Air duct heat dissipation structure for ice maker and ice maker

Abstract

The utility model relates to ice maker technical field especially relates to a wind channel heat dissipation structure and ice maker for ice maker. Wherein, the wind channel heat dissipation structure for ice maker, including the casing, the lateral wall of casing is provided with the air inlet, the top wall of casing is provided with the gas outlet, the air inlet is provided with the air inlet board, and the air inlet board is connected with the casing, the gas outlet is provided with the air suction cover, and a plurality of air inlets are arranged on the air suction cover, the lower portion of air suction cover is provided with the condenser, the upper portion of air suction cover is provided with multiple air fans, and multiple air fans are arranged above multiple air inlets. The wind channel heat dissipation structure can ensure that air passes through condenser and then blows to the outside, and the air flow is uniform in each area of condenser, and the heat exchange efficiency is higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice maker technology, and in particular to an air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker and an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] The refrigeration system of an ice maker is similar to that of a refrigerator or air conditioner, mainly consisting of four components: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. Heat transfer is achieved through the circulation of refrigerant. During ice making, water is first pumped into the ice tray (mold) of the evaporator, filling it completely. The low-temperature refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs heat from the water in the ice tray, causing it to gradually freeze. Frost forms on the outer wall of the ice tray, further accelerating the freezing process. Existing ice makers generally suffer from small air inlet areas, resulting in insufficient airflow and poor condenser heat dissipation efficiency. Furthermore, most existing ice makers use only one fan to promote air circulation, and due to poor internal airflow design, uneven airflow around the condenser often leads to uneven heat dissipation. In terms of casing design, repairing internal components in existing ice makers requires disassembling the side panels secured with screws on both sides of the casing, which is cumbersome.

[0003] It is evident that existing technologies still need improvement and enhancement. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker and an ice maker, aiming to solve the technical problems of low heat dissipation efficiency of the condenser and inconvenient maintenance in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] The first aspect of this utility model provides a duct cooling structure for an ice maker, including a housing, an air inlet on the side wall of the housing, an air outlet on the top wall of the housing, an air inlet plate at the air inlet, the air inlet plate being detachably connected to the housing, a suction hood at the air outlet, a plurality of suction ports on the suction hood, a condenser below the suction hood, and a plurality of fans above the suction hood; the plurality of fans are respectively positioned above the plurality of suction ports.

[0007] The aforementioned air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker includes multiple air inlet holes on the air inlet plate.

[0008] The aforementioned air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker includes a bracket on the rear side wall of the housing, with the air inlet plate mounted on the bracket. The bracket comprises a left support member, an upper support member, a right support member, and a lower support member connected end-to-end. The upper support member has a first slot with its opening facing downwards. The lower support member has a second slot with its opening facing upwards. The top of the air inlet plate is located in the first slot, and its bottom is located in the second slot.

[0009] The air duct heat dissipation structure for the ice maker is described in which the distance from the top of the first slot to the top of the second slot is greater than the height of the air inlet plate; and the distance from the bottom of the outer wall of the first slot to the top of the outer wall of the second slot is less than the height of the air inlet plate.

[0010] The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker includes a first L-shaped limiting strip on the left support member, which extends along the height direction of the left support member to restrict the air inlet plate from moving inward and to the left; and a second L-shaped limiting strip on the right support member, which is opposite to the first L-shaped limiting strip to restrict the air inlet plate from moving inward and to the right.

[0011] The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker is provided with a handle on the air inlet plate.

[0012] The air duct heat dissipation structure for the ice maker includes a condenser that is horizontally arranged and is a flat cuboid; multiple air intakes are horizontally and evenly distributed on the air intake hood; and the top surface of the condenser is the same size as the bottom surface of the air intake hood.

[0013] The second aspect of this utility model provides an ice maker that adopts the air duct heat dissipation structure described above.

[0014] Beneficial effects: This utility model provides a duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker, which has the following characteristics:

[0015] 1. The air intake plate adopts a snap-fit ​​design, which can be quickly disassembled during inspection and maintenance without unscrewing and re-screwing the screws. In addition, the air intake plate can be cleaned at the same time after disassembly, making cleaning more convenient.

[0016] 2. Multiple suction hoods and multiple fans are distributed above the condenser. The multiple fans operate simultaneously near the condenser. Combined with the diversion effect of the suction hoods, the air can pass evenly through every part of the condenser, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the air duct heat dissipation structure Figure 1 .

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the air duct heat dissipation structure.

[0019] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the air duct heat dissipation structure Figure 2 .

[0020] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the suction hood, condenser, and fan.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the air inlet panel and its support.

[0022] Figure 6 Reference for the usage status of the air intake panel Figure 1 .

[0023] Figure 7 Reference for the usage status of the air intake panel Figure 2 .

[0024] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the left and right support members.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an ice maker.

