JP3699169B2

JP3699169B2 - Auger ice machine

Info

Publication number: JP3699169B2
Application number: JP23390995A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 進立松; 靖光築山; 直也内田
Original assignee: Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-12
Filing date: 1995-09-12
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-12
Also published as: JPH0979716A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、オーガ式製氷機に関し、特に、その冷凍ケーシング内に製氷水を供給するための製氷水タンクの構造に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
オーガ式製氷機は、縦長の筒状部材である冷凍ケーシングを有しており、その外周面には冷凍回路の一部である蒸発器が巻装され、内部には螺旋刃を有するオーガが設けられている。この冷凍ケーシング内に製氷水を供給するため、該冷凍ケーシングに給水管の一端が接続され、その他端が製氷水タンクの底部に接続されると共に、製氷水タンクの上部には、外部水源に接続された導水管が給水弁を有して設けられている。製氷水タンクの中には、同製氷水タンク内の水位を検知する水位スイッチが配設されている。
【０００３】
このようなオーガ式製氷機では、製氷水タンク内に製氷水が供給された際、多量の気泡が発生することが知られている（実公平２ー３９１８７号公報）。この気泡は、製氷水の供給時に、製氷水に空気が混入することによって生じるもので、混入した空気の大部分は、製氷水タンクの水面から空気中に放出されるが、一部は、給水管を通って冷凍ケーシング内に入り込むため、長時間連続運転すると、冷凍ケーシング内に空気が徐々に溜まって、冷凍ケーシングの内面に接触する製氷水の量を制限するほどになるので、過冷却運転となり、製氷機構に悪影響を及ぼす恐れがあった。
このような問題を解決するため、例えば、上述した実開平２−３９１８７号公報に記載のオーガ式製氷機の製氷水タンクでは、図１０に示されるように、仕切板５９によって、外部水源から供給された水を受ける第１槽５３と、給水管に接続する吐出口６１を有する第２槽５７とに区画すると共に、該仕切板５９の比較的下部に連通部５５を形成して、第１槽５３と第２槽５７とを連通させて、第１槽５３への給水時に発生した気泡が第２槽５７に入りにくくしている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、上述した従来の製氷水タンクでは、同製氷水タンクへの１回の給水量を多くして給水弁及び水位スイッチ等の機器の開閉回数を低減させて、以て同機器の寿命を長くするため、連通部５５を、前述したように仕切板５９の下部に設けていた。従って、第１槽５３の水は、空気中に気泡を放出することなく連通部５５を介して第２槽５７へ流入する可能性が高いため、どうしても、給水管に気泡が流れ込むことが避けられない。また、第２槽５７は、連通部５５を除いて仕切板５９により実質的に覆われているため、洗浄等のメンテナンスの容易性に問題があった。
従って、本発明は、給水管への空気の混入が効果的に防止可能なオーガ式製氷機の製氷水タンクを提供することを主な目的とするものである。
また、本発明の別の目的は、上述のように空気の混入を防止しうると共に、清掃等のメンテナンスが容易な製氷水タンクを提供することである。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上述の目的を達成するため、本発明は、給水弁を有する導水管を介して製氷水の供給を受ける、製氷水タンクと、該製氷水タンクに接続された給水管を介して前記製氷水を供給され内部で氷を生成するための冷凍ケーシングとを備え、前記給水管の入口は前記製氷水タンクの底部に開口しているオーガ式製氷機において、前記製氷水タンク内には、前記給水弁が開弁する下限水位及び該給水弁が閉弁する上限水位を検知する水位スイッチと、前記導水管及び前記給水管の間に設けられた堰板とが配置され、前記堰板の一方の面側を前記導水管に連通する第１タンク部分とし、前記堰板の他方の面側を前記給水管に連通した第２タンク部分とし、前記第１タンク部分内に供給された前記製氷水を、前記堰板を越えて前記第２タンク部分に流入させるように構成し、該堰板は、その頂部で屈曲して前記第２タンク部分の上方で横方向に延びる連通空間画成部を有し、該連通空間画成部の両側縁が、前記製氷水タンクの内壁面と協働して、前記第１タンク部分及び前記第２タンク部分の間に少なくとも１つの連通空間を画成することを特徴とするものである。
【０００６】
本発明は、給水弁を有する導水管を介して製氷水の供給を受ける製氷水タンクと、該製氷水タンクに接続された給水管を介して前記製氷水を供給され内部で氷を生成するための冷凍ケーシングとを備え、前記給水管の入口は前記製氷水タンクの底部に開口しているオーガ式製氷機において、前記製氷水タンク内には、前記給水弁が開弁する下限水位及び該給水弁が閉弁する上限水位を検知する水位スイッチと、前記導水管及び前記給水管の間に設けられた堰板とが配置され、前記堰板の一方の面側を前記導水管に連通する第１タンク部分とし、前記堰板の他方の面側を前記給水管に連通した第２タンク部分とし、前記第１タンク部分内に供給された前記製氷水を、前記堰板を越えて前記第２タンク部分に流入させるように構成し、該堰板を越えた前記製氷水が該堰板を伝って前記第２タンク部分に流入するように案内する緩衝斜面を含むことを特徴とするものである。
また、本発明は、給水弁を有する導水管を介して製氷水の供給を受ける製氷水タンクと、該製氷水タンクに接続された給水管を介して前記製氷水を供給され内部で氷を生成するための冷凍ケーシングとを備え、前記給水管の入口は前記製氷水タンクの底部に開口しているオーガ式製氷機において、前記製氷水タンク内には、前記給水弁が開弁する下限水位及び該給水弁が閉弁する上限水位を検知する水位スイッチと、前記導水管及び前記給水管の間に設けられた堰板とが配置され、前記堰板の一方の面側を前記導水管に連通する第１タンク部分とし、前記堰板の他方の面側を前記給水管に連通した第２タンク部分とし、前記第１タンク部分内に供給された前記製氷水を、前記堰板を越えて前記第２タンク部分に流入させるように構成し、該堰板は、その下端部に、前記導水管からの製氷水を受けて該製氷水を緩やかに前記堰板に指向させる傾斜した案内部を含むことを特徴とするものである。
【０００７】
前記堰板の頂部は、少なくとも前記下限水位より上方に配置するのが好適である。
前記水位スイッチの前方には、前記製氷水の波動が前記水位スイッチに直接衝突しないようにガード部を配置することが好ましい。
前記製氷水タンクの内側面に、縦方向に延びる２つの凸部分が所定の間隔で並置しておくと、前記堰板を、前記２つの凸部分の間に挟まれるように脱着可能に挿入支持しておくことができる。
【０００８】
また、本発明の別の側面によると、給水弁を有する導水管を介して製氷水の供給を受ける製氷水タンクと、該製氷水タンクに接続された給水管を介して前記製氷水を供給され内部で氷を生成するための冷凍ケーシングとを備え、前記給水管の入口は前記製氷水タンクの底部に開口しているオーガ式製氷機において、前記製氷水タンク内に、前記給水弁が開弁する下限水位及び該給水弁が閉弁する上限水位を検知する水位スイッチと、上端が前記導水管に接続され、下端が前記下限水位の下方まで延びる案内管とを備えている。このような案内管を設けることによっても、気泡の混入が防止される。尚、かかる案内管は堰板と共用しても差し支えない。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に、本発明の好適な実施の形態すなわち実施形態について添付図面を参照して詳細に説明するが、図中、同一符号は同一又は対応部分を示すものとする。以下に、図１〜４に基づいた参考例を示す。この参考例は、後述する第２〜５の実施形態に係るオーガ式製氷機全体の構成を説明する目的で記載したものであり、本願発明の好適な実施形態は、第２〜５の実施形態である。
参考例
