Ice maker capable of rapidly making ice

Abstract

The utility model provides an ice maker capable of quickly making ice, which comprises a refrigeration bin and a frame which are distributed up and down, connecting shafts hinged to the top of the frame are connected with the top of the refrigeration bin, a rocker arm assembly mounted at the end of a certain connecting shaft is hinged to the edge of a turntable, and the turntable is mounted on a power output shaft of a motor; a refrigerating unit and an evaporation mechanism which are communicated and connected are arranged at the end of the frame, the evaporation mechanism conveys low-temperature gas to the refrigerating bin, and the gas separated from the refrigerating bin moves to the gas inlet end of the evaporation mechanism. The refrigeration bin is hinged to the frame through the connecting shaft, and the connecting shaft is connected with the edge of the rotary disc installed on the power output shaft of the motor through the rocker arm assembly, so that under the condition that the motor drives the rotary disc to rotate, the rocker arm assembly is controlled to move periodically, the refrigeration bin is forced to move in a reciprocating mode, and liquid on the inner side of the refrigeration bin is forced to shake; and heat transfer is accelerated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and in particular to an ice maker that makes ice quickly. Background Technology

[0002] The demand for ice is widespread in many fields, such as the catering industry, medical industry, scientific research experiments, and daily life. However, traditional ice-making equipment has many significant shortcomings, which seriously restricts its efficiency and application scope.

[0003] The uneven cooling rate of water inside and outside the ice-making cavity is a key issue affecting ice-making efficiency. From a thermodynamic perspective, traditional ice makers mostly use indirect contact refrigeration. Refrigeration components such as evaporators and condensers typically only contact the inner wall or a localized area of ​​the ice-making cavity. This structure inherently limits heat exchange. Specifically, when the refrigeration system starts, water molecules near the refrigeration source experience a decrease in kinetic energy first, rapidly crystallizing into ice once the temperature reaches freezing point, forming a dense solid ice layer. Meanwhile, water further away from the refrigeration source experiences a longer heat conduction path and limited convection, making it difficult for heat to dissipate quickly. Its cooling rate is only 1 / 3 to 1 / 5 of that near the refrigeration source, resulting in a significant temperature gradient within the ice-making cavity—the temperature near the refrigeration source can reach -15°C, while the water at the far end remains at 5-8°C.

[0004] This uneven cooling process has multiple negative effects: on the one hand, the ice-making cycle is significantly lengthened. Experimental tests show that the time required for a single ice-making process by a typical commercial ice maker is 40%-60% longer than the theoretical value. On the other hand, due to the large differences in freezing time between different regions, the ice blocks will exhibit obvious stratification. The middle layer, due to its slow solidification in the later stages, forms a loose and porous structure with a compressive strength of only 60% of that of a standard ice block, making it extremely prone to breakage during transportation or use.

[0005] Furthermore, energy waste is a particularly prominent issue. In traditional ice-making equipment, the low-temperature gas used to lower the temperature of the ice-making chamber is usually directly discharged after completing the initial heat exchange. Although these gases have released some cooling capacity, they remain at a relatively low temperature, and the remaining cooling capacity is wasted without effective utilization. This extensive cooling capacity management model leads to the equipment needing to continuously consume a large amount of energy to maintain the cooling effect, significantly increasing operating costs. For commercial establishments that rely heavily on ice-making equipment, the high energy consumption becomes an operational burden and contradicts the current development concept of green energy conservation. Utility Model Content

[0006] This utility model discloses an ice maker for rapid ice making, which mainly solves the problems of needing to improve the efficiency of the refrigeration unit and reduce energy consumption.

