Clamping type firm square ice forming module

Abstract

The utility model relates to ice making device technical field discloses a kind of clamping type firm square ice forming module, including horizontal plate, vertical plate and peripheral plate, the vertical plate is transversely arranged, the horizontal plate is transversely connected the vertical plate, the peripheral plate is surrounded in horizontal plate, vertical plate outside, assembled horizontal plate, vertical plate and peripheral plate form the square groove of array, the square groove rear portion is correspondingly equipped with the bottom plate for refrigeration of plate shape;The horizontal plate with the vertical plate is respectively provided with horizontal plate clamping groove and vertical plate clamping groove, and the opening direction of both is opposite, and the horizontal plate with the vertical plate is connected by the horizontal plate clamping groove and vertical plate clamping groove cross clamping connection;The equipment reduces the influence of ice block expansion on ice grid under the premise of not changing the thickness of ice grid internal partition, prolongs ice grid service life, and can flexibly produce and assemble ice grid, reduces production cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making device technology, specifically a snap-fit ​​type solid ice-forming module. Background Technology

[0002] As a specialized mold for making ice, ice trays have undergone numerous design improvements in response to the continuous development of refrigeration technology. From the initial simple open ice trays to the emergence of various functional and convenient ice trays today, the development of ice tray technology aims to meet users' diverse needs in terms of ice shape, size, and ease of use.

[0003] When using existing ice trays, the ice trays need to withstand a certain amount of pressure because water expands when it freezes. In addition, the horizontal and vertical partitions of the ice trays are often designed to be thin for better heat conduction, which can cause deformation of the internal partitions and affect the lifespan of the ice trays. The manufacturing of existing ice trays is often done by casting, which involves multiple steps such as mold design, material preparation, melting, casting, cooling, and cleaning. These steps require professional skills and experience, as well as high-precision equipment and tools, which increases the production cost and time, and reduces flexibility when different models of ice trays are needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (I) Technical problem to be solved: In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model provides a snap-fit ​​type solid ice forming module, which has the advantages of reducing the impact of ice expansion on the ice grid during ice making, extending the service life of the ice grid, and flexibly producing and assembling ice grids, thereby reducing production costs, without changing the thickness of the internal partition of the ice grid. It solves the problems of ice expansion causing ice grid deformation during ice making and poor flexibility in ice grid production in the existing technology.

[0005] (II) Technical Solution: To achieve the above-mentioned goal of reducing the impact of ice expansion on the ice tray during ice making and extending the service life of the ice tray without changing the thickness of the internal partition, this utility model provides the following technical solution: A snap-fit ​​type solid ice forming module, including a horizontal plate, a vertical plate and an outer plate. The vertical plates are arranged horizontally, and the horizontal plates are connected to the vertical plates horizontally. The outer plate surrounds the horizontal and vertical plates. The assembled horizontal plate, vertical plate and outer plate form an array of square slots. A plate-shaped bottom plate for refrigeration is correspondingly assembled at the rear of the square slots. The horizontal plate and the vertical plate are respectively provided with horizontal plate slots and vertical plate slots, and the opening directions of the two are opposite. The horizontal plate and the vertical plate are connected by cross snap-fitting through the horizontal plate slots and vertical plate slots.

[0006] Preferably, the refrigeration base plate is vertically assembled inside the ice maker, and the upper part of the base plate is designed with a water supply structure, which provides flowing ice-making water to the grid groove formed by the horizontal plate, the vertical plate and the outer plate; the upper surface of the vertical plate is parallel and the lower surface is inclined, and the vertical plate slot is inclined at the same angle as the lower surface of the vertical plate.

[0007] Preferably, the horizontal plate slot has cutouts on both sides, and the vertical plate has a hollowed-out structure at the bottom.

[0008] Preferably, the outer plate, vertical plate, horizontal plate and bottom plate are welded together as one piece.

