Ice stirring assembly and ice maker

Abstract

The utility model relates to an ice stirring assembly and an ice maker. The ice stirring assembly comprises an ice stirring wheel and an ice stirring motor. The ice stirring wheel comprises an annular part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is connected with the annular part, the rotating shaft part and the annular part are coaxially arranged, and the ice stirring wheel is configured to rotate through the rotating shaft part. The ice stirring motor is in transmission connection with the annular part and is configured to drive the ice stirring wheel to rotate through the annular part. According to the ice stirring assembly, the position where the ice stirring motor applies driving force to the ice stirring wheel is located on the annular part, that is, the force application point deviates from the rotating axis of the ice stirring wheel and is closer to the edge area of the ice stirring wheel. Therefore, the force arm is shortened, and the required output transmission torque of the ice stirring motor is reduced. Accordingly, the ice stirring assembly can adopt an ice stirring motor with lower power, which means that the ice stirring assembly can have lower electric energy consumption, the improvement of the energy efficiency of the ice maker is facilitated, the size of the ice stirring motor is smaller, the optimization of the structural design is also facilitated, and the overall manufacturing cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making technology, and in particular to an ice-stirring assembly and an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] Ice makers produce large blocks of ice within their ice-making containers and then break them up using an ice-crushing component to meet usage needs.

[0003] In related technologies, the motor of an ice maker typically drives the ice-stirring wheel directly through its output shaft. This design results in a relatively long lever arm, and consequently, a larger transmission torque is required. To achieve the required transmission torque, a large, high-power motor is needed, which also increases energy consumption and manufacturing costs. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an ice-making assembly and ice maker that requires lower power from the ice-making motor to address the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] An ice-churning assembly, comprising:

[0006] An ice churn includes an annular portion and a rotating shaft portion, the rotating shaft portion being connected to and coaxially arranged with the annular portion, and the ice churn portion being configured to rotate via the rotating shaft portion; and

[0007] An ice-stirring motor is driven to the annular portion and configured to drive the ice-stirring wheel to rotate via the annular portion.

[0008] In the aforementioned ice-stirring assembly, the ice-stirring motor applies driving force to the ice-stirring wheel at the annular portion, meaning the point of force application is offset from the rotation axis of the ice-stirring wheel and closer to its edge. Therefore, the lever arm is shortened, thus reducing the required output torque of the ice-stirring motor. Consequently, the ice-stirring assembly can use a smaller, more powerful ice-stirring motor, meaning lower energy consumption, which helps improve the energy efficiency of the ice maker. Furthermore, the smaller size of the ice-stirring motor facilitates optimized structural design and reduces overall manufacturing costs.

[0009] In one embodiment, the ice-stirring wheel further includes a drive gear ring, which is coaxially disposed on the annular portion;

[0010] The ice-stirring assembly also includes a drive gear, which is connected to the ice-stirring motor and meshes with the transmission gear ring.

[0011] In this way, the ice-churning motor is connected to the annular part through the drive gear and transmission gear ring, forming a stable drive for the annular part, so that the torque output by the ice-churning motor can be transmitted stably.

[0012] In one embodiment, the transmission gear ring is disposed on the inner ring of the annular portion; the ice churning wheel also includes an end cap portion, which is connected to one axial end of the annular portion and defines an inner wheel space with the annular portion, and the rotating shaft portion and the drive gear are both disposed in the inner wheel space.

[0013] In this way, the space inside the wheel formed by the end cap can be separated from other areas inside the inner liner, and the shaft and drive gear can work stably, reducing interference from ice and its debris.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ice churning wheel further includes an ice churning blade, which is disposed on the side of the end cap facing away from the annular portion and is anti-rotatingly engaged with the end cap in the direction of rotation about the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0015] In this way, the ice shovel and the end cap are locked together and can be driven by the ice shovel motor along with the ring and the end cap. The ice shovel can break up the ice in the inner liner during rotation.

[0016] In one embodiment, the ice shovel has at least two blades, all of which are arranged around the axis of the annular portion;

[0017] And / or, one of the ice shovel and the end cap has a shaft hole, and the other has an anti-rotation assembly; the shaft hole is a non-circular hole, and the anti-rotation assembly mates with the shaft hole.

