Evaporator for ice maker

Abstract

The utility model provides an evaporator for an ice maker, relates to the technical field of ice makers, and solves the technical problem in the prior art that after the ice maker stops running, certain residual heat still exists between an ice making bucket and a condensation bucket, so that residual moisture in the ice making bucket is not easy to completely remove. The evaporator for the ice maker comprises an ice making bucket used for containing an aqueous solution; the ice knife is used for cutting the generated ice; the condensation barrel is arranged outside the ice making barrel in a sleeving manner, a spiral strip is fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the condensation barrel, and the inner wall of the condensation barrel, the outer wall of the ice making barrel and the spiral strip form a spiral condensation cavity; two ends of the condensation barrel are sealed. The conveying part is used for conveying ice cubes condensed in the ice making bucket, due to the fact that no complex pipeline structure hinders exist, refrigerants can be discharged from the system more rapidly and thoroughly, the influence of the residual refrigerants on subsequent operation is reduced, and the temperature recovery time is shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of ice making machines, in particular to an evaporator used for an ice making machine. Background Art

[0002] In commercial and industrial ice-making systems, the ice evaporator plays a central role, cooling water through the evaporation of a refrigerant, thereby efficiently producing ice cubes or flakes. Inside the evaporator, the refrigerant evaporates under low pressure, absorbing heat from the surrounding water, causing the water temperature to drop until it freezes. However, existing ice evaporators face several practical challenges, particularly in terms of wastewater treatment, hygiene standards, and energy efficiency. These issues not only affect the overall performance of the equipment but also threaten product safety and quality.

[0003] Traditional ice evaporator designs typically consist of an ice bucket and a condenser tubing mounted outside the bucket. The condenser tubing is surrounded by a spiral pipe, through which refrigerant flows. However, when the ice maker stops operating, a certain amount of residual heat remains between the ice bucket and the condenser tubing. This makes it difficult to completely remove any residual moisture inside the bucket, potentially causing it to condense into ice during downtime. This residual moisture creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and microorganisms, posing a potential contamination risk to subsequent ice products.

[0004] Therefore, it is urgent to develop an evaporator for an ice making machine to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an evaporator for an ice maker to address the prior art technical problem that, after the ice maker stops operating, residual heat remains between the ice bucket and the condenser bucket, making it difficult to completely drain the remaining water inside the ice bucket, which may condense into ice during the downtime. The various technical effects achieved by the preferred technical solution among the various technical solutions provided by the present invention are detailed below.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] The utility model provides an evaporator for an ice making machine, comprising:

[0008] an ice bucket for containing an aqueous solution;

[0009] The ice cutter is fixedly installed at the end of the ice bucket where ice is discharged to cut the generated ice;

[0010] A condensing barrel, the condensing barrel being sleeved outside the ice making barrel, a spiral strip being fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the condensing barrel, the end of the spiral strip away from the inner wall of the condensing barrel being fixedly connected to the outer wall of the ice making barrel, the inner wall of the condensing barrel, the outer wall of the ice making barrel and the spiral strip forming a spiral condensing chamber;

[0011] Both ends of the condensing barrel are sealed. An inlet pipe for the refrigerant to enter and an outlet pipe for the refrigerant to be discharged are provided on the condensing barrel. Both the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are communicated with the condensing chamber.

[0012] The conveying member is used to convey the ice cubes condensed in the ice making bucket.

[0013] Furthermore, the cross section of the spiral strip perpendicular to the axial direction of the condensing barrel is tapered, and the thickness of the spiral strip at one end close to the condensing barrel is greater than the thickness of the spiral strip close to the ice making barrel.

[0014] Furthermore, the ice bucket is vertically arranged and the end installed on the ice blade is set as the top during use. The outflow pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the ice bucket, that is, the end close to the ice blade, and the inlet pipe is fixedly connected to the bottom of the ice bucket.

[0015] Furthermore, the conveying member includes a spiral conveying shaft passing through the interior of the ice-making bucket, and the spiral conveying shaft is rotatably disposed in the ice-making bucket.

