JP2002156175A - Water supplying device for automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of abnormal sound by improving the positional accuracy of a feed water pump in a tank and a motor out of the tank, in a water supplying device for the automatic ice making machine for a refrigerator. SOLUTION: The water supplying device 10 is provided with a feed water tank 14, the feed water pump 16, a motor 20 and a feed water route 18 guided to the outside of the tank out of the feed water pump while the feed water pump 16 is attached to the lower end of a discharging pipe 40 projected from the lower surface of a lid 24 so as to be abutted against the inside wall surface of the feed water tank 14 and the motor 20 is arranged in a motor receiving section 39 at the rear side of the feed water tank 14 to pump up water in the feed water tank 14 by transmitting the rotation of the same to the feed water pump 16 through a magnetic force. In such a water supplying device 10, a recess 60 and a projection 62, which are fitted with each other, are provided at the abutting part of the feed water pump 16 and the feed water tank 14 while another recess 64 and another projection 66, which are fitted with each other, are provided at the abutting part of a motor receiving section 39 and the feed water tank 14 while these are fitted to align the central axis of the feed water pump 16 with that of the motor 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for an automatic ice machine of a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic ice maker of a refrigerator supplies a fixed amount of water to an ice tray arranged in a freezing room (ice making room), performs ice making in the ice tray, and turns over the ice tray after the ice making is completed. The ice is automatically made by dropping the ice into an ice storage container disposed below the ice storage container, and is provided with a water supply device for supplying water to an ice tray.

As shown in FIG. 6, a water supply tank 14 removably mounted on a tank mounting portion 12 in a refrigerator compartment 6, a water supply pump 16 of a magnetic coupling type, and a motor 20 as shown in FIG. And a water supply path 18 connected to the water supply pump 16 and drawn out of the water supply tank 14, and the rotation of the motor 20 is controlled by magnetic force.
To draw out the water in the water supply tank 14.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned water supply device, the water supply pump 16 is attached to the lower end of a pipe 40 extending downward from the lid 24 of the tank 14.
Is detached from the tank main body 22 with the removal, and is placed in contact with the tank wall surface at the bottom in the tank 14 by covering the lid 24. On the other hand, the motor 20 for operating the pump 16 is fixed to the tank mounting portion 12 outside the water supply tank 14,
The water supply pump 16 in the tank 14 is disposed so as to face the water supply pump 16. Therefore, in this water supply device, the water supply pump 16 is assembled in the tank 14 by covering the lid 24 with the tank main body 22, and the tank 14 is set in the tank mounting portion 12 in the refrigerator compartment 6. And the center of the motor 20 are aligned.

However, the water supply pump 16
When is attached to the removable lid 24, a positional shift may occur between the pump 16 and the tank wall. In particular, when the water supply pump 16, the pipe 40, and the lid 24 are configured to be separable for convenience such as washing, the tank body 22 and the lid 24, the lid 24 and the pipe 40, and the pipe 4
Since there are many connection parts such as 0 and the water supply pump 16, the positional accuracy between the water supply pump 16 and the tank wall surface tends to be deteriorated.

[0006] When the displacement between the water supply pump 16 and the tank wall surface occurs as described above, even if the tank 14 is accurately positioned and set on the tank mounting portion 12,
A position shift occurs between the water supply pump 16 and the motor 20, and abnormal noise due to step-out occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water supply apparatus for an automatic ice maker in which positional accuracy between a water supply pump and a motor is improved to prevent generation of abnormal noise. And

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a water supply device for an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator, comprising: a water supply tank detachably mounted on a tank mounting portion in a refrigerator; and a magnetic coupling type water supply pump. And a motor and a water supply path connected to a water supply pump and drawn out of the water supply tank, wherein the water supply tank comprises a tank body that opens upward, and a detachable lid that closes an upper surface opening of the tank body. The water supply path includes a pipe extending downward from the lower surface of the lid in the tank, the water supply pump is attached to a lower end of the pipe, and is disposed in contact with a wall of the water supply tank from inside, and the motor Is disposed inside a motor housing that is in contact with the wall of the water supply tank from outside, and transmits rotation of the motor to a water supply pump by magnetic force, and the water in the water supply tank is supplied by the water supply pump. In the water supply device, which is drawn out of the tank through the pipe, a concave portion or a convex portion is provided on a contact surface of the water supply pump with the water supply tank, and the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on the wall of the water supply tank. A convex portion or a concave portion to be fitted is provided, and the water supply pump is positioned with respect to the tank wall surface by fitting the two.

