Ice making device and refrigerator using same

Abstract

The utility model provides an ice making device and a refrigerator using the same. The ice making device comprises a water storage tank internally provided with a water storage cavity and an ice making box internally provided with an ice making cavity used for containing and freezing water. The water conveying pipeline is communicated between the water storage cavity and the ice making cavity; the water suction pump is arranged on the water conveying pipeline and used for pumping water flow from the water storage cavity to the ice making cavity; the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of a water conveying path of the water conveying pipeline; and when the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are conducted by water flow passing through the water conveying pipeline, the water quantity in the water storage cavity is detected to be sufficient. According to the ice-making device provided by the utility model, the water delivery pipeline and the detection electrode which are simple in structure are arranged between the water storage tank and the ice-making box and on the water pumping path of the water pump, so that the water volume in the water storage tank can be judged in real time when the ice-making box makes ice, and the water pump and the refrigerating system are kept running to maintain an ice-making function when the water volume in the water storage tank is sufficient; when the water amount is insufficient, the water replenishing operation is reminded, and the phenomena of incomplete ice making and ice breaking of the ice making box are avoided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to ice making technical field, especially ice making device and the refrigerator of application thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] The ice making device of the refrigerator comprises a water storage module, a water pumping module and an ice making module. When ice is needed, the water stored in the water storage module is pumped to the ice making module by the water pumping module for ice making. When ice is not needed, the water pumping module and the ice making module do not work. However, the water stored in the water storage module is limited, and the water in the water tank of the water storage module is inevitably insufficient or even exhausted during ice making. When the water in the water tank is insufficient, the water pumped by the water pump under the same working condition is insufficient to fill the ice making box of the ice making module, and the ice making box may be filled with broken ice and the ice making may be incomplete.

[0003] Therefore, an ice making device is provided in the prior art, which is provided with a gravity sensor at the bottom of the water tank. When the water in the water tank is insufficient, the gravity sensor detects the decrease of the weight of the water tank, and determines that the water in the water tank is insufficient. However, the gravity sensor of the ice making device is easily interfered by other factors. For example, when fruits and vegetables are placed on the water tank, the gravity sensor may incorrectly determine that the water in the water tank is sufficient, resulting in incomplete ice making and broken ice. SUMMARY

[0004] The utility model provides an ice making device and a refrigerator using the same, to solve the technical problem that the ice making device of the conventional refrigerator cannot determine the water amount in the water tank in real time during ice making, resulting in incomplete ice making and broken ice.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the utility model adopts the technical scheme of:

[0006] The utility model provides an ice making device, comprising:

[0007] a water storage tank, which is internally provided with a water storage cavity for storing water;

[0008] an ice making box, which is internally provided with an ice making cavity for containing and freezing water;

[0009] a water delivery pipeline, which is connected between the water storage cavity and the ice making cavity;

[0010] a water pump, which is arranged on the water delivery pipeline and used for pumping water flow from the water storage cavity to the ice making cavity;

[0011] a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode, which are respectively arranged on opposite sides of a water delivery path of the water delivery pipeline;

[0012] When the water flow passing through the water delivery pipeline conducts the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, it is determined that the water amount in the water storage cavity is sufficient.

[0013] Preferably, the water delivery pipeline comprises:

[0014] a first water delivery pipeline connecting between the water storage cavity and the water inlet of the water pump;

[0015] a second water delivery pipeline connecting between the water outlet of the water pump and the ice making cavity.

[0016] Preferably, the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the water delivery path of the second water delivery pipeline.

[0017] Preferably, one end of the second water delivery pipeline close to the water pump is horizontally arranged, and the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are respectively arranged on opposite upper and lower sides of the water delivery path of the one end of the second water delivery pipeline close to the water pump.

[0018] Preferably, one end of the first water delivery pipeline is a first water delivery end connected to the water inlet, and the opposite end of the first water delivery pipeline is a first water inlet end connected to the water storage cavity.

[0019] Preferably, one end of the second water delivery pipeline is a second water inlet end connected to the water outlet, and the opposite end of the second water delivery pipeline is a second water outlet end connected to the ice making cavity.

[0020] Preferably, the first water inlet end is located at the bottom of the water storage cavity, and the second water outlet end is lower than the first water inlet end.

