Ice maker

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of ice makers, and specifically provides an ice maker. The ice maker comprises: a housing configured to be in a cylindrical shape and internally provided with an ice-making region; a cooling assembly for reducing the temperature of the ice-making region and configured to increase the temperature of the ice-making region in a first direction; and an ice extruder coaxially arranged in the housing and comprising a rotating shaft and a rotating blade helically arranged around the rotating shaft, the helical direction of the rotating blade being configured such that ice is pushed in the first direction when the rotating blade rotates, the pitch of the rotating blade increasing gradually in the first direction, and a radial clearance between a cutting edge of the rotating blade and an inner wall of the housing increasing gradually in the first direction. The present invention solves the problem that ice extruders are prone to jam and stick when rotating, adapts to icing rates without the need to change compressors or limit the power of the compressors, is applicable to different water qualities, water temperatures, and ambient temperature conditions so as to smoothly and rapidly produce ice, and exhibits better ice production efficiency, product quality and reliability.

Description

An ice maker Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice maker technology, and in particular to an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] Ice makers utilize a refrigeration system to lower the temperature of water, causing it to freeze into ice. They are widely used in the catering, medical, and chemical industries. Based on the ice dispensing method, ice makers can be categorized into gravity-dispensing, push-type, and spiral extrusion types. Gravity-dispensing ice makers typically produce cube-shaped or irregularly shaped ice blocks, which are collected by gravity. Spiral extrusion ice makers separate ice and water through a spiral structure.

[0003] Different water qualities, water temperatures, and freezing speeds at different locations within the ice maker all affect the ice-making process. Existing spiral extrusion ice makers have a narrow application range, making the spiral extrusion blades prone to freezing or jamming due to blockage by granular ice during rapid freezing. Current technologies limit compressor cooling power and ice output speed to address blockage, resulting in less than ideal ice-making performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The ice maker provided by the present invention at least solves the problems of ice makers being unable to adapt to ice-making speeds under different conditions and the ice extrusion blades easily getting stuck.

[0005] This invention provides an ice maker, comprising: a housing, configured as a cylinder, having an ice-making zone inside; a cooling assembly for reducing the temperature of the ice-making zone and configured to increase the temperature of the ice-making zone along a first direction; and an ice extrusion blade coaxially disposed within the housing, including a rotating shaft and a rotating blade spirally arranged around the rotating shaft, the spiral direction of the rotating blade being configured to push ice in the first direction when rotating; the pitch of the rotating blade increasing along the first direction, and the radial clearance between the cutting edge of the rotating blade and the inner wall of the housing increasing along the first direction.

[0006] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has a single-line helical structure on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft, and the pitch of the rotating blade is set to gradually increase.

[0007] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has the pitch of the rotating blades set to increase in segments.

[0008] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has a rotating shaft with the area where the rotating blades are arranged, comprising a first segment, a second segment, a third segment, and a fourth segment arranged sequentially along the first direction.

[0009] The ice maker provided in this invention, in the first direction, has the following characteristics: the length of the first segment accounts for 25% to 30% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed; the length of the second segment accounts for 15% to 20% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed; the length of the fourth segment accounts for 20% to 25% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed; and the portion of the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed, excluding the first, second, and fourth segments, is designated as the third segment.

[0010] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has the following characteristics: the pitch of the rotating blade in the first segment is greater than or equal to 8 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm; the pitch of the rotating blade in the second segment is greater than or equal to 12 mm and less than or equal to 14 mm; the pitch of the rotating blade in the third segment is greater than or equal to 15 mm and less than or equal to 17 mm; and the pitch of the rotating blade in the fourth segment is greater than or equal to 18 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm.

[0011] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has the envelope side of the blade edge line set as an upright conical surface.

[0012] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has an angle between the generatrix of the conical surface and the axis of the housing that is greater than or equal to 0.3° and less than or equal to 0.4°.

[0013] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention has a blade wedge angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 70°.

[0014] The ice maker provided in this invention has a cooling assembly that is closely attached to the outer wall of the housing and is disposed corresponding to the ice-making area of ​​the housing. The ice-making area is opposite to the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed. The length of the ice-making area along the first direction is less than the length of the area on the rotating shaft where the rotating blades are disposed along the first direction. The cooling assembly is provided with a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and the interior of the cooling assembly is filled with refrigerant between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet.

[0015] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention further includes a heat insulation component, which is disposed outside the cooling assembly and at least covers the ice-making area.

[0016] The ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention further includes a power component; a top cover is provided at one end of the housing along the first direction, and the top cover is hollowed out for extruding ice; the power component is provided at the other end of the housing along the first direction, the output shaft of the power component is connected to and drives the ice extrusion blade to rotate, and a sealing element is also provided at the connection between the ice extrusion blade and the output shaft.

