Inner-support-free snowflake ice maker shell structure

Abstract

An inner-support-free snowflake ice maker shell structure comprises a bottom plate, the front end and the rear end of the bottom plate extend upwards to be provided with a front plate and a rear plate, and the left end and the right end of the bottom plate extend upwards to be provided with side plates. Two longitudinal beams are installed on the top of the front plate, the front ends of the longitudinal beams extend forwards, the rear ends of the longitudinal beams are connected with the inner surface of the rear plate, and the refrigeration roller is installed at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams in an overhanging mode and protrudes out of the front plate forwards. Cover plates cover the two sides and the tops of the two longitudinal beams, and panels are mounted at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams; a plurality of heat dissipation holes are formed in the rear plate and the side plates, and a convection channel is formed by the heat dissipation holes and a heat dissipation fan arranged in the shell. The utility model has the beneficial effects that the two longitudinal beams are arranged at the top of the front plate, and the refrigeration roller is directly arranged at the front ends of the longitudinal beams in an overhanging manner, so that the longitudinal beams are skillfully used as a main bearing structure, and the weight and the operation load of the refrigeration roller are effectively borne.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, specifically a shell structure for a snow ice machine without internal support. Background Technology

[0002] A shaved ice machine is a common commercial or household refrigeration device. It uses a refrigeration system to make water freeze quickly on the outer surface of a low-temperature refrigeration drum, and then a scraping mechanism scrapes off the thin ice to form snowflake-like shaved ice. It is widely used in catering, cold drink making and other occasions.

[0003] Currently, to ensure the stability and strength of the overall structure, especially to effectively support the heavy, vibrating core components such as the refrigeration drum, compressor, and condenser, the outer shell of commercially available shaved ice machines is typically designed with complex structures. Traditional shaved ice machine shells are generally composed of a base plate, front plate, rear plate, and side plates. However, the structural strength and rigidity of this cavity, formed solely by these outer plates, are often insufficient to stably support all internal components, particularly making it difficult to guarantee the stable operation of the refrigeration drum under high-precision conditions.

[0004] Therefore, in existing technologies, a common design approach is to install multiple internal support plates or internal support frames inside the outer shell of the shaved ice machine. These internal support structures are typically welded or bolted together between the front and rear plates, the left and right side plates, or the bottom and top plates, forming an internal "skeleton." Their main function is:

[0005] Enhance the overall rigidity of the outer casing: prevent the outer casing from deforming during use and transportation.

[0006] Provides mounting base surface for components: serving as a mounting fulcrum or platform for components such as refrigeration drums, compressors, and motors.

[0007] Distribute and transfer loads: distribute the weight of the internal core components and the dynamic loads during operation more evenly across the entire outer shell structure.

[0008] However, this widely adopted design scheme with internal bracing has the following significant drawbacks:

[0009] Complex structure and numerous components: Adding an internal support structure means adding extra plates and connectors, which increases the variety and number of parts in the entire shell, making the structure more complex.

[0010] High production costs: More components mean higher material costs. At the same time, the processing (cutting, stamping, bending, etc.) and installation (welding, tightening bolts, etc.) of the internal support structure require additional processes and time, significantly increasing the labor and time costs of manufacturing and assembly.

[0011] Assembly is difficult: Installing multiple internal support plates within a limited shell space is relatively difficult in terms of positioning and fastening, requiring high levels of assembly technology and worker skills, and is prone to assembly errors.

[0012] Occupying internal space: The internal support structure itself occupies a certain amount of internal volume, which may limit the layout flexibility of other internal functional components, such as pipes and electrical components, and may also obstruct internal airflow, which is not conducive to the optimized design of the heat dissipation system. Therefore, it is necessary to make further improvements to it. Utility Model Content

[0013] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a new type of snow ice machine shell structure that is simple in structure, easy to use, requires no internal support, and at the same time ensures sufficient strength and stability.

[0014] The purpose of this utility model is achieved through the following means: a shell structure for a snow ice machine without internal support, which includes a bottom plate, a front plate and a rear plate extending upward from the front and rear ends of the bottom plate, and side plates extending upward from the left and right ends of the bottom plate.

[0015] Two longitudinal beams are installed on the top of the front panel. The front end of the longitudinal beams extends forward and the rear end of the longitudinal beams is connected to the inner surface of the rear panel. The cooling roller is cantilevered and the front end of the two longitudinal beams protrudes forward from the front panel.

[0016] Cover plates are placed on both sides and top of the two longitudinal beams, and panels are installed at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams.

[0017] The rear plate and side plate are provided with several heat dissipation holes, which form a convection channel with the cooling fan located inside the outer casing.

[0018] Furthermore, a heat sink is installed on the inner side of the rear panel, and a cooling fan is installed on the inner side of the heat sink.

