JP3807428B2 - Water supply device for ice making device and refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water supply device for an ice making device having a configuration in which water stored in a water supply tank is pumped up by a water supply pump and supplied to an ice tray through a water supply path.

  As a conventional water supply device of this type of ice making device, there is one described in Patent Document 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerator main body 1 is provided with a refrigerator compartment 2, a vegetable compartment 3, and a freezer compartment 4 in order from the top. A partition plate 5 is provided between the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 3, and a heat insulating partition plate 6 is provided between the vegetable compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4.

  An ice making tray 8 and an ice removing mechanism 9 constituting an automatic ice making device 7 are disposed on the freezer compartment 4. The water supply apparatus 10 includes a water supply path 12 for guiding ice-making water pumped up from a water supply tank 11 as a water supply container disposed on a side wall portion of the refrigerator compartment 2 to an ice tray 8. The water supply tank 11 is equipped with a detachable lid 13. A water supply pump unit 14 is integrally fixed to the lid portion 13, and has a pump portion 15 provided so as to be positioned at a concave portion of the bottom surface portion of the water supply tank 11. An impeller sorbed on a disk-shaped magnet plate is accommodated in the pump unit 15 and is rotated by a magnetic force by a motor unit (not shown) provided outside to supply water.

The water in the water supply tank 11 is pumped up by the pump unit 15, temporarily received by the water receiving unit 17, and from the opening 6 a of the heat insulating partition plate 6 at the bottom of the vegetable compartment 3 through the water supply pipe 18. Supply water. The water supply pipe 18 is configured to be inserted into the guide pipe 19 and detachable together with the water receiving portion 17.
JP 2001-41625 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the removable water supply pipe 18 is connected in a form that is inserted through the guide pipe 19 in the water supply path 12, so that there is a problem that the portion cannot be reliably sealed. It was. In addition, since the pump unit 15 is installed at the bottom inside the water supply tank 11, the pump unit 15 is always immersed in water, so that there is a problem that scales or the like are likely to adhere to the pump unit 15. .

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and a pump unit is provided outside the water supply tank so that it is configured at a position higher than the water surface of the water supply tank, and water is reliably supplied by simplifying the removable water supply path. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that has a water supply mechanism that can be attached and detached and part of the water supply path is detachable to improve cleanability.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a refrigerator compartment is formed in the refrigerator body, and a freezer compartment partitioned by a heat insulating partition plate is provided directly below the refrigerator compartment, and a water supply tank and a water supply tank are provided at the lower part of the refrigerator compartment. A water supply pump having a self-priming property installed, an ice tray in the freezer compartment, and a water supply path for sending water to the ice tray, wherein the water supply path includes the heat insulating partition. A fixed pipe that is fixed in a plate and guides water from the water supply pump to the ice tray, a water receiving part that receives water from the water supply pump, and a curved part on the inlet side of the fixed pipe that can be attached and detached from the front of the refrigerator body And a guide pipe configured by a pipe portion curved toward the front side along the guide pipe, and the guide pipe is configured to be removable by inserting the curved pipe portion of the guide pipe into the fixed pipe. The bottom of the water receiving unit is obtained by fixing by fitting to the opening of the fixed pipe.

The present invention can easily remove and wash the water supply path that can be attached and detached, keep the path hygienic, and reliably supply water in the water supply tank in the case where a water supply pump is installed outside the water supply tank. Can do. Thereby, after improving the hygiene of the water supply route around the water supply pump, the cleanliness of the comprehensive water supply route and reliable water supply can be achieved.
Moreover, by curving the pipe portion, the space for attaching and detaching can be reduced, and the detachment workability can be further simplified, so that the attachment and detachment can be smoothly performed from the front side of the refrigerator main body.

  Moreover, even when water is supplied in a state where the detachable water supply path is mistakenly removed, by providing a part for receiving water in a part of the water supply path, the supplied water can be reliably sent to the ice tray. .