[0018] Thus, the ice shovel has multiple blades, which helps to improve its ice-breaking efficiency. As the end cap rotates with the annular portion around its axis, it can transmit torque to the ice shovel through the anti-rotation assembly and drive its rotation.

[0019] In one embodiment, the ice-stirring assembly further includes an ice-stirring blade disposed on the outer ring of the annular portion.

[0020] In this way, the ice-stirring component can also achieve automatic ice-retrieving function, and the broken ice blocks can be output from the ice outlet of the inner tank under the action of the ice-stirring blade.

[0021] In one embodiment, the ice-stirring assembly further includes a support and a central shaft, the ice-stirring motor and the central shaft are mounted on the support, and the rotating shaft rotates around its own axis in cooperation with the central shaft.

[0022] In this way, the bracket can provide support for the stable installation of the ice-stirring motor, and the central shaft can help the ice-stirring wheel to be rotatable.

[0023] In one embodiment, the ice-stirring assembly further includes a sealing cap connected to the bracket and configured to clamp the inner liner of the ice maker on both the inner and outer sides of the inner liner, respectively; the central shaft passes through the sealing cap, and a seal is formed between the sealing cap and the central shaft.

[0024] In this way, the sealing cap and the bracket work together to fix it stably on the inner liner, and at the same time, they can form a seal at the assembly position of the central shaft, improving the sealing performance of the inner liner.

[0025] In one embodiment, the rotating shaft is sleeved on the central shaft, and the ice-stirring assembly further includes a fixing nut, which engages with one end of the central shaft;

[0026] The central shaft has a first platform, a second platform, and a third platform that protrude radially therefrom. The first platform abuts against the bracket, the second platform abuts against one end of the rotating shaft, and the third platform abuts against the fixing nut.

[0027] Thus, during assembly, simply insert the end that mates with the fixing nut into the inner liner through the first assembly hole until the first platform of the central shaft abuts against the bracket. Then, install the sealing cap and ice stirrer on one side inside the inner liner, and finally tighten the nut.

[0028] An ice maker includes the ice-stirring assembly described above.

[0029] In the aforementioned ice maker, the driving force of the ice-stirring motor to the ice-stirring wheel is located on the annular portion, meaning the point of force application is offset from the rotation axis of the ice-stirring wheel and closer to its edge. Therefore, the lever arm is shortened, thus reducing the required output torque of the ice-stirring motor. Consequently, the ice-stirring assembly can use a smaller, more powerful ice-stirring motor, meaning lower energy consumption and improved energy efficiency. Furthermore, the smaller size of the ice-stirring motor allows for optimized structural design and reduced overall manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional structural diagram of an ice maker with an ice-stirring assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 2 for Figure 1The diagram shows the exploded structure of an ice maker.

[0033] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the ice churning wheel in the ice maker.

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows an enlarged view of the ice maker at point A.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100, ice maker; 10, ice churning assembly; 11, ice churning wheel; 111, annular part; 112, rotating shaft part; 113, transmission gear ring; 114, end cap part; 1141, support rib; 1143, anti-rotation assembly part; 115, internal space of the wheel; 116, ice churning blade; 1161, blade head; 1163, shaft hole; 117, ice churning blade; 12, ice churning motor; 13, drive gear; 14, bracket; 15, central shaft; 151, first platform; 153, second platform; 155, third platform; 16, sealing cover; 161, cover body; 163, sealing ring; 17, fixing nut; 30, inner liner; 31, ice outlet; 50, base; 70, insulation layer. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0037] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0038] Furthermore, where the term "and / or" appears, it merely describes the relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the relationship between A and B: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates an "or" relationship between the related objects before and after it. Where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, four, five, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0039] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0040] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0041] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0042] Please see Figures 1 to 3An embodiment of this application provides an ice maker 100, including an ice-stirring assembly 10. Furthermore, to achieve its normal function, the ice maker 100 also includes an inner liner 30, an ice-making assembly, a base 50, and an insulation layer 70. The inner liner 30 serves as the container for producing ice, and the ice-making assembly is used to create a low temperature within the inner liner 30. The base 50 is located at the bottom of the inner liner 30 and supports it. The insulation layer 70 is located outside the inner liner 30 and wraps around it, reducing the heat exchange efficiency between the inner liner 30 and the outside environment.

