A defrosting mechanism for a cold store
By combining mechanical scraping with a spraying component for defrosting, and adjusting the height and angle of the drive lifting and adjusting components, the problems of low defrosting efficiency, high energy consumption, and improper defrosting water treatment in cold storage are solved, achieving a high-efficiency, energy-saving, and low-cost defrosting effect.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI GUCHEN ELECTROMECHANICAL ENG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing cold storage defrosting technologies suffer from high energy consumption, low defrosting efficiency, high risk of equipment damage, and improper defrost water treatment, especially lacking adaptability to different regions.
The system combines mechanical scraping with spraying of defrosting agent using a spraying component. It also incorporates a drive lifting and adjusting mechanism to allow for flexible adjustment of height and angle. An integrated collection box collects defrosting water, and a dehumidifying component reduces humidity inside the storage unit. A regenerable moisture-absorbing filter is used to treat the air.
It improves defrosting efficiency, reduces energy consumption, reduces the risk of equipment damage and maintenance costs, avoids frost water corrosion and secondary pollution, extends the defrosting cycle, and reduces labor and energy consumption.
Smart Images

Figure CN224593534U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model is a defrosting mechanism for cold storage, belonging to the field of defrosting components. Background Technology
[0002] Frosting is an unavoidable phenomenon in the daily operation of cold storage facilities, and effective defrosting is crucial to ensuring refrigeration efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining the quality of stored goods. However, current defrosting technologies have many insurmountable shortcomings, causing considerable trouble for cold storage operations. Among existing defrosting methods, physical scraping and electric heating defrosting are the most common.
[0003] Electric defrosting equipment requires heating elements to melt frost, consuming a large amount of electricity and directly leading to a significant increase in the overall energy consumption of cold storage, which contradicts the current development concept of energy conservation and emission reduction. Moreover, the defrosting water generated during the defrosting process is often not effectively collected and treated, flowing freely inside the cold storage. Traditional physical defrosting equipment lacks flexibility in adjusting height and angle, and cannot be adapted to different frost locations. For different areas such as the side walls and top of the cold storage, different tools or complex operations are often required. More importantly, when using a scraping method, it is difficult to scrape off thick ice layers with physical force alone. This not only results in low defrosting efficiency but also damages the materials of the equipment surface, side walls, and top of the cold storage due to excessive force, affecting the normal use and insulation performance of the cold storage and increasing equipment maintenance costs. Therefore, it is necessary to design a defrosting mechanism for cold storage. Utility Model Content
[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a cold storage defrosting mechanism to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a cold storage defrosting mechanism, comprising: The base has wheels installed at the four corners at the bottom, and a base is integrally set in the center of the base. A collection box is located at one end of the top of the base, and the collection box has an open top and an outward flaring design; A dehumidifying component is located at the other end of the top of the base. A defrosting agent tank is fixed to the top of the dehumidifying component, and an infusion pump is installed on the top of the defrosting agent tank. A lifting drive is mounted on a base, and an adjusting component is connected to the lifting drive in a lifting manner. The defrosting component is located at one end of the drive lifting component near the collection box, and the defrosting component is rotatably connected to the drive lifting component.
[0006] Furthermore, the dehumidification component includes a moisture absorption box, an exhaust fan, and regenerable moisture-absorbing filters. An air inlet and an air outlet are respectively provided at the center of both sides of the moisture absorption box, and filters are provided at both the air inlet and the air outlet. An exhaust fan is installed inside the air inlet, and multiple regenerable moisture-absorbing filters are inserted at equal intervals inside the moisture absorption box. Handles are symmetrically provided on both sides of the moisture absorption box away from the collection box.
[0007] Furthermore, the driving lifting component includes a hydraulic jack, a base plate, a first servo motor, guide columns, a lifting screw, and a top plate. There are two hydraulic jacks, and the base plate is installed on the top of the hydraulic jack. Guide columns are vertically arranged on both sides of the top of the base plate, and the top plate is installed on the top of the guide columns. The lifting screw is vertically arranged at the center between the top plate and the base plate, and the first servo motor is fixed at the bottom of the base plate below the lifting screw. The output end of the first servo motor is connected to the lifting screw.
