Square ice evaporator and ice maker
By designing a sealed heat exchange space and heat conduction structure in the ice cube evaporator, the heat exchange contact area is increased, solving the problems of low heat exchange efficiency and complex structure in the existing technology, and achieving the effects of efficient ice making and cost reduction.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423065595.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing ice cube evaporators have low heat exchange efficiency, complex structure, and high cost.
The bottom shell is connected to the ice-making panel to form a sealed heat exchange space. The ice grid is partially or completely located in the heat exchange space. The heat-conducting structure forms a heat exchange channel, increases the heat exchange contact area, and guides the flow of the medium to exchange heat with the ice grid in multiple directions.
It improves the heat exchange and ice-making efficiency of the evaporator, simplifies the structure, and reduces production costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN223499856U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making device technology, and in particular to a cube ice evaporator and an ice maker. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, the ice evaporator in an ice maker includes a refrigerant base plate and an ice storage grid fixed to the front end of the refrigerant base plate. The ice storage grid has multiple ice slots. The refrigerant base plate has a meandering heat exchange channel inside, and the back of the refrigerant base plate has an inlet and an outlet that connect to the two ends of the heat exchange channel. The ice storage grid includes longitudinal and transverse walls, longitudinal and transverse partitions fixed to the front end of the refrigerant base plate. Two longitudinal and two transverse walls are snapped together to form the outer frame of the ice storage grid. Multiple longitudinal partitions are arranged parallel to the longitudinal walls and equidistantly within the inner cavity of the outer frame of the ice storage grid, with each end of the longitudinal partition snapping into one of the two transverse walls. Similarly, multiple transverse partitions are arranged parallel to the transverse walls and equidistantly within the inner cavity of the outer frame of the ice storage grid, with each end of the transverse partition snapping into one of the two longitudinal walls. The ice storage grid has multiple ice slots.
[0003] However, although the condensate in the heat exchange channel can conduct cold energy to the ice grid through the bottom plate of the ice storage grid, the cold energy is only gradually conducted to the surrounding area from the bottom, resulting in low cold conduction efficiency and low ice-forming efficiency, thereby reducing the ice-making efficiency of the ice-forming evaporator. Moreover, the above structure is relatively complex, has many components, and is costly. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a square ice evaporator and ice maker that can increase the heat exchange contact area, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator, and the overall structure is simple and the cost is low.
[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a square ice evaporator, comprising a bottom shell and an ice-making panel. The bottom shell and the ice-making panel are connected to form a sealed heat exchange space, which has an inlet end and an outlet end. The ice-making panel is provided with a plurality of ice grid sections extending toward the heat exchange space at intervals. These ice grid sections form ice grid grooves for accommodating ice, with at least a portion of the ice grid grooves located within the heat exchange space. A heat-conducting structure is provided within the heat exchange space to guide the flow of a medium within the space and to exchange heat with the ice mold structure on the ice-making panel.
[0006] As an improvement to the above solution, the ice grid is located entirely within the heat exchange space, and a gap is left between the bottom of the ice grid and the inner wall of the bottom shell.
[0007] As an improvement to the above solution, the ice grid section is located entirely within the heat exchange space, and the bottom of the ice grid section abuts against the inner wall of the bottom shell.
[0008] As an improvement to the above solution, the heat-conducting structure forms a heat exchange channel in the heat exchange space, and the heat exchange channel extends and bends repeatedly along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the bottom shell; the ice grid assembly includes a plurality of spaced ice grids, and the ice grid groove is provided in the ice grid.
[0009] As an improvement to the above solution, the heat-conducting structure includes multiple baffles, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the heat exchange space to guide the medium to flow along a predetermined path; two adjacent baffles are staggered and their opposite ends are respectively connected to the corresponding sidewalls of the bottom shell, and the baffles and the bottom shell enclose the heat exchange channel to form the heat exchange channel, which is respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end.
[0010] As an improvement to the above solution, multiple ice grid sections are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice-making panel; the ice-making panel is provided with a protruding strip extending toward the heat exchange space, the protruding strip is arranged between two adjacent ice grid sections, and a water-blocking groove is provided in the protruding strip; multiple ice grid sections are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice grid section group.
