CN101506601A

CN101506601A - Ice tray assembly and refrigerator having same

Info

Publication number: CN101506601A
Application number: CNA2007800304626A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 崔承镇; 权永喆
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2006-08-15
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-14
Also published as: AU2007285171A1; GB2454378B; AU2007285171B2; GB0900200D0; MX2009001676A; GB2454378A; CN101506601B; WO2008020707A1; DE112007001909B4; DE112007001909T5

Abstract

An ice tray assembly for a refrigerator is provided. The ice tray assembly is installed in a door of a refrigerator. The ice tray assembly allows water to be supplied from a water container to an ice tray only when the door is closed. To this end, the ice tray assembly includes a valve for opening and closing a channel through which the water is supplied from the water container to the ice tray which is operated in cooperation with the operation of the door. An inner space of a refrigerator main body and corresponding storage space is increased since the ice tray assembly is installed in the door. Further, because water fed from the water container to the ice tray is controlled according to the operation of the door, water is not spilt from the ice tray when the door is operated.

Description

Ice pan assembly and have the refrigerator of this ice pan assembly

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of dish assembly, more particularly, relate to a kind of ice pan assembly and have the refrigerator of this ice pan assembly.

Background technology

Usually, refrigerator comprises refrigerating chamber and the refrigerating chamber that can store perishable.Usually wish in refrigerating chamber, to comprise the structure that is used for ice making and storage of ice.

Summary of the invention

Technical problem

But the required various parts of ability that are used to provide this ice making and storage of ice will take the available storage space in the freezer chamber usually; Reduced the storage space that can be used for storing other perishable thus.

Technical scheme

Therefore, the present invention conceives the problems referred to above in the technical solution problem.The objective of the invention is the ice pan assembly is mounted to the door of the storage space that is used to open and close refrigerator main body.

Another object of the present invention is can be only when door is closed water to be supplied to ice pan the ice pan assembly that is installed on the door from the water box.

The aspect that is used to realize this purpose according to the present invention provides a kind of ice pan assembly, and this ice pan assembly comprises: shell; Inner casing, described intrastructure becomes to be inserted in the described shell; At least one ice pan, described ice pan rotatably are installed in the described inner casing, and wherein said at least one ice pan comprises the inner space that is configured to receive therein water, and wherein said inner space is separated into a plurality of spaces of ice making therein; Rotary components, described rotary components are attached to described at least one ice pan and are configured to rotate described at least one ice pan; And bin, described bin is configured to be received in the ice that forms in described at least one ice pan when swingle is moved.

This rotary components comprises: at least one swing pinion, described swing pinion are attached to first end of described at least one ice pan; And swingle, described swingle is attached to described at least one swing pinion, and wherein said at least one swing pinion is configured to rotate described at least one ice pan in response to moving of described swingle.

The ice pan assembly also comprises: at least one projection, described projection are formed on described at least one ice pan and the described first end second opposed end described at least one ice pan; With at least one groove, described groove is formed in the respective surfaces of described inner casing, and described groove is configured to slidably engage described at least one projection, and wherein said at least one projection and at least one groove are configured for the rotation of described second end of described at least one ice pan of restriction when described swingle is moved.

At least one ice pan comprises a plurality of ice pans that are provided with vertical stack manner, in wherein said a plurality of ice pan each has the swing pinion that is connected to its first end accordingly, and wherein connects gear and rotate together to make each swing pinion when described swingle is moved being inserted with between every pair of swing pinion.

The ice pan assembly also comprises: the water receptacle that is communicated with described at least one ice pan fluid; And valve, described valve constitution becomes to be used for controlling the supply to the water of described at least one ice pan.

The ice pan assembly also comprises: lid, described cover hinge is attached to described at least one ice pan, and described lid is configured to optionally cover the open upper portion of described at least one ice pan, and wherein said lid is configured to rotate and open around hinge the open upper portion of described at least one ice pan when at least one ice pan rotates in response to moving of described swingle.

This lid comprises supply port, and the water that is provided by described water receptacle is introduced in described at least one ice pan by described supply port.

Described ice pan assembly is configured to be installed in the door of refrigerating chamber of refrigerator, and wherein said valve constitution becomes when described door is opened described valve to open supplying water to described at least one ice pan, and described valve cuts out with the supply of restriction to the water of described at least one ice pan when described door is closed.

This valve comprises: head, and described head structure becomes the opening that optionally covers the bottom that is arranged in described water receptacle; Valve rod, described valve rod extends to the inside of described water receptacle from described head; Extension, described extension be formed on described valve rod with described relative end; Elastic component, described elastic component are plugged between the respective inner surfaces of described extension and described water receptacle bottom; And bar, described bar extends through the lid on the top that covers described water receptacle from the inside of described water receptacle.