[0008] Furthermore, both sides inside the base are provided with mounting grooves whose shape matches the hydraulic jacks, and the two hydraulic jacks are respectively set in the two mounting grooves. A recessed clearance groove is provided at the center of the top of the base, and the length, width and height of the clearance groove are all greater than the length, width and height of the first servo motor.
[0009] Furthermore, the adjusting component includes a lifting seat, a mounting plate, a worm gear, a worm, a reduction motor, and a sprocket assembly. The lifting seat has a mounting plate at one end near the collection box, and worm gears are rotatably connected to both sides of the lifting seat. The center of the worm gear is fixedly connected to the mounting plate via a connecting rod, and worms meshing with the worm gears are installed on the lifting seat below the worm gears. A reduction motor is installed at the center of the lifting seat at the end away from the collection box, and the output end of the reduction motor is connected to the two worms via the sprocket assembly. The sprocket assembly includes two driving wheels connected to the output end of the reduction motor, two driven wheels connected to the worms, and two chains for transmission.
[0010] Furthermore, the lifting seat has symmetrical guide column grooves on both sides with inner diameters matching the outer diameter of the guide column, and a screw groove adapted to the lifting screw is provided at the center of the lifting seat.
[0011] Furthermore, the defrosting component includes a mounting base, a defrosting roller, a drive motor, a second servo motor, a spraying assembly, and a horizontal lead screw. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the mounting plate by bolts. The mounting base has a movable groove inside, and fixed plates are integrally connected to both sides of the mounting base away from the adjusting component. The second servo motor is fixed to one side of the mounting base, and a horizontal lead screw is rotatably connected in the movable groove. The output end of the second servo motor is connected to the horizontal lead screw, and a spraying assembly is movably connected to the movable groove. A defrosting roller is rotatably connected between the two fixed plates, and silicone scrapers are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the defrosting roller. A drive motor is mounted on the fixed plate away from the second servo motor, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the defrosting roller.
[0012] Furthermore, the spraying assembly includes a lead screw, a hinge seat, a nozzle, and a fastening knob. A lead screw adapted to a horizontal lead screw is provided in the movable groove, and the shape of the lead screw matches the internal shape of the movable groove. The top and bottom of the lead screw are connected to the hinge seat, and the nozzle is hinged in the hinge seat. A fastening knob is fixed on one side of the hinge seat. The inlet end of the infusion pump is connected to the bottom of the defrost tank through a conduit, and the outlet end of the infusion pump is connected to the input end of the nozzle through a retractable corrugated pipe.
[0013] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: 1. This application adopts a combination of mechanical scraping and spraying of defrosting agent by a spraying component. The defrosting agent can lower the freezing point of water, quickly penetrate and destroy the crystalline structure of ice, softening and melting the ice and frost layers. Especially for thicker ice layers, it can effectively solve the problem of being difficult to scrape off by physical scraping, greatly improving defrosting efficiency. At the same time, the method of using mechanical scraping as the main method and chemical agent as an auxiliary method does not require the large amount of electricity consumed by electric heating defrosting, which greatly reduces the energy consumption of cold storage and is in line with the development concept of energy conservation and consumption reduction. The outer surface of the defrosting roller is made of silicone scraper, which is soft in texture. When mechanically scraping, it can effectively remove the frost layer and avoid damage to the surface, side walls and top materials of the cold storage equipment due to excessive force, thus reducing the maintenance cost of the equipment.
[0014] 2. Through the cooperation of the driving lifting component and the adjusting component, the defrosting component of this application can flexibly adjust its height and angle, and the spraying component can also move horizontally. Without changing tools or performing complicated operations, it can adapt to the frost conditions of different areas such as the side walls and top of the cold storage, effectively making up for the lack of flexibility in height and angle adjustment of traditional physical defrosting equipment. In addition, the collection box of this application can collect the defrosting water generated during the defrosting process in a centralized manner, avoiding the problem of secondary pollution caused by the corrosion of the cold storage floor and the growth of bacteria caused by the random flow of defrosting water.