[0016] Furthermore, an inner cavity for drainage is provided in the spiral conveying shaft along its axial direction, and an opening is provided on the side close to the ice blade. An exhaust hole is provided on the side wall of the spiral conveying shaft, and the exhaust hole is connected to the inner cavity.

[0017] Furthermore, a plurality of the exhaust holes are provided, and the plurality of exhaust holes are evenly arranged along the axial direction of the spiral conveying shaft.

[0018] Furthermore, the ice bucket is sealed on one side away from the ice blades, and the side wall of the ice bucket is fixedly connected to a water inlet pipe, which is connected to the inner cavity of the ice bucket and is arranged at one end away from the ice blades.

[0019] Furthermore, a drain pipe is fixedly connected to the ice bucket, the drain pipe is communicated with the inner cavity of the ice bucket, and a sealing head is installed on the drain pipe.

[0020] Furthermore, the drain pipe is arranged away from one end of the ice skate, and the drain pipe is symmetrically arranged with the water inlet pipe.

[0021] Furthermore, the ice blade is embedded in the end of the ice bucket, the center of the ice blade is penetrated by the end of the spiral conveying shaft, and the end of the spiral conveying shaft is rotatably set at the center of the ice blade.

[0022] The preferred technical solution of the utility model can also produce at least the following technical effects:

[0023] To address the above technical issues, we have proposed an innovative evaporator design that aims to improve ice-making efficiency, enhance sanitary conditions, and optimize the cost structure. Specifically, by installing spiral strips on the inner wall of the condenser barrel and ensuring that the side walls of the spiral strips fit tightly against the ice-making barrel after the condenser barrel and ice-making barrel are combined, the inner wall of the condenser barrel, the outer wall of the ice-making barrel, and the spiral strips together form a spiral condensation chamber. This design abandons the use of traditional spiral pipes, allowing the condensation chamber to directly serve as a channel for the flow of refrigerant. This improvement has the following significant technical effects:

[0024] Improve refrigerant removal efficiency: After the ice maker stops running, the refrigerant can be discharged from the system more quickly and thoroughly due to the lack of complex piping structures, reducing the impact of residual refrigerant on subsequent operations.

[0025] Shorten temperature recovery time: By reducing the wall thickness of the spiral pipe, the temperature in the condensation chamber can return to room temperature more quickly, greatly reducing the time the residual heat is retained, effectively avoiding the phenomenon of residual water in the ice bucket condensing into ice, and reducing the chance of bacterial growth.

[0026] Enhanced heat exchange efficiency: Directly contacting the refrigerant with the inner wall of the ice bucket significantly improves the heat exchange rate, thereby accelerating the ice formation process, increasing ice production and meeting the needs of high-efficiency production.

[0027] Reduce costs: The equipment structure is simplified, some complex and expensive spiral pipe components are eliminated, and material and manufacturing costs are reduced. At the same time, maintenance and replacement costs are reduced, and overall economic benefits are improved.

[0028] In summary, by adopting a new design that combines spiral strips with a condenser and ice bucket, we have not only solved the technical difficulties existing in traditional ice-making systems, but also further optimized the efficiency, hygiene standards and economy of the ice-making process, bringing substantial progress to the commercial and industrial ice-making fields. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure provided by an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0031] Figure 2 It is a front view and internal sectional view provided by an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0032] Figure 3 It is an internal sectional view of the right side view provided by an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0033] Explanation of the reference numerals: 100, ice bucket; 110, water inlet pipe; 120, drain pipe; 130, sealing head; 200, condensation bucket; 210, inlet pipe; 220, outlet pipe; 230, spiral strip; 240, condensation chamber; 300, ice blade; 400, spiral conveying shaft; 410, inner cavity; 420, exhaust hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] To make the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other implementation methods obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "front", "rear", "head", "tail", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended only to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0036] It should also be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; and direct or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this utility model depending on the specific circumstances.

[0037] The following is combined with Figure 1 —3 The present application is further described in detail. An embodiment of the present application discloses an evaporator for an ice maker.