Described bar is configured to contact described extension and compresses described elastic component when door is closed, so that described head is moved apart the described opening of the bottom that is arranged in described water receptacle and opens described valve.

Described bar is configured to be released in the power on the described extension when described door is opened, described head moved into place in the opening in the bottom of described water receptacle and to close described valve.

The part of described bar extends through described lid and exposes when described door is opened, and the respective inner that the bared end of wherein said bar is configured to contact refrigerator when described door is closed enters into described water receptacle with the bared end that forces described bar, and with described described opening that moves apart in the bottom of described water receptacle.

Valve comprises: stopper, described stopper are configured to optionally block the opening in the described water receptacle; Valve rod, described valve rod extends out by the opening in the described water receptacle, and first end of wherein said bar is attached to described stopper; Seal, described seal are plugged between the respective inner surfaces of described stopper and described water receptacle; And ledge, described ledge is attached to second end of described valve rod to extend to the outside of described water receptacle.

The ice pan assembly comprises that also valve opens and closes mechanism, and this valve opens and closes mechanism and comprises: the cam that rotatably is attached to described shell; Open and close bar, first end of wherein said opening and closing bar rotatably is connected to described cam, and second end of described opening and closing bar comprises the inclined plane that is configured for contacting described ledge; And elastic component, described elastic component is attached to the point of rotation between described cam and described shell, wherein said elastic component is configured to the described cam of bias voltage, make described door be moved and when described cam and the rotation of described opening and closing bar the inner surface of described cam and described refrigerator keep in touch.

Described ledge is configured to when described door is closed to move up along described inclined plane so that described stopper and described seal are moved apart the described opening in described water receptacle and open described valve, and described ledge is configured to when described door is opened to move down along described inclined plane described stopper and described seal are shifted to described opening in the described water receptacle to close described valve.

Described inclined plane comprises cuts away part, and the wherein said section construction of cutting away becomes the water make when described valve is opened from described water receptacle to flow through describedly to cut away part and flow in described at least one ice pan.

Be used to realize this purpose on the other hand according to the present invention, a kind of refrigerator is provided, this refrigerator comprises: refrigerating chamber; Be configured to cover the door of the opening of described refrigerating chamber; With the ice pan assembly of the inside that is attached to described door, wherein said ice pan assembly comprises: the housing that is attached to described door; Be installed at least one ice pan in the described housing; Rotary components, described rotary components are installed in the described housing and are configured to be rotated at least one ice pan in the described housing, are discharged into the bin will ice from described at least one ice pan.

Rotary components comprises: at least one swing pinion, described swing pinion are attached to first end of described at least one ice pan; With the swingle that is attached to described at least one swing pinion, wherein said at least one swing pinion is configured to rotate described at least one ice pan in response to moving of described swingle.

Described ice pan assembly also comprises: the water receptacle that is communicated with described at least one ice pan fluid; And valve, described valve constitution becomes to be used to control the supply to the water of described at least one ice pan, wherein said valve constitution becomes when described door is opened described valve to open supplying water to described at least one ice pan, and described valve cuts out with the supply of restriction to the water of described at least one ice pan when described door is closed.

This valve comprises: stopper, described stopper are configured to optionally block the opening in the described water receptacle; Valve rod, described valve rod extends out by the opening in the described water receptacle, and first end of wherein said bar is attached to described stopper; Seal, described seal are plugged between the respective inner surfaces of described stopper and described water receptacle; And ledge, described ledge is attached to second end of described valve rod to extend to the outside of described water receptacle.

Beneficial effect

According to the present invention of structure like this, can suspect following advantage.

At first, ice pan assembly of the present invention can be installed on the door, thereby make it possible to more effectively utilize storage space in the refrigerator main body.Therefore, can be effectively the article of many storages be kept in the refrigerator main body, and effectively utilize this storage space.

In addition, though in embodiments of the present invention the ice pan assembly is mounted to door, when the water of door water box when opening is not sent to ice pan, and and if only if door when opening, the water of water box just can be sent to ice pan.Therefore, owing to when supplying water to ice pan and be used to utilize the ice pan ice making, can prevent that in advance sealing overflows, so have the advantage that has significantly improved user's facility degree.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the main parallax stereogram of refrigerator with the exemplary ice tray assembly;

Fig. 2 is the local main parallax stereogram of exemplary refrigerator, and this refrigerator has in this specializes the also ice pan assembly of broad description;

Fig. 3 is the exploded perspective view of the refrigerator of and broad description specific in this with the exemplary ice tray assembly;

Fig. 4 shows and is provided with the operation of refrigerator shown in Figure 3 with the water box of exemplary ice tray assembly;

Fig. 5-the 8th, another exemplary refrigerator specific in this and broad description several views of ice pan assembly; And

Fig. 9-the 15th has in this and specializes the also main parallax stereogram of the exemplary refrigerator of the ice pan assembly of broad description.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 1 shows refrigerator ice pan assembly, and this ice pan assembly comprises housing 10 and the shelf 12 that is arranged in the housing 10, so that ice pan 20 can be placed on the shelf 12.Ice pan 20 has the inner space, and this inner space is divided into a plurality of subspaces that can form ice therein.For ice making, ice pan 20 is taken out from refrigerator, be full of water, then it is put back in the housing 10 in the refrigerator freezing to carry out.