[0021] Preferably, the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are stainless steel electrodes.

[0022] Preferably, the water pump is an axial flow pump, and the water inlet and the water outlet are respectively arranged on opposite ends of the water pump.

[0023] The utility model also provides a refrigerator, including freezing room, still include above-mentioned ice making device, ice making box is located in the freezing room.

[0024] Further, the refrigerator further comprises:

[0025] a display panel arranged on the refrigerator;

[0026] a control circuit arranged on the display panel, comprising:

[0027] a power supply arranged on the main circuit of the control circuit;

[0028] a first branch circuit and a second branch circuit connected in parallel to the main circuit;

[0029] an ice making indicator lamp and a water shortage indicator lamp respectively arranged on the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit;

[0030] a control switch arranged on the main circuit and switchable between a first position and a second position connected to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit respectively;

[0031] The central control device is arranged on the refrigerator, and is used for controlling the water pump to start when the control switch is in the first position and the first branch and the power supply are turned on, and controlling the control switch to switch to the second position and the second branch and the power supply to be turned on and the water pump to stop when the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are not turned on.

[0032] Further, the refrigerator further comprises:

[0033] The ice storage box is arranged in the freezing chamber and below the ice making box.

[0034] The turnover device is used for overturning the ice making box to pour the ice blocks formed in the ice making cavity into the ice storage box.

[0035] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0036] The ice making device provided by the utility model is simple in structure, low in cost, and can avoid the problem of water quantity misjudgment of the water storage tank caused by weight detection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical scheme provided by the utility model, the following will be described in detail in combination with the embodiments and the drawings, and it should be understood that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the utility model, and those skilled in the art can change the drawings under the concept of the utility model.

[0038] Figure 1 The structural schematic diagram of the embodiment of the ice making device provided by the utility model is shown in the figure.

[0039] Figure 2 The structural schematic diagram of the control circuit of the embodiment of the ice making device provided by the utility model is shown in the figure.

[0040] Figure 3 The control logic flow block diagram of the ice making control method of the refrigerator provided by the utility model is shown in the figure.

[0041] In the figure, the main marks of the drawings are as follows:

[0042] 1, water storage tank; 11, water storage cavity; 2, ice making box; 21, ice making cavity; 211, water inlet; 3, water delivery pipeline; 31, first water delivery pipe; 311, first water delivery end; 312, first water inlet end; 32, second water delivery pipe; 321, second water inlet end; 322, second water delivery end; 4, water pump; 41, water inlet; 42, water outlet; 5, first detection electrode; 6, second detection electrode; 7, control circuit; 71, main circuit; 72, first branch circuit; 721, ice making indicator light; 73, second branch circuit; 731, water shortage indicator light; 8, power supply; 9, control switch.

[0043] In the figure, other marks are as follows:

[0044] A, first position; B, second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In order to make the technical problems, technical schemes and beneficial effects of the utility model clearer, the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Figures 1-3

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1-2 The ice making device provided by the utility model comprises:

[0047] The water storage tank 1 is internally provided with a water storage cavity 11 for storing water; the ice making box 2 is internally provided with an ice making cavity 21 for containing and freezing water so as to freeze the water into ice blocks with a specific shape; the water delivery pipeline 3 has two ends respectively corresponding to the water storage cavity 11 and the ice making cavity 21; the water pump 4 is arranged on the water delivery pipeline 3 and is used for pumping water from the water storage cavity 11 in the water storage tank 1 to the ice making cavity 21 in the ice making box 2; the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the water delivery path of the water delivery pipeline 3.

[0048] When the water flow pumped from the water storage cavity 11 to the ice making cavity 21 passes through the water delivery pipeline 3, if the water in the water delivery pipeline 3 can conduct the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 on the opposite sides of the water delivery path of the water delivery pipeline 3, it is measured that the water in the water storage cavity 11 is sufficient, and the ice making box 2 can continue to perform the ice making operation; if the water in the water delivery pipeline 3 cannot conduct the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 on the opposite sides of the water delivery path of the water delivery pipeline 3, it is measured that the water in the water storage cavity 11 is insufficient, the ice making box 2 needs to immediately or delay stop the ice making operation, and the user is prompted that the water in the water storage cavity 11 is insufficient, and the ice making operation is performed after the water in the water storage cavity 11 is supplemented.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 In the embodiment, the water delivery pipeline 3 comprises:

[0050] ​A first water delivery pipe 31, two ends of the first water delivery pipe 31 are respectively connected to the water storage cavity 11 and the water inlet 41 of the water pump 4; and a second water delivery pipe 32, two ends of the second water delivery pipe 32 are respectively connected to the water outlet 42 of the water pump 4 and the water inlet 211 of the ice making cavity 21.

