JP2017088182A - Beverage cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a fact that an uneven ice layer is formed in the surrounding of an evaporation tube without increasing cost required for the beverage cooling device.SOLUTION: A control device 40 of a beverage cooling device 10 intermittently operates a freezer 20 on the basis of detection of an ice thickness detection sensor 30, for controlling so as to form an ice layer I having a thickness in a prescribed range, on the surrounding of an evaporation tube 23. When the freezer 20 is operated in a state of detecting a potential difference lower than a prescribed lower limit value, between a first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and a ground electrode, when a potential difference equal to or lower than a prescribed set value is detected between a second ice thickness detection electrode 33 and the ground electrode, it is detected that, an uneven ice layer I is formed on the surrounding of the evaporation tube 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage cooling device for cooling a beverage in a beverage cooling pipe by forming ice around a spiral evaporation pipe provided in a water tank.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a water tank that stores cooling water, a coiled beverage cooling pipe erected in the water tank, a pouring cock connected to the outlet end side of the beverage cooling pipe, and cooling in the water tank. A beverage cooling apparatus is disclosed that includes a refrigeration apparatus for cooling water. The refrigerating apparatus of this beverage cooling apparatus is a compressor that pumps refrigerant, a condenser that cools the refrigerant pumped from the compressor by driving a condenser fan, and condenses and liquefies it, and is sent from the condenser in the water tank. The vaporized liquefied refrigerant is sequentially connected to an evaporation pipe for cooling the cooling water. The evaporation pipe of the refrigeration apparatus is spirally wound along the inner peripheral wall of the water tank, the lower part of the evaporation pipe is connected to a condenser, and the upper part of the evaporation pipe is connected to a compressor. In addition, an ice thickness detection sensor is provided at a position where an ice layer around the evaporation pipe is formed in the water tank, and by intermittently operating the compressor based on the detection of the ice thickness detection sensor, An ice layer having a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporation pipe in the water tank.

JP 2013-119400 A

  In the refrigerating apparatus of the beverage cooling apparatus, the condenser cools and liquefies and condenses the refrigerant pumped from the compressor by the condenser fan when passing through the heat exchanger. When the beverage cooling device is used in a state where the outside air temperature is low, the refrigerant in the heat exchanger of the condenser is liquefied by the low temperature outside air when the operation of the compressor is interrupted based on the detection of the ice thickness detection sensor. As a result, the so-called refrigerant stagnation remains and the refrigerant circulating when the compressor is restarted may be insufficient. When the compressor is operated in this state and the refrigerant is circulated, the liquefied refrigerant almost evaporates on the introduction side of the evaporation pipe, so the ice layer formed around the spiral evaporation pipe in the water tank It is formed thick at the lower part on the refrigerant introduction side and thin at the upper part on the refrigerant discharge side of the evaporation pipe, and has a non-uniform thickness in the vertical direction of the evaporation pipe. If the ice layer is formed only in a non-uniform thickness in the vertical direction of the evaporation tube, the inside of the water tank may not be efficiently cooled, and the beverage may not be sufficiently cooled. In addition, if the ice layer is formed too thick in the lower part of the evaporation tube, the coiled beverage cooling tube inside will be rolled up, the beverage in the beverage cooling tube will freeze, and the beverage will be poured out from the dispensing cock There was a problem that could not be done. In the above beverage cooling device, a temperature sensor that detects the ambient outside air temperature is provided, and the operation of the condenser fan of the condenser is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, but the temperature sensor is newly provided. There was a problem of high costs. The present invention makes it possible to detect that an ice layer is unevenly formed around the evaporator tube without increasing the cost of the beverage chiller, and the refrigerant in the heat exchanger of the condenser The purpose is to eliminate so-called stagnation of the refrigerant at an early stage, which is liquefied and remains by liquefaction.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a water tank that stores cooling water, a beverage cooling pipe that is provided in the water tank and cools the beverage, and is spirally wound up and down in the water tank with the upper and lower directions being spiral. The refrigerant that is pumped by the compressor is cooled by driving the condenser fan to liquefy and condense in the condenser, and the liquefied refrigerant that has been liquefied and condensed in the condenser is A refrigeration system that cools the cooling water around the evaporation pipe and forms ice around it by evaporating the liquefied refrigerant that has passed through, and an ice layer with a thickness in a predetermined range is formed around the evaporation pipe An ice thickness detection sensor for detecting the occurrence of the event and a control device for controlling the operation of the refrigeration apparatus based on the detection of the ice thickness detection sensor. And the ice layer is the thinnest in the thickness range The first ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position exposed to the surface and the ice layer when the ice layer becomes thickest within a predetermined range at a position away from the evaporation tube from the first ice thickness detection electrode. A second ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a covered position and a ground electrode using at least an evaporation tube are provided, and the control device is lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode. When the potential difference is detected, the refrigeration unit is activated, and when a potential difference higher than a predetermined upper limit value is detected between the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode, the refrigeration unit is deactivated, so that Controlling to form an ice layer with a thickness in a predetermined range, when detecting a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode and operating the refrigeration system Between the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode. When it detects a potential difference following the constant set value is to provide a beverage cooling device, characterized in that it is detected that the non-uniformity of the ice layer is formed around the evaporator tube.

