JPH06273019A - Water supplier for automatic ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve elimination of a supply water pump and moreover, constant supply of water to an ice making tray by a method wherein a supply water valve is opened in linkage to supply water in a water storage tank by a fixed amount to a constant amount water storage when a water outlet valve is closed with a drive source and then, the water is supplied to the ice making tray by a head from the constant amount storage. CONSTITUTION:With the power disruption of an electromagnet 29, a water delivery valve 31 opens an water delivery port 30 and a water supply valve 43 closes the upper end opening of a supply water part 42. After completion of the ice making with an ice making tray 22, the ice making tray 22 is turned upside down so that ice falls into a ice storage case to store and when the ice making tray is turned back to the original position, the electromagnet 29 is energized. As a result, a valve rod 33 moves upward by a magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 29 with a magnetic body 36, causing the delivery valve 31 to close the delivery port 30 while the supply water valve 43 is pushed up to open the upper end opening of the supply water port part 42. Thus, the water in a water storage tank 40 flows out into the constant amount water storage device 25 through the supply water port part 42 and is stored in the constant amount water storage device 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for an automatic ice making device which supplies a fixed amount of water to an ice making tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a conventional structure of a water supply device of this type in a refrigerator. This water supply device is configured to supply the water stored in the plastic water receiving tray 2 in the refrigerating compartment 1 to the ice making tray 5 provided in the ice making compartment 4 by the water supply pump 3, and above the water receiving tray 2. A water storage tank 6 is detachably attached. This water storage tank 6 supplies water from a water inlet 8 having a water supply valve 7 to the water tray 2 so that the water level in the water tray 2 always maintains a constant water level that closes the lower end opening of the water inlet 8. .

The inside of the water receiving tray 2 is divided into a water receiving chamber 11 and a constant volume chamber 12 by a partition wall 10 having a water passage hole 9. The water receiving chamber 11 has a water supply port for a water storage tank 6 therein. The portion 8 is inserted, and the intake port portion 3 of the water supply pump 3 is inserted in the constant volume chamber 12.
a is inserted. When the water supply pump 3 is activated, the water supply pump 3 supplies the water in the constant volume chamber 12 to the ice tray 5. At this time, the water level in the constant volume chamber 12 gradually lowers and a water level difference with the water receiving chamber 11 is generated.
Since the water passage hole 9 communicating with the water tanks 1 and 12 has a small diameter, the amount of water flowing into the constant volume chamber 12 from the water receiving chamber 11 through the water passage hole 9 during the water supply by the water supply pump 3 is extremely small. Is supplied with a fixed amount of water stored in the constant volume chamber 12.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional water supply device, the water receiving chamber 11 is supplied during the water supply by the water supply pump 3.
The quantitative water supply is established on the assumption that the amount of water flowing into the constant volume chamber 12 through the water passage hole 9 is limited to an extremely small amount. However, the width of the water passage hole 9 may vary due to a molding error of the water tray 2, and if the width of the water passage hole 9 is larger than the design value, a constant amount of water is supplied from the water receiving chamber 11 during water supply by the water supply pump 3. There is a problem that the amount of water flowing into the chamber 12 varies, and as a result, the amount of water supplied to the ice tray 5 varies from product to product.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a water supply device of an automatic ice-making device with high accuracy in quantitative water supply to an ice-making tray.

[0006]

A water supply device for an automatic ice making device according to claim 1 is provided above the ice tray and has a fixed amount water reservoir having a water outlet at the bottom, and a water outlet of this fixed amount water reservoir. A water discharge valve provided for opening and closing, and a fixed water level disposed above the fixed amount water reservoir, from the water supply port to the fixed amount water reservoir, and the water supply port being blocked by the water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir. The water storage tank that supplies water until that time, and the water supply valve that is provided to open and close the water supply port of this water storage tank and is urged in the closing direction by the urging means, and the water discharge valve from the water storage tank to the fixed quantity water reservoir. A drive source that is closed when water is supplied and is opened when water is supplied from the fixed-quantity water reservoir to the ice tray, and is displaced in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the water outlet valve, and the displacement when the water outlet valve is closed is changed by the water supply valve. Interlocking operation body that is transmitted to By the opening operation is characterized in that formed by and a water supply passage for supplying the ice tray by drop of water flowing out from the water outlet of the quantity container.

