JPH10103823A - Icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an icemaker for preventing or suppressing adverse influence of liquid injection to an ice releasing step while smoothly cooling a compressor in an icemaking step by a liquid injection type. SOLUTION: The icemaker comprises a cooling unit R having a compressor 21, a condenser 22, an expansion valve 26 and a cooler 1. The icemaker conducts an icemaking step by condensing high temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 by the condenser 22, feeding it to the cooler 1 via the valve 26 and supplying water for icemaking to the cooler 1, and executes an ice releasing step by feeding high temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 to the cooler 1. The icemaker also comprises a liquid injection circuit 33 for feeding part of liquid refrigerant condensed by the condenser 22 into the compressor 21, and an injection valve 34 provided in the circuit 33 to pressure reduce the liquid refrigerant fed to the circuit 33 to be supplied to the compressor 21. The valve 34 regulates its valve opening based on a temperature detected by a temperature sensitive cylinder 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device such as a so-called inverted cell type ice making machine and a plate type ice making machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ice maker of this type, particularly a so-called inverted cell type ice maker, has a large number of downward opening openings as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-52622 (F25C1 / 04). A tiltable water tray is provided below the cooler that defines the ice-making chamber, and the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed by the condenser when the water tray closes the ice-making chamber. After the pressure was reduced by the decompression device, the water was allowed to flow into an evaporating pipe provided on the outer upper surface of the cooler and was evaporated to cool the ice making chamber. In addition to performing the ice making process by fountain in the ice making chamber, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant from the compressor is directly flown into the evaporating pipe in the state where the water tray opens the ice making chamber and heated to perform the ice removing step. .

The conventional refrigerant circuit of an ice maker usually contains R-12 refrigerant or R-502 refrigerant. However, due to the recent problem of destruction of the ozone layer, the use of the specific refrigerant becomes impossible. , R-22 and R-134a.

[0004] Among them, R-22 refrigerant has been widely used in this kind of ice making machine because it has been used in various compressors from large to small. There is a drawback that the discharge gas temperature rises. Therefore, conventionally, generally, for example, Japanese Utility Model 5-2643
The compressor is cooled by a liquid injection method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5 (1993) -205.

[0005]

In this liquid injection system, a pipe is provided for communicating the outlet side of the condenser with the inside of the compressor vessel to form a liquid injection circuit, and a decompression device is attached to the liquid injection circuit. A part of the liquid refrigerant discharged from the condenser is depressurized by a decompression device, and then flows into the compressor to evaporate in the compressor, thereby cooling the compressor. Since the refrigerant is supplied from the injection circuit to the compressor, the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor is reduced in the ice removing step.

That is, in the ice making process, the compressor is cooled without hindrance by the liquid injection circuit,
Although the cooling of the ice making chamber by the evaporator pipe of the cooler will be performed smoothly, it will be about 4
After 0 seconds, the discharge gas temperature of the compressor drops sharply.

[0007] When the temperature of the discharged gas is lowered, in the experiment, the ice-removing step is normally completed in 3 minutes (when no liquid injection is performed), but it takes about 5 minutes. As a result, the ice making time is reduced. As the number of cycles per day decreases, the amount of ice making per day decreases, and the time required for ice to separate from the ice making compartment after the ice removal process starts becomes longer, so the portion in contact with the ice making compartment is extended. Ice melts excessively, and a problem arises in that ice with a deformed shape is generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem. In the ice making process, the liquid injection is carried out smoothly while cooling the compressor smoothly by the liquid injection method. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making device capable of preventing or suppressing an adverse effect on the ice.

[0009]

That is, the ice making device of the present invention includes a cooling device including a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and a cooler, and condenses a high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor in the condenser. And flowing into the cooler through the decompression device, and
While supplying ice making water to the cooler to perform the ice making process,
A liquid injection circuit for causing a high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into a cooler to perform an ice-removing step, and a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed by the condenser to flow into the compressor; and A valve device that is interposed in the injection circuit and decompresses the liquid refrigerant flowing into the liquid injection circuit and supplies the decompressed liquid refrigerant to the compressor. The valve device adjusts the valve opening based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. It is to adjust.

An ice making device according to a second aspect of the present invention is such that the valve device is constituted by an injection valve.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ice making apparatus, the temperature detecting section is disposed on the discharge side of the compressor in a heat-exchange manner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned ice making device, the temperature detecting section is disposed in the container of the compressor in a heat-exchange manner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above ice making device, the temperature detecting section is disposed on the outlet side of the condenser in a heat-exchange manner.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making device, the temperature detecting section is disposed at a position where the ambient temperature can be detected.

