Ice making equipment

Abstract

The present application relates to an ice making apparatus. The ice making equipment comprises an inner container, a shell, a heat preservation layer, a water tank and a water pipe. The inner container is provided with a water storage space and comprises an inner container bottom wall and a water inlet immersed tube, the inner container bottom wall is provided with a water inlet communicated with the water storage space, and the water inlet immersed tube is connected to the side, away from the water storage space, of the inner container bottom wall and communicated with the water inlet. The shell is sleeved outside the liner; the bottom wall of the shell and the bottom wall of the liner are arranged at an interval to form an interval space; the water inlet immersed tube is located in the interval space, and the shell is provided with a water inlet installation opening communicated with the interval space. The heat preservation layer is arranged in the interval space. The water tank is arranged outside the shell, the water pipe is connected between the water tank and the inner container, and the water pipe penetrates through the water inlet installation opening and is communicated to the water storage space through the water inlet immersed pipe and the water inlet. According to the ice-making equipment, water is added from the bottom of the inner container, and the height difference between the water and the water level in the water tank is increased, so that the water adding pressure difference is increased, and the water adding speed is increased.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] An ice-making machine is a refrigeration machine that cools water in a container to produce ice. The water tank of the ice-making machine supplies water to the inner liner for ice making. In a conventional design, the water pipe supplying the water tank is usually connected to an inlet on the side wall of the inner liner. For insulation purposes, the inner liner is usually lined with a thick layer of insulation material; for example, a thick insulation layer is often placed at the bottom of the inner liner. This increased insulation layer height raises the inlet on the side wall of the inner liner, thus reducing the water drop height from the tank and slowing down the water filling speed. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides an ice-making device.

[0004] This application provides an ice-making device, which includes an inner tank, an outer shell, an insulation layer, a water tank, and water pipes. The inner tank has a water storage space and includes a bottom wall and a water inlet pipe. The bottom wall of the inner tank has a water inlet communicating with the water storage space. The water inlet pipe is connected to the side of the bottom wall of the inner tank away from the water storage space and communicates with the water inlet. The outer shell is fitted over the inner tank, and the bottom wall of the outer shell and the bottom wall of the inner tank are spaced apart to form a partition space. The water inlet pipe is located within the partition space, and the outer shell has a water inlet port communicating with the partition space. The insulation layer is disposed within the partition space. The water tank is disposed outside the outer shell, and the water pipe connects the water tank and the inner tank. The water pipe passes through the water inlet port and communicates with the water storage space through the water inlet pipe and the water inlet.

[0005] In some alternative examples, the inlet pipe includes interconnected vertical and horizontal sections, with the vertical section coaxial with the inlet and the horizontal section intersecting the vertical section, and the water pipe passing through the horizontal section.

[0006] In some alternative examples, the vertical segment has a first end and a second end facing away from each other, the inner diameter of the first end being larger than the inner diameter of the second end, the first end coinciding with the inlet, and the second end connected to the horizontal segment.

[0007] In some alternative examples, the ice-making device also includes a movable seal disposed at the water inlet, the movable seal having a density greater than that of the liquid in the water storage space, and the outer diameter of the movable seal being greater than the inner diameter of the second end and smaller than the inner diameter of the first end.

[0008] In some alternative examples, the inner diameter of the vertical segment decreases from the first end to the second end, and the inner wall surface of the vertical segment is a conical surface.

[0009] In some alternative examples, the movable seal is an elastic sphere that, when liquid is present in the water storage space, is at least partially embedded in the vertical section and contacts the inner wall of the vertical section to achieve a seal.

[0010] In some alternative examples, the ice-making equipment also includes a protective cover disposed within the water storage space and covering the water inlet, the protective cover having multiple through holes for liquid flow, and a movable seal partially located inside the protective cover.

[0011] In some alternative examples, the inner liner also includes a first mounting sleeve connected to the bottom wall of the inner liner facing the water storage space and surrounding the outer periphery of the water inlet, and the protective cover has a second mounting sleeve fitted over the first mounting sleeve.