[0017] The ice maker provided by this invention solves the problem of easy blockage and jamming of the ice extrusion blades. It eliminates the need to replace the compressor or limit its power to adapt to the freezing speed, making it suitable for different water qualities, water temperatures, and ambient temperatures, and enabling smooth, rapid, and stable ice production. It offers better ice production efficiency and finished product quality, as well as superior reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice maker in the related art.

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice maker in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the ice maker shown in Figure 2.

[0021] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ice maker in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of point A in Figure 4.

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the ice layer corresponding to the ice-making zone in a cross-sectional view of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 is a front view of the integrated blade arrangement of the ice extrusion blade in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 8 is an isometric view of the ice extrusion blade shown in Figure 7.

[0026] Figure 9 is a front view of the split-blade arrangement of the ice extrusion blade in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The above-mentioned figures include the following reference numerals: 1—shell; 11—ice-making zone; 1101—ice layer; 12—top cover; 13—water inlet; 2—cooling component; 21—refrigerant inlet; 22—refrigerant outlet; 3—ice extruder blade; 31—rotating shaft; 32—rotating blade; 3201—starting end; 3202—ending end; 41—first section; 42—second section; 43—third section; 44—fourth section; 5—output shaft; 6—seal; 71—rotating motor; 72—ice-making component; 73—water storage component. Detailed Implementation

[0028] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0030] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this application. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0031] With the continuous advancement of refrigeration technology, extrusion ice making is finding increasingly wider applications. Extrusion ice making cools water to form ice, which is then continuously extruded through a rotating spiral structure. Compared to traditional ice-making methods and bullet-shaped ice makers, extrusion ice making can simultaneously produce and remove ice, resulting in a shorter ice-making cycle. However, due to the smaller contact area with air in extrusion ice making, the internal freezing speed is too fast. Under varying water quality and temperature conditions in different regions, the freezing speed is difficult to control, causing existing ice makers to easily become clogged and jammed during extrusion, affecting the extrusion process. Limiting the compressor power to control the freezing speed would reduce the ice-producing efficiency of the ice maker. Therefore, this invention provides an ice maker, including a housing 1, a cooling component 2, an ice-extruding blade 3, and a power component. This invention solves the problem of jamming during rotation by coordinating the ice-extruding blade 3 with the housing 1, enabling the ice maker to adapt to different water quality and temperature conditions. While ensuring ice-producing effect, it also increases the cooling power of the cooling component 2, thereby improving the ice-producing speed and ice-making efficiency.

[0032] Specifically, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the shell 1 is configured as a hollow cylindrical structure. The shell 11 is disposed through a first direction, which is parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical structure. The inner wall of the shell 1 is configured as a continuous smooth cylindrical surface with the first direction as the axis. The shell 1 is sealed and filled with water during ice making. When the temperature of the shell 1 drops below the freezing point, the water inside the shell 1 freezes on the inner wall of the shell 1. The ice is pushed towards one end of the shell 1 along the first direction and collected at the end of the shell 1 in the first direction.

[0033] Specifically, referring to FIG1, the cooling assembly 2 is used to control the temperature of the housing 1. During ice making, the cooling assembly 2 is used to lower the temperature of the housing 1 so that the water inside the housing 1 is cooled below the freezing point. The cooling assembly 2 is disposed in close contact with the outer wall of the housing 1 and is disposed corresponding to the ice-making zone 11 of the housing 1. The ice-making zone 11 of the housing 1 is at least a portion of the housing 1 in a first direction, and during ice making, the cooling assembly 2 is configured to raise the temperature of the ice-making zone 11 of the housing 1 along the first direction.

[0034] Specifically, the ice extrusion blade 3 is housed inside the housing 1 and is coaxially arranged with the housing 1. Referring to Figure 4, the cross-sectional surface obtained by cutting along the axis of the housing 1 of the ice maker is shown. The coaxial arrangement of the ice extrusion blade 3 and the housing 1 ensures that the ice layer thickness on both sides of the ice extrusion blade 3 is more consistent in the cross-sectional surface, that is, the ice layer thickness around the ice extrusion blade 3 is more consistent. When the ice extrusion blade 3 rotates around its own axis, the coaxial arrangement avoids eccentricity, preventing excessive accumulation of ice layer 1101 on one side of the inner wall of the housing 1. Uneven material distribution affects conveying stability and exacerbates wear on the ice extrusion blade 3 and the housing 1.

