CN117677810A

CN117677810A - Ice making device and ice making method

Info

Publication number: CN117677810A
Application number: CN202280051120.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 广兼美雄
Original assignee: Blanktec International Co ltd
Current assignee: Blanktec International Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-20
Filing date: 2022-07-12
Publication date: 2024-03-08
Also published as: JP2023080809A

Abstract

The invention provides an ice making device which is easy to miniaturize. The ice making device comprises: a freezing tank (12) for storing the coolant; and a flake ice making part (15) which is arranged at the inner side of the freezing groove (12) and can be immersed in the refrigerating medium (Ws), wherein the flake ice making part (15) comprises: a tray unit (26) for circulating the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator (14) therein and having ice plate surfaces (26 a, 26 b) for generating the coolant (Ws); a nozzle portion (41) for flowing the coolant (Ws) on the plate surfaces (26 a, 26 b); and a sweeping-off unit (23) that separates ice generated on the plate surfaces (26 a, 26 b) from the plate surfaces (26 a, 26 b) by displacement relative to the plate surfaces (26 a, 26 b).

Description

Ice making device and ice making method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ice making device including an ice making body made of metal, an ice making device for making flake ice or the like for ice slurry, and an ice making method for making flake ice or the like.

Background

For example, it is common to freeze fresh foods such as seafood and meat products as frozen products, store and transport the frozen products. In addition, ice slurry is used for freezing the frozen product, and the frozen product is immersed in the ice slurry to be frozen instantaneously, thereby maintaining the freshness of the food. In the invention disclosed in patent document 1 described below, ice flakes (broken pieces of ice) falling from the ice slurry raw material manufacturing apparatus (200) are dropped into an ice storage tank (500) to manufacture ice slurry. The ice slurry in the ice storage tank (500) is supplied to the refrigerating device (6) via an ice slurry supply pipe (45).

For example, a sheet ice (flake ice) producing apparatus disclosed in patent document 2 and patent document 3 described below is also known. These ice pieces manufacturing apparatuses include a metal ice making plate (also referred to as "metal ice making plate", "metal plate", "ice making body", etc.). The metal ice making plate is used for freezing an aqueous solution of a solute such as salt, calcium chloride, or ethanol to produce flake ice, ice slurry, or the like.

The ice making plate mainly comprises a plate type ice making plate, a roller type ice making plate and the like. The ice-making plate is made of a metal material such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or the like, and the ice-making surface is subjected to surface treatment such as electroless nickel plating, chromium plating, or the like.

The ice making plate has a refrigerant passage connected to the refrigerator and through which refrigerant gas flows. In addition, various designs are applied to the refrigerant passage so that the fluidity of the refrigerant gas can be improved to secure the freezing capacity. For example, in paragraph 0051 of patent document 2, it is described that refrigerant is caused to flow down while being rotated. In paragraphs 0037 and 0058 of patent document 3, a curved surface portion is formed in the refrigerant flow path.

The ice making plate in patent document 2 has the same drum-type structure as the ice slurry raw material manufacturing apparatus (200) disclosed in patent document 1. The ice making plate in patent document 3 has a plate-like structure having a flat plate-like shape.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2019-207046

Patent document 2: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2019-143905

Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2019-143906

Disclosure of Invention

Common problem of the various disclosed aspects of the invention

In the technical field of refrigerating apparatuses and refrigerating methods, a technique for performing more excellent refrigeration is demanded. The problem with each of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention is to provide an ice making device and an ice making method that are superior to conventional ones.

< problem related to the first publication >

In the conventional ice slurry production device (200) and refrigeration system disclosed in patent document 1, the ice slurry raw material production device (200) is disposed above an ice storage tank (500), and ice slurry is supplied from the ice storage tank (500) to a refrigeration device (6) via an ice slurry supply pipe (45). Therefore, the size of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus and the freezing system is easily increased, and it is not easy to miniaturize the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus and the freezing system.

The invention of the first disclosed embodiment is problematic in that it provides an ice making apparatus (also referred to as "ice slurry manufacturing apparatus") that is easy to miniaturize.

< problem related to the second publication >

In order to further improve the refrigerating capacity of the sheet ice making apparatus and the ice slurry making apparatus, it is necessary to improve not only the fluidity of the refrigerant but also other matters. Accordingly, the inventors focused attention on heat transfer between the refrigerant passage and the refrigerant in addition to fluidity of the refrigerant with respect to the refrigerating capacity. Further, even if the fluidity of the refrigerant is reduced to some extent, the refrigerating capacity can be improved as a whole by performing heat transfer well.

The invention of the second disclosed aspect is to provide an ice making apparatus and an ice making method having high freezing capacity.

< problem related to the third publication >

Further improvement in freezing capacity is expected in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 1 disclosed in patent document 1, and in the flake ice manufacturing apparatuses disclosed in patent documents 2 and 3. Further, in order to improve the refrigerating capacity, it is conceivable to improve the fluidity of the refrigerant, and the like. However, it is not easy to dramatically improve the refrigerating capacity by improving the fluidity of the refrigerant.

The invention of the third disclosed aspect is to provide an ice making apparatus and an ice making method having high freezing capacity.

< problem related to the fourth publication >

In various ice making apparatuses such as the ice slurry making apparatus disclosed in patent document 1, the sheet ice making apparatuses disclosed in patent documents 2 and 3, it is necessary to make ice slurry or ice (hereinafter, referred to as "ice slurry or the like") in advance. When a failure or the like occurs in the ice making apparatus, ice slurry or the like cannot be produced in advance, and the demand for ice slurry or the like cannot be satisfied. Therefore, high reliability is required for these ice making devices.

The invention of the fourth disclosed aspect is to provide an ice making apparatus and an ice making method with high reliability.

Solution for solving the problem

According to the various aspects of the present invention, an excellent ice making apparatus and ice making method can be provided.

Solution for solving the problems associated with the first disclosed solution

(1) In order to solve the above-described problems, an invention according to a first aspect is an ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice slurry manufacturing tank for storing a coolant; and

an ice making part which is arranged at the inner side of the ice slurry making groove and can be immersed in the refrigerating medium,

the ice making section includes:

an ice-making plate for circulating the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator therein and having an ice-making surface for generating ice of the coolant on at least one surface thereof;

a flow forming unit configured to flow the coolant on the ice making surface; and

and a sweep-out section that separates ice generated on the ice making surface from the ice making surface by displacement with respect to the ice making surface.

(2) In order to solve the above-described problems, another aspect of the present invention is the ice making device according to (1) above, wherein the sweeping portion is disposed in a driving portion that rotates or reciprocates rotationally with respect to the ice making surface.

(3) In order to solve the above-described problems, another aspect of the present invention is the ice-making device according to (1) or (2), wherein the ice-making unit further includes a holding portion that integrally holds at least the ice-making plate and the driving portion.

Solution for solving the problems associated with the second disclosed solution

In order to solve the above-described problems, an invention related to a second aspect of the present invention is an ice making device including a metal body having a refrigerant flow path formed therein,

concave-convex portions are formed on a flow path surface of the refrigerant flow path.

Solution for solving the problems associated with the third disclosed solution

(1) In order to solve the above-described problems, an invention related to a third aspect of the present invention is an ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice-making section in contact with the coolant;

a first refrigerant passage formed to pass through the ice making section, the first refrigerant being capable of flowing; and

a second refrigerant passage formed to pass through the ice making section and to allow a second refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant to flow,

and cooling the ice making part cooled by the first refrigerant by the second refrigerant.

(2) In order to solve the above-described problems, a third aspect of the present invention provides an ice making method, wherein, in an ice making unit that is in contact with a coolant, after a first refrigerant is passed through the ice making unit to cool the ice making unit, the ice making unit is switched to a second refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant, and the second refrigerant is passed through the ice making unit cooled by the first refrigerant.

(3) Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, a third disclosed aspect is an ice making method, which is performed using an ice making device provided with:

an ice-making section in contact with the coolant;

the ice-making portion is cooled by the second refrigerant after the ice-making portion is cooled by the first refrigerant.

Solution for solving the problems associated with the fourth disclosed solution

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention related to the fourth disclosure relates to the following ice making apparatus and ice making method.

(1) An ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice slurry manufacturing tank for storing a coolant; and

an ice making part which is arranged at the inner side of the ice slurry making groove and can be contacted with the secondary refrigerant,

the ice making section includes:

an ice-making plate having an ice-making surface; and

a sweeping part for separating ice generated on the ice making surface from the ice making surface by displacement relative to the ice making surface,

At least a part of the sweep-out portion is water-repellent coated.

(2) An ice making method using the ice making apparatus of (1) above.

Effects of the invention

According to the first disclosed aspect, an ice making device that is easily miniaturized can be provided.

According to the second or third disclosed aspect, an ice making device having high freezing capacity can be provided.

According to the fourth disclosure, an ice making apparatus and an ice making method with high reliability can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first embodiment of an ice making device (also referred to as an "ice slurry producing device") and a refrigeration system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a first embodiment of the refrigerant piping of the tray, and fig. 2 (b) is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the refrigerant piping of the tray.

Fig. 3 is a side view schematically showing the flow of the aqueous solution around the disk portion.

Fig. 4 (a) is a side view schematically showing the principle of ice separation from the disc portion by the grinding wheel of the first embodiment of the sweeping-out portion, and fig. 4 (b) is a side view schematically showing the principle of ice separation from the disc portion by the metal plate of the second embodiment of the sweeping-out portion.

Fig. 5 (a) is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the freezer compartment, and fig. 5 (b) is a side view schematically showing the freezer compartment of fig. 5 (a).

Fig. 6 (a) is a plan view schematically showing a third embodiment of the freezer compartment, and fig. 6 (b) is a side view schematically showing the freezer compartment of fig. 6 (a).

Fig. 7 (a) is a plan view schematically showing a fourth embodiment of the freezer compartment, and fig. 7 (b) is a side view schematically showing the freezer compartment of fig. 7 (a).

Fig. 8 is a side view schematically showing a refrigeration system according to another embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a top view schematically showing the refrigeration system of the embodiment of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view schematically showing an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of the refrigeration system shown in fig. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view further schematically showing a refrigeration system according to another embodiment.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view showing a modification of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus shown in fig. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 is a side view showing a modification of the refrigeration system shown in fig. 8 and 9.

Fig. 14 is a top view schematically showing the refrigeration system of the embodiment of fig. 13.

Fig. 15 (a) is an enlarged view showing a modification of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of the refrigeration system shown in fig. 11, and fig. 15 (b) is an enlarged view showing another modification of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of the refrigeration system shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view showing another modification of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of the refrigeration system shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a modification of the nacelle portion and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 18 is a side view showing a modification of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 19 (a) is a side view showing a part of a sheet ice making apparatus according to the first embodiment of the second disclosure in a simplified manner, fig. 19 (B) is a front view showing a part of the sheet ice making apparatus in a simplified manner, fig. 19 (c) is a plan view showing a part of the sheet ice making apparatus in a simplified manner, and fig. 19 (d) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the inside of the case along line B-B in fig. 19 (c).

Fig. 20 is a view for explaining the sprinkler nozzle portion.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the ice sheet manufacturing apparatus along a line A-A of fig. 1 (c).

Fig. 22 is an explanatory view schematically showing an ice maker.

Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the concave-convex portion.

Fig. 24 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modified example of the folded portion of the refrigerant flow path in longitudinal section.

Fig. 25 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a modification of the folded portion of the refrigerant flow path when the refrigerant flow path is obliquely observed.

Fig. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the metal plate.

Fig. 27 is an explanatory view schematically showing a longitudinal section of the refrigerant flow path of the metal plate of fig. 8.

Fig. 28 is an explanatory view schematically showing the arrangement of the ridge portions in fig. 9.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing a part of a drum of the drum-type ice sheet manufacturing apparatus in a cutaway manner.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view showing a flow path wall provided in the drum of fig. 10.

Fig. 31 is an explanatory view schematically showing the concave-convex portion by enlarging a part of the flow path wall.

Fig. 32 is a perspective view schematically showing an ice making device (also referred to as an "ice slurry making device") according to an embodiment of the third disclosure.

Fig. 33 is a diagram for explaining the supply of the first refrigerant and the supply of the second refrigerant.

Fig. 34 (a) is a plan view schematically showing a first embodiment of the refrigerant pipe of the tray, and fig. 34 (b) is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the refrigerant pipe of the tray.

Fig. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing the first refrigerant passage and the second refrigerant passage in the disk portion by distinguishing them by symbol.

Fig. 36 is a side view schematically showing the flow of the aqueous solution around the disk portion.

Fig. 37 (a) is a side view schematically showing the principle of ice separation from the disc portion by the grinding wheel of the first embodiment of the sweeping-out portion, and fig. 37 (b) is a side view schematically showing the principle of ice separation from the disc portion by the metal plate of the second embodiment of the sweeping-out portion.

Fig. 38 is a perspective view showing an ice making device according to an embodiment of the fourth disclosure.

Fig. 39 is a perspective view of the ice making device according to the embodiment from another angle.

Fig. 40 is an explanatory view schematically showing an ice making system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 41 is an explanatory view schematically showing an ice making section.

Fig. 42 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the disk portion.

Fig. 43 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the cutting teeth are in contact with the disk portion 4014, and fig. 43 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a gap is interposed between the cutting teeth 4048 and the disk portion 4014.

Fig. 44 is an explanatory view showing an image obtained by photographing the ice slurry taken out from the ice making device.

Fig. 45 (a) is a side view schematically showing an ice making tank provided with a stirring device, and fig. 45 (b) is a plan view schematically showing an ice making tank provided with a stirring device.

Fig. 46 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of a state where ice is attached to the sweeping-out portion.

Fig. 47 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a modification of the disk portion.

Fig. 48 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a method of manufacturing the disk portion.

Detailed Description

A number of the disclosed arrangements are described in this section. Each of the disclosed embodiments will be described using a plurality of embodiments and modifications. The disclosed embodiments solve the common problem of providing an ice making device and an ice making method that are superior to conventional ones.

< first publication (FIGS. 1-18) >

Hereinafter, an ice making apparatus (also referred to as an "ice slurry manufacturing apparatus") and a refrigeration system using the same according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an ice slurry making apparatus and a refrigeration system of a first disclosed embodiment. The refrigerating system 10 shown in fig. 1 is configured by combining an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11, a refrigerating tank 12, an aqueous solution pump 13, and the like.

Among them, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be configured to produce ice (flake ice) in flake form (also referred to as flake form, chip form, small block form, granular form, or the like) by precipitating ice from an aqueous solution of salt or the like (brine as a coolant). The ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a refrigerator 14, a flake ice manufacturing unit 15 serving as an ice manufacturing unit, a refrigerant guide unit 16, and the like. In the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11, the refrigerator 14, the flake ice manufacturing unit 15, and the refrigerant guide unit 16 are mounted on a frame unit 17 serving as a holding unit, and are integrated with each other.

The refrigerator 14, the flake ice making section 15, and the refrigerant guide section 16 of the ice slurry making apparatus 11 constitute a refrigeration cycle, and a predetermined refrigerant liquid (liquid refrigerant) is circulated to compress, condense, expand, and evaporate the refrigerant. Here, as a method of the refrigeration cycle, various methods in general can be adopted.

The refrigerant is sent from the refrigerator 14 to the flake ice making unit 15 via the refrigerant guide unit 16. The refrigerant guide portion 16 includes a refrigerant introduction pipe 18a for introducing the refrigerant from the refrigerator 14 into the flake ice making portion 15, and a refrigerant discharge pipe 18b for returning the refrigerant discharged from the flake ice making portion 15 to the refrigerator 14.

As the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b, for example, a general refrigerant pipe in which a copper pipe is covered with a heat insulating material can be used. The refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b may be connected to each other via a general pipe joint.

In the present embodiment, the respective end portions of the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b are not shown in detail, but are connected to the refrigerator 14 and the ice piece making section 15 via piping joints. The refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b have a shape curved to be an inverted U shape protruding upward. The refrigerant introducing pipe 18a and the refrigerant introducing pipe 18b have the same length and the same size as each other.

The refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b are formed with an inverted U-shaped inner portion as a refrigerating tank crossing portion 19. When the ice slurry producing apparatus 11 is installed such that the refrigerator 14 is located outside the freezing tank 12 (described later) and the flake ice producing portion 15 is located inside the freezing tank 12, a part of the wall portion 12a of the freezing tank 12 enters the freezing tank crossing portion 19 of the refrigerant introducing pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharging pipe 18b.

Here, as the refrigerant introducing pipe 18a and the refrigerant introducing pipe 18b, for example, flexible pipes that can be bent by hand directly without using a tool by an operator who assembles the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 may be used. In this case, it is desirable to cover the periphery of the flexible pipe with a heat insulating material.

Next, the flake ice making section 15 includes a cooling section 21, a rotation driving section 22 as a driving section, a sweeping section 23 as an ice separating section, and the like. The cooling unit 21 includes a tray 26 serving as an ice making plate and a refrigerant pipe 28.

The tray 26 is formed of a metal plate having a rectangular (herein, square) plate surface (ice making surface) and a predetermined thickness, and is fixed to the frame 17 (described later). Here, the disk portion 26 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be a circular shape. Examples of the material of the disk portion 26 include copper, stainless steel, steel surface-treated to obtain a rust-preventing effect, aluminum, and duralumin.

The size (size) of the disk portion 26 may be, for example, about 30cm square. In the present embodiment, the upper surface (plate surface 26 a) and the lower surface (plate surface 26 b) of the tray portion 26 are processed to be substantially flat and parallel to each other. A plurality of holes are formed in the disk portion 26 so as to be aligned in parallel at substantially equal intervals and to penetrate the disk portion.

The refrigerant pipe 28 described above passes through the hole in the disk portion 26. As shown in fig. 2 (a), the refrigerant pipe 28 is formed in a zigzag shape in which straight portions and curved portions are alternately combined. One end of the refrigerant pipe 28 is connected to the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a, and the other end of the refrigerant pipe 28 is connected to the refrigerant discharge pipe 18 b. The refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator 14 flows through the inside (pipe line) of the refrigerant pipe 28.

The outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant pipe 28 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the disk portion 26 so as to be able to transfer heat. As a material of the refrigerant piping 28, a copper pipe having high heat conductivity is generally exemplified. The refrigerant is flowed through the refrigerant pipe 28 to absorb heat of the disk portion 26, thereby cooling the disk portion 26.

As a material of the refrigerant piping 28, a material other than copper (for example, stainless steel, aluminum, duralumin, or the like) may be used. Further, a coating film having excellent heat conductivity may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant pipe 28 (or the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the disk portion 26).

The refrigerant pipe 28 is not limited to being formed by inserting a pipe, which is a physical tubular member, into a hole of the disk portion 26. For example, the tubular member may be omitted, and a hole formed by drilling inside the disk portion 26 may be directly used as a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant flow path). In this case, the refrigerant flows on the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the disk portion 26 while contacting the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the disk portion 26. In addition, as described above, when the tubular member is omitted, the turned-back hairpin tube is connected to the disk portion 26, whereby the inner space of the hairpin tube is connected to the inner space of the hole of the disk portion 26 in a liquid-tight manner, whereby a meandering refrigerant flow path can be formed.

Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and a meandering hole having a straight portion and a folded portion may be provided in the disk portion 26. In this case, it is conceivable to form the meandering-hole disk portion 26 by casting using a casting core for forming the refrigerant flow path.

In the present embodiment, in the case of the planar disk portion 26 shown in fig. 2 (a), the ends 28a, 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28 connected to the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b extend in a direction orthogonal to the other straight portions. The end 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28 connected to the refrigerant delivery pipe 18b has a positional relationship with other portions so as to overlap with other portions in the thickness direction of the disk portion 26.

Although not shown, the refrigerant pipe 28 may be formed in a shape that is repeatedly bent more, for example, in a double, triple, or more overlapping manner in the thickness direction of the disk portion 26. By providing such a configuration, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the inside of the disk portion 26 can be increased, and the disk portion 26 can be cooled more effectively.

In addition, for example, in the case of the planar disk portion 26 shown in fig. 2 (b), the ends 28a and 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28 connected to the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b may be formed to extend in a direction parallel to the other straight portions. By providing such a configuration, the refrigerant pipe 28 and the hole in the disk portion 26 can be easily machined. Further, the thinning of the disk portion 26 becomes easy.