[0019] Furthermore, a reinforcing plate is also installed on the inner side of the side plate, and the front and rear sides of the reinforcing plate are connected to the front plate and the rear plate respectively.

[0020] Furthermore, the reinforcing plate is provided with heat dissipation holes.

[0021] Furthermore, the heat dissipation holes of the reinforcing plate overlap with the heat dissipation holes on the side plate.

[0022] Furthermore: the bottom of the longitudinal beam extends towards the side plate and is provided with a wing plate, which is connected to the top of the front plate and the side plate; the front end of the longitudinal beam extends outward with an end plate, and the panel covers the end plate.

[0023] Furthermore: the bottom of the base plate is equipped with several support feet, the top of the base plate is equipped with a compressor, and the cooling fan is installed behind the compressor.

[0024] Furthermore, the two longitudinal beams are also connected laterally by stiffening plates, and the cooling roller is located in front of the stiffening plate (14).

[0025] Furthermore, a crossbeam is also connected transversely between the two longitudinal beams, the refrigeration drum is located in front of the crossbeam, and a dust cover is installed on the crossbeam and above the refrigeration drum.

[0026] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: 1. Simple structure, low production cost, and improved market competitiveness.

[0027] 2. This utility model cleverly utilizes two longitudinal beams at the top of the front panel, and cantilevered the refrigeration drum directly to the front end of the longitudinal beams, effectively using the longitudinal beams as the main load-bearing structure to support the weight and operating load of the refrigeration drum. This design completely eliminates the need for multiple complex internal support plates or internal support frames used for connection and support in traditional shaved ice machines. This significantly simplifies the overall structure of the shell, reduces the number of parts, thereby greatly reducing material costs and the complexity and time required for assembly processes such as sheet metal processing, welding, or screwing, effectively reducing the overall manufacturing cost of the product and improving production efficiency.

[0028] 3. By eliminating the internal support structure, the interior of the casing gains a more regular and spacious area. This not only provides greater flexibility for the layout of other internal components such as the compressor, radiator, cooling fan, refrigeration pipes, and electrical wiring, facilitating optimized design, but also reduces internal airflow obstruction, which helps to create smoother heat dissipation channels and improves heat dissipation performance.

[0029] 4. The simplified structure means fewer assembly steps and lower assembly difficulty. At the same time, the openness of the internal space greatly improves the accessibility for the installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of internal core components, such as the refrigeration drum and compressor, shortening maintenance time and reducing maintenance difficulty.

[0030] 5. By using longitudinal beams with sufficient strength and connecting their rear ends to the rear plate, and cantilevered support for the refrigeration drum at the front end, and selectively setting reinforcing plates on the inner side of the side plate to further enhance lateral stability, the outer shell is ensured to have sufficient structural strength and rigidity even without internal support, so as to stably and reliably support core components such as the refrigeration drum, and ensure the normal operation and long-term reliability of the shaved ice machine. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 , 2 This is a rendering of the final assembly of this utility model.

[0032] Figure 3 , 4 This is an exploded view of the structure of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure behind the concealed cover plate of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A shell structure for a snow ice machine without internal support includes a base plate 1. A front plate 2 and a rear plate 3 are installed upwards at the front and rear ends of the base plate 1, and side plates 4 are installed upwards at the left and right ends of the base plate 1. Two longitudinal beams 5 are installed on the top of the front plate 2. The front ends of the longitudinal beams 5 extend forward, and the rear ends of the longitudinal beams 5 are connected to the inner surface of the rear plate 3. A cooling roller 6 is cantilevered and installed at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams 5, protruding forward from the front plate 2. Cover plates 7 cover the sides and top of the two longitudinal beams 5, and a panel 8 is installed at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams 5. Several heat dissipation holes 9 are provided on the rear plate 3 and the side plates 4, forming a convection channel with a cooling fan 10 located inside the shell.

[0035] In this case, the base plate 1, front plate 2, rear plate 3, and side plates 4 together form the basic outer shell of the shaved ice machine, housing the internal working components. Its core support structure consists of two longitudinal beams 5. These beams are installed on top of the front plate 2 and connect rearward to the inner surface of the rear plate 3, forming a sturdy "keel" running through the upper part of the machine. The most crucial function is that the refrigeration roller 6 no longer requires internal support plates or frames; instead, it is directly cantilevered at the front end of these two longitudinal beams 5. This means that the longitudinal beams 5 bear the main weight of the refrigeration roller and the dynamic load during operation. The design of the roller 6 protruding forward from the front plate 2 facilitates user access and scraping of shaved ice.