[0035] Further, referring to Figures 3, 7, and 8, the ice extruder 3 includes a rotating shaft 31 and a rotating blade 32 spirally arranged around the rotating shaft 31. The rotating shaft 31 extends along the axis of the housing 1, that is, it extends in a first direction. The end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 is near the end of the housing 1 used for extruding ice, and the beginning 3201 of the rotating blade 32 is near the other end of the housing 1, that is, the opposite side of the end used for extruding ice. The spiral direction of the rotating blade 32 is configured to push the ice in the first direction when rotating. For example, when the first direction is set to vertically upward, the beginning 3201 of the rotating blade 32 is at the bottom, and the end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 is at the top. The rotating blade 32 can be set to rotate counterclockwise within the housing 1, pushing the ice vertically upward.

[0036] In some embodiments, the blade 32 is configured with a single-line helical structure on the outer periphery of the shaft 31, which is easier to manufacture than a multi-line helical structure. The space formed between the helical structures is larger, which can accommodate more ice and is less likely to cause blockage or jamming.

[0037] The number of revolutions of the vane 32 can be set to an integer or a fraction. The distance between two adjacent revolutions of the vane 32 is the pitch, which is specifically the axial distance between two corresponding points on the mean diameter line of two adjacent revolutions, that is, the distance along the first direction. In this embodiment of the invention, the pitch of the vane 32 increases along the first direction.

[0038] In some embodiments, the pitch of the vane 32 is set to gradually increase. The pitch is different at any point on the vane 32 from the starting end 3201 to the ending end 3202, and the pitch gradually increases along the helical path of the vane 32. If the first point of the vane 32 is closer to the starting end 3201 than the second point, and the second point is closer to the ending end 3202 than the first point, then the pitch at the first point is smaller than the pitch at the second point. The first point and the second point can be located on the same turn or different turns of the vane 32.

[0039] In some embodiments, the pitch of the blade 32 is set to increase in segments. A segment is defined as the distance between two adjacent turns of the blade 32. Alternatively, the area on the shaft 31 where the blade 32 is located is divided into several segments along a first direction. Each segment may contain several turns or less than one turn. After segmentation, the pitch at each point within each segment is the same. Among two adjacent segments, the pitch of the segment closer to the end 3202 of the blade 32 is greater than the pitch of the segment closer to the beginning 3201 of the blade 32.

[0040] Continuing with the scheme of segmented increasing pitch, each segment of the rotating blade 32 can be either integrally arranged or separately arranged. When arranged separately, adjacent segments of the rotating blade 32 overlap, allowing the ice fragments scraped and pushed by the preceding segment to be continued by the following segment. Adjacent segments of the rotating blade 32 can overlap in a first direction or in the direction of force application when pushing the ice fragments. Referring to Figure 9, the rotating blades 32 are arranged separately, and adjacent segments overlap in the direction of force application when pushing the ice fragments. The overlapping area can store ice fragments to prevent them from falling. Even with the separately arranged rotating blades 32, the pushing and extrusion of ice fragments can still be achieved during rotation.

[0041] In this embodiment, the blades 32 are preferably configured with three turns, and the pitch can form a suitable gradient whether it increases gradually or in segments. Since the extension length of the housing 1 is fixed, the extension length of the shaft 31 is also determined with the housing 1. The length of the area on the shaft 31 where the blades 32 are provided in the first direction is also correspondingly limited. If the number of blade turns is too small within a limited length, it is impossible to effectively push the ice out, or the ice extrusion efficiency is too low. At the same time, if the number of blade turns is too small, it is difficult to form a suitable gradient pitch. If the number of blade turns is too large within a limited length, it will result in a small pitch and a dense distribution of blades 32, leaving less space for ice formation, which can easily cause blockage and hinder the rotation of the ice extrusion blade 3.

[0042] The ice extrusion blade 3 is manufactured using a casting process. Compared to a gradually increasing pitch, segmented pitch increase is less difficult to design and process, resulting in lower production costs. In this embodiment of the invention, the blade 32 is preferably configured with segmented pitch increase and is integrated as shown in Figures 7 and 8, which facilitates control over processing accuracy and consistency. Whether the pitch increase is gradual or segmented, when the blade 32 has a pitch that increases along the first direction, it will exhibit a sparse-to-dense effect at one end and a dense-to-dense effect at the other. The blades 32 near the starting end 3201 are more densely distributed, while the blades 32 near the ending end 3202 are more sparsely distributed.

[0043] On the one hand, the densely distributed area of ​​the rotating blades 32 has more contact points with the inner wall of the housing 1 along the first direction for the same length, and the contact area is larger. Under the condition that the material and the coefficient of friction are the same, the friction force generated between the rotating blades 32 and the inner wall of the housing 1 is greater. The rotating blades 32 closer to the starting end 3201 are more effective in scraping ice, and the cutting or removal effect on the ice layer 1101 is more significant.