[0009] Preferably, the outer perimeter plate includes a long plate and a short plate, and the outer perimeter plate is a rectangular perimeter plate composed of two long plates and two short plates; the surfaces of the long plates and the short plates are provided with slots, and the number of slots is not less than four; both ends of the horizontal plate and the vertical plate are designed with locking blocks, and the horizontal plate and the vertical plate are connected to the outer perimeter plate by locking blocks.

[0010] Preferably, the horizontal plate and the vertical plate are fixedly connected to the upper surface of the base plate by welding; the horizontal plate slot and the vertical plate slot are fixedly connected by welding.

[0011] Preferably, the base plate, the outer plate, the horizontal plate, and the vertical plate are all made of stainless steel and their outer surfaces are coated with an anti-corrosion coating.

[0012] Preferably, the height of the enclosure panel is the same as that of the horizontal panel and the vertical panel.

[0013] Preferably, the hollowed-out structure is semi-circular arc-shaped, and the cut-out structure is a triangle composed of two oblique cut angles with the center line of the horizontal plate slot as the axis of symmetry.

[0014] (III) Beneficial Effects: Compared with the prior art, this utility model provides a snap-fit ​​type robust square ice forming module, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] 1. This snap-fit, robust square ice forming module features vertical and horizontal slots in its design, along with grooves on the outer ice grid. These slots allow the horizontal and vertical plates inside the ice grid to snap together, creating a tight interlocking mechanism. Welding further connects the plates to the base plate. Compared to existing one-piece ice grids, this new module uses two interlocking components for the horizontal and vertical plates. This snap-fit ​​structure better distributes pressure, preventing deformation due to excessive local pressure. The vertical plates are also limited at the grooves, increasing the contact area with the outer plates. This reduces pressure during ice expansion, preventing damage and reduced durability caused by ice grid expansion during ice forming. Compared to existing ice grids, this module has a longer service life and is more durable. The ice blocks are more regularly shaped; and there are cut-out structures at the bottom of the horizontal plates and hollowed-out structures at the bottom of the vertical plates. This reduces unnecessary material usage in the clamping plates, thereby reducing the overall weight. At the same time, the semi-circular arc hollowed-out design allows the clamping plates to distribute stress more evenly when under force, avoiding deformation or damage caused by local stress concentration. The hollowed-out design also increases the bending resistance of the clamping plates, making them more stable under external forces. After the water in adjacent ice compartments is connected, the heat transfer efficiency is improved, ensuring a more uniform temperature inside the clamping plates and avoiding uneven ice block quality caused by excessively high or low local temperatures. Compared with the existing ice compartments that are prone to water accumulation in crevices and corners, which can lead to equipment corrosion over time, the hollowed-out design reduces water and dirt accumulation at the bottom of the clamping plates, making cleaning and maintenance easier.

[0016] 2. This snap-fit, robust square ice cube forming module offers greater flexibility in ice cube design compared to existing casting methods. Existing ice cube casting typically involves multiple steps, including mold design, material preparation, melting, pouring, cooling, and cleaning. The casting process takes considerable time, leading to relatively low production efficiency, especially in large-scale production. Furthermore, mold-based casting makes it difficult to change dimensions, requiring the creation of new molds for different sizes, increasing production costs. In contrast, the snap-fit ​​method of this invention involves plate cutting, grooving, snap-fitting, and welding. Compared to casting, this process has lower material costs because it can use more common plates as raw materials, resulting in higher production efficiency. Especially when using automated equipment and tools, plate cutting, grooving, and snap-fitting can be completed relatively quickly. Most importantly, different models of horizontal and vertical plates can be flexibly assembled to change the ice cube cube specifications when different sizes are needed. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model when it is installed inside an ice maker;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the outer plate structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged structural diagram of the connecting part of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the complete horizontal version of this utility model before assembly;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the complete vertical plate of this utility model before assembly.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Outer plate; 11. Long plate; 111. Groove; 12. Short plate; 2. Vertical plate; 21. Vertical plate slot; 22. Hollowed-out structure; 3. Horizontal plate; 31. Horizontal plate slot; 32. Cut-out structure; 4. Base plate. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0025] Please see Figures 1-6A snap-fit ​​type rigid ice-forming module includes a horizontal plate 3, a vertical plate 2, and an outer plate 1. The outer surfaces of the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are respectively provided with a horizontal plate slot 31 and a vertical plate slot 21. The width of the horizontal plate slot 31 is the same as the thickness of the vertical plate 2, and the width of the vertical plate slot 21 is the same as the thickness of the horizontal plate 3. Their opening directions are opposite, and the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are connected by a cross-snap connection. The horizontal plate slot 31 has cutout structures 32 on both sides, and the bottom of the vertical plate 2 has a hollowed-out structure 22. A base plate 4 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the outer plate 1, and both the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are installed inside the outer plate 1. The vertical plate 2... The upper surface is parallel, and the lower surface is inclined. The vertical plate slot 21 has the same inclination angle as the lower surface of the vertical plate 2. This design allows the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 inside the ice tray to be connected by a snap-fit, locking each other tightly inside the ice tray. The connection between them and the bottom plate 4 is achieved by welding. Compared with the one-piece ice tray in the prior art, the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 of this utility model are two interlocking parts, which prevents the ice tray from expanding during ice formation, thus avoiding damage and reduced durability. Compared with the existing ice trays, it has a longer service life and produces ice cubes with more regular shapes.