[0038] Reference Figure 1As shown, an evaporator for an ice maker includes an ice bucket 100, an ice blade 300, and a condenser bucket 200. The ice blade 300 is fixedly mounted on one end of the ice bucket 100 and is used to cut the ice produced in the ice bucket 100. The condenser bucket 200 is mounted on the outside of the ice bucket 100 and is fixed to the ice bucket 100 to provide a condensation source for the ice bucket 100. A conveyor is provided inside the ice bucket 100 for conveying ice toward the ice blade 300. The conveyor pushes the ice generated in the ice bucket 100 after condensation by the condenser bucket 200 to the side of the ice bucket 100 where the ice blade 300 is mounted. The ice is then chopped up by the ice blade 300 and discharged.

[0039] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the ice bucket 100 is vertically arranged during use, that is, the axial direction of the ice bucket 100 is vertical. The ice blade 300 is installed at the top of the ice bucket 100, and is embedded in the interior of the ice bucket 100. The ice blade 300 is screwed to the side wall of the ice bucket 100 by bolts, and passes through the side wall to abut against the side wall of the ice blade 300, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the ice blade 300 and the top of the ice bucket 100.

[0040] In this way, during use, water is poured into the ice bucket 100 from the end away from the ice blade 300, and ice cubes are generated under the action of the condensation bucket 200. The ice cubes are pushed to the top of the ice bucket 100 by the conveyor, and the condensed ice is cut and output after cutting.

[0041] The ice bucket 100 is sealed at one end away from the ice blade 300, and a water inlet pipe 110 and a drain pipe 120 are fixedly connected to the ice bucket 100. The water inlet pipe 110 is fixedly connected to one end of the ice bucket 100 away from the ice blade 300 and is interconnected with the ice bucket 100 to provide a stable water source into the ice bucket 100. The water inlet pipe 110 is arranged away from the end of the ice blade 300, that is, at the top of the ice bucket 100, so that in the process of providing water to the ice bucket 100, the water source can use a water channel at the same height as the ice bucket 100, so that the water source gradually flows from the bottom end of the ice bucket 100 to the inside of the ice bucket 100 under the action of gravity balance, so that it is more convenient to have stable contact with the water flow and the condensation bucket 200, thereby ensuring the stable formation of ice cubes.

[0042] The drain pipe 120 is symmetrically positioned with the water inlet pipe 110 and connected to the ice bucket 100. This prevents incoming water from directly entering the drain pipe 120 and affecting the efficiency of ice formation within the ice bucket 100. A removable sealing head 130 is installed at the end of the drain pipe 120. During ice making, the sealing head 130 seals the drain pipe 120, preventing water from flowing. When the ice maker is stopped and the ice bucket 100 is being cleaned, water can be flushed into the ice bucket 100 from the side where the ice blade 300 is mounted, allowing the cleaning water to be discharged through the drain pipe 120.

[0043] In this way, dedicated pipes are used for dedicated purposes, and the cleaning water source is prevented from affecting the water inlet pipe 110, thereby effectively maintaining the cavities of the ice bucket 100 and the water inlet pipe 110 hygienic.

[0044] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the conveying member is a spiral conveyor shaft 400 that is rotatably mounted within the ice bucket 100. One end of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 passes through the center of the ice blade 300, and the other end of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 is used to connect to an external drive source structure such as a drive motor. By rotating one end of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 through the ice blade 300, the spiral conveyor shaft 400 is positioned and fixed during installation. During use, the spiral conveyor shaft 400, which is positioned by the ice blade 300, ensures its stability during rotation. This ensures that the conveyed ice cubes are of uniform size and contact the ice blade 300, thereby facilitating the uniform force applied to the ice blade 300 and cutting the ice.

[0045] The spiral conveyor shaft 400 defines an inner cavity 410 along its axial direction. The inner cavity 410 extends inward from the top end of the spiral conveyor shaft 400, i.e., the end connected to the ice blade 300. The end of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 connected to the ice blade 300 is provided with an opening. The sidewall of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 defines a plurality of vent holes 420, evenly spaced along the axial direction of the spiral conveyor shaft 400 and located between adjacent spiral blades. The vent holes 420 communicate with the inner cavity 410.

