JPH0221512B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention uses an air blowing pipe when making transparent ice in the freezer compartment of a household electric refrigerator.
The purpose is to create transparent ice by installing a hot wire such as a nichrome wire around the pipe and passing a low-voltage current to prevent the area around the pipe from freezing.

With the spread of household electric refrigerators, the only ice made in the freezer was white cloudy ice. There has been a strong demand as to why transparent ice cannot be produced, but the products currently being devised use an electric motor to rotate or repeatedly move the water container, and are complex in structure and expensive to manufacture. It did not become popular to the general public.

This invention has a relatively simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost, even in a large refrigerator that can be manufactured in the freezing chamber of a household electric refrigerator.

Conventionally, when making ice in the freezer compartment of a household electric refrigerator, water is supplied to an ice tray and the water is placed inside the freezer compartment to make ice.In this case, when ice is being made, freezing starts from all directions, including the sides, bottom, and top of the ice tray. At the initial stage, the frozen parts on the lower side and upper surface are transparent. However, expansion, a natural phenomenon that occurs when water turns into ice, begins when the temperature at the center of the water falls below 4 degrees Celsius, where water has the highest specific gravity. When expansion begins, the expansion force is very strong and acts from the center in all directions. At this time, since the side and bottom surfaces are the strong containers of the ice cube tray, the expansion force acts only in the upward direction, and until expansion begins, the transparent ice on the top surface is pushed up from the bottom to the top, creating bubbles. In addition, water usually contains some gaseous impurities such as air, and when the water is frozen to the center, the air and other gases contained in the water are separated from the ice, giving the gas buoyancy. Even if the upper part is frozen, it will not be possible to release it to the outside, and this action will be repeated until the center is completely frozen, remaining as bubbles, and the bulge on the top of the ice will reach its maximum, and the ice that is made will become a white cloud. Aesthetics that is opaque is performed.

This phenomenon occurs because the water in the ice tray remains stationary during ice making. Therefore, in order to prevent the opaque phenomenon, ice making factories, etc. insert copper pipes to blow air deep into the center of the water supplied to the ice making can, and blow compressed air into the ice making can while stirring the water while making ice.

In this invention, water is supplied to a slightly deep container 1 in the freezing chamber of a household electric refrigerator, and an electromagnetic pump attached to the inner part of the lid 4 and an air blowing pipe provided in the center are used to supply water to the container 1. This method blows air (cold air) at a temperature of -15°C to -20°C inside the freezing chamber, but this method does not allow air to flow inside or outside the air outlet of the pipe inserted into the center of the water in the early stages of freezing. Regardless of whether the inner diameter of the pipe is large or small, ice builds up and it becomes impossible to blow air into the pipe, making it impossible to make transparent ice.

In the above-mentioned example, as a method of preventing ice formation, the air (cold air) outlet was used to generate a small amount of heat using a heating element, thereby preventing the air outlet from freezing and making it possible to make transparent ice until the freezing was completed. It is.

Now, to explain the embodiment in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, water is supplied to the ice making container 1 shown in FIG. 1 up to the line 2, and the plate 3 shown in FIG. Place lid 4 on top of 1 and make ice.
A double pipe 5 is attached and fixed to the horizontal center of the plate 3 shown in FIG. 2, and the lowermost part is inserted into the water from the line of the water 2 supplied. In the drawing of one side of the plate 3 in Figure 1, an electromagnetic pump and a double micro switch 10 are installed on the left side, and in the drawing, a transformer (primary 100 volts AC secondary 10 volts AC) is installed on the right side.
Electromagnetic pumps have the same structure as aquarium pumps used for tropical fishing and other purposes, and utilize the vibrations of permanent magnets using electromagnets. 8000 pieces of coated copper wire with an ultra-fine diameter of 0.1 mm is attached to the iron core 6 in Figure 2.
By applying 100 volts of AC household electricity to the wound coil 7, magnetic force is generated at both poles of the iron core 6, and the permanent magnet 8 approaching the both poles of the iron core 6
vibrates in the direction of both poles. The pump operates due to the vibration of the permanent magnet 8, but the pump is operated by the cylinder 9 in Figure 2.
The cylinder 9 has an intake valve and an exhaust valve built into it.
A circular rubber 11 is placed over the cylinder 9, and the cylinder 9 and the circular rubber 11 are in close contact with each other. A rubber plate 14 is attached to the fulcrum 13 of the permanent magnet 8, and an L-shaped arm 15 shown in FIG. The L type 15
The center 16 of the circular rubber 11 is fixed with a screw to the middle of the arm. By energizing the coil 7 wound around the iron core 6, magnetism is generated at both poles of the iron core, and since the electricity is alternating current, the permanent magnet 8 vibrates, causing the circular rubber 11 fixed to the arm of the L-shape 15 to vibrate. Air pressure is generated in the cylinder 9, and the air pressure is passed through the vinyl pipe 14 from the exhaust port 12, and then through the air intake port 17 at the top of the inner pipe 16 of the double metal pipe in FIG. 5, and the air at the bottom of the pipe 16. It is blown into the water supplied from the spout 18.