[0026] In this embodiment, the hollow structure 22 is semi-circular, and the cut structure 32 is a triangle composed of two oblique angles with the center line of the horizontal plate slot 31 as the axis of symmetry. This design reduces unnecessary material usage in the clamping plate, thereby reducing the overall weight. At the same time, the semi-circular hollow design allows the clamping plate to distribute stress more evenly when under force, avoiding deformation or damage caused by local stress concentration. The hollow design can also increase the bending resistance of the clamping plate, making it more stable when subjected to external forces. After the water in adjacent ice trays is connected, the heat transfer efficiency can be improved to ensure that the temperature inside the clamping plate is more uniform, avoiding uneven ice quality caused by excessively high or low local temperatures. Compared with the existing ice trays, which are prone to water accumulation in crevices and corners, leading to equipment corrosion over time, the hollow design can reduce water and dirt accumulation at the bottom of the clamping plate, making it easier to clean and maintain.

[0027] Please see Figures 2-3 The outer perimeter plate 1 includes a long plate 11 and a short plate 12. The outer perimeter plate 1 is a rectangular enclosure composed of two long plates 11 and two short plates 12. The surfaces of the long plates 11 and the short plates 12 are provided with slots 111, and the number of slots 111 is not less than four. Both ends of the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are designed with locking blocks. The thickness and depth of the locking blocks are the same as the width and depth of the slots 111. The horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are connected to the outer perimeter plate 1 by locking blocks. This design limits the vertical plate 2 and the horizontal plate 3 at the slots 111 and increases the contact area with the outer perimeter plate 1. The pressure they experience when the ice expands and is squeezed is reduced, making the structure more stable. It also limits the locking structure formed by the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 inside the outer perimeter plate 1, preventing them from shaking inside and facilitating welding operations.

[0028] Please see Figures 1-2 and Figure 4 The outer plate 1 is the same height as the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2. After the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are installed, they are fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 4 by welding. The horizontal plate slot 31 and the vertical plate slot 21 are also fixedly connected by welding to ensure the firmness between the horizontal plate 3, the vertical plate 2 and the base plate 4. The base plate 4, the outer plate, the horizontal plate 3 and the vertical plate 2 are all made of stainless steel and the outer surface is coated with an anti-corrosion coating to improve the service life of the ice forming module.