[0046] Preferably, the exhaust hole 420 is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the screw conveying shaft 400 .

[0047] During ice making, the axial inner cavity 410 of the ice bucket 100 remains unobstructed through the opening at the end of the screw conveyor shaft 400, the inner cavity 410, and the exhaust hole 420. This prevents ice from forming at the top or upper portion of the ice bucket 100, which could cause the top of the ice bucket 100 to seal and generate hydrostatic pressure, hindering water inflow. This effectively ensures continuous ice making.

[0048] Moreover, when the ice maker stops running, there will be residual ice cubes inside the ice bucket 100 during the cleaning process. When cleaning water is injected into the ice bucket 100 through the ice blade 300 end or the opening of the inner cavity 410, the water can flow quickly through the ice bucket 100 or flow in and out through the exhaust hole 420, so that the cleaning water has the temperature of the ice cubes, which facilitates the melting and discharge of the ice cubes for cleaning.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the condenser barrel 200 is sleeved outside the ice bucket 100. The axial length of the condenser barrel 200 is smaller than that of the ice bucket 100, and both ends of the condenser barrel 200 are sealed. A spiral strip 230 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the condenser barrel 200. The end of the spiral strip 230, which is away from the condenser barrel 200, abuts and is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the ice bucket 100. The inner wall of the condenser barrel 200, the outer wall of the ice bucket 100, and the spiral strip 230 form a spiral condensation chamber 240, through which the refrigerant flows.

[0050] This design eliminates the use of traditional spiral pipes, allowing the condensing chamber 240 to directly serve as the refrigerant flow channel. Directly contacting the refrigerant with the inner wall of the ice bucket 100 significantly improves the heat exchange rate, thereby accelerating the ice formation process and increasing ice production, meeting the demand for high-efficiency production.

[0051] After the ice maker stops operating, the refrigerant is discharged more quickly and completely from the system without the obstruction of a complex piping structure, reducing the impact of residual refrigerant on subsequent operations. Furthermore, by reducing the wall thickness of the spiral piping, the temperature within the condensing chamber 240 can return to room temperature more quickly, significantly reducing the duration of residual heat. This effectively prevents residual moisture in the ice bucket 100 from condensing into ice, reducing the opportunity for bacterial growth.

[0052] It also simplifies the equipment structure, eliminates some complex and expensive spiral pipe components, reduces material and manufacturing costs, and also reduces maintenance and replacement costs, thereby improving overall economic benefits.

[0053] The condensation barrel 200 is provided with an inlet pipe 210 for introducing refrigerant and an outlet pipe 220 for discharging refrigerant. The inlet pipe 210 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the condensation barrel 200 and is interconnected with the condensation chamber 240. The outlet pipe 220 is fixedly connected to the top end of the condensation barrel 200 and is also interconnected with the condensation chamber 240.

[0054] The cross-section of the spiral strip 230 perpendicular to the axial direction of the condenser barrel 200 is tapered. The thickness of the spiral strip 230 near the condenser barrel 200 is greater than the thickness of the spiral strip 230 near the ice bucket 100. The spiral strip 230 is thicker near the condenser barrel 200 and gradually becomes thinner toward the ice bucket 100. This tapered structure significantly increases the contact area between the refrigerant and the ice bucket 100. More contact surface means more efficient heat transfer, which accelerates the ice formation process.

[0055] By adjusting the thickness of the spiral strips 230, the refrigerant can be distributed more evenly, ensuring the consistency of the surface temperature of the entire ice bucket 100. This design avoids the problem of local overcooling or insufficient cooling, making the ice making process more efficient and stable.

[0056] The introduced refrigerant is precisely injected into the condensing chamber 240 through the inlet pipe 210 and then discharged through the outlet pipe 220. This process fully utilizes the physical laws of nature—hot air rises and cold air sinks—to promote the formation of a bottom-up flow pattern of the refrigerant in the condensing chamber 240, effectively extending the contact time between the refrigerant and the inner wall of the chamber, thereby maximizing its cooling efficiency.