But,,, can be used for storing perishable and the described storage space that is accounted for by branch is former so ice pan assembly branch has accounted for the storage space of refrigerator because ice pan assembly and corresponding assembly thereof are arranged in the storage space of refrigerator.In addition, when ice pan 20 was put back into housing 10, water may be owing to spilling in the storage space because of carelessness.

The refrigerator that is shown among Fig. 2 is included in this exemplary ice tray assembly specific and broad description.Refrigerator can comprise the door 60 that opens and closes refrigerator main body 40, is provided with storage space in this main body 40, and cold air circulates in this storage space, and this storage space is used to store perishable etc.The ice pan assembly can be installed in the door 60, and can comprise shell 50, inner casing 100, ice pan 210 and water box (water bucket) 500.As shown in Figure 2, shell 50 can be installed in door 60 places, and inner casing 100 can be inserted in the shell 50, and water box 500 can be positioned at the top of shell 50 to supply water to ice pan 210.Can for example be divided in the storage space that forms in the refrigerator main body 40 by shelf 42 or other suitable assembly.In embodiment shown in Figure 2, when door 60 was closed, the bottom surface of shelf 42 front ends was positioned at the top of water box 500.

As shown in Figure 3, except shell 50, inner casing 100, (one or more) ice pan 210 and water box 500, the ice pan assembly also can comprise swingle 300, be used for the swing pinion 410 of each ice pan 210 and the connection gear 420 between every pair of swing pinion 410.

Inner casing 100 can be inserted in the shell 50 removably.In some embodiments, shell 50 can be the hexahedron that extends along vertical, so that as shown in Fig. 2-3, can vertically be provided with a plurality of ice pans 210.Other is provided with may be suitable equally.Shell 50 can have with the inner surface of refrigerator doors 60 surperficial accordingly, so that shell 50 is installed in the refrigerator doors 60.Therefore, owing to the ice pan assembly can be installed on the refrigerator doors 60, so the space minimum that the ice pan assembly is occupied.The apparent surface of shell 50 can open wide, and separates from shell 50 thereby inner casing 100 can be inserted in the shell 50 and with inner casing 100.

Shell 50 can comprise rib R, with the installation and removal of guiding inner casing 100.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and 3, rib R is outstanding from the inner surface of shell 50, and extends along the direction of inserting inner casing 100.Rib R can be formed on each of two medial surfaces of shell 50, is used for stably inserting and separates inner casing 100.(one or more) rib R of other quantity, position and orientation may be suitable equally.For example, in replaceable embodiment, (one or more) rib R can be changed into and being formed on the inner casing 100.

In some embodiments, inner casing 100 can be along the vertical hexahedron that extends so that corresponding with shell 50, and a plurality of ice pan 210 vertically is provided with.The lower surface of inner casing 100 can open wide, so that the ice that falls from a plurality of ice pans 210 drops into the bin 150 by the there.In some embodiments, at least one side of inner casing 100 is made by transparent material, so that need not just can to determine the state of ice freezing a plurality of ice pans 210 from the outside of inner casing 100 under the situation that inner casing 100 is separated from shell 50.Equally, the part of inner casing 100 can be opened wide, so that opening door at 60 o'clock, just can touch the ice in the bin 150.In replaceable embodiment, corresponding opening can be formed on door 60, inner casing 100 and the shell 50, thereby under the situation of not opening door 60, just can touch the ice the bin 150 from the outside of refrigerator.

As shown in Figure 3, inner casing 100 can comprise water channel 110, ice making part 120 and drive part 130.Ice making part 120 and drive part 130 can be provided with in succession, and dividing plate P is separated from one another with ice making part 120 and drive part 130 simultaneously.Inner casing 100 also can comprise hole h, swing pinion 410 be connected gear 420 and be inserted among the h of hole.Hole h can be formed on the dividing plate P, as shown in Figure 3.

The water that water channel 110 will be discharged from water box 500 supplies to any in a plurality of ice pans 210.Water channel 110 can be infundibulate, and perhaps other suitable shape so that collect from the water of water box 500, and is guided to water in the ice pan 210 by pipeline 111.Water box 500 can unload from assembly, and is full of water in manual mode.In replaceable embodiment, water box 500 can be connected to feed water valve, makes water box 500 to be filled automatically as required.

Drive part 130 can comprise the vertical bar groove 131 that opens wide, so that swingle 300 passes bar groove 131 and easy operating.

