Ice-making evaporator

Abstract

The ice-making evaporator comprises a lower support, a barrel, a spiral ice scraping mechanism, an upper support, an input pipe and a refrigerating unit, one end of the barrel is fixed to the lower support, the other end of the barrel is fixed to the upper support, one part of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is located in the barrel, one end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is in running fit with the lower support, and the other end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is in running fit with the input pipe. The other end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is in running fit with the upper support, the upper support is provided with an ice outlet, the input pipe is connected with the barrel, the scraper is spirally wound on the cutter shaft, the refrigeration unit is arranged on the peripheral face of the barrel, and the inner wall face of the barrel is provided with a damping groove used for reducing the ice outlet speed. According to the utility model, the shape of extruded ice can be guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of refrigeration, in particular to an ice-making evaporator. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a refrigeration device that exchanges heat between water and refrigerant. The ice maker mainly includes an ice-making evaporator and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system is used to provide the ice-making evaporator with the cooling capacity required for ice making. Ice-making evaporators are generally divided into spray type, immersion type and extrusion type according to their ice-making principles. The extrusion type ice maker generally includes an evaporator and a spiral ice scraping mechanism. The spiral ice scraping mechanism uses a screw to push the ice formed in the evaporator upward and squeeze it out from the ice extrusion port to form ice bars. Under the action of the ice breaking component, the ice bars are broken into granules.

[0003] As can be seen from the above, the squeeze-type ice maker cools water and condenses it on the cylinder wall to form an ice layer, which is then scraped off by the spiral ice scraping mechanism as it rotates. The scraped ice is then transported from the ice squeeze port under the pushing action of the spiral ice scraping mechanism.

[0004] For the extrusion-type ice-making evaporator, when the spiral ice scraping mechanism scrapes the ice layer and generates a pushing force on the scraped ice, after the machine is turned on, the ice layer condensed on the cylinder wall is relatively thin, and the spiral ice scraping mechanism encounters less resistance. At this time, the spiral ice scraping mechanism scrapes the ice layer faster and the extrusion speed is also faster. The scraped ice is squeezed out before it has time to condense. Based on this situation, at the beginning, the ice outlet speed from the ice outlet is too fast, and the ice bars output from the ice outlet are in a loose state instead of a solid and non-condensed state. Therefore, the ice bars squeezed out at the beginning are often wasted, and the ice bars in a non-hard state will be directly discarded. Utility Model Content

[0005] The utility model provides an ice-making evaporator, which can ensure the shape of squeezed ice.

[0006] The technical solutions to the above technical problems are as follows:

[0007] The ice-making evaporator includes a lower support, a cylinder, a spiral ice-scraping mechanism, an upper support, an input pipe, and a refrigeration unit. One end of the cylinder is fixed to the lower support, and the other end of the cylinder is fixed to the upper support. A part of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is located in the cylinder. One end of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is rotatably matched with the lower support, and the other end of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is rotatably matched with the upper support. An ice outlet is provided on the upper support, the input pipe is connected to the cylinder, the scraper is spirally wound on the blade shaft, the refrigeration unit is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, and a damping groove for reducing the ice outlet speed is provided on the inner wall surface of the cylinder.

[0008] After the spiral ice scraping mechanism scrapes off the ice condensed on the inner wall of the cylinder, the ice is in the state of crushed ice. As the spiral ice scraping mechanism lifts the crushed ice, when the crushed ice encounters the damping groove during the lifting process, the damping has a damping effect on the crushed ice, slowing down the speed at which the crushed ice is lifted, thereby increasing the condensation time of the crushed ice in the cylinder and making the ice bars squeezed out of the ice outlet in a hard state, thus avoiding waste. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the ice-making evaporator.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the ice-making evaporator.

[0011] Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of a bellows.

[0012] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view of the bellows in the first direction.

[0013] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the bellows in the second direction.

[0014] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A perspective view of the first type of cylinder shown in FIG.

[0015] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the second cylinder.

[0016] Figure 8 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the third type of cylinder.

[0017] Symbols in the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Lower support 1, cylinder 2, blade shaft 3, spiral scraper 4, upper support 5, ice outlet 5a, inlet pipe 6, bellows 7, trough section 7a, peak section 7b, drainage groove 7c, connecting section 7d, inlet 8, outlet 9, flow channel 10, sleeve 11, intermediate connecting piece 12, ice breaking rod 13, first sealing sleeve 14, second sealing sleeve 15, spring 16, first wear-resistant component 17, second wear-resistant component 18, spiral groove A, straight groove B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0020] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate directions or positional relationships are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0021] 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 the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of this utility model, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0022] In this utility model, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components, or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on specific circumstances.

