Ice making device and refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of ice making device and refrigerator, ice making device includes shell assembly, ice mould, ice storage box and liquid storage box. Ice mould is equipped with ice grid and the flow guide opening communicated with ice grid. Ice mould is rotationally connected in shell assembly, and have inclined state and ice turning state. Ice storage box is equipped with ice storage cavity. Ice storage box is located below ice mould, when ice mould is in ice turning state, ice mould overturns to turn ice block into ice storage cavity. Liquid storage box is arranged in ice storage box, and located in ice storage cavity. Liquid storage box is equipped with liquid storage cavity, and ice storage cavity is spaced, when ice mould is in inclined state, liquid storage box is located below flow guide opening, liquid in ice grid can flow to liquid storage cavity through flow guide opening. The ice making device can reduce or avoid the possibility that ice mould cannot normally de-ice, improve user's use experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of electrical technology, and in particular to an ice-making device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of society and economy and the improvement of people's living standards, refrigerators have gradually become an indispensable household appliance in people's daily lives. Refrigerators use refrigeration to keep their interior at a low temperature, which can not only preserve food, but also make ice by setting up an ice-making device, which greatly facilitates users' demand for ice.

[0003] In related technologies, ice is made by injecting liquid into an ice-making device. However, there is a problem of abnormal liquid volume during the injection process. When the liquid volume is too large, it will cause water to overflow, which will prevent the ice mold from being properly removed from the ice. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the present disclosure provides an ice-making device and a refrigerator, which can reduce or avoid the possibility that ice molds cannot be properly removed, thereby improving the user experience.

[0005] Specifically, this disclosure is achieved through the following technical solution.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an ice-making apparatus is provided, comprising a housing assembly, an ice mold, an ice storage box, and a liquid storage box. The ice mold has ice trays and a flow port communicating with the ice trays. The ice mold is rotatably connected to the housing assembly and has an inclined state and an ice-flipping state. The ice storage box has an ice storage cavity. The ice storage box is located below the ice mold; when the ice mold is in the ice-flipping state, the ice mold flips to flip ice blocks into the ice storage cavity. The liquid storage box is disposed in the ice storage box and located within the ice storage cavity. The liquid storage box has a liquid storage chamber spaced apart from the ice storage cavity; when the ice mold is in the inclined state, the liquid storage box is located below the flow port, allowing liquid in the ice trays to flow into the liquid storage chamber through the flow port.

[0007] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:

[0008] When the ice-making device is working, liquid is injected into the ice mold to fill each ice tray, thus producing ice cubes. After injection, the ice mold is rotatably connected to the housing assembly, causing it to rotate relative to the housing assembly and tilt. A liquid storage box is located below the flow port, which is connected to the ice tray, allowing liquid in the ice mold to flow out through the flow port and into the storage chamber. This tilting of the ice mold allows some liquid in the ice tray to flow into the storage chamber when the injection volume is excessive, ensuring the liquid level in the ice tray meets the target requirements and reducing or eliminating the possibility of the ice mold failing to detach properly, thus improving the user experience. After ice making is complete, the ice mold switches to an ice-flipping state, flipping the ice cubes into the storage chamber. The liquid storage box is located inside the ice storage box, which means that the liquid storage box only occupies the space of the ice storage cavity, without requiring additional space for the ice making device. This helps to ensure the overall structural dimensions of the ice making device and improves the user experience.

[0009] The technical solution disclosed herein will be further explained below.

[0010] In one embodiment, the inner wall of the ice storage box is provided with a mounting base, and the liquid storage box is mounted on the ice storage box through the mounting base.

[0011] In one embodiment, a mounting base is disposed on the inner bottom wall of the ice storage box, and the mounting base and the inner side wall of the ice storage box are disposed opposite each other to form a mounting groove. The liquid storage box is disposed in the mounting groove, and the mounting base and the inner side wall of the ice storage box respectively abut against the liquid storage box so that the liquid storage box is fixed in the ice storage box.

[0012] In one embodiment, the ice-making device is further provided with a drain hole penetrating the liquid storage box, the drain hole being located on the bottom wall of the liquid storage box.

[0013] In one embodiment, the ice-making device further includes a delivery pipe, one end of which is connected to a drain hole and the other end of which is connected to an evaporating dish of the refrigerator to deliver liquid from the storage box to the evaporating dish for evaporation.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ice-making apparatus further includes a pump body, through which a delivery pipe is connected to an evaporating dish.