[0015] 3. The dehumidifier uses an exhaust fan to draw humid air from the cold storage into the dehumidification box, where an internal regenerable dehumidifying filter dehumidifies the air. After defrosting, the humidity inside the cold storage often rises significantly due to defrosting and other reasons. High humidity can easily lead to rapid re-frost formation, creating a vicious cycle of "defrosting-frost formation." The dehumidifier effectively reduces the humidity inside the cold storage, reducing the condensation of water vapor on the equipment surface and the storage body from the source, slowing down the rate of re-frost formation, thereby extending the defrosting cycle, reducing the number of defrosting operations, and further reducing energy consumption and labor costs. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Other features, objects, and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a second-view structural schematic diagram of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the drive lifting component structure of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the adjusting component structure of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the defrosting component structure of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the spraying component structure of a cold storage defrosting mechanism according to the present invention; In the picture: 1. Base; 101. Wheels; 102. Base; 2. Collection box; 3. Dehumidification components; 301. Moisture absorption box; 302. Exhaust fan; 303. Regenerable moisture-absorbing filter; 4. Defrosting agent tank; 401. Infusion pump; 5. Drive lifting component; 501. Hydraulic jack; 502. Base plate; 503. First servo motor; 504. Guide column; 505. Lifting screw; 506. Top plate; 6. Adjusting components; 601. Lifting seat; 6011. Screw groove; 6012. Guide column groove; 602. Mounting plate; 603. Worm gear; 604. Worm; 605. Gear motor; 606. Sprocket assembly; 7. Defrosting components; 701. Mounting base; 7011. Movable groove; 7012. Fixing plate; 702. Defrosting roller; 7021. Silicone scraper; 703. Drive motor; 704. Second servo motor; 705. Spraying assembly; 7051. Nut; 7052. Hinge seat; 7053. Spray nozzle; 7054. Fastening knob; 706. Horizontal lead screw; 8. Handle. Detailed Implementation
[0017] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.
[0018] Please see Figures 1 to 6 This utility model provides a technical solution: a cold storage defrosting mechanism, including a base 1, with four corners of the base 1 equipped with wheels 101, and a base 102 integrally formed at the center of the base 1. A collection box 2 is located at one end of the top of the base 1, and the collection box 2 has an open top and an outward-expanding design. A dehumidifying component 3 is located at the other end of the top of the base 1, and a defrosting agent tank 4 is fixed to the top of the dehumidifying component 3. An infusion pump 401 is installed on the top of the defrosting agent tank 4. A driving lifting component 5 is located on the base 102. The drive lifting component 5 is connected to the adjusting component 6 in a lifting manner. The defrosting component 7 is located at the end of the drive lifting component 5 near the collection box 2, and the defrosting component 7 is rotatably connected to the drive lifting component 5. The traveling wheels 101 facilitate the flexible movement of the entire mechanism to adapt to the defrosting needs of different areas in the cold storage. The outward expansion design of the collection box 2 can collect defrost water more efficiently and prevent outflow. The drive lifting component 5 and the adjusting component 6 work together to flexibly adjust the position and angle of the defrosting component 7, improving the defrosting adaptability. All components are integrated on the base 1, with a compact structure and convenient overall operation.
[0019] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The dehumidification component 3 includes a moisture absorption box 301, an exhaust fan 302, and regenerable moisture-absorbing filters 303. An air inlet and an air outlet are respectively located at the center of both sides of the moisture absorption box 301, and filters are installed at both the inlet and outlet. The exhaust fan 302 is installed inside the air inlet, and multiple regenerable moisture-absorbing filters 303 are inserted at equal intervals inside the moisture absorption box 301. Handles 8 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the moisture absorption box 301 away from the collection box 2. The exhaust fan 302 can actively draw humid air into the moisture absorption box 301, improving dehumidification efficiency. The filters can filter impurities in the air, preventing contamination of the regenerable moisture-absorbing filters 303. The multiple regenerable moisture-absorbing filters 303 are evenly spaced, increasing the moisture absorption area, improving the dehumidification effect, and allowing for reuse, thus reducing costs.
