Evaporator reliable in sealing and snow melting machine

Abstract

The utility model provides an evaporator reliable in sealing and a snow melting machine, the evaporator comprises a barrel and an end cover, a through hole is formed in the center of the end cover, the evaporator further comprises a sealing assembly arranged at the position of the through hole, and the sealing assembly comprises a shielding cover located on the outer side of the end cover, a fixing table located on the inner side of the end cover, a sealing gasket and a shaft seal; the sealing gasket is clamped between the shielding cover and the end cover, the fixing table is fixedly connected with the shielding cover and clamps the end cover, a sealing cavity is formed in the center of the shielding cover and the center of the fixing table, and the shaft seal is arranged in the sealing cavity. The snow melting machine further comprises a main machine, a refrigeration assembly, a power assembly and a machining assembly, the refrigeration assembly comprises a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator which are communicated through pipelines, the rear end of the evaporator is fixed to the fixed wall and extends forwards in the transverse direction, and the power assembly comprises a power source and a transmission shaft penetrating through the evaporator and the sealing assembly to drive the stirring paddle. The shaft seal is in interference fit with the transmission shaft. By arranging the sealing assembly, sealing of the evaporator and the transmission shaft can be enhanced, and the transmission shaft can be limited and supported.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food processing, and in particular to an evaporator suitable for household use in the processing and production of snow melting products, and a snow melting machine that uses the evaporator. Background Technology

[0002] Snow melting machines, as commonly used food processing tools, are increasingly widely used in the catering industry and home settings. They use low-temperature phase change technology to process liquid beverages into semi-fixed foods with a specific ice crystal structure. Existing snow melting machines typically include a main unit and a processing component mounted on the main unit. The processing component contains an evaporator for cooling liquid beverages. Because the evaporator needs to be in fluid communication with the compressor inside the main unit, it must be fixed to the main unit. The processing component is then fitted over the evaporator and connected to the main unit.

[0003] In existing slush machines, to ensure the evaporator can effectively cool the beverage ingredients, it needs to be completely submerged in the beverage ingredients. To ensure uniform cooling, a stirring paddle is required within the processing unit to agitate and propel the ingredients. Preferably, the stirring paddle is directly fitted onto the outside of the evaporator. This allows for mixing and agitation of the beverage ingredients, as well as scraping off any beverage ingredients adhering to the evaporator surface to prevent over-cooling. Therefore, the stirring paddle requires power to rotate. Existing technology involves a drive motor within the main unit of the slush machine, and a transmission shaft passing through the evaporator and extending from its front end. This transmission shaft is connected to the stirring paddle to drive its rotation. However, this poses a risk of leakage at the joint between the evaporator and the drive shaft. Therefore, a sealing structure is required between the evaporator and the drive shaft. This sealing structure typically includes a sealing ring between the evaporator and the drive shaft. However, such a structure is subject to continuous compression from the drive shaft during rotation, especially excessive compression on one side of the sealing ring when the drive shaft wobbles. Furthermore, during the operation of the snow melting machine, the evaporator experiences continuous temperature changes, resulting in significant volume changes in the sealing ring due to temperature differences. This affects the reliability of the seal. To ensure reliable sealing even at low temperatures, a larger sealing ring is required. This further exacerbates the compressive force on the sealing ring during normal use, accelerating its wear and shortening the reliable service life of existing snow melting machines. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a reliable evaporator and a snow melting machine using the evaporator, so as to solve the sealing problem of evaporators and snow melting machine products suitable for household environments, especially the technical problem of easy seal failure caused by excessive compression of the sealing ring and unreliable positioning of the drive shaft.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a reliably sealed evaporator, comprising a cylindrical body and an end cap located at the front end of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body and the end cap together form an installation cavity. The end cap has a through hole at its center. The evaporator further includes a sealing assembly disposed at the through hole. The sealing assembly includes a shielding cover located outside the end cap, a fixing platform located inside the end cap, a sealing gasket, and a shaft seal. The sealing gasket is sandwiched between the shielding cover and the end cap. The fixing platform is fixedly connected to the shielding cover and clamps the end cap. A sealing cavity is formed at the center of the shielding cover and the fixing platform. The shaft seal is disposed within the sealing cavity. The shielding cover, the fixing platform, and the shaft seal are provided with through-holes.