According to the water supply device of the present invention, when attaching the lid of the tank to the tank body, the water supply pump is positioned with respect to the tank wall surface by fitting irregularities between the water supply pump and the tank wall surface. be able to. Therefore, the displacement of the water supply pump that can be attached to and detached from the tank body together with the lid can be eliminated with respect to the tank wall surface, and the positional accuracy of the water supply pump and the motor can be improved.

In the water supply apparatus of the present invention, a concave or convex portion is provided on a contact surface of the motor housing portion with the water supply tank, and a convex portion fitted to the concave or convex portion is provided on the wall of the water supply tank. Alternatively, it is preferable to provide a concave portion and position the water supply tank with respect to the motor by fitting the two.

As described above, by fitting the unevenness between the water supply pump, the tank wall surface, and the motor housing, the positional accuracy between the water supply pump and the motor can be further improved.

In the water supply apparatus of the present invention, the water supply pump has an impeller disposed in a casing, the concave portion or the convex portion of the water supply pump is provided on a rotating shaft of the impeller, and the motor housing portion is provided. It is preferable that the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on a rotating shaft of a motor, and the convex portion or the concave portion on the water supply pump side and the convex portion or the concave portion on the motor housing portion side of the water supply tank are provided on the same axis.

In this case, the unevenness is fitted between the water supply pump and the tank wall surface, and the unevenness is further fitted between the tank wall surface and the motor housing, so that the rotating shaft of the water supply pump and the rotating shaft of the motor are fitted. Can be arranged on the same straight line,
Positioning of the center of the shaft between the feed pump and the motor can be accurately performed.

In the water supply apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the pipe has elasticity, and the water supply pump attached to the lower end of the pipe is elastically deformed to press the pipe against the tank wall.

As described above, the water supply pump is pressed against the tank wall surface by the elastic force of the pipe, so that the concave-convex fitting between the water supply pump and the tank wall surface is ensured, and the positional accuracy of the two can be further improved. it can.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a water supply apparatus 10 for an automatic ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the water supply apparatus 10.

The water supply device 10 of this embodiment is a water supply device used for the automatic ice maker shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an ice tray 2 and an ice machine body 3 for supporting the ice tray and controlling the operation thereof are provided in the ice making chamber 1.
In addition, an ice storage container 4 for storing ice is provided, and the ice making machine main body 3 is provided with an ice detecting lever 5 for detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 4. Then, a water supply device 1 for supplying water to the ice tray 2 is placed in the refrigerator compartment 6 above the ice making compartment 1.
0 is provided.

The water supply device 10 includes a water supply tank 14 removably provided on a tank mounting portion 12 in the refrigerator compartment 6, a water supply pump 16 provided on a bottom of the water supply tank 14, and a water supply pump 16. A water supply path 18 which is connected and drawn out from the upper part of the water supply tank 14 to guide water to the ice tray 2;
A motor 20 is provided outside the tank 14 to operate the water supply pump 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply tank 14 includes a box-shaped tank main body 22 that opens upward, and a detachable lid 24 that closes an upper opening of the main body 22. Lid 24
Has a water inlet 26 for pouring water into the water supply tank 14.
Are integrally formed so as to project downward, and the upper surface thereof can be opened and closed by a slide-type water inlet cover 28.
A water purification filter 30 is attached to a lower end.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lid 24 hooks a hook 54 provided at one end of the lid 24 on the opening edge 52 of one of the two opposite walls of the tank body 22. Then, the hook portion 54 is rotated about a fulcrum, and the tank body 2 is rotated by a stopper 56 provided on the other end of the lid 24.
2 by locking the opening edge 58 of the other wall,
It is adapted to be attached to the tank body 22. More specifically, the hook portion 54 is formed to project from the lower surface of the rear end portion of the lid 24 in a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is configured to be hooked on a flange 52 provided at the upper end of the rear wall of the tank body 22. Have been. The stopper 56 is rotatably attached to the lid body at the front end of the lid 24, and has a flange 5 provided at the upper end of the front wall of the tank body 22.
8 is locked.