[0057] By controlling the refrigerant's flow direction, we can effectively reduce the accumulation of hot air within condensing chamber 240 and promote a more efficient heat exchange process. This not only speeds up cooling but also reduces energy consumption, achieving efficient energy utilization. By increasing the refrigerant's residence time within condensing chamber 240, we ensure that every drop of refrigerant is used to its maximum potential, significantly improving refrigerant efficiency. The refrigerant flow path helps maintain a uniform temperature distribution within condensing chamber 240, avoiding localized overcooling or overheating, ensuring a stable and consistent ice-making process, and producing higher-quality ice cubes.

[0058] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An evaporator for an ice maker, characterized in that: include: An ice bucket (100), the ice bucket (100) being used to contain an aqueous solution; An ice cutter (300) is fixedly mounted on the ice outlet end of the ice making bucket (100) to cut the generated ice; A condensation barrel (200), the condensation barrel (200) being sleeved outside the ice-making barrel (100), a spiral strip (230) being fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the condensation barrel (200), one end of the spiral strip (230) away from the inner wall of the condensation barrel (200) being fixedly connected to the outer wall of the ice-making barrel (100), the inner wall of the condensation barrel (200), the outer wall of the ice-making barrel (100) and the spiral strip (230) forming a spiral condensation chamber (240); Both ends of the condensation barrel (200) are sealed, and an inlet pipe (210) for the refrigerant to enter and an outlet pipe (220) for the refrigerant to be discharged are provided on the condensation barrel (200), and both the inlet pipe (210) and the outlet pipe (220) are connected to the condensation chamber (240); A conveying member is used to convey ice cubes condensed in the ice making bucket (100).

2. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross section of the spiral strip (230) perpendicular to the axial direction of the condensing barrel (200) is arranged in a conical shape, and the thickness of the spiral strip (230) at one end close to the condensing barrel (200) is greater than the thickness of the spiral strip (230) close to the ice making barrel (100).

3. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice bucket (100) is vertically arranged, and one end mounted on the ice blade (300) is arranged as the top end during use. The outflow pipe (220) is fixedly connected to the top end of the ice bucket (100), i.e., the end close to the ice blade (300), and the inflow pipe (210) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the ice bucket (100).

4. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying member comprises a spiral conveying shaft (400) passing through the interior of the ice-making bucket (100); the spiral conveying shaft (400) is rotatably disposed in the ice-making bucket (100).

5. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that: An inner cavity (410) for drainage is provided in the spiral conveying shaft (400) along its axial direction, and an opening is provided on the side close to the ice skate (300). An exhaust hole (420) is provided on the side wall of the spiral conveying shaft (400), and the exhaust hole (420) is connected to the inner cavity (410).

6. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 5, characterized in that: A plurality of the exhaust holes (420) are provided, and the plurality of exhaust holes (420) are evenly arranged along the axial direction of the spiral conveying shaft (400).

7. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice bucket (100) is sealed at one side away from the ice blade (300), and a water inlet pipe (110) is fixedly connected to the side wall of the ice bucket (100). The water inlet pipe (110) is connected to the inner cavity (410) of the ice bucket (100), and the water inlet pipe (110) is arranged at one end away from the ice blade (300).

8. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that: A drainage pipe (120) is fixedly connected to the ice bucket (100), the drainage pipe (120) is communicated with the inner cavity (410) of the ice bucket (100), and a sealing head (130) is installed on the drainage pipe (120).

9. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 8, characterized in that: The drainage pipe (120) is arranged away from one end of the ice skate (300), and the drainage pipe (120) and the water inlet pipe (110) are arranged symmetrically.

10. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that: The ice blade (300) is embedded in the end of the ice bucket (100), the center of the ice blade (300) is penetrated by the end of the spiral conveying shaft (400), and the end of the spiral conveying shaft (400) is rotatably arranged at the center of the ice blade (300).

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