Ice making assembly and ice maker
By designing a detachable water supply pipe structure, the problem of difficult maintenance of the water supply structure in a running water ice maker was solved, enabling convenient disassembly and cleaning of the water supply pipe, reducing maintenance costs, and improving the user experience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN INTELLIROCKS TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
Smart Images
Figure CN224398077U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and in particular to an ice-making component and an ice maker. Background Technology
[0002] A running water ice maker is a common type of ice-making equipment that uses an ice-making component to cool and process flowing water into ice cubes to meet users' ice-making needs. The ice-making component of a running water ice maker typically includes a water pump and ice trays. When the running water ice maker is working, the water pump delivers liquid water to a water inlet located at the top of the ice tray, allowing liquid water to continuously flow onto the ice tray so that ice cubes can form on its surface. Currently, the water supply structure in most running water ice makers is usually fixedly integrated into the ice tray housing. Therefore, when the water supply structure malfunctions, maintenance personnel cannot disassemble, repair, or replace it independently, increasing maintenance costs. Therefore, this problem urgently needs to be solved. Utility Model Content
[0003] On the one hand, embodiments of this application provide an ice-making component; on the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide an ice maker.
[0004] The ice-making assembly provided in this embodiment includes a mounting bracket, an ice grid, and a water supply pipe. The ice grid is mounted on the mounting bracket and has multiple ice-making troughs arranged on the same side of the ice grid, each ice-making trough having an opening. The water supply pipe is detachably connected to the mounting bracket and has an outlet facing the opening. The water supply pipe is used to deliver liquid water to the ice-making troughs through the outlet. When the ice-making assembly is in operation, the height of the outlet in the direction of gravity is greater than or equal to the height of the opening in the direction of gravity.
[0005] Optionally, in some embodiments, the mounting bracket includes a connected mounting bracket body and a support arm; an ice tray is disposed on the mounting bracket body, and a retaining notch is provided on the support arm, and a water pipe is detachably retained and fixed in the retaining notch.
[0006] Optionally, in some embodiments, the support arm includes a first support arm and a second support arm that are spaced apart from each other. The first support arm has a first retaining notch, and the second support arm has a second retaining notch. The water pipe has a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other. The first end is detachably retained and fixed in the first retaining notch, and the second end is detachably retained and fixed in the second retaining notch.
[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments, both the first end and the second end are open; the ice-making assembly also includes a sealing plug connected to the water supply pipe to seal the opening at the first end; the second end is used to communicate with the water supply assembly and is the water inlet end of the water supply pipe.
[0008] Optionally, in some embodiments, the ice-making assembly further includes a limiting member disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe, and a limiting groove adapted to the limiting member is provided on the inner side wall of the retaining notch, with the limiting member embedded in the limiting groove.
[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments, the ice-making assembly further includes a prompting element disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe and protruding relative to the outer wall of the water supply pipe. When the limiting element is embedded in the limiting groove, the prompting element and the support arm are arranged side by side along the axial direction of the water supply pipe and fit together.
[0010] The ice maker provided in this application includes a shell, an inner liner, a water supply component, and the aforementioned ice-making component; the inner liner is disposed inside the shell and has a receiving cavity; the ice-making component is disposed inside the receiving cavity; the water supply component is disposed inside the shell and is connected to a water supply pipe, and the water supply component is used to inject water into the water supply pipe.
[0011] Optionally, in some embodiments, the water supply assembly includes an inlet pipe, a connecting bracket, and a connecting pipe; the connecting bracket includes a connected connecting bracket body and an outlet pipe, the connecting bracket body is disposed outside the inner liner, and the outlet pipe passes through the inner liner and extends into the receiving cavity; the connecting pipe connects the outlet pipe and the water supply pipe; the inlet pipe is used to connect the outlet pipe to the water source.
[0012] Optionally, in some embodiments, the inner liner is provided with an installation hole; the water outlet pipe includes a first section, a second section and a third section connected in sequence, the first section is located in the receiving cavity and is connected to the connecting pipe, the second section is inserted into the installation hole, and the third section is located on the side of the connecting bracket body away from the inner liner and is connected to the water inlet pipe; the inner diameters of the first section, the second section and the third section are all the same.
[0013] Optionally, in some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a sealing sleeve and a sealing ring; the sealing sleeve is disposed on the outer wall of the inner liner and surrounds the outer periphery of the mounting hole, the second section passes through the sealing sleeve, and the sealing ring is sleeved on the second section of the sealing sleeve and clamped together with the inner wall of the second section.