図１には、部分的に断面で示された本発明の実施形態に係るオーガ式製氷機１０５の全体図が示されている。尚、図１の製氷水タンク１３５は、概略的に示されており、その細部については、図２等に基づいて後程説明する。オーガ式製氷機１０５は、冷凍ケーシング１０７を有している。縦長の筒状部材である冷凍ケーシング１０７の外周面には、冷凍回路（図示せず）の一部である蒸発器すなわち冷却パイプ１１３が巻装されている。冷却パイプ１１３の外方には、同冷却パイプ１１３及び冷凍ケーシング１０７を取り囲むように断熱材１２１が配設されている。冷凍ケーシング１０７の内部には、螺旋刃１０９を有するオーガ１１１が回動可能に配設されている。オーガ１１１の上部は、押圧頭１１５内の軸受１１７によって回動可能に支持され、下部は、軸受１１９によって回動可能に支持されている。更に、冷凍ケーシング１０７の下部は、周知の継手１２３によって、ギヤードモータ（歯車付電動機）１２７の出力軸１２５に連結されている。押圧頭１１５の上部には、一端が図示しない貯氷庫に接続された氷放出通路１２９の他端が接続されている。
また、押圧頭１１５と氷放出通路１２９との間には、カッタ１３１が配設されている。
【００１０】
冷凍ケーシング１０７の下部の入口管１０７ａには、給水管１３３の一端（出口）が接続されている。該給水管１３３の他端（入口）は、製氷水タンク１３５の底部に設けられた出口管１３５ａに接続されている。製氷水タンク１３５は、タンク本体１３７と蓋１３９とからなる。蓋１３９には、外部水道系に接続しうる図示しない給水弁を有する導水管１４１の端部が設けられている。製氷水タンク１３５の内部には、導水管１４１からの製氷水の供給時に同製氷水に混入した空気が前述の出口管１３５ａに達するのを可及的に防止するように水流を制御するための脱着可能な堰板１４３が配設されている。以下、この明細書では、堰板１４３の一方の面側の領域を第１タンク部分１４５と呼び、他方の面側の領域を第２タンク部分１４７と呼ぶ。第１タンク部分１４５の上方部には導水管１４１が開口し、第２タンク部分１４７の下方部には出口管１３５ａが開口しており、これらのタンク部分１４５，１４７は、堰板１４３の上方にある連通部もしくは連通空間１５５によって相互に連通している。
【００１１】
製氷水タンク１３５には更に、電極式、フロート式等の適宜の形式のものでよい水位スイッチ１４９が第２タンク部分１４７内に設けられており、その配線コードは蓋１３９を貫通して外部に延出している。堰板１４３の下端縁は、タンク本体１３７の底部１３７ａとほぼ液密に接触している（図３参照）。第２タンク部分１４７側のタンク本体１３７の底部１３７ａには、オバーフロー管１３５ｂが取り付けられている（図１では図示を省略。）。
【００１２】
製氷水タンク１３５及び堰板１４３について、図２、図３及び図４に基づいて更に説明する。図２の（ａ）、（ｂ）及び（ｃ）は、堰板１４３を含む製氷水タンク内の水位に関する代表的な３つの状態を示す図である。図３は、図２の（ａ）におけるＩＩＩ−ＩＩＩ線に沿った部分拡大図である。図４は、図３の矢印ＩＶに沿って見た平面図である。タンク本体１３７は、図３に示されるように、その底部１３７ａから左右の側部１３７ｂにかけて丸みのある形状を有している。
左右の側部１３７ｂの各々の内面には、製氷水タンク１３５の長手方向に関して互いに隣接し、かつ製氷水タンク１３５の深さ方向に延びる２つの凸部分１３７ｃ（図３及び図４参照）が形成されている。堰板１４３は、底部１３７ａ及び側部１３７ｂの内面に沿った形状をしており、それらとほぼ液密に接触するようになっている。また、堰板１４３は、図２に示されるように、大部分が板状の本体部分１４３ａからなるが、下端縁には水の流れに乱流が生じるのを防ぐ曲面からなる整流部分１４３ｂが形成されている。堰板１４３の高さは、この実施形態では、水位スイッチ１４９によって検知される上限水位Ｘよりも低く、下限水位Ｙよりも高いものとする。また、堰板１４３は、図４に示されるように、その両側端縁が左右の側部１３７ｂの凸部分１３７ｃ間に挟まれる態様で、製氷水タンク１３５に配置されている。
【００１３】
次に、上述した製氷水タンク１３５及び堰板１４３を含む本実施形態のオーガ式製氷機１０５の動作について説明する。オーガ式製氷機１０５の電源スイッチを入れると、製氷水タンク１３５が空の場合、図示しない給水弁が開弁し、外部水道系からの製氷水が、導水管１４１を通って製氷水タンク１３５の第１タンク部分１４５に供給される（図２の（ａ）参照）。導水管１４１から放出された製氷水は、タンク本体１３７の底部１３７ａ（次サイクルからは下限水位Ｙ付近の水面）に落下衝突する。この衝突によって多数の気泡が生じ、製氷水中には空気が混入する。しかし、第１タンク部分１４５内の製氷水の水位が上昇する間に、混入気泡は水面に出てそこからある程度放出される。そして、製氷水タンク１３５内の製氷水が堰板１４３の高さを越える水位Ｗに達すると、第１タンク部分１４５にある製氷水は、図２の（ｂ）に２点鎖線で示されるように、連通部１５５を通って堰板１４３を越え、第２タンク部分１４７に流れ込む。このとき、混入気泡が残っている製氷水は、タンク本体１３７の内面及び堰板１４３に沿って緩やかに流下し、出口管１３５ａに向かって緩やかに流れ、その間に残留気泡が大気に放出されるため、浮力の小さい微小な気泡まで空気中に放出される。
【００１４】
また、製氷水タンク１３５に供給される製氷水の水圧が高い場合ほど気泡が発生しやすくなるが、その場合は同時に、上述した製氷水の水位Ｘまでの上昇が速くなるため、水圧には実質的に左右されずに気泡を空気中に放出することができる。第２タンク部分１４７内の気泡が放出された製氷水は、給水管１３３を通って冷凍ケーシング１０７に供給される。冷凍ケーシング１０７に供給された製氷水の水位は、第２タンク部分１４７の水位とほぼ同じである。製氷水タンク１３５内の製氷水の水位が上限水位Ｘに達すると、水位スイッチ１４９が作動して図示しない給水弁が閉弁し、製氷水タンク１３５への給水が一旦停止する。
【００１５】
次に、ギヤードモータ１２７及び圧縮機（図示せず）等が起動し製氷工程に入る。製氷工程が始まると、冷凍ケーシング１０７に供給された製氷水は、冷却パイプ１１３によって熱を奪われ、冷凍ケーシング１０７の内周面に徐々に氷結していく。そして、氷結した氷は、ギヤードモータ１２７によって回転するオーガ１１１の螺旋刃１０９によって掻き取られ、フレーク状の氷となって上方の押圧頭１１５に送られる。押圧頭１１５によって圧縮された細い氷柱状の氷は、オーガ１１１と共に回転するカッタ１３１によって所定の長さに折断され、氷放出通路１２９を通って図示しない貯氷庫に送られる。
【００１６】
製氷に伴い、冷凍ケーシング１０７への製氷水の補給が続けられると、製氷水タンク１３５（特に第２タンク部分１４７）内の水位が低下する。第２タンク部分１４７の水位が、下限水位Ｙまで低下すると、水位スイッチ１４９が作動して、図示しない給水弁が再び開弁して、製氷水タンク１３５への給水が始まる。以下同様に上述した動作が繰り返され、氷の製造が行われる。
【００１７】
本発明の堰板は、上記実施形態の堰板１４３ではなく、以下の第２〜５の実施形態によって説明される堰板である。尚、第２〜５の実施形態では、図５〜８に示されるように製氷水タンクについてのみ説明しているが、その他の構成については第１の実施形態と同じであるため、オーガ式製氷機の製氷水タンク以外の構成の説明は省略する。
【００１８】
第２の実施形態
図５の（ｂ）は、堰板２４３を含む製氷水タンクの縦断面図であり、図５の（ａ）は、図５の（ｂ）の平面図である。図５に示される堰板２４３は、前述した堰板１４３と同様の水流制御部２４４と、連通空間画成部２６６と、ガード部２７７とからなる。堰板２４３の下端縁は、堰板１４３の整流部分１４３ｂと同様に湾曲している。連通空間画成部２６６は、水流制御部２４４の頂部から底部１３７ａとほぼ平行に横方向に延びている板状の部分である。連通空間画成部２６６の両側は、図５の（ａ）に示されるように、タンク本体の側部１３７ｂから離間しており、連通空間画成部２６６と同側部１３７ｂの内面とによって連通部２５５を画成している。この連通部２５５の幅は、連通空間画成部２６６と同側部１３７ｂの内面との間の隙間幅ｔである。隙間幅ｔは、連通部２５５を通過した製氷水が、側部１３７ｂに沿って流れるのを許容する大きさのものとする。例として、本実施形態では、隙間幅ｔは５ｍｍ前後とする。ガード部２７７は、水流制御部２４４と一端で接続された連通空間画成部２６６の他端から、縦方向に延びる板状部分である。ガード部２７７は、その上端縁が、上限水位Ｘよりも上にあり、全体が他の部分よりも水位スイッチ１４９に近接している。
