JP2003322444A - Ice storage detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice storage detecting device capable of surely holding a temperature sensor by a holder. <P>SOLUTION: In the ice storage detecting device, the temperature sensor 22 is fixed to the holder 24 in a state where a fold 31a is provided in a capillary tube 31 and the temperature sensor 22 is connected the fold 31a. The capillary tube 31 is mounted to the holder 24 in a state where it is inserted in a tube accommodation recessed part 34 provided on a locking part. If the temperature sensor 22 is fixed in an icehouse 8 by utilizing the holder 24 like this, even though a tensile load is applied to the capillary tube 31 at the time of work laying the capillary tube 31 in the icehouse 8 or when a shovel or the like touches the capillary tube 31, as the fold 31a is formed on the capillary tube 31, the forced load is not added to the temperature sensor 22 by attenuating the tensile load with the fold 31a. As the result, it is hard to generate the position gap and the dropout of the temperature sensor 22 in the holder 24, and the temperature sensor is surely held by the holder 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice storage detecting device for detecting that ice-made ice is full in the ice storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-64070. The ice storage detecting device described in this publication detects the full ice of the ice stocked in the ice storage by a temperature sensing unit attached to the tip of the capillary tube. For example, when the ice touches the temperature sensing part during full ice, the temperature of the temperature sensing part is lowered, and this temperature change is transmitted to the thermostat via the capillary tube, and the operation of the ice machine is stopped by the control operation of the thermostat. I am letting you. Then, when the amount of ice in the ice storage decreases and the ice level decreases, the operation of the ice maker is restarted as the temperature of the temperature sensing unit rises. Further, a holder is used to arrange the temperature-sensing part of the ice storage detecting device at an appropriate position in the ice storage, and both ends of the temperature-sensing part are fixed to the holder fixed to the inner surface of the ice storage.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional ice storage detecting device has the following problems. That is, when arranging the temperature sensitive part of the ice storage detecting device at an appropriate position in the ice storage, both ends of the temperature sensitive part are
It is attached so that it can be fixed to the holder, but when the capillary tube that extends straight from the temperature sensing part is crawling around in the ice storage and during use, the scoop touches the capillary tube and the capillary tube is pulled. At this time, there is a possibility that a tensile load may be applied to the temperature-sensitive portion, and it is difficult to reliably hold the temperature-sensitive portion by the holder.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice storage detecting device capable of achieving reliable holding of a temperature sensitive portion by a holder.

[0005]

In the ice storage detecting device according to the present invention, a temperature sensitive portion is fixed to an end portion of a capillary tube, and the temperature sensitive portion is fixed to a holder attached to the inner surface of the ice storage. In an ice storage detecting device for detecting full ice stock in the ice storage, a temperature sensing part is connected to a bent part formed by bending a capillary tube, and a holder is provided with a tube accommodating recess for inserting a capillary tube. It is characterized by having a locked portion.

In this ice storage detecting device, the capillary tube is provided with a bent portion, and the temperature sensitive portion is fixed to the holder with the temperature sensitive portion being connected to the bent portion. Further, the capillary tube is attached to the holder while being inserted into the tube accommodating recess provided in the locking portion. If the temperature sensing part is fixed in the ice storage using such a holder, even when the capillary tube is crawling around in the ice storage or when a scoop etc. touches the capillary tube during use, it is pulled to the capillary tube. Even if a load is applied, the capillary tube is formed with a bent portion, so that the bent portion attenuates the tensile load force, which makes it difficult to apply an unreasonable load to the temperature sensing portion. As a result, the temperature-sensitive portion of the holder is less likely to be displaced or come off, and the holder can reliably hold the temperature-sensitive portion.

Further, in the holder, it is preferable to dispose the locking portion at a position above the temperature sensing portion. With such a configuration, the temperature sensing portion can be arranged below the capillary tube on the holder, so that the ice can be brought into contact with the temperature sensing portion before the capillary tube when the ice is full. As a result, malfunction due to ice contact with the capillary tube can be appropriately prevented, and stable full ice detection can be performed.

Further, the holder has a pair of arm portions for holding both ends of the temperature sensing portion, and the locking portion provided on the holder is
It is preferable to arrange it between the arm portions. Such a configuration achieves stable holding of the capillary tube by the locking portion and stable holding of the temperature sensing portion by the pair of arm portions. Furthermore, by adopting a pair of arms, the temperature sensing part can be held securely and at the same time the temperature sensing part can be exposed between the arm parts. Therefore, the adoption of the holder having the locking portion and the arm portion described above enables stable simultaneous holding of the capillary tube and the temperature sensitive portion in the ice storage, and contributes to the stable operation of the ice storage detection device. .

