility; by monitoring the water pressure change through a pressure sensor, it automatically controls the start and stop of the air pump, reducing manual intervention and improving the intelligence level of the system; further, the combination of automatic and manual control, as well as the fine control of the drainage process, improves the user's satisfaction and convenience in operating the ice maker.

[0024] (3) By introducing a reversing solenoid valve into the water inlet passage, two-way waterway control of the ice maker's operation is achieved, improving the flexibility and efficiency of the waterway; further, by introducing a flow meter into the main water inlet to achieve quantitative water output, it helps to achieve the standardized production of beverages.

[0025] (4) By connecting multiple drainage passages to the waste water box through a five-way joint, the pipeline design is simplified, the number of connection points is reduced, and the risk of leakage is lowered; the use of the second one-way valve can restrict the airflow and prevent water from flowing back, ensuring the unidirectionality of the drainage process and avoiding possible contamination and equipment damage. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] Figure 1 The waterway structure diagram of a waterway structure of an ice maker provided by the present utility model.

[0027] In the figure, water tank 1, evaporator 2, ice bucket 3, reversing solenoid valve 4, water inlet solenoid valve 5, pressure reducing valve device 6, water pump 7, flow meter 8, water outlet nozzle 9, four-way joint 10, drain valve 11, air pump 12, first one-way valve 13, water receiving tray 14, ice outlet nozzle 15, five-way joint 16, second one-way valve 17, liquid level sensor 18, water leakage protection device 19, waste water box 20. Detailed Embodiment

[0028] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present utility model clearer, the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0029] Here, it should also be noted that in order to avoid obscuring the present utility model due to unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to the solution of the present utility model are shown in the drawings, while other details less related to the present utility model are omitted.

[0030] In addition, it should also be noted that the term "comprising", "including" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0031] Such as Figure 1As described above, an ice maker generally includes three main components: a water tank 1, an evaporator 2, and an ice bin 3. The water circuit structure of the ice maker is adapted to connect the water tank 1, the evaporator 2, the ice bin 3, a water source, and a waste water box 20.

[0032] An ice maker water circuit structure includes a water inlet passage, a water tank drainage passage, a condensate drainage passage, a first ice bin drainage passage, and a second ice bin drainage passage adapted to drain the melted ice water in the ice bin 3. The water inlet passage includes a water inlet main line, a first water inlet branch line, and a second water inlet branch line connected through a three-way reversing solenoid valve 4. The water inlet main line includes a water inlet solenoid valve 5 adapted to control the on / off of the water inlet in sequence, a pressure reducing valve device 6 adapted to adjust the water pressure, a water pump 7 adapted to pump water, and a flow meter 8. The water inlet main line is adapted to connect the water source and the reversing solenoid valve 4. The first water inlet branch line is adapted to connect the reversing solenoid valve 4 and the water tank 1. The second water inlet branch line is adapted to connect the reversing solenoid valve 4 and a water outlet nozzle 9. The water inlet main line and the first water inlet branch line form a first water inlet passage adapted to connect the water source and the water tank 1. The water source is direct drinking water and / or barreled water. The water inlet main line and the second water inlet branch line are adapted to form a second water inlet passage. The water outlet nozzle 9 is provided in the ice bin 3 adapted to store ice cubes. The ice bin 3 includes a water outlet pipe provided independently of its ice storage space. The water outlet pipe is adapted to connect the water outlet nozzle 9 and the second water inlet passage. The flow meter 8 is adapted to achieve quantitative water discharge at the water outlet nozzle 9. The water tank drainage passage includes a drainage main line, an ice making branch line, a first drainage branch line, an air inflation branch line, and a four-way head 10. The four-way head 10 includes a first passage, a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage. The drainage main line is adapted to connect the water tank 1 and the first passage. The ice making branch line is adapted to connect the second passage and the evaporator 2. The first drainage branch line is adapted to connect the third passage and the waste water box 20, and it includes a drainage valve 11. The air inflation branch line is adapted to connect an air pump 12 and the fourth passage, and it includes a first one-way valve 13 that restricts the flow of water into the air pump 12. The air pump 12 has a manual control mode and / or an automatic control mode.