[0023] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 6, which is a first ice-making evaporator, includes a lower support 1, a cylinder 2, a spiral ice-scraping mechanism, an upper support 5, an inlet pipe 6, and a refrigeration unit. One end of the cylinder 2 is fixed to the lower support 1, and the other end of the cylinder 2 is fixed to the upper support 5. A part of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is located in the cylinder 2, and one end of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is rotatably matched with the lower support 1, and the other end of the spiral ice-scraping mechanism is rotatably matched with the upper support 5. The spiral ice-scraping mechanism consists of a knife shaft 3 and a spiral scraper 4. The spiral scraper 4 is spirally wound on the knife shaft 3 and fixed to the knife shaft 3. A through hole is provided on the lower support 1, and one end of the knife shaft 3 is matched with the through hole on the lower support 1. A mounting hole is provided on the upper support 5, and a shaft sleeve 11 is installed in the mounting hole. The other end of the knife shaft 3 is connected to the shaft sleeve 11, so that the knife shaft 3 can rotate relative to the lower support 1 and the upper support 2.

[0025] The upper support 5 is provided with an ice outlet 5a. When the blade shaft 3 rotates, the spiral scraper 4 pushes the ice formed within the cylinder 2 upward from the bottom. Under the continuous force, the ice is discharged from the ice outlet 5a. This embodiment also includes an ice-breaking assembly that rotates with the rotating shaft 3 to break the ice discharged from the ice outlet 5a. The other end of the rotating shaft 3 passes through the upper support 5 and is fixed to the ice-breaking assembly. Preferably, the other end of the rotating shaft 3 passes outside the shaft sleeve 11 and is connected to the ice-breaking assembly.

[0026] The ice-breaking assembly includes an intermediate connector 12 and an ice-breaking rod 13. The intermediate connector 12 is fixed to the portion of the rotating shaft 3 exposed outside the upper support 5. One end of the ice-breaking rod 13 is fixed to the intermediate connector 12, and the ice-breaking rod 13 is bent so that the other end of the ice-breaking rod 13 extends toward the upper support 5. When ice is discharged from the ice outlet 5a, the ice only moves along the axial direction of the ice outlet 5a, while the ice-breaking assembly rotates with the rotating shaft 3. Therefore, during this process, the ice-breaking rod 13 exerts a force on the ice as it rotates, thereby breaking the ice.

[0027] The input pipe 6 is connected to the cylinder 2 and is used to input water into the cylinder 2. The input pipe 6 is installed at the lower part of the cylinder 2. The shape of the ice outlet 5a can be various forms, for example, it can be fan-shaped, circular, rectangular, etc.

[0028] The refrigeration unit is disposed on the outer circumference of the cylinder 2 and includes a bellows 7 having an inlet 8 for refrigerant input and an outlet 9 for refrigerant output. The bellows 7 is sleeved over the cylinder 2, with both ends of the bellows 7 secured to the cylinder 2. A flow channel 10 for refrigerant flow is formed between the bellows 7 and the cylinder 2. The length of the bellows 7 can be increased or decreased depending on the overall length of the product.

[0029] The bellows 7 includes a trough section 7a and a peak section 7b. The trough section 7a is fitted with the outer wall surface of the cylinder 2. This fitting relationship enables the trough section 7a and the cylinder 2 to form a seal. The flow channel 10 is surrounded by the trough section 7a, the peak section and the cylinder 2. There are multiple flow channels 10, and a drainage groove 7c is provided on the trough section 7a for the refrigerant to flow between two adjacent flow channels 10.

[0030] There is one input port 8 located on the peak section 7b at the bottom of the bellows 7, and one output port 9 located on the peak section 7b at the top of the bellows 7. The circumferential angle difference between the drainage grooves 7c on two adjacent trough sections 7a is 180°. The circumferential angle difference between the input port 8 and the drainage grooves 7c on the trough section 7a adjacent to the input port 8 is 180°, and the circumferential angle difference between the output port 9 and the drainage grooves 7c on the trough section 7a adjacent to the output port 9 is 180°.

[0031] The number of peak sections 7b is an even number, so that the input port 8 and the output port 9 are located in the peak sections 7b at both ends of the bellows 7, and the angular difference between the input port 8 and the drainage groove 7c on the adjacent trough section 7a in the circumferential direction is ensured to be 180°, and the angular difference between the output port 9 and the drainage groove 7c on the trough section 7a adjacent to the output port 9 in the circumferential direction is ensured to be 180°.