[0044] Because the temperature of the ice-making zone 11 of the shell 1 increases along the first direction, the temperature of the ice-making zone 11 near the starting end 3201 of the rotating blade 32 is lower, resulting in faster freezing and a shorter freezing time for the ice layer 1101. Conversely, the temperature of the ice-making zone 11 near the ending end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 is higher, resulting in a slightly longer freezing time for the ice layer 1101 compared to the other end. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, the density difference of the rotating blades 32 corresponds to the difference in ice-making speed. On the side near the starting end 3201 of the rotating blades 32, i.e., in the area where the rotating blades 32 are densely distributed, the freezing speed is faster. Combined with a more significant ice-scraping effect, the pre-frozen ice layer 1101 can be scraped away, preventing rapid freezing of the ice extrusion blade 3 during startup and affecting its rotation.

[0045] The type of water used for ice making varies depending on the specific needs. Industrial ice making typically uses tap water that has undergone disinfection and purification at a water treatment plant, or other surface water or groundwater that meets standards. This water contains a certain amount of minerals and trace elements. A few industries with high requirements for ice quality, such as the pharmaceutical and precision electronics industries, use deionized water and distilled water for ice making. Furthermore, even tap water can vary in mineral and trace element content depending on the region.

[0046] Different water qualities correspond to different specific heat capacities. Generally speaking, the higher the mineral content in water, the lower the specific heat capacity. Due to the difference in specific heat capacity, the time required for water of different qualities to freeze also varies. In addition to water quality, different ambient temperatures in different regions or under different operating conditions will also affect the freezing time of the ice maker. The temperature of the water filled into the casing 1 will also directly affect the freezing time.

[0047] In related technologies, the pitch of the spiral structure is constant throughout. Influenced by factors such as water quality, water temperature, and ambient temperature, if the freezing rate is too fast, the spiral structure cannot quickly scrape off the ice, leading to freezing and inability to rotate, or blockage and jamming affecting rotation. To avoid these situations and control the freezing rate, different ice makers or different refrigeration components must be used depending on the region and operating conditions. Sometimes, the compressor power of the refrigeration components is also limited to reasonably control the freezing rate. Therefore, the applicability of ice makers in related technologies is greatly restricted, and their widespread adoption is limited. Limiting the compressor power also affects the speed of ice making and extrusion.

[0048] In this embodiment of the invention, an ice-squeezing blade 3 with varying pitch is used to solve the problem of rotational jamming caused by excessively rapid freezing in areas of the housing 1 with lower temperatures. It is adaptable to different water qualities, water temperatures, and ambient temperatures, and can quickly scrape away ice from areas that freeze rapidly, preventing the ice-squeezing blade 3 from freezing. In scenarios with slower freezing speeds, such as those with low mineral content, low specific heat capacity, high water temperature, or high ambient temperature, the ice maker provided in this embodiment of the invention can increase the working efficiency of the refrigeration components by increasing the compressor power, thereby accelerating the freezing speed and improving the quality of the ice. The compressor power is no longer limited, and a higher-power compressor can be selected. Frequent adjustments to the compressor power are unnecessary, jamming is less likely, the rotational stability of the ice-squeezing blade 3 is better, and the overall ice-making speed of the ice maker is greatly improved.

[0049] Furthermore, since extrusion ice making is a continuous process, and the extrusion rate may be limited by the structure of the extrusion location, the time from filling the housing 1 with water to the first extrusion of ice directly affects the overall efficiency of extrusion ice making. The ice maker provided in this embodiment of the invention can quickly achieve the first extrusion of ice without limiting the compressor. In some embodiments, the time for the first ice extrusion is within five minutes.

[0050] On the other hand, the ice formed by cooling will float upwards in the first direction due to buoyancy. Simultaneously, the rotation of the ice extrusion blade 3 also pushes the ice in the first direction, and a larger amount of ice will accumulate near the end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 due to continuous pushing and buoyancy. In this embodiment of the invention, the density difference of the rotating blades 32 is matched to the amount of ice accumulated during ice making. Areas with a denser distribution of rotating blades 32 accumulate less ice, while areas with a sparser distribution accumulate more ice, preventing blockage due to ice accumulation exceeding the blade interval and thus avoiding affecting the rotation of the ice extrusion blade 3.