Next, as shown in fig. 3, the sweeping portion 23 includes grinding wheel supports 31, and a plurality of grinding wheels 33 are mounted on each grinding wheel support 31. The grinding wheel 33 is disposed so as to face the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26 of the cooling portion 21. In the present embodiment, the grinding wheel 33 is arranged to contact the respective plate surfaces 26a and 26b of the disk portion 26 with a moderately weak pressure (low surface pressure). Further, as will be described later, the grinding wheel 33 has a function (sweeping function) of sweeping ice present in each plate surface 26a, 26b of the tray portion 26 to separate the ice from the tray portion 26.

As the material and material of the grinding wheel 33, various materials and materials generally used for grinding and the like can be used. For example, polyurethane, other synthetic resin, metal, felt, or the like may be used as a raw material of the grinding wheel 33. Examples of the material of the grinding wheel 33 include sponge, foam, brush, broom (brush), resin net, nonwoven fabric, and the like using the above-described various materials. As a material of the grinding wheel 33, a material having a certain degree of flexibility is exemplified.

Each grinding wheel 33 is attached to a rod-shaped spoke 34 provided on the grinding wheel support 31. The spokes 34 of the grinding wheel support 31 are arranged in groups of four at 90-degree intervals so as to face the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the disc portion 26. The grinding wheel support 31 is integrally coupled to a round bar-shaped rotation transmission shaft 35.

The rotation transmission shaft 35 can pass through the disk portion 26 in the thickness direction while avoiding the refrigerant pipe 28, and can rotate in the forward and reverse directions around the axial center. The rotation transmission shaft 35 is also rotationally displaceable together with the grinding wheel 33 with respect to the stationary disc portion 26.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, each grinding wheel 33 has a blade shape (oval shape), and the grinding wheels 33 are arranged in a four-blade propeller shape so as to face each plate surface 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26.

Such a sweeping-out portion 23 is coupled to the rotation driving portion 22 via a rotation transmission shaft 35. The motor (grinding wheel drive motor) is incorporated in the rotation drive unit 22, and as will be described later, the rotation drive unit 22 can continuously rotate the sweeping unit 23 in the aqueous solution Ws (liquid surface is virtually indicated by a two-dot chain line in fig. 1) stored in the freezing tank 12.

Here, the rotation driving unit 22 may be a rotation driving unit (reduction motor) integrally provided with a motor and a reduction unit (gear unit). The rotation driving unit 22 is disposed above the liquid surface of the aqueous solution Ws, and is exposed to the outside of the aqueous solution Ws. The rotation driving unit 22 is not limited to rotating the sweeping unit 23 in one direction, and may be configured to reciprocate (perform a reciprocating rotation operation in the forward and reverse directions).

Note that, the configuration of the grinding wheel 33 described above is not limited to the configuration shown in fig. 1 and 3, and various configurations may be adopted. For example, the number of grinding wheels 33 may be smaller than four or five or more with respect to the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26.

Next, the frame 17 is formed by joining rod-shaped members together to form a skeleton, for example. As a material of the frame portion 17, a general angle member, a round tube, a square tube, an extruded material, or the like can be used. In fig. 1, in order to avoid complicating the drawing, the parts of the frame portion 17 are drawn in a band plate shape, but it is desirable to select a material in consideration of necessary strength and structure.

The combination of the parts of the frame portion 17 may employ welding, screw fastening (including bolt fastening), or the like. Further, as a material of the frame portion 17, a metal or a synthetic resin may be used, and among them, various metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and the like may be used as the metal. Further, in the case of using a metal such as steel, it is conceivable to perform general various surface treatments in view of rust prevention.

The refrigerator 14 and the flake ice making section 15 are fixed to the frame 17, and the frame 17 supports the refrigerator 14 and the flake ice making section 15. The refrigerator 14 and the flake ice making section 15 can be fixed to the frame 17 by a general method such as bolt fixing or screw fixing. The frame 17 supports the ice sheet producing unit 15 such that the rotation driving unit 22 of the ice sheet producing unit 15 is exposed to the aqueous solution Ws.

As described above, the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b of the refrigerant guide portion 16 are connected to the refrigerator 14 and the sheet ice making portion 15, and the frame portion 17 supports the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b of the refrigerant guide portion 16 via the refrigerator 14 and the sheet ice making portion 15.

In the example of fig. 1, the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b of the refrigerant guide portion 16 are supported in a state suspended with respect to the frame portion 17, but portions (constraint portions) that contact the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b to support the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b may be formed in the frame portion 17.

When the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is placed on the ground or the like, the refrigerator 14 is installed on the ground with a part of the frame 17 located below. In contrast, the flake ice making section 15 is supported at a position offset from the refrigerator 14 by a predetermined amount in the horizontal direction and slightly higher than the lower end of the refrigerator 14.

The refrigerating tank spanning portions 19 of the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b are located between the refrigerator 14 and the ice sheet making portion 15 in a state of being opened downward. In fig. 1, a part of the frame 17 and the freezer tub 12 is shown as a virtual notch as indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The height from the lower end to the upper end of the ice slurry producing device 11 may be about 80cm to 90 cm. The lower end of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 may be a portion of the frame 17 that contacts the ground, and the upper end of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 may be an upper end of the rotation driving unit 22. By setting the height dimension of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 to about 80cm, the height of the freezing tank 12 described later becomes a height that is easy for an operator to work for performing a freezing operation.

Next, the freezing tank 12 and the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 12 will be described. In the present embodiment, the freezing tank 12 is formed in a rectangular container shape, and the upper portion thereof is opened. Although omitted in fig. 1, the periphery of the freezing tank 12 is surrounded by a heat insulating material. Here, as the heat insulating material, various general heat insulating materials can be used.

The walls (including the bottom wall) of the freezer compartment 12 may be, for example, a wall having a heat insulating material incorporated therein, a hollow wall, or the like. In addition, in the case where sufficient heat insulation can be obtained only by the walls of the freezing tank 12, the heat insulating material around the freezing tank 12 can be appropriately omitted.

The aqueous solution Ws indicated by a two-dot chain line in fig. 1 is an aqueous solution (also referred to as a coolant) as a stock solution of ice slurry. In the present embodiment, as the aqueous solution Ws, saline water having a predetermined concentration (23.5% in this case) can be used. The amount of the aqueous solution Ws may be, for example, about 200L (liter).

Most of the sheet ice making section 15 of the ice slurry making apparatus 11 enters the inside of the freezing tank 12. That is, the refrigerator 14 of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is located outside the freezing tank 12, and faces the wall 12a of one end portion of the freezing tank 12 in the longitudinal direction from the outside.

In contrast, the flake ice making portion 15 is located inside the wall portion 12a. The freezing tank 12 stores a predetermined amount of the aqueous solution Ws. The water solution Ws in the freezing tank 12 is immersed in a portion of the height from the lowest portion to the middle portion of the ice sheet making portion 15. Further, the tray 26 is disposed at the lowermost portion of the ice sheet making unit 15, and when the ice sheet making unit 15 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws, the entire tray 26 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws.

Next, the function of the aqueous solution pump 13 will be described. The aqueous solution pump 13 pumps the aqueous solution Ws as indicated by an arrow A1 of a two-dot chain line in fig. 1, and guides the aqueous solution Ws to the freezing tank 12 as indicated by an arrow A2. The aqueous solution pump 13 discharges the aqueous solution Ws toward the tray 26 of the ice sheet making unit 15. In fig. 1, arrows A1 and A2 indicate the paths of the aqueous solutions, and piping is not shown.

As the aqueous solution pump 13, various pumps can be generally used, but it is conceivable to select the aqueous solution pump 13 in consideration of mixing of solids (ice flakes here) into the aqueous solution Ws. In addition, by passing the aqueous solution Ws mixed with the flake ice through the pipe and the aqueous solution pump 13, the effect of preventing the clogging of the flow path is obtained. However, when the flake ice is not allowed to pass through the aqueous solution pump 13, a filter or the like for removing flake ice and foreign matters from the aqueous solution Ws may be arranged at the inlet of the pipe or at the front stage of the aqueous solution pump 13.

As shown in fig. 3, the aqueous solution Ws sent by the aqueous solution pump 13 is discharged from the nozzle portion 41. The nozzle portion 41 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 12, and the aqueous solution Ws ejected from the nozzle portion 41 (here, indicated by an arrow A3) is rolled up in the freezing tank 12 to form a water flow. The aqueous solution Ws (arrow A3) discharged from the nozzle 41 causes the flow rate of the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 12, and imparts momentum. That is, the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the like constitute a water flow generating mechanism (propulsion mechanism) as a flow forming portion that forms a flow of the aqueous solution Ws.

As the nozzle portion 41, various nozzle portions in general can be used. The nozzle portion 41 may be, for example, a conical nozzle portion that ejects the aqueous solution Ws as indicated by an arrow A3, a linear nozzle portion that is not shown, or the like.

The nozzle portion 41 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws so that a water flow can be generated around the tray portion 26 of the ice sheet making portion 15. The water flow generated from the aqueous solution discharged from the nozzle 41 circulates between the wall portions 12a and 12b located at the end portions of the freezing tank 12 in the longitudinal direction (the longitudinal direction, the left-right direction in fig. 1).

As described above, the tray 26 is cooled by the heat and cold of the refrigerant from the refrigerator 14, and therefore the aqueous solution Ws flowing around the tray 26 is cooled by the tray 26. Further, by sufficiently cooling the tray 26 to satisfy the conditions, ice is deposited on the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b, etc. of the tray 26, and minute ice adheres to the periphery of the tray 26.

As shown by arrow A4 in fig. 3, the ice adhering in this way is separated by being swept from the tray portion 26 by the grinding wheel 33 of the sweep-out portion 23 continuously rotating and colliding with the adhering ice. The sweep 23 rotates, so that the grinding wheel 33 intermittently passes through a fixed location, and ice is separated from the tray 26 before becoming large.

The ice separated from the plate surfaces 26a and 26b of the tray portion 26 becomes pieces of ice, and these pieces of ice are rolled up by the flow of the aqueous solution Ws (indicated by arrow A5) and cooled to the freezing point of the aqueous solution Ws (about-21 ℃ in the case of the above-described 23.5% saline solution).

By continuing the above-described ice adhesion and ice removal while providing fluidity to the aqueous solution Ws, the amount of flake ice in the aqueous solution Ws is gradually increased, and an ice slurry having an ice concentration (IPF) of about 10% to 30% is produced at a temperature (for example, about-21 ℃) suitable for the freezing operation of the frozen product.

As for the ice slurry of the brine having a concentration of 23.5% as described above, as long as ice remains, freezing can be effectively performed to maintain the freezing point temperature (-21 ℃). The frozen product can be frozen, for example, by: the frozen product is stored in a metal basket shown by reference numeral 45 in fig. 1, and the operator holds the basket 45 and dips it into the ice slurry.

The water flow generating mechanism such as the aqueous solution pump 13 and the nozzle portion 41 may be integrally attached to and fixed to the frame portion 17. In this case, the water flow generating mechanism may be integrally provided in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11. For example, the aqueous solution pump 13 may be provided at a position distant from the frame 17, and only the nozzle portion 41 and the pipe connected to the nozzle portion 41 may be fixed to the frame 17. In the case where the aqueous solution pump 13 is provided at a position distant from the frame portion 17, the weight of the frame portion 17 including supporting the respective devices can be reduced.

Next, fig. 4 (a) schematically shows a state in which the grinding wheel 33 separates ice from the disk 26. The grinding wheel 33 attached to the spoke 34 moves horizontally (rotationally) from the left side to the right side in the figure as indicated by an arrow C of a two-dot chain line. In the example of fig. 4 (a), the grinding wheel 33 is brought into contact with the upper plate surface 26a of the disk portion 26 by a moderately weak pressure (low surface pressure). The grinding wheel 33 may be formed of a material having a certain degree of flexibility, and has a rectangular (here, substantially square) cross-sectional shape.

In the example of fig. 4 (a), the grinding wheel 33 moves while being in contact with the plate surface 26a of the disk portion 26, and friction is generated, so that the cross-sectional shape is deformed into a parallelogram. The grinding wheel 33 strikes ice (not shown) generated on the plate surface 26a of the tray 26, and applies an external force to the ice, thereby sweeping the ice off the plate surface 26a of the tray 26. In the surface (lower plate surface 26 b) opposite to the plate portion 26, the grinding wheel 33 sweeps off ice by the same principle.

In the example of fig. 4 (a), in explaining the principle of sweeping by the grinding wheel 33, the cross-sectional shape of the grinding wheel 33 and the cross-sectional shape of the spoke 34 are both rectangular. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and, for example, a round bar or other shape of spoke may be used as the spoke 34, in addition to a prismatic bar. The cross-sectional shape of the grinding wheel 33 may be a shape other than a rectangle, and examples of the shape other than a rectangle include a triangle, a polygon, a true circle, and an ellipse.

Further, not only the cross-sectional shape of each grinding wheel, but also various shapes other than a blade shape may be adopted as the planar shape. Although not shown, the planar shape of the grinding wheel 33 may be, for example, a circular plate shape having a diameter of about 30cm, or the number of the grinding wheels 33 may be one for each surface of the disk portion 26, and the grinding wheels 33 may be horizontally rotated about the center. Further, the outer diameter of the grinding wheel 33 may be smaller than about 30cm, and one or a plurality of the grinding wheels 33 may be rotated while rotating.

Further, as a further modification, the grinding wheel (not shown) may be transmitted with power from the side portion (side of the end portion) of the disk portion 26 without forming a hole in the disk portion 26 through which the rotation transmission shaft 35 passes. In this case, for example, it is conceivable to reciprocate the links (arms) of the parallel crank mechanism with the disc portion 26 interposed therebetween via the parallel crank mechanism. By employing such a mechanism, the wiping portion 23 can be provided to sandwich the disk portion 26, and can be operated like a wiper of an automobile to wipe off ice.

Further, ice growing to a size equal to or larger than the gap may be scraped off by a predetermined amount (for example, about 1mm or less to several mm) of gap between the grinding wheel 33 and the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the tray portion 26.

Here, the fixation of the grinding wheel 33 to the spoke 34 may be performed by various general methods. Examples of the fixing method include bonding, screw fixing (bolt fixing), rivet fixing, and clamping.

As shown in fig. 4 (b), a metal plate 38 may be used instead of the grinding wheel 33. In addition to the metal plate 38, for example, a synthetic resin plate or the like may be used. In the case of using these rigid bodies, it is conceivable to sandwich the gap H between the disk portion 26 as shown in fig. 4 (b). In this way, abrasion of the plate portion 26 by the metal plate 38 or the like can be prevented.

Further, as shown by a plurality of arrows D in fig. 4 (b), turbulence can be generated in the front and rear of the metal plate 38 or the like, for example, by moving the metal plate 38 or the like with the gap H therebetween. Although not shown, it is considered that turbulence is generated in the gap H between the metal plate 38 and the disk portion 26. Further, even if the metal plate 38 or the like does not contact the tray 26, the ice can be separated from the tray 26 by utilizing the turbulence. The turbulence is easily generated by rapidly moving the metal plate 38 or the like to some extent.

The fixation of the metal plate 38 and the like to the spokes 34 can be performed by various general means. As a fixing means, for example, in addition to screw fixing (bolt fixing), rivet fixing, and clamping, welding or the like can be exemplified.

The grinding wheel 33, the metal plate, and the like may be replaced periodically, for example, and maintenance may be performed.

Next, a preventive measure of ice adhesion to the side of the tray 26 will be described. In the present embodiment, ice adhering to the respective plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the tray portion 26 is separated from the tray portion 26 by the grinding wheel 33 of the sweep-out portion 23. However, in the case of ice adhering to a portion where the grinding wheel 33 does not contact, such as a side surface of the disk portion 26, there is no greater external force acting although there is a collision of the water flow of the aqueous solution Ws.

Therefore, if ice adhering to the tray 26 grows to an unexpected shape or size, the growing ice may press the surrounding equipment (for example, the refrigerant pipe 28) and an excessive load may be applied to the surrounding equipment. Further, it is also conceivable that the ice growing up reaches the plate surfaces 26a, 26b of the tray portion 26, interferes with the grinding wheel 33, and hinders the operation of the grinding wheel 33.

Therefore, in consideration of these points, as indicated by reference numeral 46 in fig. 2 (a), 2 (b), an ice adhesion preventing portion may be partially provided in the tray portion 26. In the examples of fig. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the ice adhesion preventing portion 46 is formed to cover a curved portion of the refrigerant pipe 28 protruding from the tray portion 26.

The ice adhesion preventing portion 46 may be formed of, for example, a synthetic resin having a lower thermal conductivity than the metal used as the material of the tray portion 26. Further, the surface of the ice adhesion preventing portion 46 can be formed into a rounded shape without having sharp corners, and ice is less likely to adhere. In the examples of fig. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the ice adhesion preventing portion 46 is shown by a two-dot chain line to show only the outline.

According to the refrigerating system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the first disclosure described above, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is configured such that the refrigerator 14, the tray 26, the rotation driving unit 22, and the grinding wheel 33 are integrally formed, and therefore the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be unitized. Therefore, when producing the ice slurry, the ice slurry producing device 11 may be placed on the ground so that the flake ice producing unit 15 is placed inside the freezer compartment 12 and the refrigerator 14 is positioned outside the freezer compartment 12, and the equipment required for producing flake ice can be easily installed as compared with the conventional one.

Further, since the tray 26 of the flake ice making section 15 is directly immersed in the aqueous solution Ws in the freezing tank 12, a pipe for feeding flake ice into the freezing tank 12 is not required, and the ice slurry can be produced by a simple mechanism. Further, since ice slurry can be directly produced in the freezing tank 12 in which the freezing operation is performed, the conventional operation of temporarily producing ice and mixing the ice with the stock solution to produce ice slurry is not required.

The operation of the refrigeration system 10 will now be described. When the temperature of the adjusted aqueous solution Ws (for example, 23.5% saline solution) is set to 15 degrees in the freezer compartment 12, the sheet ice (cake ice) initially produced in the tray 26 is immediately melted and the aqueous solution Ws is cooled when the ice slurry producing apparatus 11 is started. Thus, the temperature of the aqueous solution Ws is initially lowered. When the temperature of the aqueous solution Ws is lowered to-21 ℃ which is the freezing point of the aqueous solution Ws, the flake ice produced in the tray portion 26 is not dissolved and mixed with the aqueous solution Ws to form a slurry. The proportion of ice in the slurry (ice concentration) can be set to 10% to 30% suitable for freezing by gradually increasing the ice concentration from zero by the operation of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11. After the start of the freezing operation of the frozen product, the ice concentration of the slurry can be kept constant by setting the sheet ice production amount to match the amount of heat and cold required for freezing the frozen product (for example, by the output adjustment of the freezer).

Further, according to the refrigeration system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, a required amount of ice slurry can be manufactured when necessary. Therefore, the produced ice slurry is stored in advance, and when necessary, no equipment for feeding the ice slurry into the freezing tank 12 is required, so that the entire refrigerating system 10 and the ice slurry producing apparatus 11 can be easily miniaturized and reduced in weight.

Further, since the ice slurry producing device 11 has a structure in which the refrigerator 14 and the flake ice producing portion 15 are connected via the frame portion 17, the refrigerator 14 and the flake ice producing portion 15 can be integrally moved by lifting the frame portion 17 by a human hand. Therefore, for example, after the freezing operation, the operator can lift the ice slurry producing device 11 to move the ice sheet producing unit 15 out of the freezing tank 12, and clean and maintain the portion of the ice sheet producing unit 15 immersed in the aqueous solution Ws with tap water.

Further, the movement, cleaning, and the like of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be performed without contact with the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b connecting the refrigerator 14 and the flake ice manufacturing unit 15. Therefore, when the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is moved, cleaned, or the like, the possibility of deformation and breakage of the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b can be reduced.

The ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is not limited to the orientation shown in fig. 1, and may be provided with a direction changed. For example, the direction of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 may be changed to any one of 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees around the freezing tank 12 without moving the freezing tank 12 shown in fig. 1. In this case, too, the nozzle 41 can be moved. However, if a sufficient water flow can be generated in the aqueous solution Ws, the orientation of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be changed without changing the position of the nozzle portion 41.

Here, when the nozzle portion 41, the aqueous solution pump 13, and the like are attached to the frame portion 17, the nozzle portion 41, the aqueous solution pump 13, and the like are also changed in orientation integrally with the ice sheet making portion 15, and the like.

