Shell module and ice making equipment
By setting a space between the bottom wall of the inner tank and the outer shell of the ice-making equipment, and placing the water inlet pipe within the space, the pressure difference is increased, which solves the problems of slow water supply and air bubble blockage, and achieves an efficient and pollution-free water supply process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-06
AI Technical Summary
When the water tank of existing ice-making equipment supplies water to the inner tank, the increased thickness of the insulation layer and the increased height of the water inlet result in a slower water supply speed and are prone to problems such as air bubble blockage and intermittent supply.
Design a shell module with a space between the bottom wall of the inner tank and the outer shell. The water inlet pipe is located in the space, and the water inlet is located at the bottom of the inner tank to increase the water pressure difference. The water outlet is connected through the drain pipe, and the drain plug is removable to prevent water accumulation and pollution.
It increases the water filling speed, avoids air bubble blockage and intermittent phenomena, ensures smooth water supply, and reduces the risk of contamination.
Smart Images
Figure CN223976259U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making technology, and in particular to a housing module and ice-making equipment. Background Technology
[0002] A shell module is a refrigeration device that cools water in a container to produce ice. The shell module's water tank supplies water to the inner liner for ice making. In conventional designs, the water supply pipe is usually connected to an inlet on the side wall of the inner liner. For insulation purposes, the inner liner is typically 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 raises the height of the inlet on the inner liner's side wall, reducing the water drop height and slowing down the filling speed. Utility Model Content
[0003] This application provides a housing module and an ice-making device.
[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a shell module, comprising an inner liner, an outer shell, and a drain plug. The outer shell is fitted over the inner liner, and the bottom wall of the outer shell and the bottom wall of the inner liner are spaced apart to form a gap. The inner liner has a water storage space and includes an inner liner bottom wall, a water inlet pipe, and a drain pipe. The inner liner bottom wall has a water inlet and an outlet communicating with the water storage space. The water inlet pipe is located within the gap and connected to the inner liner bottom wall, and communicates with the water inlet. The water inlet pipe includes a receiving end and a drain end, the receiving end being used to connect to a water source outside the shell module. The drain pipe is located on the side of the inner liner bottom wall opposite to the water storage space and communicates with the water outlet, and the drain pipe and the drain end are connected. The drain plug is detachably disposed in the drain pipe. When the drain plug is embedded in the drain pipe, the drain plug simultaneously closes the water outlet and the drain end.
[0005] In some alternative examples, the inlet pipe includes interconnected vertical and horizontal sections that intersect. The vertical section is connected between the bottom wall of the inner tank and the peripheral wall of the horizontal section, allowing the horizontal section to connect to the water storage space through the vertical section and the inlet. The water inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the horizontal section, respectively.
[0006] In some alternative examples, the axis of the transverse section intersects the axis of the drain pipe, and the transverse section is connected to the peripheral wall of the drain pipe through the drain end.
[0007] In some alternative examples, the housing module also includes a filter device disposed within the vertical section and extending into the horizontal section, with at least a portion of the filter device located between the water inlet and the water outlet.
[0008] In some alternative examples, the filter device includes a body, a first end, and a second end, which are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the body; the body passes through an inlet, a vertical section, and a horizontal section, the first end is located inside the horizontal section and contacts the inner wall of the horizontal section, and the second end is located inside the water storage space.
[0009] In some alternative examples, the housing module also includes a protective mesh cover, and the inner liner also includes a sleeve connected to the bottom wall of the inner liner facing the water storage space and surrounding the outer periphery of the water inlet, with the protective mesh cover covering the sleeve; the protective mesh cover also covers the filter device.
[0010] In some optional examples, the outer shell is provided with a first drainage mounting hole that connects the space between the two sections; the shell module also includes a base plate, which is located on the side of the outer shell away from the inner liner, and the base plate is provided with a second drainage mounting hole corresponding to the first drainage mounting hole, and a drain plug is sequentially inserted through the second drainage mounting hole, the first drainage mounting hole and the drain pipe.
[0011] In some alternative examples, one end of the drain pipe away from the bottom wall of the inner liner is inserted into the first drain mounting hole and is coaxial with and connected to the second drain mounting hole.