[0014] In the ice-making assembly provided in this application embodiment, since the water supply pipe is detachably connected to the mounting bracket, when the water supply pipe malfunctions or needs cleaning, the user can remove the water supply pipe from the mounting bracket for repair or cleaning, which facilitates the user's repair or cleaning of the water supply pipe, reduces maintenance costs, and improves the user experience. Attached Figure Description
[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making component in some embodiments of this application.
[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structural design of the mounting bracket and ice grid in the ice-making assembly.
[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of the structure of part A in the middle.
[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the water supply pipe in the ice-making assembly.
[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice maker in some embodiments of this application.
[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The diagram shows a partial structural cross-section of the ice maker.
[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of the structure of part B.
[0023] Labeling Explanation: 100, Ice-making assembly; 10, Mounting bracket; 11, Mounting bracket body; 12, Support arm; 121, First support arm; 122, Second support arm; 13, Clamping notch; 131, First clamping notch; 132, Second clamping notch; 20, Ice tray; 201, Ice trough; 202, Opening; 30, Water pipe; 31, First end; 32, Second end; 33, Water outlet; 34, Positioning ring groove; 40, Sealing plug; 41, Plug body; 42, Connecting strip; 43. Connecting ring; 50. Limiting component; 51. Limiting groove; 60. Indicating component; 200. Ice maker; 21. Housing; 22. Inner liner; 221. Receiving cavity; 222. Mounting hole; 23. Water supply assembly; 231. Water inlet pipe; 232. Connecting bracket; 233. Connecting pipe; 234. Connecting bracket body; 235. Water outlet pipe; 2351. First section; 2352. Second section; 2353. Third section; 24. Sealing sleeve; 25. Sealing ring; 26. Mounting ring groove. Detailed Implementation
[0024] 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.
[0025] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal," etc., indicate the orientation or state relationship based on the orientation or state relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.
[0026] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or state relationships, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in certain situations to indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0028] Furthermore, unless otherwise explicitly 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 connection of two components or merely surface contact. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0029] 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.
[0030] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The embodiments of this application provide an ice-making component 100, which is used to process liquid water into ice cubes by cooling. The ice-making component 100 can be applied to devices with ice-making functions, such as ice makers 200, refrigerators, ice cream machines, etc.
[0031] The ice-making assembly 100 includes a mounting bracket 10, an ice grid 20, and a water supply pipe 30. The mounting bracket 10 is the main frame structure of the ice-making assembly 100, which is used to mount other components that support the ice-making assembly 100. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the mounting bracket 10 is generally a cuboid structure. In other embodiments, the mounting bracket 10 can also be generally a cube structure, a disc-shaped structure, or other arbitrary shapes. The specific shape of the mounting bracket 10 is not limited.
[0032] An ice tray 20 is mounted on a mounting bracket 10. The ice tray 20 has multiple ice-making chambers 201, which are the specific parts for producing ice. The multiple ice-making chambers 201 are arranged on the same side of the ice tray 20, and each ice-making chamber 201 has an opening 202. A water supply pipe 30 is detachably connected to the mounting bracket 10, and the water supply pipe 30 has an outlet 33 (see...). Figure 4 The outlet 33 faces the opening 202. The water supply pipe 30 is used to supply liquid water to the ice-making tank 201 through the outlet 33. Specifically, the water supply pipe 30 can be a spray pipe capable of spraying water outwards, or it can be a regular pipe that simply allows internal liquid water to flow out from the outlet 33. When the ice-making component 100 is in operation, the position of the outlet 33 in the direction of gravity is greater than or equal to the position of the opening 202 in the direction of gravity. It should be noted that "the ice-making component 100 is in operation" refers to the position of the ice-making component 100 under normal use, at which time the position of the ice-making component 100 is approximately as follows: Figure 1 As shown, in this state, the aforementioned "direction of gravity" is approximately... Figure 1The vertical direction in the middle. "The position height of the outlet 33 in the direction of gravity is greater than or equal to the position height of the opening 202 in the direction of gravity" means that the position height of the outlet 33 in the direction of gravity is greater than or equal to the position height of any opening 202 in the direction of gravity, so as to ensure that the liquid water flowing out of the outlet 33 can fall into the ice making tank 201.