[0051] As shown in Figure 1 , as a preferred embodiment of the present application, the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the water delivery path of the second water delivery pipe 32, i.e. the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are both located on a cross section of the second water delivery pipe 32 perpendicular to the axis of the second water delivery pipe 32 at a certain position along the extension direction of the second water delivery pipe 32, and the water flow in the second water delivery pipe 32 from the water pump 4 to the ice making cavity 21 passes between the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6.

[0052] As shown in Figure 1 , as a more preferred embodiment of the present application, the second water delivery pipe 32 is horizontally arranged at the end close to the water pump 4 (i.e. the end of the second water delivery pipe 32 connected to the water outlet 42 of the water pump 4), and the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are respectively arranged on the opposite upper and lower sides of the water delivery path of the end of the second water delivery pipe 32 close to the water pump 4.

[0053] When the water flow from the water storage cavity 11 to the ice making cavity 21 passes through the second water delivery pipe 32, if the water in the second water delivery pipe 32 can conduct the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 on the opposite upper and lower sides of the water delivery path of the second water delivery pipe 32, it indicates that the water flow fills the inside of the second water delivery pipe 32 and completely soaks the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 at this time, and it is measured that the water amount in the water storage cavity 11 is sufficient at this time, and the ice making box 2 can continue to perform the ice making operation; if the water in the second water delivery pipe 32 cannot conduct the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 on the opposite upper and lower sides of the water delivery path of the second water delivery pipe 32, it indicates that the water flow cannot completely soak the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 at the same time, and it is measured that the water amount in the water storage cavity 11 is insufficient at this time, and the ice making box 2 needs to immediately or delay stop the ice making operation, and prompts the user that the water storage cavity 11 is short of water, and the ice making operation can be performed after the water storage cavity 11 is replenished with water.

[0054] As shown in Figure 1In a preferred embodiment, one end of the first water supply pipe is a first water supply end 311 connected to the inlet 41 of the water pump 4, and the opposite end of the first water supply pipe is a first water inlet end 312 connected to the water storage chamber 11. One end of the second water supply pipe 32 is a second water inlet end 321 connected to the outlet 42 of the water pump 4, and the opposite end of the second water supply pipe 32 is a second water outlet end connected to the ice-making chamber 21 (i.e., the inlet 211 connected to the ice-making chamber 21). The first water inlet end 312 is located at the bottom of the water storage chamber 11 to ensure that the water accumulated at the bottom of the water storage chamber 11 can be discharged from the water storage chamber 11 and pumped to the ice-making chamber 21. The second water outlet end of the second water supply pipe 32 is lower than the first water inlet end 312 of the first water supply pipe to accelerate the rate at which water is pumped from the water storage chamber 11 to the ice-making chamber 21.

[0055] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are made of stainless steel to improve their corrosion resistance under long-term immersion in water.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are probes or sheet electrodes.

[0057] Please see Figure 1 In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the water pump 4 is an axial flow pump, and the inlet 41 and outlet 42 of the water pump 4 are respectively located at opposite ends of the water pump 4.

[0058] In other embodiments, the water pump 4 can be a centrifugal pump or a mixed-flow pump, with the inlet 41 and outlet 42 of the water pump 4 respectively located at adjacent ends of the water pump 4.

[0059] This utility model also provides a refrigerator (not shown in the figure), including a freezer compartment (not shown in the figure) and the above-mentioned ice-making device, with the ice box 2 disposed in the freezer compartment.