[0012] In some alternative examples, the drain plug includes a support rod, a sealing sleeve, and a connector. The sealing sleeve is fitted over the support rod, and the support rod with the sealing sleeve is inserted into the second drain mounting hole, the first drain mounting hole, and the drain pipe, such that the sealing sleeve is located between the pipe wall of the drain pipe and the support rod. The connector is connected to the support rod and abuts against the side of the base plate away from the outer casing.
[0013] In some optional examples, the housing module also includes a foamed insulation layer disposed within the space.
[0014] Secondly, this application also provides an ice-making device, including the aforementioned housing module, water tank, and water pipe. The water tank is disposed outside the housing module, and the water pipe is connected between the water tank and the inlet pipe.
[0015] When the shell module provided in this application is in use, water from an external water source enters the water storage space through the inlet pipe and inlet. A space is provided between the bottom wall of the inner tank and the bottom wall of the outer shell. The inlet pipe is located within this 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 external water source increases the water pressure difference, which helps overcome the air bubble resistance within the inlet pipe and, to some extent, avoids water filling blockages or intermittent flow, thus improving the water filling speed. The drain pipe connects to the outlet. When the inner tank needs to drain, the drain plug is removed, and the water in the inlet pipe can be discharged through the drain pipe, preventing water accumulation in the inlet pipe and thus avoiding contamination. Attached Figure Description
[0016] 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.
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice-making device provided in one embodiment of this application.
[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the housing module of the ice-making equipment shown.
[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the inner liner of the shell module shown.
[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a portion of the inner liner structure is shown.
[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the water tank.
[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram of part B.
[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the inner liner and outer shell of the shown housing module.
[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle.
[0025] Labeling Explanation: 100, Shell Module; 110, Housing; 1101, Shell; 10, Inner Tank; 101, Water Storage Space; 12, Inner Tank Bottom Wall; 121, Water Inlet; 123, Water Outlet; 13, Water Inlet Sink; 132, Vertical Section; 134, Horizontal Section; 1341, Water Inlet; 1343, Water Outlet; 1345, First Pipe Section; 1347, Second Pipe Section; 14, Inner Tank Peripheral Wall; 15, Drain Pipe; 16, Sleeve; 20, Foamed Insulation Layer; 30, Outer Shell; 301, Spacer Space; 303, Water Inlet Installation Port; 32, First Drain Installation Hole; 40, Drain Plug; 41, Support Rod; 43, Sealing Sleeve; 45, Connector; 47, Fixing Component; 50, Water Tank; 5 03. Drain outlet; 52. First box; 521. Box peripheral wall; 523. Box bottom wall; 5232. Connecting port; 525. Mating sleeve; 54. Second box; 541. Inner bottom wall; 5412. Installation channel; 56. Connecting pipe; 58. Water tank bottom plate; 581. Electrical cavity; 60. Filter device; 61. First end; 63. Main body; 65. Second end; 67. Protective mesh cover; 70. Water pipe; 72. Water inlet pipe; 74. Connecting pipe; 80. Bottom plate; 81. Second drain mounting hole; 90. Valve assembly; 92. Valve cover plate; 94. Driving component; 96. Elastic component; 98. Mounting component; 981. Threaded annular groove; 983. Mounting through hole; 200. Ice making equipment. Detailed Implementation
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] Please see Figure 1This application provides a housing module 100, which serves as a water storage container and can be used in an ice-making device 200 as its water storage container. The ice-making device 200 is used for making ice and can be installed inside a refrigerator, freezer, or other similar equipment, or it can be used independently.
[0029] This specification does not limit the specific structure of the ice-making device 200. For example, the ice-making device 200 may include a housing module 100, an ice-making mechanism (not shown in the figure), and a water supply mechanism (not shown in the figure). The housing module 100 may include a housing 110, which is placed on a horizontal 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 inside the housing 110, or an external water storage container 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.