[0033] During ice making, the evaporator 2 is connected to the water tank 1 and maintains the same water level. The air pump 12 and the drainage valve 11 remain closed. During drainage, the evaporator 2 stops working, the drainage valve 11 remains open, and the water in the water tank 1 and the evaporator 2 falls back to the four-way head 10 under the action of gravity and flows into the first drainage branch line. In the manual control mode, the air pump 12 can be manually controlled by the user to start and stop during the drainage process. The air pump 12 is adapted to deliver pressurized gas to completely empty the first drainage branch line. In the automatic control mode, the first drainage branch line includes a pressure sensor (not shown in the figure). During the drainage process, when the pressure sensor does not detect a change in water pressure within 3 minutes, the air pump 12 automatically starts to inflate the first drainage branch line. When the air pump 12 continuously works for 5 minutes, it automatically closes. In the automatic control mode, the air pump 12 automatically starts after detecting no water pressure change for a certain period of time and automatically closes after continuously working for a certain period of time. This time control mechanism can prevent the air pump 12 from overworking and ensure the thoroughness of the drainage process at the same time.

[0034] In this embodiment, the condensate drainage passage includes a water receiving tray 14 disposed below the evaporator 2 and adapted to collect condensate, and a second drainage branch adapted to connect the water receiving tray 14 and the waste water box 20. This design expands the drainage function of the ice maker, can effectively collect and discharge the condensate below the evaporator 2, and avoids equipment damage or efficiency reduction caused by water accumulation.

[0035] In this embodiment, the ice bucket 3 includes a bucket bottom and an ice outlet nozzle 15. The first ice bucket drainage passage is adapted to connect the bucket bottom and the waste water box 20, and the second ice bucket drainage passage is adapted to connect the ice outlet nozzle 15 and the waste water box 20. By providing the first ice bucket drainage passage and the second ice bucket drainage passage, the thawing ice water can be discharged from the bucket bottom and the ice outlet nozzle 15 respectively, improving the cleanliness of the ice bucket 3 and the ice making efficiency. The first drainage branch, the second drainage branch, the first ice bucket drainage passage and the second ice bucket drainage passage are connected to the waste water box 20 through a five-way joint 16. The second drainage branch and the second ice bucket drainage passage include a second one-way valve 17 adapted to restrict the passage of air flow and the backflow of water flow.

[0036] In this embodiment, a liquid level sensor 18 adapted to monitor the water level is provided in the water tank 1. The liquid level sensor 18 includes a float that moves up and down as the water level rises and falls, and can accurately monitor the change of the water level in the water tank 1. The water tank 1 includes a high water level mark and a low water level mark. When the float rises to the high water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve 5 closes and the water pump 7 shuts down. When the float drops to the low water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve 5 opens and the water pump 7 starts. The automatic control mechanism reduces manual intervention, improves the operation convenience and the system reliability, and avoids affecting the ice making effect or causing equipment damage due to too high or too low water level. The water tank 1 includes an overflow port, and the overflow port is connected to the leakage protection device 19 through an overflow pipe. There is a height difference between the overflow port and the leakage protection device 19. Specifically, the leakage protection device 19 is disposed on the bottom plate of the ice maker, so that the overflow water flow is accelerated under the action of gravity, ensuring that when the water tank 1 overflows, the leakage protection device 19 can detect it in time and take corresponding protection measures. When the leakage protection device 19 monitors the overflow situation, the water inlet solenoid valve 5 closes and the water pump 7 shuts down. This design helps to protect the ice maker and its surrounding environment and avoid losses caused by the overflow of the water tank 1.