[0060] Please see Figure 2 In this embodiment, the refrigerator further includes:

[0061] A display panel (not shown in the figure) is located on the refrigerator casing, preferably on the outside of the refrigerator, but can also be located inside the refrigerator; a control circuit 7 is located on the display panel and includes: a power supply 8, located on the main circuit 71 of the control circuit 7; a first branch circuit 72 and a second branch circuit 73, connected in parallel to the main circuit 71; an ice-making indicator light 721 and a water shortage indicator light 731, respectively located on the first branch circuit 72 and the second branch circuit 73; a control switch 9, located on the main circuit 71, which can be switched between a first position A and a second position B connected to the first branch circuit 72 and the second branch circuit 73 respectively; and a central control device, located on the refrigerator and electrically connected to the water pump 4, the first detection electrode 5, the second detection electrode 6 and the display panel respectively.

[0062] The central control device controls the water pump 4 to start when the control switch 9 is in the first position A and the first branch 72 and the power supply 8 are connected, at this time the ice-making indicator light 721 is kept on and the water shortage indicator light 731 is kept off; the central control device also controls the control switch 9 to switch to the second position B and connect the second branch 73 and the power supply 8 when the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are not conductive, and controls the water pump 4 to stop. At this time, the ice-making indicator light 721 is kept off and the water shortage indicator light 731 is kept on to prompt water replenishment.

[0063] As a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the refrigerator further comprises:

[0064] The ice storage box (not shown in the figure) is arranged in the freezing compartment and below the ice-making box 2; the overturning device (not shown in the figure) is used to overturn the ice-making box 2 to pour the finished shaped ice blocks in the ice-making cavity 21 into the ice storage box below, and empty the ice-making cavity 21 to continue the next ice-making operation.

[0065] Please refer to Figures 1-3 , the utility model provides still provide a kind of refrigerator ice-making control method, applied above-mentioned refrigerator, including the following steps:

[0066] When the user needs the refrigerator to start the ice-making mode, press the ice-making button on the display panel of the refrigerator to switch the connection position of the control switch 9, at this time, as shown in Figure 2 , the control switch 9 is turned to the first position A, the ice-making indicator light 721 is turned on and kept on, and the water shortage indicator light 731 is kept off. The central control device controls the water pump 4 to start, and the water pump 4 starts to pump water from the water storage cavity 11 of the water storage tank 1. The water flows from the water storage cavity 11 to the ice-making cavity 21 of the ice-making box 2 in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator through the first water pipe, the water pump 4 and the second water pipe 32 in sequence, and the cold air in the freezing compartment is transported by the refrigeration system of the refrigerator to freeze the water in the ice-making cavity 21 into ice blocks with a specific shape.

[0067] When the water pump 4 pumps water, the central control device determines the conduction of the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 on the relative upper and lower sides of the water conveying path of the second water pipe 32. If it is detected that the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are conductive to each other, it is determined that the water in the water storage tank 1 is sufficient at this time, the control switch 9 is kept in the first position A, the ice-making indicator light 721 is kept on, and the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are conductive for a moment. Start timing, the timing length is a preset time T1, and the water passing through the water pump 4 in the preset time T1 is just enough for the ice-making box 2 to complete an ice-making operation.

[0068] From the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 conduction, after a preset time T1, the central control device controls the water pump 4 to stop working, at this time the ice making system of the refrigerator continues to work, so that the ice making function of the ice making box 2 continues to run. After the water pump 4 finishes pumping water, the ice making box 2 starts to make ice. After a preset time T2, it is confirmed that the ice water in the ice making cavity 21 has been completely frozen into a specific shaped ice block, at this time the control device controls the turnover device to overturn the ice making box 2, so that the finished shaped ice block in the ice making cavity 21 is poured and falls into the ice storage box below the ice making box 2. At this time the ice making box 2 is empty, the first ice making operation is completed, the water pump 4 starts to pump water from the water storage tank 1 again, and the mutual conduction of the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 is determined again, and the cycle is completed. A plurality of ice making operations are completed.

[0069] If the first detection electrode 5 and the second detection electrode 6 are not mutually conductive when the water pump 4 is pumping water, it is determined that the water amount in the water storage tank 1 at this time is insufficient, and the second water inlet pipe 32 cannot be filled with water when the water pump 4 is pumping water. At this time, the water pump 4 is still controlled to continue to run for a preset time T1 to continue to pump water, and the ice making system of the refrigerator continues to work, so that the ice making function of the ice making box 2 continues to run. After the water pump 4 finishes pumping water, the ice making box 2 starts to make ice. After a preset time T2, it is confirmed that the ice water in the ice making cavity 21 has been completely frozen into a specific shaped ice block, at this time the control device controls the turnover device to overturn the ice making box 2, so that the finished shaped ice block in the ice making cavity 21 is poured and falls into the ice storage box below the ice making box 2.