[0030] Please also refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the shell module 100 may further include an inner liner 10, an outer shell 30, and a drain plug 40. The outer shell 30 is fitted over the inner liner 10, and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30 and the bottom wall of the inner liner 10 are spaced apart to form a space 301. The inner liner 10 has a water storage space 101 and includes an inner liner bottom wall 12, a water inlet pipe 13, and a drain pipe 15. The inner liner bottom wall 12 has a water inlet 121 and a water outlet 123 communicating with the water storage space 101. The water inlet pipe 13 is located within the space 301 and connected to the inner liner bottom wall 12, and communicates with the water inlet 121. The water inlet pipe 13, located within the space 301, includes a water receiving end 1341 and a drain end 1343. The water receiving end 1341 is used to connect to a water source outside the shell module 100. The drain pipe 15 is located on the side of the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank away from the water storage space 101 and is connected to the outlet 123. The drain pipe 15 is also connected to the drain end 1343. The drain plug 40 is detachably installed in the drain pipe 15. When the drain plug 40 is embedded in the drain pipe 15, the drain plug 40 simultaneously seals the outlet 123 and the drain end 1343.
[0031] In use, water from an external water source enters the water storage space 101 through the inlet pipe 13 and the inlet 121. A space 301 is provided between the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30. The inlet pipe 13 is located within the space 301, and the inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner. Water is added from the bottom of the inner liner 10. The relatively large height difference between the inlet 121 and the external water source increases the water pressure difference, which helps overcome the air bubble resistance within the inlet pipe 13, thus avoiding blockages or intermittent water filling and improving the water filling speed. The drain pipe 15 connects to the outlet 123. When the inner liner 10 needs to drain, the drain plug 40 is removed, and the water in the inlet pipe 13 can be discharged through the drain pipe 15, preventing water accumulation and pollution within the inlet pipe 13.
[0032] 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.
[0033] The water supply mechanism of the ice-making equipment 200 may further include an external water storage container disposed outside the housing 110, which serves as an external water source for the housing module 100. In this embodiment, the water supply mechanism of the ice-making equipment 200 may further include a water tank 50 and a water pipe 70. The water tank 50 is disposed outside the housing 30, and the water pipe 70 is connected between the water inlet pipe 13 and the water tank 50. The water tank 50 is used to supply water to the inner tank 10 through the water pipe 70.
[0034] Please also refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6The water tank 50 may include a first tank body 52 and a second tank body 54 stacked in the direction of gravity. The bottom of the first tank body 52 is provided with a connecting port 5232, which connects the first tank body 52 and the second tank body 54. The housing module 100 also includes a valve assembly 90, which is 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 body 52 to enter the second tank body 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 body 52, for example, at the end of the first tank body 52 away from the second tank body 54. The water outlet 503 is disposed in the second tank body 54. In this embodiment, the water outlet 503 is disposed on the side wall of the end of the second tank body 54 away from the first tank body 52, at the lowest point of the side wall of the second tank body 54.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] A drain outlet 503 is provided on the side wall of the second housing 54, and 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. To facilitate the connection of the water pipe 70, the water tank 50 may also include a connecting pipe 56 extending through both ends. The connecting 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 connecting pipe 56 protrudes relative to the outer peripheral wall of the second housing 54 to facilitate connection with the water pipe 70.
[0038] In this embodiment, a valve assembly 90 is disposed between the first housing 52 and the second housing 54, and is used to control the flow of water from the first housing 52 into 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 communication between the first housing 52 and the second housing 54, and water from the first housing 52 flows into 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 from 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] The driving component 94 can be a push rod or the output shaft of a driving source. In this embodiment, the driving component 94 is a driving rod. One end of the driving component 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 component 94 will drive the valve cover plate 92 to move upward to expose the communication port 5232. As an example, the driving component 94 can be driven by a driving source such as a cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. The water tank 50 may also include a water tank bottom plate 58, which is disposed on the side of the second tank 54 opposite to the first tank 52. The water tank bottom plate 58 and the inner bottom wall 541 are spaced apart to form an electrical cavity 581 for accommodating the aforementioned driving source.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] Please refer to it again. Figure 4 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, the inner liner 10 is disposed within the housing 110 (e.g., Figure 1 As shown, the inner liner 10 serves as an inner water tank for storing water within the housing module 100. The inner liner 10 may include an inner liner peripheral wall 14 and the aforementioned inner liner bottom wall 12. The inner liner peripheral wall 14 is arranged around and connected to the periphery of the inner liner bottom wall 12 to jointly define the water storage space 101. An inlet 121 and an outlet 123 are spaced apart on the inner liner bottom wall 12.
