Ice making assembly and refrigerator with same

Abstract

The utility model relates to an ice making assembly and a refrigerator with the same. The ice making assembly comprises a water supply part, an ice making part, an ice separating part and an ice storage part, the water supply part supplies water to the ice making part, and the ice making part comprises an ice mold which is used for making ice blocks and is made of a metal material; the ice separating part comprises a direct-current heater for heating the ice blocks to be separated from the ice mold and a direct-current motor for enabling the ice mold to overturn without being limited by the limiting structure so as to enable the ice blocks to fall into the ice storage part. According to the ice-making assembly and the refrigerator with the ice-making assembly, the ice-making speed can be increased, safety can be improved, and adhesion of ice blocks caused by excessive water can be prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to an ice-making assembly and a refrigerator equipped with the same. Background Art

[0002] In existing refrigerators, there are two main methods for making ice: 1. A direct current (DC) ice-separating motor deforms a PP ice mold to separate the ice cubes from the mold; 2. Ice cubes are formed in a metal ice mold, then heated by an alternating current (AC) steel pipe heater mounted at the bottom of the mold to thaw the ice cubes and the mold. A direct current (DC) motor in the upper space of the component drives an ejector to push the ice cubes out of the mold.

[0003] However, in the ice-making assembly that uses an ice-separating motor to deform the PP ice mold to cause the ice cubes to fall off, since the ice mold is made of PP material, its thermal conductivity is low, resulting in a longer time for water to turn into ice, and the ice-making speed is slow, which cannot meet the user's demand for fast ice making.

[0004] Furthermore, in an ice-making assembly made of aluminum alloy, with an AC steel tube heater installed at the bottom of the ice mold and an upper ejector to push the ice out of the mold, the AC steel tube heater uses AC power, while a DC motor is used to flip the ice mold. Consequently, multiple safety features are required for the entire ice-making assembly, resulting in a large space requirement, a complex structural design, and high costs. Furthermore, the aluminum alloy used in the ice mold is relatively thick, and the steel tube heater consumes a lot of energy when heating and separating the ice from the mold. Furthermore, because the ice is pulled out of the mold, the resulting ice is a single, crescent-shaped shape. Furthermore, the AC steel tube heater consumes a lot of energy and requires additional components such as a safety fan.

[0005] In addition, in the existing ice-making assembly, there is a risk that excess water will be formed after the ice is heated and separated, causing the ice cubes to stick together. Utility Model Content

[0006] The present invention is the result of careful research in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an ice-making assembly and a refrigerator equipped with the same, which can increase the ice-making speed, improve safety and prevent excess water from being generated and causing ice cubes to stick together.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the ice-making assembly involved in the present invention includes a water supply part, an ice-making part, an ice-separating part and an ice-storing part. The water supply part supplies water to the ice-making part. The ice-making part includes an ice mold made of metal material for making ice cubes. The ice-separating part includes a DC heater that heats the ice cubes and separates them from the ice mold, and a DC motor that allows the ice mold to flip without being restricted by a limiting structure so that the ice cubes fall into the ice storage part.

[0008] Specifically, in the ice-making assembly of the present invention, the ice mold is constructed of a metal material. A DC heater heats the ice cubes, separating them from the ice mold. A DC motor causes the ice mold to flip without being restricted by a retaining structure, allowing the ice cubes to fall into the ice storage portion. This increases ice-making speed, improves safety, and prevents excess water from sticking together. Specifically, the use of a metal material with a high thermal conductivity to construct the ice mold increases ice-making speed, while the use of a DC heater and a DC motor improves safety and prevents excess water from sticking together. Furthermore, the DC motor causes the ice mold to flip without being restricted by a retaining structure, preventing the ice mold from contacting a retaining structure, such as a stop, and deforming during flipping. This ensures that the ice cubes in the ice mold are not deformed by the deformation of the ice mold.

[0009] Furthermore, in the ice-making assembly according to the present invention, the ice mold may be made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

[0010] In addition, in the ice-making assembly of the present invention, the ice mold may have a plurality of ice trays arranged in two dimensions, and the ice trays may be in a square, trapezoidal, diamond, or half-moon shape.

[0011] Furthermore, in the ice-making assembly according to the present invention, the DC heater may be disposed around the outer periphery of each of the ice trays and between each of the ice trays.