[0043] This application also provides an ice-stirring assembly 10, including an ice-stirring wheel 11 and an ice-stirring motor 12. The ice-stirring wheel 11 includes an annular portion 111 and a rotating shaft portion 112. The rotating shaft portion 112 is connected to the annular portion 111 and is coaxially arranged with the annular portion 111. The ice-stirring wheel 11 is configured to rotate via the rotating shaft portion 112. The ice-stirring motor 12 is drively connected to the annular portion 111 and is configured to drive the ice-stirring wheel 11 to rotate via the annular portion 111.

[0044] The ice churning assembly 10 can be used in the ice maker 100 described above and is mounted on the inner liner 30. Specifically, the ice churning wheel 11 is located inside the inner liner 30, and the ice churning motor 12 can be located outside the inner liner 30, with its output shaft passing through the inner liner 30 to drive the ice churning wheel 11 located inside the inner liner 30.

[0045] The rotating shaft 112 of the ice-stirring assembly 10 can be connected to the annular portion 111 as a whole, with their axes coinciding. The ice-stirring wheel 11 can rotate within the inner liner 30 via the rotating shaft 112 to perform its function. Understandably, the rotation axis of the ice-stirring wheel 11 is the axis of the rotating shaft 112 and the annular portion 111.

[0046] The ice-scraping motor 12 drives the ice-scraping wheel 11 to rotate through the annular part 111. This means that the torque output by the ice-scraping motor 12 acts on the annular part 111, thereby driving the ice-scraping wheel 11 to rotate.

[0047] In the aforementioned ice-stirring assembly 10, the ice-stirring motor 12 applies driving force to the ice-stirring wheel 11 at the annular portion 111, meaning the point of force application is offset from the rotation axis of the ice-stirring wheel 11 and closer to its edge region. Therefore, the lever arm is shortened, thus reducing the required output transmission torque of the ice-stirring motor 12. Correspondingly, the ice-stirring assembly 10 can use a smaller ice-stirring motor 12, which means the ice-stirring assembly 10 can have lower energy consumption, contributing to improved energy efficiency of the ice maker 100. Furthermore, the smaller size of the ice-stirring motor 12 also facilitates optimized structural design and reduces overall manufacturing costs.

[0048] In some embodiments, the ice-stirring wheel 11 further includes a drive gear ring 113, which is coaxially disposed on the annular portion 111. The ice-stirring assembly 10 also includes a drive gear 13, which is connected to the ice-stirring motor 12 and meshes with the drive gear ring 113.

[0049] Specifically, the transmission gear ring 113 can be disposed on at least one of the inner ring, outer ring, and end of the annular portion 111. The drive gear 13 is sleeved on the output shaft of the ice-stirring motor 12 and is anti-rotatably connected to the output shaft of the ice-stirring motor 12.

[0050] Thus, the ice-churning motor 12 is connected to the annular part 111 via the drive gear 13 and the transmission gear ring 113, forming a stable drive for the annular part 111, so that the torque output by the ice-churning motor 12 can be transmitted stably.

[0051] In some embodiments, the transmission gear ring 113 is disposed on the inner ring of the annular portion 111. The ice churning wheel 11 also includes an end cap portion 114, which is connected to one axial end of the annular portion 111 and defines an inner wheel space 115 with the annular portion 111. The rotating shaft portion 112 and the drive gear 13 are both disposed in the inner wheel space 115.

[0052] In this way, the inner space 115 formed by the end cap 114 can be separated from other areas inside the inner liner 30, and the rotating shaft 112 and the drive gear 13 can work stably, reducing the interference of ice and its debris.