However, if air is simply blown into the water supplied by the air pressure of the electromagnetic pump, the air blown from the air outlet 18 of the double pipe 5 at the initial stage of ice making will reach a temperature of -15°C to -20°C in the freezing room. Due to the cold air, the area around the spout 18 was covered with ice as indicated by the dotted line 19 in Fig. 5, and as a result of several examples, the only pipe inserted into the water surface 2 was initially the pipe 16, but the inner diameter of the pipe 16 Regardless of whether it is large or small, ice builds up and makes it completely impossible to blow in air, making it impossible to make transparent ice. Therefore, the part where the heating element is installed to prevent ice formation at the air outlet 18 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. Manufactured using methods such as gluing or welding to prevent infiltration. A heating element 21 is installed all the way to the bottom in a small space between the pipes 5 and 16, and the heating element 21 is made of a hot wire such as nichrome wire covered with an insulating material such as bisque or asbestos, and in this embodiment, it is a commonly available commercially available material. I am using a 30 watt heater on my soldering iron. Circuit wires 22 and 23 from the nichrome wire of the heating element 21 are brought out above the stopper 24. The upper part of the pipe 5 is attached to the plate 3 with a stopper 24.
The top of the inner pipe 16 is fitted with a plug 24 to prevent air from escaping upward from the air intake inlet 17.
Closely adhere to. Circuit wires 22, 23 from heating element 21
In the example, if a low voltage of 10 volts is applied to make ice, a small amount of heat will be generated from the heating element 21 even if cold air of -15°C to -20°C is blown into the freezer compartment, resulting in the dotted line 1 in Figure 5.
The temperature of the part 9 can be maintained at 0°C to 2°C to prevent freezing and adhesion.

By blowing air into the water during ice making, the air forms bubbles on the water surface from the spout 18 at the bottom of the pipe 16, and while stirring the water itself, impurities such as gases contained in the water are released to the upper part. This action works until the freezing is completed, and when the freezing is completed, the surroundings of the double pipe 5 are frozen and transparent ice can be made. In addition, the expanding portion of the ice rises above the water surface 2 as indicated by the dotted line 25 in FIG. 1, and the expansion force does not act on the sides, so there is no fear of damage to the ice making container.

The next step is to take out the ice cubes from the ice making container 1. Since ice is frozen around the double pipe 5, it is difficult to remove the lid 4. Therefore, 100 volts of electricity is applied to the circuit wires 22 and 23 of the heating element 21 using a changeover switch of a dual micro switch.
generates high heat, and the frozen parts around and below the double pipe 5 melt, making it easy to remove the lid 4, and when the melted ice is taken out from the ice making container 1, transparent ice is formed.

Next, to explain the electrical circuit using the wiring diagrams in Figures 2 and 3, the circuit wires 26 and 27 for household electricity 100 volts.
are connected through intermediate terminals 29, 30 to terminals 31, 32 of the primary coil 38 of the transformer 28; circuit wires 26, 27 of more than 100 volts are connected to terminals 33, 34 of the electromagnetic coil 7; The circuit line is the terminal 35 of the double micro switch 10 shown in FIG.
Connect to 35'. Secondary coil 3 of transformer 28
9 (secondary current 10 volts) terminals 40, 41 are connected to terminals 36, 36' of the double micro switch through intermediate terminals 42, 43, and connected to terminals 37, 36' of the double micro switch. The circuit line from 37' is connected to the circuit line 22, which is taken out above the double pipe 5.
Connect to 23. Normally, in the internal circuit of the micro switch 10, terminals 36 and 37 are in a connected state, and by pressing the switch button 44, terminals 36 and 37 are connected.
is cut off and 35 and 37 are connected, and when the pressed button is released, 37 and 35 are cut off and the original 36 and 37 are connected. The wiring diagram in Figure 3 is the wiring diagram when the terminals 36 and 37 of the micro switch are connected and the secondary current of the transformer is energized at a low voltage of 10 volts, generating a small amount of heat from the nichrome wire of the heating element and making ice. .