[0029] In summary, this snap-fit, robust square ice forming module, by creating vertical plate slots 21 and horizontal plate slots 31 on the vertical plate 2 and horizontal plate 3 respectively during the ice grid design, and designing a slot structure 111 on the outer ice grid, allows the horizontal plate 3 and vertical plate 2 inside the ice grid to interlock with each other, achieving a tight fit inside the ice grid. It is then connected to the base plate 4 by welding. Compared to the existing one-piece ice grid, the vertical plate 2 and horizontal plate 3 of this utility model are separate snap-fit ​​units. The force is evenly distributed between the two, and the snap-fit ​​structure can better disperse pressure and avoid localized stress. Excessive pressure causes deformation, and the vertical plate 2 is limited at the slot 111. The contact area with the outer plate 1 is increased, and the pressure on the ice cubes during expansion and compression is reduced. Therefore, the ice grid will not expand during ice forming, causing damage and reduced durability. Compared with existing ice grids, it has a longer service life and produces more regular ice cube shapes. Furthermore, this snap-fit ​​type solid square ice forming module is more flexible in its design than the casting method used in previous technologies. Existing technologies for casting ice trays typically involve multiple steps, including mold design, material preparation, melting, casting, cooling, and cleaning. The casting process takes time to complete, including melting metal, casting, and cooling, which can lead to relatively low production efficiency, especially in large-scale production. Furthermore, casting using molds makes it difficult to change dimensions, requiring the creation of new molds when different sizes of ice trays are needed, thus increasing production costs. In contrast, the snap-fit ​​method adopted in this invention involves steps such as plate cutting, grooving, snap-fitting, and welding. Compared to casting, this process has lower material costs because it can use more common plates as raw materials, resulting in higher production efficiency. Especially when using automated equipment and tools, plate cutting, grooving, and snap-fitting can be completed relatively quickly. Most importantly, when different sizes of ice trays are needed, different models of horizontal plates 3 and vertical plates 2 can be flexibly assembled, thereby achieving changes in ice tray specifications.

[0030] It should be noted that, in this document, terms such as "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0031] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A snap-fit ​​type solid ice-forming module, comprising a horizontal plate (3), a vertical plate (2), and an outer plate (1), wherein the vertical plates (2) are arranged horizontally, the horizontal plate (3) is horizontally connected to the vertical plates (2), and the outer plate (1) surrounds the horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) on the outside, and the assembled horizontal plate (3), vertical plate (2), and outer plate (1) form an array of square slots, wherein a plate-shaped bottom plate (4) for cooling is correspondingly assembled at the rear of the square slots, characterized in that: The horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are respectively provided with a horizontal plate slot (31) and a vertical plate slot (21), with the opening directions of the two being opposite. The horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are connected by the horizontal plate slot (31) and the vertical plate slot (21) through cross-slotting.

2. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigeration base plate (4) is vertically mounted inside the ice maker. The upper part of the base plate (4) is designed with a water supply structure, which provides flowing ice-making water to the grid groove formed by the horizontal plate (3), the vertical plate (2) and the outer plate (1). The upper surface of the vertical plate (2) is parallel and the lower surface is inclined. The vertical plate slot (21) has the same inclination angle as the lower surface of the vertical plate (2).

3. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal plate slot (31) has cut-out structures (32) on both sides, and the vertical plate (2) has a hollowed-out structure (22) at the bottom.

4. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The outer plate (1), vertical plate (2), horizontal plate (3) and bottom plate (4) are welded together as one unit.

5. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer perimeter plate (1) includes a long plate (11) and a short plate (12). The outer perimeter plate (1) is a rectangular enclosure composed of two long plates (11) and two short plates (12). The surfaces of the long plates (11) and the short plates (12) are provided with slots (111), and the number of slots (111) is not less than four. Both ends of the horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are designed with locking blocks. The horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are connected to the outer perimeter plate (1) by locking blocks.

6. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are fixedly connected to the upper surface of the base plate (4) by welding; the horizontal plate slot (31) and the vertical plate slot (21) are fixedly connected by welding.

7. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base plate (4), the outer plate (1), the horizontal plate (3) and the vertical plate (2) are all made of stainless steel and have an anti-corrosion coating on their outer surfaces.

8. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of the enclosure panel is the same as that of the horizontal panel (3) and the vertical panel (2).

9. The snap-fit ​​type secure ice-forming module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hollow structure (22) is semi-circular arc-shaped, and the cut structure (32) is a triangle composed of two oblique cut angles with the center line of the horizontal plate slot (31) as the axis of symmetry.

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