[0053] Specifically, the pivot portion 112 is located on the side of the end cap portion 114 facing the surface of the inner liner 30 of the ice maker 100, and the end cap portion 114 also has multiple support ribs 1141, with all support members located around the pivot portion 112. In particular, the annular portion 111, the pivot portion 112, and the end cap portion 114 are integrally connected.

[0054] In some other embodiments, the transmission gear ring 113 may also be provided on the outer ring of the annular portion 111, with the ice-stirring blade 117, the drive gear 13, and the ice-stirring motor 12 correspondingly arranged. In addition, the transmission method between the ice-stirring motor 12 and the ice-stirring wheel 11 may also be belt rotation, chain drive, worm gear drive, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

[0055] In some embodiments, the ice churning wheel 11 further includes an ice churning blade 116, which is disposed on the side of the end cap 114 facing away from the annular portion 111 and engages with the end cap 114 in a non-rotating direction in the direction of rotation about the axis of the rotating shaft portion 112.

[0056] Thus, the ice shovel 116 and the end cap 114 are anti-rotationally engaged, and can be driven by the ice shovel motor 12 along with the annular part 111 and the end cap 114. The ice shovel 116 can break up the ice in the inner liner 30 during rotation.

[0057] Furthermore, the ice shovel 116 has at least two blades 1161, all of which are arranged around the axis of the annular portion 111.

[0058] Thus, the ice churning blade 116 has multiple blades 1161, which helps to improve its ice-crushing efficiency.

[0059] Furthermore, one of the ice shovel 116 and the end cap 114 has a shaft hole 1163 and the other has a non-rotation mounting part 1143; the shaft hole 1163 is a non-circular hole, and the non-rotation mounting part 1143 mates with the shaft hole 1163.

[0060] Understandably, the shaft hole 1163 is coaxially arranged with the annular portion 111, and the cutter head 1161 is arranged around the shaft hole 1163. The cross-section of the anti-rotation assembly portion 1143 is roughly the same as the shape of the shaft hole 1163. The shaft hole 1163 can be roughly square, elliptical, triangular, etc., as long as it can form an anti-rotation fit with the anti-rotation assembly portion 1143 in the direction of rotation around the axis of the annular portion 111.

[0061] Thus, when the end cap 114 rotates around its axial direction with the annular portion 111, it can transmit torque to the ice scrambler 116 through the anti-rotation assembly 1143 and drive it to rotate.

[0062] In some embodiments, the ice-stirring assembly 10 further includes an ice-stirring blade 117 disposed on the outer ring of the annular portion 111.

[0063] Understandably, the inner liner 30 has an ice outlet 31 located on the side wall where the ice shovel 11 is installed. The ice shovel 117 has an ice-collecting surface inclined toward the ice outlet 31. When the ice shovel 117 rotates to the bottom area of ​​the inner liner 30 and comes into contact with ice fragments, some of the fragments can fall into the ice-collecting surface, rotate with the annular portion 111 to reach the ice outlet 31, and be discharged from the ice outlet 31.

[0064] Thus, the ice-stirring assembly 10 can also achieve automatic ice-removal function, and the broken ice blocks can be output from the ice outlet 31 of the inner liner 30 under the action of the ice-stirring blade 117.

[0065] Specifically, the annular portion 111, the transmission gear ring 113, the rotating shaft portion 112, and the ice-stirring blade 117 together constitute the main body of the ice-stirring wheel 11, and the ice-stirring blade 116 is assembled to the main body.

[0066] The annular portion 111, the transmission gear ring 113, the rotating shaft portion 112, and the ice-stirring blade 117 can be made of the same material and move synchronously with each other, so they can be integrally molded. The ice-stirring blade 116 can be made of metal and assembled to the main body to form the ice-stirring wheel 11.

[0067] Please refer to the following: Figure 4In some embodiments, the ice-stirring assembly 10 further includes a support 14 and a central shaft 15. The ice-stirring motor 12 and the central shaft 15 are disposed on the support 14, and the rotating shaft 112 rotates and engages with the central shaft 15 around its own axis.