[0026] Explanation of main component symbols: 1-Housing, 11-Air inlet plate, 2-Condenser, 3-Air suction hood, 4-Fan, 31-Air suction port, 111-Air inlet hole, 12-Left support, 13-Right support, 14-Upper support, 15-Lower support, 141-First slot, 151-Second slot, 121-First L-shaped limit strip, 131-Second L-shaped limit strip, 112-Handle, 5-Compressor, 6-Expansion valve, 7-Evaporator, 8-Ice tray cover, 91-Water spray pipe, 92-Water tank, 93-Water inlet valve. Detailed Implementation

[0027] This utility model provides a duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker and an ice maker in general. To make the purpose, technical solution, and effects of this utility model clearer and more explicit, the following describes this utility model in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or a specific orientational structure and operation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0029] Please see Figures 1-4 The first aspect of this utility model provides a duct cooling structure for an ice maker, including a housing 1, an air inlet on the side wall of the housing 1, an air outlet on the top wall of the housing 1, an air inlet plate 11 at the air inlet, the air inlet plate 11 being detachably connected to the housing 1, an air suction hood 3 at the air outlet, a plurality of air suction ports 31 on the air suction hood 3, a condenser 2 below the air suction hood 3, and a plurality of fans 4 above the air suction hood 3, with the plurality of fans 4 respectively positioned above the plurality of air suction ports.

[0030] Specifically, the suction hood 3 is fixedly connected to the housing 1, the condenser 2 is detachably connected to the suction hood 3, and multiple fans 4 are fixed on the suction hood 3.

[0031] Existing ice makers typically only have one fan 4, and the distance between the fan 4 and the condenser 2 is relatively far. Air may even need to make a bend before reaching the fan 4 from the condenser 2, leading to uneven airflow at the condenser 2. Areas with fast airflow experience faster heat dissipation, while areas with slow airflow experience slower heat dissipation, resulting in uneven heat dissipation and ultimately low heat exchange efficiency. This embodiment, however, utilizes a duct cooling structure formed by the housing 1, placing multiple fans 4 near the top of the condenser 2, and using an air intake hood 3 to create multiple corresponding air inlets 31. This ensures that each part of the condenser 2 receives an equal amount of air, solving the problem of uneven airflow and thus improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0032] In terms of airflow layout, the top surface of condenser 2 is connected to the suction hood 3. Air must pass through condenser 2 to exchange heat before leaving the suction hood 3. This ensures that all internal air blown to the outside undergoes heat exchange, preventing localized airflow from passing through the side of condenser 2 without exchanging heat with it.

[0033] Regarding the design of the air inlet plate 11, in this embodiment, the air inlet plate 11 is snapped onto the housing 1, allowing for quick removal and serving as an inspection port. When the air inlet plate 11 is used as an inspection port, it needs to have a large area for easy operation, while also ensuring that the air inlet area is large enough to allow sufficient air to enter the housing 1 for heat exchange with the condenser 2. Compared to the prior art, which requires disassembling both side plates for maintenance, this embodiment is much simpler to operate. Moreover, after disassembly, the air inlet plate 11 can be cleaned of dust independently, making it even easier to operate.

[0034] Please see Figure 3 In one embodiment, the air inlet plate 11 is provided with a plurality of air inlet holes 111. The air inlet plate 11 also functions as a filter screen, and the plurality of small air inlet holes 111 can prevent large foreign objects from entering the housing 1.

[0035] Please see Figures 5-7 In one embodiment, a bracket is provided on the rear side wall of the housing 1, and the air inlet plate 11 is disposed on the bracket. The bracket includes a left support member 12, an upper support member 14, a right support member 13, and a lower support member 15 connected end to end. The upper support member 14 is provided with a first slot 141 with its opening facing downward. The lower support member 15 is provided with a second slot 151 with its opening facing upward. The top of the air inlet plate 11 is located in the first slot 141, and its bottom is located in the second slot 151. When it is necessary to remove the air inlet plate 11, first lift the air inlet plate 11 upward, so that the top of the air inlet plate 11 further penetrates into the first slot 141. At the same time, the bottom of the air inlet plate 11 is lifted out of the second slot 151 and detached. Then, tilt the air inlet plate 11, first detach the bottom of the air inlet plate 11 from the housing 1, and finally detach the top of the air inlet plate 11 from the first slot 141 to complete the disassembly.

[0036] Specifically, in one embodiment, the distance from the top of the first slot 141 to the top of the second slot 151 is greater than the height of the air inlet plate 11; the distance from the bottom of the outer wall of the first slot 141 to the top of the outer wall of the second slot 151 is less than the height of the air inlet plate 11, and the width of the first slot 141 is greater than the width of the air inlet plate 11. In this embodiment, it can be ensured that after the air inlet plate 11 is lifted upwards, its bottom can be completely disengaged from the second slot 151, and the larger width of the first slot 141 allows the top of the air inlet plate 11 to tilt within the first slot 141, causing the bottom of the air inlet plate 11 to swing outwards, thereby removing the air inlet plate 11 from the housing 1.