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0008] This utility model provides an ice maker for rapid ice making, including a refrigeration chamber and a frame distributed vertically. A connecting shaft hinged to the top of the frame is connected to the top of the refrigeration chamber, and a rocker arm assembly installed at one end of the connecting shaft is hinged to the edge of a turntable. The turntable is mounted on the power output shaft of a motor. A refrigeration unit and an evaporation mechanism are connected and communicate with each other at the end of the frame. The evaporation mechanism delivers low-temperature gas to the refrigeration chamber, and the gas that leaves the refrigeration chamber moves to the air inlet of the evaporation mechanism.

[0009] Preferably, the refrigeration compartment includes an outer frame and a cover plate hinged to the top opening of the outer frame. An inner compartment plate is provided on the side wall of the space formed by the outer frame and the cover plate, and a mold is provided on the inner side of the inner compartment plate.

[0010] Preferably, the outer walls of the outer frame and the cover plate are filled with a heat insulation layer, and an airflow pipe is laid between the inner chamber plate and the heat insulation layer. A solenoid valve is installed at the end of the airflow pipe that is connected to the output end of the evaporation mechanism, and the other end of the airflow pipe extends to the air inlet end of the evaporation mechanism.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of first connecting plates are fixedly installed at the top edge of the outer frame, and a plurality of second connecting plates are fixedly installed at the edge of the cover plate, with the end of a second connecting bolt threaded into the first connecting plate through the second connecting plate.

[0012] Preferably, the frame includes a base frame and two sets of diagonal bracing plates that are vertically installed above the base frame. At least four wheels are provided below the base frame, and the wheels located at one end of the base frame are omnidirectional wheels.

[0013] Preferably, the coupling is connected to the top of the diagonal brace via a bearing seat; a fixing plate is fixedly installed on the top of the outer frame, and a clamping plate is detachably installed above the fixing plate, with the end of the coupling extending into the fixing plate and the clamping plate.

[0014] Preferably, the rocker arm assembly includes a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm hinged to the end of the first connecting arm, and a third connecting arm detachably mounted to the end of the second connecting arm. A connecting tube is sleeved at the end of the third connecting arm and the second connecting arm that are close to each other, and a slot is provided on the connecting tube. At the same time, first connecting bolts provided at both ends of the slot are respectively provided through the third connecting arm and the second connecting arm.

[0015] Preferably, the first connecting arm is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft; the end of the third connecting arm is sleeved on the protrusion on the edge of the turntable via a bearing; and the motor is mounted on the inclined support plate.

[0016] Preferably, the evaporation mechanism includes an evaporator and a gas collection hood; the larger end of the gas collection hood is fitted to the evaporator, and the smaller end of the gas collection hood is connected to the airflow pipe; a fan is installed in the space formed by the gas collection hood and the evaporator.

[0017] Preferably, the evaporator and the refrigeration unit form a circulation path for the coolant.

[0018] The advantages or beneficial effects of the above technical solutions include at least the following:

[0019] 1. The refrigeration chamber of this utility model is hinged to the frame via a connecting shaft, and the connecting shaft is connected to the edge of the turntable mounted on the motor power output shaft via a rocker arm assembly. This allows the rocker arm assembly to move periodically while the motor drives the turntable to rotate, forcing the refrigeration chamber to reciprocate and causing the liquid inside the refrigeration chamber to slosh, thus accelerating heat transfer.

[0020] 2. This utility model lays an airflow pipe on the refrigeration chamber, with one end of the airflow pipe connected to the output end of the evaporation mechanism and the other end extending to the air inlet end of the evaporation mechanism. Under the action of the airflow pipe, low-temperature gas can be guided to be transported to the refrigeration chamber to realize the production of ice blocks, and the initial heat exchange gas can be recovered, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. These drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the framework of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the rocker arm of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the evaporation mechanism of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigeration chamber of this utility model;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the outer frame and airflow tube of this utility model.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0029] 1. Refrigeration unit;

[0030] 2. Framework;

[0031] 21. Shaft; 22. Traveling wheel; 23. Diagonal brace; 24. Base frame; 25. Turntable; 26. Rocker arm assembly; 261. First connecting arm; 262. Second connecting arm; 263. Connecting pipe; 264. Slot hole; 265. First connecting bolt; 266. Third connecting arm; 27. Motor;