[0044] The outer shell 30 is fitted over the inner liner 10. The outer shell 30 may also include a peripheral wall and a bottom wall. The peripheral wall surrounds and connects to the periphery of the bottom wall. The peripheral wall surrounds and is spaced from the inner liner peripheral wall 14. The bottom wall is located below and spaced from the inner liner 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 liner 10. The outer shell 30 is provided with a water inlet 303 communicating with the space 301. A water pipe 70 passes through the water inlet 303 and is connected to the water storage space 101 through the water inlet submersible pipe 13 and the water inlet 121.
[0045] Please see Figure 2 The shell module 100 may also include a foamed insulation layer 20, which is disposed in the space 301 for insulating the inner liner 10. The foamed insulation layer 20 is a foamed filler, such as foam cotton, and is formed by foaming liquid foaming material.
[0046] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 7The water inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner and extends vertically through the bottom wall 12. 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 within the partition space 301. One end of the water inlet submersible pipe 13 is connected to the water pipe 70 and connected to the second housing 54 (e.g., through a connecting pipe 56) via a connecting pipe 56. Figure 5 (As shown) One end is connected to the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and the other end is connected to the water storage space 101 through the water inlet 121.
[0047] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the inlet pipe 13 may include a vertical section 132 and a horizontal section 134 connected to each other. The vertical section 132 is connected between the bottom wall 12 of the inner tank and the peripheral wall of the horizontal section 134, so that the horizontal section 134 is connected to the water storage space 101 through the vertical section 132 and the inlet 121. The vertical section 132 and the inlet 121 are arranged approximately coaxially, and the horizontal section 134 is connected between the vertical section 132 and the water pipe 70. The horizontal section 134 intersects with the vertical section 132. The vertical section 132 can extend approximately along the direction of gravity, and the horizontal section 134 extends approximately in the horizontal direction.
[0048] The vertical section 132 and the horizontal section 134 are designed to allow water to enter the inner tank 10 vertically from the bottom and to allow water to be supplied to the water tank 50 horizontally from the outside. This not only lowers the water inlet position to increase the inlet pressure difference but also improves the ability to supply water from the external water tank 50 (such as...). Figure 1 (As shown) The ease of installation of the water pipe 70 for water supply.
[0049] This specification does not limit the connection method between the vertical section 132 and the inner liner bottom wall 12. For example, the vertical section 132 can be detachably connected to the inner liner bottom wall 12, or it can be integrally formed with the inner liner bottom wall 12 (for example, both are formed simultaneously using the same injection molding process, die casting process, or blow molding process). As an example, the inner liner bottom wall 12 can be provided with an installation sleeve, and the vertical section 132 can be inserted into the inner liner bottom wall 12 through the installation sleeve; or, the installation sleeve is located on the side of the inner liner bottom wall 12 facing the spacer 301, and the vertical section 132 abuts against the port of the installation sleeve and is fixed by a flange. In this embodiment, the vertical section 132 is integrally formed with the inner liner bottom wall 12, which not only improves the connection strength between the vertical section 132 and the inner liner bottom wall 12, but also ensures the sealing performance between them.
[0050] The water inlet 1341 and the drain 1343 are located at opposite ends of the horizontal section 134, respectively. The water inlet 1341 is connected to the water pipe 70, and the vertical section 132 is connected to the horizontal section 134 and located between the water inlet 1341 and the drain 1343. In some embodiments, the height of the drain 1343 may be lower than the height of the water inlet 1341 to facilitate drainage. The horizontal section 134 is arranged generally in a horizontal direction, and the water inlet 303 is opened horizontally on the side wall of the housing 30. The horizontally opened water inlet 303 and the vertically opened water inlet 121 are connected by a water inlet submersible pipe 13. The water inlet 303 is located near the bottom wall of the housing 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.
[0051] 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 foamed insulation layer 20 at the bottom of the inner liner 10, occupying only a small space in the foamed insulation layer 20, thus relatively reducing the thinning area of the foamed insulation layer 20, obtaining a larger initial water drop, and improving the water filling speed.