[0033] With the above configuration, when the ice-making component 100 is working, liquid water continuously flows out from the outlet 33 of the water supply pipe 30 and enters the ice-making tank 201. The liquid water in the ice-making tank 201 is refrigerated to form solid ice. Since the water supply pipe 30 is detachably connected to the mounting bracket 10, when the water supply pipe 30 malfunctions or needs cleaning, the user can remove the water supply pipe 30 from the mounting bracket 10 for repair or cleaning. This facilitates user repair or cleaning of the water supply pipe 30, reduces maintenance costs, and improves user experience.
[0034] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 10 includes a connected mounting bracket body 11 and a support arm 12. The mounting bracket body 11 is the main structure of the mounting bracket 10, and the ice grid 20 is disposed on the mounting bracket body 11. The support arm 12 is used to install and fix the water supply pipe 30. The support arm 12 is provided with a retaining notch 13, which is approximately "C"-shaped, and the opening direction of the retaining notch 13 faces away from the mounting bracket body 11. The water supply pipe 30 is detachably retained and fixed in the retaining notch 13. The support arm 12 is made of a material that can undergo elastic deformation to a certain extent, such as metal or plastic. When the ice-making assembly 100 is in the normal use position, the support arm 12 is approximately located on top of the mounting bracket body 11 and on one side of the mounting bracket body 11. The support arm 12 protrudes relative to the mounting bracket body 11 to provide sufficient installation space for the water supply pipe 30. As a specific example, in this embodiment, there are two support arms 12. In other embodiments, there may be three, four, five or any number of support arms 12, and there is no limitation on this.
[0035] With the above configuration, since the water supply pipe 30 and the support arm 12 are connected by the locking notch 13, it is not only convenient for the staff to assemble the water supply pipe 30 and the mounting bracket 10 during the production process of the ice-making component 100, but also convenient for the user to disassemble the water supply pipe 30 from the mounting bracket 10 for maintenance or cleaning during subsequent use.
[0036] Please continue reading. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3In some embodiments, the support arm 12 includes a first support arm 121 and a second support arm 122 arranged at a distance from each other. The first support arm 121 is provided with a first retaining notch 131, which is specifically located on the side of the first support arm 121 opposite to the mounting bracket body 11. The second support arm 122 is provided with a second retaining notch 132, which is specifically located on the side of the second support arm 122 opposite to the mounting bracket body 11. The water pipe 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32 opposite to each other. The first end 31 is detachably retained and fixed in the first retaining notch 131, and the second end 32 is detachably retained and fixed in the second retaining notch 132.
[0037] With the above configuration, since the two ends of the water pipe 30 are respectively held and fixed by the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122, the water pipe 30 can be stably and reliably connected to the mounting bracket 10, thereby ensuring the stability of water delivery by the water pipe 30 and the reliability of ice making by the ice making component 100.
[0038] Please see Figures 1 to 4 In some embodiments, both the first end 31 and the second end 32 of the water supply pipe 30 are open. The ice-making assembly 100 also includes a sealing plug 40, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone. The sealing plug 40 is connected to the water supply pipe 30 to seal the opening of the first end 31. The second end 32 is used to communicate with the water supply assembly, and the second end 32 is the water inlet end of the water supply pipe 30. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "water supply assembly" refers to an assembly that can provide liquid water to the water supply pipe 30 so that external water enters the water supply pipe 30 from the second end 32.
[0039] With the above setup, when the ice-making component 100 is in normal use, the sealing plug 40 needs to be sealed in the opening of the first end 31. At this time, the water supply component injects liquid water from the second end 32 into the water supply pipe 30. The water in the water supply pipe 30 flows out from the outlet 33 and enters the ice grid 20 for ice making. When the user needs to clean the water supply pipe 30, the sealing plug 40 can be removed from the opening of the first end 31. At this time, the liquid water provided by the water supply component enters the water supply pipe 30 from the second end 32 and flows out from the outlet 33 and the opening of the first end 31, thereby flushing and cleaning the inner cavity of the water supply pipe 30 to improve food hygiene and safety.
[0040] Please see Figure 3In some embodiments, the sealing plug 40 includes a plug body 41, a connecting strip 42, and a connecting ring 43. The connecting strip 42 connects the plug body 41 and the connecting ring 43, and the connecting ring 43 is sleeved on the water supply pipe 30. When the user needs to seal the opening of the first end 31, the user inserts the plug body 41 into the opening of the first end 31. When the user needs to open the opening of the first end 31, the user can pull the connecting strip 42 to remove the plug body 41 from the water supply pipe 30. This not only makes it convenient for the user to remove the plug body 41 from the water supply pipe 30, but also, due to the presence of the connecting ring 43, the plug body 41 is not easily lost or misplaced.