Further, in the refrigeration system 10 of the present embodiment, since ice is scraped off from both the plate surfaces 26a and 26b of the tray portion 26 in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11, the area where ice is allowed to adhere is easily increased, and a large amount of ice slurry can be manufactured in a short time. Here, a plurality of (for example, two) disc portions 26 may be arranged in parallel, grinding wheels may be provided so as to face the respective disc portions 26, and these grinding wheels may be rotated by the rotation transmission shaft 35. By such arrangement, a lot of ice slurry can be produced in a shorter time.

The frame 17 supports the ice sheet producing unit 15 such that the rotation driving unit 22 of the ice sheet producing unit 15 is exposed to the aqueous solution Ws. Therefore, even if the flake ice making section 15 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws, the rotary driving section 22 can be protected from the aqueous solution Ws.

Further, since the ice flakes and the ice slurry are produced in the freezing tank 12 having the upper opening, it is considered that the ice is easily melted, for example, as compared with the production of the ice flakes and the production of the ice slurry in a closed environment, and the ice melting can be prevented by sufficiently insulating the freezing tank 12, for example.

In addition, in the refrigeration system 10 of the present embodiment, the aqueous solution Ws (brine coolant) that is brine is used as the stock solution of the ice slurry instead of ethanol (ethanol coolant), and therefore, the cost is lower than that in the case of using ethanol, and the operation is easier.

Further, ethanol also depends on the type, but the thermal conductivity is lower than the thermal conductivity of brine (about 0.58W/mK) and the thermal conductivity of flake ice (about 2.2W/mK) before and after 0.20W/mK. In addition, the freezing based on the ethanol coolant is freezing using a temperature change due to sensible heat, and the freezing based on the brine coolant is freezing mainly using a state change due to latent heat. The brine coolant is frozen by cooling the frozen product with both ice and an aqueous solution and bringing the ice into contact (collision) with the frozen product.

Further, as shown in the present embodiment, the following expansion of the application can be expected by miniaturizing the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 and facilitating cleaning and maintenance. For example, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 may be installed in a city restaurant, a store, or the like, not only in an environment where a large space is easily secured, such as a factory of a refrigerated product seller or a food market.

Here, as for the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11, general components such as the refrigerator 14, the refrigerant introduction pipe 18a, the refrigerant discharge pipe 18b, the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the frame portion 17 may be used. Further, since the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 is easily miniaturized, small and inexpensive equipment can be selected as the equipment such as the refrigerator 14. Therefore, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be manufactured at a lower cost and at a lower cost than the conventional large-sized apparatus. As a result, the refrigeration system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 can be easily popularized in eating houses and the like even in terms of price.

In the refrigeration system 10 shown in fig. 1, as described above, the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the like constitute a water flow generating mechanism that generates a water flow in the freezer compartment 12. Further, as a modification, the water flow generating mechanism such as the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the like is integrally mounted and fixed to the frame portion 17 is also described above.

However, a water flow generating mechanism may be provided in the freezer compartment 12 instead of the aqueous solution pump 13 and the nozzle portion 41, or in addition to the aqueous solution pump 13 and the nozzle portion 41. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a water flow generating mechanism is provided in the freezer compartment 12 will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the refrigeration system 10 shown in fig. 1, and the description thereof is omitted appropriately.

Fig. 5 a and 5 b schematically show a freezing tank (hereinafter, reference numeral 52) to which a water flow generating mechanism is added. Fig. 5 (a) schematically shows the freezing tank 52 from above, and fig. 5 (b) schematically shows the freezing tank 52 from the side by longitudinal section.

As indicated by arrow B in fig. 5 (a), in the freezer tank 52, a water flow circulating counterclockwise in the drawing is generated. The water flow is formed by using spiral portions 43 disposed on wall portions 52a and 52b located at the longitudinal ends of the freezing tank 52. As shown in fig. 5 (a), the spiral portions 43 are disposed in a position offset (displaced) in the horizontal direction (in this case, the depth direction of the freezer compartment 52) in opposite directions to each other. As shown in fig. 5 (b), the spiral portions 43 are disposed at substantially the same height.

The spiral portion 43 rotates in the aqueous solution Ws, thereby generating a reverse water flow, and circulates between the wall portions 52a and 52b located at the longitudinal ends of the freezing tank 52. Since the planar shape of the freezing tank 52 is rectangular (oblong), the aqueous solution Ws circulates in a substantially racetrack shape (also referred to as an ellipse or the like) in a plan view as shown in fig. 5 (a).

Here, reference numeral 48 in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b) indicates three frozen products immersed in the aqueous solution Ws. Examples of the frozen product 48 include various foods requiring quick freezing. Here, the frozen product 48 is also schematically represented by a rectangular figure. The three articles to be frozen 48 are stored in, for example, one basket (a wire basket made of metal in this case) 45 shown in fig. 1, and the operator can hold the basket 45 with his hands and impregnate the articles with the aqueous solution Ws.

In the examples of fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), as shown in fig. 5 (a), the tray 26 (combined with the sweeping portion 23) is disposed at one corner (upper right corner in fig. 5 (a)) of the freezer tub 52. The frozen products 48 are immersed in the freezing tank 52 so as to be aligned in a line along the longitudinal direction of the freezing tank 52 (the longitudinal direction corresponding to the left-right direction in fig. 5 (a)). One of the frozen products 48 faces the tray 26 in the width direction of the freezing groove 52 (the short dimension direction corresponding to the up-down direction of fig. 5 (a)).

As shown in fig. 5 (b), the tray 26 and the frozen product 48 are located at substantially the same height as the spiral portion 43 (here, the rotation axis of the spiral portion 43). The circulated aqueous solution Ws flows while contacting the tray 26 and the frozen product 48.

In the examples of fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the size (length×depth×height) of the freezing tank 52 may be the same as the freezing tank 12 in the example shown in fig. 1. In fig. 5 (b), the tray 26 is positioned behind one frozen product 48 at the right end in the drawing.

The present invention is not limited to the case where all three articles to be frozen 48 are accommodated in one basket 45 (not shown), and a plurality of (here, three) baskets 45 may be used for each article to be frozen 48 and immersed in the freezing tank 52. In this case, the invention of the present embodiment may be grasped by replacing the frozen products 48 in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b) with the respective baskets 45.

In the examples of fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the water flow in the freezing tank 52 is a horizontal flow circulating in the horizontal direction. As shown in fig. 5 (a), partition plates 53 are disposed between the three frozen products 48 and the tray 26, and four corners (planar shape) of the freezing tank 52 are rounded to form R (rounded corners). The water flow in the freezing tank 52 is smoothly guided by the R-shape at the corner of the freezing tank 52 and the partition plate 53, and circulates horizontally in the freezing tank 52. Here, in fig. 5 (b), the partition plate 53 is not illustrated.

Next, fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b) schematically show a freezer compartment 54 according to another embodiment. Fig. 6 (a) schematically shows the freezing tank 54 from above, and fig. 6 (b) schematically shows the freezing tank 54 from the side by being vertically sectioned. Here, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the examples shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the examples shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the spiral portion 43 is disposed on the wall portions 54a and 54b located at the longitudinal ends of the freezing tank 54. As shown in fig. 6 (a), the tray 26 is disposed at one corner of the freezing tank 54 (lower left corner in fig. 6 (a)), and the frozen product 48 is immersed in the freezing tank 54 so as to be positioned on the same line as the tray 26.

As shown in fig. 6 (b), the tray 26 and the frozen product 48 are located at substantially the same height as the spiral portion 43 (here, the rotation axis of the spiral portion 43). Then, as indicated by an arrow B, the circulated aqueous solution Ws flows while contacting the tray 26 and the frozen product 48.

In the examples shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the dimension of the freezing tank 54 in the width direction is smaller than the freezing tank 52 in the examples shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b). That is, since the frozen products 48 are arranged so as to be positioned on the same line as the tray 26, the depth of the freezing groove 54 is set smaller than the freezing groove 52 in the example of fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

In the examples of fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the water flow in the freezing tank 54 is a horizontal flow circulating in the horizontal direction as in the examples of fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b). As shown in fig. 6 (a), partition plates 55 are disposed between the three objects to be frozen 48 and the tray 26 and the opposing wall 54c, and four corners (planar shape) of the freezing tank 54 are rounded to form R (rounded corners). The water flow in the freezing tank 54 is smoothly guided by the R-shape at the corner of the freezing tank 54 and the partition plate 55, and circulates horizontally in the freezing tank 54. Here, in fig. 6 (b), the separator 55 is not shown.

According to the refrigeration system including the refrigeration vessel 54 shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the refrigeration vessel 54 can be miniaturized (the depth can be reduced), and the refrigeration system can be further miniaturized.

Next, fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b) schematically show a freezer compartment 56 according to another embodiment. Fig. 7 (a) schematically shows the freezing tank 56 from above, and fig. 7 (b) schematically shows the freezing tank 56 from the side by being vertically sectioned. Here, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the examples shown in fig. 4 (a) and 4 (b), and the description thereof is omitted appropriately.

In the examples shown in fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the spiral portion 43 is disposed on the wall portions 56a and 56b located at the longitudinal ends of the freezing tank 56. As shown in fig. 7 (a), the tray 26 is disposed at one corner of the freezing tank 56 (lower left corner in fig. 7 (a)), and the frozen product 48 is immersed in the freezing tank 56 so as to be positioned on the same line as the tray 26. The spiral portions 43 are disposed at the longitudinal ends (longitudinal direction) of the freezing tank 56 and are positioned on substantially the same straight line. As shown in fig. 7 (b), the spiral portions 43 are disposed in opposite directions from each other at positions offset (displaced) in the height direction.

In the examples of fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the water flow in the freezing tank 56 is a vertical flow circulating in the vertical direction. As shown in fig. 7 b, the shape (side surface shape) of the corner of the bottom of the freezing tank 56 is rounded to have an arc shape. The water flow in the freezing tank 56 is smoothly guided by the R-shape at the corner of the freezing tank 56, and circulates longitudinally in the freezing tank 56.

According to the refrigeration system including the refrigeration vessel 56 shown in fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the aqueous solution Ws can be circulated in the longitudinal direction (height direction), and a vertical aqueous solution circulation system can be realized. Further, the frozen product 48 having a higher demand can be efficiently frozen.

Although not shown, a water inlet port for supplying the aqueous solution Ws may be provided in each of the freezing tanks 12, 52, 54, 56 described so far, and the aqueous solution Ws may be supplied from the water inlet port into the freezing tanks 12, 52, 54, 56. Further, tap water may be supplied from the water inlet to each of the freezing tanks 12, 52, 54, 56, and salt or the like may be mixed with the tap water to prepare the aqueous solution Ws in each of the freezing tanks 12, 52, 54, 56. Furthermore, a faucet having a valve (flow rate adjusting valve) may be provided at the water inlet.

Although the freezing tanks 52, 54, and 56 each having the water flow generating means are shown in fig. 5 to 7, as in the example shown in fig. 1, if the water flow generating means is not provided in the freezing tank 12, the water flow generating means having the water solution pump 13 and the nozzle portion 41 can supply the flow of the water solution, and thus, it is not necessary to perform processing for providing the water flow generating means in the freezing tank, and a general heat-insulating water tank can be used as the freezing tank, and the cost can be reduced. However, as in the examples of fig. 5 to 7, when the water flow generating means is provided in the freezing tanks 52, 54, 56, the aqueous solution Ws is easily circulated. In addition, when the water flow generation mechanism by the aqueous solution pump 13 and the water flow generation mechanism of the freezing tanks 52, 54, 56 are used together, it is easier to circulate the aqueous solution Ws.

The embodiments described above are examples of preferred embodiments of the first embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the refrigerating system 10 has been described as being constituted by combining the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11, the freezing tank 12, the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the like, but the "ice slurry manufacturing apparatus" may be constituted to include the freezing tank 12, the aqueous solution pump 13, the nozzle portion 41, and the like.

The freezing system and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus may be of the type shown in fig. 8 to 10 or of the type shown in fig. 11. Hereinafter, another type of refrigeration system and ice slurry manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to fig. 8 to 10 and 11. Note that, the same parts as those of the refrigerating system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 of the type shown in fig. 1 are appropriately omitted from the description. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the refrigerating system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 of the type shown in fig. 1, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

A freezing system 110 and an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 of the type shown in fig. 8 to 10 use a tank (hereinafter, referred to as "ice slurry manufacturing tank") 113. As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the ice slurry production tank 113 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an aqueous solution (reference numeral omitted) is stored therein as a stock solution (also referred to as a coolant) of ice slurry. An ice slurry manufacturing device 111 and a water flow generating mechanism (propulsion mechanism) 142 as a flow forming part are attached to the side surface of the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113 to prevent leakage of the water solution.

The water flow generating mechanism 142 has a spiral portion 43. The spiral portion 43 is disposed inside the ice slurry manufacturing groove 113, and is driven to rotate around the axis by a rotation driving portion 144 disposed outside the ice slurry manufacturing groove 113. The water flow generating mechanism 142 is inclined toward the ice slurry producing tank 113, and is fixed to the ice slurry producing tank 113 at an angle in the vertical direction indicated by reference numeral α1 in fig. 8 and at an angle in the horizontal direction indicated by reference numeral α2 in fig. 9. The spiral portion 43 is directed to the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 (described later), and generates a flow (water flow) of the aqueous solution in the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113 by rotation.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 includes a cooling unit 121, a rotation driving unit 122, a sweeping unit 123 serving as an ice separating unit, and the like. The cooling unit 121 and the sweeping unit 123 are disposed inside the ice slurry making tank 113. The rotation driving unit 122 is disposed outside the slurry production tank 113.

The cooling unit 121 includes a disk portion 126 and a refrigerant pipe 128. The tray 126 and the refrigerant pipe 128 may be the same as the cooling unit 21 of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 shown in fig. 1. The refrigerant pipe 128 is connected to a refrigerator (not shown) to allow the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator to flow, and as the refrigerator, various general refrigerators can be used, similarly to the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 shown in fig. 1.

The tray 126 is fixed to the inside of the ice slurry making tank 113 via a support member 141. The support member 141 is fixed to a hatch 143 detachably mounted in the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113. The tray 126 is supported by the support member 141 at a position away from the inner peripheral surface of the nacelle 143.

Here, as shown in fig. 8 and 10, the hatch 143 forms a part of the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113, and is sealed and attached to the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113 to prevent leakage of the water solution. Although not shown, the cabin 143 is attached to the ice slurry making tank 113 via a locking mechanism. In addition, the refrigerant piping 128 is also sealed and penetrates the cabin portion 143 to prevent leakage of the water solution. In the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111, the cooling unit 121, the rotation driving unit 122, and the sweeping unit 123 constitute an ice making unit.

As shown in fig. 10, the rotation driving portion 122 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the cabin 143. A motor (grinding wheel drive motor) is embedded in the rotation drive unit 122, and a rotation shaft 145 of the motor is sealed so as to prevent leakage of the aqueous solution and penetrates the nacelle 143. The rotation driving unit 122 can continuously rotate the sweeping unit 123 in the aqueous solution stored in the slurry production tank 113. Here, the rotation driving unit 122 may be a rotation driving unit (reduction motor) integrally provided with a motor and a reduction unit (gear unit).

The sweeping-out portion 123 includes a grinding wheel 133 fixed to a rotation shaft 145 of the rotation driving portion 122. As the material and material of the grinding wheel 133, the same material and material as those of the grinding wheel 33 of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 shown in fig. 1 can be used. Further, as the shape of the grinding wheel 133, the same shape (blade shape or the like) as the grinding wheel 33 of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 shown in fig. 1 may also be employed.

In the example shown in fig. 8 to 10, as in the example shown in fig. 1, the tray 126 is cooled by the heat and the cold of the refrigerant from the refrigerator (not shown) in the aqueous solution, and the aqueous solution flowing around the tray 126 is cooled by the tray 126. Further, by sufficiently cooling the tray portion 126 to satisfy the conditions, ice is deposited on the respective plate surfaces 126a, 126b, etc. of the tray portion 26, and minute ice adheres to the periphery of the tray portion 126.

As shown by arrow A6 in fig. 10, the ice adhering in this way is continuously rotated by the grinding wheel 133 of the sweeping-out portion 123 and collides with the adhering ice, which is swept out from the tray portion 126 to be separated. The tray 126 rotates, so that the grinding wheel 133 intermittently passes through a fixed place, and ice is separated from the tray 126 before it becomes large.

The ice separated from the plate surfaces 126a and 126b of the tray 126 becomes pieces of ice, and these pieces of ice are rolled up by the flow of the aqueous solution, mixed with the aqueous solution, and formed into ice slurry. By continuing such ice adhesion and ice removal while providing fluidity to the aqueous solution, the amount of flake ice in the aqueous solution is gradually increased, and ice slurry having a predetermined temperature (for example, about-21 ℃) is stored in the ice slurry production tank 113.

Although not shown, the ice slurry production tank 113 may be connected to a refrigerating apparatus for immersing the frozen product via an ice slurry supply pipe and an ice slurry return pipe, and the ice slurry may be supplied and recovered from the refrigerating apparatus. As the ice slurry supply pipe, the ice slurry return pipe, the refrigerating apparatus, and the devices attached thereto, the same devices as those of the ice slurry supply pipe (45), the ice slurry return pipe (46), the refrigerating apparatus (6), and the devices attached thereto described in patent document 1 (japanese patent application laid-open publication No. 2019-207046) can be used.

According to the refrigeration system 110 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111, ice slurry can be manufactured by the small and simple ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111. Further, since the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 is provided in the detachable hatch 143, the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 can be easily cleaned and maintained by removing the hatch 143 from the ice slurry manufacturing tank 113 by reducing the amount of the aqueous solution until the liquid surface reaches a position lower than the hatch 143.

It is to be noted that a plurality of (for example, two or three) disc portions 126 may be arranged in parallel (coaxially), grinding wheels may be provided so as to face the respective disc portions 126, and these grinding wheels may be rotated. By such arrangement, a lot of ice slurry can be produced in a shorter time. Fig. 12 shows an example in which two disk units 126 are arranged in parallel (coaxially). In fig. 12, for avoiding complexity of illustration, illustration of a refrigerant tube or the like connected to a tray portion 126 disposed inside (upper stage of fig. 12, a stage offset from the center of the slurry production tank 113) is omitted.

In addition, as in the examples shown in fig. 8 to 10, the water flow is not distributed by a screw, but for example, as in the refrigerating system 150 shown in fig. 13 and 14, the cooling unit 121 including the pan 126, the grinding wheel 133, and the like, and the cooling unit 121 may be disposed on the water surface of the aqueous solution Ws, and the aqueous solution Ws pumped by the pump (aqueous solution pump) 151 may be continuously supplied from the supply pipe 152 to the ice making surfaces (the plate surfaces 126a and 126 b) of the pan 126 at a sufficient flow rate. In this case, if the aqueous solution is continuously supplied to the ice making surfaces (the plate surfaces 126a and 126 b) at a sufficient (moderate) flow rate, the tray portion 126 is substantially the same as being disposed (immersed) in the aqueous solution Ws. In the case where the cooling unit 121 is disposed outside the aqueous solution Ws in this way, the cooling unit 121 is on the water surface, and therefore maintenance of the cooling unit 121 becomes easy. Here, the supply pipe 152 is fixed to the slurry production tank 113 at an angle in the vertical direction indicated by reference numeral α3 in fig. 13 and at an angle in the horizontal direction indicated by reference numeral α4 in fig. 14.

The refrigerating system 110 shown in fig. 8 and 9 has been described as being constituted by combining the ice slurry producing device 111, the water flow generating mechanism 142, and the like, but the "ice slurry producing device" may be constituted to include the ice slurry producing device 111, the water flow generating mechanism 142, and the like.

Next, a refrigerating system 160 and an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 shown in fig. 11 will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the refrigerating system 10 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 11 shown in fig. 1 and the refrigerating system 110 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 shown in fig. 8 to 10, and the description thereof is omitted appropriately.

The ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 of the refrigeration system 160 shown in fig. 11 includes a cooling unit 121, a rotation driving unit 122, and a sweeping unit 123, which are similar to those of the examples shown in fig. 8 to 10. However, the housing 162 of the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 shown in fig. 11 accommodates the cooling part 121 and the sweeping part 123.

The housing 162 has an outer dimension slightly larger than the sweep-out portion 123, and a space 163 for circulating the aqueous solution is formed around the sweep-out portion 123. Further, an aqueous solution inlet 164 and an aqueous solution outlet 165 are formed in the housing 162.