[0012] In some alternative examples, the water pipe includes an inlet pipe and a connecting pipe, the connecting pipe connecting the inlet pipe and the water tank, the inlet pipe passing through the inlet installation port and inserted into the inlet submerged pipe, and the ice-making equipment also includes a seal disposed between the inlet pipe and the inlet submerged pipe.

[0013] In some alternative examples, the housing includes a body and a third mounting sleeve. The body is fitted over the inner liner, and the third mounting sleeve is connected to the side of the body away from the space and surrounds the outer periphery of the water inlet. The water inlet pipe passes through the third mounting sleeve, and the inner wall of the third mounting sleeve fits against the outer wall of the water inlet pipe.

[0014] When the ice-making equipment provided in this application is in use, water in the water tank enters the water storage space through a water pipe, an inlet submersible pipe, and an inlet. A space is provided between the bottom wall of the inner tank and the bottom wall of the outer shell, and an insulation layer is installed within this space to keep the inner tank warm. The water pipe passes through the inlet installation port into the outer shell, and the inlet submersible pipe passes through the inlet into the inner tank, with the water pipe connected to the inlet submersible pipe. The inlet submersible pipe is located in the space, and the inlet is located on the bottom wall of the inner tank. Water is added from the bottom of the inner tank. The relatively large height difference between the inlet and the water level in the tank increases the water pressure difference, which helps overcome the air bubble resistance in the water pipe and, to some extent, avoids problems such as water blockage or intermittent water addition, thus improving the water addition speed. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments 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 from these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice-making device provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the inner liner and outer shell of the ice-making device shown.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the water tank in the ice-making equipment shown.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified structural diagram of part B.

[0021] Labeling Explanation: 100, Ice-making equipment; 110, Housing; 10, Inner tank; 101, Water storage space; 12, Inner tank bottom wall; 121, Water inlet; 13, Water inlet pipe; 132, Vertical section; 1321, First end; 1323, Second end; 134, Horizontal section; 14, Inner tank peripheral wall; 15, Movable seal; 16, First mounting sleeve; 20, Insulation layer; 30, Outer shell; 301, Spacer space; 303, Water inlet mounting port; 32, Outer shell body; 34, Third mounting sleeve; 50, Water tank; 503, Drain outlet; 52, First housing. ; 521. Box perimeter wall; 523. Box bottom wall; 5232. Connecting port; 525. Mating sleeve; 54. Second box; 541. Inner bottom wall; 5412. Installation channel; 56. Installation pipe; 58. Base plate; 581. Electrical cavity; 60. Protective cover; 61. Second mounting sleeve; 63. Filter body; 70. Water pipe; 72. Water inlet pipe; 721. Sealing element; 74. Connecting pipe; 90. Valve assembly; 92. Valve cover plate; 94. Drive element; 96. Elastic element; 98. Mounting element; 981. Threaded annular groove; 983. Mounting through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0023] If certain terms are used in the specification and claims to refer to specific components, those skilled in the art will understand that hardware manufacturers may use different names to refer to the same component. The specification and claims do not distinguish components based on differences in name, but rather on differences in function. For example, the term "comprising" used throughout the specification and claims is an open-ended term and should be interpreted as "including but not limited to"; "generally" means that those skilled in the art can solve the technical problem and basically achieve the technical effect within a certain margin of error.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 This application provides an ice-making device 100 for making ice. The ice-making device 100 can be installed in a refrigerator, freezer, or other similar equipment, or it can be used independently.

[0025] This specification does not limit the specific structure of the ice-making device 100. For example, the ice-making device 100 may include a housing 110, an ice-making mechanism (not shown in the figure), and a water supply mechanism (not shown in the figure). The housing 110 is placed on a water platform in the usage scenario. The ice-making mechanism is located inside the housing 110. The water supply mechanism may include an internal water storage container located inside the housing 110, or it may include an external water storage container located outside the housing 110. The water supply mechanism supplies water to the ice-making mechanism, which is used for refrigeration to turn liquid water into ice.