[0006] In this application, a sealing assembly is provided at the front end of the evaporator. This sealing assembly includes a shielding cover, a fixing platform, a sealing gasket, and a shaft seal. The shielding cover and the fixing platform clamp the evaporator, forming a sealed cavity between them. When the evaporator is placed inside a snow melting machine, the drive shaft of the snow melting machine passes through the shielding cover, the fixing platform, and the shaft seal. The sealing gasket between the shielding cover and the evaporator ensures a reliable seal between them. When the drive shaft passes through the sealed cavity formed by the shielding cover and the fixing platform, the shielding cover and the fixing platform limit the movement of the drive shaft, preventing excessive force from being applied directly to the shaft seal, thus providing safety protection for the shaft seal. Meanwhile, the shaft seal is located inside the sealing cavity, which can isolate the shaft seal from external ingredients by using the shielding cover, reducing direct contact between the shaft seal and beverage ingredients. It can also reduce heat exchange between the shaft seal and the outside, and reduce the volume change of the shaft seal when subjected to thermal shock, which could lead to seal failure. Ultimately, it ensures that the shaft seal can always achieve a stable and reliable sealing function, and ensures that the snow melting machine using the evaporator can work stably and reliably.

[0007] As an optional solution, one of the shielding cover and the fixing platform is provided with a limiting groove, and the other is provided with a limiting ring that is inserted and engaged with the limiting groove.

[0008] A limiting groove and a limiting ring are provided between the shielding cover and the fixed platform to ensure the stable and reliable clamping between the shielding cover and the fixed platform, and to prevent the shielding cover and the fixed platform from shifting relative to each other, which would affect the sealing stability of the evaporator. Furthermore, the limiting groove and the limiting ring can also achieve better sealing of the sealing cavity to protect the shaft seal and prevent damage to the shaft seal.

[0009] As an optional solution, the inner wall of the shielding cover is provided with a fixing post extending toward the fixing platform, the fixing platform is provided with a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing post, and the end cover is also provided with a limiting hole for the fixing post to pass through.

[0010] The fixed connection between the shielding cover and the fixed platform is achieved using the fixing post and fixing hole. For example, a screw can be directly installed at the fixing hole to lock the shielding cover and the fixed platform, which is simple and convenient. The end cap of the evaporator is provided with a limiting hole that mates with the fixing post. This allows the fixing post to pass through while further limiting the position of the shielding cover, preventing it from rotating with the drive shaft during operation. This ensures that the shielding cover and the fixed platform are effectively limited and achieve a better sealing effect.

[0011] As an optional solution, the fixing platform is provided with a sealing ring extending toward the shielding cover, and the sealing cavity is formed between the inner cavity of the sealing ring and the inner wall of the shielding cover, and the shaft seal is disposed in the sealing ring.

[0012] The sealing cavity is formed by utilizing the inner cavity of the sealing ring. The shaft seal is disposed within the sealing ring, which can limit the movement of the shaft seal, ensuring that the drive shaft passes through the central hole of the shaft seal better when passing through the sealing assembly. It can also protect the shaft seal on the outer periphery, so that the shaft seal can better ensure a sealing fit with the drive shaft.

[0013] As an optional solution, a sealing rib is also provided between the shaft seal and the sealing ring.

[0014] A sealing rib is provided between the shaft seal and the sealing ring to allow for an interference fit between them. The sealing rib also increases the interference between the shaft seal and the sealing ring and helps to better adjust the concentricity between them, ensuring that the shaft seal is stably and reliably installed in the fixed platform and achieving the function of transmission sealing.

[0015] As an optional solution, the shaft seal has a lip that extends obliquely toward the cover at its center.

[0016] The lip extending at an angle towards the cover serves two purposes. First, when the drive shaft passes through the shaft seal from the rear to the front, the extension direction of the lip is the same as the insertion direction of the drive shaft, allowing the drive shaft to pass through the shaft seal smoothly. Second, the lip, which is angled towards the cover, can better cover and seal beverage ingredients located on one side of the cover, thus providing a better sealing function.

[0017] As an optional solution, the shaft seal includes a rigid material skeleton and a flexible material shaft seal body, wherein the skeleton and the shaft seal body are integrally formed.

[0018] The shaft seal is made of a soft material and can be interference-fitted with both the inner wall of the sealing cavity and the drive shaft to enhance the sealing effect between them. Furthermore, a rigid material skeleton is provided inside the shaft seal to ensure it has sufficient strength and prevent deformation under excessive pressure, which would affect its stability and reliability.

[0019] As an optional solution, the shaft seal is provided with an annular groove concentric with the outer side wall, the inner side wall of the annular groove is provided with a positioning ring, and the evaporator further includes an elastic ring disposed within the positioning ring.

[0020] An annular groove concentric with the outer wall is provided at the rear end of the shaft seal. The inner wall of the annular groove can form a reinforced sealing section that cooperates with the drive shaft. Furthermore, a positioning ring is provided on the outer periphery of the inner wall, and an elastic ring is provided at the positioning ring. The elastic ring is sleeved on the inner wall of the annular groove, which can enhance the elastic sealing function. Moreover, the elastic ring can also be selected with different elastic force according to different product functions, thereby meeting the evaporators with different processing requirements.