  In the beverage cooling apparatus configured as described above, when the ice layer formed around the evaporation tube melts and the first ice thickness detection electrode is exposed to the cooling water, the first ice thickness detection electrode and the earth are grounded. Based on the detection of a potential difference between the electrodes and lower than a predetermined lower limit value, the refrigeration system is operated to freeze the cooling water around the evaporation tube and grow an ice layer, which is formed around the evaporation tube. When the ice layer covers the second ice pressure detection electrode, the refrigeration apparatus is operated based on the fact that a potential difference higher than a predetermined upper limit is detected between the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode. The operation is stopped and the ice layer formed around the evaporation tube is controlled to have a predetermined thickness. As described above, when the ice layer formed around the evaporator tube is controlled to have a thickness within a predetermined range, the refrigerant is liquefied and remains in the condenser of the refrigeration apparatus when the outside air temperature is low. Since the amount of circulating refrigerant is reduced, an ice layer is not formed on the upper part of the spiral evaporator tube, and the cooling efficiency in the water tank may be lowered.

  In this beverage cooling apparatus, when a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit value is detected between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode and the refrigeration apparatus is operated, the evaporation tube used as the ground electrode reaches the top of the ice. When a potential difference of a predetermined value or less is detected between the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode because a layer is not covered, a non-uniform ice layer is formed around the evaporation tube. Could be detected. Thus, in this beverage cooling apparatus, it was possible to detect that a non-uniform ice layer was formed around the evaporator tube without increasing the cost.

  In the beverage cooling device according to another embodiment configured as described above, a water tank that stores cooling water, a beverage cooling pipe that is provided in the water tank and cools the beverage, and a spiral traveling direction up and down in the water tank As a liquefied refrigerant that has an evaporation tube spirally wound as a refrigerant and is liquefied and condensed in a condenser by cooling the refrigerant pumped by a compressor by driving a condenser fan and liquefying and condensing in a condenser Is passed from the bottom to the top of the evaporator tube, and the liquefied refrigerant that has passed through evaporates to cool the cooling water around the evaporator tube and form ice around it, and a predetermined range around the evaporator tube An ice thickness detection sensor comprising: an ice thickness detection sensor for detecting the formation of an ice layer having a thickness; and a control device for controlling the operation of the refrigeration device based on detection by the ice thickness detection sensor. The sensor has a predetermined ice layer around the evaporation tube. A first ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position exposed when the thickness becomes the smallest, and an ice layer having a thickness within a predetermined range at a position away from the evaporation tube from the first ice thickness detection electrode A second ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position covered with ice when it becomes the thickest, a third ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position where an ice layer having a predetermined thickness range is not formed, and at least an evaporation tube And a control device, when detecting a potential difference between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode that is lower than a predetermined lower limit value, activates the refrigeration device, and the second ice thickness detection electrode When a potential difference higher than a predetermined upper limit value is detected between the ground electrode and the ground electrode, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus is stopped to control the formation of an ice layer with a predetermined thickness around the evaporator tube. Set between the third ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode Following upon detection of a potential difference, there is provided a beverage cooling device, characterized in that it is detected that the non-uniformity of the ice layer is formed around the evaporator tube.