[0026] Please also refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the water supply mechanism of the ice-making device 100 may include an inner tank 10, an outer shell 30, an insulation layer 20, a water tank 50, and a water pipe 70. The inner tank 10 has a water storage space 101 and includes an inner tank bottom wall 12 and a water inlet pipe 13. The inner tank bottom wall 12 has a water inlet 121 communicating with the water storage space 101. The water inlet pipe 13 is connected to the side of the inner tank bottom wall 12 opposite to the water storage space 101 and communicates with the water inlet 121. The outer shell 30 is fitted over the inner tank 10, and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30 and the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank are spaced apart to form a space 301. The outer shell 30 has a water inlet 303 communicating with the space 301. The insulation layer 20 is disposed in the space 301. The water tank 50 is located outside the outer shell 30. The water pipe 70 is connected between the water tank 50 and the inner liner 10. The water pipe 70 passes through the water inlet 303 and is connected to the water storage space 101 through the water inlet pipe 13 and the water inlet 121.

[0027] In use, water in the water tank 50 enters the water storage space 101 through the water pipe 70 and the inlet 121. A space 301 is provided between the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30. An insulation layer 20 is installed within this space 301 to insulate the inner tank 10. The water pipe 70 passes through the inlet 303 into the outer shell 30, and the inlet submersible pipe 13 passes through the inlet 121 into the inner tank 10, connecting the water pipe 70 and the inlet submersible pipe 13. The inlet submersible pipe 13 is located within the space 301, and the inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank. Water is added from the bottom of the inner tank 10. The relatively large height difference between the inlet 121 and the water level in the water tank 50 increases the pressure difference, which helps overcome the air bubble resistance within the water pipe 70, thus preventing blockages or intermittent water filling and improving the water filling speed.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; 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 merely surface contact. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] In this embodiment, the water tank 50 is disposed outside the outer casing 30 and is used to supply water to the inner tank 10. This specification does not limit the specific location of the water tank 50; for example, the water tank 50 can be an inner water tank disposed inside the casing 110, or it can be an outer water tank disposed outside the casing 110. In this embodiment, the water tank 50 is disposed outside the casing 110, located on one side of the casing 110. The water tank 50 is an external water tank, which does not occupy the internal space of the casing 110, allows for a larger capacity, reduces the frequency of water replenishment, and the external placement of the water tank 50 also facilitates cleaning and disassembly by the user, improving the user experience.

[0030] Please also refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5The water tank 50 may include a first tank 52 and a second tank 54 stacked in the direction of gravity. The bottom of the first tank 52 has a connecting port 5232, which connects the first tank 52 and the second tank 54. The ice-making device 100 also includes a valve assembly 90 disposed at the connecting port 5232. The valve assembly 90 can control the opening and closing of the connecting port 5232, thereby allowing water in the first tank 52 to enter the second tank 54 through the connecting port 5232. The water tank 50 has a water inlet and a water outlet 503. The water inlet is disposed in the first tank 52, for example, at the end of the first tank 52 opposite to the second tank 54; the water outlet 503 is disposed in the second tank 54. In this embodiment, the water outlet 503 is disposed on the side wall of the end of the second tank 54 opposite to the first tank 52, at the lowest point of the side wall of the second tank 54.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first tank 52 is used for water storage. The first tank 52 may include a peripheral wall 521 and a bottom wall 523. The peripheral wall 521 is arranged around and connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 523. A connecting opening 5232 is provided on the bottom wall 523 and extends through the bottom wall 523 along its thickness direction. To facilitate drainage, the bottom wall 523 may have a certain angle of inclination relative to a horizontal surface. For example, the bottom wall 523 may be inclined towards the connecting opening 5232, so that the connecting opening 5232 is at its lowest point relative to the bottom wall 523. This specification does not limit the specific connection method between the peripheral wall 521 and the bottom wall 523. For example, the peripheral wall 521 and the bottom wall 523 may be integrally formed, or they may be detachably connected, such as by a plug-in connection. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall 521 and the bottom wall 523 of the housing are connected by an interlocking joint, which facilitates the installation of the valve assembly 90 on the bottom wall 523 of the housing, and also facilitates the user to disassemble for cleaning.