[0012] In addition, in the ice-making assembly involved in the above-mentioned utility model, the DC heater can also be a heating wire wired around the periphery of each of the ice trays and between each of the ice trays, and the heating wire includes a core wire wound with a resistance wire, an inner layer of horizontal winding wire covering the core wire, and an outermost insulating layer, the core wire is composed of glass fiber, the horizontal winding wire is composed of polyester multifilament, and the insulating layer is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

[0013] In addition, in the ice-making assembly involved in the above-mentioned utility model, the DC heater can also be a thin film heater, which includes a resistance layer and a covering formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the resistance layer, the resistance layer is composed of a carbon material, and the covering is composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0014] Furthermore, in the ice-making assembly of the present invention, the ice-making assembly may further include a control unit that controls the magnitude or duty cycle of the input voltage to the DC heater to adjust the output power of the DC heater. This can more reliably prevent the generation of excess water due to continued high-power heating even after the ice cubes are thermally separated from the ice mold.

[0015] The refrigerator involved in the utility model comprises: a box body; and the above-mentioned ice-making assembly, which is arranged in the box body, the water supply part is arranged in the refrigerating chamber, and the ice-making part, the ice separation part and the ice storage part are arranged in the freezing chamber or the ice-making chamber independent of the freezing chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the DC heater may be connected to a main control board of the refrigerator via a connection terminal or a connector.

[0017] Furthermore, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the DC heater may be powered by wireless power supply, a wireless power supply receiving unit may be mounted on the ice mold, and a wireless power supply transmitting unit may be mounted on the ice making assembly or the box.

[0018] According to the utility model, an ice-making assembly and a refrigerator equipped with the same can be provided, which can increase ice-making speed, improve safety, and prevent excess water from being generated and causing ice cubes to stick together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a general structure of the ice making unit according to this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the DC heaters of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 It is a side view schematically showing the arrangement of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing a first configuration example of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0024] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6 Schematic diagram showing a connection structure of a DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the ice mold of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment being turned over to one side.

[0027] Figure 8Schematic diagram showing the ice mold of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment being turned over to both sides.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a control flow chart of the ice-making assembly according to this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, identical or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, positional relationships, such as up and down, left and right, unless otherwise specified, are based on those shown in the drawings. Furthermore, dimensional ratios in the drawings, except for those depicted in the drawings, are not limited to those shown.

[0030] Furthermore, it should be understood that the embodiments listed in this specification are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, as understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention includes various alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

[0031] In this specification, it should be understood that terms such as “include”, “comprising”, and “having” refer to the existence of features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof, but do not exclude the existence of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof.

[0032] The refrigerator of this embodiment has an ice-making function and includes a housing and an ice-making assembly disposed within the housing. Furthermore, the refrigerator includes multiple compartments that divide the interior space of the housing. These compartments include at least a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Furthermore, these multiple compartments may also include a temperature-changing chamber or other compartment.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a general structure of the ice making unit according to this embodiment. Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the DC heaters of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment. Figure 3 It is a side view schematically showing the arrangement of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0034] like Figure 1As shown, the ice-making assembly 1 includes a water supply unit 10, an ice-making unit 20, an ice-separating unit 30, an ice-storing unit 40, and a control unit (not shown). In this embodiment, the water supply unit 10 is located in the refrigerator compartment, and the ice-making unit 20, ice-separating unit 30, and ice-storing unit 40 are located in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. However, this is not limited to this. If the multiple compartments include an ice-making compartment independent of the freezer compartment, the ice-making unit 20, ice-separating unit 30, and ice-storing unit 40 may also be located in the ice-making compartment of the refrigerator. In addition, the ice-making assembly 1 may be placed in the refrigerator compartment along the front-to-back direction of the compartment or along the left-to-right direction of the compartment.