The aqueous solution inlet 164 is connected to a coolant tank (aqueous solution tank) 168 via an aqueous solution pump 166 and a flow adjustment valve 167. Then, the flow rate adjustment valve 167 is opened to operate the aqueous solution pump 166, so that the aqueous solution in the aqueous solution tank 168 is continuously supplied into the housing 162. In the example of fig. 11, the aqueous solution pump 166 functions as a water flow generating mechanism (propulsion mechanism) serving as a flow forming portion.

The aqueous solution outlet 165 of the housing 162 is connected to an ice slurry tank 173. A temperature sensor 171 and an IPF (ice concentration) sensor 172 are provided in the piping between the aqueous solution outlet 165 and the ice slurry tank 173.

In the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161, as in the examples of fig. 8 to 10, the tray 126 is cooled by the heat and the cold of the refrigerant from the refrigerator (not shown) in the aqueous solution, and the aqueous solution flowing around the tray 126 is cooled by the tray 126. Further, as shown by an arrow A6 in fig. 11, the ice that appears and adheres to the tray portion 126 is continuously rotated by the grinding wheel 133 of the sweeping-out portion 123 and collides with the adhering ice, and is swept out from the tray portion 126 to be separated.

The ice separated from the tray 126 becomes pieces of ice, which are rolled up by the flow of the aqueous solution, mixed with the aqueous solution, and discharged from the case 162. The aqueous solution mixed with the flake ice is sequentially sent to the ice slurry tank 173, and stored in the ice slurry tank 173.

The temperature of the ice slurry sent from the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 is monitored using the temperature sensor 171. The temperature of the tray portion 126 is adjusted so that the temperature of the ice slurry is a predetermined temperature (for example, about-21 ℃). The ice concentration of the ice slurry in the pipe is monitored by the IPF sensor 172, and the flow rate adjustment valve 167 is adjusted so that the ice concentration is maintained at a predetermined value.

Here, the temperature control and the ice concentration control may be performed by the operator by visually checking the outputs of the temperature sensor 171 and the IPF sensor 172, or may be performed by automatic control using the output signals of the temperature sensor 171 and the IPF sensor 172.

In the example of fig. 11, the concave portion is filled with the filler 169 so that the flow of the aqueous solution and the ice slurry does not stagnate in the concave portion of the space 163 in the case 162 and smoothly flows. As a material of the filler 169, synthetic resin or the like can be used. Here, in fig. 11, hatching, which is shown as a cross section, is drawn on the filler 169, and the housing 162 is not shown with hatching so as not to complicate the drawing.

According to the refrigeration system 160 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161, ice slurry can be manufactured by the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 which is more compact. In addition, by miniaturizing the size of the housing 162, the flow rate of the aqueous solution in the housing (the flow rate of the bypass flow) can be increased.

Here, for example, fig. 15 (a) schematically shows that a plurality of (for example, three) disk portions 126 are arranged in parallel (coaxially), grinding wheels 133 are provided so as to face the respective disk portions 126, and the grinding wheels are rotated so that the aqueous solution flows in parallel and uniformly with the three disk portions 126, and a partition plate 154 is preferably provided. Here, arrow E in fig. 15 (a) indicates the flow of the aqueous solution. In addition, in fig. 15 (a), the partition plate 154 is drawn to have a triangular cross section, so that the aqueous solution flowing in from the aqueous solution inlet 164 is split into two directions.

As schematically shown in fig. 15 b, a plurality of (e.g., three) disk portions 126 are similarly arranged in parallel (coaxially), grinding wheels 133 are provided so as to face the respective disk portions 126, and the partition plates 156 and 157 are preferably provided so that the aqueous solution flows in series while sequentially contacting the three disk portions 126 arranged coaxially (so that the aqueous solution flows in a hook-like manner twice). In fig. 15 (b), one (front stage) partition plate 156 guides the aqueous solution flowing in from the aqueous solution inlet 164, and the other (rear stage) partition plate 157 guides the aqueous solution toward the aqueous solution outlet 165.

As schematically shown in fig. 16, three disks 126 arranged in series in the flow direction may be sequentially contacted with each other and flowed. By disposing the tray portion 126 as in the examples shown in fig. 15 (a), 15 (b), and 16, a lot of ice slurry can be produced in a shorter time. Further, by disposing the disk portion 126 as in the example shown in fig. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the installation area (projection area) of the disk portion 126 and the like can be suppressed, and the disk portion 126 and the like can be disposed. Further, by disposing the disk portion 126 as in the example shown in fig. 16, the path of the water flow can be simplified.

The temperature control and the ice concentration control performed by the refrigeration system 160 of fig. 11 may be appropriately applied to the refrigeration system 10 of fig. 1, the refrigeration systems of fig. 8 to 10, 13, and 14. In addition, the corner of the housing 162 in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 of fig. 11 can be R (rounded) shaped to smoothly guide the water flow. The same applies to the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of the type shown in fig. 15 (a), 15 (b) and 16.

Next, a modification of the refrigeration system 110 and the slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 of the type shown in fig. 8 to 10 (and the refrigeration system 150 shown in fig. 13 and 14) will be described with reference to fig. 17. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the refrigerating system 110 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 111 of the type shown in fig. 8 to 10, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the examples shown in fig. 8 to 10, the tray portion 126 of the cooling portion 121 is disposed inside the cabin portion 143, and the refrigerant pipe 128 penetrates the cabin portion 143. In contrast, in the example shown in fig. 17, the tray 186 in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 181 enters the opening 193a formed in the hatch 193, protrudes slightly inward of the hatch 193, and closes the opening 193a. Further, the outer side surface 186b of the tray 186 is exposed to the outside of the ice slurry making groove 113 from the opening 193a.

The periphery of the disk portion 186 is sealed liquid-tightly to prevent leakage of the solution. As a method for sealing, a general method such as coating of a sealing material, welding, and the like can be employed. In the example of fig. 17, the periphery of the disk portion 186 is partially closed by a sealing material 194. In the tray portion 186, only the inner side surface 186a is in contact with the aqueous solution in the ice slurry making tank 113.

In the example of fig. 17, the refrigerant pipe 188 is led out from the outer surface 186b of the tray 186 to the outside of the ice slurry producing tank 113. The rotation driving unit 122 is disposed outside the disk unit 186. The rotation shaft 145 of the rotation driving portion 122 is sealed so as to prevent leakage of the aqueous solution and penetrates the disk portion 186 in the horizontal direction. The rotation driving unit 122 can continuously rotate the sweeping unit 123 in the aqueous solution stored in the slurry production tank 113.

The sweep-out portion 123 includes the grinding wheel 133 inside the disk portion 186. The grinding wheel 133 is fixed to the rotation shaft 145 of the rotation driving portion 122, and collides with ice adhering to the inner side surface 186a of the disk portion 186, thereby separating the ice from the disk portion 186.

By adopting the configuration of the example of fig. 17, the refrigerant pipe 188 is not in direct contact with the aqueous solution, and ice can be prevented from adhering to the refrigerant pipe 188.

Next, a modification of the refrigeration system 160 and the slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 of the type shown in fig. 11 will be described with reference to fig. 18. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the refrigerating system 160 and the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 161 of the type shown in fig. 11, and the description thereof is omitted appropriately.

In the example shown in fig. 11, the tray portion 126 of the cooling portion 121 is housed inside the case 162, and the refrigerant pipe 128 penetrates the case 162. In contrast, in the example shown in fig. 18, the end 207 of the tray 206 in the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 201 protrudes from the housing 212, and the refrigerant pipe 218 is led out from the end 207 of the tray 196.

A plurality of brine inlet pipes (water solution inlet pipes) 219a and a plurality of brine outlet pipes (water solution outlet pipes) 219b are connected to the housing 212, and brine is introduced into the space 163 in the housing 212 through the brine inlet pipes 219 a. The brine (aqueous solution) introduced into the space 163 in the case 212 contacts the plate surfaces 206a and 206b of the tray 206, and is cooled by the tray 206.

Ice adhering to the plate surfaces 206a, 206b of the tray portion 206 is separated by sweeping the tray portion 206 by the rotating grinding wheel 133. The ice separated from the tray 206 is formed into pieces of ice, and these pieces of ice are mixed with brine and discharged from the housing 212 through the brine outlet pipe 219 b.

The rotation driving part 122 for rotating the grinding wheel 133 is disposed at an upper portion of the housing 212, and the rotation shaft 145 of the rotation driving part 122 is downwardly inserted into the housing 212. Further, the space between the rotation shaft 145 and the housing 212 is sealed in such a manner as to prevent leakage of brine.

By adopting the configuration shown in the example of fig. 18, the refrigerant pipe 218 is not in direct contact with the brine, and ice can be prevented from adhering to the refrigerant pipe 218. In the example of fig. 18, the rotation shaft 145 of the rotation driving unit 122 is inserted downward into the housing 212, and therefore, a hole (reference numeral omitted) of the housing 212 through which the rotation shaft 145 passes is opened upward, so that leakage of brine from the housing 212 is less likely to occur.

< second publication (FIGS. 19-31) >

Hereinafter, a flake ice manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the second disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the ice making device is exemplified as a sheet ice making device, but the second disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to other types of ice making devices such as an ice slurry making device.

Fig. 19 (a) to 19 (d) show a flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 according to an embodiment of the second disclosure. Fig. 19 (a) is a side view of the ice sheet manufacturing apparatus 2010, fig. 19 (B) is a front view, fig. 19 (c) is a top view, and fig. 19 (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 9 (c). Fig. 20 shows a water spray nozzle 2018 provided in the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010, and fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in fig. 19 (c).

Fig. 19 (a) to 19 (d), 20 and 21 are each manufactured by using a design drawing (assembly drawing) of the ice sheet manufacturing apparatus 2010 and the water spray nozzle 2018. In these drawings, to the extent that the outline of the structure is not affected, the structure and lines are omitted appropriately, or hidden lines (broken lines), virtual lines (two-dot chain lines), center lines (one-dot chain lines), or the like are used.

As shown in fig. 19 (a) to 19 (d), 20, and 21, the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 includes: a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2012, a reduction motor (hereinafter referred to as "motor") 2014, a drive shaft 2016 (illustrated in fig. 19 (d)), two sets of sprinkler nozzle portions 2018, a metal plate (metal body) 2020, and two sets of cutting teeth 2022 (illustrated in fig. 21), and the like.

The motor 2014 is disposed outside the housing 2012, and a driving force transmission gear (not shown) is incorporated in the motor 2014. A drive shaft 2016 is coupled to the motor 2014, and the drive shaft 2016 is inserted substantially horizontally into the housing 2012.

As shown in fig. 19 (c), the sprinkler nozzle portions 2018 include two sets, and each sprinkler nozzle portion 2018 includes a main tube 2024 extending horizontally through the housing 2012. As shown in fig. 20, each of the water spray nozzle portions 2018 includes two sets of short tubes 2026 and long tubes 2028 extending directly downward from the main tube 2024.

Each of the water spray nozzle portions 2018 supplies an aqueous solution containing a solute (also referred to as a coolant, which will be described later) as indicated by an arrow A1 in fig. 19 (b) and 19 (c). The tip end portions of the short tube 2026 and the long tube 2028 are provided with tip end nozzle portions 2030 and 2032. The coolant is sprayed from the tip nozzle portions 2030 and 2032 onto the respective plate surfaces of the metal plate 2020 disposed in the upright posture in the housing 2012. Here, reference numerals 2033 and 2034 in fig. 20 denote virtual coolant sprayed from the tip nozzle portions 2030 and 2032 onto one plate surface of the metal plate 2020. The remaining coolant is recovered as indicated by arrow A2 in fig. 19 (b) and 19 (c).

Although not shown, the coolant is supplied (and recovered) to each of the water spray nozzle portions 2018 by using a coolant tank in which the coolant is stored, a coolant pump for providing fluidity to the coolant, or the like. The coolant tank and the coolant pump are provided outside the ice sheet manufacturing apparatus 2010, and are connected to the ice sheet manufacturing apparatus 2010 through coolant piping (not shown) and a valve (valve) device. The coolant suitable for the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 of the present embodiment will be described later.

The metal plate 2020 has a plate shape, and is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape as indicated by a virtual line (two-dot chain line) in fig. 19 (d) and a solid line (two-dot chain line) in fig. 21. The surface of the metal plate 2020, which is parallel to the front and rear surfaces, serves as an ice making surface. One water spray nozzle part 2018 is provided for each plate surface of the metal plate 2020. Two (four) sets of tip nozzle portions 2030 and 2032 of the sprinkler nozzle portion 2018 are located near the respective plate surfaces of the metal plate 2020.

As a member (raw material) constituting the metal plate 2020, copper or a copper alloy having high thermal conductivity is used. In this embodiment, the metal plate 2020 is formed by casting, and the plate thickness is set to about 30mm, for example. The surface of the metal plate 2020 is plated with a metal having abrasion resistance (e.g., chromium or the like).

Here, the shape of the metal plate 2020 is not limited to a polygon such as a rectangle, and may be, for example, a circular plate shape. As a material of the metal plate 2020, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or the like may be used.

As shown in fig. 21, a linear refrigerant tube 2036, a crank-shaped refrigerant tube 2038, and a U-shaped refrigerant tube (hereinafter referred to as "U-tube") 2040 as a folded portion are connected to the metal plate 2020. As schematically shown in fig. 22, a plurality of refrigerant channels (also referred to as "refrigerant channels") 2042 are formed in the metal plate 2020, and the structure of the refrigerant channels 2042 and the connection structure of the respective refrigerant tubes 2036, 2038, 2040 to the metal plate 2020 will be described later.

The metal plate 2020 has two refrigerant guide paths formed therein through the refrigerant tubes 2036, 2038, 2040 and the refrigerant flow path 2042. Each of the linear refrigerant tube 2036 and the crank-shaped refrigerant tube 2038 is used as an inlet portion and an outlet portion of the refrigerant guide path. These refrigerant pipes 2036 and 2038 introduce the refrigerant supplied from the outside of the housing 2012 to the manner indicated by arrows B1 and C1 in fig. 21, and lead the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant flow path 2042 to the manner indicated by arrows B2 and C2 in fig. 21.

The metal plate 2020, the refrigerant pipes 2036, 2038, 2040 constitute an ice maker 2044. Although not shown, the ice maker 2044 is connected to a compressor (refrigerator) and various valve devices via refrigerant piping (not shown).

As the refrigerant flows through the metal plate 2020, both plate surfaces of the metal plate 2020 are cooled. The details will be described later, but the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant is, for example, -60 ℃. When the coolant is sprayed from the tip nozzle portions 2030, 2032 of the sprinkler nozzle portion 2018 toward the plate surface of the metal plate 2020, the coolant is quickly frozen on the plate surface of the metal plate 2020, and becomes ice (mixed ice).

A circular through hole (reference numeral omitted) is formed in the center of the metal plate 2020, and the drive shaft 2016 penetrates through the through hole. As shown in fig. 21, two arms 2046 are mounted in the drive shaft 2016. The arms 2046 are arranged on the drive shaft 2016 in a propeller-like manner at 180-degree intervals, and protrude in the substantially radial direction of the drive shaft 2016 in a state of being aligned substantially in line with each other.

The cutting teeth 2022 are mounted on the arm 2046, and the cutting teeth 2022 are arranged in a propeller shape around the drive shaft 2016. The cutting tooth 2022 faces the plate surface of the metal plate 2020 with facing the blade. The distance between each plate surface of the metal plate 2020 and the edge of the cutting tooth 2022 is about 1mm or less (e.g., 0.2 mm) over substantially the entire length of the cutting tooth 2022. Such groups of the arms 2046 and the cutting teeth 2022 are provided in two groups for each plate surface of the metal plate 2020.

When the motor 2014 is driven, the drive shaft 2016 rotates, and the cutting teeth 2022 also rotate together with the arms 2046 while the blade faces the plate surface of the metal plate 2020 in a substantially parallel manner. In fig. 21, the state in which the arm 2046 (and the cutting tooth 2022) is in the horizontal posture is shown by a solid line, and the state in which it is in the vertical posture is shown by a two-dot chain line.

Ice (mixed ice) adheres to and accumulates on the surface of the metal plate 2020. Therefore, the cutting tooth 2022 is displaced while being in contact with ice, and scrapes off the ice of the metal plate 2020. The scraped ice becomes flake ice, and is stored in a flake ice storage tank (not shown) provided in a lower portion of the housing 2012. Further, by continuing the accumulation of ice and the rotation of the cutting teeth 2022, the amount of the flake ice stored in the flake ice storage tank (not shown) gradually increases. In this way, the cutting teeth 2022 and the arms 2046 constitute a sweeping-off portion that separates ice generated on the metal plate 2020 from the metal plate 2020 by displacement with respect to the metal plate 2020.

Here, the rotation of the cutting tooth 2022 may be continuous (continuous rotation) at an angle exceeding 360 degrees, or may be stopped at a predetermined angle within 360 degrees for a predetermined time (intermittent rotation).

As the refrigerant, for example, freon (HCFC 22) and Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) having a boiling temperature (evaporation temperature) of-60 ℃ can be used. The ice (mixed ice) produced is ice that solidifies so as to substantially uniform the concentration of the solute contained in the coolant, that is, ice that satisfies at least the following conditions (a) and (b).

(a) The temperature at the completion of melting is less than 0 ℃.

(b) In the melting process, the change rate of the solute concentration of the aqueous solution (coolant) obtained by melting ice is within 30%.

By coolant is meant an aqueous solution containing one or more solutes with a low freezing point. Specific examples of the coolant include an aqueous sodium chloride solution (brine), an aqueous calcium chloride solution, an aqueous magnesium chloride solution, an aqueous glycol solution, and an aqueous ethanol solution.

The thermal conductivity of the brine was about 0.58W/mK, but the thermal conductivity of the flake ice frozen from the brine was about 2.2W/mK. That is, the flake ice (solid) is higher than the coolant (liquid) in terms of thermal conductivity. Thus, the flake ice (solid) can cool the cooled article more quickly.

For example, even if the coolant (liquid) is stored in a container and cooled from the outside, ice having properties equivalent to those of mixed ice cannot be produced. This is thought to be caused by insufficient cooling rate. However, according to the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 shown in fig. 19 to 21, flake ice based on ice (mixed ice) having a high cooling capacity can be manufactured while satisfying the above-described condition (a) (temperature at the time of completion of melting is less than 0 ℃) and the condition (b) (rate of change in solute concentration of an aqueous solution (coolant) obtained by melting ice is within 30% during melting).

Further, for example, the freezing point of the sodium chloride aqueous solution (saturated state) is-21 ℃, and the freezing point of the magnesium chloride aqueous solution (saturated state) is-26.7 ℃. Therefore, when such an aqueous solution is used as the coolant, the coolant is rapidly frozen when it adheres to the metal plate 2020, and a film of ice (mixed ice) is formed on the surface of the metal plate 2020.

Next, the structure of the refrigerant flow path 2042 of the metal plate 2020 and the connection structure of the refrigerant tubes 2036, 2038, 2040 will be described. Fig. 22 schematically shows the structure of the ice maker 2044. The metal plate 2020 has a plurality of refrigerant flow paths 2042 formed therein. Only six refrigerant flow paths 2042 are schematically shown in fig. 22.

The refrigerant flow path 2042 is a linear hole formed in the metal plate 2020. The refrigerant flow path 2042 has a circular cross section and is formed as a circular hole in the end surfaces 2048, 2049 of the metal plate 2020. The refrigerant flow path 2042 has a diameter (inner diameter) that is substantially constant throughout its length, and has a diameter of about 10mm, for example.

The refrigerant flow path 2042 extends in parallel with the plate surfaces 2050 and 2051 of the metal plate 2020 and parallel to each other inside the metal plate 2020. The refrigerant flow path 2042 is open at two rows and in an inclined positional relationship to each other at the end surfaces 2048, 2049 of the metal plate 2020.

The refrigerant tubes 2036, 2038, 2040 are joined to the metal plate 2020 so as to be connected to the refrigerant flow path 2042. As a joining method, brazing or the like can be used. Here, fig. 22 shows a state in which both the linear refrigerant tube 2036 and the crank-shaped refrigerant tube 2038 are cut to form straight portions of the refrigerant tubes 2036 and 2038.

The linear refrigerant tube 2036 and the crank-shaped refrigerant tube 2038 are joined to a common end surface (here, end surface 2049) of the metal plate 2020. The opening of the refrigerant flow path 2042 between the two refrigerant tubes 2036 and 2038 and the opening of the refrigerant flow path 2042 of the end surface 2048 on the opposite side are spatially connected by a U-shaped refrigerant tube 2040. The U-shaped refrigerant tube 2040 is also joined to the metal plate 2020 by brazing or the like. The refrigerant guide path through which the refrigerant flows is formed in a zigzag shape by the refrigerant flow path 2042 and the refrigerant tubes 2036, 2038, 2040.