The invention according to claim 1 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator body includes a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment partitioned by a heat insulating partition plate directly below the refrigerator compartment, and water is supplied to the lower part of the refrigerator compartment. A self-priming water supply pump installed outside the tank and the water supply tank, an ice tray in the freezer compartment, and a water supply path for sending water to the ice tray, The water supply path is fixed in the heat insulating partition plate so as to be detachable from a fixed pipe that guides water from the water supply pump to the ice tray, a water receiving portion that receives water from the water supply pump, and a refrigerator main body. A guide pipe configured by a pipe portion curved toward the front side along a curved portion on the inlet side of the fixed pipe, and the pipe portion curved of the guide pipe can be inserted into and removed from the fixed pipe. Configuration and , And the bottom of the water receiving portion of the guide pipe that is fixed is fitted to the opening of the fixed pipe, even if not submerged by providing the feed water pump with the power to pump water, removably The water supply route can be easily removed and washed, and the route can be kept hygienic, and a pump unit is provided outside the water supply tank to pump water even if it is not immersed in water, so that air etc. is mixed in the water supply route. Even so, water can be reliably pumped up, so the water in the water supply tank can be supplied directly. Thereby, the synergistic effect that cleanliness that can be removed and washed and reliable water supply can be obtained can be obtained.
Moreover, by curving the pipe portion, the space for attaching and detaching can be reduced, and the detachment workability can be further simplified, so that the attachment and detachment can be smoothly performed from the front side of the refrigerator main body.

The invention according to claim 2 is configured such that in the invention according to claim 1 , the water receiving portion and the pipe portion of the guide pipe are detachable. Thereby, it becomes possible to attach and detach each other, and further improvement of the cleaning property can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the water receiving portion of the guide pipe is configured by four partition walls, and the left and right partition walls are refrigerated in the partition walls. It is inclined so as to become lower toward the back of the room. As a result, even when the guide pipe is taken out to the front, it can be easily attached and detached in the forward direction without being caught by the inner part.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pipe portion of the guide pipe is provided with a notch below the tip thereof. Water supplied to the tip does not remain as water droplets due to surface tension or the like, and can be maintained as a very hygienic and clean water supply path in the long term.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a receiving portion for fixing the water receiving portion of the guide pipe is provided on the opening of the fixed pipe. . As a result, even if the guide pipe is forgotten to be installed, the receiving portion can receive the supplied water and reliably supply water to the ice tray from the fixed pipe.
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving portion is provided in a cover for housing the water supply pump. Thereby, a guide pipe can be fixed reliably without rattling and generation | occurrence | production of the chatter sound by passage of the water at the time of water supply can be suppressed.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the water supply pump is rotated forward and reversely rotated after water supply. This makes it possible to remove the water in the water supply path around the pump almost in a dry state by reversing the water supply pump, thus preventing the growth of bacteria in the water supply path and keeping it clean. It becomes possible.

Invention of Claim 8 is a refrigerator provided with the water supply apparatus of the ice making apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1-7, and keeps the inside of the water supply path of the refrigerator provided with the ice making apparatus clean. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a cross-sectional view showing a water supply device of an ice making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a water supply path in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a guide pipe in the same embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the guide pipe in the same embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the periphery of the guide pipe in the same embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the guide pipe in the same embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a refrigerator body, which is provided with a refrigerator compartment 22 and a freezer compartment 23 in order from the top. A heat insulating partition plate 24 is provided between the refrigerator compartment 22 and the freezer compartment 23. Generally, the freezer compartment 23 is set to a temperature at which ice can be made and stored.

  A plurality of shelf plates 25 are provided inside the refrigerator compartment 22 (only one is shown), and food is provided so as to be stored in multiple stages. An ice tray 27 and an ice removing mechanism 28 that constitute an automatic ice making device 26 are disposed above the freezer compartment 23. Water is supplied to the ice tray 27 from a water supply opening 24a opened in the heat insulating partition plate 24 by a water supply device to be described later. When it is detected that the ice-making water stored in the ice-making tray 27 has been frozen, the ice-breaking mechanism 28 twists while turning the ice-making tray 27 upside down to release the ice. It is stored in the ice storage box 40 provided.