【００１９】
導水管１４１から放出された製氷水は、まず第１タンク部分２４５に供給され、２点鎖線に示されるように、水流制御部分２４４及び側部１３７ｂに沿って水面が上昇する。そして、水位Ｗが連通空間画成部２６６を越えると、第１タンク部分２４５の製氷水は、連通空間画成部２６６の上を流れ、気泡は確実に水面に沿って流れる。これによって、第１タンク部分２４５に供給された際に製氷水に混入した空気が確実に放出される。連通空間画成部２６６上の製氷水は、連通部２５５を通って第２タンク部分２４７に流入する。このとき、製氷水は、連通部２５５の隙間幅ｔが小さいため、側部１３７ｂを伝って流下することで勢いが弱められ、第２タンク部分２４７に流入する際に気泡が生じたり製氷水に空気が混入しにくくなっている。また、製氷水は、第１タンク部分２４５から第２タンク部分２４７に流入している間も、導水管１４１から供給され続けているが、この供給の際、製氷水が導水管１４１から水面上に落下することによって、第１タンク部分２４５の水面に波が生じる。この波は、水位を検知する水位スイッチ１４９にとって、好ましいものではない。このため、本実施形態では、ガード部２７７が設けられており、第１タンク部分２４５の波が、水位スイッチ１４９に直接到達して悪影響を及ぼさないようになっている。
【００２０】
第３の実施形態
図６は、別の堰板３４３を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。図６に示される堰板３４３は、上部よりも下部が出口管１３５ａに近い位置にあるように傾斜した緩傾斜面を有する案内部３８８を含んでいる。堰板３４３の下端縁は、前述した堰板１４３の整流部分１４３ｂとほぼ同様に湾曲している。堰板３４３の上方には、第１タンク部分３４５と第２タンク部分３４７とを連通する連通部３５５が形成されている。堰板３４３の高さは、本実施形態では、上限水位Ｘを越えている。導水管１４１から放出された製氷水は、まず第１タンク部分３４５に供給され、２点鎖線に示されるように、堰板３４３及び側部１３７ｂに沿って水面が上昇する。これにより、製氷水に混入していた空気は水面から放出される。第１タンク部分３４５の水位が堰板３４３の高さを越えると、製氷水は、連通部３５５を通って堰板３４３を乗り越え、第２タンク部分３４７に流入する。このとき、製氷水が第２タンク部分３４７の底部１３７ａ（若しくは第２タンク部分３４７の水面）に落下衝突しても、本実施形態では、堰板３４３が傾斜しているため、製氷水は案内部３８８を伝って流下することで気泡の発生が抑えられ、製氷水に空気が混入しにくくなっている。
【００２１】
第４の実施形態
図７の（ａ）、（ｂ）及び（ｃ）は、更に別の堰板４４３を含む製氷水タンク内の水位に関する代表的な３つの状態を示す図である。堰板４４３は、基部４４４とＪ字状の緩衝斜面部４９９とからなる。堰板４４３の両側部は、タンク本体１３７の左右の側部１３７ｂと密着している。タンク本体１３７の各側部１３７ｂには、前述の堰板１４３を支持していた凸部分と同様の凸部分４３７ｃが２つずつ形成されている。基部４４４は、縦方向に垂直に延びる板状の部分である。堰板４４３は、上述した堰板１４３のように、基部４４４の両側端縁が左右のタンク本体１３７の凸部分４３７ｃの間に挟まれる態様で、製氷水タンクに脱着可能に取り付けられている。緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の頂部は、基部４４４の上部と滑らかに接続されている。緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の直線部は、その上方部が導水管１４１の直下に位置しており、下方部ほど出口管１３５ａに近づくように、全体が傾斜している。また、緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の底部は、その先端が上向きに湾曲しており、緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の底部先端の上方には、図７の（ａ）に示されるように、第１タンク部分４４５と第２タンク部分４４７とを連通する連通部４５５が形成されている。緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の底部先端の高さは、少なくとも下限水位Ｙよりも高くなっている。
【００２２】
図７の実施形態において、導水管１４１にある図示しない給水弁が開弁すると、導水管１４１から製氷水が放出され、緩衝斜面部４９９上に落下して、同緩衝斜面部４９９の上面に沿って下方に流れる。緩衝斜面部４９９の下部に到達した製氷水は、Ｊ字の上向きの湾曲によって上向きの流れとなり、第１タンク部分４４５の水面まで上昇する。本実施形態では、製氷水が底部１３７ａに直接落下する場合と比べて、緩衝斜面部４９９の製氷水を受ける部分が導水管１４１の近くに位置し、しかも傾斜しているため、落下する際の衝突が緩和される。従って、落下時に、製氷水に空気が混入しにくくなっている。
【００２３】
また、製氷水に混入してしまった空気については、緩衝斜面部４９９に沿って流下する間に徐々に放出されたり、その後、緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の上向きの湾曲によって第１タンク部分４４５における水面まで上昇した際に放出されたりする。第１タンク部分４４５における水位が、緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の上向きに湾曲した先端の高さを越えると、製氷水は、連通部４５５を通って第２タンク部分４４７に流入する。そして、第２タンク部分４４７の水位Ｗが、緩衝斜面部４９９のＪ字の上向きに湾曲した先端の高さを越えると、導水管１４１から供給された製氷水は、図７の（ｂ）及び（ｃ）に示されるように、前記の湾曲によって上向きの流れとなり、水面まで上昇し水面に沿って緩やかに流れる。このように流れることによっても、製氷水に混入した空気が放出される。また、この堰板４４３によれば、上述した堰板１４３の場合と同様な理由で、供給される製氷水の水圧に左右されずに気泡を空気中に放出することができる。
【００２４】
第５の実施形態
図８は、図７の実施形態のものに稍々類似した堰板５４３を含む製氷水タンクの縦断面図である。この堰板５４３は、図７の堰板４４３のＪ字の上向きに湾曲した先端に、上部よりも下部が出口管１３５ａに近い位置にある態様で傾斜した案内部５８８を設けた形状にほぼ相当する。また、該堰板５４３は、堰板４４３と同様の態様で、製氷水タンクに脱着可能に取り付けられている。案内部５８８の頂部すなわち堰板５４３の上向きに湾曲した先端の高さは、本実施形態では、上限水位Ｘよりも上方にある。案内部５８８の上方には、第１タンク部分５４５と第２タンク部分５４７とを連通する連通部５５５が形成されている。
【００２５】
図８の実施形態において、導水管１４１から放出された製氷水は、まず、第１タンク部分５４５に供給される。このとき、第１タンク部分５４５の製氷水には、前述した図７の堰板４４３の緩衝斜面部４９９と同様の作用により、空気が混入しにくくなっており、また、混入してしまった空気についても同様に放出される。第１タンク部分５４５の水位が堰板５４３の案内部５８８の先端の高さを越えると、製氷水は、連通部５５５を通って案内部５８８を乗り越え、第２タンク部分５４７に流入する。このとき、製氷水が第２タンク部分５４７における底部１３７ａ（若しくは第２タンク部分５４７の水面）に落下しても、本実施形態では、案内部５８８が傾斜しているため、製氷水は案内部５８８を伝って流下し、これにより気泡の発生が抑えられ、製氷水に空気が混入しにくくなっている。
【００２６】
更に、本発明では、数種類の上述した堰板に代えて、或いは同堰板に加えて、以下に説明する案内管を備えていてもよい。図９は、かかる案内管１４２を含む製氷水タンクの縦断面図である。製氷水タンクの蓋１３９には、図示しない給水弁に接続された導水管１４１の端部が接続されている。案内管１４２の上端は、この導水管１４１の端部に接続されている。そして、案内管１４２の下端は、少なくとも下限水位Ｙよりも下方まで延びている。
【００２７】
本実施形態では、導水管１４１から案内管１４２を介して供給された製氷水は、少なくとも下限水位Ｙ（案内管１４２の下端よりも高い）にある水面上に導かれるか若しくは（オーガ式製氷機の稼働後或いはメンテナンス終了後最初の供給の場合等に）底部１３７ａに近い位置にある案内管１４２の下端から同底部１３７ａ上に落下するため、気泡の発生が抑えられ、製氷水に空気が混入しにくくなる。