[0037] Please see Figure 8In one embodiment, a first L-shaped limiting strip 121 is provided on the left support member 12, the first L-shaped limiting strip 121 extends along the height direction of the left support member 12, and is used to restrict the air inlet plate 11 from moving inward and to the left; a second L-shaped limiting strip 131 is provided on the right support member 13; the second L-shaped limiting strip 131 is arranged opposite to the first L-shaped limiting strip 121, and is used to restrict the air inlet plate 11 from moving inward and to the right.

[0038] Please see Figure 5 In one embodiment, a handle 112 is provided on the air inlet plate 11. Preferably, the handle 112 is located on the lower part of the outer side wall of the air inlet plate 11.

[0039] Please see Figure 4 In one embodiment, the condenser 2 is horizontally arranged and is a flat cuboid; multiple air intakes 31 are horizontally and evenly distributed on the air intake hood 3; the top surface of the condenser 2 is the same size as the bottom surface of the air intake hood 3. This embodiment ensures that each area of ​​the condenser 2 receives an equal amount of air, thereby avoiding low heat exchange efficiency in some areas and improving the overall heat exchange efficiency.

[0040] The second aspect of this utility model provides an ice maker that employs the air duct heat dissipation structure described above. The air duct heat dissipation structure of this solution can effectively improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the condenser 2, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency.

[0041] Please see Figure 9 In one embodiment, the ice maker employs the air duct heat dissipation structure described above. A cavity is located at the rear of the housing 1, housing the condenser 2, compressor 5, and expansion valve 6. The compressor 5, condenser 2, expansion valve 6, and evaporator 7 are sequentially connected, forming a closed loop. The evaporator 7 is integrally formed with the ice tray, absorbing heat from the water in the ice tray through a low-temperature refrigerant, causing the water to freeze into ice. An ice tray cover 8 is located on the front of the ice tray. A water spray pipe 91 is located on the top of the ice tray, and a water tank 92 is located at the bottom of the ice tray. A water inlet valve 93 is located inside the cavity, connected to a water tap.

[0042] During ice making, the ice tray lid 8 is closed, and the water inlet valve 93 is opened, allowing water to enter the water tank 92. When the water level in the water tank 92 reaches the designated height, the water inlet valve 93 is closed. The water in the water tank 92 is then pumped to the spray pipe 91, where it flows naturally from above to the surface of the ice tray (evaporator 7) for pre-cooling, before returning to the water tank 92. This cycle continues until the water in the water tank 92 is pre-cooled to the designated temperature (measured by a temperature sensor).

[0043] After precooling, ice making begins. Water from water tank 92 is pumped to water spray pipe 91, allowing it to flow naturally from above onto the surface of the ice tray (evaporator 7). The water slowly freezes, and any unfrozen water eventually falls back into water tank 92, creating a cycle. Once ice making begins, the control program simultaneously starts a countdown. Within the set time, the water will fully freeze on the ice tray, completing the ice-making process.

[0044] Once the ice is made, the ice maker's control program will open the ice tray lid 8 and activate the reversing valve, causing the evaporator 7 to release heat. The ice on the ice tray will melt due to the surface heating and fall off the ice tray.

[0045] In summary, by optimizing the positional relationship between the fan 4 and the condenser 2 in the air duct heat dissipation structure and increasing the number of fans 4, this utility model can effectively ensure that air flows evenly and sufficiently through each part of the condenser 2, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0046] It is understood that those skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of this utility model, and all such substitutions or changes should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. An air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker, characterized by, The device includes a housing, with an air inlet on the side wall and an air outlet on the top wall. An air inlet plate is located at the air inlet and engages with the housing. An air outlet is equipped with an air suction hood, which has multiple air intakes. A condenser is located below the air suction hood. Multiple fans are located above the air suction hood, each positioned above one of the multiple air intakes.

2. The air duct heat radiation structure for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein The air intake plate is provided with multiple air intake holes.

3. The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rear side wall of the housing is provided with a bracket, and the air inlet plate is disposed on the bracket; the bracket includes a left support member, an upper support member, a right support member and a lower support member connected end to end in sequence; the upper support member is provided with a first slot with the opening facing downward; the lower support member is provided with a second slot with the opening facing upward; the top of the air inlet plate is located in the first slot and its bottom is located in the second slot.

4. The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The distance from the top of the first slot to the top of the second slot is greater than the height of the air inlet plate; the distance from the bottom of the outer wall of the first slot to the top of the outer wall of the second slot is less than the height of the air inlet plate.

5. The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The left support member is provided with a first L-shaped limiting strip, which extends along the height direction of the left support member to restrict the air inlet plate from moving inward and to the left; the right support member is provided with a second L-shaped limiting strip; the second L-shaped limiting strip is arranged opposite to the first L-shaped limiting strip to restrict the air inlet plate from moving inward and to the right.

6. The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, A handle is provided on the air inlet plate.

7. The air duct heat dissipation structure for an ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condenser is horizontally arranged and is a flat cuboid; multiple air intakes are horizontally and evenly distributed on the air intake hood. The top surface of the condenser is the same size as the bottom surface of the suction hood.

8. An ice maker, characterized in that, The air duct heat dissipation structure as described in any one of claims 1-7 is adopted.

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