[0051] Specifically, referring to Figures 3 and 8, in this embodiment of the invention, the pitch of the blade 32 is preferably set in segments that increase progressively, and the blade 32 is integrally formed. The area on the rotating shaft 31 where the blade 32 is set includes a first segment 41, a second segment 42, a third segment 43, and a fourth segment 44 arranged sequentially along a first direction. One side of the first segment 41 is the starting end 3201 of the blade 32, and one side of the fourth segment 44 is the ending end 3202 of the blade 32. The length of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the blade 32 is set is set to H. In the first direction, the length of the first segment 41 is H1, the length of the second segment 42 is H2, the length of the third segment 43 is H3, and the length of the fourth segment 44 is H4. Therefore, H1 + H2 + H3 + H4 = H.

[0052] Furthermore, the ice-forming speed is faster in the lower temperature areas of the shell 1, which can easily cause the ice-squeezing blade 3 to jam. Therefore, the first section 41, the second section 42, and the third section 43 need to have a stronger ice-scraping effect than the fourth section 44 to avoid ice accumulation. The first section 41 is set as the ice-breaking blade area, used to scrape off the corresponding ice layer 1101 and push it in the direction of the second section 42. To avoid jamming the ice-squeezing blade 3, the length H1 of the first section 41 in the first direction accounts for 25% to 30% of the length H of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is set. The fourth section 44 is the ice-squeezing area and also crushes ice in the area corresponding to the fourth section 44. The length H4 of the fourth section 44 in the first direction accounts for 20% to 25% of the length H of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is set.

[0053] The second section 42 and the third section 43 are auxiliary ice-breaking zones. The length H2 of the second section 42 in the first direction accounts for 15% to 20% of the length H of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blades 32 are located. The part of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blades 32 are located, other than the first section 41, the second section 42 and the fourth section 44, is designated as the third section 43.

[0054] In this embodiment of the invention, the segmentation of the first segment 41, the second segment 42, the third segment 43, and the fourth segment 44 facilitates the setting of the screw pitch in conjunction with the characteristics of icing and areas prone to jamming, and the screw pitch is correspondingly set to increase segment by segment. If the proportion of the first segment 41 is too small, the dense area of ​​the rotor blades 32 is relatively small, making it impossible to quickly scrape off the ice layer 1101. If the proportion of the first segment 41 is too large, the dense area of ​​the rotor blades 32 is relatively large, which will affect the ice storage capacity and ice discharge speed of the shell 1.

[0055] Furthermore, when the pitch of the rotating blade 32 is set to increase in segments: the pitch of the rotating blade 32 in the first segment 41 is greater than or equal to 8 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm; the pitch of the rotating blade 32 in the second segment 42 is greater than or equal to 12 mm and less than or equal to 14 mm; the pitch of the rotating blade 32 in the third segment 43 is greater than or equal to 15 mm and less than or equal to 17 mm; and the pitch of the rotating blade 32 in the fourth segment 44 is greater than or equal to 18 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm. If the pitch is set too small, the space between two adjacent rings of the rotating blade 32 is small, and the amount of ice that can be accommodated is small, making it very easy for ice to fill up and affect rotation. If the pitch is set too large, the scraping effect on the ice layer 1101 is correspondingly weakened, and the solidified ice cannot be scraped off in time, which can easily lead to jamming.

[0056] This invention, with a fixed total length H, segments and redistributes the distribution of the rotating blades 32, which better addresses the pain points in the ice-making field compared to other spiral structures. Different pitches are set to correspond to differences in icing speed and ice-making function at different locations, thereby improving ice-making efficiency and ice-dispensing speed.

[0057] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, the radial clearance between the cutting edge of the blade 32 and the inner wall of the housing 1 is progressively increased along a first direction. That is, the radial dimension of the blade 32 is smaller at one end and larger at the other end. The radial dimension is larger at the starting end 3201 of the blade 32 and smaller at the ending end 3202 of the blade 32.

[0058] Referring to Figure 6, the ice thickness of the ice layer 1101 during use of the ice maker is shown. In the lower temperature region of the first direction, the ice formation speed is fast and the ice layer thickness is thicker, while in the higher temperature region of the first direction, the ice formation speed is slow and the ice layer thickness is thinner. Since the inner wall of the housing 1 is a continuous smooth columnar shape, when the radial dimension of the starting end 3201 of the rotating blade 32 is large, the gap between this part of the area and the inner wall of the housing 1 is small. After the ice layer 1101 freezes, it can abut against the cutting edge of the rotating blade 32 and be scraped off in a short time. The ice layer 1101 is scraped off and pushed by the ice extrusion blade 3 before it accumulates to a certain thickness, which can effectively prevent the rotation from jamming.