According to the present invention, there is provided a valve device for reducing the pressure of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the liquid injection circuit and supplying it to the compressor. This valve device adjusts the valve opening based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting section. If the temperature is high, the valve device should be adjusted based on the temperature on the discharge side of the compressor, the temperature on the container of the compressor, the temperature on the outlet side of the condenser, or the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector. The refrigerant is supplied to the compressor, and in the event of a decrease, the amount of the refrigerant supplied is reduced, or by stopping the compressor, the compressor is cooled smoothly in the ice making process, and the gas discharged from the compressor in the ice removing process is reduced. A decrease in temperature can be prevented or suppressed, and a quick de-icing step can be performed.

As a result, it is possible to improve the ice making capacity and to prevent the ice from being deformed.

[0017]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of an ice making section of an ice making machine I as an embodiment of the ice making apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice making section of the ice making machine I in a state where a water tray 5 is in an inclined open position. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the cooling device R of the ice making machine I.

In each of the drawings, an ice maker I of the embodiment is a so-called inverted cell type ice maker, which has a large number of ice making chambers 1A which open downward and a cooling device on the outer surface of the upper wall. A cooler 1 equipped with an R evaporating pipe 2 (which constitutes a part of the cooler 1), and each ice making chamber 1A is closed from below with a sufficient margin at a predetermined horizontal closing position as shown in FIG. A water tray 5 having a fountain hole 14 and a return hole 16 (shown in FIG. 2) corresponding to each ice making chamber 1A, and a water tank 6 fixed to the water tray 5 and communicating with the return hole 16
Then, the water for ice making in the water tank 6 is spouted from the fountain hole 14 through the water pipe 11 and the distribution pipe (not shown), and the circulation pump 10 for circulating the water to each ice making chamber 1A and the water tray 5 are tilted and moved back. It operates by a high reduction gear motor 4 capable of forward and reverse rotation, a water sprinkler 9 for spraying water on the surface of the water tray 5 when the water supply solenoid valve 7 is opened, and a float provided in the water tank 6 to operate water. It comprises a water level switch (not shown) for detecting a predetermined full water level of the tank 6.

The mounting plate 12 fixed to the support beam 8
A drive cam 17 having first and second arms 4A and 4B extending in opposite directions to each other is connected to the output shaft of the reduction motor 4 supported on the first arm. The other end of the coil spring 4C attached to the end of 4A is connected to the side of the water tray 5, and the rear part of the water
Have been supported. Each of the arms 4A and 4B drives a contact-type water tray position detection switch (not shown) for detecting the horizontal closed position and the inclined open position of the water tray 5.

The components described above are provided on the ice making unit side of the ice making machine I. On the machine room side of the ice making machine I, a compressor 21 and a condenser 22 of a cooling device R as shown in FIG. Can be The cooling device R is formed by sequentially connecting the compressor 21, the condenser 22, the receiver tank 23, the dryer 24, the expansion valve 26 (decompression device), the cooler 1 (evaporation pipe 2), and the accumulator 27 in a ring shape. A refrigerant circuit is configured. 25 is a blower for the condenser.

A hot gas pipe 29 is connected between a discharge pipe 21D of the compressor 21 and a pipe 28 on the inlet side of the cooler 1, and a hot gas valve 31 (electromagnetic valve) is connected to the hot gas pipe 29. Valve) is interposed.

Further, a liquid injection circuit 33 (pipe) is connected between the pipe 32 on the outlet side of the dryer 24 and the inside of the container of the compressor 21, and the liquid injection circuit 33 is connected to an injection valve as a valve device. 34
Is interposed. When the compressor 21 is of a rotary type, the liquid injection circuit 33 injects a refrigerant to a high pressure side (compressing portion) in a container, and in a case of a reciprocating type, injects a refrigerant to a low pressure side of the container. The following description will be made by taking a rotary compressor generally used widely as an example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the injection valve 34 includes a valve body 38 having a lower end inlet 36 and a side outlet 37, a diaphragm 39 provided on the upper part of the valve body 38, and an inlet of the diaphragm 39. A plunger 41 attached to the 36 side (lower surface) and a gas-filled temperature-sensitive cylinder (temperature detector) attached to communicate with the upper surface of the diaphragm 39
42, a spring 43 in contact with the lower surface of the diaphragm 39, an orifice assembly 47 having a valve seat 46 with which the lower end portion 44 of the plunger 41 comes and goes, and a pressure equalizing hole 48 that communicates the outlet 37 with the lower surface of the diaphragm 39. , Spring 4
Adjustment spindle 49 for adjusting the spring force of 3
And a strainer 51 inserted into the inlet 36.