[0032] The second housing 54 is open at one end and closed at the other. The open end of the second housing 54 is connected to the bottom wall 523 of the first housing 52. The second housing 54 is used to add water to the inner tank 10. To facilitate the installation of the valve assembly 90, the second housing 54 and the bottom wall 523 can also be detachably connected. The bottom wall 523 is inserted into the open end of the second housing 54 to close the second housing 54. The peripheral wall 521, the bottom wall 523, and the second housing 54 are smoothly connected in the direction of gravity. "Connection" can be understood as the surfaces of the three components smoothly transitioning to each other at the adjacent points, such as the connection gap being less than a specified value, the three components being located on the same plane, or the three components having continuously defined curved surfaces; or it can be understood as the three components forming a specific appearance contour, such as forming a stepped structure, a folded structure, a curved surface structure, etc. In this embodiment, the surfaces of the peripheral wall 521, the bottom wall 523, and the second housing 54 together form the outer peripheral wall of the water tank 50.

[0033] A drain outlet 503 is provided on the side wall of the second housing 54, and the drain outlet 503 is used to communicate with the water pipe 70. The drain outlet 503 penetrates the second housing 54 to connect the inner cavity of the second housing 54 and the water pipe 70. In order to facilitate the connection of the water pipe 70, the water tank 50 may also include a mounting pipe 56 extending through both ends. The mounting pipe 56 is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the second housing 54 and surrounds the outer periphery of the drain outlet 503. The mounting pipe 56 protrudes relative to the outer peripheral wall of the second housing 54 to facilitate connection with the water pipe 70.

[0034] In this embodiment, a valve assembly 90 is disposed between the first housing 52 and the second housing 54, serving to connect or separate the first housing 52 and the second housing 54. The valve assembly 90 may include a valve cover 92 movably disposed at the connection port 5232. When water in the second housing 54 submerges the connection port 5232, the valve cover 92 closes the connection port 5232. When the valve cover 92 is away from the connection port 5232 relative to the bottom wall 523 of the housing, the connection port 5232 is exposed, allowing the first housing 52 and the second housing 54 to connect, and water in the first housing 52 enters the second housing 54. When water in the second housing 54 submerges the connection port 5232, the valve cover 92 closes the connection port 5232. At this point, the water level in the second housing 54 reaches its maximum, and water in the first housing 52 no longer flows into the second housing 54. Therefore, the connection port 5232 limits the maximum water level in the second housing 54.

[0035] The valve assembly 90 may further include a drive member 94 and an elastic member 96. For ease of installation, the second housing 54 has an inner bottom wall 541 with an installation channel 5412. The installation channel 5412 is located at a position corresponding to the communication port 5232. The drive member 94 passes through the installation channel 5412 and is connected to the valve cover plate 92. The elastic member 96 is elastically disposed between the valve cover plate 92 and the inner bottom wall 541. The drive member 94 drives the valve cover plate 92 to move relative to the bottom wall 523 of the housing to expose the communication port 5232. The elastic member 96 pulls the valve cover plate 92 back to its original position to close the communication port 5232 when the drive member 94 is not applying force to the valve cover plate 92. When water is added, the drive unit 94 moves the valve cover plate 92 upward to expose the connection port 5232. The water in the first box 52 enters the second box 54. When the water level rises and submerges the connection port 5232, the valve cover plate 92 re-closes the connection port 5232 under the action of the elastic member 96.

[0036] The driving element 94 can be a push rod or the output shaft of a driving source. In this embodiment, the driving element 94 is a driving rod. One end of the driving element 94 is connected to the valve cover plate 92, and the other end is movably inserted through the inner bottom wall 541. Applying an upward thrust to the driving element 94 will drive the valve cover plate 92 to move upward to expose the communication port 5232. As an example, the driving element 94 can be driven by a driving source such as a cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. The water tank 50 may also include a bottom plate 58, which is disposed on the side of the second tank 54 opposite to the first tank 52. The bottom plate 58 and the inner bottom wall 541 are spaced apart to form an electrical cavity 581 for accommodating the aforementioned driving source.

[0037] The elastic element 96 is disposed between the valve cover plate 92 and the inner bottom wall 541. This specification does not limit the specific type of the elastic element 96. The elastic element 96 can be an elastic structure such as a spring or an elastic washer. In this embodiment, the elastic element 96 is a spring. The elastic element 96 is sleeved on the outside of the drive member 94. One end of the elastic element 96 is connected to the valve cover plate 92, and the other end is connected to the inner bottom wall 541.