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the ice storage detecting device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The ice making machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a machine room 7 in which a refrigerant machine such as an air-cooled condenser 4 and a refrigerant compressor 6 by a fan motor 3 is housed, and an inside covered with a heat insulating material. It basically comprises an ice storage 8 forming an ice storage chamber S, and an ice making unit 9 arranged in the upper portion of the ice storage 8. The ice making unit 9 has an ice making section 11 that produces ice 5 by supplying ice making water from an ice making water tank 10. The ice 5 produced by the ice making section 11 is directly below the ice making section 11 during an ice removing cycle. Then, the ice 5 that has fallen is stored in the ice storage 8 along the ice guide plate 12. And ice storage 8
The ice 5 in the inside is taken out to the outside by opening the door 14 and using a scoop.

The ice 5 stocked in the ice storage 8
The full ice is properly monitored by the ice storage detecting device 20, and when the inside of the ice storage 8 is full, the thermostat 21 of the device 20 is turned off to stop the operation of the ice making machine 1. When the amount of ice 5 in the ice storage 8 decreases and the ice level decreases, the thermostat 21 is turned on and the operation of the ice maker is restarted. In addition, this ice making machine 1 is an electrical equipment box 1
The operation is controlled by the control device in 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice storage detecting device 2
No. 0 has a holder 24 for fixing the temperature sensing unit 22 for detecting full ice at a predetermined height level position in the ice storage 8. The holder 24 is integrally formed of resin having a low heat transfer coefficient and is fixed to the inner surface 8 a of the ice storage 8 by two bolts 23. At the top of this holder 24,
A mounting plate 26 having a pair of left and right bolt holes 25 is formed. Further, the holder 24 is provided with a pair of left and right arm portions 27 and 28 which project from the lower end of the mounting plate 26 toward the front. Each arm 27,2
8 has a C-shaped cross section and has an opening 27 on the outside.
a and 28b. In addition, each arm portion 27, 28
Are provided with insertion holes 30 and 30 facing each other in a horizontal position, and the temperature-sensing portions 22 are made to pass horizontally through the holder 24 in the ice storage 8 by inserting the temperature-sensing portions 22 into the insertion holes 30. To be kept. Then, by bending the end of the temperature-sensitive portion 22 into an L-shape, the retaining from the insertion hole 30 is achieved.

The temperature sensing portion 22 is fixed to the end of the capillary tube 31, and a heat insulating tube 32 is attached around the capillary tube 31.
The capillary tube 31 crawls along the inner surface 8a of the ice storage 8 to the thermostat 21. Further, the holder 24 has a locking portion 33 for inserting a capillary tube.
Is provided. The locking portion 33 extends in the horizontal direction so as to connect the arm portion 27 and the arm portion 28, and extends downward from the lower end of the mounting plate 26. Furthermore, the locking portion 33 bulges forward to create a tube housing recess 34 that extends horizontally on the back surface side.

In order to make the temperature sensing section 22 and the capillary tube 31 face each other, in the vicinity of the temperature sensing section 22,
The capillary tube 31 has a U-shaped bent portion 31a.
And the temperature sensitive portion 22 is connected to the bent portion 31a. Then, the capillary tube 31 is placed in the tube accommodating recess 34, and the temperature sensitive portion 22 is fixed to the arm portions 27 and 28, so that the engaging portion 33 is provided between the temperature sensitive portion 22 and the capillary tube 31 in the facing state. Isolate with.

Here, the tube accommodating recess 34 and the ice storage 8
The tube housing space P created by the inner surface 8a of the above is large enough to press the heat insulating tube 32 against the inner surface 8a of the ice storage 8. For example, by forming the inner surface 33a of the locking portion 33 into a substantially V-shaped cross section, the locking portion 33
Can press the heat insulating tube 32 with equal force. The shape of the inner surface 33a of the locking portion 33 is not limited to this, and the inner surface 33a may be provided with a large number of irregularities.

Further, on the holder 24, the temperature sensing portion 2
The capillary tube 31 is arranged above the position 2. In order to achieve this, the tube accommodating recess 34 of the holder 24 has the insertion holes 30, 3 of the arm portions 27, 28.
It is formed above 0. As a result, the holder 24
In the above, the ice 5 at full ice is replaced with the capillary tube 3
The temperature-sensing part 2 is placed before the heat-insulating tube 32 arranged around
Since it can be brought into contact with 2, the malfunction due to the ice 5 coming into contact with the capillary tube 31 at the time of full ice can be appropriately prevented, and stable full ice detection can be performed. Further, the prevention of the cooling of the capillary tube 31 by the ice 5 and the prevention of the collision of the ice 5 and the scoop with the capillary tube 31 are performed by the resin locking portion 33 functioning as a partition wall.
But it will be achieved.