[0041] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral wall of the water supply pipe 30 is provided with an annular positioning groove 34, and the connecting ring 43 is accommodated within the positioning groove 34. It should be noted that the positioning groove can be an annular groove directly formed on the outer peripheral wall of the water supply pipe 30, or it can be formed by circling two spaced-apart circular structures around the water supply pipe 30 to create an annular groove. The specific configuration of the positioning groove 34 is not limited. With the above arrangement, since the connecting ring 43 is located within the positioning groove 34, the position of the connecting ring 43 on the water supply pipe 30 can be defined, preventing the connecting ring 43 from accidentally falling off the water supply pipe 30 and further reducing the possibility of the sealing plug being lost.
[0042] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the ice-making assembly 100 further includes a limiting member 50, which is disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe 30 and protrudes relative to the outer wall of the water supply pipe 30. The limiting member 50 can be any shape of structure such as a protrusion or a protruding rod. The inner sidewall of the retaining notch 13 is provided with a limiting groove 51 that is adapted to the limiting member 50, and the limiting member 50 is embedded in the limiting groove 51.
[0043] With the above settings, when the water pipe 30 is installed on the mounting bracket 10, the limiting member 50 is just embedded in the limiting groove 51 and fits against the inner wall of the limiting groove 51. The limiting member 50 and the limiting groove 51 work together to prevent the water pipe 30 from rotating relative to the support arm 12, and also prevent the water pipe 30 from moving relative to the support arm 12 along its own axis, further improving the stability of the water pipe 30 installed on the mounting bracket 10.
[0044] In some embodiments, the ice-making assembly 100 further includes a prompting element 60, which is disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe 30 and protrudes relative to the outer wall of the water supply pipe 30. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the prompting element 60 has a ring-shaped structure. In other embodiments, the prompting element 60 can also be a block-shaped structure, a strip-shaped structure, or any other shape, and there is no limitation thereto. When the limiting member 50 is embedded in the limiting groove 51, the prompting element 60 and the support arm 12 are arranged side by side along the axial direction of the water supply pipe 30 and fit together.
[0045] With the above settings, before installing the water pipe 30 onto the mounting bracket 10, the user needs to align the limiting member 50 with the limiting groove 51, and then move the water pipe 30 into the retaining notch 13. Since a prompting member 60 is provided, the user only needs to place the prompting member 60 and the designated support arm 12 side by side along the axial direction of the water pipe 30 to ensure that the limiting member 50 and the limiting groove 51 are aligned. Then, the user can move the water pipe 30 to smoothly enter the retaining notch 13 to achieve engagement with the mounting arm. The operation is simple and convenient.
[0046] Please see Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This application also provides an ice maker 200, which includes a housing 21, an inner liner 22, a water supply assembly 23, and the aforementioned ice-making assembly 100. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the housing 21 is generally rectangular; in other embodiments, the housing 21 can be any shape, such as a cube or cylinder, and is not limited thereto. The inner liner 22 is disposed inside the housing 21, and the inner liner 22 has a receiving cavity 221. The ice-making assembly 100 is disposed within the receiving cavity 221 to produce ice within the receiving cavity 221. The water supply assembly 23 is disposed inside the housing 21 and communicates with a water supply pipe 30, and the water supply assembly 23 is used to inject water into the water supply pipe 30.
[0047] With the above settings, when the ice maker 200 is working, the water supply component 23 continuously injects water into the water supply pipe 30, and the water in the water supply pipe 30 continuously flows out from the outlet 33 of the water supply pipe 30 (see...). Figure 4 The water flows out and enters the ice-making tank 201 of the ice-making grid 20, and eventually freezes into ice cubes in the ice-making tank 201. Since the water supply pipe 30 of the ice-making component 100 is detachably connected to the mounting bracket 10, when the water supply pipe 30 malfunctions or needs cleaning, the user can remove the water supply pipe 30 from the mounting bracket 10 to repair or clean it, reducing maintenance costs and improving the user experience.