[0052] In this embodiment, one end of the water pipe 70 is inserted into the water inlet 1341 of the transverse section 134, and the other end is connected to the connecting pipe 56 and communicates with the second housing 54 through the drain outlet 503. Figure 7 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 connecting pipe 56. The inlet pipe 72 passes through the inlet installation port 303 and is inserted into the transverse section 134. The connecting pipe 74 can be a flexible hose, which can adapt to the installation environment inside and outside the housing 110 without requiring special pre-reserved space. The inlet pipe 72 extends approximately horizontally, and the inlet pipe 72 and the transverse section 134 are interlocked with a certain fitting 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. A sealing ring may also be provided between the inlet pipe 72 and the transverse section 134 to further improve the sealing performance.
[0053] In this embodiment, the outlet 123 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner and extends vertically through the bottom wall 12. The drain pipe 15 is disposed within the space 301 and communicates with the outlet 123. The end of the drain pipe 15 away from the outlet 123 can communicate with the outside of the shell module 100 to allow drainage from the inner liner 10. The drain pipe 15 is arranged vertically and can be approximately coaxial with the outlet 123.
[0054] This specification does not limit the connection method between the drain pipe 15 and the inner liner bottom wall 12. For example, the drain pipe 15 can be detachably connected to the inner liner bottom wall 12, or it can be integrally formed with the inner liner bottom wall 12 (for example, both are formed simultaneously using the same injection molding process, die casting process, or blow molding process during production). In this embodiment, the drain pipe 15 is integrally formed with the inner liner bottom wall 12, which not only improves the connection strength between the drain pipe 15 and the inner liner bottom wall 12, but also ensures the sealing performance between them.
[0055] The transverse section 134 is connected to the peripheral wall of the drain pipe 15 via the drain end 1343, and the axis of the transverse section 134 intersects the axis of the drain pipe 15. This specification does not limit the specific structural form of the transverse section 134. For example, the transverse section 134 can be a long straight pipe with one axis, or it can be a bent pipe with two axes. As an example, if both the inlet 121 and the outlet 123 are located on the axis of the inlet mounting port 303, then the transverse section 134 is a long straight pipe with one axis. As another example, if the outlet 123 is not located on the axis of the inlet mounting port 303 to avoid other structures on the inner liner 10, then the transverse section 134 may include a first pipe section 1345 and a second pipe section 1347. The first pipe section 1345 connects the water pipe 70 and the vertical section 132, and the water inlet 1341 is located at the first pipe section 1345. The second pipe section 1347 is connected between the first pipe section 1345 and the drain pipe 15, and is located on the side of the vertical section 132 away from the water pipe 70. The drain end 1343 is provided on the second pipe section 1347. The axis of the first pipe section 1345 intersects the axis of the second pipe section 1347, and the first pipe section 1345 and the second pipe section 1347 can be integrally formed and connected. In this embodiment, the inner tank bottom wall 12, the vertical section 132, the horizontal section 134, and the drain pipe 15 are integrally formed and connected, ensuring the sealing between the inner tank 10, the water inlet pipe 13, and the drain pipe 15.
[0056] Please also refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8In this embodiment, the drain plug 40 is detachably disposed on the drain pipe 15 to block the drain pipe 15 and prevent water leakage when not draining. The outer casing 30 is provided with a first drain mounting hole 32 communicating with the space 301. The housing 110 may include a base plate 80 and a housing 1101. The inner liner 10 and the outer casing 30 are both disposed inside the housing 1101. The base plate 80 is connected to the bottom of the housing 1101 and is located on the side of the outer casing 30 away from the inner liner 10. The base plate 80 is provided with a second drain mounting hole 81 corresponding to the first drain mounting hole 32. The drain plug 40 is sequentially disposed through the second drain mounting hole 81, the first drain mounting hole 32, and the drain pipe 15. The drain plug 40 can block the outlet 123 and the transverse section 134 at the same time. On the one hand, it prevents water in the inner liner 10 from entering the transverse section 134 through the drain pipe 15 and depositing to form stains; on the other hand, it prevents dirt from accidentally depositing in the transverse section 134 and entering the inner liner 10 through the drain pipe 15. The drain plug 40 is sequentially inserted through the base plate 80 and the outer casing 30, making it easy for the user to pull out the drain plug 40 from outside the casing 110 to drain the water.
[0057] In some embodiments, one end of the drain pipe 15 away from the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner is inserted into the first drain mounting hole 32 and is coaxial with and connected to the second drain mounting hole 81. The drain pipe 15 passes through the first drain mounting hole 32 into the outer shell 30, which reduces the possibility of water entering the foaming space 301 during drainage, and at the same time avoids the phenomenon of foaming liquid entering the drain pipe 15 when the foamed insulation layer 20 is foamed.