The temperature-sensitive cylinder 42 is attached to the discharge pipe 21D of the compressor 21 in a heat-exchange manner, and the injection valve 34 is provided according to the relationship between the temperature of the discharge gas from the compressor 21 and the pressure P1 at the outlet 37. The opening degree of the valve seat 46 is adjusted, and the flow rate of the refrigerant passing therethrough is controlled.

That is, the injection valve 34 receives the pressure P 1 at the outlet 37 from the pressure equalizing hole 48 on the lower surface of the diaphragm 39. On the other hand, the pressure PB inside the temperature-sensitive cylinder 42 changes depending on the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor 21, and increases as the temperature rises.
When the pressure PB falls, the pressure PB decreases, and the pressure PB is received on the upper surface of the diaphragm 39.

Assuming that the spring force of the spring 43 in contact with the lower surface of the diaphragm 39 is PS, the plunger 41 is pushed downward from the time when the discharge gas temperature rises and PB> P1 + PS, so that the tip 44 is The valve seat 46 opens apart from the valve seat 46, and the refrigerant starts flowing.
Conversely, when the discharge gas temperature falls and PB <P1 + PS, the plunger 41 rises, closes the valve seat 46, and stops the flow of the refrigerant.

The spring 43 is used to set the start of opening of the valve seat 46, and is set to an optimum value according to the performance of the ice making device I and the like. 6 shows the characteristics of the injection valve 34 according to FIG. In this case, with the standard setting of the spring 43, the pressure P1 at the outlet 37 is 0.5 bar (-4
(0 ° C.), the valve seat 46 starts to open when the temperature (discharge gas temperature) detected by the temperature sensing cylinder 42 rises to about + 120 ° C. The spring force PS is configured to have an adjustment range of ± 30 ° C. with respect to the standard setting.

In FIG. 5, the injection valve 34 does not operate in a region beyond the adjustment range of the spring 43. This is because there is no need to cool the compressor 21 in such a region due to the characteristics of the refrigerant or the like.

Next, the circulation of the refrigerant in the cooling device R in the refrigerant circuit of FIG. 3 will be described. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 to the discharge-side pipe 21D is
At 2, the air is cooled by a blower 25 to condense and liquefy, and reaches the expansion valve 26 via the receiver tank 23 and the dryer 24.

The refrigerant throttled by the expansion valve 26 flows into the evaporating pipe 2 of the cooler 1 and evaporates, and absorbs heat from the cooler 1 to cool it. The refrigerant flowing out of the evaporating pipe 2 of the cooler 1 is stored in the accumulator 27.
And returns to the compressor 21. Also, the hot gas valve 31
Is open, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant (hot gas) discharged from the compressor 21 flows into the hot gas pipe 29 and directly supplies the high-temperature gas refrigerant to the evaporating pipe 2 of the cooler 1.

A part of the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 22 flows into the liquid injection circuit 33,
After the liquid refrigerant is squeezed and decompressed in the portion, it is supplied to the low pressure side of the compressor 21. Since the decompressed liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor 21 evaporates there, it takes heat from the compressor 21 to cool it.

Next, the operation of the ice making machine I will be described. In a state where the water tray 5 is at the horizontal closed position in FIG. 1, a control device (not shown) first executes an ice making process. In this ice making process, the hot gas valve 31 is closed, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is condensed and liquefied in the condenser 22 as described above.
After being throttled by the expansion valve 26, it is supplied to the evaporating pipe 2 of the cooler 1, where it is evaporated to cool the cooler 1. Also,
The control device operates the circulation pump 10 to circulate the water in the water tank 6 from the fountain holes 14 to each of the ice making chambers 1A.

By the ice making operation, ice is gradually generated in the ice making chamber 1A of the cooler 1. Further, as described above, the injection valve 34 is provided from the liquid injection circuit 33.
The liquid refrigerant throttled at the valve seat 46 is supplied to the compressor 21, and the compressor 21 is cooled.

When a predetermined ice-making time has elapsed since the start of ice-making, the control device stops the circulation pump 10, rotates the deceleration motor 4 forward, and starts tilting the water tray 5. Further, the hot gas solenoid valve 31 is opened to circulate the high-temperature gas refrigerant (hot gas) through the evaporating pipe 2 of the cooler 1 as described above, and the ice removing step of heating the cooler 1 to freeze the ice frozen in the ice making chamber 1A. Move to

In the ice removing step, the controller stops the blower 25 and the circulation pump 10. When the water tray 5 is tilted to a predetermined tilt opening position as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 4A of the drive cam 17 contacts the water tray position detection switch and reverses the switch to the backward movement side. The deceleration motor 4 is stopped to stop the tilting of the water tray 5.

When the water tray 5 is at the inclined open position, the ice making water in the water tank 6 is drained to a drain (not shown) located immediately below the water tank 6. Due to the heating of the cooler 1, the ice generated in the ice making chambers 1A is separated and falls. Then, when the temperature of the cooler 1 becomes higher than the predetermined de-icing completion temperature, the control device rotates the deceleration motor 4 in the reverse direction, and
Move upwards.