【００２８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、請求項１に記載の本発明のオーガ式製氷機によれば、給水弁を有する導水管を介して製氷水の供給を受ける製氷水タンクと、該製氷水タンクに接続された給水管を介して前記製氷水を供給され内部で氷を生成するための冷凍ケーシングとを備え、前記給水管の入口は前記製氷水タンクの底部に開口しているオーガ式製氷機において、前記製氷水タンク内には、前記給水弁が開弁する下限水位及び該給水弁が閉弁する上限水位を検知する水位スイッチと、前記導水管及び前記給水管の間に設けられた堰板とが配置され、前記堰板の一方の面側を前記導水管に連通する第１タンク部分とし、前記堰板の他方の面側を前記給水管に連通した第２タンク部分とし、前記第１タンク部分内に供給された前記製氷水を、前記堰板を越えて前記第２タンク部分に流入させるように構成し、該堰板は、その頂部で屈曲して前記第２タンク部分の上方で横方向に延びる連通空間画成部を有し、該連通空間画成部の両側縁が、前記製氷水タンクの内壁面と協働して、前記第１タンク部分及び前記第２タンク部分の間に少なくとも１つの連通空間を画成したので、空気が混入した製氷水は、空気を放出しながら、第２タンク部分内に流入するようになっている。このため、空気が製氷水に随伴して給水管を通って冷凍ケーシング内に侵入することを防ぎ、空気混入による前述した不具合の発生を防止することができる。加えて、堰板を取り外し可能とすれば、清掃等のメンテナンスが容易である。また、堰板は、前記第２タンク部分の連通空間画成部を有し、該連通空間画成部の両側縁が、前記製氷水タンクの内壁面と協働して、前記第１タンク部分及び前記第２タンク部分の間に少なくとも１つの連通空間を画成しているので、製氷水が連通空間を通って第２タンク部分内に流入する際、製氷水が製氷水タンクの内壁面を伝って流れ、気泡の発生が更に抑制され、製氷水に空気が混入することが効果的に防止される。
請求項２に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、堰板は、該堰板を越えた前記製氷水が該堰板を伝って前記第２タンク部分に流入するように案内する緩衝斜面を含むので、第１タンク部分に供給された製氷水は、落下の衝撃が緩和されると共に、その後、緩傾斜面を伝って流れるため、気泡の発生が抑えられ製氷水に空気が混入することが効果的に防止される。
請求項３に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、堰板は、その下端部に、導水管からの製氷水を受けて該製氷水を緩やかに前記堰板に指向させる傾斜した案内部を含むので、製氷水が連通部を通って第２タンク部分内に流入する際、製氷水が傾斜した案内部を伝って流れるため、気泡の発生が抑えられ製氷水に空気が混入することが確実に防止される。
請求項４に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、堰板の頂部は、少なくとも前記下限水位より上方に配置されているため、気泡の混入しがちな時に必ず製氷水は堰板を越えなければならず、気泡混入防止効果が高くなる。
請求項５に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、水位スイッチの前方には、製氷水の波動が前記水位スイッチに直接衝突しないようにガード部が配置されているので、水位スイッチは、製氷水タンク内の水位を正確に検知することができる。
請求項６に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、製氷水タンクの内側面には、縦方向に延びる２つの凸部分が所定の間隔で並置されており、堰板は、前記２つの凸部分の間に挟まれるように脱着可能に挿入され支持されているので、堰板の取り付けや取り外しが簡単にできるようになり、清掃等のメンテナンスが一層容易になる。
最後に、請求項７に記載のオーガ式製氷機によれば、上端が導水管に接続され、下端が下限水位の下方まで延びる案内管を堰板に代えて用いているため、簡単な構成ながら、気泡の発生を抑えて製氷水に空気が混入することを確実に防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】部分的に断面で示された本発明のオーガ式製氷機の全体図である。
【図２】参考例の堰板を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図３】図２のIII−III線に沿った部分拡大図である。
【図４】図３を矢印ＩＶから見た平面図である。
【図５】本発明の第２の実施形態である堰板を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図６】本発明の第３の実施形態である堰板を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図７】本発明の第４の実施形態である堰板を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図８】本発明の第５の実施形態である堰板を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図９】本発明の別の実施形態による案内管を含む製氷水タンクの断面図である。
【図１０】従来のオーガ式製氷機の製氷水タンクを示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１０５…オーガ式製氷機、１０７…冷凍ケーシング、１３３…給水管、１３７ｃ…凸部分、１４１…導水管、１４２…案内管、１４３，２４３，３４３，４４３，５４３…堰板、１４５，２４５，３４５，４４５，５４５…第１タンク部分、１４７，２４７，３４７，４４７，５４７…第２タンク部分、１４９…水位スイッチ、１５５，２５５，３５５，４５５，５５５…連通部、２６６…連通空間画成部、２７７…ガード部、３８８，５８８…案内部、４９９…緩衝斜面部、Ｘ…上限水位、Ｙ…下限水位。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auger type ice making machine, and more particularly to a structure of an ice making water tank for supplying ice making water into a freezing casing thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The auger type ice making machine has a refrigeration casing which is a vertically long cylindrical member, an evaporator which is a part of a refrigeration circuit is wound around the outer peripheral surface, and an auger having a spiral blade is provided inside. It has been. In order to supply ice making water into the freezing casing, one end of a water supply pipe is connected to the freezing casing, the other end is connected to the bottom of the ice making water tank, and the top of the ice making water tank is connected to an external water source. The water conduit is provided with a water supply valve. A water level switch for detecting the water level in the ice making water tank is disposed in the ice making water tank.