[0032] 3. Evaporation mechanism;

[0033] 31. Evaporator; 32. Fan; 33. Vacuum hood;

[0034] 4. Refrigerated compartment;

[0035] 41. Outer frame; 411. Airflow pipe; 42. Inner compartment plate; 43. Insulation layer; 44. First connecting plate; 45. Cover plate; 46. Second connecting plate; 47. Second connecting bolt; 48. Fixing plate; 49. Clamping plate. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While some embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings and embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0038] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein are open-ended, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". Definitions of other terms will be given in the following description. It should be noted that the concepts of "first", "second", etc., mentioned in this utility model are only used to distinguish different devices, modules, or units, and are not used to limit the order of functions performed by these devices, modules, or units or their interdependencies.

[0039] It should be noted that the terms "a" and "a plurality of" used in this utility model are illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art should understand that, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, they should be understood as "one or more".

[0040] The names of the messages or information exchanged between the multiple devices in this embodiment of the invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of these messages or information.

[0041] To improve the refrigeration efficiency of ice-making equipment and reduce its energy consumption, this embodiment provides a refrigeration device for ice blocks. This device can shake the refrigeration chamber, thereby moving the liquid and accelerating heat transfer, thus improving refrigeration efficiency and reducing refrigeration energy consumption. Furthermore, this refrigeration device can recover the gas from the initial heat exchange and further reduce its temperature before delivering it to the refrigeration chamber, preventing the gas from being directly discharged and wasting energy, further reducing refrigeration energy consumption.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, specifically, the refrigeration equipment includes a refrigeration chamber 4, a frame 2, a refrigeration unit 1, an evaporation mechanism 3, etc.

[0043] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the refrigeration chamber 4 and the frame 2 are arranged vertically and are hinged together by a connecting shaft 21. At the same time, the rocker arm assembly 26 installed at one end of the connecting shaft 21 is hinged to the edge of the turntable 25. In addition, the turntable 25 is installed on the power output shaft of the motor 27, which is stably installed on the frame 2. Therefore, when the motor 27 is working, it can drive the rocker arm assembly 26 to move, thereby controlling the connecting shaft 21 to drive the refrigeration chamber 4 to rotate back and forth, forcing the liquid inside the refrigeration chamber 4 to move and accelerating the heat transfer.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the refrigeration unit 1 and the evaporation mechanism 3 form a circulation path for the coolant. Both the refrigeration unit 1 and the evaporation mechanism 3 are located at the ends of the frame 2. The evaporation mechanism 3 delivers low-temperature gas to the refrigeration chamber 4. The gas that leaves the refrigeration chamber 4 moves to the inlet end of the evaporation mechanism 3. With the cooperation of the refrigeration unit 1 and the evaporation mechanism 3, low-temperature gas is continuously delivered to the refrigeration chamber 4. The gas that has undergone preliminary heat exchange is guided back to the side of the evaporation mechanism 3. Then, under the action of the evaporation mechanism 3, the temperature of the gas is reduced and it is delivered to the refrigeration chamber 4 again.

[0045] like Figure 5As shown, to create a space for liquid storage and freezing, the refrigeration chamber 4 includes an outer frame 41 and a cover plate 45 hinged to the top opening of the outer frame 41. An inner chamber plate 42 is provided on the side wall of the space formed by the outer frame 41 and the cover plate 45, forming a closed space. Liquid can be added into the inner chamber plate 42, and after the liquid is injected, the periodic reciprocating movement of the outer frame 41 forces the liquid to slosh within the closed space. To prevent the refrigeration chamber 4 from becoming difficult to open due to temperature drops and pressure changes, a valve body can be installed on the cover plate 45. The valve body connects the refrigeration chamber 4 to the outside gas, facilitating the injection of gas into the refrigeration chamber 4 and the restoration of gas pressure. To manufacture ice blocks, a mold is provided inside the space formed by the inner chamber plate 42 and the cover plate 45. Ice blocks can be manufactured according to the shape of this mold. The mold can be set as a cube, cylinder, heart, etc., and users can change it according to their needs. The ice mold is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as copper alloy, which can quickly transfer the cold energy generated by the refrigeration system to the water in the ice-making chamber, thus accelerating the ice-making process.