[0015] In one embodiment, the ice mold also includes a mold body and a flow guide connected to the mold body. The mold body is provided with an ice grid, and the flow guide is provided with a flow port and a flow channel. The flow port is connected to the ice grid through the flow channel. When the ice mold is tilted, the liquid in the ice grid can flow through the flow channel to the flow port and flow into the liquid storage chamber.

[0016] In one embodiment, the mold body and the liquid storage box are offset from each other on the orthographic projection plane in the thickness direction of the ice mold.

[0017] In one embodiment, the liquid storage box is detachably disposed within the ice storage box.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator is provided, comprising a body, a door, and an ice-making device as described in any of the above embodiments. The door is rotatably connected to the body to open or close the body. The ice-making device is disposed on one of the body and the door.

[0019] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The refrigerator uses the aforementioned ice-making device, which can reduce or avoid the possibility that the ice mold cannot be properly removed, thus improving the user experience and consequently enhancing the user's overall experience with the refrigerator.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this disclosure, are used to provide a further understanding of this disclosure. The illustrative embodiments of this disclosure and their descriptions are used to explain this disclosure and do not constitute an undue limitation of this disclosure.

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the ice-making device in the refrigerator.

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the ice-making device in the refrigerator.

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the ice-making device.

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The diagram shows a partial structural schematic of the ice-making device.

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 4The diagram shows the structure of the ice mold in the ice-making device.

[0030] Explanation of the reference numerals in the attached figures.

[0031] 10. Refrigerator; 100. Ice maker; 110. Shell assembly; 120. Ice mold; 121. Ice tray; 122. Flow outlet; 123. First ice mold; 124. Second ice mold; 125. Rotating shaft; 126. Mold body; 127. Flow guide; 128. Flow channel; 130. Ice storage box; 131. Ice storage cavity; 132. Mounting base; 133. Mounting groove; 140. Liquid storage box; 141. Liquid storage cavity; 142. Drain hole; 150. First liquid injection component; 160. Second liquid injection component; 170. Delivery pipe; 180. Pump body; 200. Cabinet; 300. Cabinet door; 400. Evaporating dish. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments (or "implementations") of this application will be clearly and completely described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0033] If the embodiments of this application contain terms relating to directional indications or positional relationships (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, top, bottom, center, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse, length, height, counterclockwise, clockwise, axial, radial, circumferential, etc.), such terms are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and movements between components in a specific posture (as shown in the attached figures); if the specific posture changes, the directional indications or positional relationships will also change accordingly. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" used in the embodiments of this application are only for descriptive convenience and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] With the development of society and economy and the improvement of people's living standards, refrigerators have gradually become an indispensable household appliance in people's daily lives. Refrigerators use refrigeration to keep their interior at a low temperature, which can not only preserve food, but also make ice by setting up an ice-making device, which greatly facilitates users' demand for ice.

[0035] In related technologies, ice is made by injecting liquid into an ice-making device. However, there is a problem of abnormal liquid volume during the injection process. When the liquid volume is too large, it will cause water to overflow, which will prevent the ice mold from being properly removed from the ice.

[0036] Refrigerators, as devices for preserving food and making ice, are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience. However, with a wide variety of refrigerator types and brands available, consumers have many choices. Therefore, how to win over consumers and enhance product competitiveness has become an increasingly important issue for refrigerator manufacturers.

[0037] Based on this, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, an ice-making device 100 and a refrigerator 10 are provided. The ice-making device 100 can reduce or avoid the possibility that the ice mold 120 cannot be properly removed from the ice, reduce liquid waste, and improve the user experience.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a refrigerator 10 is provided, comprising a cabinet 200, a door 300, and an ice-making device 100. The door 300 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 200 to open or close the cabinet 200. The ice-making device 100 is disposed on either the cabinet 200 or the door 300. Thus, by disposing of the ice-making device 100 on either the cabinet 200 or the door 300, the low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator 10 is used to cool the ice-making device 100, thereby turning the liquid inside the ice-making device 100 into ice cubes, thus realizing the ice-making function of the ice-making device 100.