Here, in fig. 22, in order not to complicate the illustration, the refrigerant guide path of one system is omitted, and the refrigerant guide path shows only one system. Fig. 22 schematically illustrates the ice maker 2044 as described above, and also omits illustration of a through hole through which the drive shaft 2016 passes.

As schematically shown in fig. 23, a plurality of grooves 2054 each of which is formed by drawing a continuous straight line are formed on the inner peripheral surface (flow path surface) of each of the refrigerant flow paths 2042 so as to intersect with each other. A plurality of diamond-shaped concave-convex portions 2052 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the refrigerant flow path 2042 by the grooves 2054. By such concave-convex portions 2052, a part of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant flow path 2042 (for example, the evaporation temperature is-60 ℃) collides with the concave-convex wall surfaces, corner portions, or the like. Thus, the flow of the refrigerant is disturbed, creating turbulence.

The flow of the refrigerant generated in the refrigerant flow path 2042 is provided with fluidity by a pump (not shown), and is forced convection. In the case of forced convection, whether the flow becomes laminar or turbulent depends on the reynolds number. Further, by increasing the reynolds number, turbulence is generated in the refrigerant, and the heat transfer coefficient can be increased, as compared with the case of laminar flow.

That is, in the present embodiment, turbulence is forcibly generated by the concave-convex portion 2052 of the refrigerant flow path 2042. As a result, although the flow resistance of the refrigerant increases to some extent, the heat transfer coefficient due to the turbulence is increased, and the refrigerating capacity as a whole can be improved. In the case where the refrigerants are compared as the refrigerants having the same characteristics, the amount of cold and heat obtained from the refrigerant can be increased and the amount of ice that can be produced per unit time can be increased as compared with the case where the concave-convex portion 2052 is not provided.

As disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2, conventionally, the refrigerating capacity has been improved by improving the fluidity of the refrigerant. The refrigerant flow path is formed such that the inner peripheral surface thereof is smoothed, and when the refrigerant gas flows, the flow resistance in the refrigerant flow path is reduced (pressure loss is reduced).

However, the refrigerator (in this case, the compressor) may be provided with the following functions (low-pressure cutting function): when the pressure of the refrigerant output from the ice maker 2044 is lower than the reference value, the operation is stopped if the load of the refrigerator is excessively reduced. When the low-pressure cutting function is provided in the refrigerator, even if the fluidity of the refrigerant is increased in the ice maker 2044, the flow may be too smooth, the load on the refrigerator may be reduced, and the low-pressure cutting of the refrigerator may be performed.

In contrast, in the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 of the present embodiment, since the concave-convex portion 2052 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the refrigerant flow path 2042, the load of the refrigerator can be kept at a certain level or more, and low-pressure cutting can be prevented. Typically, once the low pressure cut of the freezer occurs, it takes a lot of time to recover, during which the production of the flake ice will cease. However, according to the flake ice manufacturing apparatus 2010 of the present embodiment, this can be prevented from occurring.

The groove 2054 can be formed by tapping (thread cutting), for example. First, a hole (also referred to as "drilling" or "perforating") is formed in a material of the metal plate 2020 by a drill, and the hole is penetrated. After that, a tap (thread cutting tool) is screwed from the end of the hole to form a spiral groove. The formation of the groove is started from both end portions of the hole. Thus, the spiral grooves intersect with each other, and the refrigerant flow path 2042 forms a diamond-shaped continuous groove portion 2054 as shown in fig. 23.

Further, by forming the concave-convex portion 2052, the surface area of the refrigerant flow path 2042 is increased, and the contact area between the metal plate 2020 and the refrigerant is increased. Further, compared to the case where the concave-convex portion 2052 is not provided, the amount of cold and heat obtained from the refrigerant can be increased by the concave-convex portion 2052, and the amount of ice that can be produced per unit time can be increased.

In the present embodiment, the folded portion of the refrigerant flow path 2042 is formed by brazing the U-shaped refrigerant tube 2040 to the metal plate 2020, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the folded portion may be formed in the manner shown in fig. 24 and 25, for example. In fig. 24 and 25, two refrigerant channels 2042 are connected via a groove-shaped connection recess 2056. The metal plate 2020 is spot-facing machined so as to span the two coolant passages 2042. In fig. 24 and 25, reference numeral 2058 denotes a recess (spot facing) formed by spot facing. The bottom surface portion 2057 located on the rear surface of the connection concave portion 2056 is formed in an R shape (may also be referred to as a "curved surface shape" or a "cross-sectional circular arc shape") that connects the two refrigerant flow paths 2042. The wall connecting the two refrigerant channels 2042 has a rounded surface without corners.

As shown in fig. 25, a circular plate-shaped cap 2060 formed in a perfect circular shape is fitted into the spot facing portion 2058 as indicated by an arrow D, and the cap 2060 is soldered to the metal plate 2020. Further, the ends of the two refrigerant flow paths 2042 are blocked by the cover 2060, but the two refrigerant flow paths 2042 continue via the connection recess 2056, so that after the cover 2060 is joined, the two refrigerant flow paths 2042 can be kept in a spatially connected state. The connection concave portion 2056 serves as a folded portion of the refrigerant. In this folded portion, the R-shaped bottom surface portion 2057 has an R-shape, and therefore, the flow resistance (flow resistance) of the refrigerant can be reduced.

In the same manner as in the case of the other group of the refrigerant flow paths 2042, the joint concave portion 2056 and the spot facing portion 2058 are formed, the cover 2060 is fitted into the spot facing portion 2058, and the cover 2060 is joined to the metal plate 2020. By forming the folded-back portion in this manner, the U-shaped refrigerant tube 2040 (fig. 22) is not required.

Next, a second embodiment of the second disclosed embodiment will be described. The same parts and the same matters as those in the first embodiment are appropriately omitted. Fig. 26 schematically illustrates a method for manufacturing a metal plate 2070 according to a second embodiment of the second disclosure. The metal plate 2070 is formed by overlapping and joining the first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074 opposite to each other in the manner indicated by the arrow E.

The first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074 are formed by casting or cutting. The first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074 have the same external dimensions as each other, and each has a thickness of, for example, about 15 mm. Grooves 2076 and 2078 serving as refrigerant flow paths are bored in the first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074. The groove portions 2076, 2078 have a plurality of straight portions 2080 formed parallel to each other and U-shaped portions 2082 connecting the straight portions 2080.

Both end portions of the groove portions 2076, 2078 are opened in a semicircular shape (not shown) at end surfaces of the first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074. The groove portions 2076, 2078 are formed in a mirror-like relationship so as to be line-symmetrical to each other, and a single refrigerant flow path is formed by overlapping the first plate 2072 and the second plate 2074.

As shown in fig. 27 and 28, a plurality of protruding ridges 2084 are formed in the groove 2076 of the first plate 2072. Each ridge 2084 is formed in a circular arc plate shape. The ridge 2084 is integrally formed on the first plate 2072, and protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the inner peripheral surface (flow path surface) of the groove 2076 by a predetermined amount (for example, about 1 mm).

The ridge 2084 is inclined at an inclination angle θ toward the direction in which the groove 2076 extends. Further, the ridges 2084 are arranged parallel to each other. By these ridges 2084, concave-convex portions 2088 are formed in the refrigerant flow path 2086 formed by the grooves 2076, 2078.

As shown in fig. 26, the refrigerant flow path 2086 can be formed without drilling the metal plate or using the U-shaped refrigerant pipe 2040 by joining the half-cut first plate 2072 having the groove portions 2076 and 2078 to the second plate 2074 to form the metal plate.

Further, by forming the concave-convex portions 2088 by the ridge portions 2084, turbulence can be generated in the refrigerant flow path 2086. Further, as in the first embodiment, the heat transfer coefficient of the metal plate can be increased, and the freezing capacity can be improved. Further, by forming the concave-convex portions 2088, the surface area of the refrigerant flow path 42 increases, and the contact area between the metal plate 2070 and the refrigerant increases.

Further, since the ridge 2084 is provided obliquely with respect to the direction in which the groove 2076 extends by the inclination angle θ, the flow resistance can be reduced compared to the case where the ridge 2084 is oriented at right angles to the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 2086 (in the case where θ is close to 90 °). Further, the flow resistance against the refrigerant can be adjusted according to the setting of the inclination angle θ of the ridge 2084.

Further, by making the protruding amount of the ridge 2084 in the groove 2076 relatively large, the flow resistance can also be increased. Further, by making the protruding amount of the ridge 2084 small, the flow resistance can be reduced.

The ridge portions 2084 may not be provided in the groove portions 2076 of the first plate 2072, and the ridge portions 2084 may be provided in the groove portions 2078 of the second plate 74. Further, the ridge portions 2084 may be formed in both the groove portions 2076 of the first plate 2072 and the groove portions 2078 of the second plate 2074. In addition to the inclination angle θ and the protruding amount of the ridges 2084, the flow resistance against the refrigerant can be adjusted by changing various conditions such as the number and arrangement (intervals, etc.) of the ridges 2084. Herein, the "ridge portion" may also be referred to as a "fin" or the like.

Next, a third embodiment of the second disclosed embodiment will be described. The same parts and the same matters as those in the first embodiment are appropriately omitted. Fig. 29 to 31 show a drum (metal body) 2121 provided in a flake ice manufacturing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the second disclosure.

The drum 2121 is a drum-type metal plate, and includes a vertical and cylindrical inner tube (inner tube portion) 2132 and an outer tube (outer tube portion) 2133 disposed outside the inner tube 2132 so as to surround the inner tube 2132. The inner tube 2132 is disposed coaxially with the outer tube 2133. The inner tube 2132 is formed using a material such as copper or a copper alloy. A spiral refrigerant flow path 2134 is provided between the inner tube 2132 and the outer tube 2133.

The refrigerant flow path 2134 is formed by partitioning the space between the inner tube 2132 and the outer tube 2133 by a flow path wall (also referred to as a flow path wall portion, "band" or the like) 2136 formed in a spiral shape as shown in fig. 29. The width of the flow path wall 2136 corresponds to the distance between the inner tube 2132 and the outer tube 2133. The inner periphery of the flow path wall 2136 is joined to the outer surface of the inner tube 2132, and the outer periphery of the flow path wall 2136 is joined to the inner surface of the outer tube 2133.

Each axial end edge (only one of which is shown) of the inner tube 2132 is provided with an outward flange 2132a. The flange 2132a spans the inner tube 2132 and the outer tube 2133, closing each end of the refrigerant flow path 2134. Although not shown, the refrigerant flow path 2134 is supplied with refrigerant via a refrigerator (compressor), refrigerant piping, and the like. The inner peripheral surface of the inner tube 2132 is refrigerated by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage 2134.

Although not shown, an injection mechanism for spraying coolant in a centrifugal direction, and a cutter (blade) for scraping off the generated mixed ice are disposed inside the drum 2121.

The injection mechanism is coaxially disposed inside the drum 2121, and blows the coolant to the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube 2132 while rotating around the axial center. Since the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube 2132 is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant channels 2134, the coolant adhering to the inner tube 2132 is quickly frozen, and mixed ice is formed.

The mixed ice generated on the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube 2132 is scraped off by a scraper that descends in the inner tube 2132, and falls as flake ice. The fallen flake ice is stored in a flake ice storage tank (not shown) disposed immediately below.

Since the refrigerant flow paths 2134 are formed in a spiral shape as described above, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow paths 2134 of the drum 2121 flows down while turning around. As shown in fig. 31, only a part of which is enlarged, a plurality of protrusions 2140 are provided on one surface (upper surface, flow path surface) 2138 of the flow path wall 2136. The protrusion 2140 protrudes a predetermined amount (for example, about 1 mm) into the refrigerant flow path 2134.

As the shape of each protrusion 2140, various shapes can be adopted, but in the example of fig. 31, a conical shape is adopted. Such a protrusion 2140 may be formed by press working or the like on the flow path wall 2136, for example.

As described above, by providing the flow path wall 2136 with the protrusion 2140 protruding toward the refrigerant flow path 2134, the concave-convex portion 2142 can be formed, and turbulence can be generated in the refrigerant flow path 2134. Further, as in the first and second embodiments, the heat transfer coefficient of the drum 2121 can be increased, and the freezing capacity can be improved. Further, by forming the concave-convex portions 2142, the surface area of the refrigerant flow path 2134 increases, and the contact area between the drum 2121 and the refrigerant increases.

Although not shown, when the present disclosure is applied to an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus, metal plates 2020, 2070 or drum 2121 through which a refrigerant flows are provided in the ice slurry raw material manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus for producing an ice slurry is disposed directly above an ice storage tank in which a coolant is stored, and the ice flakes scraped off from the metal plates 2020, 2070 or the drum 2121 are dropped into the ice storage tank. In the ice storage tank, the coolant is stirred by a stirrer having a propeller blade or the like, and the flake ice is mixed into the coolant to produce ice slurry.

The present disclosure is also applicable to an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus of a type in which the metal plates 2020, 2070 and the drum 2121 are disposed in a coolant tank in which coolant is stored and directly immersed in the coolant. Although not shown, as this type of ice slurry manufacturing apparatus, for example, a refrigerator may be disposed outside the coolant tank. The freezer and metal plate 2020 (or metal plate 2070, drum 2121) are supported by a frame that spans one wall of the coolant tank. The coolant in the coolant tank is provided with fluidity by a pump, propeller blades, or the like, and the scraped-off piece of ice generated in the metal plate 2020 (or the metal plate 2070, the drum 2121) is mixed into the coolant to produce an ice slurry. This type of ice slurry manufacturing apparatus is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment (fig. 1) of the first disclosure, for example.

While the embodiments have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and many modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the sheet ice making apparatus and the ice slurry making apparatus having the metal plate 2020 shown in fig. 22 may be referred to as a plate-type sheet ice making apparatus and an ice slurry making apparatus. Also, the type of metal plate in which the refrigerant passage is formed by drilling may also be referred to as a drilled type of metal plate. The drilling performed in the metal plate 2020 shown in fig. 22 is not limited to the flat plate-shaped metal body shown in fig. 22, and may be performed on a cylindrical or roll-shaped metal body, for example.

Specifically, for example, although not shown, a metal tube having a wall thickness of 25mm, a diameter (outer diameter) of 500mm, and a length (axial length) of 400mm is perforated in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) to form a refrigerant flow path. Since the length (axial length) of the metal pipe is 400mm, the length of the linear refrigerant flow path is 400mm. In the metal body in which the refrigerant flow path is formed, a refrigerant guide path is formed by joining linear and U-shaped refrigerant tubes. By so doing, the drum-type ice maker is formed in a drill type.

The concave-convex portion can be formed by casting, and the formation of the concave-convex portion by casting can be applied to a plate-shaped metal body or a roller-type metal body. For example, a core as a refrigerant flow path is placed inside a plate-type or roller-type mold to perform casting. By providing the core with the recesses and protrusions as the concave-convex portions, a metal body having concave-convex portions in the coolant flow field is formed after the solidification of the raw material.

The embodiments are merely examples showing the implementation of the second embodiment, and the scope of the technology of the second embodiment should not be construed in a limiting manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof. The technical matters in the second disclosure can be applied to the first disclosure (fig. 1 to 18) unless they are affected.

< third publication (FIGS. 32-37) >

An ice making device according to an embodiment of the third disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, an ice slurry manufacturing apparatus as an ice making apparatus will be described. Fig. 32 shows a refrigeration system 3010 according to the first embodiment of the third disclosure, and an ice slurry producing device 3011 used in the refrigeration system 3010. The refrigerating system 3010 shown in fig. 32 is configured by combining an ice slurry producing device 3011, a refrigerating tank 3012, an aqueous solution pump 3013, and the like.

The refrigeration system 3010 shown in fig. 32 differs from the refrigeration system 10 (fig. 1) according to the first embodiment of the first disclosure in that the refrigerating capacity is improved by a plurality of refrigerant systems (points corresponding to fig. 33 to 35) as described later. The technical matters shown in fig. 32, 36, and 37 are generally common to the refrigeration system 10 (fig. 1, 3, and 4) of the first embodiment of the first disclosure.

The ice slurry production apparatus 3011 according to the third embodiment can produce ice (flake ice) in flake form (also referred to as flake form, chip form, small block form, granular form, or the like) by precipitating ice from raw water (for example, 50 wt% ethanol aqueous solution) in the freezing tank 3012, as in the freezing system 10 (fig. 1) according to the first embodiment of the first embodiment. The solidifying point of the aqueous ethanol solution is, for example, about-37℃and-50 ℃.

The ice slurry producing device 3011 includes a refrigerator 3014, a flake ice producing unit 3015 serving as an ice producing unit, and a refrigerant guiding unit 3016. In the ice slurry producing apparatus 3011, the refrigerator 3014, the flake ice producing section 3015, and the refrigerant guide section 3016 are mounted on a frame section 3017 serving as a holding section, and are integrated with each other.

The refrigerator 3014, the flake ice making unit 3015, and the refrigerant guide unit 3016 of the ice slurry making device 3011 constitute a refrigeration cycle, and circulate a predetermined refrigerant liquid (liquid refrigerant) to compress, condense, expand, and evaporate the refrigerant. Here, various methods are generally used as the method of the refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerant (first refrigerant described later) is sent from the refrigerator 3014 to the ice sheet making unit 3015 via the refrigerant guide unit 3016. The refrigerant guide portion 3016 includes a refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a for introducing the refrigerant from the refrigerator 3014 into the sheet ice making portion 3015, and a refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b for returning the refrigerant discharged from the sheet ice making portion 3015 to the refrigerator 3014.

As the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b, for example, a general refrigerant pipe in which a copper pipe is covered with a heat insulating material can be used. The refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b may be connected to each other via a general pipe joint.

In the present embodiment, although detailed illustration is omitted, the respective ends of the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b are connected to the refrigerator 3014 and the slice ice making section 3015 via piping joints. The refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b have a shape bent to an inverted U shape protruding upward. The refrigerant introducing pipe 3018a and the refrigerant introducing pipe 3018b have the same length and size as each other.

The refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b are formed by bending an inner portion of an inverted U shape as a refrigerating tank crossing portion 3019. When the ice slurry producing apparatus 3011 is installed such that the refrigerator 3014 is located outside the refrigerating tank 3012 (to be described later), and the flake ice producing portion 3015 is located inside the refrigerating tank 3012, a part of the wall portion 3012a of the refrigerating tank 3012 enters the refrigerating tank crossing portion 3019 of the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b.

Here, as the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b, for example, flexible pipes that can be bent directly by hand without using a tool by an operator who assembles the ice slurry manufacturing apparatus 3011 may be used. In this case, it is desirable to cover the periphery of the flexible pipe with a heat insulating material.

Note that although not shown in fig. 32 in order to avoid complexity in illustration, the ice slurry producing device 3011 is provided with a system (a second refrigerant passage 3029B described later) for flowing a different type of refrigerant (a second refrigerant) in addition to a system (the first refrigerant passage 3029A described later) for flowing a refrigerant (a first refrigerant) by the refrigerator 3014 as shown in fig. 33 (fig. 33, 34 (a)).

Next, as shown in fig. 32, the flake ice making section 3015 includes a cooling section 3021, a rotation driving section 3022 as a driving section, a sweeping section 3023 as an ice separating section, and the like. The cooling unit 3021 includes a tray portion 3026 as an ice making plate, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes (e.g., U-pipe 3028).

The tray section 3026 is formed of a metal plate having a rectangular (herein, square) plate surface (ice making surface) and a predetermined thickness, and is fixed to a frame section 3017 (described later). The size (size) of the disk portion 3026 may be set to, for example, about 30cm square, and the plate thickness may be set to, for example, about 30 mm. Here, disk portion 3026 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be circular.

In the present embodiment, the upper surface (plate surface 3026 a) and the lower surface (plate surface 3026b, fig. 36) of the tray portion 3026 are processed to be substantially flat and parallel to each other. Copper or a copper alloy having high thermal conductivity can be used as a material of the disk portion 3026. In this embodiment, disk portion 3026 is formed by casting. The surface of disk portion 3026 is plated with a metal having abrasion resistance (e.g., chromium or the like). Here, as a material of the disk portion 3026, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or the like may be used in addition to copper and copper alloy.