In the water supply device for an automatic ice making device according to a second aspect of the present invention, a cover portion having a water inlet communicating with the water inlet of the water storage tank is provided on the upper portion of the fixed amount water reservoir.
The interlocking operation body is provided with a water inlet valve that closes the water inlet when the water outlet opens the water outlet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the water supply device of the automatic ice making device, the opening / closing operation stroke of the water discharge valve is set to be larger than the opening / closing operation stroke of the water supply valve of the water storage tank, and the water is supplied to the ice tray by the drive source. , The state in which the water supply port of the water storage tank is closed by the water supply valve, and the state where the water outlet valve and the water inlet valve of the constant quantity water reservoir open both the water outlet and the water inlet is characterized. .

[0009]

According to the means described in claim 1, when the water discharge valve is closed, the water supply valve is opened in conjunction with this, so that the water in the water storage tank is stored in the fixed quantity water reservoir and the water supply port is opened. Water is supplied until it reaches a constant water level where it is blocked by the water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir, and a fixed amount of water is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir. After this,
When the water discharge valve opens, the water supply valve of the water storage tank closes, so that a certain amount of water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir is supplied from the water outlet to the ice tray through the water supply passage.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the water outlet of the fixed quantity water reservoir is open, the water inlet is blocked by the water inlet valve, so there is no water leakage from the water inlet of the water storage tank. If it does, there is no risk that the leaked water will be supplied to the ice tray.

According to the third aspect, the water in the water supply port of the water storage tank is also supplied to the ice tray, so that water remains between the water supply valve of the water supply port and the water supply valve of the water supply port. There is no.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automatic ice making device for a refrigerator will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, a plastic ice tray 22 is provided in the ice making chamber 21 of the refrigerator, and the water stored in the ice tray 22 is cooled by the cold air supplied to the ice making chamber 21 to form ice. Become. In the refrigerating compartment 23 above the ice making compartment 21,
A water receiver 24 made of plastic is provided. The water receiver 24 is formed mainly of a fixed amount water reservoir 25, and a small diameter valve chamber portion 26 is integrally formed in the lower central portion of the fixed amount water reservoir 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, a portion between the fixed amount water storage portion 25 and the valve chamber portion 26 of the water receiver 24 is watertightly partitioned by an electromagnet 29 formed by molding a solenoid coil 27 with a plastic outer casing 28. Has been. A through hole that penetrates vertically is formed in the center of the plastic outer casing 28 that constitutes the bottom of the fixed quantity water reservoir 25, and this through hole is used as a water outlet 30 of the fixed quantity water reservoir 25.

The water outlet 30 is opened and closed by a water outlet valve 31. The water discharge valve 31 has a bearing 32 mounted on a cross-shaped rib 28 a integrally formed on the upper surface of the plastic outer casing 28.
And a valve chamber portion 2 which is supported by a valve rod 33 so as to be movable up and down.
6, the valve body 34 attached to the lower end of the valve rod 33 protruding into
It consists of and. The water valve 31 has a valve rod 33.
The compression coil spring 35 provided between the flange portion 33a and the bearing 32, which is formed at 1, is always urged downward in the opening direction to always open the water outlet 30. A magnetic body 36 is attached to the lower end portion of the valve rod 33, and when the electromagnet 29 is energized, the magnetic body 36 receives its magnetic attraction force (driving force), so that the water discharge valve 31.
Is displaced upward in the closing direction to close the water outlet 30. Therefore, the electromagnet 39 functions as a drive source for the water discharge valve 31.

As will be described later, the water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 flows out into the valve chamber portion 26 when the water outlet 30 is opened. An outlet 37 is formed at the bottom of the valve chamber 26, and the outlet 37 is connected to the upper end of a water supply pipe 38 as a water supply channel whose lower end is desired in the ice tray 22. There is. Therefore, the valve chamber 2
The water in the fixed-quantity water reservoir 25 that has flowed out into the water tank 6 is supplied into the ice tray 22 through the water supply pipe 38.

On the other hand, a mounting table 39 is placed on the water receiver 24.
A water storage tank 40 that is detachably installed is provided. A tubular portion 40a is projectingly provided on a lower surface portion of the water storage tank 40, and a cap 41 is screwed to the tubular portion 40a. The cap 41 is provided with a cylindrical water supply port portion 42, and the lower end of the water supply port portion 40 a has the rib 28.
It is placed on a. Further, the water supply port portion 42 is provided with a water supply valve 43 for opening and closing the upper end opening of the water supply port portion 42, and the water supply valve 43 can be moved up and down on a support frame 42 a provided in the water supply port portion 42. And a valve element 45 attached to the upper end of the valve rod 44 protruding upward from the water supply port 42. Such water supply valve 43
Is a compression coil spring 46 as an urging means provided between the collar portion 44a formed on the valve rod 44 and the support frame 42a.
Is always urged downward, which is the closing direction, so that the water supply port portion 42 is always closed. The water storage tank 40 is sealed except for being connected to the outside through the water supply port 42.