  Even in this beverage cooling device, since the evaporation tube used as the ground electrode is not covered with the ice layer to the top, a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode. Sometimes it was possible to detect the formation of a non-uniform ice layer around the evaporator tube. Thus, in this beverage cooling apparatus, it was possible to detect that a non-uniform ice layer was formed around the evaporation tube by adding only one electrode. Further, when a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit value is detected between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode and the refrigeration apparatus is operated, a predetermined value is set between the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode. Whether or not a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode, as compared with the above-described embodiment in which it is determined whether or not a potential difference equal to or less than the set value is detected. Since the determination of whether or not can be performed constantly or at a desired timing, it was possible to always detect that a non-uniform ice layer was formed around the evaporation tube.

  In each beverage cooling device configured as described above, when the control device does not detect that a non-uniform ice layer is formed around the evaporator tube, the refrigerant is frozen without being accumulated in the condenser. Since the system circulates, the condenser fan is driven at a high cooling capacity to control the refrigerant to liquefy and condense, and it is detected that a non-uniform ice layer has formed around the evaporator tube. In this case, since the refrigerant remains in the condenser, so-called stagnation of the refrigerant occurs, the condenser fan is controlled to be driven with a low cooling capacity, and the refrigerant remaining in the condenser is liquefied. It can be circulated by being evaporated by the vaporized refrigerant pumped from the compressor. As a result, the so-called refrigerant stagnation, in which the refrigerant in the condenser is liquefied and accumulated by the low-temperature outside air, can be eliminated at an early stage without increasing the cost of the beverage cooling device.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the drink cooling device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic corresponding to FIG. 1 when an ice layer is formed centering on the lower part of an evaporation pipe. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the drink cooling device of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of a beverage cooling device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage cooling apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a water tank 12 for storing cooling water in a housing 11, and a stainless steel coiled beverage cooling apparatus is provided in the water tank 12. The pipe 13 is erected in a state where it is immersed in cooling water. The beverage cooling pipe 13 is connected to a beverage supply source such as a via barrel (not shown) on the introduction end side, and a dispensing cock 14 fixed to the upper front portion of the housing 11 is connected to the lead-out end side. The beverage as a beverage supply source is cooled by the cooling water when passing through the beverage cooling pipe 13 and is poured out from the dispensing cock 14 into a container such as a glass. A stirring motor 15 is provided in the upper part of the water tank 12, and a stirring blade 17 for stirring the cooling water is provided at the tip of the output shaft 16 of the stirring motor 15 extending to the inner peripheral side of the coiled beverage cooling pipe 13. It is fixed. When the stirring blade 17 is rotated by the stirring motor 15 to stir the cooling water, the beverage passing through the beverage cooling pipe 13 is efficiently cooled by exchanging heat with the surrounding cooling water.

  The beverage cooling apparatus 10 includes a refrigeration apparatus 20 for cooling the cooling water in the water tank 12 in the housing 11. The refrigerating apparatus 20 compresses a refrigerant 21, a condenser 22 that cools and compresses the refrigerant pumped from the compressor 21, and decompresses the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by the condenser 22 into a low-pressure liquefied refrigerant. A refrigeration circuit is configured by including a capillary tube (not shown) and an evaporation tube 23 connected to the condenser 22 through the capillary tube in the water tank 12 and sequentially connecting them. The condenser 22 includes a heat exchanger 22a connected to the compressor 21 and a condenser fan 22b that cools the heat exchanger 22a. The condenser 22 is an air-cooled type in which the refrigerant pumped from the compressor 21 to the heat exchanger 22a is cooled by air blown by the condenser fan 22b to be condensed and liquefied. The evaporation pipe 23 is wound in a spiral shape so that the vertical direction is the spiral traveling direction, and is disposed along the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 12. The lower part of the evaporation pipe 23 is connected to the heat exchanger 22 a of the condenser 22 via a capillary tube, and the upper part of the evaporation pipe 23 is connected to the compressor 21. The liquefied refrigerant sent from the condenser 22 to the evaporation pipe 23 via the capillary tube flows from the lower part of the spiral evaporation pipe 23 and exchanges heat with the cooling water around the evaporation pipe 23 in the water tank 12. It rises along the spiral of the evaporation pipe 23 and returns to the compressor 21 from the upper part of the evaporation pipe 23.