[0032] Based on the above structure, after the refrigerant is input from the input port 8, the refrigerant flows along the flow channel 10 from the left and right sides of the input port 8. When the refrigerant in the flow channel 10 reaches the drainage groove 7c, the refrigerant is drained to the next layer of flow channel 10 through the drainage groove 7c. The refrigerant flows along the flow channel 10 again and is finally output from the output port 9. In this process, since each flow channel 10 is full of refrigerant, the refrigerant directly exchanges heat with the circumference of the cylinder 2 to cool the water flowing into the cylinder 2, thereby improving the uniformity of the cooling. In addition, since the refrigerant directly cools the cylinder 2, it avoids the obstruction of the spiral coil wall in the middle as in the spiral coil, thereby significantly improving the cooling efficiency.

[0033] The bellows 7 also includes a connecting section 7d, which is connected to the peak section 7b located at both ends of the bellows 7. The connecting section 7d is used to be fixed to the cylinder 2. In this embodiment, the connecting section 7d and the peak section 7b are integrally formed, and the connecting section 7d is preferably fixed to the cylinder 2 by welding.

[0034] In this embodiment, a damping groove is provided on the inner wall of the cylinder 2 to reduce the ice discharge speed. After the spiral ice scraping mechanism scrapes off the ice condensed on the inner wall of the cylinder 2, the ice is in the form of crushed ice. As the spiral ice scraping mechanism lifts the crushed ice, when the crushed ice encounters the damping groove during the lifting process, the damping effect acts on the crushed ice, slowing the speed of the crushed ice. This increases the freezing time of the crushed ice in the cylinder 2, resulting in a hard ice bar squeezed out of the ice outlet 5a.

[0035] The damping groove has a depth of 0.7-0.9 mm and a width of 1.4-1.6 mm. In this embodiment, the damping groove preferably has a depth of 0.8 mm and a width of 1.5 mm. This depth and width provide a good damping effect. A larger width increases the damping effect but reduces the ice discharge speed. Therefore, the damping groove dimensions are selected based on the ice discharge speed and ice discharge conditions.

[0036] The damping grooves are spiral grooves A, which are multiple in number. Some of these grooves A are left-handed, while others are right-handed. These grooves A intersect to form a grid structure. This grid structure also optimizes both ice discharge speed and ice discharge quality. In this embodiment, there are a total of 12 spiral grooves A, 6 of which are left-handed and 6 are right-handed. Six of these grooves have the same rotation direction as the spiral scraper 4, while the remaining 6 have the opposite rotation direction.

[0037] The pitch of the spiral groove A is 42-47 mm. In this embodiment, the pitch of each spiral groove A is preferably 45 mm. Such a pitch is adopted in order to set a reasonable number of spiral grooves on the cylinder 2 of limited height to increase the damping effect.

[0038] This embodiment also includes a sealing assembly, which includes a first sealing sleeve 14, a second sealing sleeve 15, and a spring 16. The first sealing sleeve 14 is sleeved on one end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism and fixed to the spiral ice scraping mechanism. The second sealing sleeve 15 is fixed to the lower support 1. One end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is gap-fitted with the second sealing sleeve 15. The spring 16 is sleeved on the first sealing sleeve 14. The tension generated by the spring 16 keeps the axial end faces of the first sealing sleeve 14 and the second sealing sleeve 15 in contact with each other.

[0039] The sealing assembly further includes a first wear-resistant component 17 and a second wear-resistant component 18. The first wear-resistant component 17 is fixed to the first sealing sleeve 14, and the second wear-resistant component 18 is fixed to the second sealing sleeve 15. The axial end surfaces of the first wear-resistant component 17 and the second wear-resistant component 18 are in contact with each other. A first annular groove is provided on the axial end surface of the first sealing sleeve 14, and the first wear-resistant component 17 is mounted in the first annular groove. A second annular groove is provided on the axial end surface of the second sealing sleeve 15, and the second wear-resistant component 18 is mounted in the second annular groove.

[0040] The first sealing sleeve 14 and the second sealing sleeve 15 are preferably made of rubber, the first wear-resistant component 17 is preferably made of graphite, and the second wear-resistant component 18 is preferably made of ceramic.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, the following structures or the following transformations may also be adopted:

[0042] (a), such as Figure 7 As shown, there are multiple spiral grooves A, and these spiral grooves A are arranged along the left-hand or right-hand direction.

[0043] (b) The damping grooves are straight grooves B formed along a straight line or curved grooves formed along a curve; the straight grooves B or curved grooves are spaced apart along the circumference of the cylinder 2. The number of straight grooves B or curved grooves is 12. The shape of the curved grooves is, for example, a wave shape or a sine wave shape.