[0011] As an improvement to the above solution, the partition is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves at intervals, and the positioning grooves are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the protruding parts, and the protruding parts are embedded in the corresponding positioning grooves.
[0012] As an improvement to the above solution, the inlet end is provided with a de-icing tube and a capillary tube, and the outlet end is provided with a return gas tube; the capillary tube is connected to the condenser through a pipe, and the de-icing tube and the return gas tube are respectively connected to the compressor through pipes.
[0013] As an improvement to the above solution, the cross-section of the ice grid is rectangular or trapezoidal; the ice-making panel is an integrally stamped structure and is welded to the bottom shell to form a seal.
[0014] This utility model also provides an ice maker, including a body and the aforementioned ice cube evaporator, wherein the ice cube evaporator is disposed in the body and connected to the refrigeration system of the body.
[0015] Implementing this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0016] This invention forms a sealed heat exchange space by connecting the bottom shell and the ice-making panel. At least part of the ice grid groove on the ice-making panel is located in the heat exchange space, so that the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange space can have multi-directional contact with the ice grid groove, thereby increasing the heat exchange contact area and greatly improving the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator. Moreover, the overall structure is simple, which can save assembly space and reduce production costs. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the square ice evaporator of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom shell of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the square ice evaporator of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure of the square ice evaporator of this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the following will describe this utility model in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is hereby declared that the terms "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "inner," and "outer," etc., appearing or about to appear in this document, are based solely on the accompanying drawings and are not intended to specifically limit this utility model.
[0022] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the figure, a specific embodiment of the present invention provides a square ice evaporator, including a bottom shell 1 and an ice-making panel 2. The ice-making panel 2 is covered on the bottom shell 1, and a sealed heat exchange space is formed between the bottom shell 1 and the ice-making panel 2. The bottom shell 1 is provided with an inlet end 11 and an outlet end 12 that communicate with the heat exchange space to input the heat exchange medium and output the heat exchange medium after heat exchange.
[0023] The ice-making panel 2 is provided with a plurality of ice grid sections 4 extending toward the heat exchange space at intervals. Each ice grid section 4 includes a plurality of spaced ice grid sections 41, and each ice grid section 41 has an ice grid groove 42 for accommodating ice. The heat exchange space is provided with a heat-conducting structure, which forms a heat exchange channel 3 within the heat exchange space. The two ends of the heat exchange channel 3 are respectively connected to the inlet end 11 and the outlet end 12 to guide the heat exchange medium to flow within the heat exchange space and exchange heat with the ice mold structure on the ice-making panel 2, thereby causing the water in the ice grid groove 42 to form ice. At least a portion of the structure of the ice grid groove 42 extending toward the heat exchange space is located within the heat exchange channel 3 to make multi-directional contact with the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange channel 3, thereby increasing the heat exchange contact area.
[0024] During operation, the condensate from the inlet 11 flows into the heat exchange channel 3 in the bottom shell 1. The condensate flows backward along the heat exchange channel 3 and returns to the compressor from the outlet 12. As the condensate passes through each ice grid section 41, it makes multi-directional contact with the structure of the ice grid section 41 embedded in the heat exchange channel 3 to increase the heat exchange contact area. This allows the cold energy to diffuse rapidly to the surroundings through the contact structure and act on the water in the ice grid tank 42. With continuous heat exchange, the water in the ice grid tank 42 will gradually condense into ice. When ice blocks of the desired size condense in the ice tray 42, high-temperature gas is introduced into the heat exchange channel 3 through the reversing valve in the ice maker. That is, the high-temperature gas in the compressor flows into the heat exchange channel 3 through the inlet end 11. The high-temperature gas flows along the direction of the heat exchange channel 3 to apply heat to each ice tray part 41 in contact with it, thereby quickly de-icing the ice blocks condensed in the ice tray 42, and then causing the ice blocks to fall out of the ice tray 42.
[0025] This invention uses the heat exchange channel 3 to guide the flow of the heat exchange medium, ensuring a consistent flow direction and preventing eddies and resistance that could hinder its flow. This improves the flow velocity and heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange medium. Furthermore, the heat exchange medium only needs to pass through a single layer of heat-conducting medium (the wall of the ice grid plate) to exchange heat with the water in the ice grid trough 42. By reducing the amount of heat-conducting medium, heat transfer efficiency is effectively improved. The multi-directional structure of the ice grid section 41, located within the heat exchange channel 3, increases the heat exchange contact area, further enhancing the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator, i.e., improving its ice-making and de-icing efficiency. The overall structure is simple, saving assembly space and reducing production costs.