  An ice thickness detection sensor 30 is provided in the water tank 12 for detecting that an ice layer I having a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporation pipe 23. The ice thickness detection sensor 30 includes a bracket 31 disposed at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction inside the evaporation tube 23 wound spirally, and first and second ice thickness detection electrodes 32 and 33 fixed to the bracket. And a ground electrode using the beverage cooling pipe 13 and the evaporation pipe 23. The first and second ice thickness detection electrodes 32 and 33 extend from the periphery of the evaporation pipe 23 toward the center of the water tank 12. The first ice thickness detection electrode 32 has such a length that the tip is exposed to the cooling water when the ice layer I becomes the thinnest in a predetermined range of thickness around the evaporation tube 23 (the cooling water The second ice thickness detection electrode 33 has a length that the tip of the ice layer I is covered with ice when the ice layer I reaches the maximum thickness within a predetermined range around the evaporation tube 23. (It is placed in a position covered with ice).

  The beverage cooling device 10 includes a control device 40, and this control device 40 is connected to the compressor 21, the condenser fan 22 b, and the ice thickness detection sensor 30. The control device 40 includes a microcomputer (not shown), and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a timer (all not shown) connected via a bus. The control device 40 includes a detection circuit (not shown) that detects a potential difference between the first and second ice thickness detection electrodes 32 and 33 of the ice thickness detection sensor 30 and the ground electrode. By controlling the operation of the compressor 21 and the condenser fan 22b based on the potential difference (detection by the ice thickness detection sensor) between the first and second ice thickness detection electrodes 32 and 33 and the ground electrode, the evaporator tube 23 has an ice thickness control program for forming an ice layer I having a predetermined thickness around 23.

  Next, the operation of the beverage cooling apparatus 10 will be described. When the power supply of the beverage cooling device 10 is turned on, the stirring motor 15 is operated to stir the cooling water, and the above-described ice thickness control program is executed by the control device 40. When the evaporating tube 23 is not covered with the ice layer I as when the beverage cooling device 10 is activated, the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 is exposed to the cooling water without being covered with ice (naturally The second ice thickness detection electrode 33 is also exposed to the cooling water), and the control device 40 has detected a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode. Based on this, the refrigeration apparatus 20 is controlled to operate. When the refrigeration apparatus 20 is operated, the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 21 is condensed when passing through the heat exchanger 22a of the condenser 22 by driving the compressor 21 and the condenser fan 22b of the condenser 22. The liquefied refrigerant is cooled and liquefied by blowing by the fan 22b. The liquefied refrigerant is reduced in pressure by the capillary tube and then guided to the evaporation pipe 23 in the water tank 12, and the liquefied refrigerant passing through the evaporation pipe 23 is cooled in the water tank 12. After being exchanged with heat and vaporized, it returns to the compressor 21 again.

  The cooling water in the water tank 12 is cooled by the refrigerant vaporized in the evaporation pipe 23 and gradually decreases in temperature, and the cooling water freezes around the evaporation pipe 23 to form an ice layer I. When the ice layer I formed around the evaporating tube 23 reaches the maximum thickness within a predetermined range, the second ice thickness detection electrode 33 is covered with ice (naturally, the first ice thickness detection). The control device 40 detects that a potential difference higher than a predetermined upper limit value is detected between the second ice thickness detection electrode 33 and the ground electrode. Control to stop the operation.