[0058] The drain plug 40 may include a support rod 41, a sealing sleeve 43, and a connector 45. The sealing sleeve 43 is fitted over the support rod 41, and the support rod 41 with the sealing sleeve 43 inserted passes through the second drain mounting hole 81, the first drain mounting hole 32, and the drain pipe 15, so that the sealing sleeve 43 is located between the pipe wall of the drain pipe 15 and the support rod 41. The connector 45 is connected to the support rod 41 and abuts against the side of the base plate 80 away from the outer shell 30. The sealing sleeve 43 may be made of a material with a certain degree of elasticity, such as a rubber sleeve or a silicone sleeve. The sealing sleeve 43 is located between the pipe wall of the drain pipe 15 and the support rod 41. Under the pressure of the pipe wall of the drain pipe 15 and the support rod 41, the sealing sleeve 43 deforms, thereby improving the sealing effect of the drain plug 40 on the drain pipe 15. The connector 45 is located outside the housing 1101 and abuts against the bottom plate 80 on the side away from the outer shell 30. The connector 45 serves as a limit to prevent the drain plug 40 from entering the inner liner 10 through the drain pipe 15. On the other hand, the connector 45 also makes it easy for the user to insert and remove the drain plug 40.
[0059] To prevent the connector 45 from affecting the stable placement of the base plate 80, in this embodiment, the base plate 80 protrudes towards the inner liner 10 to form a groove on its side near the placement plane, and the connector 45 is accommodated in this groove. Correspondingly, the base plate of the outer casing 30 also protrudes towards the inner liner 10 to adapt to the shape of the base plate 80. In some embodiments, the drain plug 40 may further include a fixing member 47, which is connected between the connector 45 and the inner liner 10. The fixing member 47 is used to further secure the drain plug 40 and prevent the drain plug 40 from detaching from the drain pipe 15 without external force.
[0060] In this embodiment, the housing module 100 may further include a filter device 60, which is disposed within the vertical section 132 and extends into the horizontal section 134. At least a portion of the structure of the filter device 60 is located between the water inlet 1341 and the drain 1343. The filter device 60 being placed within the vertical section 132 prevents impurities from the external water tank 50 from entering the inner liner 10 and the drain pipe 15.
[0061] The filter device 60 may include a main body 63, a first end 61, and a second end 65, which are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the main body 63. The main body 63 passes through the water inlet 121, the vertical section 132, and the horizontal section 134. The first end 61 is located within the horizontal section 134 and contacts the inner wall of the horizontal section 134, while the second end 65 is located within the water storage space 101. The main body 63 may be filled with filter materials such as surfactants and catalysts, which are used to filter water entering the water storage space 101 through the water pipe 70, removing impurities and foreign objects from the water. The first end 61, located within the horizontal section 134 and in contact with the inner wall of the horizontal section 134, can prevent impurities from the external water tank 50 from entering the drain pipe 15. In addition, if dirt accidentally accumulates in the drain pipe 15, the filter device 60 can also prevent dirt from entering the inner tank 10.
[0062] The shell module 100 may further include a protective mesh cover 67, and the inner liner 10 may further include a sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 is connected to the side of the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner facing the water storage space 101 and surrounds the outer periphery of the water inlet 121. The sleeve 16 extends vertically. The protective mesh cover 67 covers the sleeve 16. The filter device 60 is located inside the protective mesh cover 67. The protective mesh cover 67 limits the filter device 60 and ensures the installation stability of the filter device 60. The protective mesh cover 67 may have multiple through holes for liquid flow to avoid affecting the water inlet of the water storage space 101. The protective mesh cover 67 may also be a filter mesh cover, which can perform secondary filtration of the water entering the inner liner 10 while limiting its movement.