Inner casing 100 can comprise on the outer surface that is formed on drive part 130 and insert the slot S that the direction of shells 50 is extended along inner casing 100, thereby the rib R that will be arranged on the shell 50 is inserted among the slot S.Therefore, shell 50 can stably connect and separate with inner casing 100.In replaceable embodiment, can slot S be formed on the shell 50 according to suitable quantity and position, and rib R is formed on the inner casing 100.

Inner casing 100 also can comprise the groove 121 of the anglec of rotation that is used to limit ice pan 210.This groove 121 can be formed on the surface of ice making part 120, for example, and as shown in Figure 3.

For the purpose of health, each in a plurality of ice pans 210 also can comprise covers 220, is used for preventing that the water or the ice that are contained in ice pan 210 from overflowing.Lid 220 can comprise supply port 222, is used to receive the water from ice pan 210 tops by water channel 110 and pipeline 111.

Lid 220 also can comprise hook 221, even take place when opening and closing refrigerator doors 60 under the situation of bump, this hook 221 also will cover 220 and keep in position.Inner casing 100 can also comprise excellent (not shown), and when rotation ice pan 210 and ice when separating from ice pan 210, this rod makes and covers 220 and open.

Lid 220 can be connected in ice pan 210 by hinge H.Hinge H can be connected in the side of ice pan 210 with respect to its longitudinal axis according to the direction of rotation of ice pan 210.For example,, just hinge H is positioned at the left side, so that when rotation ice pan 210, open and cover 220 if turn clockwise ice pan 210.Equally, if be rotated counterclockwise ice pan 210, just hinge H is positioned at right side with respect to the longitudinal axis of ice pan 210.In the illustrative embodiments shown in Fig. 2 and 3, be rotated counterclockwise ice pan 210, and hinge H is connected in the right side of ice pan 210 with respect to the longitudinal axis of ice pan 210.Therefore, when rotation ice pan 210, lid 220 is opened, so that the ice that separates with ice pan 210 drops into the bin 150 that is arranged in (one or more) ice pan 210 belows.

Ice pan 210 also can comprise the projection (not shown) that is inserted in the groove 121 that is arranged on the inner casing 100, with the anglec of rotation of restriction ice pan 210.In replaceable embodiment, can change into groove 121 is formed in the ice pan 210, and projection can be formed in the inner casing 100.In the exemplary ice tray assembly in being shown in Fig. 2 and 3, the anglec of rotation in the left side of groove 121 and protrusions limit dish 210, and the right side of rotating disc 210 rotates according to the position of bar 300 and the anglec of rotation of bar 300 when pulled at it.This makes ice pan 210 can reverse certain angle where necessary, is put in the bin 150 thereby will disappear without a trace.

In the illustrative embodiments in being shown in Fig. 2 and 3, a plurality of ice pans 210 vertically are provided with, and each ice pan 210 rotates in inner casing 100.For this reason, the longitudinal axis of ice pan 210 can be connected to swing pinion 410, and the axle of swing pinion 410 is inserted into another the lip-deep hole (not shown) that is arranged on ice making part 120 and is arranged among the hole h on the dividing plate P that ice making part 120 and drive part 130 are spaced apart from each other.A plurality of ice pans 210 can be properly spaced out so that when rotation in a plurality of ice pans 210 each and will ice when separating with ice pan 210, a plurality of ice pans 210 are non-interference also.In the embodiment in being shown in Fig. 2 and 3, when when look in the front portion of inner casing 100, ice pan 210 tilts to the lower right side from the upper left side.

Swingle 300 can have first end that is connected in a plurality of ice pans 210 any and by being arranged on second end of the bar groove 131 outstanding inner casings 100 in the drive part 130, thereby pivots on the longitudinal axis of one of a plurality of ice pans 210.In order to provide enough spaces during swingle 300, swingle 300 can be connected in the ice pan 210 that is arranged in inner casing 100 tops, and swingle 300 pivots in inner casing 100, and swingle 300 pivots counterclockwise in rotation.But other setting also may be suitable.

A plurality of swing pinions 410 can be connected to a plurality of ice pans 210, and they can be engaged with each other.A plurality of swing pinions 410 can be connected to the longitudinal axis of a plurality of ice pans 210.In order to rotate with unequal angular velocity, each swing pinion 410 can have identical gear ratio.(one or more) connect gear 420 and connect a plurality of swing pinions 410, thereby make a plurality of ice pans 210 along the direction rotation identical with swingle 300.In order to make a plurality of ice pans 210 along the direction rotation identical with swingle 300, connecting gear 420 can be between adjacent swing pinion 410.But manual operation is shown in the swingle 300 in the present embodiment, with swing pinion 410 and 420.In replaceable embodiment,

gear

410 and 420 and/or the operation of bar can change into automatically and carrying out, be beneficial to coil 210 rotation.