[0021] As an optional solution, the cylinder includes an inner layer and an outer layer that are closed and connected, with an integrally extended refrigerant flow chamber formed between the inner layer and the outer layer, and the evaporator also includes an inlet pipe and a return pipe that communicate with the refrigerant flow chamber; or, the inner wall of the cylinder is provided with a refrigerant pipe, and the refrigerant pipe is provided with an inlet pipe and a return pipe that extend out of the cylinder.

[0022] The cylinder is formed by the inner and outer layers, creating an integral refrigerant flow chamber. An inlet pipe and a return pipe communicate with this chamber. External refrigerant flows into the chamber through the inlet pipe and quickly disperses, exchanging heat with both the inner and outer layers for faster cooling. Simultaneously, the outer layer, due to its uniform contact with the refrigerant, has a more uniform surface with no dead zones for heat exchange, resulting in faster and more uniform cooling. Alternatively, the evaporator may include refrigerant pipes along the inner wall of the cylinder. These pipes are preferably spirally wound around the inner wall. External refrigerant flows into these pipes through the inlet pipe, exchanges heat with the cylinder, and then flows out through the return pipe. These pipes define the direction and velocity of the refrigerant flow, facilitating control and adjustment of the evaporator's cooling efficiency.

[0023] Accordingly, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application also proposes a reliable and sealed snow melting machine, including a main unit, a refrigeration component, a power component, and a processing component disposed in the main unit. The main unit has an installation cavity formed inside. The refrigeration component includes a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator connected by pipes. The evaporator adopts the evaporator described in any of the previous technical solutions. The condenser and the compressor are disposed in the installation cavity. The top of the main unit is provided with a fixed wall. The rear end of the evaporator is fixed to the fixed wall and extends forward laterally. The processing component includes a stirring chamber whose rear end is sealed to the fixed wall and detachably connected, and a stirring paddle disposed in the stirring chamber and sleeved outside the evaporator. The power component includes a power source disposed in the installation cavity and a drive shaft passing through the evaporator and the sealing component to drive the stirring paddle. The shaft seal is interference-fitted with the drive shaft.

[0024] This application further proposes a snow melting machine, employing the evaporator structure described in the above technical solution. The evaporator is placed inside the stirring chamber of the processing component, and the stirring paddle is fitted outside the evaporator. This allows the evaporator to more fully cool and process the food placed in the stirring chamber, while the stirring paddle ensures more uniform stirring and tumbling of the food for more even cooling, preventing localized over-cooling. The sealing component ensures reliable sealing of the evaporator. Simultaneously, the sealing component also appropriately limits the movement of the drive shaft, preventing the front end from being suspended and polarized when the drive shaft is only fixedly connected to the power source at the rear end, thus making the power transmission of the drive shaft more stable and reliable. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator as described in this application.

[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator as described in this application.

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the diagram.

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part B in the diagram.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing gasket structure of a first embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator as described in this application.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the shaft seal structure of a first embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator as described in this application.

[0031] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the second embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator described in this application.

[0032] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of part C in the diagram.

[0033] Figure 9 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the sealing structure of a second embodiment of a reliably sealed evaporator as described in this application.

[0034] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the overall structure of a reliable, sealed snow melting machine as described in this application.

[0035] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the sealed and reliable snow melting machine described in this application.

[0036] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A magnified view of part of D.

[0037] The labels in the diagram correspond to the following names:

[0038] 1. Mixing chamber; 21. Fixed wall; 22. Right limiting wall; 24. Support wall; 3. Chamber cover; 4. Evaporator; 411. Outer layer; 412. Inner layer; 413. Refrigerant flow chamber; 414. End cap; 415. Through hole; 416. Inspection and installation hole; 417. Limiting hole; 418. Refrigerant pipe; 421. Inlet pipe; 422. Return pipe; 43. Fixed platform; 431. Platform column; 432. Platform drive hole; 433. Limiting groove; 434. Fixed hole; 435. Sealing ring; 436. Ring rib; 437. Limiting outer ring; 44. Shaft seal; 441. Shaft seal 442. Body; 443. Frame; 444. Sealing rib; 445. Sealing transmission hole; 446. Lip; 447. Annular groove; 448. Positioning ring; 449. Elastic ring; 45. Sealing gasket; 451. Sealing body; 452. Sealing limiting hole; 453. Sealing rib; 46. Cover; 461. Sealing gasket annular groove; 462. Fixing post; 463. Screw hole; 464. Limiting ring; 465. Cover transmission hole; 47. Temperature controller; 48. Sealing cavity; 5. Stirring paddle; 51. Stirring blade; 52. Drive head; 91. Main unit; 92. Drive shaft; 93. Motor. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the relevant application and not intended to limit the application. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the application are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0040] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0041] like Figures 1-9As shown, this utility model discloses a reliably sealed evaporator. The evaporator 4 includes a cylinder and an end cap 414 located at the front end of the cylinder. Preferably, the cylinder and the end cap 414 together form an installation cavity. A through hole 415 is provided in the center of the end cap 414, and the through hole 415 is used for the drive shaft of the evaporator to pass through. The evaporator 4 further includes a sealing assembly disposed at the through hole 415. Preferably, the sealing assembly includes a shielding cover 46, a fixing platform 43, a sealing gasket 45, and a shaft seal 44. The shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43 are respectively located on both sides of the end cover 414. The shielding cover 46 is fixedly connected to the fixing platform 43 and clamps the end cover 414 in the middle. At the same time, the sealing gasket 45 is clamped between the shielding cover 46 and the end cover 414 to seal the shielding cover 46 and the end cover 414. A sealing cavity 48 is formed at the center of the shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43. The shaft seal 44 is disposed in the sealing cavity 48. The shielding cover 46, the fixing platform 43, and the shaft seal 44 are each provided with a transmission hole for the drive shaft of the snow melting machine to pass through. The sealing device is provided at the front end of the evaporator 4 to prevent the drive shaft of the snow melting machine from directly engaging with the end cover of the evaporator. The sealing cavity formed by the shielding cover and the fixed platform, into which the shaft seal is installed, ensures reliable installation and positioning of the shaft seal. This allows the drive shaft, shaft seal, shielding cover, and fixed platform to maintain stable concentric transmission. The sealing cavity provides initial isolation between the evaporator's mounting cavity and the snow melting machine's processing space, preventing leakage caused by food compression when the shaft seal is in direct contact with large amounts of food. It also reduces the impact of food temperature changes on the stability and reliability of the shaft seal. Furthermore, the sealing gasket sandwiched between the shielding cover and the end cap enhances the sealing effect between the sealing structure and the end cap, further ensuring the stable and reliable sealing of the evaporator.

[0042] Based on the above, such as Figures 10-12As shown, this utility model discloses a reliable and sealed snow melting machine. The snow melting machine includes a main unit 91, a refrigeration component, a power component, and a processing component. The main unit 91 has an installation cavity and a fixed platform on its top. The refrigeration component includes a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator 4 with pipe channels. The evaporator adopts the evaporator described in the above technical solution. The condenser and compressor are located in the installation cavity of the main unit 91. The fixed platform includes a fixed wall 21 located on the rear side. The rear end of the evaporator 4 is fixed to the fixed wall 21, and the evaporator 4 extends forward laterally along the main unit 91. The processing component includes a stirring chamber 1, a stirring paddle 5, and a chamber cover 2. The rear end of the stirring chamber 1 is detachably and sealed to the fixed wall 21 and accommodates the evaporator 4. The stirring paddle 5 is sleeved on the outside of the evaporator 4. Preferably, the evaporator 4 and the stirring paddle 5 are located on the inner bottom side of the stirring chamber 1, so that the food placed in the stirring chamber 1 is more concentrated on the outside of the evaporator 4 and the stirring paddle 5, thus achieving better cooling processing. The power assembly includes a power source disposed within the mounting cavity and a drive shaft 92 passing through the evaporator 4 and the sealing assembly and connected to the stirring paddle 5. Preferably, the power source is a drive motor, which drives the drive shaft 92 to rotate and ultimately drives the stirring paddle 5 to rotate. The drive shaft passes through the shaft seal and is press-fitted with it, and the sealing assembly isolates and seals the interior of the evaporator 4 from the exterior. When the evaporator of this application is placed inside the processing assembly, it can be completely immersed in the processed beverage ingredients along with the stirring paddle, enabling more efficient cooling of the processed ingredients. The sealing assembly can reliably ensure that the evaporator will not leak. At the same time, the sealing assembly can also limit the drive shaft at the front end of the evaporator, preventing the drive shaft from wobbling when only the rear end is connected to the motor and the end extends into the processing assembly. This makes the snow melting machine work more stably and reliably.

[0043] Example 1.

[0044] As a first embodiment of the reliably sealed evaporator described in this utility model, such as Figures 1-6As shown, the evaporator 4 includes a cylindrical body and an end cap 414 located at the front end of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body and the end cap 414 together form an installation cavity. Preferably, the cylindrical body includes a cylindrical outer layer 411 and an inner layer 412. The outer layer 411 is sleeved on the outside of the inner layer 412, and the outer layer 411 and the inner layer 412 are sealed together to form a refrigerant flow cavity 413 inside the outer layer 411 and the inner layer 412. The evaporator 4 also includes an inlet pipe 421 and a return pipe 422 communicating with the refrigerant flow cavity 413. External refrigerant flows into the refrigerant flow cavity 413 through the inlet pipe 421. Since the refrigerant flow cavity 413 extends integrally, the external refrigerant can be quickly dispersed in the refrigerant flow cavity 413 to achieve uniform heat exchange with the outer layer 411, thereby enabling the evaporator 4 to achieve cooling processing quickly and efficiently. Meanwhile, since the refrigerant flow cavity 413 is completely formed by the inner wall of the outer layer 411 without any connecting interlayer, the cooling area of ​​the outer layer 411 is larger, and the cooling process can be achieved more efficiently.