  When the beverage is poured out from the dispensing cock 14, the cooling water in the water tank 12 is warmed by heat exchange with the beverage passing through the beverage cooling pipe 13, and the ice layer I formed around the evaporation pipe 23 is gradually thinned. It will become. When the ice layer I formed around the evaporation tube 23 becomes the thinnest in a predetermined range of thickness, the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 is exposed to the cooling water without being covered with ice ( Naturally, the second ice thickness detection electrode 33 is also exposed to the cooling water), and the control device 40 detects a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit value between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode. Based on this, the refrigeration apparatus 20 is controlled to operate again. In this way, the control device 40 controls the refrigeration device 20 to operate intermittently based on the detection of the ice thickness detection sensor 30, so that the ice layer I having a predetermined thickness around the evaporation tube 23. Is controlled to form.

  When the operation of the refrigeration apparatus 20 is stopped when the outside air temperature at the place where the beverage cooling apparatus 10 is installed is low, the refrigerant is liquefied and accumulated in the heat exchanger 22a of the condenser 22 by the low temperature outside air. There was a risk of stagnation of the refrigerant. If the refrigerant is liquefied and accumulated in the heat exchanger 22a of the condenser 22, the amount of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration apparatus 20 is insufficient, and most of the refrigerant sent from the condenser 22 to the evaporation pipe 23 is in the evaporation pipe 23. It will evaporate in the lower part on the introduction side. In this case, although the ice layer I is formed thick at the lower part of the spiral evaporator tube 23, the ice layer I is not formed at the upper part of the spiral evaporator tube 23, and above and below the spiral evaporator tube 23. An ice layer I of non-uniform thickness was to be formed.

  In this beverage cooling apparatus 10, when a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit value is detected between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode and the refrigeration apparatus 20 is operated, the first exposed to the cooling water. It was found that the potential difference detected between the two ice thickness detection electrodes 33 and the ground electrode increases as the portion covered with the ice layer I of the evaporation tube 23 used as the ground electrode increases. For this reason, when the control device 40 detects the potential difference lower than the predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode and operates the refrigeration apparatus 20, the second ice thickness detection electrode It is determined whether or not a non-uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation tube 23 by determining whether or not a potential difference equal to or smaller than a predetermined set value is detected between the ground electrode 33 and the ground electrode. I am doing so.

  When the control device 40 detects a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit value between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the earth electrode and operates the refrigeration apparatus 20, the control device 40 and the earth ice thickness detection electrode 33 and the earth electrode are grounded. When a potential difference higher than a predetermined set value is detected with respect to the electrode, it is not detected that the uneven ice layer I is formed around the evaporation tube 23 as shown in FIG. (It is detected that a uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation tube 23). When the control device 40 does not detect that the non-uniform ice layer I has been formed around the evaporation pipe 23, the condenser 22 has not stagnation of the refrigerant. In this embodiment, control is performed so that the output of the condenser fan 22b is continuously reduced without lowering.

  On the other hand, when the control device 40 detects the potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode, the control device 40 detects the second ice thickness detection. When a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected between the working electrode 33 and the ground electrode, it is detected that a non-uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation tube 23 as shown in FIG. It will be. When the control device 40 detects that the non-uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation pipe 23, the cooling of the condenser fan 22b is reduced because the refrigerant has stagnated in the condenser 22. State, in this embodiment, control is performed such that the output (rotation speed) of the condenser fan 22b is reduced or (and) the condenser fan 22b is driven intermittently. By driving the condenser fan 22b with a low cooling capacity, the refrigerant remaining in the heat exchanger 22a of the condenser 22 is evaporated by the vaporized refrigerant pumped from the compressor 21 and circulates in the refrigeration apparatus 20. It becomes like this. Since the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration apparatus 20 does not run short, the ice layer I can be uniformly formed from the upper part to the lower part of the evaporation pipe 23. In this way, it becomes possible to detect that the ice layer I is formed unevenly around the evaporation pipe 23 without increasing the cost of the beverage cooling device 10, and the refrigerant in the condenser 22 is low in temperature. The so-called refrigerant stagnation, which has been liquefied and retained by the outside air, can be eliminated at an early stage.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the drink cooling device 10 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. The beverage cooling device 10 of the second embodiment is obtained by changing the ice thickness detection sensor 30 of the beverage cooling device 10 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the ice thickness detection sensor 30 of the beverage cooling device 10 of the second embodiment does not further form the ice layer I having a predetermined range of thickness in the ice thickness detection sensor 30 of the first embodiment. A third ice thickness detection electrode 34 is provided at the position. The third ice thickness detection electrode 34 extends to the center side of the water tank 12 around the evaporation tube 23 more than the second ice thickness detection electrode 33, and the ice layer I is thickest within a predetermined range. Sometimes the tip is not covered with ice.