[0048] In some embodiments, the water supply assembly 23 includes an inlet pipe 231, a connecting bracket 232, and a connecting pipe 233. The connecting bracket 232 includes a connected connecting bracket body 234 and an outlet pipe 235. The connecting bracket body 234 is the main structure of the connecting bracket 232, and it can be in any shape, such as plate or block, without limitation. The connecting bracket body 234 is disposed outside the inner tank 22, and the outlet pipe 235 passes through the inner tank 22 and extends into the receiving cavity 221. The connecting pipe 233 connects the outlet pipe 235 and the water supply pipe 30, and the inlet pipe 231 is used to connect the outlet pipe 235 to a water source. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "water source" refers to a structure or component that can inject water into the inlet pipe 231, such as a water tank, an external water bucket, an external water dispenser, etc.
[0049] With the above configuration, when the ice maker 200 is working, the liquid water supplied by the water source first enters the inlet pipe 231, then passes through the outlet pipe 235 into the connecting pipe 233, and then through the connecting pipe 233 from the second end 32 into the water supply pipe 30, finally flowing into the ice tray 20. This piping design ensures that liquid water from an external water source is supplied to the water supply pipe 30, thereby guaranteeing that the ice tray 20 can obtain a continuous supply of liquid water for ice production. Furthermore, when assembling the water supply assembly 23, the operator can first connect the inlet pipe 231 to the outlet pipe 235, then connect the connecting bracket 232 to the inner liner 22, and finally connect the connecting pipe 233 to the outlet pipe 235 and the water supply pipe 30, making the operation simple and convenient.
[0050] In some embodiments, the inner liner 22 has a mounting hole 222 on its side wall, which connects the receiving cavity 221 to the space outside the inner liner 22. The water outlet pipe 235 includes a first section 2351, a second section 2352, and a third section 2353 connected in sequence. The first section 2351, the second section 2352, and the third section 2353 are all part of the structure of the water outlet pipe 235. The first section 2351 is located inside the receiving cavity 221 and communicates with the connecting pipe 233. The second section 2352 is inserted into the mounting hole 222. The third section 2353 is located on the side of the connecting bracket body 234 opposite to the inner liner 22 and communicates with the water inlet pipe 231. The inner diameters of the first section 2351, the second section 2352, and the third section 2353 are all the same.
[0051] With the above settings, since the inner diameters of the first section 2351, the second section 2352 and the third section 2353 are all the same, the pressure loss of the water in the outlet pipe 235 under high flow velocity conditions can be reduced. This helps to ensure that the water output from the water supply pipe 30 has a high flow velocity, thereby ensuring that the water output from the water supply pipe 30 can flow stably to the ice grid 20.
[0052] In some embodiments, the length of the first segment 2351 inserted into the inner liner 22 is not less than 8mm, to ensure that the first segment 2351 has sufficient length to connect with the connecting pipe 233. The first segment 2351 is a round pipe, and the diameter of the first segment 2351 is the same as the diameter of the water supply pipe 30, which allows the operator to detachably connect both ends of the connecting pipe 233 to the first segment 2351 and the water supply pipe 30 respectively.
[0053] In some embodiments, the ice maker 200 further includes a sealing sleeve 24 and a sealing ring 25. The sealing sleeve 24 is generally cylindrical and is disposed on the outer wall of the inner liner 22 and surrounds the outer periphery of the mounting hole 222. The second segment 2352 passes through the sealing sleeve 24. The sealing ring 25 is a ring-shaped structure made of a soft elastic material such as rubber or silicone. The sealing ring 25 is fitted onto the second segment 2352, and the sealing sleeve 24 and the inner wall of the second segment 2352 together clamp the sealing ring 25. Through the above arrangement, the sealing sleeve 24 and the inner wall of the second segment 2352 together clamp the sealing ring 25 to form a sealed and waterproof structure, thereby preventing water in the inner liner 22 from flowing out from the mounting hole 222.
[0054] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral wall of the second segment 2352 is provided with an annular mounting groove 26, and the sealing ring 25 is embedded in the mounting groove 26. The sealing ring 25 is clamped and fixed by the inner side wall of the sealing sleeve 24 and the inner wall of the mounting groove 26. With the above arrangement, the mounting groove 26 provides mounting space for the sealing ring 25, which facilitates the outer wall of the second segment 2352 to get closer to the inner wall of the sealing sleeve 24, and further facilitates the sealing ring 25 to be clamped by the second segment 2352 and the sealing sleeve 24, so as to ensure the formation of a stable and reliable sealing and waterproof structure.