The water supply pump 16 and the motor 20 are of a magnetic coupling type. That is, both of them are provided with a magnetic material, and the rotation of the motor 20 is controlled by magnetic force.
6 to operate the pump 16 in a non-contact manner.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A casing 34 which is disposed in contact with the rear wall of the water supply tank 14 from the inside and has a water inlet 32 on the front face;
And an impeller 36 disposed therein. The casing 34 is provided with a discharge port 35 projecting upward, and is configured to pump water upward from the discharge port 35 by rotating the impeller 36.

The motor 20 is housed in a motor housing 39 behind the water supply tank 14. The motor housing 39 is provided on the tank mounting portion 12 such that the rear wall of the tank 14 abuts on the front surface 39a thereof.
It is arranged in the motor housing 39 so as to face the water supply pump 16 in the tank with the rear wall interposed therebetween. A rotating body 38 of a magnet is mounted on a rotating shaft of the motor 20, and the rotating body 38 is arranged behind a front surface 39 a of the motor housing 39 so as to face the impeller 36 of the water supply pump 16. Then, the impeller 36 of the water supply pump 16 is rotated by the rotation of the rotating body 38.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water supply path 18 has an upwardly extending discharge pipe 40 connected to the water supply pump 16.
And a lid pipe 42 connected to the upper end thereof and penetrating the lid 24.
An outlet pipe 44 connected to the outlet side thereof; a water receiving section 46 for receiving water from the outlet pipe 44;
And a water supply pipe 50 connected to the lower end of the hose 48 and penetrating through the heat insulating partition wall 7 to reach the ice tray 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid pipe 42 is
Is formed integrally with the lower surface of the rear part, and is drawn out of the tank 14 through the rear wall of the lid 24. The lid pipe 42 also has a projection 43 projecting downward from the lower surface of the lid 24, and the upper end of the discharge pipe 40 is detachably joined to the projection 43.

The discharge pipe 40 extends downward along the rear wall of the water supply tank 12 from this joint, and its lower end is detachably connected to the discharge port 35 of the water supply pump 16. The discharge pipe 40 is formed of an elastic material such as a soft plastic, and as shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. It is formed in a curved shape. Then, the water supply pump 1 is closed by closing the lid 24.
6 is pressed against the rear wall of the tank, and the discharge pipe 40 is elastically deformed, so that the discharge pipe 40 becomes substantially perpendicular to the lid 24 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially conical convex portion 60 is provided on the rear surface of the casing 34 of the water supply pump 16. The projection 60 is provided on the rotation axis of the impeller 36. A substantially conical concave portion 62 into which the convex portion 60 is fitted is provided on the inner surface of the rear wall of the tank 14 with which the rear surface of the casing 34 contacts. This recess 62
Is formed by projecting a part of the tank wall outward, and therefore, the concave portion 62 is formed on the outer surface side of the rear wall of the tank 14.
A substantially conical convex portion 64 is provided on the same axis as.

A substantially conical concave portion 66 is provided on the front surface 39a of the motor housing portion 39 on the rotating shaft of the motor 20, and the convex portion 64 of the rear wall of the tank 14 is fitted into the concave portion 66. It has become.

In the water supply device 10 according to the present embodiment as described above, after the tank 14 is washed, as shown in FIG.
When the tank 4 is attached to the tank body 22, the water supply pump 16 attached to the lower end thereof is pressed against the rear wall of the tank 14 by elastically deforming the discharge pipe 40. At this time, the convex portion 60 of the water supply pump 16 and the concave portion 62
Are fitted so that the water supply pump 16 is accurately positioned with respect to the wall surface of the tank 14. Then
When the water supply tank 14 is set on the tank mounting portion 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the convex portion 64 on the outer wall surface of the tank 14 and the concave portion 66 on the front surface 39 a of the motor housing 39 are fitted. Then, the water supply tank 14 is set in a state where it is accurately positioned with respect to the motor 20. Accordingly, the rotation axis of the water supply pump 16 and the rotation axis of the motor 20 are arranged on the same straight line, and the center of the axis between the water supply pump 16 and the motor 20 is accurately positioned.