[0020] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3The driving lifting component 5 includes a hydraulic jack 501, a base plate 502, a first servo motor 503, guide columns 504, a lifting screw 505, and a top plate 506. Two hydraulic jacks 501 are provided, and the base plate 502 is mounted on the top of each hydraulic jack 501. Guide columns 504 are vertically arranged on both sides of the top of the base plate 502, and the top plate 506 is mounted on the top of each guide column 504. A lifting screw 505 is vertically arranged at the center between the top plate 506 and the base plate 502. The bottom of the base plate 502 is fixed with a first servo motor 503. The output end of the first servo motor 503 is connected to the lifting screw 505. Two hydraulic push rods 501 provide stable support for the base plate 502 and assist in lifting, which facilitates defrosting operations on the top and higher parts of the cold storage. The first servo motor 503 drives the lifting screw 505 to rotate, realizing the precise lifting of the adjustment component 6 to meet the defrosting needs at different heights. The guide column 504 ensures the stability of the lifting process, avoids shaking, and improves the defrosting accuracy.
[0021] Please see Figure 3 The base 102 has mounting grooves on both sides inside, with the shape matching the hydraulic jacks 501. The two hydraulic jacks 501 are respectively installed in the two mounting grooves. A recessed clearance groove is provided at the center of the top of the base 102. The length, width and height of the clearance groove are all greater than the length, width and height of the first servo motor 503. The mounting groove provides positioning and protection for the hydraulic jacks 501, making the structure more compact. The clearance groove provides sufficient space for the first servo motor 503 to avoid collision between the motor and the base 102 during lifting, ensuring the safe operation of the equipment.
[0022] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 4 The adjusting component 6 includes a lifting seat 601, a mounting plate 602, a worm gear 603, a worm 604, a reduction motor 605, and a sprocket assembly 606. The lifting seat 601 has a mounting plate 602 at one end near the collection box 2, and worm gears 603 are rotatably connected to both sides of the lifting seat 601. The center of the worm gear 603 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 602 via a connecting rod. Worms 604 meshing with the worm gear 603 are installed on the lifting seat 601 below the worm gear 603. A reduction motor 605 is installed at the center of the lifting seat 601 at the end furthest from the collection box 2. The output end of 5 is connected to two worm gears 604 via a sprocket assembly 606. The sprocket assembly 606 includes two drive wheels connected to the output end of the geared motor 605, two driven wheels connected to the worm gears 604, and two chains for transmission. The meshing transmission between the worm gears 603 and the worm gears 604 enables the angle adjustment of the mounting plate 602 and has a self-locking function to ensure stable operation of the defrosting component 7 at any angle. The geared motor 605 synchronously drives the two worm gears 604 through the sprocket assembly 606 to ensure that the worm gears 603 on both sides rotate in unison, making the angle adjustment of the mounting plate 602 precise and stable.
[0023] Please see Figure 4 The lifting seat 601 has symmetrical guide column grooves 6012 on both sides inside, with the inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the guide column 504. The lifting seat 601 also has a screw groove 6011 at the center of the interior, which matches the lifting screw 505. The precise fit between the guide column groove 6012 and the guide column 504 provides stable guidance for the lifting of the lifting seat 601 and avoids deviation. The screw groove 6011 matches the lifting screw 505, ensuring smooth transmission of the lifting seat 601 during the lifting process and improving the lifting accuracy and stability.