[0068] The bracket 14 is used to fix the inner liner 30, and it can be located outside the inner liner 30. The ice-stirring motor 12 is fixed on the bracket 14. The central shaft 15 can pass through the inner liner 30 and rotate in cooperation with the rotating shaft part 112. The central shaft 15 and the rotating shaft part 112 can be nested, with one coaxially nested on the other. The inner liner 30 has a first mounting hole for the central shaft 15 to pass through and a second mounting hole for the output shaft of the ice-stirring motor 12 to pass through.

[0069] Thus, the bracket 14 provides support for the stable installation of the ice-stirring motor 12, and the central shaft 15 enables the ice-stirring wheel 11 to be rotatable.

[0070] Furthermore, the ice-stirring assembly 10 also includes a sealing cap 16, which is connected to the bracket 14 and configured to clamp the inner liner 30 of the ice maker 100 on both the inner and outer sides, respectively, with the bracket 14. A central shaft 15 passes through the sealing cap 16, forming a seal between the sealing cap 16 and the central shaft 15.

[0071] Specifically, the sealing cover 16 includes a cover body 161 and a sealing ring 163. The sealing cover 16 and the bracket 14 together hold the inner liner 30. The sealing ring 163 is sleeved on the central shaft 15, and a seal is formed at the first assembly hole on the central shaft 15.

[0072] In this way, the sealing cap 16 cooperates with the bracket 14 to fix it stably on the inner liner 30. At the same time, it can also form a seal at the assembly position of the central shaft 15, improving the sealing performance of the inner liner 30.

[0073] Furthermore, the rotating shaft 112 is sleeved on the central shaft 15, and the ice-stirring assembly 10 also includes a fixing nut 17, which engages with one end of the central shaft 15. The central shaft 15 has a first platform 151, a second platform 153, and a third platform 155 protruding radially therefrom. The first platform 151 abuts against the bracket 14, the second platform 153 abuts against one end of the rotating shaft 112, and the third platform 155 abuts against the fixing nut 17.

[0074] Understandably, the diameter of the first platform 151 is larger than the diameter of the first mounting hole, the diameter of the second platform 153 is larger than the inner diameter of the rotating shaft 112, and the diameter of the third platform 155 is larger than the inner diameter of the fixing nut 17.

[0075] Specifically, the fixing nut 17 engages with one end of the central shaft 15 located inside the inner liner 30, the sealing cap 16 is fitted between the first platform 151 and the second platform 153, and the ice scooping wheel 11 is fitted between the second platform 153 and the third platform 155. The central shaft 15, together with the fixing nut 17 and its first platform 151, clamps the bracket 14, the wall of the inner liner 30, the sealing cap 16, the ice scooping wheel 11, and the ice scooping blade 116.

[0076] Thus, during assembly, simply insert the end that mates with the fixing nut 17 into the inner liner 30 through the first assembly hole until the first platform 151 of the central shaft 15 abuts against the bracket 14, then install the sealing cap 16 and ice stirrer on one side inside the inner liner 30, and finally tighten the nut.

[0077] For ease of understanding, the assembly process is briefly described below: First, the ice-stirring motor 12 and the central shaft 15 are fixed on the bracket 14; then, the bracket 14 is fixedly connected to the inner liner 30 of the ice maker 100, wherein the central shaft 15 and the output shaft of the ice-stirring motor 12 both pass through the inner liner 30; next, the sealing cover 16 is installed, and the sealing cover 16 is connected to the bracket 14 by screws, thereby tightening the inner liner 30 and achieving a seal at the first assembly hole; next, the drive gear 13 is fixed to the output shaft of the ice-stirring motor 12; finally, the main body of the ice-stirring wheel 11 is assembled onto the central shaft 15 through its rotating shaft 112, while ensuring that the drive gear 13 meshes with the transmission gear ring 113 of the ice-stirring wheel 11; finally, the ice-stirring blade 116 is fixed to the main body of the ice-supporting wheel and secured with screws.