[0039] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, an ice-making device 100 is provided, comprising a housing assembly 110, an ice mold 120, an ice storage box 130, and a liquid storage box 140. The ice mold 120 has an ice tray 121 and a flow port 122 communicating with the ice tray 121. The ice mold 120 is rotatably connected to the housing assembly 110 and has an inclined state and an ice-flipping state. The ice storage box 130 has an ice storage cavity 131. The ice storage box 130 is located below the ice mold 120. When the ice mold 120 is in the ice-flipping state, the ice mold 120 flips to flip ice blocks into the ice storage cavity 131. The liquid storage box 140 is disposed in the ice storage box 130 and located within the ice storage cavity 131. The liquid storage box 140 is provided with a liquid storage cavity 141 spaced apart from the ice storage cavity 131. When the ice mold 120 is tilted, the liquid storage box 140 is located below the guide port 122, and the liquid in the ice tray 121 can flow into the liquid storage cavity 141 through the guide port 122.

[0040] Thus, when the ice-making device 100 is operating, liquid is injected into the ice mold 120 to fill each ice tray 121, thereby producing ice cubes through the ice trays 121 of the ice-making device 100. After the liquid injection is completed, the ice mold 120 is rotatably connected to the housing assembly 110, causing the ice mold 120 to rotate relative to the housing assembly 110, so that the ice mold 120 is in an inclined state. The liquid storage box 140 is located below the guide port 122, which is connected to the ice tray 121, allowing the liquid in the ice mold 120 to flow out through the guide port 122 and into the liquid storage chamber 141. This ensures that when the amount of liquid injected by the ice-making device 100 is excessive, the inclined state of the ice mold 120 allows some of the liquid in the ice tray 121 to flow through the guide port 122 into the liquid storage chamber 141, ensuring that the liquid level in the ice tray 121 meets the target requirements, reducing or avoiding the possibility that the ice mold 120 cannot properly thaw, and improving the user experience. After the ice-making device 100 completes ice making, the ice mold 120 switches to the ice-flipping state, flipping the ice cubes into the ice storage cavity 131 for easy access by the user. The liquid storage box 140 is located inside the ice storage box 130, meaning it only occupies space within the ice storage cavity 131, without requiring additional space for the ice-making device 100. This helps maintain the overall structural dimensions of the ice-making device 100 and improves the user experience.

[0041] It should be noted that when the ice mold 120 is tilted, the tilt angle of the ice mold 120 can be set according to the requirements, as long as the liquid in the ice tray 121 can meet the target liquid level after the liquid flows out of the guide port 122 when the ice mold 120 is tilted.

[0042] It should be noted that when the ice mold 120 is in a tilted state, its rotation angle can be 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, and 12°, etc.

[0043] like Figures 2 to 4As shown, in some embodiments, the ice mold 120 includes a first ice mold 123 and a second ice mold 124. The volume of the ice tray 121 of the first ice mold 123 is smaller than the volume of the ice tray 121 of the second ice mold 124. The ice-making device 100 also includes a first liquid injection member 150 and a second liquid injection member 160 disposed on the housing assembly 110. The first liquid injection member 150 communicates with the first ice mold 123 to inject liquid into the first ice mold 123. The second liquid injection member 160 communicates with the second ice mold 124 to inject liquid into the second ice mold 124. Thus, in this ice-making device 100, the ice trays 121 of the first ice mold 123 and the second ice mold 124 have different volumes, allowing ice cubes of different sizes to be produced during ice making to meet different needs. Because the volumes of their ice trays 121 are different, the volumes of the first ice mold 123 and the second ice mold 124 are also different, resulting in different liquid injection amounts. That is, the liquid injection volume of the first liquid injection component 150, which is connected to the first ice mold 123, and the second liquid injection component 160, which is connected to the second ice mold 124, is different when the ice-making device 100 makes ice. During the assembly process of the ice-making device 100, there is a possibility that the first liquid injection component 150 and the second liquid injection component 160 are installed in reverse, which may cause liquid to overflow from one of the ice molds 123 and 124. Therefore, by switching the ice mold 120 to a tilted state, a portion of the liquid in the ice tray 121 is transported back to the liquid injection component through the guide port 122, so that the liquid in the ice tray 121 meets the target requirements, reducing or avoiding the possibility that the ice mold 120 cannot be properly thawed, reducing liquid waste, and improving the user experience.

[0044] It should be noted that there are several ways in which the first liquid injection component 150 and the second liquid injection component 160 can provide liquid. These include connecting the first liquid injection component 150 and the second liquid injection component 160 to an external water source to provide liquid, or providing a liquid storage device inside the refrigerator 10, with the first liquid injection component 150 and the second liquid injection component 160 connected to the liquid storage device to provide liquid through the liquid storage device.