[0038] When the valve cover plate 92 closes the communication port 5232, it can directly adhere to the bottom wall 523 of the housing to cover the communication port 5232. Alternatively, an inner tube or other structure can be provided inside the communication port 5232, and the valve cover plate 92 covers the inner tube inside the communication port 5232 to close the communication port 5232. In this embodiment, the valve assembly 90 may also include a mounting member 98, which is connected to the bottom wall 523 of the housing and is used to cooperate with the valve cover plate 92 to close the communication port 5232. The mounting member 98 is provided with a threaded annular groove 981 and a mounting through hole 983, with the threaded annular groove 981 surrounding the mounting through hole 983. The first housing 52 may also include a mating sleeve 525, which is connected to the side of the bottom wall 523 of the housing facing the second housing 54 and surrounds the communication port 5232. The outer peripheral wall of the fitting sleeve 525 is provided with external threads. The mounting part 98 is threaded to the outside of the fitting sleeve 525 through the threaded annular groove 981. The mounting through hole 983 connects to the connecting port 5232. The valve cover plate 92 covers the end of the mounting part 98 away from the second housing 54 to close the connecting port 5232.

[0039] Please refer to it again. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the inner liner 10 is disposed within the housing 110 (e.g., Figure 1 The inner tank (as shown) serves as the water tank for storing water in the ice-making device 100. The inner tank 10 may include an inner tank peripheral wall 14 and the aforementioned inner tank bottom wall 12. The inner tank peripheral wall 14 surrounds and connects to the periphery of the inner tank bottom wall 12 to jointly define the water storage space 101. The outer shell 30 is fitted over the inner tank 10. The outer shell 30 may also include an outer shell peripheral wall and an outer shell bottom wall. The outer shell peripheral wall surrounds and connects to the periphery of the outer shell bottom wall. The outer shell peripheral wall surrounds and is spaced from the inner tank peripheral wall 14, while the outer shell bottom wall is located below and spaced from the inner tank bottom wall 12. The space 301 can be understood as the space between the inner surface of the outer shell 30 and the outer surface of the inner tank 10. The insulation layer 20 is disposed in the space 301 to insulate the inner liner 10. The insulation layer 20 can be insulation cotton, foam insulation layer, etc. In this embodiment, the insulation layer 20 is a foam filler.

[0040] The water inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank. The water inlet 121 extends vertically through the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank. The water inlet 121 can be located closer to the peripheral wall of the outer shell 30 to reduce the length requirement of the water pipe 70. The water inlet submersible pipe 13 is located in the partition space 301. One end of the water inlet submersible pipe 13 is connected to the water pipe 70 and communicates with the second box 54 through the installation pipe 56. The other end is connected to the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and communicates with the water storage space 101 through the water inlet 121.

[0041] In this embodiment, the inlet pipe 13 includes a vertical section 132 and a horizontal section 134 connected to each other. The vertical section 132 is connected to the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and is coaxially arranged with the inlet 121. The horizontal section 134 connects the vertical section 132 and the water pipe 70. The horizontal section 134 intersects the vertical section 132. The vertical section 132 can extend approximately along the direction of gravity, and the horizontal section 134 extends approximately horizontally. The arrangement of the vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134 allows water to enter the inner tank 10 from the bottom in a vertical direction and allows water to be transported from the outside of the water tank 50 in a horizontal direction. This not only lowers the water inlet position to increase the water inlet pressure difference but also improves the ease of installation of the water pipe 70 used to transport water from the external water tank 50.

[0042] The vertical section 132 has a first end 1321 and a second end 1323 facing away from each other. The inner diameter of the first end 1321 is larger than the inner diameter of the second end 1323. The first end 1321 coincides with the water inlet 121, and the second end 1323 is connected to the horizontal section 134. "The first end 1321 coincides with the water inlet 121" can be understood as the inner diameter of the first end 1321 being basically the same as the inner diameter of the water inlet 121, with the inner walls of the first end 1321 and the water inlet 121 smoothly connected; or it can be understood as the first end 1321 being inserted into the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner, its end face being part of the bottom wall 12, and the water inlet 121 being the port of the first end 1321. The larger inner diameter of the first end 1321 compared to the second end 1323 ensures water intake efficiency while reducing the space occupied by the vertical section 132 in the interval space 301, thus reducing the impact on the thickness of the insulation layer 20.