[0070] After the ice making is completed, the control device controls the control switch 9 to be moved from the first position A to the second position B, at this time the ice making indicator light 721 is turned off and remains unlit, and the water shortage indicator light 731 remains lit, the ice making system of the refrigerator stops working, so that the ice making function of the ice making box 2 stops running. The water shortage indicator light 731 on the display panel of the refrigerator is kept on to remind the user that the water storage tank 1 is short of water, and the next ice making operation can be performed only after the water storage tank 1 is replenished. When the water storage tank 1 is replenished, the ice making is started again or the user manually presses the reset button, the water shortage indicator light 731 can be turned off.

[0071] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application, and any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An ice making device, characterized by, The application relates to an ice making device. The ice making device comprises: a water storage tank (1) with a water storage cavity (11) for storing water; an ice making box (2) with an ice making cavity (21) for containing and freezing water; a water delivery pipeline (3) connecting the water storage cavity (11) and the ice making cavity (21); a water pump (4) arranged on the water delivery pipeline (3) for pumping water from the water storage cavity (11) to the ice making cavity (21); a first detection electrode (5) and a second detection electrode (6) arranged on opposite sides of a water delivery path of the water delivery pipeline (3); 2. The ice making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the water flowing through the water delivery pipeline (3) connects the first detection electrode (5) and the second detection electrode (6), it is determined that the water in the water storage cavity (11) is sufficient. The water delivery pipeline (3) comprises: a first water delivery pipeline (31) connecting the water storage cavity (11) and a water inlet (41) of the water pump (4); 3. The ice making device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, a second water delivery pipeline (32) connecting a water outlet (42) of the water pump (4) and the ice making cavity (21).

4. The ice making device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The first detection electrode (5) and the second detection electrode (6) are arranged on opposite sides of a water delivery path of the second water delivery pipeline.

5. The ice making device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The first detection electrode (5) and the second detection electrode (6) are arranged on opposite sides of a water delivery path of the second water delivery pipeline. One end of the first water delivery pipeline is a first water delivery end (311) connected to the water inlet (41), and the opposite end of the first water delivery pipeline is a first water inlet end (312) connected to the water storage cavity (11). One end of the second water delivery pipeline is a second water inlet end (321) connected to the water outlet (42), and the opposite end of the second water delivery pipeline is a second water outlet end connected to the ice making cavity (21).

6. The ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The first water inlet end (312) is located at the bottom of the water storage cavity (11), and the second water outlet end is lower than the first water inlet end (312).

7. The ice making device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein The first detection electrode (5) and the second detection electrode (6) are made of stainless steel.

8. A refrigerator comprising a freezing compartment, characterized in that, The water pump (4) is an axial flow pump, and the water inlet (41) and the water outlet (42) are arranged on opposite ends of the water pump (4).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein The ice making device is arranged in a freezing compartment. The ice making device further comprises: a display panel arranged on the refrigerator; a control circuit (7) arranged on the display panel, comprising: a power supply (8) arranged on a main circuit (71) of the control circuit (7); a first branch circuit (72) and a second branch circuit (73) connected in parallel to the main circuit (71); an ice making indicator light (721) and a water shortage indicator light (731) arranged on the first branch circuit (72) and the second branch circuit (73) respectively; a control switch (9) arranged on the main circuit (71) and capable of being switched between a first position (A) and a second position (B) connected to the first branch circuit (72) and the second branch circuit (73) respectively. A control device is arranged on the refrigerator and is configured to control the water pump (4) to start when the control switch (9) is in the first position (A) and the first branch (72) and the power supply (8) are connected, and to control the control switch (9) to switch to the second position (B) and the second branch (73) and the power supply (8) are connected, and to control the water pump (4) to stop when the first detection electrode (5) and the second detection electrode (6) are not conductive.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein Further comprising: An ice storage box arranged in the freezing chamber and located below the ice making box (2); A turnover device configured to turn over the ice making box (2) to pour the ice blocks shaped in the ice making cavity (21) into the ice storage box.

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