[0046] like Figure 5 As shown, in order to make the cover plate 45 stable and detachably mounted on the outer frame 41, a plurality of first connecting plates 44 are fixedly provided at the top edge of the outer frame 41, and a plurality of second connecting plates 46 are fixedly provided at the edge of the cover plate 45. The end of the second connecting bolt 47, which passes through the second connecting plate 46, is threaded into the first connecting plate 44.

[0047] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, in order to reduce the temperature of the space formed by the cover plate 45 and the inner compartment plate 42 and to reduce the heat transfer rate, an insulation layer 43 is filled on the outer side walls of both the outer frame 41 and the cover plate 45. This insulation layer 43 slows down the rate of heat transfer between the inside and outside of the refrigeration chamber 4. Before filling the insulation layer 43, an airflow pipe 411 is attached to the outer side wall of the inner compartment plate 42, and the insulation layer 43 covers the airflow pipe 411. One end of the airflow pipe 411 is connected to the output end of the evaporation mechanism 3 via a flexible hose, and a solenoid valve is installed at the end of the airflow pipe 411 connected to the output end of the evaporation mechanism 3. The other end of the airflow pipe 411 is connected to a rigid pipe via a flexible hose, and the end of the rigid pipe extends to the air inlet of the evaporation mechanism 3. This allows the airflow pipe 411, the flexible hose, and the rigid pipe to guide the gas flow, achieving both cooling of the inner compartment plate 42 and gas recovery. Additionally, a temperature sensor can be installed within the space formed by the cover plate 45 and the inner compartment plate 42 to monitor temperature changes in real time. A control system can also be provided, which connects to the sensors, motors, refrigeration units, etc., to control the operation of the device.

[0048] like Figure 1 , Figure 4As shown, in order to collect the gas cooled by the evaporation mechanism 3 and then deliver it to the airflow pipe 411, the evaporation mechanism 3 includes an evaporator 31 and a gas collection hood 33. The larger end of the gas collection hood 33 is attached to the evaporator 31, and the smaller end of the gas collection hood 33 is connected to the airflow pipe 411. At the same time, a fan 32 is provided in the space formed by the gas collection hood 33 and the evaporator 31, so that when the fan 32 is working, the low-temperature gas is drawn to the gas collection hood 33 and then distributed into the airflow pipe 411.

[0049] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 As shown, to ensure the outer frame 41 is stably and adjustablely mounted on the frame 2, the frame 2 includes a base frame 24 and two sets of diagonal bracing plates 23 respectively vertically mounted above the base frame 24. A connecting shaft 21 is connected to the top of the diagonal bracing plates 23 via bearing seats. A fixing plate 48 is fixedly mounted on the top of the outer frame 41, and a clamping plate 49 is detachably mounted above the fixing plate 48. The end of the connecting shaft 21 extends into the fixing plate 48 and the clamping plate 49. Because the connecting shaft 21 is stably mounted on the diagonal bracing plates 23, and with the cooperation of the clamping plate 49 and the fixing plate 48, the connecting shaft 21 is stably positioned relative to the outer frame 41. This provides support for the outer frame 41 to rotate around the connecting shaft 21 under external force, while ensuring stable installation of the outer frame 41.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, the rocker arm assembly 26 includes a first connecting arm 261, a second connecting arm 262 hinged to the end of the first connecting arm 261, and a third connecting arm 266 detachably mounted to the end of the second connecting arm 262. A connecting tube 263 is sleeved at the end of the third connecting arm 266 and the second connecting arm 262 that are close to each other, and a slot 264 is provided on the connecting tube 263. First connecting bolts 265, which are provided at both ends of the slot 264, pass through the third connecting arm 266 and the second connecting arm 262 respectively. The first connecting arm 261 is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft 21. The end of the third connecting arm 266 is sleeved on the protrusion on the edge of the turntable 25 through a bearing connection. The motor 27 is mounted on the inclined support plate 23. When the motor 27 drives the turntable 25 to rotate, the protrusion makes a circular motion, that is, its position changes periodically, thereby driving the rocker arm assembly 26 to move, and thus controlling the connecting shaft 21 to drive the outer frame 41 to reciprocate.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, in order to improve the flexibility of the device, at least four wheels 22 are provided below the bottom frame 24, and the wheels 22 located at one end of the bottom frame 24 are set as omnidirectional wheels.