[0035] The water supply unit 10 supplies water to the ice making unit 20. Figure 1 As shown, the water supply unit 10 includes a water tank 101 for storing water, a water pipe 102 with one end disposed within the water tank 101 and the other end disposed above the ice-making unit 20, and a water supply pump 103 disposed within the water pipe 102. Thus, water stored in the water tank 101 is pumped by the water supply pump 103 through the water pipe 102 to the individual ice trays 202 of the ice mold 201 provided in the ice-making unit 20, as described below. While the water supply pump pumps water and introduces it into the ice mold through a single pipe as an example, this is not limiting and a multi-hole water injection method (individual ice tray water injection) is also possible.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the ice-making unit 20 includes an ice mold 201 made of a metal material for making ice cubes. In this embodiment, the ice mold 201 is made of an aluminum alloy. However, this is not limiting and the ice mold 201 may also be made of stainless steel. Furthermore, to increase the ice-making speed by improving thermal conductivity, the ice mold 201 may be made of other materials with high thermal conductivity, in addition to the aforementioned aluminum alloy and stainless steel. Alternatively, the bottom of the ice mold 201 may be coated with a metal layer (e.g., aluminum foil).

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, ice mold 201 has multiple ice trays 202 arranged in a two-dimensional pattern. However, this is not limiting; ice mold 201 may also have multiple ice trays arranged in a one-dimensional pattern. Ice trays 202 may be square, trapezoidal, diamond, or half-moon shaped. Ice trays 202 may have various shapes, but are preferably designed to facilitate ice cubes falling out due to gravity when flipped.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the ice separation unit 30 includes a DC heater 301 for heating the ice cubes and separating them from the ice mold 201 and a DC motor 302 for turning the ice mold 201 without being restricted by the limiting structure so that the ice cubes fall from the ice making unit 20 into the ice storage unit 40.

[0039] The DC heater 301 is disposed at the bottom of the ice mold 201. Preferably, the DC heater 30 is evenly distributed at the bottom of the ice mold 201.

[0040] In addition, if Figure 1 As shown, one end of ice mold 201 is connected to the output shaft of DC motor 302. The other end of ice mold 201 is fixed to bracket 50. The side of bracket 50 away from DC motor 302 is preferably not provided with a limiting structure, or provided with a limiting structure that does not hinder the turning of ice mold 201.

[0041] In addition, if Figure 1 As shown, the ice storage portion 40 is disposed below the ice making portion 20 .

[0042] Specifically, in this embodiment, the ice mold is constructed of a metal material. A DC heater heats the ice cubes, separating them from the ice mold. A DC motor flips the ice mold free of restraints, allowing the ice cubes to fall into the ice storage area. This improves ice-making speed, enhances safety, and prevents excess water from sticking together. Specifically, the use of a metal material with high thermal conductivity improves ice-making speed, while the use of a DC heater and a DC motor improves safety and prevents excess water from sticking together. Furthermore, the DC motor flips the ice mold free of restraints, preventing deformation of the ice mold due to contact with restraining structures, such as stops, during flipping. This ensures that the ice cubes in the ice mold are not deformed by the deformation of the ice mold.

[0043] In addition, in this embodiment, as a specific way of setting the DC heater 301 at the bottom of the ice mold 201, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, DC heaters 301 are disposed around the periphery of each ice tray 202 and between each ice tray 202. The DC heaters heat the periphery of each ice tray and between each ice tray, heating the connecting portions of the ice cubes in the ice mold so that they are no longer connected to each other. The heat also separates the ice cubes from the ice mold. Consequently, when the ice mold is flipped, the ice cubes can easily fall into the ice storage bin without the need for a DC motor to twist the ice mold.

[0044] Hereinafter, an example of the structure of the DC heater 301 will be described.

[0045] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing a first configuration example of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment. Figure 5 It is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the DC heater of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment.

[0046] like Figure 4As shown, the DC heater 301 can be a heating wire routed around the periphery of each ice tray and between the ice trays. The heating wire includes a core wire 3012 wound with a resistance wire 3011, an inner layer of horizontal winding wire 3013 covering the core wire 3012, and an outermost insulating layer 3014. Here, the core wire 3012 is made of glass fiber, the horizontal winding wire 3013 is made of polyester multifilament, and the insulating layer 3014 is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0047] Or, as Figure 5 As shown, the DC heater 301 may be a thin film heater comprising a resistor layer 3015 and coating layers 3016 formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the resistor layer 3015. Here, the resistor layer 3015 is made of a carbon material, and the coating layers 3016 are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0048] The DC heater 301 is not limited to the aforementioned heating wire, thin film heater, or other types, and may be any type of heater, such as an aluminum foil heater, a glass tube radiation heater, or a semiconductor heater.