However, when the electromagnet 29 is cut off, the valve rod 33 of the water discharge valve 31 is the valve rod 44 of the water supply valve 43.
Away from. When the electromagnet 29 is energized and the valve rod 33 of the water discharge valve 31 is displaced upward, the valve rod 33 comes into contact with the lower end of the valve rod 44 of the water supply valve 43 and pushes it up. Therefore, the valve rod 33 functions as an interlocking operation body that transmits the displacement of the water discharge valve 31 during the closing operation to the water supply valve 43 to open the water supply valve 43.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In this embodiment, the electromagnet 29 is always in a disconnected state. When the electromagnet 29 is disconnected, as shown in FIG. 1, the water outlet valve 31 opens the water outlet 30 and the water supply valve 43 opens the water supply port 4.
The upper end opening of 2 is closed. Therefore, the fixed amount water reservoir 25
The inside is always empty.

When ice making in the ice tray 22 is completed, the ice tray 22 is turned upside down and the ice is dropped and stored in an ice storage case (not shown), and then returned to its original state, the electromagnet 29 is energized. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve rod 33 moves upward due to the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 29 against the magnetic body 36, whereby the water outlet valve 31 closes the water outlet 30 and the water supply valve 43 is pushed up. The upper end opening of the water supply port 42.

As a result, the water in the water storage tank 40 flows out into the fixed amount water reservoir 25 through the water supply port 42, and the water is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25. Then, when the water level in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 rises as the water flows out from the water supply port 42 and the lower end opening of the water supply port 42 is blocked by the water surface, the water from the water supply port 42 is closed. Will stop flowing out. At this time, since the water supply port 42 is placed on the rib 28a and its height position does not change, the fixed amount water reservoir 25 always stores a constant water level, in other words, a constant amount of water. Become.

When a fixed amount of water is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 in this manner, the electromagnet 29 is then cut off. Then, since the magnetic attraction force to the valve rod 33 disappears, as shown in FIG.
The spring force of 5 moves downward to open the water outlet 30, and the water supply valve 43 moves downward due to the spring force of the compression coil spring 46 to close the upper end opening of the water supply port 42.
Therefore, a certain amount of water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 and a small amount of water existing in the water supply port portion 42 flow out to the valve chamber portion 26, and due to a drop, the water flows from the outlet 37 through the water supply pipe 38 into the ice tray 22. Is supplied to.

When the water supplied into the ice making tray 22 is cooled by the cold air in the ice making chamber 23 to become ice, the ice making tray 22 is turned upside down and the ice is dropped and stored in the ice storage case in the same manner as described above. Then, when the ice tray 22 is returned to its original state, the electromagnet 29 is energized again, the water discharge valve 31 is closed, and the water supply valve 43 is opened. Note that the on / off control of the electromagnet 29 is performed by the control device of the ice making device.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the water inlet 4
Only a certain amount of water, including the water in 2, is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 and is supplied to the ice tray 22. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, unlike the conventional configuration in which the water in the constant volume chamber 12 communicated with the water receiving chamber 11 through the water passage hole 9 is supplied to the ice tray 5 by the water supply pump 3, Since there is no possibility that water will flow into the fixed amount water reservoir 25 from the other when water is supplied to the plate 22, a constant amount of water can be always supplied to the ice making plate 22, and accurate fixed amount water supply can be performed. Moreover, since the water in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 is supplied to the ice tray 22 by the drop,
A water supply pump is not needed, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, as in this embodiment, the quantitative water reservoir 25 is always emptied, and immediately before water is supplied to the ice tray 22,
If the water is supplied from the water storage tank 40 into the fixed amount water reservoir 25, unlike the case where the fixed amount of water is constantly stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25, the fixed amount water reservoir 25 will be scaled. It is prevented that the water is accumulated or the odor of the food stored in the refrigerating chamber 23 is absorbed by the water in the fixed amount water reservoir 25. It should be noted that the time required to complete the ice making in the ice tray 22 is 2 to 5 hours. Therefore, when water is constantly stored in the fixed quantity water reservoir 25, the odor of the food in the refrigerator compartment 23 is absorbed by the water. Will be done.

In addition, in this embodiment, the plastic outer casing 2 of the electromagnet 29 in which the solenoid coil 27 is molded is used.
Since 8 is used as a partition wall between the fixed amount water reservoir 25 and the valve chamber portion 26, and the valve rod 33 is directly suction-displaced by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 29, the electromagnet 29 is provided outside the water receiver 24 and the electromagnet 29 is provided. Unlike the structure in which the valve rod 33 is opened / closed by, for example, a lever operated by, the structure is simplified. Incidentally, the plastic exterior body 28
May be integrally formed with the water receiver 24.