[0045] like Figures 1-6 As shown, the end cap 414 has a through hole 415 at its center, and a sealing assembly is provided at the through hole 415. Preferably, the sealing assembly includes a shielding cover 46, a fixing platform 43, a sealing gasket 45, and a shaft seal 44. The shielding cover 46 is located on the outside of the end cap 414, and the fixing platform 43 is located in the mounting cavity of the evaporator 4. The shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43 are fixedly connected to each other to clamp the end cap 414 between the shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43. At the same time, the sealing gasket 45 is squeezed and clamped between the shielding cover 46 and the end cap 414 to achieve a sealed connection between the shielding cover 46 and the end cap 414.

[0046] The shielding cover 46 has a limiting ring 464 on the side facing the end cover 414. The outer periphery of the limiting ring 464 is also provided with a fixing post 462, and the center of the fixing post 462 is provided with a screw hole 463. The fixing platform 43 is provided with a limiting groove 433 that is inserted and matched with the limiting ring 464. A limiting outer ring 437 is provided on the outer periphery of the limiting groove 433, and a sealing ring 435 is provided on the inner periphery of the limiting groove 433. The bottom wall of the limiting groove 433 is also provided with a fixing hole 434. The through hole 415 is also provided with a plurality of limiting holes 417 along the circumference. The limiting holes 417 correspond to the fixing post 462. When the limiting ring 464 passes through the through hole 415 to engage with the fixing platform 43, the fixing post 462 passes through the limiting holes 417 and circumferentially limits the sealing assembly through the limiting holes 417 to prevent the sealing assembly from rotating during operation, thereby better ensuring the sealing function of the sealing assembly. Preferably, the evaporator is provided with screws. The screws pass through the fixing hole 434 to lock into the screw hole 463 to lock the cover 46 to the fixing platform 43.

[0047] After the shielding cover 46 is fixedly installed with the fixing platform 43, a sealing cavity 48 is formed between the sealing ring 435 and the inner wall of the shielding cover 46, and the shaft seal 44 is disposed in the sealing cavity 48. Preferably, the sealing ring 435 has a plurality of annular ribs 436 extending axially along the fixing platform 43 on the inner wall of the sealing cavity 48. When the shaft seal 44 is installed in the sealing cavity 48, the annular ribs 43 abut against the side wall of the shaft seal 44 to limit the shaft seal 44 and make the fixing platform 43 and the shaft seal 44 concentric. A platform post 431 is provided on the side of the fixing platform 43 facing away from the end cover 414. The center of the platform post 431 has a platform drive hole 432 for the drive shaft of the snow melting machine to pass through. The platform drive hole 432 can cooperate with the drive shaft to limit the drive shaft and prevent the drive shaft from being suspended at the end. It should be noted that, preferably, the platform drive hole 432 and the drive shaft are still in a clearance fit state. Only when the drive bearing is subjected to a large compressive force can the platform 431 limit and support the drive shaft. Since the platform 431 extends into the mounting cavity of the evaporator 4, it can be provided with sufficient length to support the drive shaft and ensure that the transmission of the drive shaft is stable and reliable.

[0048] Preferably, a sealing gasket groove 461 is provided on the outer periphery of the cover 46 near the end cap 414, and the sealing gasket 45 is disposed in the sealing gasket groove 461. The sealing gasket 45 includes a sealing body 451, a sealing limiting hole 452, and a sealing rib 453. The sealing limiting hole 452 matches the limiting hole 417 to allow the fixing post 462 to pass through. The sealing rib 453 is disposed on both axial sides of the sealing body 451 to fit tightly against the cover 46 and the end cap 414 respectively. When the cover 46 is locked with the fixing platform 43, the sealing rib 453 is compressed and deformed to enhance the seal on the cover 46 and the end cap 414.

[0049] The shaft seal 44 includes a shaft seal body 441 and a frame 442. Preferably, the shaft seal body 441 is made of a soft material, and the frame 442 is made of a rigid material. The shaft seal body 441 and the frame 442 are integrally machined, and the shaft seal body 441 is wrapped around the outside of the frame 442. The soft material of the shaft seal body 441 is easily deformed by compression to enhance the sealing effect, while the rigid frame 442 can support the shaft seal 44 and prevent the shaft seal 44 from losing its sealing function due to excessive compression and deformation. A sealing rib 443 is provided on the outer peripheral sidewall of the shaft seal body 441. The sealing rib 443 cooperates with the inner peripheral sidewall of the sealing ring 435. When the shaft seal 44 is installed in the sealing cavity 48, the sealing rib 443 is deformed by compression and can maintain better alignment with the fixed platform 43.