[0052] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0053] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are merely for clearly illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other changes or modifications can be made based on the above-described invention, and these changes or modifications still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice maker for rapid ice making, characterized in that, The device includes a refrigeration chamber and a frame distributed vertically. A connecting shaft hinged to the top of the frame is connected to the top of the refrigeration chamber. A rocker arm assembly mounted at one end of the connecting shaft is hinged to the edge of a turntable, which is mounted on the power output shaft of a motor. A refrigeration unit and an evaporation mechanism are connected to each other at the ends of the frame. The evaporation mechanism delivers low-temperature gas to the refrigeration chamber, and the gas that leaves the refrigeration chamber moves to the inlet end of the evaporation mechanism.

2. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigeration chamber includes an outer frame and a cover plate hinged to the top opening of the outer frame. An inner chamber plate is provided on the side wall of the space formed by the outer frame and the cover plate, and a mold is provided on the inner side of the inner chamber plate.

3. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The outer walls of the outer frame and the cover plate are filled with a heat insulation layer. An airflow pipe is laid between the inner chamber plate and the heat insulation layer. A solenoid valve is installed at the end of the airflow pipe that is connected to the output end of the evaporation mechanism, and the other end of the airflow pipe extends to the air inlet end of the evaporation mechanism.

4. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Multiple first connecting plates are fixedly installed at the top edge of the outer frame, and multiple second connecting plates are fixedly installed at the edge of the cover plate. The end of the second connecting bolt, which passes through the second connecting plate, is threaded into the first connecting plate.

5. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The frame includes a base frame and two sets of diagonal bracing plates that are vertically installed above the base frame. At least four wheels are provided below the base frame, and the wheels located at one end of the base frame are omnidirectional wheels.

6. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting shaft is connected to the top of the diagonal brace via a bearing seat; a fixing plate is fixedly installed on the top of the outer frame, and a clamping plate is detachably installed above the fixing plate, with the end of the connecting shaft extending into the fixing plate and the clamping plate.

7. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The rocker arm assembly includes a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm hinged to the end of the first connecting arm, and a third connecting arm detachably mounted on the end of the second connecting arm. A connecting tube is sleeved at the end of the third connecting arm and the second connecting arm that are close to each other, and a slot is provided on the connecting tube. At the same time, first connecting bolts provided at both ends of the slot are respectively installed through the third connecting arm and the second connecting arm.

8. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first connecting arm is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft; the end of the third connecting arm is sleeved on the protruding post on the edge of the turntable via a bearing connection; the motor is mounted on the inclined support plate.

9. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The evaporation mechanism includes an evaporator and a gas collection hood; the larger end of the gas collection hood is fitted to the evaporator, and the smaller end of the gas collection hood is connected to the airflow pipe; a fan is installed in the space formed by the gas collection hood and the evaporator.

10. The ice maker for rapid ice making as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The evaporator and the refrigeration unit form a circulation path for the coolant.

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