5 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. The same functional parts as those of FIG. 1 showing the one embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and only different parts will be described. Partition walls 47 and 48, which divide the water receiver 24 into three chambers, are integrally formed on both upper and lower sides of the water receiver 24. The lower chamber is a valve chamber portion 26, the middle chamber is a constant amount water reservoir 25, The upper chamber is a water leakage storage chamber 49. A mounting leg 28b is integrally projectingly provided on the plastic outer casing 28 of the electromagnet 29 arranged in the fixed quantity water reservoir 25, and the mounting leg 28a is fixed to the inner side surface of the fixed quantity water reservoir 25. The valve rod 33 of the water outlet valve 31 that opens and closes the water outlet 50 formed in the lower partition wall 48 is supported by the bearing hole 28c formed in the plastic outer casing 28 of the electromagnet 29.

On the other hand, a water inlet 51 is formed in the upper partition wall 47, which is the cover portion of the fixed quantity water reservoir 25, and this water inlet 51 is the water inlet 42 of the water storage tank 40 mounted on the partition wall 47. Is in communication with. A valve body 53 of a water inlet valve 52 for opening and closing the water inlet 51 is attached to the upper end portion of the valve rod 33 of the water outlet valve 31.
Is configured to close the water inlet 49 when the water outlet valve 31 opens the water outlet 30, and open the water inlet 49 when the water outlet valve 31 closes the water outlet 30.

Here, the opening / closing operation stroke of the water outlet valve 31 (water inlet valve 52) is set larger than the opening / closing operation stroke of the water supply valve 43, and the water outlet valve 31 is opened (water inlet valve 50 is closed). At one time, the valve stem 33 is the water supply valve 4
It is separated from the valve rod 44 of No. 3 by the distance L. The separation distance L is set to approximately half of the opening / closing stroke of the water discharge valve 31 (water entrance valve 52).

In the above structure, the electromagnet 29 is normally disconnected from the electric power, the water outlet valve 31 opens the water outlet 50, and the water inlet valve 52 and the water inlet valve 43 connect the water inlet 51 and the water inlet portion 4 respectively.
The upper end opening of 2 is closed. In this state, for example, when the tightening force of the cap 41 screwed to the tubular portion 40a of the water storage tank 40 is weak and water leaks out from the gap between the tubular portion 40a and the cap 41, the water is a leaked water It can be stored in the chamber 49. Therefore, the water storage tank 40
Since the water leaking from the water does not flow into the fixed amount water reservoir 25, the occurrence of the problem that the leaked water is supplied from the open water outlet 50 to the ice tray 22 through the water supply pipe 38 is caused. It can be prevented.

Now, when the ice making in the ice making tray 22 is completed and the ice making tray 22 is turned upside down so as to drop and store the ice in the ice storage case, the electromagnet 29 is energized. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic body 36 of the valve rod 33 is attracted upward by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 29, whereby the water outlet valve 31 closes the water outlet 30 and the water inlet valve 52 closes the water inlet 51. Open. Further, since the valve rod 44 of the water supply valve 43 is pushed up by the valve rod 33, the water supply valve 43 opens the upper end opening of the water supply port portion 42.

As a result, the water in the water storage tank 40 flows out from the water supply port portion 42 into the fixed amount water reservoir 25 through the water inlet 51, and the water is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25. Then, as the water flows out from the water supply port section 42, the water level in the fixed quantity water reservoir 25 rises, and the lower end opening of the water supply port section 42 is blocked by the water surface, so the water supply port section 42.
Water outflow from the plant stops. At this time, since the water supply port 42 is placed on the upper partition wall 47 and its height position does not change, a fixed amount of water is always stored in the fixed quantity water reservoir 25.

When a fixed amount of water is stored in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 in this manner, the electric power supplied to the electromagnet 29 is reduced thereafter. Then, the electromagnet 29 for the magnetic body 36
7, the water supply valve 43 is displaced downward while pushing down the valve rod 33 of the water discharge valve 31 by the spring force of its compression coil spring 46, as shown in FIG. 7. Close the opening. At this time, the valve rod 33 of the water discharge valve 31 is still in contact with the valve rod 44 of the water supply valve 43 by the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 29, that is, the valve rod 33 is pulled upward by about half of the opening / closing stroke of the water discharge valve 31. Therefore, the water outlet valve 31 and the water inlet valve 52 are maintained in the state where the water outlet 30 and the water inlet 51 are left open.