[0049] In addition, the DC heater 301 and the power supply wire 601 of the main control board of the refrigerator can be connected using a dedicated connection terminal 602. Figure 6 Schematic diagram showing the connection structure of the DC heater of the ice making assembly involved in this embodiment. Figure 6 As shown, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeve 603 is placed over the connection between the DC heater 301 and the power supply wire 601 by high-frequency welding to provide a seal. Furthermore, the connection between the DC heater 301 and the power supply wire 601 is not limited to a connection structure using crimped connection terminals. A connection structure using a plug-in connector can also be used. In this case, a waterproof adhesive is applied to the connection to prevent moisture intrusion.

[0050] As described above, DC heater 301 is connected to the refrigerator's main control board via a connection terminal or connector. However, this is not limiting. Wireless power supply can also be used to power DC heater 301. In this case, for example, the wireless power receiving unit is mounted on the ice mold, and the wireless power transmitting unit is mounted on the ice making unit or the refrigerator body.

[0051] In addition, as a specific method of fixing the DC heater 301 to the ice mold 201, any method such as a method using an adhesive, a heat caulking method, a snap-fit ​​method using a slot, and a fitting method can be cited.

[0052] Furthermore, the DC heater 301 can adjust its output power by controlling the input voltage to the DC heater 301 through the control unit. In this case, during the first phase, when high power is required to heat the ice cubes and separate them from the ice mold, a higher input voltage is set. During the second phase, when the ice cubes are separated from the ice mold due to heat, the DC heater needs to maintain a low power state to prevent melted water from re-forming into ice, a lower input voltage is set. During the third phase, when the DC motor drives the ice mold to flip and the DC heater no longer needs to be powered, the input voltage is set to 0 (de-energized). This allows the ice cubes to separate from the ice mold without generating excess water and causing them to stick together.

[0053] Alternatively, the DC heater 301 can also adjust its output power by having the control unit control the duty cycle of the input voltage to the DC heater 301. In this case, as shown in Table 1 below, when the input voltage to the DC heater 301 is set to 12V DC, in the first phase, i.e., when high power operation is required to heat the ice cubes and separate them from the ice mold, the duty cycle is set to 100%, i.e., the input voltage to the DC heater 301 is maintained at 12V throughout the entire phase. In the second phase, i.e., after the ice cubes and the ice mold are separated by heat, the DC heater needs to maintain a low power state to prevent the melted water from re-forming ice, the duty cycle is set to 50%, i.e., the input voltage to the DC heater 301 is maintained at 12V for half of the phase and at 0V for the remaining half. In the third phase, i.e., when the DC heater does not need to be energized again when the DC motor drives the ice mold to flip, the duty cycle is set to 0%, i.e., the input voltage to the DC heater 301 is maintained at 0V (off) throughout the entire phase. This allows the ice cubes to be separated from the ice mold without generating excess water and causing the ice cubes to stick together. Here, duty cycle = t_on / T × 100%, where t_on represents the time the DC heater is powered on, t_off represents the time the DC heater is powered off (off), and T represents one cycle, T = t_on + t_off.

[0054] [Table 1]

[0055] t_on t_off Duty cycle Phase 1 100 0 100％ Phase II 50 50 50％ Phase 3 0 100 0％

[0056] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the ice mold of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment being turned over to one side. Figure 8 Schematic diagram showing the ice mold of the ice making unit according to the present embodiment being turned over to both sides.

[0057] like Figure 7As shown, the DC motor 302 can drive the ice mold 201 to flip to one side (same side). Like this, operation is comparatively simple.

[0058] When there is a concern that ice cubes may fall into the same side of the ice storage portion 40 and accumulate, Figure 8 As shown, the DC motor 302 can be set to a style that flips to both sides. Like this, ice cubes can be made to fall evenly on both sides of the ice storage portion 40, which can prevent the unilateral ice cubes from being too much and causing full ice misjudgment.

[0059] In addition, the ice making assembly 1 of the present embodiment may also have a full ice detection mechanism (function). In this case, after the full ice detection mechanism detects that the ice storage portion 40 is full of ice cubes, the user can be notified in time.