[0003]
In such an auger type ice making machine, it is known that a large amount of bubbles are generated when ice making water is supplied into an ice making water tank (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-39187). These bubbles are generated when air is mixed into the ice making water when supplying the ice making water, and most of the mixed air is released into the air from the surface of the ice making water tank. Since it enters the refrigeration casing through the pipe, if it is operated continuously for a long time, air gradually accumulates in the refrigeration casing, and the amount of ice-making water that contacts the inner surface of the refrigeration casing is limited. As a result, the ice making mechanism could be adversely affected.
In order to solve such a problem, for example, in the ice making water tank of the auger type ice making machine described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-39187 described above, the partition plate 59 supplies the water from an external water source as shown in FIG. The first tank 53 for receiving the water and the second tank 57 having the discharge port 61 connected to the water supply pipe, and a communication portion 55 is formed at a relatively lower portion of the partition plate 59 to form the first tank The tank 53 and the second tank 57 are communicated with each other so that bubbles generated when water is supplied to the first tank 53 are difficult to enter the second tank 57.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional ice making water tank described above, the amount of water supplied to the ice making water tank is increased to reduce the number of times the equipment such as the water supply valve and the water level switch is opened and closed, thereby extending the life of the equipment. Therefore, the communication part 55 is provided in the lower part of the partition plate 59 as mentioned above. Therefore, since the water in the first tank 53 is highly likely to flow into the second tank 57 via the communication portion 55 without releasing bubbles in the air, it is unavoidable that the bubbles flow into the water supply pipe. Absent. Further, since the second tank 57 is substantially covered with the partition plate 59 except for the communication portion 55, there is a problem in the ease of maintenance such as cleaning.
Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an ice making water tank of an auger type ice making machine capable of effectively preventing air from entering the water supply pipe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice making water tank that can prevent air from entering as described above and is easy to perform maintenance such as cleaning.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ice making water tank that receives supply of ice making water via a water conduit having a water supply valve, and the ice making water via a water supply pipe connected to the ice making water tank. An auger type ice making machine having an inlet of the water supply pipe opened at a bottom of the ice making water tank, wherein the water supply valve is provided in the ice making water tank. A water level switch for detecting a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve closes, and a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply tube, and one surface of the weir plate The first tank portion that communicates with the water conduit, the other side of the barrier plate as the second tank portion that communicates with the water supply pipe, and the ice-making water supplied into the first tank portion, It flows into the second tank part over the weir plate. Configured to so that, weir plate,Bend at the topOf the second tank partExtends laterally upwardA communication space defining portion, and both side edges of the communication space defining portion cooperate with the inner wall surface of the ice making water tank, and are at least one between the first tank portion and the second tank portion. It is characterized by defining a communication space.
[0006]
  The present invention provides an ice making water tank that receives supply of ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve, and generates ice inside the ice making water supplied through the water supply pipe connected to the ice making water tank. In the auger type ice making machine, the inlet of the water supply pipe is open to the bottom of the ice making water tank, the lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and the water supply in the ice making water tank A water level switch for detecting an upper limit water level at which the valve closes and a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply pipe are disposed, and one surface side of the weir plate communicates with the water conduit. 1 tank portion, the other surface side of the dam plate is a second tank portion communicating with the water supply pipe, and the ice making water supplied into the first tank portion is passed through the dam plate to the second tank portion. It is configured to flow into the tank part, Said ice making water is characterized in that comprising a guide buffering slope to flow into the second tank portion along the weir plate.
  The present invention also provides an ice making water tank that receives supply of ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve, and generates ice inside the ice making water supplied through the water supply pipe connected to the ice making water tank. An auger type ice making machine in which an inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at a bottom portion of the ice making water tank, and a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens in the ice making water tank and A water level switch for detecting an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve is closed, and a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply tube are disposed, and one surface side of the weir plate is communicated with the water conduit. A first tank portion, the other surface side of the weir plate is a second tank portion communicating with the water supply pipe, and the ice-making water supplied into the first tank portion is passed over the weir plate The dam is configured to flow into the second tank portion. It is its lower end and is characterized in that it comprises a guide portion inclined to gradually directed to the sheathing board the ice making water receiving ice making water from the water conduit.
[0007]
  It is preferable that the top portion of the dam plate is disposed at least above the lower limit water level.
  It is preferable to arrange a guard part in front of the water level switch so that the wave of the ice making water does not directly collide with the water level switch..
  PreviousWhen two convex portions extending in the vertical direction are juxtaposed at predetermined intervals on the inner surface of the ice-making water tank, the support plate is detachably inserted and supported so as to be sandwiched between the two convex portions. Can be kept.
[0008]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, an ice making water tank that receives supply of ice making water via a water conduit having a water supply valve, and the ice making water is supplied via a water supply pipe connected to the ice making water tank. An auger type ice making machine in which an inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at the bottom of the ice making water tank, and the water supply valve is opened in the ice making water tank. A water level switch that detects a lower limit water level to be detected and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve is closed, and a guide pipe having an upper end connected to the water conduit and a lower end extending below the lower limit water level. By providing such a guide tube, mixing of bubbles can be prevented. Such a guide tube may be shared with a dam plate.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention, that is, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.Below, the reference example based on FIGS. 1-4 is shown. This reference example is described for the purpose of explaining the configuration of the entire auger type ice making machine according to second to fifth embodiments to be described later, and preferred embodiments of the present invention are the second to fifth embodiments. It is.
Reference example
  FIG. 1 shows an overall view of an auger type ice making machine 105 according to an embodiment of the present invention partially shown in cross section. The ice making water tank 135 of FIG. 1 is schematically shown, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. The auger type ice making machine 105 has a refrigeration casing 107. An evaporator, that is, a cooling pipe 113, which is a part of a refrigeration circuit (not shown), is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing 107 that is a vertically long cylindrical member. A heat insulating material 121 is disposed outside the cooling pipe 113 so as to surround the cooling pipe 113 and the refrigeration casing 107. Inside the refrigeration casing 107, an auger 111 having a spiral blade 109 is rotatably disposed. The upper part of the auger 111 is rotatably supported by a bearing 117 in the pressing head 115, and the lower part is rotatably supported by a bearing 119. Further, the lower portion of the refrigeration casing 107 is connected to an output shaft 125 of a geared motor (motor with gear) 127 by a known joint 123. Connected to the upper portion of the pressing head 115 is the other end of an ice discharge passage 129 having one end connected to an ice storage (not shown).
A cutter 131 is disposed between the pressing head 115 and the ice discharge passage 129.