As shown by a broken line in (a) of fig. 34, a large number of refrigerant holes 3027 are formed inside the disk portion 3026. The refrigerant holes 3027 extend in parallel and straight lines, and penetrate the disk portion 3026. The cross-sectional shape of the refrigerant hole 3027 is a perfect circle. These refrigerant holes 3027 are formed by drilling (perforating) the raw material of the disk portion 3026.

In addition, a plurality of refrigerant tubes such as U-tubes 3028 are joined to the disk portion 3026, and a refrigerant passage of two systems is formed by the refrigerant holes 3027, the U-tubes 3028, and the like in the disk portion 3026. Hereinafter, one refrigerant passage is referred to as a "first refrigerant passage", and reference numeral 3029A is given to this "first refrigerant passage". Further, the other refrigerant passage is referred to as a "second refrigerant passage", and the "second refrigerant passage" is denoted by reference numeral 3029B.

In the first refrigerant passage 3029A and the second refrigerant passage 3029B, the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant respectively flow in a zigzag manner. As the first refrigerant (refrigerant gas), R404A, R447, R448A, or the like (evaporation temperature is about-60 ℃ to-45 ℃) can be used. In the first refrigerant passage 3029A, as shown in fig. 33, fluidity is provided to the first refrigerant by the refrigerator 3014. In this case, the refrigerator 3014 functions as a means for providing fluidity to the first refrigerant.

As the second refrigerant, unlike the first refrigerant, liquefied natural gas having a lower evaporation temperature (evaporation temperature of about-162 ℃) and liquid nitrogen (evaporation temperature of about-196 ℃) can be used. In the second refrigerant passage 3029B, the second refrigerant is stored in a second refrigerant tank 3020 that is formed in an airtight manner. When the second refrigerant valve 3020a provided in the second refrigerant passage 3029B is opened, the second refrigerant is provided with fluidity by the pressure of the second refrigerant vaporizing in the flow path in the second refrigerant tank 3020. In this case, the second refrigerant valve 3020a functions as a means for providing fluidity to the second refrigerant.

Here, the second refrigerant valve 3020a may be opened manually by an operator who makes ice slurry, for example. Further, the second refrigerant valve 3020a may be opened by a predetermined button operation performed by an operator who makes ice slurry, for example. For example, a temperature sensor (not shown) is provided in the freezing tank 3012, and when the temperature sensor detects that the aqueous solution Ws cooled by the first refrigerant reaches a predetermined set temperature, the second refrigerant valve 3020a can be opened (automatic control-based opening is performed).

As the second refrigerant tank 3020, for example, a container having a vacuum insulation structure (a container having a double structure) or the like may be used. As the second refrigerant valve 3020a, various valve devices that are generally used in a flow path of liquefied natural gas, liquid nitrogen, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are switched to supply the refrigerant to the tray 3026, but a method of supplying the refrigerant will be described later.

Note that, in fig. 34 (a), reference numerals 3018a and 3018B denote a refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and a refrigerant discharge pipe 3018B in the first refrigerant passage 3029A, and reference numerals 3019A and 3019B denote a refrigerant introduction pipe 3019A and a refrigerant discharge pipe 3019B in the second refrigerant passage 3029B. As described above, the second refrigerant passage 3029B is not shown in fig. 32, and the second refrigerant passage 3029B is shown in fig. 33, 34 (a), and 35.

As shown in fig. 34 (a), in a plan view of the disk portion 3026, the direction in which the refrigerant holes 3027 extend (vertical direction in the drawing) and the directions in which the refrigerant introduction pipes 3018a (and 3019 a) and 3018b (and 3019 b) extend (horizontal direction in the drawing) are orthogonal to each other. As described above, the refrigerant pipe such as U-pipe 3028 is joined to disk portion 3026, but brazing or the like may be used as a joining method.

As schematically shown in fig. 35, in the disk portion 3026, the first refrigerant passage 3029A and the second refrigerant passage 3029B are formed so as to overlap doubly in the thickness direction of the disk portion 3026. Here, fig. 35 shows a first refrigerant passage 3029A and a second refrigerant passage 3029B in the disk portion 3026 by reference numerals. In fig. 35, the first refrigerant passage 3029A is represented by a right circular symbol, and the second refrigerant passage 3029B is represented by a symbol marked with an x in the right circular symbol.

The relationship between the refrigerant holes 3027 of the disk portion 3026 and the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b connected to the disk portion 3026 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 34 (a). For example, as shown in fig. 34 (B), in the case of the top view of the disk portion 3026, the direction in which the first refrigerant passage 3029A and the second refrigerant passage 3029B extend (vertical direction in the drawing) may be the same as the direction in which the refrigerant introducing pipe 3018a and the refrigerant introducing pipe 3018B extend (vertical direction in the drawing).

When the first refrigerant or the second refrigerant flows through the disk portion 3026, heat of the disk portion 3026 is absorbed, and the disk portion 3026 is cooled. As described above, the evaporation temperature of the first refrigerant is about-60 to-45 ℃, and the evaporation temperature of the first refrigerant is about-162 ℃ or lower. The details will be described later, but the freezing point of the aqueous solution as the coolant is about-38 ℃. Therefore, when the aqueous solution contacts the tray 3026, the aqueous solution is rapidly frozen at the tray 3026 to become ice (mixed ice).

Next, as shown in fig. 36, the sweeping portion 3023 includes grinding wheel supports 3031, and a plurality of grinding wheels 3033 are mounted on each grinding wheel support 3031. The grinding wheel 3033 is disposed to face each plate surface 3026a, 3026b of the disk portion 3026 in the cooling portion 3021. In the present embodiment, grinding wheel 3033 is configured to contact each plate surface 3026a and 3026b of disk portion 3026 with a moderately weak pressure (low surface pressure). Further, as will be described later, grinding wheel 3033 has a function of sweeping ice present on each plate surface 3026a, 3026b of disk portion 3026 so as to be separated from disk portion 3026 (sweeping function).

As a material and a material of the grinding wheel 3033, various materials and materials generally used for grinding and the like can be used. For example, polyurethane, other synthetic resin, metal, wool, or the like may be used as a raw material of the grinding wheel 3033. Examples of the material of the grinding wheel 3033 include sponge, foam, brush, broom (brush), resin net, nonwoven fabric, and the like using the above-described various materials. Grinding wheel 3033 may be a metal blade or the like having a clearance (clearance) of a predetermined amount (for example, about 0.2 mm) from plate surfaces 3026a and 3026b of disk portion 3026.

Further, each grinding wheel 3033 is attached to a rod-shaped spoke 3034 provided in the grinding wheel support 3031. Spokes 3034 of grinding wheel support 3031 are arranged at 90-degree intervals in a four-by-four manner so as to face each plate surface 3026a, 3026b of disk portion 3026. Further, the grinding wheel support 3031 is integrally coupled to the round bar-shaped rotation transmission shaft 3035.

The rotation transmission shaft 3035 can pass through the disk portion 3026 in the thickness direction while avoiding the refrigerant hole 3027, and can rotate in the forward and reverse directions around the axial center. Further, the rotation transmission shaft 3035 can be rotationally displaced together with the grinding wheel 3033 with respect to the stationary disc portion 3026.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 32, each grinding wheel 3033 has a blade shape (oval shape), and the grinding wheels 3033 are arranged in a four-blade propeller shape so as to face each plate surface 3026a, 3026b of the disk portion 3026.

Such a sweep-out section 3023 is coupled to a rotation driving section 3022 (fig. 32) via a rotation transmission shaft 3035. The sweep 3023 preferably rotates at a rotational speed of, for example, 10 to 100 rpm. The rotation driving unit 3022 is embedded with a motor (grinding wheel driving motor), and the rotation driving unit 3022 can continuously (or intermittently) rotate the sweeping-out unit 3023 in the aqueous solution Ws (the liquid surface is virtually indicated by a two-dot chain line in fig. 1) stored in the freezing tank 3012.

Here, the rotation driving unit 3022 may be a rotation driving unit (reduction motor) integrally provided with a motor and a reduction unit (gear unit). The rotation driving unit 3022 is disposed above the liquid surface of the aqueous solution Ws and is exposed to the outside of the aqueous solution Ws. The rotation driving unit 3022 is not limited to rotating the sweeping unit 3023 in one direction, and may be configured to reciprocate (perform a reciprocating rotation operation in the forward and reverse directions).

Note that the configuration of the grinding wheel 3033 described above is not limited to the configuration shown in fig. 32 and 36, and various configurations may be adopted. For example, the number of grinding wheels 3033 may be smaller than four or five or more with respect to each plate surface 3026a, 3026b of the disk portion 3026.

Next, as shown in fig. 32, the frame portion 3017 is configured by joining rod-shaped members together to form a skeleton, for example. As a material of the frame portion 3017, a general angle member, a round tube, a square tube, an extruded material, or the like can be used. In fig. 32, in order to avoid complicating the drawing, the parts of the frame portion 3017 are drawn in a band-like shape, but it is desirable to select a material in consideration of necessary strength and structure.

The combination of the parts of the frame portion 3017 may employ welding, screw fastening (including bolt fastening), or the like. Further, as a material of the frame portion 3017, metal or synthetic resin may be used, and among them, various metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and the like may be used as the metal. Further, in the case of using a metal such as steel, it is conceivable to perform general various surface treatments in view of rust prevention.

The frame portion 3017 is fixed with a refrigerator 3014 and a slice ice making portion 3015, and the frame portion 3017 supports the refrigerator 3014 and the slice ice making portion 3015. The fixing of the refrigerator 3014 and the slice ice making section 3015 to the frame section 3017 can be performed by a general method such as bolt fixing or screw fixing. The frame portion 3017 supports the sheet ice making portion 3015 so that the rotation driving portion 3022 of the sheet ice making portion 3015 is exposed to the aqueous solution Ws.

When the ice slurry producing device 3011 is placed on a floor or the like, the refrigerator 3014 is installed on the ground with a portion of the frame 3017 located below. In contrast, the slice ice making section 3015 is supported at a position offset from the refrigerator 3014 by a predetermined amount in the horizontal direction and slightly higher than the lower end of the refrigerator 3014.

The refrigerating tank spanning sections 3019 of the refrigerant introduction pipe 3018a and the refrigerant discharge pipe 3018b are positioned between the refrigerator 3014 and the ice sheet making section 3015 in a state of being opened downward. Here, in fig. 32, a part of the frame portion 3017 and the freezing tank 3012 is drawn as a virtual notch as indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The height from the lower end to the upper end of the ice slurry producing device 3011 may be about 80cm to 90 cm. The lower end of the ice slurry producing device 3011 may be a portion of the frame portion 3017 that contacts the ground, and the upper end of the ice slurry producing device 3011 may be an upper end of the rotation driving portion 3022. By setting the height dimension of the ice slurry producing apparatus 3011 to about 80cm, the height of the freezing tank 3012 described later is set to a height that is easy for an operator to perform a freezing operation.

Next, the freezing tank 3012 and the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 3012 will be described. In the present embodiment, the freezing tank 3012 is formed in a rectangular container shape, and the upper portion is open. Although omitted in fig. 32, the periphery of the freezing tank 3012 is surrounded by a heat insulating material. Here, as the heat insulating material, various heat insulating materials in general can be used.

The walls (including the bottom wall) of the freezer compartment 3012 may be, for example, walls containing a heat insulating material, hollow walls, or the like. In addition, in the case where sufficient heat insulation can be obtained only by the walls of the freezing tank 3012, the heat insulating material around the freezing tank 3012 can be appropriately omitted.

The aqueous solution Ws indicated by a two-dot chain line in fig. 32 is an aqueous solution (also referred to as a coolant) as a stock solution of ice slurry. In the present embodiment, an aqueous ethanol solution of a predetermined concentration (50 wt% in this case) is used as the aqueous solution Ws. The amount of the aqueous solution Ws may be, for example, about 200L (liter).

Most parts of the sheet ice making section 3015 of the ice slurry producing apparatus 3011 enter the inside of the freezing tank 3012. That is, the refrigerator 3014 of the ice slurry producing device 3011 is positioned outside the freezing tank 3012, and faces the wall 3012a of one end of the freezing tank 3012 in the longitudinal direction from the outside.

On the other hand, the ice sheet producing portion 3015 is located inside the wall portion 3012a, and a portion from the lowest portion to the middle level is immersed in a predetermined amount of the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 3012. Further, the tray section 3026 is disposed at the lowermost portion of the sheet ice making section 3015, and when the sheet ice making section 3015 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws, the entire tray section 3026 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws.

Next, the function of the aqueous solution pump 3013 will be described. The aqueous solution pump 3013 pumps the aqueous solution Ws as indicated by an arrow A1 of a two-dot chain line in fig. 32, and guides the aqueous solution Ws to the freezing tank 3012 as indicated by an arrow A2. The aqueous solution pump 3013 discharges the aqueous solution Ws toward the tray 3026 of the ice sheet making section 3015. Here, in fig. 32, the paths of the aqueous solutions are indicated by arrows A1 and A2, and piping is not shown.

As the aqueous solution pump 3013, various pumps can be generally used, but in consideration of mixing of solids (ice flakes here) into the aqueous solution Ws, it is conceivable to select the aqueous solution pump 3013. In addition, by passing the aqueous solution Ws mixed with the flake ice through the pipe or the aqueous solution pump 3013, an effect of preventing clogging of the flow path is obtained. However, when the flake ice is not allowed to pass through the aqueous solution pump 3013, a filter for removing flake ice and foreign matters from the aqueous solution Ws may be arranged at the inlet of the pipe and at the front stage of the aqueous solution pump 3013.

As shown in fig. 36, the aqueous solution Ws sent by the aqueous solution pump 3013 is discharged from the nozzle unit 3041. The nozzle portion 3041 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 3012, and the aqueous solution Ws ejected from the nozzle portion 3041 (here, indicated by an arrow A3) is rolled up in the freezing tank 3012 to form a water flow. The aqueous solution Ws (arrow A3) discharged from the nozzle portion 3041 causes the flow rate of the aqueous solution Ws stored in the freezing tank 12 to provide momentum. That is, the aqueous solution pump 3013, the nozzle unit 3041, and the like constitute a water flow generating mechanism (propulsion mechanism) as a flow forming unit that forms a flow of the aqueous solution Ws.

As the nozzle portion 3041, various general nozzle portions can be used. The nozzle 3041 may be configured to discharge the aqueous solution Ws in a conical shape as indicated by an arrow A3, a linear shape although not shown, or the like.

The nozzle portion 3041 is immersed in the aqueous solution Ws so that water flows around the tray portion 3026 of the sheet ice making portion 3015. The water flow generated from the aqueous solution discharged from the nozzle portion 41 circulates between the wall portions 3012a and 3012b located at the ends in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction, left-right direction in fig. 32) of the freezing tank 3012.

As described above, since the tray 3026 is cooled by the heat and cold of the refrigerant from the refrigerator 3014, the aqueous solution Ws flowing around the tray 3026 is cooled by the tray 3026. Further, by sufficiently cooling the tray 3026 to satisfy the conditions, ice is deposited on the respective plate surfaces 3026a, 26b, etc. of the tray 3026, and minute ice adheres to the periphery of the tray 3026.

As shown by arrow A4 in fig. 36, the ice adhering in this way is separated by being swept from the tray portion 3026 by the grinding wheel 3033 of the sweep portion 3023 continuously rotating and hitting the adhering ice (sweeping function). The sweep 3023 rotates, so that the grinding wheel 3033 intermittently passes through a fixed location and ice is separated from the tray 3026 before becoming larger.

The ice separated from the respective plate surfaces 3026a, 3026b of the tray section 3026 becomes pieces of ice, and these pieces of ice are rolled up by the flow of the aqueous solution Ws (indicated by arrow A5), and cool the aqueous solution Ws to the freezing point of the aqueous solution Ws.

The ice slurry is produced by gradually increasing the amount of flake ice in the aqueous solution Ws by continuing the above-described ice adhesion and ice removal while providing fluidity to the aqueous solution Ws. The frozen product can be frozen, for example, by: the frozen product is stored in a metal basket shown by reference numeral 3045 in fig. 32, and the operator holds the basket 3045 and impregnates it with ice slurry.

The water flow generating mechanism such as the aqueous solution pump 3013 and the nozzle unit 3041 may be integrally attached to and fixed to the frame unit 3017. In this case, the water flow generating mechanism may be integrally provided in the ice slurry producing device 3011. For example, the aqueous solution pump 3013 may be provided at a position distant from the frame 3017, and only the nozzle 3041 and the pipe connected to the nozzle 3041 may be fixed to the frame 3017. In the case where the aqueous solution pump 3013 is provided at a position distant from the frame portion 3017, the weight of the frame portion 3017 including supporting each device can be reduced.

Next, fig. 37 (a) schematically shows a state in which the grinding wheel 3033 separates ice from the disk portion 3026. The grinding wheel 3033 attached to the spoke 3034 is horizontally moved (rotationally moved) from the left side to the right side in the drawing as indicated by an arrow C of a two-dot chain line. In the example of fig. 37 (a), grinding wheel 3033 is brought into contact with plate surface 3026a above disk portion 3026 by moderately weak pressure (low surface pressure). The grinding wheel 3033 is formed of a material having a certain degree of flexibility, and has a rectangular (here, substantially square) cross-sectional shape.

In the example of fig. 37 (a), the grinding wheel 3033 moves while being in contact with the plate surface 3026a of the disk portion 3026, thereby generating friction and deforming the cross-sectional shape of the wheel to be a parallelogram. Further, grinding wheel 3033 strikes ice (not shown) generated on plate surface 3026a of disk portion 3026, and applies an external force to the ice, thereby sweeping off plate surface 3026a of disk portion 3026. In the surface (lower plate surface 3026 b) opposite to the plate portion 3026, the grinding wheel 3033 is also caused to sweep ice by the same principle.

In the example of fig. 37 (a), in explaining the principle of sweeping by the grinding wheel 3033, the cross-sectional shape of the grinding wheel 3033 and the cross-sectional shape of the spoke 3034 are rectangular. However, the spoke 3034 is not limited thereto, and, for example, a round bar or a spoke having another shape may be used in addition to the prismatic bar. The cross-sectional shape of the grinding wheel 3033 may be a shape other than a rectangle, and examples of the shape other than a rectangle include a triangle, a polygon, a true circle, and an ellipse.

Further, not only the cross-sectional shape of each grinding wheel, but also various shapes other than a blade shape may be adopted as the planar shape. Although not shown, the planar shape of the grinding wheel 3033 may be, for example, a plate shape having a diameter of about 30cm, or the number of grinding wheels 3033 may be one for each surface of the disk 3026, and the grinding wheel 3033 may be horizontally rotated about the center. Further, the outer diameter of the grinding wheel 3033 may be smaller than about 30cm, and one or a plurality of grinding wheels 3033 may be rotated while rotating.

Further, as a further modification, the rotation transmission shaft 3035 may transmit power to the grinding wheel (not shown) from the side portion (end portion side) of the disk portion 3026 without forming a hole in the disk portion 3026. In this case, for example, it is conceivable to reciprocate the links (arms) of the parallel crank mechanism with the disc portion 3026 interposed therebetween via the parallel crank mechanism. By employing such a mechanism, the wiping portion 3023 can be provided to sandwich the disk portion 3026, and can be operated like a wiper of an automobile to wipe off ice.

Further, ice growing to a size equal to or larger than the gap can be swept away by a gap of a predetermined amount (for example, about 1mm or less to several mm) between the grinding wheel 3033 and the respective plate surfaces 3026a and 3026b of the disk portion 3026.

Here, the fixation of the grinding wheel 3033 to the spoke 3034 may be performed by a general variety of methods. Examples of the fixing method include bonding, screw fixing (bolt fixing), rivet fixing, and clamping.

As shown in fig. 37 (b), a metal plate (metal blade, cutting tooth) 3038 may be used instead of the grinding wheel 3033. In addition, for example, a synthetic resin plate or the like may be used in addition to the metal plate 3038. When these rigid bodies are used, it is conceivable that a gap H is interposed between the rigid bodies and the disk portion 3026, as shown in fig. 37 (b). In this way, abrasion of the disk portion 3026 by the metal plate 3038 or the like can be prevented. The gap H may be, for example, 1mm or less (0.2 mm or the like).