[0043] This specification does not limit the connection method between the vertical section 132 and the inner tank bottom wall 12. For example, the vertical section 132 can be detachably connected to the inner tank bottom wall 12, or it can be integrally formed with the inner tank bottom wall 12 (for example, both are formed simultaneously using the same injection molding process, die casting process, or blow molding process during production). As an example, the inner tank bottom wall 12 can be provided with an installation sleeve, and the vertical section 132 can be inserted and matched with the inner tank bottom wall 12 through the installation sleeve on the inner tank bottom wall 12. In this case, the water inlet 121 is the port of the first end 1321; or, the installation sleeve is located on the side of the inner tank bottom wall 12 facing the spacer 301, and the first end 1321 abuts against the port of the installation sleeve and is fixed by a flange. In this case, the inner diameter of the water inlet 121 is the same as the inner diameter of the first end 1321. In this embodiment, the vertical section 132 is integrally formed and connected to the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner. The water inlet 121 is the port of the first end 1321. The integral connection not only improves the connection strength between the vertical section 132 and the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner, but also ensures the sealing between the two.

[0044] The ice-making device 100 may further include a movable seal 15, which is disposed at the water inlet 121. The density of the movable seal 15 is greater than the density of the liquid in the water storage space 101. The outer diameter of the movable seal 15 is greater than the inner diameter of the second end 1323 and smaller than the inner diameter of the first end 1321. Since the density of the movable seal 15 is greater than the density of the liquid in the water storage space 101, when there is liquid in the water storage space 101, the movable seal 15 will sink and block the water inlet 121 to seal it, preventing water from entering the water after the user removes the water tank 50 (e.g., after stopping the water supply). Figure 1 When (as shown), a large amount of water flows out of the water storage space 101. In the water inlet state, when the water in the water tank 50 enters the water storage space 101 through the water inlet pipe 13 and the water inlet 121, the water flow force pushes the movable seal 15 open from the water inlet 121 to allow water to enter smoothly.

[0045] In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the vertical section 132 decreases from the first end 1321 to the second end 1323, and the inner wall surface of the vertical section 132 is a conical surface. Therefore, in this embodiment, the vertical section 132 is approximately a hollow frustum shape, the inlet 121 is a circular inlet, and the vertical section 132 and the inlet 121 are approximately coaxial. The decreasing inner diameter of the vertical section 132 from the first end 1321 to the second end 1323 can further improve the sealing effect of the movable seal 15 on the water storage space 101. Even if the movable seal 15 undergoes slight deformation and enters the vertical section 132, the decreasing inner diameter of the vertical section 132 can still cooperate with the movable seal 15 to achieve a sealing effect. In addition, the decreasing inner diameter of the vertical section 132 can ensure a larger sealing contact area with the movable seal 15, making the seal more reliable.

[0046] This specification does not limit the specific structure of the movable seal 15. The movable seal 15 can be a sealing plug that conforms to the shape of the inner cavity of the vertical section 132, or it can be a sealing cover that covers the water inlet 121. In this embodiment, the movable seal 15 is an elastic sphere, which can be made of a material with elastic deformation capability, such as a soft material. As an example, the movable seal 15 can be a rubber sphere. When there is liquid in the water storage space 101, the movable seal 15 is at least partially embedded in the vertical section 132 and contacts the inner wall of the vertical section 132 to achieve a seal. When the water storage space 101 is not in a water-filled state, the movable seal 15 falls at the first end 1321 under its own weight. Since the movable seal 15 is an elastic sphere, under the action of gravity and the squeezing action of the inner wall of the vertical section 132, the movable seal 15 deforms and is at least partially embedded in the vertical section 132. The movable seal 15 fits tightly against the inner wall of the vertical section 132 to achieve a better sealing effect. The movable seal 15 can also be a silicone ball, a polyurethane ball, etc.