When the water tray 5 returns to the predetermined horizontal closed position as shown in FIG. 1 by such a return movement, the arm 4B of the drive cam 17 comes into contact with the water tray position detection switch and is inverted to the tilting side. The apparatus closes the hot gas valve 31 and stops the deceleration motor 4 to stop the water tray 5 from returning. Then, the process returns to the ice making process.

Here, in the deicing step, the compressor 2
When the temperature of the discharge gas 1 decreases, the injection valve 34 reduces or closes the opening of the valve seat 46 as described above, and reduces the flow rate of the refrigerant supplied from the liquid injection circuit 33 to the compressor 21; Alternatively, the supply of the refrigerant is stopped. Therefore, while the compressor 21 is smoothly cooled in the ice making process, a decrease in the discharge gas temperature of the compressor 21 in the ice removing process can be prevented or suppressed, and rapid ice removal can be performed.

As a result, it is possible to improve the ice making capacity and to prevent the ice from breaking.

In the above embodiment, the temperature-sensitive cylinder 4 of the injection valve 34
2 was added to the discharge-side pipe 21D of the compressor 21 in a heat-exchange manner, but is not limited thereto, and the container 21C of the compressor 21 as shown in FIG.
And the temperature of the compressor 21 itself may be detected. Also in this case, when the temperature of the container 21D is high, the flow rate of the refrigerant is increased, and when the temperature is low, the operation of decreasing or stopping is performed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a temperature-sensitive cylinder 42 may be added to the pipe 51 on the outlet side of the condenser 22 in a heat-exchange manner, and the injection valve 34 may be operated at the temperature of the condensed liquid refrigerant. In this case as well, when the temperature of the pipe 51 is high, the flow rate of the refrigerant is increased, and when the temperature is low, the operation of decreasing or stopping is performed. Further, the ambient temperature (outside air temperature) of the ice making device I may be detected by the temperature sensing cylinder 42 as shown in FIG. In this case as well, when the ambient temperature is high, the flow rate of the refrigerant is increased, and when the ambient temperature is low, the operation of decreasing or stopping is performed.

However, in any case, the spring force of the spring 43 is set to an optimum value by the adjusting spindle 49 of the injection valve 34.

Further, in the embodiment, a so-called inverted cell type ice maker has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is also effective to a so-called plate type or falling type ice maker.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, there is provided a valve device for reducing the pressure of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the liquid injection circuit and supplying the reduced pressure to the compressor. Based on the temperature of the discharge side of the compressor, the temperature of the container of the compressor, the temperature of the outlet side of the condenser or the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. When the temperature is high, the refrigerant is supplied to the compressor by the valve device, and when the temperature is low, the amount of the refrigerant supplied is reduced or stopped, so that the compressor is smoothly cooled in the ice making process and deicing is performed. It is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in the temperature of the discharge gas of the compressor in the process, and to quickly perform ice removal.

As a result, it is possible to improve the ice making capacity and also to prevent the ice from being deformed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an ice making section of an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice making section of the ice making machine of FIG. 1 in a state where a water tray is at an inclined open position.

FIG. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the cooling device of the ice making machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the injection valve of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of an injection valve.

FIG. 6 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a cooling device of an ice making machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a cooling device of an ice making machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a cooling device of an ice making machine according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 I Ice machine R Cooling device 1 Cooler 1A Ice making chamber 2 Evaporation pipe 5 Water tray 21 Compressor 21C Container 22 Condenser 29 Hot gas piping 31 Hot gas valve 33 Liquid injection circuit 34 Injection valve (valve device) 51 Outlet piping

Claims (6)

[Claims] A cooling device comprising a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and a cooling device, wherein the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed by the condenser, and is condensed to the cooling device via the decompression device. An ice making device that performs an ice making process by supplying ice making water to the cooler and flowing high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the cooler to perform an ice removing process; A liquid injection circuit that allows a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed into the compressor to flow into the compressor; and a liquid refrigerant that is interposed in the liquid injection circuit and that decompresses the liquid refrigerant that flows into the liquid injection circuit and supplies the liquid refrigerant to the compressor. An ice making device, comprising: a valve device, wherein the valve device adjusts a valve opening degree based on a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit. 2. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device is an injection valve. 3. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting section is disposed on the discharge side of the compressor in a heat exchange manner. 4. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting section is disposed in the container of the compressor in a heat exchange manner. 5. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting section is disposed on the outlet side of the condenser in a heat exchange manner. 6. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detector is disposed at a position where the ambient temperature can be detected.