  Also in the beverage cooling apparatus 10 of the second embodiment, as described above, the control apparatus 40 is based on the potential difference between the first and second ice thickness detection electrodes 32 and 33 and the ground electrode, and the refrigeration apparatus 20. Is controlled so that an ice layer I having a thickness within a predetermined range is formed around the evaporation pipe 23.

  Also in this beverage cooling apparatus 10, the potential difference detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 exposed to the cooling water and the ground electrode was covered with the ice layer I of the evaporation tube 23 used as the ground electrode. I know that the more parts, the higher. For this reason, the control device 40 determines whether or not a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 and the ground electrode, so Whether or not the uniform ice layer I is formed is detected. In the first embodiment described above, when the second ice thickness detection electrode 33 is reliably exposed to the cooling water, it is lower than a predetermined lower limit value between the first ice thickness detection electrode 32 and the ground electrode. When the potential difference is detected and the refrigeration apparatus 20 is operated, it is determined whether or not a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected between the second ice thickness detection electrode 33 and the ground electrode. . On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 is always exposed to the cooling water because it extends to a position where the ice layer I is not formed around the evaporation tube 23, and thus the control device 40. Determines whether or not a potential difference equal to or less than a set value has been detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 and the ground electrode, or the degree of the ice layer I around the evaporator tube 23 at regular intervals or periodically. It can be done regardless.

  When the control device 40 detects a potential difference higher than a predetermined set value between the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 and the earth electrode, as shown in FIG. It is not detected that the layer I is formed (it is detected that the uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation tube 23). When the control device 40 does not detect that the non-uniform ice layer I has been formed around the evaporation pipe 23, the condenser 22 has not stagnation of the refrigerant. In this embodiment, control is performed so that the output of the condenser fan 22b is continuously reduced without lowering.

  On the other hand, when the control device 40 detects a potential difference equal to or smaller than a predetermined set value between the third ice thickness detection electrode 34 and the ground electrode, the evaporator tube 23 is the same as shown in FIG. It is detected that a non-uniform ice layer I has been formed around. When the control device 40 detects that the non-uniform ice layer I is formed around the evaporation pipe 23, the cooling of the condenser fan 22b is reduced because the refrigerant has stagnated in the condenser 22. State, in this embodiment, control is performed such that the output (rotation speed) of the condenser fan 22b is reduced or (and) the condenser fan 22b is driven intermittently. By driving the condenser fan 22b with a low cooling capacity, the refrigerant remaining in the heat exchanger 22a of the condenser 22 is evaporated by the vaporized refrigerant pumped from the compressor 21 and circulates in the refrigeration apparatus 20. It becomes like this. Since the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration apparatus 20 does not run short, the ice layer I can be uniformly formed from the upper part to the lower part of the evaporation pipe 23. In this way, it is possible to detect that the ice layer I has been formed unevenly around the evaporation tube 23 by adding only one electrode of the ice thickness detection sensor 30, and the refrigerant in the condenser 22 can be detected. The so-called refrigerant stagnation, which is liquefied and accumulated by the low-temperature outside air, can be eliminated at an early stage.