[0050] The shaft seal 44 has a centrally located sealing transmission hole 444 through which the transmission shaft passes. The inner wall of the shaft seal 44 also has a lip 445 inclined towards the shielding cover 46. Preferably, multiple lips 445 are provided axially along the shaft seal 44. The lips 445 allow for better fit of the transmission shaft. Furthermore, since the transmission shaft is typically inserted from the rear end to the front end of the shaft seal 44, the forward-inclined lips prevent the transmission shaft from flipping outwards during compression, thus ensuring a proper seal. Simultaneously, the multiple lips 445 form gaps between each other, and lubricant can be placed within these gaps to ensure smoother operation of the transmission shaft.

[0051] Preferably, the rear section of the shaft seal 44 is further provided with an annular groove 446 concentric with the outer wall of the shaft seal body 441. Further, the inner wall of the annular groove 446 near its center is provided with a positioning ring 447, and the shaft seal 44 also includes an elastic ring 448 disposed on the positioning ring 447. Preferably, the elastic ring 448 is made of a material with better elasticity than the shaft seal body 441. When the drive shaft passes through the shaft seal 44, the elastic ring 448 can more reliably press the inner wall of the annular groove 446 to fit tightly against the drive shaft, thereby achieving a better sealing effect.

[0052] Preferably, for better control of the snow melting machine, the evaporator is also equipped with a temperature controller 47. A detection mounting hole 416 is provided at the bottom of the end cover 414, and the temperature controller 47 is fixed at the detection mounting hole 416 and exposed. When the evaporator is installed inside the processing component of the snow melting machine, the temperature controller 47 can directly contact the food inside the processing component to detect the temperature of the food in a timely manner and provide feedback to the snow melting machine for real-time control of the processing status. For better temperature detection, the temperature controller 47 is positioned near the bottom of the evaporator to ensure reliable detection even with only a small amount of food.

[0053] Preferably, the evaporator is also provided with a heat insulation module inside the mounting cavity. The heat insulation module is used to prevent heat exchange between the inner wall of the evaporator and the components inside the mounting cavity of the evaporator, so as to ensure that the evaporator exchanges more heat with the food in the processing components and improve the slurry making efficiency of the evaporator.

[0054] By configuring the sealing assembly, each component of the sealing assembly performs a different function. The shielding cover and the fixing platform can clamp and seal the connection with the end cover, while also limiting the movement of the drive shaft of the snow melting machine, preventing the front end of the drive shaft from being suspended and prone to swaying. The shielding cover and the fixing platform together form a sealing cavity for accommodating the shaft seal. On the one hand, this isolates the shaft seal, reducing its direct exposure to external food and refrigerant, reducing temperature shocks, and ensuring the shaft seal remains in a stable and reliable sealing state. On the other hand, the sealing cavity can better limit the movement of the shaft seal, especially providing reliable axial support, so that the shaft seal can more stably engage with the drive shaft radially, ultimately achieving a stable seal between the shaft seal and the drive shaft, thereby ensuring the stable and reliable sealing of the evaporator.

[0055] Understandably, the limiting groove and limiting ring between the shielding cover and the fixing platform can be interchanged; or, the limiting mechanism and the limiting ring can be simultaneously disposed between the shielding cover and the fixing platform, and interlocked to achieve the functions of limiting and sealing. Correspondingly, the limiting post and the fixing hole can also be interchanged, and the shielding cover and the fixing platform are further provided with a mutually cooperating fixing groove, or a fixing hole is directly provided. The end cap is provided with a limiting protrusion that inserts into the fixing groove or fixing hole to achieve circumferential limiting of the sealing assembly.

[0056] Understandably, the cover is provided with a sealing ring. When the cover is locked and installed with the fixed platform, a sealing cavity is formed between the sealing ring and the fixed platform, and the shaft seal is installed in the sealing cavity.

[0057] Understandably, the shaft seal center is only provided with a protruding rib that protrudes towards the center, and the protruding rib is sealed in conjunction with the drive shaft.

[0058] Understandably, the shaft seal is provided with a support groove, and the fixed platform or shielding cover is provided with a support frame that is inserted into the support groove to support the shaft seal.

[0059] Example 2.

[0060] As a second embodiment of the present invention providing a reliable seal, such as Figures 7-9 As shown, compared to Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, the inner side of the evaporator cylinder is also provided with a refrigerant pipe. It should be noted that the specific Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 described respectively are not intended to mean that the two embodiments are completely independent of each other, but are merely for the purpose of specifically illustrating two preferred technical solutions, and the technical features and technical solutions of the two embodiments are common and can be used for mutual reference.