Fig. 4 shows and is arranged in the ice pan assembly, with the operation of closing crew-served water box 500 of door 60.Water box 500 can comprise water hole 510, valve 520 and bar 530.Water hole 510 can be formed in the bottom of water box 500, to supply water to ice pan 210.In replaceable embodiment, can form a plurality of water holes 510, to be fed to a plurality of ice pans 210 at a plurality of different position Jiang Shui as required.

Valve 520 can comprise 522, valve rod 524 and elastic component 526.522 can be positioned at the lower end in water hole 510, to open and close water hole 510.Valve rod 524 is 522 inside that extend to water box 500 from the beginning, form extension 523 simultaneously, thereby elastic component 526 can be inserted between water hole 510 and the valve rod 524.In some embodiments, elastic component 526 can be a wind spring.Therefore, 522 move up and down, and open and close water hole 510 thus.

Bar 530 makes valve 520 be opened synergistically with cutting out mutually of door 60.As shown in Figure 4, bar 530 extends to the extension 523 that is connected in valve rod 524 from the outside of water box 500, so that from the external opening valve 520 of water box 500.Bar 530 passes the lid 500a of water box 500, makes bar 530 be projected into water box 500 outsides, and be provided with hermetic unit 500b between bar 530 and lid 500a.Hermetic unit 500b is the motion of guide rod 530 also, so that bar 530 moves up and down, opens valve 520 thus.

Utilize the water box 500 of structure like this, when closing door 60, be arranged on the shelf 42 compressing bars 530 in the storeroom, cause bar 530 to open valve 520 and supply water to ice pan 210.The upper end of the contact shelf 42 of bar 530 can tilt, so that it is opening and closing contacting of door 60 o'clock and shelf 42.

With reference to Fig. 5 to 8, illustrate to be pursuant to the described refrigerator of another embodiment ice pan assembly that this mainly illustrates.

As described in Fig. 5 to 8, ice pan assembly 620 can be installed on the back side of door 610, and these 610 opening and closing are limited to the storage space 602 in the refrigerator main body 600.Can form the flared surface 604 of inclination along the front end of the inner surface of storage space 602.

The door gasket that limits the back side of door 610 can comprise the dike shape body (dike) 612 that extends in parallel from the opposite end at the back side.Door basket 614 can be installed, to hold the article of storage between dike shape body 612.

Ice pan assembly 620 can be installed on the back side of door 610.The basic structure of ice pan assembly 620 can be similar to the ice pan structure in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.But the driver's valve 626 that will be described below or the mode of ice pan 638 are slightly different.In addition, the valve that is used for driving the valve that is used to supply water 626 that will be illustrated below opens and closes the ice pan assembly that mechanism 650 can be used for being shown in Fig. 2 equally.

The outward appearance of ice pan 620 is limited by housing 622.Housing 622 can be roughly rectangular hexahedron, and with aforementioned embodiments in illustrated inner casing corresponding.Shell can be installed on door 620.Water box 624 can be set on the top of housing 622.Water box 624 is configured such that the user is directly with its inner filling water.That is, water box 624 and housing 622 are being separated and behind the inner filling water of water box, can again water box 624 be connected in housing 622.Can with embodiment shown in Figure 2 in identical, water box 624 is installed in the upper end of housing 622.In the replaceable embodiment of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5-8, water box 624 is configured to it is inserted into from its front portion the inside of housing 622.

As shown in Figure 7, valve 626 can be set in the bottom of water box 624.Can or can in the additional valve body (not shown) in the bottom that is installed on water box 624, form osculum 628 in the bottom of water box 624.Valve rod 630 passes osculum 628.The external diameter of valve rod 630 is littler than the internal diameter of osculum 628, so that discharge in the gap that water is passed through between osculum 628 and the valve rod 630.

Can promptly, be provided with stopper 632 at the part place that is positioned at water box 624 inside of valve rod 630, and between the bottom surface of stopper 632 and water box 624 or valve body, encapsulant 634 is installed at the upper end of valve rod 630.Encapsulant 634 can be made by the rubber-like flexible material, thereby is used for sealing between the bottom surface of stopper 632 and water box 624.Can be provided with cooperation part 636 in the lower end of valve rod 630.These cooperation part 636 extended water boxes 624 have the inclined plane of cooperating with the opening and closing driving inclined plane 663 that opens and closes bar 660 simultaneously.

Ice pan 638 can be installed in the inside corresponding with water box 624 bottoms of housing 622.The inside that ice pan 638 is configured such that it is opened wide at upside, and is divided into a plurality of spaces.Can be provided with aforementioned embodiments in identical lid.By being applied to the power on the swingle 640 that is installed on housing 622 outsides, ice pan 638 is rotated predetermined angle around rotating shaft 639.