To the circuit wires 22 and 23 of the nichrome wire of the heating element 21
The method for applying 100 volts is as shown in Figure 1, Lid 4.
A leaf spring 45 is attached to the inside of the plate spring 45, and a push button 46 with a shaft is attached to the top and an iron piece 47 bent at right angles is attached to the bottom. The push button 45 is placed on top of the lid 4, and a hole larger than the diameter of the push button shaft is made in the push button shaft portion of the lid 4, and the push button shaft is passed through the hole and attached to the leaf spring. push button 46
By pressing the iron piece 47 bent at right angle under the button
presses the operating arm 48 and presses the button 44 of the double micro switch. For the operating arm 48, frames 49 and 50 are attached to the plate 3 shown in FIG.

When the ice making is completed, pressing the push button 46 activates the actuating arm 4.
8 is pushed down and button 4 of double micro switch 10
4 is pressed, 36 and 37, 36' and 37' inside the double micro switch are shut off, and 35, 37, 3
5' and 37' are switched to the connected circuit, and 100 volts of electricity is transferred to the heating element nichrome wire circuit wires 22 and 2.
3. Electricity is applied to generate high heat around and at the bottom of the double pipe 5, melting the frozen part, making it easy to remove the lid 4, and taking out the ice block from the ice making container 1 to complete the production of transparent ice.

As detailed above, the freezer compartment is constructed by inserting the structure installed inside the ice making container 1 and the lid 4 and the double pipe 5 protruding under the plate 3 into the water and blowing air into it. It is possible to make ice, but it is common sense to make ice by cooling water.

However, the biggest factor and the greatest effect of this invention is that ice is made while generating heat from a heating element in water for the purpose of cooling, even if it is a small amount.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, by installing a heating element in the pipe 5, when the cold air of -15°C to 20°C blown into the water in the container during ice making passes through the pipe 5, a small amount is generated from the heating element 21. It is warmed by the heat of

When the warmed cold air is released as bubbles onto the water surface from the spout 18 under the inner side 16 of the double pipe,
Even if the water becomes frozen and starts freezing from both sides and the bottom, the temperature of the unfrozen part remains +2
kept at ℃. The effect of preventing the water from freezing occurred.

As freezing progresses from both sides and the bottom,
Even if the water in the unfrozen part gradually decreases and the cold air discharge area to the water surface gradually decreases, the amount of cold air passing through the pipe 5 in which the heating element 21 is installed is The smaller the remaining amount of water, the more efficiently it can be heated, and the effect is that the temperature of the remaining water is kept at +2°C until the ice making is completed.

During ice making, the cold air blown into the unfrozen portion of the water kept at +2℃ is released to the water surface, so impurities contained in the water such as gas are released to the top, and this action continues until the freezing is complete. It is now possible to make ice cubes.

In addition, when water turns into ice, the expanding part is released onto the water surface by blowing cold air, so the expansion force does not work on the side and bottom parts, and as shown by the dotted line 25 in Figure 1, the expanding part is released onto the water surface. It rises above the line and has a strong expansion force, so there is no need to worry about deformation or damage to the ice making container.

As described in detail above, the present invention is capable of producing ice from -15°C to 20°C during ice making.
In the freezing room of a household electric refrigerator, which has an extremely low temperature of ℃, the heating element 21 installed in the pipe 5 generates a small amount of heat at low voltage and blows cold air, which has many effects. This makes it possible to make transparent ice.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention. It shows that the ice making container 1, the lid 4, and the double pipe 5 are inserted into the water surface 2, and when the ice making is completed, a dotted line 25 of the ice expansion line is shown. FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. plate 3
The structure installed in the plate 3, the central double pipe 5, and the circuit wires are drawn outside the plate 3 for explanation. FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of the present invention. Micro switch circuit 36
This is a wiring diagram when 37, 36' and 37' are connected and ice is being made. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention. The installation of the micro switch and the relationship between the operating arm 48 and frames 49 and 50 are shown. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the double pipe 5 of the present invention. The double pipe 5 is the most important part of the present invention and shows the relationship between the pipe 5, the inner pipe 16, and the heating element 21.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A slight space is provided between the metal pipe 5 and the inner pipe 16, and the lowest part 20 is glued or welded to prevent water from entering, and the heating element 2 is placed in that space.
1 to the bottom, connect the circuit wires 22 and 23 from the nichrome wire to the top of the pipe 5, run a low voltage current through the circuit wires 22 and 23, and lower the temperature around the pipe 5 and the lower part to 0. This device aims to make transparent ice by inserting a pipe in which a pipe 5 and a pipe 16 are integrated into water and blowing cold air from the freezing chamber through the upper part of the pipe 16 while maintaining the temperature at ˜2°C.