[0063] When the shell module 100 provided in this application is in use, water from an external water source enters the water storage space 101 through the inlet pipe 13 and the inlet 121. A space 301 is provided between the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner and the bottom wall of the outer shell 30. The inlet pipe 13 is located within the space 301, and the inlet 121 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the inner liner. Water is added from the bottom of the inner liner 10. The height difference between the inlet 121 and the water level of the external water source is relatively large, thereby increasing the water pressure difference. This helps overcome the air bubble resistance within the inlet pipe 13, and to a certain extent avoids water blockage or intermittent water addition, thus improving the water addition speed. The drain pipe 15 connects to the outlet 123. When the inner liner 10 needs to drain, the drain plug 40 is removed, and the water in the inlet pipe 13 can be discharged through the drain pipe 15, thus preventing water accumulation in the inlet pipe 13 and avoiding pollution.
[0064] 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.
[0065] 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. A housing module, characterized by The shell module comprises an inner container, an outer shell, and a drain plug, the outer shell is sleeved on the outer container, the bottom wall of the outer shell and the bottom wall of the inner container are spaced apart to form a spacing space; the inner container is provided with a water storage space, and the inner container comprises an inner container bottom wall, a water inlet pipe, and a drain pipe; The inner container bottom wall is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet communicating with the water storage space; The water inlet pipe is located in the spacing space and is connected to the inner container bottom wall and communicates with the water inlet; the water inlet pipe comprises a water inlet end and a drain end, and the water inlet end is used to connect a water source outside the shell module; The drain pipe is arranged on the side of the inner container bottom wall away from the water storage space and communicates with the water outlet, and the drain pipe and the drain end communicate; The drain plug is detachably arranged in the drain pipe, and when the drain plug is embedded in the drain pipe, the drain plug simultaneously closes the water outlet and the drain end.
2. The housing module of claim 1, wherein The water inlet pipe comprises a vertical section and a horizontal section connected to each other, the vertical section and the horizontal section intersect, the vertical section is connected between the inner container bottom wall and the peripheral wall of the horizontal section, so that the horizontal section communicates with the water storage space through the vertical section, the water inlet, and the water inlet end and the drain end are located at opposite ends of the horizontal section.
3. The housing module of claim 2, wherein, The axis of the horizontal section and the axis of the drain pipe intersect, and the horizontal section is connected to the peripheral wall of the drain pipe through the drain end.
4. The housing module of claim 2, wherein, The shell module further comprises a filter device, the filter device is arranged in the vertical section and extends into the horizontal section, and at least part of the structure of the filter device is located between the water inlet end and the drain end.
5. The housing module of claim 4, wherein, The filter device comprises a body portion, a first end, and a second end, the first end and the second end are arranged at opposite ends of the body portion respectively; the body portion is arranged through the water inlet, the vertical section, and the horizontal section, the first end is located in the horizontal section and in contact with the inner wall of the horizontal section, and the second end is located in the water storage space.
6. The housing module of claim 4, wherein, The shell module further comprises a protective mesh cover, and the inner container further comprises a sleeve, the sleeve is connected to the side of the inner container bottom wall facing the water storage space and surrounds the outer periphery of the water inlet, and the protective mesh cover is arranged outside the sleeve; the protective mesh cover is also arranged outside the filter device.
7. The housing module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The outer shell is provided with a first drain mounting hole communicating with the spacing space; the shell module further comprises a bottom plate, the bottom plate is arranged on the side of the outer shell away from the inner container, the bottom plate is provided with a second drain mounting hole corresponding to the first drain mounting hole, and the drain plug is arranged through the second drain mounting hole, the first drain mounting hole, and the drain pipe in sequence.
8. The housing module of claim 7, wherein, One end of the drain pipe away from the inner container bottom wall is inserted into the first drain mounting hole and coaxially and communicates with the second drain mounting hole.
9. The housing module of claim 8, wherein, The drain plug comprises a supporting rod, a sealing sleeve and a connecting head. The sealing sleeve is sleeved on the supporting rod. The supporting rod, on which the sealing sleeve is sleeved, penetrates through the second drain mounting hole, the first drain mounting hole and the drain pipe, so that the sealing sleeve is located between the pipe wall of the drain pipe and the supporting rod. The connecting head is connected to the supporting rod and abuts against the side of the bottom plate away from the shell.
10. The housing module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The shell module further comprises a foamed thermal insulation layer arranged in the spacing space.
11. An ice making apparatus characterized by, The shell module comprises: The shell module according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a water tank arranged outside the shell module; and a water pipe connected between the water tank and the water inlet sink.