  In the above embodiment, the beverage cooling pipe 13 and the evaporation pipe 23 are used as the ground electrode of the ice thickness detection sensor 30, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the evaporation pipe 23 is used. If so, another component may be used as the ground electrode, or a dedicated ground electrode may be further used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Beverage cooling device, 12 ... Water tank, 13 ... Beverage cooling pipe, 20 ... Refrigeration apparatus, 21 ... Compressor, 22 ... Condenser, 22b ... Condenser fan, 23 ... Evaporation pipe, 30 ... Ice thickness detection sensor, 32 ... 1st ice thickness detection electrode, 33 ... 2nd ice thickness detection electrode, 34 ... 3rd ice thickness detection electrode.

Claims (3)

A water tank for storing cooling water;
A beverage cooling pipe that is provided in the water tank and cools the beverage;
In the water tank, it has an evaporating tube wound in a spiral with the upper and lower sides in the direction of spiral, and the refrigerant pumped by the compressor is cooled by driving the condenser fan to liquefy and condense in the condenser The liquefied refrigerant liquefied and condensed in the condenser is passed from the lower part to the upper part of the evaporation pipe, and the passing liquefied refrigerant evaporates to cool the cooling water around the evaporator pipe to form ice around it. A refrigeration apparatus
An ice thickness detection sensor for detecting that an ice layer having a predetermined range of thickness is formed around the evaporation tube;
A beverage cooling device comprising a control device for controlling the operation of the refrigeration device based on detection by the ice thickness detection sensor,
The ice thickness detection sensor includes a first ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position that is exposed when the ice layer is thinnest within a predetermined range around the evaporation tube, and the first ice thickness. A second ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position that is covered with ice when the ice layer is thickest in a predetermined range of thickness at a position away from the evaporation tube from the detection electrode; and at least the evaporation With a ground electrode using a tube,
When the control device detects a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode, the control device operates the refrigeration device, and the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode When the potential difference higher than the predetermined upper limit value is detected, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus is stopped, and control is performed so as to form an ice layer having a predetermined range of thickness around the evaporation tube.
When detecting a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode and operating the refrigeration apparatus, the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode A beverage cooling device characterized by detecting that a non-uniform ice layer is formed around the evaporation tube when a potential difference equal to or less than a predetermined set value is detected. A water tank for storing cooling water;
A beverage cooling pipe that is provided in the water tank and cools the beverage;
In the water tank, it has an evaporating tube wound in a spiral with the upper and lower sides in the direction of spiral, and the refrigerant pumped by the compressor is cooled by driving the condenser fan to liquefy and condense in the condenser The liquefied refrigerant liquefied and condensed in the condenser is passed from the lower part to the upper part of the evaporation pipe, and the passing liquefied refrigerant evaporates to cool the cooling water around the evaporator pipe to form ice around it. A refrigeration apparatus
An ice thickness detection sensor for detecting that an ice layer having a predetermined range of thickness is formed around the evaporation tube;
A beverage cooling device comprising a control device for controlling the operation of the refrigeration device based on detection by the ice thickness detection sensor,
The ice thickness detection sensor includes a first ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position that is exposed when the ice layer is thinnest within a predetermined range around the evaporation tube, and the first ice thickness. A second ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position where the ice layer is covered with ice when the ice layer is thickest in a predetermined range at a position away from the evaporation tube from the detection electrode; A third ice thickness detection electrode disposed at a position where an ice layer having a thickness in a range is not formed, and a ground electrode using at least the evaporation tube;
When the control device detects a potential difference lower than a predetermined lower limit between the first ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode, the control device operates the refrigeration device, and the second ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode When the potential difference higher than the predetermined upper limit value is detected, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus is stopped, and control is performed so as to form an ice layer having a predetermined range of thickness around the evaporation tube.
When a potential difference equal to or less than the set value is detected between the third ice thickness detection electrode and the ground electrode, it is detected that a non-uniform ice layer is formed around the evaporation tube. Beverage cooling device to do. The beverage cooling device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the controller does not detect that a non-uniform ice layer has formed around the evaporator tube, the controller controls the condenser fan to drive in a high cooling capacity state. A beverage cooling device characterized in that, when it is detected that a non-uniform ice layer is formed in the surroundings, the condenser fan is controlled to be driven with a low cooling capacity.

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