[0059] In the higher-temperature areas of the first direction, the icing speed is slightly slower. When the first section 41 is scraping ice, the ice thickness gradually decreases in the second section 42, the third section 43, and the fourth section 44. Setting a larger gap between the rotating blade 32 and the inner wall of the housing 1 can not only avoid unnecessary wear on the equipment and extend its service life, but also reserve more ice storage space for the auxiliary ice crushing zone and the ice squeezing zone.

[0060] Furthermore, the envelope side of the blade edge of the rotating blade 32 is set as an upright conical surface. The radial dimension of the rotating blade 32 varies uniformly, avoiding sudden increases or decreases that could cause equipment wear or dead zones in ice scraping. The uniformly varying blade dimension corresponds to the varying temperature and ice thickness of the ice-making zone 11, achieving optimal ice scraping effect. Referring to Figure 4, the uniform variation in the radial dimension of the rotating blade 32 is manifested in that, in the cross-sectional view along the axis of the ice maker, the line connecting corresponding points on each ring of the rotating blade 32 is a straight line, rather than a broken line or curve. When the rotating shaft 31 rotates, the trajectory of the blade edge of the rotating blade 32 in space has the geometric characteristics of a conical surface. In the cross-sectional view, the line connecting corresponding points on each ring of the rotating blade 32 is one of the generatrices of the conical surface, and the blade edge forms an envelope side similar to a conical surface when rotating.

[0061] Further, referring to Figure 7, the angle between the generatrix of the conical surface and the axis is greater than or equal to 0.3° and less than or equal to 0.4°. That is, the angle between the line connecting the corresponding points of each ring of rotating blades 32 in the sectional view and the axial direction of the shell 1 is greater than or equal to 0.3° and less than or equal to 0.4°; the angle between the line connecting the corresponding points of each ring of rotating blades 32 in the sectional view and the first direction, and the angle between the line connecting the corresponding points of each ring of rotating blades 32 in the sectional view and the length direction of the inner wall of the shell 1 are all α, where α ≥ 0.3° and α ≤ 0.4°.

[0062] When the included angle α is too large, it indicates that the radial dimension of the blade 32 varies widely. Consequently, the radial dimension of the area near the end 3202 of the blade 32 is smaller, requiring a thicker ice layer 1101 to reach the blade edge for scraping. This can easily lead to a large accumulation of ice that freezes the ice scraper 3. When the included angle is too small, it indicates that the radial dimension of the blade 32 varies relatively little. The gap width between each section and the inner wall of the shell 1 is relatively similar, making it impossible to perform differentiated ice scraping treatment on different areas.

[0063] Furthermore, the gap between the rotating blade 32 and the inner wall of the housing 1 is also related to the critical value of the ice thickness of the ice layer 1101. Referring to Figure 4, ΔD is the radial width of the gap between the end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 and the inner wall of the housing 1, and ΔD is set as the critical value of the ice thickness. In this embodiment of the invention, D is the minimum diameter of the rotating blade 32 in the radial direction. Setting ΔD = D / 100 ± 0.05 mm avoids wear caused by scraping before the ice layer 1101 is fully formed, which affects the purity of the finished ice; at the same time, it avoids the ice extrusion blade 3 being unable to scrape off the ice when the ice layer is too thick, causing the ice layer 1101 to remain on the inner wall of the housing 1 and affect the cooling efficiency of the cooling component 2. In some embodiments, 36 mm ≤ D ≤ 40 mm. When D = 40 mm, 0.35 mm ≤ ΔD ≤ 0.45 mm.

[0064] Specifically, the cutting edge wedge angle of the blade 32 is greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 70°. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferably set to 60°. The cutting edge wedge angle is the included angle between the two cutting edges at the blade 32. The cutting edge wedge angle affects the cutting ability and durability of the ice extrusion blade 3. A smaller cutting edge wedge angle results in a sharper blade that easily cuts into the ice layer 1101, but the blade strength is lower, making it prone to wear or chipping. A larger cutting edge wedge angle increases strength but weakens ice-scraping ability, making it less likely to cut into the ice layer 1101.

[0065] Specifically, referring to FIG4, in the sectional view, the ice-making zone 11 is opposite to the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is provided. That is, the ice-making zone 11 of the housing 1 is opposite to the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is provided in the radial direction. This is because the ice-making zone 11 is the main icing area on the inner wall of the housing 1, and the rotating blade 32 is provided corresponding to the ice-making zone 11 to crush ice.