[0055] In some embodiments, the first segment 2351, the second segment 2352, and the third segment 2353 are coaxially arranged circular tubes. The outer diameters of the first segment 2351 and the third segment 2353 are both smaller than the outer diameter of the second segment 2352, and the outer diameter of the second segment 2352 is the same as the diameter of the mounting hole 222. This arrangement, because the outer diameter of the second segment 2352 is the same as the diameter of the mounting hole 222, helps reduce the risk of water leakage from the inner liner 22 through the mounting hole 222, and provides sufficient wall thickness for the mounting ring groove 26. Since the outer diameter of the first segment 2351 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second segment 2352, it is convenient for the first segment 2351 to pass through the mounting hole 222 and be inserted into the inner liner 22, thus facilitating the installation of the connecting bracket 232.
[0056] In summary, the embodiments of this application provide an ice-making assembly 100. Since its water supply pipe 30 is detachably connected to the mounting bracket 10, when the water supply pipe 30 malfunctions or needs cleaning, the user can remove it from the mounting bracket 10 for repair or cleaning. This facilitates user repair or cleaning of the water supply pipe 30, reduces maintenance costs, and improves user experience. Furthermore, the embodiments of this application also provide an ice maker 200 using the aforementioned ice-making assembly 100. Therefore, the ice maker 200 offers advantages such as convenient user repair or cleaning of the water supply pipe 30, low maintenance costs, and a superior user experience.
[0057] 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.
[0058] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. An ice-making component, characterized in that, include: Mounting bracket; An ice tray, mounted on the mounting bracket, is provided with multiple ice-making slots arranged on the same side of the ice tray, each ice-making slot having an opening; and A water supply pipe is detachably connected to the mounting bracket. The water supply pipe has a water outlet facing the opening. The water supply pipe is used to transport liquid water to the ice-making tank through the water outlet. When the ice-making assembly is in operation, the position height of the water outlet in the direction of gravity is greater than or equal to the position height of the opening in the direction of gravity.
2. The ice-making assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting bracket includes a connected mounting bracket body and a support arm; the ice tray is disposed on the mounting bracket body, and the support arm is provided with a retaining notch, and the water supply pipe is detachably retained and fixed in the retaining notch.
3. The ice-making assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The support arm includes a first support arm and a second support arm that are spaced apart from each other. The first support arm has a first retaining notch, and the second support arm has a second retaining notch. The water pipe has a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other. The first end is detachably retained and fixed in the first retaining notch, and the second end is detachably retained and fixed in the second retaining notch.
4. The ice-making assembly as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Both the first end and the second end are open; the ice-making assembly also includes a sealing plug, which is connected to the water supply pipe to seal the opening of the first end; the second end is used to communicate with the water supply assembly, and the second end is the water inlet end of the water supply pipe.
5. The ice-making assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly also includes a limiting member, which is disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe. The inner side wall of the retaining notch is provided with a limiting groove that is adapted to the limiting member, and the limiting member is embedded in the limiting groove.
6. The ice-making assembly as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly also includes a prompting element, which is disposed on the outer wall of the water supply pipe and protrudes relative to the outer wall of the water supply pipe. When the limiting member is embedded in the limiting groove, the prompting element and the support arm are arranged side by side along the axial direction of the water supply pipe and fit together.
7. An ice maker, characterized in that, Includes a shell, an inner liner, a water supply assembly, and an ice-making assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; The inner liner is disposed within the shell and has a receiving cavity; the ice-making component is disposed within the receiving cavity; the water supply component is disposed within the shell and is connected to the water supply pipe, and the water supply component is used to inject water into the water supply pipe.
8. The ice maker as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The water supply assembly includes an inlet pipe, a connecting bracket, and a connecting pipe; the connecting bracket includes a connected connecting bracket body and an outlet pipe, the connecting bracket body is disposed outside the inner tank, and the outlet pipe passes through the inner tank and extends into the receiving cavity; the connecting pipe connects the outlet pipe and the water supply pipe; the inlet pipe is used to connect the outlet pipe to a water source.
9. The ice maker as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The inner liner is provided with an installation hole; the water outlet pipe includes a first section, a second section and a third section connected in sequence, the first section is located in the receiving cavity and is connected to the connecting pipe, the second section is inserted into the installation hole, and the third section is located on the side of the connecting bracket body away from the inner liner and is connected to the water inlet pipe; the inner diameters of the first section, the second section and the third section are all the same.
10. The ice maker as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a sealing sleeve and a sealing ring; the sealing sleeve is disposed on the outer wall of the inner liner and surrounds the outer periphery of the mounting hole, the second section passes through the sealing sleeve, the sealing ring is sleeved on the second section, and the sealing sleeve and the inner wall of the second section together clamp the sealing ring.