[0024] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5 The defrosting component 7 includes a mounting base 701, a defrosting roller 702, a drive motor 703, a second servo motor 704, a spraying assembly 705, and a horizontal lead screw 706. The mounting base 701 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 602 by bolts. The mounting base 701 has a movable groove 7011 inside, and fixed plates 7012 are integrally connected to both sides of the mounting base 701 away from the adjusting component 6. The second servo motor 704 is fixed to one side of the mounting base 701, and the horizontal lead screw 706 is rotatably connected in the movable groove 7011. The output end of the second servo motor 704 is connected to the horizontal lead screw 706, and the spraying assembly 705 is movably connected to the movable groove 7011. The two fixed plates 701... A defrosting roller 702 is rotatably connected between the two servo motors 704 and 705. Silicone scraper strips 7021 are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the defrosting roller 702. A drive motor 703 is mounted on a fixed plate 7012 on the side away from the second servo motor 704, and the output end of the drive motor 703 is connected to the defrosting roller 702. The silicone scraper strips 7021 are soft and can effectively remove frost while avoiding damage to the surface of the cold storage equipment when the defrosting roller 702 rotates to scrape away the frost layer. A spraying assembly 705 moves along the movable groove 7011 under the drive of the second servo motor 704 and the horizontal lead screw 706, which can evenly spray defrosting agent onto the frosted surface, improving defrosting efficiency. The mounting base 701 is bolted to the mounting plate 602 for easy disassembly and maintenance.
[0025] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 6The spraying assembly 705 includes a nut 7051, a hinge seat 7052, a nozzle 7053, and a fastening knob 7054. A nut 7051, adapted to the horizontal lead screw 706, is provided in the movable groove 7011, and the shape of the nut 7051 matches the internal shape of the movable groove 7011. Hinges 7052 are connected to both the top and bottom of the nut 7051. The nozzle 7053 is hinged within the hinge seat 7052, and a fastening knob 7054 is fixed to one side of the hinge seat 7052. The inlet end of the infusion pump 401... The nozzle 7053 is connected to the bottom of the defrosting agent tank 4 via a conduit, and the outlet of the infusion pump 401 is connected to the input of the nozzle 7053 via a retractable corrugated pipe. The nut 7051 cooperates with the horizontal screw 706 to realize the horizontal movement of the nozzle 7053 and expand the spraying range. The nozzle 7053 is hinged to the hinge seat 7052, and any spraying angle can be fixed by the fastening knob 7054 to adapt to the shape of different frosted surfaces. The retractable corrugated pipe extends and retracts with the movement of the nozzle 7053 to ensure smooth delivery of the defrosting agent without being restricted by movement.
[0026] Although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A defrosting mechanism for a cold store, characterised in that, include: The base (1) has four corners at the bottom equipped with wheels (101), and the base (102) is integrally set at the center of the base (1). A collection box (2) is set at one end of the top of the base (1), and the collection box (2) has a top opening and an outward expansion design; A dehumidifying component (3) is located at the other end of the top of the base (1). A defrosting agent tank (4) is fixed on the top of the dehumidifying component (3), and an infusion pump (401) is installed on the top of the defrosting agent tank (4). A driving lifting component (5) is mounted on a base (102), and an adjusting component (6) is connected to the driving lifting component (5) in a lifting manner. The defrosting component (7) is located at one end of the drive lifting component (5) near the collection box (2), and the defrosting component (7) is rotatably connected to the drive lifting component (5).
2. The defrosting mechanism of the cold storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dehumidification component (3) includes a moisture absorption box (301), an exhaust fan (302), and a regenerable moisture-absorbing filter (303). An air inlet and an air outlet are respectively provided at the center of both sides of the moisture absorption box (301), and a filter is provided at both the air inlet and the air outlet. An exhaust fan (302) is installed in the air inlet, and multiple regenerable moisture-absorbing filters (303) are inserted at equal intervals inside the moisture absorption box (301). Handles (8) are symmetrically provided on both sides of the end of the moisture absorption box (301) away from the collection box (2).