[0037] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention rather than to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice making machine water channel structure, characterized in that: include A first water inlet passage, which is suitable for connecting a water source and a water tank, The water tank drainage passage includes a drainage main passage, an ice-making branch, a first drainage branch, an air-charging branch and a four-way head, wherein the four-way head includes a first passage, a second passage, a third passage and a fourth passage. The drainage trunk is suitable for connecting the water tank and the first passage. The ice-making branch is suitable for connecting the second passage and the evaporator. The first drainage branch is adapted to communicate with the third passage and the waste water box, and comprises a drainage valve. The inflation branch is suitable for connecting the air pump and the fourth passage, and includes a first one-way valve that limits water flow into the air pump. When making ice, the evaporator is connected to the water tank and maintains the same water level, and the air pump and the drain valve remain closed; when draining, the evaporator stops working, and the drain valve remains open. The water flow in the water tank and the evaporator falls back to the four-way head under the action of gravity and flows into the first drain branch. The air pump is suitable for conveying pressurized gas to cause the first drain branch to be completely emptied.

2. The ice making machine water channel structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air pump has a manual control mode and / or an automatic control mode. In manual control mode, the air pump can be started and stopped manually by the user during the drainage process; In the automatic control mode, the first drainage branch includes a pressure sensor. During the drainage process, when the pressure sensor does not detect any water pressure changes within 1 minute to 5 minutes, the air pump automatically starts to inflate the first drainage branch. When the air pump continues to work for 5 minutes to 10 minutes, it automatically shuts down.

3. The ice making machine water channel structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It also includes a water inlet passage, which includes a water inlet main passage, a first water inlet branch and a second water inlet branch connected by a reversing solenoid valve with three passages. The water inlet main passage includes a water inlet solenoid valve suitable for controlling the on and off of water inlet, a pressure reducing valve device suitable for adjusting water pressure and a water pump suitable for pumping water, which are arranged in sequence. The water inlet main passage includes a water source and the reversing solenoid valve, the first water inlet branch is suitable for connecting the reversing solenoid valve and the water tank, the second water inlet branch is suitable for connecting the reversing solenoid valve and the water outlet, the water inlet main passage and the first water inlet branch are suitable for constituting the first water inlet passage, and the water inlet main passage and the second water inlet branch are suitable for constituting the second water inlet passage.

4. The ice making machine water channel structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The water inlet trunk line also includes a flow meter arranged between the water pump and the reversing solenoid valve, and the flow meter is suitable for achieving quantitative water discharge from the water outlet.

5. The water channel structure of an ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water outlet is arranged on an ice bucket suitable for storing ice cubes. The ice bucket includes a water outlet pipe which is arranged independently of its ice storage space. The water outlet pipe is suitable for connecting the water outlet and the second water inlet passage.

6. The water channel structure of an ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a condensed water drainage passage, which includes a water receiving pan arranged below the evaporator and suitable for collecting condensed water, and a second drainage branch suitable for connecting the water receiving pan and the waste water box.

7. The water channel structure of an ice maker according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a first ice bucket drainage passage and a second ice bucket drainage passage suitable for discharging melted water in the ice bucket. The ice bucket includes a bucket bottom and an ice outlet nozzle. The first ice bucket drainage passage is suitable for connecting the bucket bottom and the waste water box, and the second ice bucket drainage passage is suitable for connecting the ice outlet nozzle and the waste water box.

8. The water channel structure of an ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first drainage branch, the second drainage branch, the first ice bucket drainage passage and the second ice bucket drainage passage are connected to the waste water box through a five-way connector, and the second drainage branch and the second ice bucket drainage passage include a second one-way valve suitable for limiting airflow and water backflow.

9. The ice-making machine water channel structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: A liquid level sensor for monitoring the water level is arranged in the water tank, and the liquid level sensor includes a float that moves up and down with the rise and fall of the water level. The water tank includes a high water level mark and a low water level mark. When the float rises to the high water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve is closed and the water pump is shut down; when the float drops to the low water level mark, the water inlet solenoid valve is opened and the water pump is started.

10. The ice making machine water channel structure according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a water leakage protection device arranged at the bottom of the ice maker, the water tank includes an overflow port, the overflow port is connected to the water leakage protection device through an overflow pipe, there is a height difference between the overflow port and the water leakage protection device, when the water leakage protection device detects overflow, the water inlet solenoid valve is closed and the water pump is shut down.

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