[0047] To prevent the water flow from pushing the movable seal 15 to other positions on the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank during water intake, thus affecting subsequent sealing, in this embodiment, the ice-making device 100 may further include a protective cover 60. The protective cover 60 is disposed within the water intake 101 and covers the water inlet 121. The protective cover 60 has multiple through holes for liquid flow to avoid affecting the water intake of the water intake 101. The movable seal 15 is located within the protective cover 60, which restricts the range of motion of the movable seal 15 relative to the inner tank 10, ensuring that the inner tank 10 does not fall to other positions on the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank during sealing, thus effectively achieving a seal.

[0048] The inner tank 10 may further include a first mounting sleeve 16, which is connected to the side of the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank facing the water storage space 101 and surrounds the outer periphery of the water inlet 121. The protective cover 60 may include a filter body 63 connected to a second mounting sleeve 61, which is fitted over the first mounting sleeve 16. The filter body 63 may be a filter screen, which serves to limit movement while also filtering the water entering the inner tank 10. In some embodiments, the filter body 63 may have a sandwich layer, which may be filled with filter materials such as surfactants and catalysts for filtering water entering the water storage space 101 through the water pipe 70 and removing impurities and foreign objects from the water.

[0049] The horizontal section 134 is generally arranged horizontally and intersects with the vertical section 132. One end of the horizontal section 134 is connected to and communicates with the peripheral wall of the vertical section 132, and the other end is connected to the water pipe 70, which passes through the water inlet 303. The water inlet 303 is opened horizontally on the side wall of the outer casing 30, and the horizontally opened water inlet 303 and the vertically opened water inlet 121 are connected by a roughly "L"-shaped water inlet submerged pipe 13. The water inlet 303 is set close to the bottom wall of the outer casing 30 to lower the water filling position. In the direction of gravity, the height of the water inlet 303 is lower than the height of the connecting port 5232, forming an initial water filling pressure difference, which can better overcome the air bubble resistance in the water pipe 70 and make the water filling speed relatively fast.

[0050] This specification does not limit the specific connection method between the vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134. For example, the vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134 can be integrally formed and connected, or they can be welded together or connected by other fasteners. In this embodiment, the vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134 are integrally formed and connected. The vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134 pass through the insulation layer 20 at the bottom of the inner liner 10, occupying only a small space in the insulation layer 20, thus relatively reducing the thinning area of ​​the insulation layer 20, obtaining a larger initial water drop, and improving the water filling speed.

[0051] In this embodiment, one end of the water pipe 70 is inserted into the transverse section 134, and the other end is connected to the mounting pipe 56 and, through the drain outlet 503, to the second housing 54 (e.g., Figure 4 (As shown) The water pipe 70 may include an inlet pipe 72 and a connecting pipe 74. The connecting pipe 74 connects the inlet pipe 72 and the mounting pipe 56. The inlet pipe 72 passes through the inlet mounting port 303 and is inserted into the transverse section 134. The connecting pipe 74 may be a flexible hose, which can adapt to the installation environment inside and outside the housing 110 without requiring special pre-reserved space.

[0052] Both the inlet pipe 72 and the transverse section 134 extend generally horizontally. The inlet pipe 72 and the transverse section 134 are interlocked with a certain depth, improving the sealing between them and reducing the possibility of foaming liquid entering the inlet pipe 72 and the transverse section 134 within the space 301. The ice-making equipment 100 may also include a sealing element 721, which is disposed between the transverse section 134 and the inlet pipe 72. The sealing element 721 is used to improve the sealing between the water pipe 70 and the inlet submerged pipe 13. In this embodiment, the sealing element 721 is a sealing ring, and an annular groove may be provided on the outer peripheral wall of the inlet pipe 72 for the installation of the sealing element 721.

[0053] In this embodiment, the outer casing 30 may include an outer casing body 32 and a third mounting sleeve 34. The outer casing body 32 is fitted over the inner liner 10, and the third mounting sleeve 34 is connected to the side of the outer casing body 32 facing away from the partition space 301 and surrounds the outer periphery of the water inlet 303. The third mounting sleeve 34 also extends generally horizontally, and the end of the water inlet pipe 72 away from the transverse section 134 passes through the third mounting sleeve 34. The inner wall of the third mounting sleeve 34 fits against the outer wall of the water inlet pipe 72. The water inlet pipe 72 and the third mounting sleeve 34 are fitted together, and the inner wall of the third mounting sleeve 34 fits against the outer wall of the water inlet pipe 72 with a certain fitting depth, which improves the sealing performance of the partition space 301 and reduces the possibility of foaming liquid leakage from the partition space 301.