[0061] like Figures 7-9 As shown, the evaporator 4 includes a cylindrical body and an end cap 414 disposed at the front end of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a cylindrical outer layer 411, and a spiral refrigerant pipe 418 is disposed on the inner wall of the outer layer 411. The refrigerant pipe 418 extends spirally from the front end to the rear end of the outer layer 411. The evaporator 4 also includes an inlet pipe 421 and a return pipe 422 communicating with the refrigerant pipe 418. Preferably, the inlet pipe 421 extends into the front end of the mounting cavity of the evaporator 4 and communicates with the front end of the refrigerant pipe 418. The return pipe 422 is located at the rear end of the evaporator 4 and communicates with the rear end of the refrigerant pipe 418.

[0062] When the evaporator 4 is installed inside the snow melting machine, a stirring paddle 5 is fitted around the outside of the evaporator 4. Preferably, the stirring paddle 5 includes stirring blades 51 and a drive head 52. The stirring blades 51 are spiral-shaped and rotatable, located on the outside of the evaporator 4. The drive head 52 is located at the sealing assembly of the evaporator 4. When the drive shaft extends out of the sealing assembly from the evaporator 4, the drive shaft is driven to connect with the drive head 52, so that the drive assembly drives the stirring paddle 5 to rotate. At this time, the stirring blades 51, on the one hand, cause the material to tumble inside the processing assembly, achieving more uniform cooling processing. On the other hand, the stirring blades 51 also scrape off the food on the outer surface of the evaporator 4, preventing the food from being over-cooled and solidifying on the outer surface of the evaporator 4, thus affecting the normal cooling processing of the evaporator.

[0063] The end cap 414 is provided with a through hole 415, and the sealing assembly is disposed at the through hole 415. The sealing assembly includes a shielding cover 46, a fixing platform 43, a sealing gasket 45, and a shaft seal 44. The shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43 are respectively located on both sides of the end cap 414, fixing and clamping the end cap 414. The sealing gasket 45 is clamped between the shielding cover 46 and the end cap 414. A sealing cavity 48 for accommodating the shaft seal 44 is also formed between the shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43. The sealing assembly is also provided with a transmission hole for the transmission shaft to pass through.

[0064] Compared to Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, refrigerant pipes are directly installed on the inner wall of the outer layer. The refrigerant pipes and the outer layer can be processed separately and then assembled and fixed, facilitating the assembly of the evaporator. Simultaneously, the refrigerant pipes can be designed with higher strength, enabling the evaporator to handle refrigerant at higher pressures and flow rates, thus achieving more efficient cooling. The sealing components of the evaporator are adaptable to different evaporator mounting structures, ensuring reliable support and sealing for the evaporator.

[0065] Example 3.

[0066] As an embodiment of the sealed and reliable snow melting machine described in this application, such as Figures 10-12 As shown, this embodiment specifically proposes a snow melting machine product using the evaporator of the above-described technical solution. Therefore, the snow melting machine product described in this embodiment can be used for both the specific embodiments one and two, and the technical features and solutions of the two embodiments are common and can be referenced from each other.

[0067] like Figures 10-12As shown, the snow melting machine of this application includes a main unit 91, a refrigeration component, a power component, and a processing component, all of which are disposed within the main unit. The main unit 91 has an internal cavity. The refrigeration component includes a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator 4. Preferably, the evaporator 4 adopts the evaporator structure described in the above technical solution. The condenser, compressor, and evaporator 4 are connected by pipes. The condenser and compressor do not need to directly contact the beverage, nor do they require direct user operation of these two functional components. Therefore, the condenser and compressor are directly disposed within the internal cavity of the main unit 91.

[0068] A mounting platform is provided on the top of the main unit 91. The mounting platform includes a fixed wall 21, a right limiting wall 22, a left limiting wall, and a support wall 24. The fixed wall 21 is located at the rear of the main unit 91. The right limiting wall 22 and the left limiting wall extend laterally from both sides of the fixed wall 21. The support wall 24 is located at the front of the main unit 91 and connects to the right limiting wall 22 and the left limiting wall. The rear end of the evaporator 4 is fixed to the fixed wall 21 and extends forward laterally along the main unit 91, so that the evaporator 4 is exposed on the upper side of the main unit 91.

[0069] The processing assembly includes a mixing chamber 1, a stirring paddle 5, and a chamber cover 3. The mixing chamber 1 is detachably fixed to the fixed wall 21 and is fitted onto the outside of the evaporator 4. The stirring paddle 5 is fitted onto the outside of the evaporator 4 and is driven by the power assembly. The power assembly includes a motor 93 disposed within the main unit cavity and a drive shaft 92 driven by the motor 93. The drive shaft 92 passes through the evaporator 4 and is poweredly connected to the stirring paddle 5. Preferably, the stirring paddle 5 includes stirring blades 51 and a drive head 52.