  Next, the structure of a water supply apparatus is demonstrated using FIG. In the water supply apparatus, a water supply tank 30 as a water supply container is disposed below the refrigerating chamber 22, and a water supply pump is provided outside the water supply tank 30 at a position substantially the same as or slightly higher than the water surface in the tank at the back of the refrigerating chamber 22. 31 is disposed. The water supply pump 31 employs a self-sufficiency capable of sucking water from a remote position, and constitutes a water supply path 32 for guiding the ice-making water pumped up from the water supply tank 30 to the ice-making tray 27. Yes. A member that connects the water supply tank 30 and the water supply pump 31 is composed of a hose (not shown) that is a soft resin. The water supply tank 30 is equipped with a detachable lid 33 so as to close the opening on the upper surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the water supply path 32 includes a fixed pipe 41 disposed in a space 24 b formed in the heat insulating partition plate 24, and a guide pipe 42 that connects between the fixed pipe 41 and the water supply pump 31. The guide pipe 42 is configured to be detachable from the front side of the refrigerator main body 21 so as to be connected below the outlet 31a of the water supply pump so as to be connected as a path through which water passes.

  The guide pipe 42 includes a receiving portion 42a configured to cover four surfaces with a partition wall so as not to spill when the water pumped by the water supply pump 31 is dropped, and a fixed pipe for insertion into the fixed pipe 41. The pipe part 42b curved to the near side in a shape along the shape of 41 is connected. For example, the connecting portion is provided with a cylindrical hole 50 on the bottom surface of the receiving portion 42a, a projection 51 is formed in the cylindrical hole, and a concave portion 52 into which the protrusion is fitted is provided inside the inlet of the pipe portion 42b. The part 42a and the pipe part 42b can be easily attached and detached up and down.

  When the water supply pump 31 is driven to supply ice making water to the ice making tray 27 in the automatic ice making operation, the water supply device of the ice making device configured as described above causes the ice making water in the water supply tank 30 to be supplied. It is sucked and pumped into the water supply pump 31. Then, it is dropped from the outlet portion 31a to the water receiving portion 42a of the guide pipe 42, passes through the fixed pipe 41, and an appropriate amount of water is supplied into the ice tray 27 by driving the water supply pump 31 for a predetermined time. Thereafter, when the ice making is completed in the freezer compartment 23, the ice removing mechanism 28 performs the ice removing operation to remove the ice from the ice tray 27, and the water supply operation described above is performed again.

  Next, a case where a cleaning operation is performed will be described. About the cleaning of the water supply tank 30, it can pull out from the refrigerator compartment 22, remove | eliminate the cover part 33, and can clean both easily. When removing the water supply path 32 and cleaning it, by pulling out the front wall 42c forming the front surface among the four partition walls forming the water receiving portion of the guide pipe 42 in the front upward direction, Only the guide pipe 42 can be easily removed. Thereby, the guide pipe 42 can be easily cleaned. Similarly, when mounting, holding the top and bottom of the front wall 42c, the pipe portion 42b is inserted into the fixed pipe 41 and pushed in, and the bottom of the water receiving portion 42a is fitted into the opening of the fixed pipe 41. Fixed.

  As described above, the guide pipe 42 is inserted into the fixed pipe 41 so as to be detachable. Therefore, the water supply path 32 through which the ice-making water circulates can be easily removed and cleaned, which is easy for the user. It will be possible to perform cleaning work. Further, the water supply pump 31 having a self-sufficiency is disposed outside the water supply tank 30 and is positioned higher than the water surface, thereby having a suction force even when air is present in the water supply path 32. Water can be kept clean without staying inside. Furthermore, by extending the front wall 42c of the water receiving portion 42a to the water supply pump 31 located above and the fixed pipe 41 located below, the seal with the internal air can be strengthened, and more hygienic water supply It becomes possible to make a route.