[0054] When the ice-making equipment 100 provided in this application is in use, water in the water tank 50 enters the water storage space 101 through the water pipe 70 and the inlet 121. A space 301 is provided between the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30. An insulation layer 20 is installed within the space 301 to insulate the inner tank 10. The water pipe 70 passes through the inlet 303 into the outer shell 30, and the inlet submersible pipe 13 passes through the inlet 121 into the inner tank 10, with the water pipe 70 connected to the inlet submersible pipe 13. The inlet submersible pipe 13 is located within the space 301, and the inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank. Water is added from the bottom of the inner tank 10. The relatively large height difference between the inlet 121 and the water level in the water tank 50 increases the water pressure difference, which helps overcome the air bubble resistance in the water pipe 70, and to a certain extent avoids water blockage or intermittent water addition, thus improving the water addition speed.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0056] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An ice making apparatus, characterized by, The ice-making device comprises: an inner container provided with a water storage space, the inner container comprising an inner container bottom wall and a water inlet pipe, the inner container bottom wall being provided with a water inlet opening communicating with the water storage space, and the water inlet pipe being connected to a side of the inner container bottom wall away from the water storage space and communicating with the water inlet opening; an outer shell sleeved outside the inner container, a bottom wall of the outer shell being spaced apart from the inner container bottom wall to form a spacing space, the water inlet pipe being located in the spacing space, and the outer shell being provided with a water inlet mounting opening communicating with the spacing space; a heat preservation layer arranged in the spacing space; a water tank arranged outside the outer shell; and a water pipe connected between the water tank and the inner container, the water pipe being arranged through the water inlet mounting opening and communicating with the water storage space through the water inlet pipe and the water inlet opening.

2. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The water inlet pipe comprises a vertical section and a horizontal section connected to each other, the vertical section is coaxially arranged with the water inlet opening, and the horizontal section intersects with the vertical section, and the water pipe is arranged through the horizontal section.

3. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The vertical section has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the inner diameter of the first end is greater than that of the second end, the first end coincides with the water inlet opening, and the second end communicates with the horizontal section.

4. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The ice-making device further comprises a movable sealing member arranged at the water inlet opening, the density of the movable sealing member is greater than that of the liquid in the water storage space, and the outer diameter of the movable sealing member is greater than the inner diameter of the second end and less than the inner diameter of the first end.

5. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The inner diameter of the vertical section decreases from the first end to the second end, and the inner wall surface of the vertical section is a conical surface.

6. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The movable sealing member is an elastic ball, and when there is liquid in the water storage space, the movable sealing member is at least partially embedded in the vertical section and in contact with the inner wall of the vertical section to achieve sealing.

7. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The ice-making device further comprises a protective cover arranged in the water storage space and sleeved on the water inlet opening, the protective cover is provided with a plurality of through holes for liquid to flow through, and the movable sealing member is partially located in the protective cover.

8. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The inner container further comprises a first mounting sleeve connected to a side of the inner container bottom wall facing the water storage space and surrounding an outer periphery of the water inlet opening, and the protective cover has a second mounting sleeve sleeved outside the first mounting sleeve.

9. The ice-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The water pipe comprises a water inlet pipe and a connecting pipe connected between the water inlet pipe and the water tank, the water inlet pipe is arranged through the water inlet mounting opening and inserted into the water inlet pipe, and the ice-making device further comprises a sealing member arranged between the water inlet pipe and the water inlet pipe.

10. The ice making apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The outer shell comprises a body sleeved outside the inner container and a third mounting sleeve connected to a side of the body away from the spacing space and surrounding an outer periphery of the water inlet mounting opening, the water inlet pipe is arranged through the third mounting sleeve, and an inner wall of the third mounting sleeve is in contact with an outer wall of the water inlet pipe.

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