[0010]
One end (exit) of the water supply pipe 133 is connected to the inlet pipe 107 a at the lower part of the refrigeration casing 107. The other end (inlet) of the water supply pipe 133 is connected to an outlet pipe 135 a provided at the bottom of the ice making water tank 135. The ice making water tank 135 includes a tank body 137 and a lid 139. The lid 139 is provided with an end portion of a water conduit 141 having a water supply valve (not shown) that can be connected to an external water system. In the ice making water tank 135, the water flow is controlled so as to prevent the air mixed in the ice making water from reaching the outlet pipe 135a as much as possible when supplying the ice making water from the water conduit 141. A removable dam plate 143 is provided. Hereinafter, in this specification, a region on one surface side of the barrier plate 143 is referred to as a first tank portion 145, and a region on the other surface side is referred to as a second tank portion 147. A water conduit 141 is opened above the first tank portion 145, and an outlet pipe 135 a is opened below the second tank portion 147. These tank portions 145 and 147 are located above the barrier plate 143. Are connected to each other by a communication portion or a communication space 155.
[0011]
The ice making water tank 135 is further provided with a water level switch 149 in the second tank portion 147, which may be of an appropriate type such as an electrode type or a float type, and its wiring cord passes through the lid 139 to the outside. It is extended. The lower end edge of the dam plate 143 is in substantially liquid-tight contact with the bottom 137a of the tank body 137 (see FIG. 3). An overflow pipe 135b is attached to the bottom 137a of the tank body 137 on the second tank portion 147 side (not shown in FIG. 1).
[0012]
The ice making water tank 135 and the dam plate 143 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are diagrams showing three typical states relating to the water level in the ice making water tank including the dam plate 143. FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view seen along arrow IV in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the tank body 137 has a rounded shape from the bottom 137a to the left and right side parts 137b.
Two convex portions 137c (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the ice making water tank 135 and extend in the depth direction of the ice making water tank 135 are formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right side portions 137b. Has been. The dam plate 143 has a shape along the inner surfaces of the bottom portion 137a and the side portion 137b, and comes into almost liquid-tight contact therewith. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the dam plate 143 is mainly composed of a plate-shaped main body portion 143a, but the lower end edge has a rectifying portion 143b made of a curved surface that prevents turbulent flow from occurring in the water flow. Is formed. In this embodiment, the height of the weir plate 143 is lower than the upper limit water level X detected by the water level switch 149 and higher than the lower limit water level Y. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the dam plate 143 is disposed in the ice making water tank 135 in such a manner that both side edges are sandwiched between the convex portions 137 c of the left and right side portions 137 b.
[0013]
Next, the operation of the auger type ice making machine 105 of this embodiment including the ice making water tank 135 and the weir plate 143 described above will be described. When the power switch of the auger type ice making machine 105 is turned on, when the ice making water tank 135 is empty, a water supply valve (not shown) is opened, and ice making water from the external water system passes through the water conduit 141 to the ice making water tank 135. It is supplied to the first tank portion 145 (see (a) of FIG. 2). The ice making water discharged from the water conduit 141 falls and collides with the bottom 137a of the tank body 137 (the water surface near the lower limit water level Y from the next cycle). Many bubbles are generated by this collision, and air is mixed in the ice making water. However, while the level of the ice making water in the first tank portion 145 rises, the mixed bubbles exit to the water surface and are released to some extent therefrom. When the ice making water in the ice making water tank 135 reaches the water level W exceeding the height of the weir plate 143, the ice making water in the first tank portion 145 is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, it passes through the communication portion 155, passes over the weir plate 143, and flows into the second tank portion 147. At this time, the ice making water in which the mixed bubbles remain gently flows down along the inner surface of the tank main body 137 and the weir plate 143, gently flows toward the outlet pipe 135a, and the remaining bubbles are released to the atmosphere during that time. Therefore, even fine bubbles with small buoyancy are released into the air.
[0014]
Further, the higher the water pressure of the ice making water supplied to the ice making water tank 135 is, the more easily bubbles are generated. In this case, the rise to the water level X of the ice making water becomes faster at the same time. The bubbles can be discharged into the air without being affected by the influence. The ice making water from which the bubbles in the second tank portion 147 have been released is supplied to the refrigeration casing 107 through the water supply pipe 133. The water level of the ice making water supplied to the freezing casing 107 is substantially the same as the water level of the second tank portion 147. When the ice making water level in the ice making water tank 135 reaches the upper limit water level X, the water level switch 149 is actuated to close the water supply valve (not shown), and the water supply to the ice making water tank 135 is temporarily stopped.
[0015]
Next, the geared motor 127, the compressor (not shown), etc. are started and the ice making process is started. When the ice making process starts, the ice making water supplied to the refrigeration casing 107 is deprived of heat by the cooling pipe 113 and gradually freezes on the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing 107. The frozen ice is scraped off by the spiral blade 109 of the auger 111 rotated by the geared motor 127, and is sent to the upper pressing head 115 as flaky ice. The thin ice columnar ice compressed by the pressing head 115 is broken to a predetermined length by a cutter 131 that rotates together with the auger 111, and is sent to an ice storage (not shown) through an ice discharge passage 129.
[0016]
When ice making water is continuously supplied to the refrigeration casing 107 along with ice making, the water level in the ice making water tank 135 (particularly the second tank portion 147) decreases. When the water level of the second tank portion 147 decreases to the lower limit water level Y, the water level switch 149 is activated, the water supply valve (not shown) is opened again, and water supply to the ice making water tank 135 is started. In the same manner, the above-described operation is repeated to produce ice.
[0017]
  The barrier plate of the present invention is the barrier plate 14 of the above embodiment.3NotIt is a dam plate demonstrated by 2nd-5th embodiment of this. still,In the second to fifth embodiments, only the ice making water tank is described as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.The description of the configuration other than the ice making water tank of the auger type ice making machine is omitted.
[0018]
Second embodiment
  FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of the ice making water tank including the weir plate 243, and FIG. 5A is a plan view of FIG. 5B. The dam plate 243 shown in FIG. 5 includes a water flow control unit 244 similar to the dam plate 143 described above, a communication space defining unit 266, and a guard unit 277. The lower end edge of the dam plate 243 is curved similarly to the rectifying portion 143b of the dam plate 143. The communication space defining unit 266 is a plate-like portion extending in the lateral direction from the top of the water flow control unit 244 in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom 137a. As shown in FIG. 5A, both sides of the communication space defining portion 266 are separated from the side portion 137b of the tank body, and communicate with each other by the communication space defining portion 266 and the inner surface of the same side portion 137b. Part 255 is defined. The width of the communication portion 255 is a gap width t between the communication space defining portion 266 and the inner surface of the same side portion 137b. The gap width t has a size that allows the ice-making water that has passed through the communication portion 255 to flow along the side portion 137b. As an example, in this embodiment, the gap width t is about 5 mm. The guard part 277 is a plate-like part extending in the vertical direction from the other end of the communication space defining part 266 connected to the water flow control part 244 at one end. The upper end edge of the guard part 277 is above the upper limit water level X, and the entire guard part 277 is closer to the water level switch 149 than the other parts.