[0060] In addition, the ice making assembly 1 according to the present embodiment can prevent water from refreezing and sticking when it falls into the ice storage portion 40 through the control of the control unit.

[0061] In addition, the ice making assembly 1 of this embodiment can determine whether ice cubes are formed according to the temperature of the freezer compartment (or ice making compartment) of the refrigerator and the amount of water supplied. Alternatively, a temperature sensor can be installed at the bottom to detect whether ice cubes are formed.

[0062] Hereinafter, a control flow of the ice-making unit 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 9 This is a control flow chart of the ice making assembly involved in this embodiment. Figure 9 As shown, after the refrigerator is powered on and the user selects the ice-making function, the freezer compartment (or ice-making compartment) temperature (FCC) is detected and determined. If the required ice-making environment is not met, the freezer compartment (or ice-making compartment) temperature (FCC) must be cooled down to below T°C. After the freezer compartment (or ice-making compartment) temperature (FCC) drops below T°C, the DC motor resets and initializes. Next, the DC motor performs an ice-full detection operation, causing the ice-detection lever to move. If the lever encounters an ice block during its movement, it will return, indicating that the ice storage is full. Otherwise, it is determined that the ice storage is empty or insufficient. If the ice storage is empty or insufficient, the water pump operates, pumping water from the water tank into the ice mold of the ice-making assembly in the ice-making compartment. The water in the ice mold then gradually forms ice cubes in the cold environment of the ice-making compartment. Because the water pump pumps a fixed amount of water each time, the time required for the water to transform into ice cubes in a given cold environment is T1. Then, after the ice making time is greater than or equal to T1, the DC heater starts to work, and the ice cubes in the ice mold are heated and separated from the ice mold; then, after the DC heater runs for a set time (T2), the DC motor drives the ice mold to flip about 160 degrees, so that the ice cubes fall off the ice mold and fall into the ice storage part.

[0063] According to the utility model, an ice-making assembly and a refrigerator equipped with the same can be provided, which can increase ice-making speed, improve safety, and prevent excess water from being generated and causing ice cubes to stick together.

[0064] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. Those skilled in the art may modify and alter the present invention as needed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such modifications and alterations are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice making assembly, wherein: The ice making assembly includes a water supply unit, an ice making unit, an ice separation unit and an ice storage unit. The water supply unit supplies water to the ice making unit. The ice making part includes an ice mold made of metal material for making ice cubes. The ice separation part includes a DC heater for heating the ice cubes and separating them from the ice mold, and a DC motor for turning the ice mold over without being restricted by a limiting structure and allowing the ice cubes to fall into the ice storage part.

2. The ice making assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The ice mold is made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

3. The ice making assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The ice mold has a plurality of ice trays arranged in two dimensions. The ice tray is in a square, trapezoidal, diamond or half-moon shape.

4. The ice making assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The DC heater is arranged around the outer periphery of each of the ice trays and between the ice trays.

5. The ice making assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The DC heater is a heating wire arranged around the periphery of each ice tray and between each ice tray. The heating wire includes a core wire wound with a resistance wire, an inner layer of a horizontal winding wire covering the core wire, and an outermost insulating layer. The core wire is made of glass fiber, The horizontal winding thread is composed of polyester multifilament. The insulating layer is made of polyvinyl chloride.

6. The ice-making assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The DC heater is a thin film heater, The thin film heater includes a resistance layer and coating layers formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the resistance layer. The resistance layer is made of carbon material. The cover layer consists of polyethylene terephthalate.

7. The ice-making assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The ice-making assembly further includes a control unit that controls a magnitude or a duty cycle of an input voltage input to the DC heater to adjust an output power of the DC heater.

8. A refrigerator, wherein: The refrigerator comprises: Cabinet; and The ice-making assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is arranged in the box body, The water supply unit is arranged in the refrigeration room. The ice making part, the ice separation part and the ice storage part are arranged in a freezing chamber or an ice making chamber independent of the freezing chamber.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein The DC heater is connected to the main control substrate of the refrigerator through a connecting terminal or a connector.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein The DC heater is powered by wireless power supply, The wireless power supply receiving unit is mounted on the ice mold. The wireless power supply transmitter is mounted on the ice-making assembly or the box.

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