  Further, the removable guide pipe 42 is configured so that both the water receiving portion 42a and the pipe portion 42b can be easily removed after being removed, thereby further improving the cleanability of the pipe portion 42b. Furthermore, by making the pipe portion 42b curved according to the shape of the fixed pipe 41, it is possible to make a minimum trajectory when removing the guide pipe 42, and it is possible to save the space for attachment and detachment. . Furthermore, by providing a partition wall 42f in which the left and right partition walls 42f of the four partition walls 42f of the water receiving portion 42a are inclined downward toward the back side of the refrigerator compartment 22, When combined with the curved shape of the pipe portion 42b described above, smooth attachment and detachment is possible.

  Further, when the notched portion 42e is provided below the tip opening portion 42d of the pipe portion 42b so that the supplied water is not retained as water droplets by surface tension around the arc of the tip opening portion 42d formed in the pipe portion 42a. Good.

  Further, in order to improve the attachment and detachment of the guide pipe 42 and improve the position regulation and the sealing performance, a cover 44 to which the water supply pump 31 is attached is provided, and the cover 44 has a bottom shape of the water receiving portion 42a of the guide pipe. The same receiving portion 45 may be provided. Further, even if the guide pipe 42 is forgotten to be attached, the receiving portion 45 is formed so as to receive the supplied water, so that the ice tray 27 can be reliably supplied with water.

  In addition, the water pump 31 and its surrounding water can be reliably returned to the water tank 30 by assembling the reverse operation after the water pump 31 is rotated forward to draw water from the water tank 30. The inside of 31 and its periphery can be kept clean.

  As described above, the water supply device of the ice making device according to the present invention can easily attach and detach the water supply path to the ice making device, improve cleanability, and supply water hygienically without touching the air in the warehouse. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to improving the cleaning property of the flow path of similar equipment having a fluid flow path.

Sectional drawing which shows the water supply apparatus of the ice making apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the principal part of the water supply path in the same embodiment The exploded perspective view of the guide pipe in the embodiment Sectional view of the guide pipe in the same embodiment The perspective view of the guide pipe attachment periphery in the embodiment Sectional view around the guide pipe installation in the same embodiment Longitudinal sectional view of a conventional water supply device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Refrigerator main body 22 Refrigeration room 23 Freezing room 27 Ice tray 30 Water supply tank 31 Water supply pump 32 Water supply path 41 Fixed pipe 42 Guide pipe 42a Water receiving part 42b Pipe part 42c Front partition wall 42f Partition wall 44 Cover 45 Receiving part

Claims (8)

A refrigerator compartment in the refrigerator body, and a freezing compartment partitioned by a heat insulating partition plate directly below the refrigerator compartment, a water supply tank at the lower part of the refrigerator compartment and a self-priming water supply pump installed outside the water supply tank, An ice tray in the freezer compartment, and a water supply path for sending water to the ice tray, wherein the water supply path is fixed in the heat insulating partition plate from the water supply pump. A fixed pipe for guiding the water to the ice tray, a water receiving part for receiving water from the water supply pump, and a pipe bent to the front side along the curved part on the inlet side of the fixed pipe so as to be detachable from the front side of the refrigerator body And a guide pipe configured by inserting a curved pipe portion of the guide pipe into the fixed pipe so that the bottom portion of the water receiving portion of the guide pipe is fixed to the fixed pipe. Water supply apparatus of the ice making device being characterized in that fixed is fitted to the opening of the flop. The water supply device for an ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the water receiving portion and the pipe portion of the guide pipe are detachable. Water receiving portion of said guide pipe is composed of four sides of the partition walls, claims wherein the left and right partition walls in the partition wall, characterized in that is inclined so as to be lower toward the rear of the refrigerating compartment A water supply device for an ice making device according to 1 or 2 . The water supply device for an ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the pipe portion of the guide pipe is provided with a notch below a tip thereof. The water supply device for an ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a receiving portion for fixing the water receiving portion of the guide pipe is provided on the opening of the fixed pipe. The water supply device for an ice making device according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving portion is provided in a cover for housing the water supply pump. The water supply device for an ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the water supply pump is rotated forward and reversely after water supply. The refrigerator provided with the water supply apparatus of the ice making apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 7 .

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