3. The defrosting mechanism of claim 1, wherein: The driving lifting component (5) includes a hydraulic jack (501), a base plate (502), a first servo motor (503), a guide column (504), a lifting screw (505), and a top plate (506). There are two hydraulic jacks (501), and the base plate (502) is installed on the top of the hydraulic jacks (501). Guide columns (504) are vertically arranged on both sides of the top of the base plate (502), and the top plate (506) is installed on the top of the guide columns (504). The lifting screw (505) is vertically arranged at the center between the top plate (506) and the base plate (502), and the first servo motor (503) is fixed at the bottom of the base plate (502) below the lifting screw (505). The output end of the first servo motor (503) is connected to the lifting screw (505).
4. The defrosting mechanism of claim 3, wherein: The base (102) has mounting grooves on both sides inside, which are shaped to match the hydraulic push rods (501). The two hydraulic push rods (501) are respectively set in the two mounting grooves. A recessed clearance groove is provided at the center of the top of the base (102), and the length, width and height of the clearance groove are all greater than the length, width and height of the first servo motor (503).
5. The defrosting mechanism of claim 3, wherein: The adjusting component (6) includes a lifting seat (601), a mounting plate (602), a worm gear (603), a worm (604), a geared motor (605), and a sprocket assembly (606). The lifting seat (601) is provided with a mounting plate (602) at one end near the collection box (2), and worm gears (603) are rotatably connected to both sides of the lifting seat (601). The center of the worm gear (603) is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (602) through a connecting rod, and the lifting seat (601) below the worm gear (603) is... 01) Each of the lifting seats is equipped with a worm (604) that meshes with the worm gear (603). A geared motor (605) is installed at the center of the end of the lifting seat (601) away from the collection box (2). The output end of the geared motor (605) is connected to the two worms (604) through a sprocket assembly (606). The sprocket assembly (606) includes two driving wheels connected to the output end of the geared motor (605), two driven wheels connected to the worms (604), and two chains for transmission.
6. A defrosting mechanism for a cold store according to claim 5, wherein: The lifting seat (601) has symmetrical guide column grooves (6012) with inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the guide column (504) on both sides inside, and a screw groove (6011) adapted to the lifting screw (505) is opened at the center inside the lifting seat (601).
7. The defrosting mechanism of claim 1, wherein: The defrosting component (7) includes a mounting base (701), a defrosting roller (702), a drive motor (703), a second servo motor (704), a spraying assembly (705), and a horizontal lead screw (706). The mounting base (701) is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (602) by bolts. The mounting base (701) has an internal movable groove (7011). Both sides of the mounting base (701) away from the adjusting component (6) are integrally connected to a fixing plate (7012). The second servo motor (704) is fixed to one side of the mounting base (701), and the movable groove (7011) is... 1) A horizontal lead screw (706) is rotatably connected inside, the output end of the second servo motor (704) is connected to the horizontal lead screw (706), and a spraying assembly (705) is movably connected to the movable slot (7011). A defrosting roller (702) is rotatably connected between the two fixed plates (7012), and silicone scraper strips (7021) are evenly arranged on the outer surface of the defrosting roller (702). A drive motor (703) is installed on the fixed plate (7012) away from the second servo motor (704), and the output end of the drive motor (703) is connected to the defrosting roller (702).
8. A defrosting mechanism for a cold store according to claim 7, characterised in that: The spraying assembly (705) includes a nut (7051), a hinge seat (7052), a nozzle (7053), and a fastening knob (7054). The movable groove (7011) is provided with a nut (7051) that is compatible with the horizontal lead screw (706), and the shape of the nut (7051) matches the internal shape of the movable groove (7011). The top and bottom of the nut (7051) are connected to the hinge seat (7052), and the nozzle (7053) is hinged in the hinge seat (7052). A fastening knob (7054) is fixed on one side of the hinge seat (7052). The inlet end of the infusion pump (401) is connected to the bottom of the defrost tank (4) through a conduit, and the outlet end of the infusion pump (401) is connected to the input end of the nozzle (7053) through a retractable corrugated pipe.