[0078] When the ice maker 100 is making ice, the ice churning assembly 10 has ice at the bottom of its inner liner 30. The ice is churned into granules by the ice churning blade 116. The granules slide into the ice churning blade 117 and finally the ice churning motor 12 drives the ice churning wheel 11 to rotate, which conveys the granules at the bottom to the ice outlet 31, thereby achieving automatic ice dispensing.

[0079] Thus, although the ice shovel 11 rotates synchronously with the ice shovel 116 and shares the ice shovel motor 12, the transmission position of the ice shovel motor 12 to the ice shovel 11 is off-axis and closer to the edge region. In other words, by optimizing the gear arrangement, the ice shovel assembly 10 forms a support drive in the inner ring of the annular portion 111, shortening the lever arm and reducing the required output transmission torque of the ice shovel motor 12. Because the required torque is reduced, the output torque of the ice shovel motor 12 is lowered, allowing the ice shovel assembly 10 to select a smaller ice shovel motor 12. This means the ice shovel assembly 10 can have lower energy consumption, helping to improve the energy efficiency of the ice maker 100. Furthermore, the smaller size of the ice shovel motor 12 also contributes to optimized structural design and reduces overall manufacturing costs.

[0080] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0081] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ice-churning assembly, characterized in that, The ice-stirring assembly includes: An ice churning wheel (11) includes an annular portion (111) and a rotating shaft portion (112), the rotating shaft portion (112) being connected to the annular portion (111) and coaxially arranged with the annular portion (111), and the ice churning wheel (11) being configured to rotate via the rotating shaft portion (112); and An ice-stirring motor (12) is connected to the annular portion (111) and is configured to drive the ice-stirring wheel (11) to rotate via the annular portion (111).

2. The ice-churning assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice churning wheel (11) also includes a transmission gear ring (113), which is coaxially disposed on the annular portion (111). The ice-stirring assembly also includes a drive gear (13), which is connected to the ice-stirring motor (12) and meshes with the transmission gear ring (113).

3. The ice-churning assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission gear ring (113) is located on the inner ring of the annular portion (111); the ice churning wheel (11) also includes an end cap (114), which is connected to one end of the annular portion (111) in the axial direction and defines an inner wheel space (115) with the annular portion (111). The rotating shaft portion (112) and the drive gear (13) are both located in the inner wheel space (115).

4. The ice-churning assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The ice churning wheel (11) also includes an ice churning blade (116), which is located on the side of the end cap (114) facing away from the annular portion (111) and is anti-rotationally engaged with the end cap (114) in the direction of rotation around the axis of the rotating shaft (112).

5. The ice-churning assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ice shovel (116) has at least two blades (1161), all of which are arranged around the axis of the annular portion (111); And / or, one of the ice shovel (116) and the end cap (114) has a shaft hole (1163) and the other has a non-rotation mounting part (1143); the shaft hole (1163) is a non-circular hole and the non-rotation mounting part (1143) mates with the shaft hole (1163).

6. The ice-churning assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ice-stirring assembly also includes an ice-stirring blade (117), which is disposed on the outer ring of the annular portion (111).

7. The ice-stirring assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The ice-stirring assembly also includes a bracket (14) and a central shaft (15). The ice-stirring motor (12) and the central shaft (15) are mounted on the bracket (14). The rotating shaft (112) rotates around its own axis and engages with the central shaft (15).

8. The ice-stirring assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ice-stirring assembly also includes a sealing cap (16), which is connected to the bracket (14) and configured to clamp the inner liner (30) of the ice maker on the inner and outer sides respectively, together with the bracket (14); the central shaft (15) passes through the sealing cap (16), and a seal is formed between the sealing cap (16) and the central shaft (15).

9. The ice-stirring assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The rotating shaft (112) is sleeved on the central shaft (15), and the ice-stirring assembly also includes a fixing nut (17), which is engaged with one end of the central shaft (15); The central shaft (15) has a first platform (151), a second platform (153) and a third platform (155) protruding radially therefrom. The first platform (151) abuts against the bracket (14), the second platform (153) abuts against one end of the rotating shaft (112), and the third platform (155) abuts against the fixing nut (17).

10. An ice maker, characterized in that, Includes the ice-stirring assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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