Therefore, the water in the water supply port portion 42 is not confined in the water supply port portion 42 but flows into the fixed amount water reservoir 25 through the water inlet port 51, and a fixed amount existing in the water supply port portion 42. A certain amount of water in the fixed amount water reservoir 25 including the above water flows out to the valve chamber portion 26 due to the drop, and then the outlet 3
It is supplied into the ice tray 22 from the water supply pipe 7 through the water supply pipe 38.

When the water in the water supply port 42 and the fixed amount water reservoir 25 is supplied to the ice tray 22 in this manner, the electromagnet 29
Since the magnetic attraction force to the valve rod 33 disappears, the valve rod 33 moves downward due to the spring force of the compression coil spring 35, and the main water valve 31 closes the water outlet 30 and the water input. The valve 52 closes the water inlet 51.

In the above embodiment, the electromagnet 29 is used as the drive source of the water discharge valve 31. However, this is achieved by winding the string connected to the valve rod 33 around the winding roller rotated by the motor. The configuration may be such that 31 is opened and closed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the water supply device of the automatic ice making device of claim 1, when the water outlet valve is closed by the drive source, the water supply valve is opened in conjunction with this, and the water in the water storage tank becomes a fixed amount water reservoir. A fixed amount of water is supplied, and then the water is supplied from the fixed amount water reservoir to the ice tray by a drop, so a water supply pump is not required, and moreover, the ice tray can always be supplied with a precisely measured amount of water. it can.

According to the water supply device of the automatic ice making device of the second aspect, since the water inlet is closed by the water inlet valve when the water outlet of the fixed quantity water reservoir is opened, the water inlet of the water storage tank is closed. If there is a water leak, there is no risk of the leaked water being supplied to the ice tray. According to the means of claim 3, since the water in the water supply port of the water storage tank is also supplied to the ice tray, the water between the water supply valve of the water supply port and the water supply valve of the water intake port does not remain.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a state of water supply from a water storage tank to a fixed amount water reservoir.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which water is supplied from the quantitative water reservoir to the ice tray.
Corresponding figure

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing an ice making device of a refrigerator.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing an example of a conventional water supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

22 is an ice tray, 24 is a water receiver, 25 is a fixed amount water reservoir, 2
6 is a valve chamber part, 29 is an electromagnet (driving source), 30 is a water outlet,
Reference numeral 31 is a water discharge valve, 33 is a valve rod (interlocking operation body), 34 is a valve body, 35 is a compression coil spring, 36 is a magnetic body, 37 is an outlet, 38 is a water supply pipe (water supply passage), 40 is a water storage tank,
41 is a cap, 42 is a water inlet, 43 is a water valve, 44
Is a valve rod, 45 is a valve body, 46 is a compression coil spring (biasing means), 49 is a water leakage storage chamber, 50 is a water outlet, 51 is a water inlet, 52 is a water inlet valve, and 53 is a valve body.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fixed quantity water reservoir provided above the ice tray and having a water outlet at the bottom, a water discharge valve provided to open and close the water outlet of the fixed quantity water reservoir, and above the fixed quantity water reservoir. And a water tank that supplies water from the water supply port to the fixed amount water reservoir until the water level is blocked by the water stored in the fixed amount water reservoir, and the water supply port of this water storage tank is opened and closed. And a water supply valve that is urged in a closing direction by urging means, and the water discharge valve is closed when water is supplied from the water storage tank to the fixed quantity water reservoir, and when water is supplied from the fixed quantity water reservoir to the ice tray. A drive source for opening operation, an interlocking operation body that is displaced in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the water outlet valve, and transmits the displacement at the time of closing operation of the water outlet valve to the water supply valve for opening operation, and the opening of the water outlet valve. Water flowing out from the outlet of the fixed quantity water reservoir by the operation A water supply device for an automatic ice-making device, comprising: 2. A cover part having a water inlet communicating with the water inlet of the water storage tank is provided on the upper part of the fixed quantity water reservoir, and when the water outlet valve opens the water outlet on the interlocking operation body, The water supply device for an automatic ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a water supply valve for closing the water supply port. 3. The opening / closing operation stroke of the water discharge valve is set to be larger than the opening / closing operation stroke of the water supply valve of the water storage tank, and when water is supplied to the ice tray, the water supply port of the water storage tank is operated by the water supply valve by the drive source. 3. The water supply device for an automatic ice making device according to claim 2, wherein a state in which both the water outlet valve and the water inlet valve of the fixed quantity water reservoir are opened in the closed state is exhibited.