[0019]
The ice making water discharged from the water conduit 141 is first supplied to the first tank portion 245, and the water surface rises along the water flow control portion 244 and the side portion 137b, as indicated by a two-dot chain line. When the water level W exceeds the communication space defining unit 266, the ice making water in the first tank portion 245 flows over the communication space defining unit 266, and the bubbles surely flow along the water surface. Thus, the air mixed in the ice making water when supplied to the first tank portion 245 is surely released. The ice making water on the communication space defining unit 266 flows into the second tank portion 247 through the communication unit 255. At this time, since the ice making water has a small gap width t of the communication portion 255, the momentum is weakened by flowing down the side portion 137 b, and bubbles are generated when flowing into the second tank portion 247. Air is difficult to mix. In addition, while the ice making water continues to be supplied from the water conduit 141 while flowing from the first tank portion 245 to the second tank portion 247, the ice making water is supplied from the water conduit 141 to the surface of the water. The wave is generated on the water surface of the first tank portion 245 by dropping into the water. This wave is not preferable for the water level switch 149 for detecting the water level. For this reason, in this embodiment, the guard part 277 is provided, and the wave of the 1st tank part 245 reaches | attains the water level switch 149 directly, and does not have a bad influence.
[0020]
Third embodiment
  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an ice making water tank including another dam plate 343. The dam plate 343 shown in FIG. 6 includes a guide portion 388 having a gently inclined surface so that the lower portion is closer to the outlet pipe 135a than the upper portion. The lower end edge of the dam plate 343 is curved in substantially the same manner as the rectifying portion 143b of the dam plate 143 described above. A communication portion 355 that connects the first tank portion 345 and the second tank portion 347 is formed above the weir plate 343. The height of the weir plate 343 exceeds the upper limit water level X in this embodiment. The ice making water discharged from the water guide pipe 141 is first supplied to the first tank portion 345, and the water surface rises along the weir plate 343 and the side portion 137b as shown by the two-dot chain line. Thereby, the air mixed in the ice making water is released from the water surface. When the water level of the first tank portion 345 exceeds the height of the dam plate 343, the ice making water passes over the dam plate 343 through the communication portion 355 and flows into the second tank portion 347. At this time, even if the ice making water falls and collides with the bottom 137a of the second tank portion 347 (or the water surface of the second tank portion 347), the ice making water is guided because the weir plate 343 is inclined in this embodiment. By flowing down the portion 388, the generation of bubbles is suppressed, and it is difficult for air to be mixed into the ice making water.
[0021]
Fourth embodiment
  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrams showing three typical states relating to the water level in the ice making water tank including still another weir plate 443. FIG. The dam plate 443 includes a base portion 444 and a J-shaped buffer slope portion 499. Both side portions of the weir plate 443 are in close contact with the left and right side portions 137 b of the tank body 137. Two convex portions 437 c similar to the convex portion supporting the above-described weir plate 143 are formed on each side portion 137 b of the tank body 137. The base 444 is a plate-like portion that extends vertically in the vertical direction. Like the dam plate 143 described above, the dam plate 443 is detachably attached to the ice making water tank in such a manner that both side edges of the base portion 444 are sandwiched between the convex portions 437 c of the left and right tank bodies 137. The top of the J-shape of the buffer slope 499 is smoothly connected to the upper part of the base 444. The upper part of the J-shaped straight part of the buffer slope part 499 is located immediately below the water guide pipe 141, and the whole is inclined so that the lower part approaches the outlet pipe 135a. Further, the J-shaped bottom portion of the buffer slope portion 499 has its tip curved upward, and as shown in FIG. 7A above the bottom tip of the J-shape of the buffer slope portion 499, A communication portion 455 that connects the first tank portion 445 and the second tank portion 447 is formed. The height of the J-shaped bottom end of the buffer slope 499 is at least higher than the lower limit water level Y.
[0022]
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, when a water supply valve (not shown) in the water conduit 141 is opened, ice making water is discharged from the water conduit 141, falls onto the buffer slope 499, and follows the upper surface of the buffer slope 499. And flow downward. The ice-making water that has reached the lower portion of the buffer slope 499 becomes an upward flow due to the upward curve of the J shape, and rises to the water surface of the first tank portion 445. In this embodiment, compared with the case where ice-making water falls directly on the bottom part 137a, the portion receiving the ice-making water on the buffer slope 499 is located near the water conduit 141 and is inclined, so Collisions are alleviated. Accordingly, it is difficult for air to be mixed into the ice making water at the time of dropping.
[0023]
Further, the air mixed in the ice making water is gradually released while flowing down along the buffer slope 499, and thereafter, the first tank portion 445 is caused by an upward curve of the J of the buffer slope 499. Or released when rising to the surface of the water. When the water level in the first tank portion 445 exceeds the height of the upward curved tip of the J-shaped buffer slope 499, the ice making water flows into the second tank portion 447 through the communication portion 455. When the water level W of the second tank portion 447 exceeds the height of the J-shaped upward curved tip of the buffer slope portion 499, the ice-making water supplied from the water conduit 141 is as shown in (b) of FIG. As shown in (c), an upward flow is generated by the above-described curvature, and the flow rises to the water surface and gently flows along the water surface. By flowing in this way, air mixed in the ice making water is released. Further, according to the dam plate 443, for the same reason as in the case of the dam plate 143 described above, it is possible to discharge bubbles into the air without being influenced by the water pressure of the supplied ice making water.
[0024]
Fifth embodiment
  FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ice making water tank including a dam plate 543 often similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. This dam plate 543 substantially corresponds to the shape in which the guide portion 588 inclined in such a manner that the lower portion is closer to the outlet pipe 135a than the upper portion is provided at the tip of the dam plate 443 of FIG. To do. The barrier plate 543 is detachably attached to the ice making water tank in the same manner as the barrier plate 443. The height of the top of the guide portion 588, that is, the tip of the weir plate 543 that is curved upward is higher than the upper limit water level X in this embodiment. A communication portion 555 that connects the first tank portion 545 and the second tank portion 547 is formed above the guide portion 588.
[0025]
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the ice making water discharged from the water conduit 141 is first supplied to the first tank portion 545. At this time, the ice making water in the first tank portion 545 is not easily mixed with air by the same action as the buffer slope 499 of the dam plate 443 in FIG. 7 described above, and the mixed air Are similarly released. When the water level of the first tank portion 545 exceeds the height of the leading end of the guide portion 588 of the weir plate 543, the ice making water passes through the communication portion 555, gets over the guide portion 588, and flows into the second tank portion 547. At this time, even if the ice making water falls on the bottom 137a of the second tank portion 547 (or the water surface of the second tank portion 547), in this embodiment, the guiding portion 588 is inclined, so that the ice making water is Flowing down 588, this suppresses the generation of bubbles, making it difficult for air to enter the ice making water.