[0026] Preferably, the ice-making panel 2 can be fixed to the bottom shell 1 by welding to form a sealed heat exchange space, but this is not a limitation.
[0027] Furthermore, the heat exchange channel 3 is arranged to bend and extend repeatedly along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the bottom shell 1 to form a heat exchange channel 3 surrounding all ice grid sections 41, thereby guiding the heat exchange medium to exchange heat with each ice grid section 41, ensuring the stable operation of the evaporator's ice-making and de-icing operations.
[0028] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the ice grid section 41 is entirely located in the heat exchange channel 3. The bottom of the ice grid section 41 abuts against the inner wall of the bottom shell 1, which serves to support the ice grid section 41. On the other hand, as the condensed liquid flows inside the bottom shell 1, it can reduce the temperature of the bottom shell 1 itself. Energy can also be conducted to the ice grid section 41 through the inner wall of the bottom shell 1 to accelerate the heat exchange efficiency of the water in the ice grid tank 42. When the ice grid section 41 is entirely located in the heat exchange channel 3, the four sides of the ice grid section 41 will have multi-directional contact with the condensed liquid in the heat exchange channel 3 to maximize the heat exchange contact area and further improve the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator.
[0029] In other embodiments, the ice grid section 41 is located entirely within the heat exchange channel 3, and a gap may be left between the bottom of the ice grid section 41 and the inner wall of the bottom shell 1 so that the four sides and bottom end of the ice grid section 41 are in direct contact with the heat exchange medium, thereby maximizing the heat exchange contact area and thus maximizing the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator.
[0030] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the heat-conducting structure includes multiple partitions 13, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the heat exchange space to guide the medium to flow along a predetermined path. Adjacent partitions 13 are staggered, with one opposite end connected to a corresponding side wall of the bottom shell 1. Specifically, in two adjacent partitions 13, the left end of one partition 13 is connected to the left side wall of the bottom shell 1, while its right end is not connected to the right side wall; the right end of the other partition 13 is connected to the right side wall of the bottom shell 1, while its left end is not connected to the left side wall. This creates a connecting channel between the staggered adjacent partitions 13, allowing the multiple partitions 13 and the bottom shell 1 to enclose and form the heat exchange channel 3, thus achieving heat exchange.
[0031] Preferably, the partition 13 can be fixed in the bottom shell 1 by welding, but this is not a limitation.
[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, multiple ice grid sections 4 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice-making panel 2. The ice-making panel 2 has protruding strips 5 extending towards the heat exchange space. These protruding strips 5 are positioned between adjacent ice grid sections 4, and each protruding strip 5 contains a water-blocking groove 51. This water-blocking groove 51 separates adjacent ice grid sections 4 and collects water flowing between them, preventing water from flowing from one ice grid section 4 into other ice grid sections 4 and affecting the desired ice grid shape, thus improving the stability of ice grid production. The multiple ice grid sections 41 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice grid sections 4 to form a matrix arrangement of ice grid production tanks on the ice-making panel 2, resulting in a visually appealing overall appearance.
[0033] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in order to further support the ice-making panel 2, the partition 13 is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves 14 at intervals. The positioning grooves 14 are provided one-to-one with the protruding parts 5. The plurality of protruding parts 5 are embedded in the corresponding positioning grooves 14, so that the partition 13 supports the protruding parts 5 and the ice-making panel 2, preventing the middle part of the ice-making panel 2 from being easily deformed, thereby improving the structural strength and working stability of the evaporator.
[0034] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the inlet end 11 is equipped with an ice removal pipe 5 and a capillary tube 6, and the outlet end 12 is equipped with a return gas pipe 7. The capillary tube 6 is connected to the condenser through a pipe, and the ice removal pipe 5 and the return gas pipe 7 are respectively connected to the compressor through pipes. When ice making is in operation, the condenser introduces condensate into the heat exchange channel 3 through the pipe and the inlet end 11 to perform heat exchange and ice making on the ice grid section 41 through the condensate. When the required ice cubes are condensed, high-temperature gas is introduced into the heat exchange channel 3 through the reversing valve in the ice maker. That is, the high-temperature gas in the compressor flows into the heat exchange channel 3 through the ice removal pipe 5 and the inlet end 11. The high-temperature gas flows along the direction of the heat exchange channel 3 to apply heat to each ice grid section 41 that comes into contact with it, thereby quickly de-icing the ice cubes condensed in the ice grid trough 42, and causing the ice cubes to fall out of the ice grid trough 42.