[0066] Further, referring to Figure 4, the length of the ice-making zone 11 along the first direction is less than the length of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is located along the first direction. Although the ice-making zone 11 is the main icing area on the inner wall of the housing 1, due to the influence of the cooling component 2, both sides of the ice-making zone 11 in the first direction will also ic up due to the temperature drop. In order to enable the ice extrusion blade 3 to crush and extrude ice from most of the icing area, the length of the ice-making zone 11 along the first direction is set to L, and the length of the area on the rotating shaft 31 where the rotating blade 32 is located along the first direction is set to H, where L < H, and H = L + ΔL1 + ΔL2. Among them, there is an area of ​​length ΔL2 on the side of the ice-making zone 11 near the end 3202 of the rotating blade 32 that can be crushed and extruded by the fourth section 44 of the ice extrusion blade 3, and there is an area of ​​length ΔL1 on the side of the ice-making zone 11 near the beginning 3201 of the rotating blade 32 that can be crushed and pushed by the first section 41 of the ice extrusion blade 3.

[0067] In some embodiments, the radial dimension of the ice extrusion blade 3 is set to 1.4D≤H≤1.5D, and the length of the area where the rotating blade 32 is located is matched. When D=40mm, 56mm≤H≤60mm. The ratio L:ΔL1:ΔL2=7:1.8:1.2 is set. When D=40mm and H=60mm, L=42mm, ΔL1=10.8mm, and ΔL2=7.2mm. Since the temperature is lower on the side of the ice-making zone 11 near the starting end 3201 of the rotating blade 32, the area on this side that may freeze outside the ice-making zone 11 will be larger than the other side. Setting ΔL1>ΔL2 allows the ice extrusion blade 3 to match the actual freezing situation, thereby breaking up and pushing the ice layer 1101 solidified in the entire shell 1.

[0068] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, referring to Figures 2 and 3, the cooling assembly 2 is provided with a refrigerant inlet 21 and a refrigerant outlet 22. During ice making, the interior of the cooling assembly 2 is filled with refrigerant between the refrigerant inlet 21 and the refrigerant outlet 22. In a first direction, the refrigerant inlet 21 is located near the starting end 3201 of the rotating blade 32, and the refrigerant outlet 22 is located near the ending end 3202 of the rotating blade 32. When the refrigerant flows within the cooling assembly 2, it exchanges heat with the ice-making zone 11 of the housing 1. As the refrigerant flows, its temperature continuously rises, causing a temperature change in the ice-making zone 11 along the first direction.

[0069] In this embodiment of the invention, due to the structural design of the ice extrusion blade 3, there is no need to replace or frequently adjust the compressor power of the cooling component 2. The refrigeration power of the refrigerant can be increased by 20% to 25% under the condition that the ice maker is running smoothly, and the superior refrigeration effect can also produce ice cubes with uniform density, stable temperature, good structural strength, and high hardness.

[0070] In other embodiments, the cooling component 2 can also be configured with other cooling methods, and the type of refrigerant can be determined according to the actual cooling requirements.

[0071] Referring to Figure 1, an ice maker in the related art is shown. During operation, water is filled into the water storage container 73 to a preset water level, and then refrigerant flows into the ice-making component 72. The ice-making component 72 is rapidly cooled to below freezing, and the water in contact with it freezes on its surface. After running for a certain period, bullet-shaped ice blocks form on the ice-making component 72. High-temperature gas is then introduced into the ice-making component 72 to de-ice the ice blocks, causing them to fall into the water storage container 73, where they are collected by a flipping motor 71. This type of ice maker takes approximately 10 minutes to produce ice. Because the ice-making component 72 needs to be in direct contact with water, an insulation layer cannot be added, resulting in a larger surface area exposed to air and lower cooling efficiency.

[0072] In this embodiment of the invention, the ice maker further includes a heat insulation component, which is located outside the cooling assembly 2 and at least covers the ice-making area 11. The cooling assembly 2 has a smaller contact area with the air compared to the ice maker in Figure 1, resulting in less energy loss and higher cooling efficiency.

[0073] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, the ice maker further includes a power assembly. A top cover 12 is provided at one end of the housing 1 along a first direction. The top cover 12 is located on one side of the housing 1 near the end 3202 of the rotating blade 32, and the top cover 12 is perforated for extruding ice. A power assembly is provided at the other end of the housing 1 along the first direction, and the output shaft 5 of the power assembly is connected to and drives the ice extrusion blade 3 to rotate.

[0074] The housing 1 is also provided with a water inlet 13 for filling with water. A seal 6 is also provided at the connection between the ice extruder 3 and the output shaft 5. The seal 6 can be a gasket, a sealing ring and / or other sealing structure.

[0075] The working principle of the ice maker provided in this embodiment of the invention is as follows: Water is filled into the housing 1 through the water inlet 13. Refrigerant is introduced through the refrigerant inlet 21 to lower the temperature of the ice-making zone 11, thereby controlling the temperature of the ice-making zone 11 to cause the filled water to freeze on the inner wall of the housing 1.