[0026]
Furthermore, in the present invention, a guide tube described below may be provided instead of or in addition to several types of the above-described dam plates. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice making water tank including such a guide pipe 142. An end portion of a water conduit 141 connected to a water supply valve (not shown) is connected to the lid 139 of the ice making water tank. The upper end of the guide pipe 142 is connected to the end of the water guide pipe 141. The lower end of the guide tube 142 extends at least below the lower limit water level Y.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the ice making water supplied from the water guide pipe 141 through the guide pipe 142 is guided to a water surface at least at the lower limit water level Y (higher than the lower end of the guide pipe 142) or (auger type ice making machine). Since it falls onto the bottom part 137a from the lower end of the guide tube 142 located near the bottom part 137a (for the first supply after the operation or maintenance is completed, etc.), the generation of bubbles is suppressed and air is mixed into the ice making water. It becomes difficult to do.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the auger type ice making machine of the present invention described in claim 1, the ice making water tank that receives the supply of ice making water through the water conduit having the water supply valve, and the ice making water tank are connected. In the auger type ice making machine, wherein the ice making water is supplied through a water supply pipe and a refrigeration casing for generating ice therein is provided, and the inlet of the water supply pipe is open at the bottom of the ice making water tank, In the ice making water tank, there are a water level switch for detecting a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve closes, and a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply pipe. The first tank portion is disposed, and one surface side of the dam plate is a first tank portion communicating with the water conduit, and the other surface side of the dam plate is a second tank portion communicating with the water supply tube. The ice making water supplied into the Configured so as to flow into the second tank portion Te, weir plate,Bend at the topOf the second tank partExtends laterally upwardA communication space defining portion, and both side edges of the communication space defining portion cooperate with the inner wall surface of the ice making water tank, and are at least one between the first tank portion and the second tank portion. Since the communication space is defined, the ice making water mixed with air flows into the second tank portion while releasing the air. For this reason, air can be prevented from entering the refrigeration casing through the water supply pipe along with the ice making water, and the above-described problems due to air mixing can be prevented. In addition, if the dam plate can be removed, maintenance such as cleaning is easy. The barrier plate has a communication space defining portion of the second tank portion, and both side edges of the communication space defining portion cooperate with an inner wall surface of the ice making water tank, And at least one communication space is defined between the second tank portions, so that when the ice making water flows into the second tank portion through the communication spaces, the ice making water moves along the inner wall surface of the ice making water tank. The generation of air bubbles is further suppressed, and air is effectively prevented from being mixed into the ice making water.
  According to the auger type ice making machine of claim 2, the dam plate includes a buffer slope that guides the ice making water that has passed over the dam plate to flow into the second tank portion through the dam plate. Therefore, since the ice making water supplied to the first tank part is mitigated from the impact of falling, and then flows along a gently inclined surface, the generation of bubbles is suppressed and air is mixed into the ice making water. Is prevented.
  According to the auger type ice making machine according to claim 3, the dam plate includes, at a lower end portion thereof, an inclined guide portion that receives the ice making water from the water conduit and gently directs the ice making water toward the dam plate. Therefore, when the ice making water flows into the second tank part through the communication part, the ice making water flows along the inclined guide part, so that the generation of bubbles is suppressed and the air is surely mixed into the ice making water. Is prevented.
  According to the auger type ice making machine according to claim 4, since the top of the weir plate is disposed at least above the lower limit water level, the ice making water must always exceed the weir plate when air bubbles tend to be mixed. In other words, the effect of preventing bubble mixing is enhanced.
  According to the auger type ice making machine of claim 5, since the guard portion is arranged in front of the water level switch so that the wave motion of the ice making water does not directly collide with the water level switch, the water level switch The water level in the tank can be accurately detected.
  According to the auger type ice making machine of claim 6, two convex portions extending in the vertical direction are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval on the inner surface of the ice making water tank, Since it is inserted and supported so as to be detachable so as to be sandwiched between the two, the attachment and removal of the barrier plate can be easily performed, and maintenance such as cleaning is further facilitated.
  Finally, according to the auger type ice making machine according to claim 7, since a guide pipe whose upper end is connected to the water guide pipe and whose lower end extends to below the lower limit water level is used in place of the dam plate, It is possible to reliably prevent air from being mixed into the ice making water by suppressing the generation of bubbles.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an auger type ice making machine of the present invention partially shown in cross section.
[Figure 2]Reference exampleIt is sectional drawing of the ice-making water tank containing this dam plate.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view taken along line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3 viewed from an arrow IV.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ice making water tank including a dam plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an ice making water tank including a dam plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an ice making water tank including a dam plate according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an ice making water tank including a dam plate according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an ice making water tank including a guide tube according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an ice making water tank of a conventional auger type ice making machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 ... Ogre type ice machine, 107 ... Freezing casing, 133 ... Water supply pipe, 137c ... Convex part, 141 ... Water guide pipe, 142 ... Guide pipe, 143, 243, 343, 443, 543 ... Dam plate, 145, 245, 345 , 445, 545... First tank portion, 147, 247, 347, 447, 547... Second tank portion, 149... Water level switch, 155, 255, 355, 455, 555. 277 ... Guard part, 388,588 ... Guide part, 499 ... Buffer slope part, X ... Upper limit water level, Y ... Lower limit water level.

Claims

An ice making water tank that receives ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve;
A refrigeration casing that is supplied with the ice-making water via a water supply pipe connected to the ice-making water tank and generates ice therein;
In the auger type ice making machine in which the inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at the bottom of the ice making water tank,
In the ice making water tank,
A water level switch for detecting a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve closes;
And a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply pipe,
One surface side of the barrier plate is a first tank portion that communicates with the water conduit, and the other surface side of the barrier plate is a second tank portion that communicates with the water supply pipe, and is supplied into the first tank portion. The ice making water is configured to flow into the second tank part over the weir plate,
The barrier plate has a communication space defining portion that is bent at the top thereof and extends laterally above the second tank portion;
Both side edges of the communication space defining part define at least one communication space between the first tank part and the second tank part in cooperation with an inner wall surface of the ice making water tank. Ogre type ice machine.

An ice making water tank that receives ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve;
A refrigeration casing that is supplied with the ice-making water via a water supply pipe connected to the ice-making water tank and generates ice therein;
In the auger type ice making machine in which the inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at the bottom of the ice making water tank,
In the ice making water tank,
A water level switch for detecting a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve closes;
And a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply pipe,
One surface side of the barrier plate is a first tank portion that communicates with the water conduit, and the other surface side of the barrier plate is a second tank portion that communicates with the water supply pipe, and is supplied into the first tank portion. The ice making water is configured to flow into the second tank part over the weir plate,
The auger type ice making machine, wherein the weir plate includes a buffer slope for guiding the ice making water that has passed through the weir plate to flow into the second tank portion through the weir plate.

An ice making water tank that receives ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve;
A refrigeration casing that is supplied with the ice-making water via a water supply pipe connected to the ice-making water tank and generates ice therein;
In the auger type ice making machine in which the inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at the bottom of the ice making water tank,
In the ice making water tank,
A water level switch for detecting a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve opens and an upper limit water level at which the water supply valve closes;
And a weir plate provided between the water conduit and the water supply pipe,
One surface side of the barrier plate is a first tank portion that communicates with the water conduit, and the other surface side of the barrier plate is a second tank portion that communicates with the water supply pipe, and is supplied into the first tank portion. The ice making water is configured to flow into the second tank part over the weir plate,
The auger type ice making machine, wherein the weir plate includes, at a lower end portion thereof, an inclined guide portion that receives ice making water from the water conduit and gently directs the ice making water toward the weir plate.

The auger type ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a top portion of the dam plate is disposed at least above the lower limit water level.

The auger type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein a guard portion is disposed in front of the water level switch so that the wave motion of the ice making water does not directly collide with the water level switch.

Two convex portions extending in the vertical direction are juxtaposed on the inner side surface of the ice making water tank at a predetermined interval, and the barrier plate is detachably inserted so as to be sandwiched between the two convex portions. The auger type ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is supported.

An ice making water tank that receives supply of ice making water through a water conduit having a water supply valve, and a refrigeration casing that is supplied with the ice making water through a water supply pipe connected to the ice making water tank and generates ice therein. In an auger type ice making machine in which an inlet of the water supply pipe is opened at a bottom portion of the ice making water tank, a lower limit water level at which the water supply valve is opened and the water supply valve is closed in the ice making water tank. An auger type ice making machine comprising: a water level switch for detecting an upper limit water level; and a guide pipe having an upper end connected to the water conduit and a lower end extending below the lower limit water level.