Further, as shown by a plurality of arrows D in fig. 37 (b), turbulence can be generated in the front and rear of the metal plate 3038 or the like, for example, by moving the metal plate 3038 or the like with the gap H therebetween. Although not shown, it is conceivable that turbulence is generated in the gap H between the metal plate 3038 and the disk portion 3026. Further, even if the metal plate 3038 or the like does not contact the tray portion 3026, ice can be separated from the tray portion 3026 by utilizing the turbulence. This turbulence is easily generated by rapidly moving the metal plate 3038 or the like to some extent.

The fixation of the metal plate 3038 and the like to the spoke 3034 can be performed by general various means. As a fixing means, for example, in addition to screw fixing (bolt fixing), rivet fixing, and clamping, welding or the like can be exemplified.

The grinding wheel 3033, the metal plate, and the like can be replaced periodically, for example, and maintenance is performed.

Next, a method of supplying refrigerant to the disk portion 3026 and the like will be described. As described above, R404A or the like is used as the first refrigerant. The setting of the evaporation temperature of R404A (evaporation temperature setting) is limited to-60 ℃. In the case of using R447 and R448A as the refrigerant gas, the cooling efficiency is lowered when the evaporation temperature is set to-60 ℃, and therefore, -45 ℃ is set as a lower limit as a substantial evaporation temperature.

In order to efficiently produce a slurry based on an aqueous ethanol solution having a freezing point of-37 ℃ and-50 ℃ (aqueous ethanol ice slurry) or an aqueous ethanol ice slurry having a freezing point of-80 ℃ or lower, a refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature may be used. Examples of the refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature include liquefied natural gas (evaporation temperature of about-162 ℃) and liquid nitrogen (evaporation temperature of about-196 ℃). However, lng and liquid nitrogen are relatively expensive, so that it is desirable to reduce the amount of lng used as much as possible in order to reduce the cost.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first refrigerant (for example, -45 ℃) is caused to flow in the first refrigerant passage 3029A. The disk portion 3026 is cooled by the first refrigerant, and the temperature of the aqueous solution Ws (freezing point-38 ℃) is gradually lowered. When the aqueous solution Ws reaches a predetermined set temperature (for example, -30 ℃), the supply of the first refrigerant by the refrigerator 3014 is stopped.

Further, the second refrigerant valve 3020a (fig. 33) is opened, and the second refrigerant (here, liquid nitrogen) flows through the second refrigerant passage 3029B. The fluidity of the second refrigerant is provided by the pressure of the nitrogen gasified in the second refrigerant tank 3020. Further, the tray 3026 is cooled by the second refrigerant having a considerably lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant, and ice adhering to the tray 3026 is mixed into the aqueous solution Ws to produce ice slurry having a temperature lower than-38 ℃.

That is, the first refrigerant is used for the first cooling in the heat absorption (sensible heat absorption) of the sensible heat portion from the normal temperature to-30 ℃. Further, the refrigerant is switched, and the second cooling is performed by using the heat and cold of the second refrigerant for further cooling (cooling by adding latent heat absorption). By this second cooling, a low-temperature ice slurry is produced. Therefore, cooling in a plurality of stages (two stages in this case) can be performed, and cooling can be accelerated in the latter stage. Such a cooling system may be referred to as a "two-stage cooling system", a "two-stage rocket system", or the like, for example.

Further, since relatively expensive liquid nitrogen (liquefied natural gas or the like) is used only for the second cooling, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where liquid nitrogen or the like is used for cooling the sensible heat portion.

The third embodiment is not limited to a plate-like ice making unit such as the tray 3026, and may be a cylindrical ice making unit (drum type) or another ice making unit having various shapes. For example, as a drum type, the cooling unit (corresponding to the cooling unit 3021 in fig. 32) of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical ice making unit (drum 21 in patent document 2) as described in patent document 2 described above, and the ice making unit can be immersed in an aqueous solution (corresponding to the aqueous solution Ws in fig. 32). In this case, the cylindrical ice making portion is in contact with the aqueous solution on both the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface.

Although not shown, in the cylindrical ice making section, the first refrigerant passage and the second refrigerant passage are formed by another system. In an initial stage of cooling the aqueous solution, a first refrigerant (for example, a refrigerant having an evaporation temperature of about-60 ℃ to-45 ℃) flows through a refrigerator (corresponding to the refrigerator 3014 in fig. 32) in the first refrigerant passage.

When the temperature of the aqueous solution reaches a predetermined set temperature (for example, -30 ℃), the supply of the first refrigerant is stopped. Next, a second refrigerant valve (corresponding to the second refrigerant valve 3020a in fig. 33) is opened, and a second refrigerant (liquid nitrogen or the like) is caused to flow in the second refrigerant passage. The cylindrical ice making portion is cooled by a second refrigerant having a significantly lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant. By providing the above, the cylindrical ice making section can also exhibit a high freezing capacity in two stages.

Further, as another embodiment, it is also conceivable to form a bottom portion in the cylindrical ice making portion as described above to close the lower end, fill (store) the inside of the cylindrical ice making portion with the aqueous solution, and use the cylindrical ice making portion as a tank of the aqueous solution.

In addition, as another embodiment, it is also conceivable to form a freezing tank corresponding to the freezing tank 3012 of fig. 32 using metal, and form a first refrigerant passage and a second refrigerant passage in the wall of the freezing tank. In this case, the first refrigerant may be flowed through the first refrigerant passage to cool the aqueous solution in the freezing tank, and after the temperature of the aqueous solution reaches a predetermined set temperature, the first refrigerant may be stopped and switched to the second refrigerant to perform further cooling.

The third disclosure is not limited to the above-described ice making device in which the ice making section is immersed in an aqueous solution or the aqueous solution is stored in the ice making section to produce ice slurry, and can be applied to an ice making device for producing sheet ice, for example, as in the various ice making sections (ice making devices) disclosed in patent documents 1 to 3.

In this case, the first refrigerant passage and the second refrigerant passage are also formed in the ice making portion. An aqueous solution (coolant) in a mist form, for example, is sprayed onto the ice making section so that the aqueous solution contacts the ice making section. The first refrigerant is flowed through the first refrigerant passage of the ice making unit to cool the aqueous solution in the freezing tank, and then the first refrigerant is stopped to be switched to the second refrigerant, thereby further cooling the aqueous solution.

The embodiments are merely examples showing the implementation of the third embodiment, and the scope of the technology of the present invention should not be construed in a limiting manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof. The technical matters in the third disclosure can be applied to the first disclosure (fig. 1 to 18) and the second disclosure (fig. 19 to 31) as long as they are not hindered.

< fourth publication (FIGS. 38-48) >

Fig. 38 shows the inside of the ice making device 4010 of the embodiment in perspective. Fig. 38 schematically shows an operator a having a general physical constitution. Fig. 39 shows the ice making device 4010 of fig. 38 with an angle changed. The ice making device 4010 includes an ice making tank 4012 for storing a coolant (described later) and an ice making portion 4020 disposed inside the ice making tank 4012 and capable of contacting the coolant.

In the example of fig. 38 (and fig. 39), the ice making pot 4012 is supported in a state suspended from the ground 4050 by an overhead stage 4052 provided on the ground 4050. In the ice making tank 4012, a hanging stand 4030 is provided in a state of hanging from a top 4013. The suspension mount 4030 supports an ice making plate (a tray 4014 in the example of fig. 38 and 39) and a sweeping portion 4016 disposed in the ice making tank 4012 at a position floating from a bottom 4018 of the ice making tank 4012.

< Ice making can 4012 >)

The ice making tank 4012 has a cylindrical shape, and the ice making tank 4012 is made of a metal such as steel. In the examples of fig. 38 and 39, the ice making pot 4012 has a diameter and a height of about 2 m. The ice making tank 4012 may be formed in a shape and a size so long as ice can be made.

The ice making can 4012 may have a shape other than a circular shape, and may have various shapes such as a triangle, a quadrangle, a polygon, an ellipse, and the like. The ice making tank 4012 may be made of stainless steel alloy, FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), or the like. The ice making tank 4012 may be a combination of two or more of a steel component, a stainless steel alloy component, and an FRP component.

In the case where the material of the ice making tank 4012 (including the material of the parts) is steel, it is necessary to perform rust prevention treatment. As the rust inhibitive treatment, various rust inhibitive treatments such as coating and surface treatment can be used. A predetermined portion such as an outer peripheral portion of the ice making can 4012 may be covered with a heat insulating material.

A switch panel 4019 is provided in a top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012. The switch panel 4019 has a hinge portion (not shown), and can be opened and closed as necessary. Fig. 38 and 39 show a state in which the switch panel 4019 is opened. For example, by the operator a stepping on a footrest (not shown) or the like and opening the switch panel 4019, the operator a can visually confirm the inside of the ice making tank 4012 through the visual confirmation opening 4021. The protruding portion, which serves as a scaffold, can be provided on the outer side of the ice making tank 4012, so that the operator a can easily perform the visual confirmation work of the inside.

A motor 4022 is provided outside a top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012. The motor 4022 is a motor (reduction motor) of a type integrally provided with a speed reducer. A straight rod-shaped rotation shaft 4024 is connected to the motor 4022, and the motor 4022 rotates the rotation shaft 4024 around the axis.

The motor 4022 is fixed to a detachable portion 4015 provided at a top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012. The attaching/detaching portion 4015 is detachably provided on the top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012 via a plurality of bolts 4017. By removing the attachment/detachment section 4015 from the top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012, the motor 4022 and the rotating shaft 4024 can be removed from the ice making tank 4012. In fig. 38 and 39, reference numeral 4026 denotes a discharge pipe for discharging the produced ice slurry.

< Ice making portion 4020 >)

The ice making section 4020 includes a tray section 4014 and a sweeping section 4016. In the example of fig. 38 and 39, the number of the disk portions 4014 is two. In the example of fig. 38 and 39, a sweep 4016 is provided for one disk 4014.

The two tray portions 4014 are supported by the suspension mount 4030 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (vertical direction in fig. 38 and 39) on the same straight line by a predetermined distance. These tray portions 4014 are fixed to the suspension mount 4030 horizontally and parallel to each other. The sweep-out portion 4016 is coupled to the rotation shaft 4024, and performs rotational displacement in the horizontal direction integrally with the rotation shaft 4024. Details of the disk section 4014 and the sweep-out section 4016 will be described later.

The tray portion 4014 and the sweeping portion 4016 are integrated by a suspension mount 4030. The upper end of the hanging mount 4030 is coupled to a detachable portion 4015 provided on the top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012. When the attaching/detaching portion 4015 is detached from the top portion 4013 of the ice making tank 4012, the ice making portion 4020 can be detached from the ice making tank 4012 together with the hanging stand 4030.

In the example of fig. 38 and 39, the hanging mount 4030 is formed in a skeleton shape by vertically and horizontally assembling square pipes and joining them. The hanging stand 4030 and the attaching/detaching portion 4015 are not located at the center of the top 4013 of the ice making tank 4012, but at positions offset from the center. Here, in fig. 45 (b), the position of the suspension mount 4030 is indicated by a broken line.

Disk 4014

In the example of fig. 38 and 39, each disk portion 4014 is formed of a rectangular (here, square) metal plate. The size (size) of the disk portion 4014 may be, for example, about 30 to 100cm square, and the plate thickness may be, for example, about 30 to 60 mm. Here, the shape of the disk portion 4014 is not limited to a rectangular shape, but is preferably a circular shape so that the tip ends of the cutting teeth 4048 do not come off from the plate surface 4014a (or the plate surface 4014 b).

As schematically shown in fig. 41, the upper surface (plate surface 4014 a) and the lower surface (plate surface 4014 b) of each tray portion 4014 are processed to be substantially flat and parallel to each other. As a material of the disk portion 4014, copper or a copper alloy having high thermal conductivity can be used. The surface of the disk portion 4014 is plated with a metal having abrasion resistance (e.g., chromium or the like).

Here, as a material of the disk portion 4014, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or the like may be used in addition to copper and copper alloy. The disk portion 4014 may be cast or cut.

As schematically shown in fig. 42, a linear refrigerant tube 4034 and a U-shaped refrigerant tube (hereinafter referred to as a "U-tube") 4036 as a folded portion are connected to the inside of the tray portion 4014. A plurality of linear refrigerant flow paths 4038 are formed in parallel with each other in the disk portion 4014. These refrigerant channels 4038 are spatially connected via a U-tube 4036, and constitute a refrigerant guide path 4039. The refrigerant flow path 4038 is formed by drilling a material of the disk portion 4014.

The linear refrigerant tube 4034 constitutes an inlet portion and an outlet portion of the refrigerant guide path 4039. The linear refrigerant pipe 4034 is connected to a refrigerant introduction hose 4040 and a refrigerant discharge hose 4042 shown in fig. 38 and 39, and is used for introducing and discharging a refrigerant (described later) supplied from the outside of the ice making tank 4012.

Through holes (reference numerals are omitted) are formed in the center portions of the plate surfaces 4014a and 4014b of the plate portion 4014. In fig. 42, the through hole is not shown. As shown in fig. 41, the rotation shaft 4024 passes through the through hole, and the rotation shaft 4024 passes through the disk portion 4014 in the thickness direction. The refrigerant flow path 4038 is formed so as to avoid the through hole.

The refrigerant introduction hose 4040 and the refrigerant discharge hose 4042 connected to the pan section 4014 are flexible hoses having flexibility. When the ice making unit 4020 is detached from the ice making tank 4012 via the attaching/detaching unit 4015 of the ice making tank 4012, the refrigerant introduction hose 4040 and the refrigerant discharge hose 4042 are elastically deformed to follow the movement of the ice making unit 4020 and the like. The outside of the refrigerant introduction hose 4040 and the refrigerant discharge hose 4042 is covered with a heat insulating material (reference numeral omitted).

The refrigerant is supplied to the tray portion 4014 through the refrigerant introduction hose 4040. The tray 4014 is cooled by a refrigerant, and cooling of the tray 4014 and ice making using the tray 4014 will be described later.

Sweep-off part

In the embodiment, the sweep 4016 is formed in a propeller shape of four blades (see fig. 38 and 39). As schematically shown in fig. 41, the sweeping-out portion 4016 is arranged so as to face the respective plate surfaces 4014a, 4014b of the tray portion 4014. Here, in fig. 40 and 41, for simplicity of illustration, illustration of a part (two) of the blades is omitted, and only two blades are shown. Fig. 41 shows only a disk 4014 arranged at the lower stage.

The sweep 4016 has an arm 4046 and a cutter 4048 in each blade. The arms 4046 are arranged at 90 degree intervals on the rotation shaft 4024. Four arms 4046 are provided on one plate surface 4014a (or plate surface 4014 b) of the tray portion 4014.

A piece of cutting tooth 4048 is attached to each arm 4046. The cutting teeth 4048 face the plate surface 4014a (and 4014 b) of the disk portion 4014 in a state of facing the blade. The cutting teeth 4048 are attached to the arms 4046 at a predetermined angle. As a material of the cutting tooth 4048, metal, synthetic resin, or the like can be used.

The sweep-out section 4016 rotates opposite to the plate surfaces 4014a and 4014b of the tray section 4014 in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft 4024. By the rotation of the sweep 4016, the cutting tooth 4048 attached to the arm 4046 also rotates while the blade faces the plate surface of the disk 4014.

As described later, the sweep-out portion 4016 collides with ice (not shown) adhering to the tray portion 4014, and separates the ice from the tray portion 4014. As shown in fig. 43 (a), the sweep-out portion 4016 may be provided so that, for example, the cutting teeth 4048 are in contact with the disk portion 4014. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 43 b, the sweep-out portion 4016 may be provided so as to sandwich a predetermined gap H (for example, about 0.2 mm) between the cutting tooth 4048 and the disk portion 4014.

As shown in fig. 43 (a), when the sweep-out portion 4016 is provided so as to contact the respective plate surfaces 4014a, 4014b (only one side of the plate surface 4014a is shown in the drawing) of the tray portion 4014, the sweep-out portion 4016 separates ice while contacting the respective plate surfaces 4014a, 4014 b. Arrow C of fig. 43 (a) indicates the moving direction of the cutting tooth 4048.

In addition, as shown in fig. 43 b, when the sweep 4016 is provided so as to sandwich the gap H between the sweep 4016 and the tray 4014, the sweep 4016 separates ice by turbulence (indicated by arrow D) generated between the sweep and the respective plate surfaces 4014a and 4014 b. Even when a gap is interposed between the sweep portion 4016 and the tray portion 4014, the sweep portion 4016 collides with the grown ice to separate the ice from the tray portion 4014 when the ice grows to a size H of the gap or more. As shown in fig. 43 (b), by providing the sweep-out portion 4016 so as to sandwich a gap (clearance) H between the sweep-out portion and the disk portion 4014, abrasion of the cutting teeth 4048 and the disk portion 4014 can be prevented.

Cooling and ice making of tray 4014

A refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen is supplied to the refrigerant guide path 4039 of the tray 4014. As schematically shown in fig. 40, a refrigerant tank 4054 is provided outside the ice making tank 4012, and the refrigerant is sent from the refrigerant tank 4054 to a tray 4014 in the ice making tank 4012 through a refrigerant introduction hose 4040. As the refrigerant, LNG (liquefied natural gas), freon (HCFC 22), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), or the like may be used in addition to liquid nitrogen.

The refrigerant passing through the refrigerant guide path 4039 of the tray 4014 returns to the refrigerant tank 4054 via the refrigerant discharge hose 4042. Here, fig. 40 schematically shows an ice making system 4056 including an ice making tank 4012 and a refrigerant tank 4054, and various devices such as a pump for sending a refrigerant, a valve device for controlling flow, and instruments (gauges) for indicating temperature, pressure, and the like are omitted. In addition, various devices such as pumps, valve devices, and instruments (meters) related to the coolant Ws are not shown.

The refrigerant cools the tray 4014 by its heat and cold, and the tray 4014 cools the coolant Ws flowing around the tray. When the tray 4014 is cooled by the refrigerant, ice is deposited on the respective plate surfaces 4014a, 4014b and the like of the tray 4014. The deposited ice (mixed ice) becomes fine ice and adheres to the periphery of the tray 4014.

The attached ice is swept by the sweep portion 4016 and separated from the tray portion 4014. The ice separated from the tray 4014 is flake-like (also referred to as crushed flake, small block, granular or the like) flake ice, and is mixed with the coolant Ws. The ice pieces are continuously produced as the sweep-out portion 4016 rotates, and the proportion of ice in the coolant Ws gradually increases. By continuously mixing the flake ice with the coolant Ws, an ice slurry is produced in the ice making tank 4012.

Here, the rotation of the sweeping-out section 4016 for separating ice may be continuous (continuous rotation) at an angle exceeding 360 degrees, or may be stopped for a predetermined time (intermittent rotation) at a predetermined angle within 360 degrees.

< coolant Ws and Ice slurry >)

The coolant Ws contains one or more solutes and is an aqueous solution having a low freezing point. Specific examples of the coolant Ws include an aqueous sodium chloride solution (brine), an aqueous calcium chloride solution, an aqueous magnesium chloride solution, an aqueous glycol solution, and an aqueous ethanol solution.

Further, for example, the freezing point of the sodium chloride aqueous solution (saturated state) is-21 ℃, and the freezing point of the magnesium chloride aqueous solution (saturated state) is-26.7 ℃. The freezing point of ethanol (about 50wt% and 60 wt%) is about-37℃and-50 ℃. Therefore, when such an aqueous solution is used as the coolant, the coolant is rapidly frozen when it adheres to the tray 4014, and a film of ice (mixed ice) is formed on the surface of the tray 4014.

The ice slurry obtained by making ice in the ice making tank 4012 is a mixture of minute ice and liquid. When the ice slurry is left to stand in the ice making tank 4012, fine ice aggregates to form large particles. Therefore, it is desirable to agitate the ice slurry at a low speed in the ice making tank 4012. By stirring the ice slurry, a good slurry state with a small particle size can be maintained.

Fig. 44 shows an image taken by transferring the ice slurry 4058 in a good state to a container made of styrene foam. Fig. 44 shows a state in which ice is not aggregated, and ice slurry 4058 is a paste having a moderate viscosity. The viscous mass of the slurry 4058 is substantially uniform throughout. Desirably, this state of ice slurry is continuously maintained in the ice making tank 4012.

< setting of stirring device 60 >

In the ice making tank 4012, the sweep-out portion 4016 continuously rotates, and thus the ice slurry is stirred by the sweep-out portion 4016. However, the stirring is limited to the ice slurry existing in the vicinity of the sweep 4016. Therefore, it is difficult to stir the ice slurry as a whole only by the sweeping-out portion 4016.