[0036] Meanwhile, cover plate 7 covers both sides and top of longitudinal beam 5, and panel 8 is installed at the front end of longitudinal beam 5. Together they enclose the longitudinal beam area, forming a complete and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0037] Furthermore, in this case, the heat dissipation holes 9 on the rear panel 3 and side panel 4, together with the internal cooling fan 10, constitute a basic air convection heat dissipation channel. When the fan is working, it can force airflow through the inside of the casing, exchange heat with the external environment through the heat dissipation holes 9, and remove the heat generated by the operation of the equipment.

[0038] Compared to traditional technologies, this design utilizes the cantilevered support design of longitudinal beam 5, eliminating the need for traditional internal support plates or frames. This significantly simplifies the outer shell structure, reduces the number of components and assembly steps, and substantially lowers material and manufacturing costs. Eliminating the internal support structure creates a more complete and open internal space, facilitating the layout and installation of other internal components such as the compressor and piping. The simplified structure also makes the assembly process simpler and faster. Furthermore, the increased internal space facilitates subsequent maintenance and repair of core components such as the refrigeration drum.

[0039] In one embodiment, a heat sink 11 is installed on the inner side of the rear panel 3, and a cooling fan is installed on the inner side of the heat sink 11. The heat sink is installed on the inner side of the rear panel 3. When the fan is running, it actively forces the air inside the casing to pass through the fins of the heat sink 11. The air carries away its heat as it flows through the heat sink, and then passes through the heat dissipation holes 9 on the rear panel.

[0040] Compared with traditional technologies, this case uses a fan to directly act on the radiator 11, forming a forced air cooling structure. Compared with relying solely on natural convection or having the fan blow air elsewhere, this can more effectively remove the heat accumulated in the radiator 11, ensuring the efficient operation of the cooling system and improving the cooling effect and equipment stability.

[0041] In one embodiment, a reinforcing plate 12 is also installed on the inner side of the side plate 4, and the front and rear sides of the reinforcing plate 12 are connected to the front plate 2 and the rear plate 3 respectively.

[0042] In this case, although the longitudinal beam 5 provides the main vertical and longitudinal support, the lateral stability of the shell may still need to be strengthened, especially in the absence of internal bracing. Therefore, in this case, the reinforcing plate 12 is installed on the inner side of the side plate 4, and its two ends are connected to the front plate 2 and the rear plate 3 respectively, which is equivalent to forming an additional "stiffening rib" or "connecting beam" on the side. It can effectively resist lateral pressure or vibration, prevent deformation of the side plate 4, and further enhance the structural rigidity and stability of the entire shell frame. Without adding complex internal supports, the overall rigidity of the shell is effectively improved by the simple reinforcing plate 12, ensuring the structural stability of the equipment during operation and handling.

[0043] In one embodiment, the reinforcing plate 12 is provided with heat dissipation holes 9. The reinforcing plate 12 is a solid sheet material installed inside the side plate 4. Without modification, it might block the heat dissipation holes 9 on the side plate 4. Therefore, by also providing heat dissipation holes 9 on the reinforcing plate 12, air can still flow through the area formed by the side plate 4 and the reinforcing plate 12, maintaining unobstructed lateral heat dissipation channels. While increasing structural strength through the reinforcing plate 12, the presence of heat dissipation holes 9 avoids sacrificing heat dissipation performance due to the addition of structural components, ensuring the effectiveness of the lateral heat dissipation channels.

[0044] In one embodiment, the heat dissipation holes 9 of the reinforcing plate 12 overlap with the heat dissipation holes 9 on the side plate 4. By precisely aligning the heat dissipation holes, airflow resistance is minimized, maximizing the heat dissipation efficiency through the side plate and facilitating the rapid removal of internal heat.

[0045] In one embodiment, the bottom of the longitudinal beam 5 extends toward the side plate and is provided with a wing plate 51, which is connected to the front plate 2 and the top of the side plate. The front end of the longitudinal beam 5 extends outward with an end plate 52, and the panel 8 covers the end plate 52.

[0046] In this embodiment, the flange 51 extends from the bottom of the longitudinal beam 5 toward the side plate 4 and ultimately connects to the top of the front plate 2 and the side plate 4. This flange 51 serves to connect and transition the longitudinal beam 5 to the upper edge of the housing. It is a horizontal or angled flange structure, which helps to distribute part of the load borne by the longitudinal beam 5 more evenly onto the front plate 2 and the side plate 4, and may also provide a mounting base or reinforce the connection for the cover plate 7. The end plate 52 extends outward from the front end of the longitudinal beam 5, providing a mounting support surface for the panel 8. The panel 8 covers the end plate 52, completing the front-end closure and aesthetic design.

[0047] Compared to traditional techniques, the wing plate 51 strengthens the connection between the longitudinal beam and the top of the front and side plates, which helps in the transmission and dispersion of forces and improves the overall structural integrity. The end plate 52 provides a standardized installation position for the panel 8, ensuring the firmness and accuracy of the panel installation.