[0044] (c) If Figure 8 As shown, the damping grooves are composed of a spiral groove A and a straight groove B extending along a straight line. The number of spiral grooves A and straight grooves B is preferably six. The six spiral grooves A have the same rotation direction, and the rotation direction of the six spiral grooves A is opposite to the rotation direction of the spiral scraper 4. The six straight grooves B are spaced apart along the circumference of the barrel 2. The shape of the curved grooves can be, for example, wavy or sinusoidal.

[0045] (d) The damping grooves consist of a spiral groove A and a curved groove extending along a curve. The number of spiral grooves A and the number of curved grooves are preferably six. The six spiral grooves A have the same rotation direction and are opposite to the rotation direction of the spiral scraper 4. Six straight grooves B are spaced apart along the circumference of the barrel 2. The curved grooves may have a wavy or sinusoidal shape, for example.

Claims

1. An ice-making evaporator, comprising a lower support (1), a cylinder (2), a spiral ice scraping mechanism, an upper support (5), an input pipe (6), and a refrigeration unit, wherein one end of the cylinder (2) is fixed to the lower support (1), and the other end of the cylinder (2) is fixed to the upper support (5), a portion of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is located in the cylinder (2), one end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is rotationally matched with the lower support (1), and the other end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is rotationally matched with the upper support (5), an ice outlet (5a) is provided on the upper support (5), the input pipe (6) is connected to the cylinder (2), a scraper (4) is spirally wound on a blade shaft (3), and the refrigeration unit is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder (2), characterized in that: A damping groove for reducing the ice discharge speed is provided on the inner wall surface of the cylinder (2).

2. The ice making evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The damping groove is a spiral groove (A); Part of the spiral grooves (A) are left-handed spiral grooves, and another part of the spiral grooves (A) are right-handed spiral grooves, and these spiral grooves (A) intersect to form a grid structure; or There are multiple spiral grooves (A), and these spiral grooves (A) are arranged along the left-hand or right-hand direction.

3. The ice making evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The damping groove is a straight groove (B) opened along a straight line or a curved groove opened along a curve; or The damping groove is composed of a spiral groove (A) and a straight groove (B) opened along a straight line; or The damping groove consists of a spiral groove (A) and a curved groove opened along a curve.

4. The ice making evaporator according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The rotation direction of at least a portion of the spiral groove (A) is opposite to the rotation direction of the spiral ice scraping mechanism.

5. The ice making evaporator according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The pitch of the spiral groove (A) is 42-47 mm.

6. The ice making evaporator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The groove depth of the damping groove is 0.7-0.9 mm, and the groove width of the damping groove is 1.4-1.6 mm.

7. The ice making evaporator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The refrigeration unit comprises a bellows (7), the bellows (7) being provided with an input port (8) for inputting a refrigerant and an output port (9) for outputting the refrigerant, the bellows (7) being sleeved on a cylinder (2), the two ends of the bellows (7) being respectively fixed to the cylinder (2), and a flow channel (10) for the flow of the refrigerant being formed between the bellows (7) and the cylinder (2).

8. The ice-making evaporator according to claim 7, characterized in that: The corrugated tube (7) comprises a trough section (7a) and a peak section (7b); the trough section (7a) is in contact with the outer wall surface of the cylinder (2); the flow channel (10) is surrounded by the trough section (7a), the peak section (7b) and the cylinder (2); there are multiple flow channels (10); a drainage groove (7c) is provided on the trough section (7a) for allowing refrigerant to flow between two adjacent flow channels (10).

9. The ice making evaporator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The invention also includes a sealing assembly, which includes a first sealing sleeve (14), a second sealing sleeve (15), and a spring (16). The first sealing sleeve (14) is sleeved on one end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism and is fixed to the spiral ice scraping mechanism. The second sealing sleeve (15) is fixed to the lower support (1). One end of the spiral ice scraping mechanism is clearance-matched with the second sealing sleeve (15). The spring (16) is sleeved on the first sealing sleeve (14). The tension generated by the spring (16) keeps the axial end faces of the first sealing sleeve (14) and the second sealing sleeve (15) in contact with each other.

10. The ice-making evaporator according to claim 9, characterized in that: The sealing assembly further comprises a first wear-resistant component (17) and a second wear-resistant component (18). The first wear-resistant component (17) is fixed to the first sealing sleeve (14), and the second wear-resistant component (18) is fixed to the second sealing sleeve (15). The axial end faces of the first wear-resistant component (17) and the second wear-resistant component (18) are in contact with each other.

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