Therefore, in order to agitate as much ice slurry as possible in the ice making tank 4012, as schematically shown in fig. 45 (a) and 45 (b), it is conceivable to provide the agitating device 60. In the examples of fig. 45 (a) and 45 (b), the stirring device 4060 has a spiral portion 4063. The spiral portion 4063 is disposed inside the ice making tank 4012 and is provided at the distal end portion of the rotary shaft 4064. The screw 4063 is driven to rotate around the axis through a rotation shaft 4064 by a rotation driving unit 4066 such as a motor disposed outside the ice making tank 4012. The rotation of the spiral portion 4063 is continuously (or intermittently) performed.

The spiral portion 4063 is inclined in the ice making tank 4012. The spiral portion 4063 is fixed to the ice making tank 4012 at an angle in the vertical direction indicated by reference numeral α1 in fig. 45 (a) and at an angle in the horizontal direction indicated by reference numeral α2 in fig. 45 (b). The spiral portion 4063 generates a flow (water flow) of ice slurry in the ice making tank 4012 by rotating. By this water flow, the ice slurry is stirred integrally and continuously. By providing the stirring device 4060, the ice slurry can be stirred separately from the stirring by the sweep-out portion 4016.

In the example of fig. 38 and 39, the positions of the hanging stand 4030 and the attaching/detaching portion 4015 are not located at the center of the top 4013 of the ice making can 4012, but are offset from the center. As shown in fig. 45 b, in a case where the ice making tank 4012 is viewed in plan, the stirring device 4060 is positioned diagonally with respect to the center of the ice making tank 4012 (e.g., at a position shifted by 180 degrees).

By providing this, the installation space of the stirring device 4060 can be easily secured. Further, in the circumferential direction of the ice making tank 4012, stirring of ice slurry can be performed in a balanced manner. Further, the flow from the stirring device 4060 to the suspension mount 4030 and the flow from the suspension mount 4030 back to the stirring device 4060 along the wall surface of the ice making tank 4012 can be symmetrically formed. Further, the stirring by the sweep 4016 and the stirring by the stirring device 4060 can be effectively combined.

Further, by providing the stirring device 4060, the diffusivity of the ice separated from the tray portion 4014 can be improved, and the ice can be prevented from adhering to the sweeping portion 4016. As a result, the ice slurry in a good state can be continuously provided.

< Water-proof coating >)

The slurry in the ice making tank 4012 has a substantially uniform viscosity as a whole (see fig. 44), and ice may adhere to the sweep portion 4016 (particularly to the cutting teeth 4048). It is conceivable that such attachment of ice to the sweep-out portion 4016 is generated in the following manner.

All of the ice scraped off from the tray portion 4014 by the cutting teeth 4048 is not immediately dispersed in the liquid, and a part of the ice remains in the vicinity of the tray portion 4014. The cutting teeth 4048 are located in the vicinity of the disk portion 4014, and thus the cutting teeth 4048 are also cooled to a temperature close to that of the disk portion 4014. Further, ice gradually adheres to the cutting teeth 4048 and gradually accumulates. Fig. 46 is an image showing a state in which ice 4068 is attached to the sweeping portion 4016, although the angle of the cutting tooth is different from that of the embodiment, and the sweeping portion 4016 is shown.

When ice 4068 deposited on the sweep-out portion 4016 becomes large to some extent, it naturally peels off. The exfoliated ice is mixed in the ice slurry as a solid matter of a certain size, making the quality of the ice slurry uneven. In addition, it is not preferable to mix the ice slurry into the solid material, while keeping the quality of the ice slurry constant.

Therefore, the adhesion of ice to the sweep-out portion 4016 can be prevented by performing waterproof coating (also referred to as "non-wetting coating", "sliding coating", or the like). The adhesion of ice to the sweep portion 4016 can also be prevented by performing waterproof coating. By applying a waterproof coating to the arm 4046 and the cutting tooth 4048 of the sweep 4016, the waterproof property (non-wettability, slidability, etc.) of these portions can be improved.

The waterproof coating may be a fluororesin coating. As the fluororesin coating layer, a general fluororesin coating layer can be used. By applying the fluororesin coating, sufficient non-wettability can be obtained even if the fluororesin coating is extremely thin.

By performing the fluororesin coating, the friction coefficient can be suppressed to be small. Further, the abrasion resistance of the sweep 4016 can be improved. Further, even when the cutting teeth 4048 of the sweep-out portion 4016 contact the disk portion 4014 (fig. 43 (a)), abrasion of the cutting teeth 4048 and the disk portion 4014 can be prevented.

Further, the heat resistance (heat and cold resistance) of the sweep 4016 can be improved. The parts in the ice making tank 4012 are exposed to low temperatures of the refrigerant, the coolant Ws, and the like, and thus may have low temperature brittleness. Therefore, by performing the fluororesin coating as a waterproof coating, the occurrence of low-temperature brittleness can be prevented.

A fluorine paint is used in the fluorine resin coating layer. As the fluorine paint, various general fluorine paints can be used as long as they can be used in the ice making tank 4012. As fluorine coating materials, for example, PTFE (poly tetra fluoro ethylene: polytetrafluoroethylene) coating materials, FEP (Fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer: fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer) coating materials, PFA (Tetra fluoro ethylene-perfluoro alkylvinyl ether copolymer: tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether copolymer) coating materials, PTFE/PFA composite coating materials, modified coating materials, and the like are known.

The object of the waterproof coating may be only the arm 4046 of the sweep 4016 and the cutting tooth 4048 of the cutting teeth 4048. In addition, other parts than the arm 4046 and the cutting tooth 4048 may be used. Moreover, the object of the waterproof coating may be only a part of each site.

Further, the object of the waterproof coating is not limited to the sweep 4016. For example, the tray 4014 may be waterproof-coated. The waterproof coating in this case may be performed only on a part of the tray portion 4014 (for example, the plate surfaces 4014a, 4014 b). The plate surfaces 4014a and 4014b of the tray portion 4014 may be partially waterproof-coated.

Regarding the U-tube 4036 (fig. 42), the refrigerant passes through the inside thereof, and thus the U-tube 4036 is strongly cooled, and there is a fear of freezing. Therefore, it is preferable to waterproof coat the U-shaped tube 4036 (particularly, the outer peripheral surface). In addition, it is preferable that the linear refrigerant tube 4034 is also water-repellent coated.

The inner wall surface of the ice making tank 4012 and the rotation shaft 4024 may be entirely or partially waterproof-coated. In the case where the stirring device 4060 is provided, for example, the screw portion 4063 of the stirring device 4060, the rotary shaft 4064, and the like may be entirely or partially water-repellent coated.

The waterproof coating may be performed for the device (here, the sweep 4016) having the highest priority and other devices (including a part). In addition, the equipment and the parts of the whole, which have the possibility of ice adhesion, can be waterproof coated. As the equipment and the parts where there is a possibility of ice adhesion, the sweeping-out section 4016, the tray section 4014, the inner wall surface of the ice making tank 4012, the rotation shaft 4024, the suspension mount 4030, the screw portion 4063 of the stirring device 4060, the rotation shaft 4064, and the like described above are exemplified. Among them, in particular, it is desirable to apply waterproof coating to the suspension mount 4030, the rotation shaft 4064 of the stirring device 4060, and the screw portion 4063.

Regarding the coating agent (for example, fluorine paint) for waterproof coating, generally, the heat conductivity of the coating agent itself is small, but the film thickness is thin, and the conduction distance of heat and cold is short. Therefore, for example, when the sweeping portion 4016 is water-repellent coated, little influence is exerted on heat transfer of the plate surfaces 4014a and 4014b of the adjacent tray portion 4014.

The waterproof coating can be used together with stirring by the stirring device 4060 shown in fig. 45 (a) and 45 (b). In this case, in addition to the improvement of the ice diffusivity around the tray portion 4014 by the stirring device 4060, the water repellency of the water repellent coating can be utilized. Moreover, by the synergistic effect of the waterproof coating and the stirring of the stirring device 4060, the ice slurry can be kept in a good state.

< inventive effects of the embodiments >

According to the embodiment described above, since the sweeping-out portion 4016 is water-repellent-coated, ice can be prevented from adhering to the sweeping-out portion 4016. By preventing the ice from adhering to the sweep portion 4016, the solid matter of the ice can be prevented from being mixed into the ice slurry, and the quality of the ice slurry can be maintained. Further, by these, the reliability of the ice making device 4010 can be improved.

The ice making unit 4020 is fixed to the suspension mount 4030, and the refrigerant tank 4054 is provided at a fixed position, but the suspension mount 4030 can be detached from the ice making tank 4012. Therefore, the hanging rack 4030 can be removed from the ice making tank 4012 to perform maintenance and inspection of the ice making section 4020. Further, the ice making section 4020 is easy to maintain and inspect.

The tray portion 4014 supported by the suspension mount 4030 is connected to the refrigerant tank 4054 via a flexible refrigerant inlet hose 4040 and a flexible refrigerant outlet hose 4042. Therefore, maintenance and inspection of the ice making unit 4020 can be performed without detaching the refrigerant inlet hose 4040 and the refrigerant outlet hose 4042 from the tray 4014 or from the refrigerant tank 4054. In addition, maintenance and inspection of the ice making unit 4020 are also facilitated.

The structure that is always exposed to low temperature, such as the ice making unit 4020 and the suspension mount 4030, may cause low-temperature brittleness. Therefore, it is important to improve the reliability of the ice making device 4010 to facilitate maintenance and inspection of the ice making unit 4020, the hanging stand 4030, and the like.

As shown in fig. 45 (a) and 45 (b), even when the stirring device 4060 is provided in the ice making tank 4012, the ice slurry can be stirred by a unit other than the sweeping-out portion 4016. This allows the slurry to be stirred more integrally, thereby improving the diffusibility of ice.

In fig. 38 to 41, the number of the disk portions 4014 is two, but the number of the disk portions 4014 may be one or three or more. Further, the plurality of disk portions 4014 are not limited to being arranged on the same straight line, and for example, a plurality of (two in fig. 38 and 39) disk portions 4014 may be arranged so as to be shifted in the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction matches the left-right direction of fig. 38 and 39).

< other embodiments of disk >

In the example of fig. 42, the refrigerant guide path 4039 of the tray 4014 is formed using a U-tube 4036. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a disk portion 4084 schematically shown in fig. 47 and 48 may be used.

As shown by a broken line in fig. 47, a refrigerant guide path 4089 is formed inside the disk portion 4084 shown in fig. 47. The refrigerant guide path 4089 is a hole formed in a zigzag shape, and has a linear portion extending parallel to each other, a U-shaped bent portion, and the like. The disk portion 4084 is provided with a through hole 4088 through which the rotation shaft 4024 passes. The refrigerant guide path 4089 is formed so as to avoid the through hole 4088.

The disk portion 4084 may be manufactured, for example, in the manner shown in fig. 48. Fig. 48 shows a method of manufacturing the disk portion 4084. The disk portion 4084 is formed by overlapping and joining a first plate 4092 and a second plate 4093 in a half shape so as to face each other in a manner indicated by an arrow E.

The first plate 4092 and the second plate 4093 are formed by casting and cutting. The first plate 4092 and the second plate 4093 have the same outer dimensions, and each thickness is, for example, about 15 to 20 mm. The first plate 4092 and the second plate 4093 are provided with 40 groove portions 94 and 4095 serving as the refrigerant guide paths 4089. The groove portions 4094, 4095 have a plurality of straight portions 4096 formed parallel to each other and a U-shaped portion 4097 connecting the straight portions 4096.

Both ends of the grooves 4094, 4095 are semicircular (not shown) in shape and open to the end surfaces of the first plate 4092 and the second plate 4093. The groove portions 4094, 4095 are formed in a mirror-like relationship to be line-symmetrical to each other. By overlapping the first plate 4092 with the second plate 4093, one refrigerant guide path 4089 is formed. By forming the disk portion 4084 in this manner, the refrigerant guide path 4089 can be formed without drilling the disk portion 4084, connecting a pipe formed in a U shape (see "U-pipe 4036" in fig. 42), or the like.

< invention extractable from the embodiment of the fourth disclosure >

The following invention can be extracted from the embodiments described so far, for example.

(1) An ice making apparatus (ice making apparatus 4010, etc.), comprising:

an ice slurry production tank (ice making tank 4012, etc.) for storing a coolant (coolant Ws, etc.); and

an ice making unit (ice making unit 4020, etc.) disposed inside the ice slurry making tank and contacting the coolant,

the ice making section includes:

an ice-making plate (tray 4014, etc.) having ice-making surfaces (plate surfaces 4014a, 4014b, etc.); and

a sweep-out section (sweep-out section 4016, etc.) that separates ice generated on the ice making surface from the ice making surface by displacement (rotational displacement, etc.) with respect to the ice making surface,

at least a part of the sweep-out portion (the arm 4046, the cutting tooth 4048, and the like) is water-repellent coated (a fluorine resin coating or the like).

By providing such a configuration, the ice adhering to the sweeping portion can be prevented from being mixed with the ice slurry, and the reliability of the ice making device can be improved.

(2) The ice slurry manufacturing apparatus (ice making apparatus 4010, etc.) according to the above (1), characterized in that,

the ice making plate is supported by a support portion (suspension mount 4030 or the like) disposed in the ice slurry production tank, and the support portion is detachably provided in the ice slurry production tank.

By providing the above, the ice making plate and the supporting portion can be removed from the ice slurry manufacturing tank, and maintenance and inspection of the ice making plate and the supporting portion can be facilitated. As a result, the reliability of the ice making device can be improved.

(3) The ice slurry manufacturing apparatus (ice making apparatus 4010, etc.) according to the above (1) or (2), characterized in that,

a confirmation portion (a visual confirmation opening 4021 or the like) that can visually confirm at least one of the ice making plate and the sweeping portion is formed in the ice slurry manufacturing groove (a visual confirmation opening 4021 or the like).

By providing the above, it is possible to visually inspect the ice making plate without detaching the support portion from the ice slurry manufacturing tank. Further, the reliability of the ice making device can be easily improved.

(4) The apparatus for producing ice slurry (ice making apparatus 4010, etc.) according to any one of (1) to (3) above, characterized in that,

the ice making plate and the sweeping part are provided with a plurality of groups (two groups and the like).

By such arrangement, the ice making efficiency can be improved.

(5) The apparatus for producing ice slurry according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the ice slurry producing tank is provided with a stirring device (stirring device 4060, etc.), and the stirring device (stirring device 4060, etc.) stirs ice slurry produced in the ice slurry producing tank.

(6) An ice making method using an ice making device (ice making device 4010, etc.), the ice making device (ice making device 4010, etc.) comprising:

an ice making unit (ice making unit 4020, etc.) disposed inside the ice slurry making tank and capable of contacting the coolant,

the ice making section includes:

a sweep-out section (sweep-out section 4016, etc.) for separating ice generated on the ice making surface from the ice making surface by displacement (rotational displacement, etc.) with respect to the ice making surface, the ice making method characterized in that,

at least a part of the sweeping-out portion is water-repellent coated (a fluorine resin coating or the like), and the sweeping-out portion subjected to the water-repellent coating is displaced to separate the ice from the ice making surface.

Each embodiment of the fourth disclosure is described above. The embodiments are merely examples showing the implementation of the fourth embodiment, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limiting manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof. The technical matters in the fourth disclosure can be applied to the first disclosure (fig. 1 to 18), the second disclosure (fig. 19 to 31), and the third disclosure (fig. 32 to 37) unless they are hindered.

Description of the reference numerals

10. 110, 160: a refrigeration system;

11. 111, 161: an ice slurry manufacturing device;

12. 52, 54, 56: a freezing tank;

13. 166: an aqueous solution pump (flow forming section);

14: a freezer;

15: a flake ice making part (ice making part);

16: a refrigerant guide portion;

17: a frame portion (holding portion);

22. 122: a rotation driving part;

23. 123: a sweep-out section;

26. 126: a tray portion (ice making plate);

26a, 26b, 126a, 126b: plate surface (ice making surface);

33: grinding wheel (separation section);

38: a metal plate (separation section);

41: a nozzle portion (flow forming portion);

142: a water flow generating mechanism (flow forming part);

ws: aqueous solutions (coolant);

2010: a flake ice manufacturing device (ice making device);

2020. 2070: a metal plate (metal body);

2042. 2086, 2134: a refrigerant flow path;

2052. 2088, 20142: a concave-convex portion;

2054: a groove portion;

2084: a ridge portion;

20121: a drum (metal body);

20132: an inner tube (inner tube portion);

20133: an outer tube (outer tube portion);

20136: a flow path wall (flow path wall portion);

20138: the upper surface (flow path surface) of the flow path wall;

20140: a protruding portion;

3011: an ice slurry manufacturing device (ice making device);

3014: a freezer;

3020: a second refrigerant tank;

3020a: a second refrigerant valve;

3026: a tray portion (ice making portion);

3029A: a first refrigerant passage;

3029B: a second refrigerant passage;

4010: an ice making device;

4012: an ice making tank;

4013: a top;

4014: a disk portion;

4014a, 14b: a plate surface;

4015: a mounting/dismounting portion;

4016: a sweep-out section;

4017: a bolt;

4019: a switch panel;

4020: an ice making section;

4021: an opening for visual confirmation;

4022: a motor;

4024: a rotation shaft;

4030: a hanging stand;

4034. 36: a refrigerant tube;

4038: a refrigerant flow path;

4039: a refrigerant guide path;

4040: a refrigerant introduction hose;

4042: a refrigerant discharge hose;

4046: an arm;

4048: cutting teeth;

4054: a refrigerant tank;

4056: an ice making system;

4058: ice slurry;

4060: a stirring device;

4063: a spiral part;

4064: a rotation shaft;

4066: a rotation driving part;

4068: ice;

a: an operator;

ws: and (5) carrying out secondary cooling.

Claims

1. An ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice slurry manufacturing tank for storing a coolant; and

the ice making section includes:

A flow forming portion for providing a flow of coolant to the ice making surface; and

2. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the sweeping part is arranged on a driving part which rotates or rotates and reciprocates relative to the ice making surface.

3. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 2, wherein,

the ice making section further includes a holding section that integrally holds at least the ice making plate and the driving section.

4. The ice-making device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

at least a part of the sweep-out portion is water-repellent coated.

5. An ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice-making section in contact with the coolant;

a first refrigerant passage formed to pass through the ice making part, and to enable a first refrigerant to flow; and

a second refrigerant passage formed through the ice making section, for allowing a second refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant to flow,

6. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the ice making section is immersed in the coolant.

7. The ice-making device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein,

the second refrigerant is made to have fluidity by using the pressure of the gasified second refrigerant.

8. The ice making apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein,

the ice making device has a sweeping part which separates ice generated on the ice making surface from the ice making surface by displacement relative to the ice making surface of the ice making part,

at least a part of the sweep-out portion is water-repellent coated.

9. An ice-making method, which is characterized in that,

in the ice making unit that contacts the coolant, after the first refrigerant is passed through the ice making unit to cool the ice making unit, the temperature is switched to a second refrigerant having a lower evaporation temperature than the first refrigerant, and the second refrigerant cools the ice making unit cooled by the first refrigerant.

10. An ice making method, the ice making method being performed using an ice making device provided with:

an ice-making section in contact with the coolant;

in the ice making method, the ice making portion is cooled by the second refrigerant after the ice making portion is cooled by the first refrigerant.

11. An ice making apparatus comprising:

an ice slurry manufacturing tank for storing a coolant; and

the ice making section includes:

an ice-making plate having an ice-making surface; and

at least a part of the sweep-out portion is water-repellent coated.

12. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 11, wherein,

the ice making plate is supported by a support portion disposed in the ice slurry manufacturing tank, and the support portion is detachably provided in the ice slurry manufacturing tank.

13. The ice-making device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein,

the ice slurry manufacturing groove is provided with a confirmation part which can visually confirm at least one of the ice making plate and the sweeping part.

14. The ice making apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein,

the ice making plate and the sweeping part are provided with a plurality of groups.

15. The ice making apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein,

the ice slurry production tank is provided with a stirring device which stirs ice slurry produced in the ice slurry production tank.

16. An ice making method using an ice making device comprising:

an ice slurry manufacturing tank for storing a coolant; and

the ice making section includes:

an ice-making plate having an ice-making surface; and

in the method of making ice in the present invention,

at least a part of the sweeping-out portion is water-repellent coated, and the sweeping-out portion subjected to water-repellent coating is displaced, thereby separating the ice from the ice making surface.