[0048] In one embodiment, a plurality of support feet 14 are installed at the bottom of the base plate 1, a compressor 13 is installed at the top of the base plate 1, and a cooling fan 10 is installed behind the compressor 13.

[0049] In this embodiment, support feet 14 are installed at the bottom of the base plate 1 to lift the entire device off the placement surface, providing stable support and potentially facilitating bottom airflow or drainage. Meanwhile, the cooling fan 10 is installed behind the compressor 13. This arrangement helps guide cooling airflow through the side plate into the housing, first passing through the compressor 13 for cooling, and then flowing to the radiator 11 and ventilation holes 9 for exhaust. This prioritizes cooling the compressor, improving the targeting and efficiency of the cooling system and ensuring optimal compressor operation.

[0050] In one embodiment, a stiffening rib 14 is laterally connected between the two longitudinal beams 5, and the cooling roller 6 is located in front of the stiffening rib 14. The stiffening rib serves to laterally connect the two longitudinal beams. At the same time, the stiffening rib is located below the material cylinder 17, which provides support for the material cylinder and prevents the material cylinder from squeezing the cover plate and causing the cover plate to deform.

[0051] In one embodiment, a crossbeam 15 is transversely connected between the two longitudinal beams 5, and the refrigeration roller 6 is located in front of the crossbeam 15. A dust cover 16 is installed on the crossbeam 15 and above the refrigeration roller. The two longitudinal beams, stiffening plates, and crossbeam form a quadrilateral structure, and the refrigeration roller is installed inside this quadrilateral structure, providing good support and fixation for the refrigeration roller, preventing resonance and ensuring long-term stable and efficient operation. Simultaneously, the crossbeam also supports the dust cover, facilitating cleaning of the refrigeration roller and its bottom after the dust cover is removed.

[0052] In summary, this design utilizes two longitudinal beams 5, installed on the top of the front panel and connected to the rear panel, to directly support the refrigeration drum 6 in a cantilevered manner, replacing the traditional internal support frame and achieving a "no internal support" design. This simplifies the structure, reduces costs, and increases the usable internal space. Combined with a cooling fan 10 installed inside the radiator 11 and behind the compressor 13, a forced convection cooling channel is formed. This channel prioritizes cooling the compressor 13 and then efficiently dissipates the heat from the radiator 11 through aligned heat dissipation holes, ensuring stable equipment operation and thus allowing for widespread application.

[0053] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model.

Claims

1. A self-supporting snow cone machine housing structure, characterized by: It includes a base plate (1), a front plate (2) and a rear plate (3) extending upward from the front and rear ends of the base plate (1), and side plates (4) extending upward from the left and right ends of the base plate (1). Two longitudinal beams (5) are installed on the top of the front plate (2). The front end of the longitudinal beams (5) extends forward and the rear end of the longitudinal beams (5) is connected to the inner surface of the rear plate (3). The cooling roller (6) is cantilevered and installed at the front end of the two longitudinal beams (5) and protrudes forward from the front plate (2). Cover plates (7) are placed on both sides and top of the two longitudinal beams (5), and panels (8) are installed at the front ends of the two longitudinal beams (5).

2. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: The aforementioned The rear plate (3) and side plate (4) are provided with several heat dissipation holes (9), which form a convection channel with the heat dissipation fan (10) set inside the outer shell.

3. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: A radiator (11) is installed on the inner side of the rear plate (3), and a cooling fan (10) is installed on the inner side of the radiator (11).

4. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: A reinforcing plate (12) is also installed on the inner side of the side plate (4), and the front and rear sides of the reinforcing plate (12) are connected to the front plate (2) and the rear plate (3) respectively.

5. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 4, wherein: The reinforcing plate (12) is provided with heat dissipation holes (9).

6. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 5, wherein: The heat dissipation holes (9) of the reinforcing plate (12) overlap with the heat dissipation holes (9) on the side plate (4).

7. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: The bottom of the longitudinal beam (5) extends toward the side plate and is provided with a wing plate (51). The wing plate (51) is connected to the front plate (2) and the top of the side plate. The front end of the longitudinal beam (5) extends outward with an end plate (52). The panel (8) covers the end plate (52).

8. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: The bottom of the base plate (1) is equipped with several support feet, and the top of the base plate (1) is equipped with a compressor (13). The cooling fan (10) is installed behind the compressor (13).

9. A snow cone machine housing structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: The two longitudinal beams (5) are also connected laterally by a stiffening plate (14), and the cooling roller (6) is located in front of the stiffening plate (14).

10. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein: A crossbeam (15) is also connected transversely between the two longitudinal beams (5). The refrigeration drum (6) is located in front of the crossbeam (15). A dust cover (16) is also installed on the crossbeam (15) and above the refrigeration drum.

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