[0076] The power unit connects to the ice extrusion blade 3 and drives the ice extrusion blade 3 to rotate at a constant speed. The rotation of the ice extrusion blade 3 can be synchronized with the water injection inside the housing 1.

[0077] The thickness of the ice layer 1101 on the inner wall of the shell 1 increases with the ice-making time, and the ice layer 1101 abuts against the cutting edge of the ice extrusion blade 3. The rotating blade 32 of the ice extrusion blade 3 scrapes off ice fragments from the surface of the ice layer 1101 on the inner wall of the shell 1. The ice fragments float upward under buoyancy and are pushed by the ice extrusion blade 3 in the first direction until they are squeezed out of the shell 1 to complete the ice-making process.

[0078] When the ice maker is in use, the compressor power is between 120W and 150W, preferably 130W, corresponding to an ice extrusion blade 3 working power of approximately 30W, and the rotation speed of the ice extrusion blade 3 is approximately 6 r / min. The relatively high compressor power allows for rapid ice production. This embodiment of the invention, while enabling continuous ice-water separation and continuous ice output through extrusion ice making, adapts to different water qualities, water temperatures, and ambient temperature conditions, thus having a wider range of applications. It places fewer restrictions on the compressor, resulting in superior refrigeration efficiency and higher-quality, harder finished ice cubes. Furthermore, the rotating ice extrusion blade 3 is less prone to blockage and jamming, rotates smoothly, has high stability, and ensures good reliability of the ice maker.

[0079] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0080] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0081] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include; The shell (1) is cylindrical and has an ice-making area (11) inside; Cooling assembly (2) is used to reduce the temperature of the ice-making zone (11) and is configured to increase the temperature of the ice-making zone (11) in a first direction; An ice squeezing blade (3) is coaxially disposed within the housing (1) and includes a rotating shaft (31) and a rotating blade (32) spirally arranged around the rotating shaft (31). The spiral direction of the rotating blade (32) is configured to push ice in the first direction when rotating. The pitch of the rotating blade (32) increases along the first direction, and the radial clearance between the cutting edge of the rotating blade (32) and the inner wall of the housing (1) increases along the first direction.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade (32) is configured as a single-line helical structure on the outer periphery of the shaft (31), and the pitch of the blade (32) is configured to gradually increase.

3. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pitch of the blade (32) is set to increase in segments.

4. The ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is provided includes a first segment (41), a second segment (42), a third segment (43), and a fourth segment (44) arranged sequentially along the first direction.

5. The ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that, In the first direction, the length of the first segment (41) accounts for 25% to 30% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is provided; The length of the second segment (42) is 15% to 20% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is provided; The length of the fourth segment (44) is 20% to 25% of the length of the area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is provided; The portion of the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is located, excluding the first segment (41), the second segment (42), and the fourth segment (44), is designated as the third segment (43).

6. The ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pitch of the blade (32) in the first segment (41) is greater than or equal to 8 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm; The pitch of the blade (32) in the second section (42) is greater than or equal to 12 mm and less than or equal to 14 mm; The pitch of the blade (32) in the third segment (43) is greater than or equal to 15 mm and less than or equal to 17 mm; The pitch of the blade (32) in the fourth segment (44) is greater than or equal to 18 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm.

7. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The envelope side of the blade edge (32) is set as an upright conical surface.

8. The ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The angle between the generatrix of the conical surface and the axis of the shell (1) is greater than or equal to 0.3° and less than or equal to 0.4°.

9. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade (32) has a wedge angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 70°.

10. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling component (2) is closely attached to the outer wall of the housing (1) and is disposed corresponding to the ice-making area (11) of the housing (1). The ice-making area (11) is opposite to the area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is disposed. The length of the ice-making area (11) along the first direction is less than the length of the area on the rotating shaft (31) where the rotating blade (32) is disposed along the first direction. The cooling assembly (2) is provided with a refrigerant inlet (21) and a refrigerant outlet (22), and the interior of the cooling assembly (2) is filled with refrigerant between the refrigerant inlet (21) and the refrigerant outlet (22).

11. The ice maker according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes an insulation component, which is disposed outside the cooling assembly (2) and at least covers the ice-making area (11).

12. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes power components; The shell (1) is provided with a top cover (12) at one end along the first direction, and the top cover (12) is hollowed out for extruding ice; The power assembly is provided at the other end of the housing (1) along the first direction. The output shaft (5) of the power assembly is connected to and drives the ice extruder (3) to rotate. A seal (6) is also provided at the connection between the ice extruder (3) and the output shaft (5).

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