[0035] Preferably, the cross-section of the ice grid 42 is rectangular or trapezoidal, such as making rectangular, square or isosceles trapezoidal ice blocks, but not limited thereto.
[0036] Preferably, the ice-making panel 2 is an integral stamping structure, and the required ice grid part 41 and convex strip part 5 can be stamped on one panel. The overall processing technology and overall structure are simple and the cost is low.
[0037] Preferably, the ice-making panel 2 and the bottom shell 1 are both made of stainless steel, but this is not a limitation and other heat-conducting materials can be selected according to actual needs.
[0038] This utility model also provides an ice maker, including a body and the aforementioned ice cube evaporator. The ice cube evaporator is disposed in the body and connected to the refrigeration system of the body. The compressor and condenser in the refrigeration system continuously provide heat exchange medium to the ice cube evaporator.
[0039] In summary, this utility model forms a sealed heat exchange space by connecting the bottom shell and the ice-making panel. At least part of the ice grid groove on the ice-making panel is located in the heat exchange space, so that the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange space can have multi-directional contact with the ice grid groove, thereby increasing the heat exchange contact area and greatly improving the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator. Moreover, the overall structure is simple, which can save assembly space and reduce production costs.
[0040] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present utility model. Therefore, any equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of the present utility model shall still fall within the scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A cube ice evaporator, characterized in that, It includes a bottom shell and an ice-making panel, wherein the bottom shell and the ice-making panel are connected to form a sealed heat exchange space, and the heat exchange space has an inlet end and an outlet end; The ice-making panel is provided with a plurality of ice grid sections extending toward the heat exchange space at intervals. The ice grid sections form ice grid grooves for accommodating ice. At least a portion of the structure of the ice grid grooves is located in the heat exchange space. The heat exchange space is equipped with a heat-conducting structure, which guides the medium to flow within the heat exchange space and exchange heat with the ice mold structure on the ice-making panel.
2. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice grid is located entirely within the heat exchange space, and a gap is left between the bottom of the ice grid and the inner wall of the bottom shell.
3. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice grid section is located entirely within the heat exchange space, and the bottom of the ice grid section abuts against the inner wall of the bottom shell.
4. The ice cube evaporator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The heat-conducting structure forms a heat exchange channel within the heat exchange space, and the heat exchange channel extends and bends repeatedly along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the bottom shell. The ice grid assembly includes multiple ice grid sections spaced apart, and each ice grid section has an ice grid groove inside.
5. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heat-conducting structure includes multiple baffles, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the heat exchange space to guide the medium to flow along a predetermined path. The two adjacent partitions are staggered and their opposite ends are respectively connected to the corresponding sidewalls of the bottom shell. The partitions and the bottom shell enclose the heat exchange channel, which is respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end.
6. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple ice grid sections are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice-making panel; The ice-making panel is provided with a raised strip extending toward the heat exchange space. The raised strip is disposed between two adjacent ice grid sections, and a water-proof groove is provided inside the raised strip. Multiple ice grid sections are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal or transverse direction of the ice grid section group.
7. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The partition plate is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves at intervals, and the positioning grooves are provided one-to-one with the protruding parts, and the protruding parts are embedded in the corresponding positioning grooves.
8. The ice cube evaporator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inlet end is equipped with an ice removal tube and a capillary tube, and the outlet end is equipped with a return gas tube; The capillary tube is connected to the condenser via a pipe, and the de-icing pipe and the return gas pipe are respectively connected to the compressor via pipes.
9. The ice cube evaporator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The cross-section of the ice grid is rectangular or trapezoidal; The ice-making panel is a one-piece stamped structure and is welded to the bottom shell to form a seal.
10. An ice maker, characterized in that, It includes a body and a block ice evaporator as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the block ice evaporator is disposed in the body and connected to the refrigeration system of the body.