[0045] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the inner wall of the ice storage box 130 is provided with a mounting base 132, and the liquid storage box 140 is mounted on the ice storage box 130 via the mounting base 132. Thus, by providing the mounting base 132 on the inner wall of the ice storage box 130, the liquid storage box 140 can be installed into the ice storage box 130 via the mounting base 132, and the provision of the mounting base 132 can improve the reliability of the liquid storage box 140 being installed into the ice storage box 130.

[0046] It should be noted that the liquid storage box 140 can be installed into the ice storage box 130 by snap-fitting, screwing, or other means to the mounting base 132.

[0047] like Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the mounting base 132 is disposed on the inner bottom wall of the ice storage box 130. The mounting base 132 and the inner side wall of the ice storage box 130 are arranged opposite each other to form a mounting groove 133. The liquid storage box 140 is disposed in the mounting groove 133, and the mounting base 132 and the inner side wall of the ice storage box 130 respectively abut against the liquid storage box 140, so that the liquid storage box 140 is fixedly disposed in the ice storage box 130. In this way, by disposing of the mounting base 132 on the inner bottom wall of the ice storage box 130, the mounting base 132 and the inner side wall of the ice storage box 130 are arranged opposite each other to form a mounting groove 133, and the liquid storage box 140 can be installed into the mounting groove 133. When the liquid storage box 140 is installed into the mounting groove 133, the mounting groove 133 and the inner side wall of the ice storage box 130 respectively abut against the liquid storage box 140, so as to achieve a fixed connection between the liquid storage box 140 and the ice storage box 130. The structure is simple and easy to disassemble and install.

[0048] It should be noted that there are various ways to connect the mounting base 132 and the ice storage box 130, including bonding, screwing, and integral molding, etc.

[0049] like Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 also includes a drain hole 142 penetrating the liquid storage box 140, located on the bottom wall of the liquid storage box 140. Thus, by providing the drain hole 142 in the liquid storage box 140, the liquid stored in the liquid storage box 140 can be drained through the drain hole 142. Furthermore, the fact that the drain hole 142 is located on the bottom wall of the liquid storage box 140 further ensures that all liquid in the liquid storage box 140 is drained.

[0050] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 further includes a delivery pipe 170, one end of which is connected to a drain hole 142, and the other end is connected to an evaporating dish 400 of the refrigerator 10 to deliver liquid in the liquid storage box 140 to the evaporating dish 400 for evaporation. Thus, by connecting one end of the delivery pipe 170 to the drain hole 142 and the other end to the evaporating dish 400 of the refrigerator 10, the liquid in the liquid storage box 140 can be delivered to the evaporating dish 400 for evaporation through the delivery pipe 170. By utilizing the existing structure of the refrigerator 10 to evaporate the liquid flowing out of the ice mold 120, the overall structure of the ice-making device 100 can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the ice-making device 100 can be reduced.

[0051] It should be noted that the evaporation dish 400 can be used to collect the condensate or defrost water produced by the refrigerator 10 and to evaporate the condensate and defrost water.

[0052] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 further includes a pump body 180, and a delivery pipe 170 is connected to the evaporating dish 400 via the pump body 180. Thus, by providing the pump body 180, the delivery pipe 170 can be connected to the evaporating dish 400, improving the efficiency of liquid flow from the storage box 140 to the evaporating dish 400, thereby enhancing the user experience of the ice-making device 100.

[0053] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice mold 120 further includes a mold body 126 and a flow guide 127 connected to the mold body 126. The mold body 126 is provided with an ice tray 121, and the flow guide 127 is provided with a flow port 122 and a flow channel 128. The flow port 122 is connected to the ice tray 121 through the flow channel 128. When the ice mold 120 is in an inclined state, the liquid in the ice tray 121 can flow through the flow channel 128 to the flow port 122 and flow into the liquid storage cavity 141. Thus, by providing the flow guide 127 in the mold body 126, and the flow guide 127 being provided with a flow port 122 and a flow channel 128, when the ice mold 120 is in an inclined state, the liquid in the ice tray 121 can flow through the flow channel 128 of the flow guide 127 to the flow port 122 and flow into the liquid storage cavity 141. The design of the guide 127 can improve the reliability of the liquid in the ice tray 121 flowing accurately to the liquid storage chamber 141 when the ice mold 120 is tilted.

[0054] It should be noted that there are multiple ways to implement the mold body 126 and the guide component 127, including integral molding and separate manufacturing and reassembly, etc.