[0070] The front end of the evaporator 4 is provided with a sealing assembly, which includes a shielding cover 46, a fixing platform 43, a sealing gasket 45, and a shaft seal 44. The shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43 are respectively located on both sides of the end cover 414, fixing and clamping the end cover 414. The sealing gasket 45 is clamped between the shielding cover 46 and the end cover 414. A sealing cavity 48 for accommodating the shaft seal 44 is also formed between the shielding cover 46 and the fixing platform 43. The sealing assembly is also provided with a transmission hole for the transmission shaft 92 to pass through. The front end of the transmission shaft 92 is poweredly connected to the drive head 52.

[0071] By completely immersing the evaporator and agitator in the mixing chamber, cooling processing can be achieved more efficiently. In this case, a sealing component is installed at the front end of the evaporator to ensure a stable and reliable seal between the evaporator and the drive shaft, preventing leakage into the evaporator during operation. The sealing component also provides limiting support for the drive shaft, preventing it from swaying under excessive pressure. For the evaporator described in this application, a more efficient seal is achieved simply by clamping it between the shielding cover and the fixing platform and the end cover. This also provides better limiting support for the shaft seal, allowing it to focus solely on axial sealing without bearing excessive axial force. Simultaneously, the shielding cover and fixing platform isolate the shaft seal from external temperature exchange, resulting in smaller temperature variations and preventing volume changes due to thermal shock. Ultimately, this ensures a stable and reliable seal for both the evaporator and the snow melting machine.

[0072] In the description of this application, it should be understood that directional terms such as "front," "back," "up," "down," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "horizontal," and "top," "bottom," etc., indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself. For example, in this application, "front" and "back" are usually determined by the position of the user when operating the snow melting machine product. The side where the user directly operates the snow melting machine is the front side of the snow melting machine, while the side of the snow melting machine away from the user when placed is the rear side of the snow melting machine.

[0073] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures, but this does not imply that the actual device is inverted. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other orientations, rotated 90 degrees, or in other orientations, and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0074] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special definition and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0075] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of this application is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or equivalent features without departing from the application's concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application will not be listed here.

Claims

1. A reliably sealed evaporator, comprising a cylindrical body and an end cap located at the front end of the cylindrical body, characterized in that, The cylinder and end cap together form an installation cavity. The end cap has a through hole at its center. The evaporator also includes a sealing assembly disposed at the through hole. The sealing assembly includes a shielding cover located outside the end cap, a fixing platform located inside the end cap, a sealing gasket, and a shaft seal. The sealing gasket is sandwiched between the shielding cover and the end cap. The fixing platform is fixedly connected to the shielding cover and clamps the end cap. A sealing cavity is formed at the center of the shielding cover and the fixing platform. The shaft seal is disposed in the sealing cavity. The shielding cover, the fixing platform, and the shaft seal are provided with through transmission holes.

2. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, One of the shielding cover and the fixed platform is provided with a limiting groove, and the other is provided with a limiting ring that is inserted and engaged with the limiting groove.

3. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the shielding cover is provided with a fixing post extending toward the fixing platform, the fixing platform is provided with a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing post, and the end cover is also provided with a limiting hole for the fixing post to pass through.

4. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed platform is provided with a sealing ring extending toward the shielding cover, and the sealing cavity is formed between the inner cavity of the sealing ring and the inner wall of the shielding cover. The shaft seal is disposed in the sealing ring.

5. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, A sealing rib is also provided between the shaft seal and the sealing ring.

6. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft seal has a lip that extends obliquely toward the cover at its center.

7. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft seal comprises a rigid material skeleton and a flexible material shaft seal body, wherein the skeleton and the shaft seal body are integrally formed.

8. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft seal is provided with an annular groove concentric with the outer wall, and the inner wall of the annular groove is provided with a positioning ring. The evaporator also includes an elastic ring disposed within the positioning ring.

9. The reliably sealed evaporator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cylinder includes a closed inner layer and an outer layer, with an integrally extended refrigerant flow chamber formed between the inner and outer layers. The evaporator also includes an inlet pipe and a return pipe that communicate with the refrigerant flow chamber. Alternatively, the inner wall of the cylinder may be provided with a refrigerant pipe, which has an inlet pipe and a return pipe extending out of the cylinder.

10. A reliably sealed snow melting machine, comprising a main unit, a refrigeration component, a power component, and a processing component disposed on the main unit, characterized in that, The host unit has an internal cavity. The refrigeration assembly includes a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator connected by pipes. The evaporator is an evaporator as described in any one of claims 1-9. The condenser and compressor are disposed within the internal cavity of the host unit. A fixed wall is provided at the top of the host unit. The rear end of the evaporator is fixed to the fixed wall and extends laterally forward. The processing assembly includes a stirring chamber whose rear end is sealed to the fixed wall and detachably connected, and a stirring paddle disposed within the stirring chamber and sleeved outside the evaporator. The power assembly includes a power source disposed within the internal cavity of the host unit and a drive shaft passing through the evaporator and the sealing assembly to drive the stirring paddle. The shaft seal is interference-fitted with the drive shaft.

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