As described above, according to the water supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the water supply pump 16 and the motor 20 are raised by the uneven fitting between the water supply pump 16 and the wall surface of the tank 14 and the motor housing 39. Since the axes are aligned with positional accuracy, generation of abnormal noise due to step-out can be prevented.

Since the water supply pump 16 is pressed against the wall of the tank 14 by the elastic force of the discharge pipe 40,
The concave-convex fitting between the water supply pump 16 and the tank wall surface is ensured, and the positional accuracy of both is further improved.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a water supply device according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the water supply pump 1
The irregularities of the 6, the wall surface of the tank 14 and the motor housing 39 are formed in the opposite direction to the above embodiment.

That is, a substantially conical recess 70 is provided on the rotating shaft of the impeller 36 on the rear surface of the water supply pump 16, and a substantially conical protrusion that fits into the recess 70 is formed on the inner wall surface of the tank 14. A part 72 is provided. On the front surface 39a of the motor housing 39, a substantially conical convex portion 76 is provided on the rotation axis of the motor 20, and this convex portion 76 is provided on the rear wall of the tank 14 on the rear side of the convex portion 72. The recess 74 is fitted to the recess 74.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a water supply device according to still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the tank 1
4 are provided on the rear wall of the water supply pump 16 with truncated conical projections 82 and 84 protruding from the inside and outside of the water supply pump 16. On the front surface 39a of the portion 39, a truncated cone-shaped concave portion 86 that fits with the convex portion 84 is provided.

As described above, the directions of the concavities and convexities of the water supply pump 16, the wall surface of the tank 14, and the motor housing 39 can be appropriately set as long as they can be fitted to each other.

[0036]

According to the water supply apparatus of the present invention, the displacement of the water supply pump detachable with the lid from the tank body with respect to the tank wall surface can be eliminated, thereby improving the positional accuracy of the water supply pump and the motor. Generation of abnormal noise due to step-out can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the water supply device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the water supply tank when a lid is attached.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a water supply device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a water supply device according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inside of the refrigerator showing the entire structure of the automatic ice making machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 water supply device 14 water supply tank 16 water supply pump 18 water supply path 20 motor 22 tank body 24 lid 34 casing 36 impeller 39 motor housing 40 Discharge pipes 60, 70, 80 ... convex or concave portions of water supply pump 62, 72, 82 ... concave portions or convex portions on inner wall surface of tank 64, 74, 84 ... convex or concave portions 66 on outer wall surface of tank 76, 86 ... concave or convex part of motor housing

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water supply device for an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator, comprising: a water supply tank detachably mounted on a tank mounting portion in a refrigerator, a magnetic coupling type water supply pump and a motor, and a water supply pump. A water supply path that is connected to the water supply tank and is drawn out of the water supply tank.The water supply tank includes a tank body that opens upward, and a detachable lid that closes an upper surface opening of the tank body. A pipe extending downward from the lower surface of the lid in the tank, the water supply pump is attached to a lower end of the pipe, and is disposed in contact with a wall of the water supply tank from the inside, and the motor is provided in the water supply tank. It is disposed inside a motor housing that is in contact with the wall from outside, and transmits the rotation of the motor to a water supply pump by magnetic force, and the water in the water supply tank is passed through the pipe by the water supply pump. In the water supply device, the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on a contact surface of the water supply pump with the water supply tank, and the convex portion fitted to the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on the wall of the water supply tank. Alternatively, a water supply device is provided in which a concave portion is provided, and the water supply pump is positioned with respect to the tank wall surface by fitting the two. 2. A concave portion or a convex portion is provided on a contact surface of the motor housing portion with the water supply tank, and a convex portion or a concave portion fitted with the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on the wall of the water supply tank. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the water supply tank is positioned with respect to the motor by fitting the two. 3. The water supply pump has an impeller disposed in a casing, and the concave or convex portion of the water supply pump is provided on a rotating shaft of the impeller, and the concave or convex portion of the motor accommodating portion is connected to a motor. The water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water supply device is provided on a rotating shaft, and the protrusion or recess on the water supply pump side and the protrusion or recess on the motor housing portion side of the water supply tank are provided on the same axis. 4. The pipe according to claim 1, wherein said pipe has elasticity and said water supply pump attached to a lower end thereof is pressed against said tank wall by elastically deforming said pipe.
4. The water supply device according to any one of 3.