Can below ice pan 638, be provided with the tank 642 that is used for being stored at the ice that ice pan 638 makes.This tank 642 has the open upper portion in the face of ice pan 638 bottom surfaces, so that directly receive and store the ice that falls by rotation ice pan 638 from ice pan.

The valve that can be provided with the valve 628 that is used to open and close water box 624 in housing 622 opens and closes mechanism 650.Valve opens and closes the operation co-operating of mechanism 650 and door 610.Valve opens and closes mechanism 650 can comprise driving cam 652.One side of driving cam 652 reaches housing 622 outsides and contacts with the inner surface with refrigerator main body 600.This driving cam 652 can rotatably be installed around pivot pin 654, and can be by elastic component 656 supportings such as torsion spring, always to contact with the inner surface of refrigerator main body 600.Elastic component 656 is mounted to makes pivot pin 654, and the two supports of elastic component 656 is on the side of driving cam 652 and housing 622 or door 610 through the center of elastic components 656.Therefore, driving cam 652 tends to be rotated, and makes driving cam 652 always closely contact with the inner surface of refrigerator main body 600 by the elastic force of elastic component 656.

Open and close bar 660 and can be connected in driving cam 652, and driven together by the operation of driving cam 652.That is, if driving cam 652 opens and closes bar 660 so and also moves around 654 rotations of pivot pin.Equally, can rotatably be connected in driving cam 652 by connecting joint pin 658 with opening and closing bar 660.Like this, if rotation driving cam 652 connects joint pin 658 with regard to the circular track that draws around pivot pin 654.Therefore, for translation opens and closes bar 660, for example, housing 622 can be provided with and be used to guide the additional guide rib that opens and closes bar 660 etc.Be fixed in driving cam 652 if will connect joint pin 658, open and close bar 660 so and can be formed with long and narrow opening, for example connect 658 slots of putting wherein of joint pin, thereby the smooth operation that opens and closes bar 660 is provided.

Can be provided with in the distal portion office that opens and closes bar 660 and promote drive part 662.Promoting drive part 662 cooperates with the part 636 of cooperating of valve rod 630.Promote drive part 662 and can comprise that opening and closing drive inclined plane 663, this opening and closing transmission inclined plane 663 tilts to lower position gradually towards the far-end that promotes drive part 662.The cooperation part 636 of valve rod 630 is directed on this inclined plane 663, thereby osculum 628 is opened and closed.The lifting drive part 662 that opens and closes bar 660 can comprise and cut away part 664 that this cuts away part 664 makes the water that flows out from osculum 628 be sent to ice pan 638 reposefully.

Under the situation that has a plurality of ice pans 638, corresponding a plurality of valve also can be set open and close mechanism 650 and valve 626.In addition, each valve 626 can be formed at the position that can transmit water and not disturb corresponding ice pan 638.

The operation of the ice pan assembly of structure like this will be described now.

At first, if close door 610, driving cam 652 is supported by the flared surface 604 of refrigerator main body 600 so, and is contained in basically in the housing 622, as shown in Figure 5.Thus, opening and closing bar 660 also is contained in the housing 622.The cooperation part 636 of valve rod 630 is positioned at the higher relatively position that the opening and closing that are formed on the lifting drive part 662 that opens and closes bar 660 drive inclined plane 663.This makes valve rod 630 and stopper 632 be thus lifted to corresponding height, and encapsulant 634 and osculum 628 are separated.In this state, if accommodate water in water box 624, ice pan 638 be discharged and be sent to water just can by osculum 628 so.

If the user opens door 610, just rotation is opening storage space 602 for door 610 so, and ice pan assembly 620 moves with door 610, as shown in Figure 8.But driving cam 652 is owing to the elastic force of elastic component 656 rotates, and maintenance contacts with flared surface 604 thus.Therefore, open and close bar 660 and also cooperate, and move towards the outside of housing 622 with driving cam 652.

The motion that opens and closes bar 660 has changed and has promoted the position that drive part 662 and the part 636 of cooperating of valve rod 630 contact with each other.This makes valve rod 630 because of its deadweight or because of hydraulic pressure falls, and makes stopper 632 compressing encapsulants 634, thereby closes osculum 628.Thus, because the open position that the lifting drive part 662 that opens and closes bar 660 is opened at door 610 supporting valve rod 630 not, therefore, valve 628 cuts out, and the water in the water box 624 can not be sent to ice pan 638.In addition, when door 610 was closed, driving cam 652 was subjected to the inner surface compressing of refrigerator main body 600 and enters housing 622, thereby valve rod 630 is promoted.If valve rod 630 is raised, so just opened osculum 628, so that the water in the water box 624 can be sent to ice pan 638.

In order to supply water for ice pan 638, open door 610, and water box 624 is separated with housing 622.After water box 624 is full of water, water box 624 is reinstalled on the housing 622.As shown in Figure 8, when door 610 was opened, valve 628 can not be opened, and the water in the water box 624 can not be discharged into dish 638.