[0055] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the mold body 126 and the flow guide 127 are integrally formed. This reduces the assembly steps of the ice mold 120 and improves the assembly efficiency of the ice-making device 100.

[0056] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the mold body 126 and the liquid storage box 140 are offset from each other on the orthographic projection plane of the ice mold 120 in the thickness direction. Thus, by offsetting the mold body 126 and the liquid storage box 140 on the orthographic projection plane of the ice mold 120 in the thickness direction, the possibility of ice blocks falling into the liquid storage cavity 141 when the ice mold 120 switches to the ice-turning state can be reduced or avoided, improving the accuracy and reliability of the ice-turning process of the ice-making device 100.

[0057] It should be noted that the thickness direction of the ice mold 120 is... Figure 4 The Z direction is shown.

[0058] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the liquid storage box 140 is detachably disposed on the ice storage box 130. Thus, by designing the liquid storage box 140 to be detachably disposed on the ice storage box 130, when the ice mold 120 is tilted and the liquid in the ice tray 121 flows into the liquid storage box 140, the ice storage box 130 can be removed to empty the liquid in the liquid storage box 140 and clean it. This structure is simple and easy to manufacture.

[0059] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice mold 120 includes a rotation shaft 125, through which the ice mold 120 is rotatably connected to the housing assembly 110. Thus, the ice mold 120 is rotatably connected to the housing assembly 110 via the rotation shaft 125 to switch between a horizontal and an inclined state. During the rotation of the ice mold 120, it rotates about the rotation shaft 125, and the arrangement of the rotation shaft 125 can improve the reliability of the rotation process of the ice mold 120.

[0060] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the ice mold 120 is integrally formed to create the ice grid 121 and the flow outlet 122. This reduces the assembly steps of the ice mold 120 and improves the manufacturing efficiency of the ice mold 120.

[0061] It should be noted that there are various ways to implement the one-piece molding process of Ice Mold 120, including but not limited to injection molding, extrusion molding, stamping molding, etc.

[0062] It should be noted that the technical solutions or features described in the above embodiments can be combined or supplemented with each other without conflict. The scope of protection of this application is not limited to the precise structures described in the above embodiments and shown in the accompanying drawings; all modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An ice-making device, characterized in that, include: Housing assembly; An ice mold is provided with an ice tray and a flow port communicating with the ice tray; the ice mold is rotatably connected to the housing assembly and has an inclined state and an ice-turning state; An ice storage box is provided with an ice storage cavity; the ice storage box is located below the ice mold, and when the ice mold is in the ice-turning state, the ice mold flips over to turn the ice blocks into the ice storage cavity; as well as A liquid storage box is disposed in the ice storage box and located inside the ice storage cavity; the liquid storage box has a liquid storage cavity spaced apart from the ice storage cavity. When the ice mold is tilted, the liquid storage box is located below the guide port, and the liquid in the ice tray can flow into the liquid storage cavity through the guide port.

2. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the ice storage box is provided with a mounting base, and the liquid storage box is mounted on the ice storage box through the mounting base.

3. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting base is disposed on the inner bottom wall of the ice storage box. The mounting base and the inner side wall of the ice storage box are arranged opposite to each other to form a mounting groove. The liquid storage box is disposed in the mounting groove, and the mounting base and the inner side wall of the ice storage box respectively abut against the liquid storage box so that the liquid storage box is fixed in the ice storage box.

4. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making device is also provided with a drain hole that penetrates the liquid storage box, and the drain hole is located on the bottom wall of the liquid storage box.

5. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ice-making device also includes a delivery pipe, one end of which is connected to the drain hole, and the other end is used to connect to the evaporation dish of the refrigerator to deliver the liquid in the storage box to the evaporation dish for evaporation.

6. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making device also includes a pump body, and the delivery pipe is connected to the evaporating dish through the pump body.

7. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice mold also includes a mold body and a flow guide connected to the mold body. The mold body is provided with the ice grid, and the flow guide is provided with the flow port and the flow channel. The flow port is connected to the ice grid through the flow channel. When the ice mold is tilted, the liquid in the ice grid can flow through the flow channel to the flow port and flow into the liquid storage cavity.

8. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, On the orthographic projection plane of the ice mold along its thickness direction, the mold body and the liquid storage box are offset from each other.

9. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid storage box is detachably mounted on the ice storage box.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The device includes a housing, a door, and an ice-making apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the door is rotatably connected to the housing to open or close the housing; and the ice-making apparatus is disposed on one of the housing and the door.

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