By accommodating the U-shaped bent portion 31a of the capillary tube 31 in the arm portion 27, the exposed portion of the capillary tube 31 is reduced,
The appearance looks good. Further, a heater wire for keeping the temperature sensing part 22 at 0 ° C. or more is wound around the capillary tube 31. Further, by forming the locking portion 33 and the arm portions 27 and 28 of the holder 24 with curved surfaces, cleaning is facilitated, the appearance is improved, and even if the operator's hand, scoop, or falling ice touches them, Also makes the holder 24 difficult to break. Moreover,
Water drops adhering to the surface of the holder 24 and falling ice are prevented from slipping off, and a situation in which water drops collect in the holder 24 or ice is caught is prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the other holder 40 shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is made of a stainless plate material. The holder 40 has a pair of left and right arm portions 47 and 48 that project obliquely forward from the lower end of a mounting plate 46 having a pair of left and right bolt holes 42. In addition, support pieces 51 and 52 projecting downward are integrally formed on the bottom surface side of each arm portion 47 and 48, and each support piece 51 and 52 has an O-shaped insertion which is opposed at a horizontal position. The hole 50a and the C-shaped 50b are provided, and the temperature-sensitive portion 22 is kept horizontal in the ice storage 8 via the holder 40 by penetrating the temperature-sensitive portion 22 into each insertion hole 50.

Further, the holder 40 is provided with a locking portion 53 for inserting a capillary tube, and this locking portion 53 is provided.
Extends in the horizontal direction so as to connect between the arm portion 47 and the arm portion 48, and extends downward from the lower end of the mounting plate 46. And, this locking portion 53,
The tongue piece 53a is bent into a V-shape, whereby a tube housing recess 54 extending horizontally is formed on the back surface side of the locking portion 53 having a V-shaped cross section.

The tube accommodation space P formed by the tube accommodation recess 54 and the inner surface 8a of the ice storage compartment 8 is large enough to press the heat insulating tube 32 against the inner surface 8a of the ice storage compartment 8. For example, the inner surface 5 of the locking portion 53
By forming 3b to have a V-shaped cross section, the locking portion 53 can press the heat insulating tube 32 with a uniform force. The inner surface 53b of the locking portion 53 may have an L-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section.

Further, on the holder 40, the temperature sensing unit 2
The capillary tube 31 is arranged above the position 2. In order to achieve this, the tube accommodating recess 54 of the holder 40 has the insertion holes 50a of the arm portions 47, 48,
It is formed above 50b. As a result, on the holder 40, the ice 5 at the time of full ice can be brought into contact with the temperature sensing unit 22 before the heat insulating tube 32 arranged around the capillary tube 31.

By disposing the U-shaped bent portion 31a of the capillary tube 31 directly below the arm portion 47, the exposed portion of the capillary tube 31 is reduced and the appearance is improved. In addition, the holder 40
By extending the locking portion 53 and the arm portions 47 and 48 in the straight line in a straight line obliquely downward, cleaning is facilitated, the appearance is improved, and water droplets and falling ice that have adhered to the surface of the holder 24 slide off. And the situation in which water droplets are accumulated in the holder 24 or ice is trapped is prevented. Further, the arm portion 48 is provided with a projecting piece 60 parallel to the support piece 52, and the projecting piece 60 protects the temperature sensing part 22 from falling ice. In addition, the projecting piece 60 includes
It may be provided on both the arm portion 48 and the arm portion 48.

The present invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above. For example, in the holders 24 and 40, even if the tube accommodating recesses 34 and 54 are provided on the front surface side of the engaging portions 33 and 53, the initial stage is not necessary. The purpose of can be achieved.

[0024]

Since the ice storage detecting device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, a temperature sensing unit is fixed to the end of the capillary tube, and the temperature sensing unit fixed to a holder attached to the inner surface of the ice storage detects ice full of ice stocked in the ice storage. In the device, the temperature-sensitive part is connected to the bent part formed by bending the capillary tube, and the holder has the locking part provided with the tube accommodating recess for inserting the capillary tube. Achieving reliable retention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an ice making machine to which an ice storage detecting device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a holder applied to the ice storage detecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing another holder applied to the ice storage detecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... Ice, 8 ... Ice storage, 8a ... Inner surface of ice storage, 20 ... Ice storage detection device, 22 ... Temperature sensing part, 24, 40 ... Holder, 27,
28, 47, 48 ... Arm part, 31 ... Capillary tube, 31a ... Bent part, 34, 54 ... Tube accommodating recessed part, 33, 53 ... Locking part.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A full-ice piece of ice stocked in the ice storage by the temperature sensing portion fixed to an end of a capillary tube and fixed to a holder attached to the inner surface of the ice storage. In the ice storage detecting device for detecting the temperature, the temperature sensing part is connected to a bent part formed by bending the capillary tube, and the holder has a locking part provided with a tube accommodating recess into which the capillary tube is inserted. An ice storage detection device characterized by the above. 2. The ice storage detecting device according to claim 1, wherein in the holder, the locking portion is arranged above the temperature sensing portion. 3. The holder has a pair of arm portions for holding both ends of the temperature sensitive portion, and the locking portion provided on the holder is arranged between the arm portions. The ice storage detecting device according to claim 1 or 2.