If after reinstalling water box 624, close door 610 then, so just drive and open and close bar 660, and open valve 628 thus.That is, when door 610 was fully closed, the valve rod 630 of valve 628 was opened and closed bar 660 and promotes, and osculum 628 is opened then.Thus, the water in the water box 624 can be sent to ice pan 638.The water that is sent to ice pan 638 can be made into ice then in storage space 602.

Can be applicable to the refrigerator of number of different types in this specific also broadly described ice pan assembly.A this exemplary application is shown among Fig. 9, and wherein specializing also in this, broadly described ice pan assembly 910 is installed in clamshell doors refrigerator/refrigerator 900.Another this exemplary application is shown among Figure 10, and wherein will specializing also in this, broadly described ice pan assembly 1010 be installed in the refrigerator/refrigerator 1000 with lower freezer compartment 1050 and French clamshell doors refrigerating chamber 1060.Another this exemplary application is shown among Figure 11-15, and wherein will specializing also in this respectively, broadly described

ice pan assembly

1110,1210,1310,1410,1510 be installed in the refrigerator/refrigerator 1100 with top refrigerating chamber 1150 and bottom refrigerating chamber 1160 as shown in Figure 11, the refrigerator/refrigerator 1200 with lower freezer compartment 1250 and upper refrigerator compartment 1260 as shown in Figure 12, the refrigerator 1300 that comprises the simple gate 1370 that covers refrigerating chamber and refrigerating chamber as shown in Figure 13.Equally, as shown in Figure 14 and Figure 15, and broadly described

ice pan assembly

1410,1510 specific in this can be installed in respectively in the vertical refrigerator 1400 or chest freezer 1500 that respectively has single chamber.

The description that particularly has the refrigerator of ice making capacity for refrigerator is found in for example U.S. Patent No. 7,107,364,7,107,363,6,945,068,6,725, in 685 and 6,588,227, these patents have transferred same entity by transfer contract, and all these patents are included in herein by reference at this.

Can have following at least advantage in this disclosed ice pan assembly.Specialize and broadly described ice pan assembly can be installed in the door in this, thereby make it possible to more effectively utilize the storage space in the refrigerator main body.Therefore, can in refrigerator main body, hold more stored goods effectively, and can effectively utilize storage space.

In addition, though the ice pan assembly be installed in the door, door when opening the water from the water box can not be sent to ice pan, and only when door is closed the water in the water box just can be sent to ice pan, can prevent that thus water overflows when supplying water to ice pan.

Specialize and broadly described ice pan assembly can be installed to the door of the storage space that is used to open and close refrigerator main body in this, and can only when door is closed, make water from the water box supply to ice pan in the ice pan assembly that is installed on door.

The valve that is used for being supplied to from the water of water box ice pan can be designed to open when door is closed and cut out when door is opened.

Speak of an embodiment, exemplary example embodiment, specific implementations, replaceable embodiment etc. in this manual, mean that concrete feature, structure or the characteristic described in conjunction with embodiment comprise to be in this broadly described at least one embodiment.This statement that occurs in the diverse location in this manual differs to establish a capital and refers to same embodiment.In addition, when describing concrete feature, structure or characteristic, will be understood that those skilled in the art can change these features, structure or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiment in conjunction with any embodiment.

Though described embodiment, should be appreciated that those skilled in the art can dream up other modification and the embodiment in the spirit and scope that drop into principle of the present disclosure in a large number in conjunction with a large amount of illustrative embodiments of the present invention.More particularly, in the scope of the disclosure, accompanying drawing and claims, can carry out a large amount of changes and modification to building block and/or layout in the main combination layout.Except to building block and/arrange change with modification, interchangeable purposes also is obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. ice pan assembly comprises:

Shell;

Inner casing, described intrastructure becomes to be inserted in the described shell;

At least one ice pan, described ice pan rotatably are installed in the described inner casing, and wherein said at least one ice pan comprises the inner space that is configured to receive therein water, and wherein said inner space is separated into a plurality of spaces of ice making therein;

Rotary components, described rotary components are attached to described at least one ice pan and are configured to rotate described at least one ice pan; With

Bin, described bin are configured to be received in the ice that forms in described at least one ice pan when swingle is moved.

2. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary components comprises:

At least one swing pinion, described swing pinion are attached to first end of described at least one ice pan; With

Swingle, described swingle are attached to described at least one swing pinion, and wherein said at least one swing pinion is configured to rotate described at least one ice pan in response to moving of described swingle.

3. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 2 also comprises:

At least one projection, described projection are formed on described at least one ice pan and the described first end second opposed end described at least one ice pan; With

At least one groove, described groove is formed in the respective surfaces of described inner casing, and described groove is configured to slidably engage described at least one projection, and wherein said at least one projection and at least one groove are configured for the rotation of described second end of described at least one ice pan of restriction when described swingle is moved.

4. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one ice pan comprises a plurality of ice pans that are provided with vertical stack manner, in wherein said a plurality of ice pan each has the swing pinion that is connected to its first end accordingly, and wherein connects gear and rotate together to make each swing pinion when described swingle is moved being inserted with between every pair of swing pinion.

5. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 2 also comprises:

The water receptacle that is communicated with described at least one ice pan fluid; With

Valve, described valve constitution become to be used for control to described at least one ice pan water supply.

6. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 5, also comprise lid, described cover hinge is attached to described at least one ice pan, and described lid is configured to optionally cover the open upper portion of described at least one ice pan, and wherein said lid is configured to rotate and open around hinge the open upper portion of described at least one ice pan when at least one ice pan rotates in response to moving of described swingle.

7. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lid comprises supply port, the water that is provided by described water receptacle is introduced in described at least one ice pan by described supply port.

8. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ice pan assembly is configured to be installed in the door of refrigerating chamber of refrigerator, and wherein said valve constitution becomes when described door is opened described valve to open supplying water to described at least one ice pan, and described valve cuts out with restriction and supplies water to described at least one ice pan when described door is closed.

9. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said valve comprises:

Head, described head structure becomes the opening that optionally covers the bottom that is arranged in described water receptacle;

Valve rod, described valve rod extends to the inside of described water receptacle from described head;

Extension, described extension be formed on described valve rod with described relative end;

Elastic component, described elastic component are plugged between the respective inner surfaces of described extension and described water receptacle bottom; With

Bar, described bar extend through the lid on the top that covers described water receptacle from the inside of described water receptacle.

10. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bar are configured to contact described extension and compress described elastic component when door is closed, so that described head is moved apart the described opening of the bottom that is arranged in described water receptacle and opens described valve.

11. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bar are configured to be released in the power on the described extension when described door is opened, described head moved into place in the opening in the bottom of described water receptacle and to close described valve.

12. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 9, the part of wherein said bar extends through described lid and exposes when described door is opened, and the respective inner that the bared end of wherein said bar is configured to contact refrigerator when described door is closed enters into described water receptacle with the bared end that forces described bar, and with described described opening that moves apart in the bottom of described water receptacle.

13. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said valve comprises:

Stopper, described stopper are configured to optionally block the opening in the described water receptacle;

Valve rod, described valve rod extends out by the opening in the described water receptacle, and first end of wherein said bar is attached to described stopper;

Seal, described seal are plugged between the respective inner surfaces of described stopper and described water receptacle; With

Ledge, described ledge are attached to second end of described valve rod to extend to the outside of described water receptacle.

14. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 13 comprises that also valve opens and closes mechanism, described valve opens and closes mechanism and comprises:

Rotatably be attached to the cam of described shell;

Open and close bar, first end of wherein said opening and closing bar rotatably is connected to described cam, and second end of described opening and closing bar comprises the inclined plane that is configured for contacting described ledge; With

Elastic component, described elastic component is attached to the point of rotation between described cam and described shell, wherein said elastic component is configured to the described cam of bias voltage, make described door be moved and when described cam and the rotation of described opening and closing bar the inner surface of described cam and described refrigerator keep in touch.

15. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said ledge is configured to when described door is closed to move up along described inclined plane so that described stopper and described seal are moved apart the described opening in described water receptacle and open described valve, and described ledge is configured to when described door is opened to move down along described inclined plane described stopper and described seal are shifted to described opening in the described water receptacle to close described valve.

16. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said inclined plane comprises cuts away part, and the wherein said section construction of cutting away becomes the water make when described valve is opened from described water receptacle to flow through describedly to cut away part and flow in described at least one ice pan.

17. a refrigerator comprises ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 1.

18. a refrigerator comprises:

Refrigerating chamber;

Be configured to cover the door of the opening of described refrigerating chamber; With

Be attached to the ice pan assembly of the inside of described door, wherein said ice pan assembly comprises:

Be attached to the housing of described door;

Be installed at least one ice pan in the described housing;

Rotary components, described rotary components are installed in the described housing and are configured to be rotated at least one ice pan in the described housing, are discharged into the bin will ice from described at least one ice pan.

19. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said rotary components comprises:

Be attached to the swingle of described at least one swing pinion, wherein said at least one swing pinion is configured to rotate described at least one ice pan in response to moving of described swingle.

20. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 19 also comprises:

Valve, described valve constitution becomes to be used for control and supplies water to described at least one ice pan, wherein said valve constitution becomes when described door is opened described valve to open supplying water to described at least one ice pan, and described valve cuts out with restriction and supplies water to described at least one ice pan when described door is closed.

21. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said valve comprises:

22. ice pan assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said valve comprises: