KR102538570B1 - Evaporator for ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an evaporator for an ice maker.
An evaporator for an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an evaporator body having a refrigerant flow path; an ice forming unit connected to the evaporator body and forming ice by contacting at least a part of water in a state in which the refrigerant having a freezing point or less flows through the refrigerant passage; and an ice-separating unit provided in the evaporator body and directly or indirectly heating at least one of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and the evaporator body and the ice-former so that the ice is separated from the ice-former; and, the ice-separating unit may be provided on the evaporator body such that at least a portion of the ice-separating unit is inserted into the refrigerant passage.

Description

Evaporator for ice maker {EVAPORATOR FOR ICE MAKER}

The present invention relates to an evaporator used in an ice maker for making ice.

An ice maker makes ice. To this end, the ice maker includes an evaporator through which a refrigerant flows.

When water contacts at least a part of the evaporator or a member connected to the evaporator while a refrigerant having a freezing point or lower flows in the evaporator, ice is formed in the evaporator or the member connected to the evaporator.

When ice of a predetermined size is formed on the evaporator or a member connected to the evaporator, the ice must be separated from the evaporator or a member connected to the evaporator.

To this end, conventionally, the evaporator is heated by allowing a refrigerant above freezing point to flow through the evaporator or by providing a heater outside the evaporator.

However, when the refrigerant above the freezing point is allowed to flow into the evaporator, noise is generated from the flow path switching valve used for this purpose, and when a heater is provided outside the evaporator, the evaporator is heated to a high temperature and the resistance to corrosion is lowered.

The present invention has been made in recognition of at least one of the above-mentioned needs or problems occurring in the prior art.

One aspect of the object of the present invention is to minimize the generation of noise during separation of ice formed by the evaporator and to prevent the corrosion resistance of the evaporator from being lowered due to the separation of ice formed by the evaporator.

Another object of the present invention is to insert at least a portion of an ice-separating unit that separates ice formed by an evaporator into a refrigerant passage formed in the evaporator so that the refrigerant flows.

An evaporator for an ice maker related to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the above objects may include the following features.

An evaporator for an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an evaporator body having a refrigerant flow path; an ice forming unit connected to the evaporator body and forming ice by contacting at least a part of water in a state in which the refrigerant having a freezing point or less flows through the refrigerant passage; and an ice-separating unit provided in the evaporator body and directly or indirectly heating at least one of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and the evaporator body and the ice-former so that the ice is separated from the ice-former; and, the ice-separating unit may be provided on the evaporator body such that at least a portion of the ice-separating unit is inserted into the refrigerant passage.

In this case, the evaporator body may have an insertion hole through which the ice-separating unit passes so as to be inserted into the refrigerant passage.

In addition, the ice-separating unit may include a heater.

The ice-separating unit may further include a heater insertion pipe having at least a portion of the evaporator body inserted into the refrigerant passage and having the heater therein.

In addition, the heater insertion tube may have a shape corresponding to the shape of at least a part of the evaporator main body, and the heater may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the heater insertion tube.

And, the heater may contact the heater insertion tube.

In addition, the heater insertion pipe may be made of a thermally conductive material.

The ice-separating unit may further include a heat-conductive member provided on the evaporator main body so that at least a part thereof is inserted into the refrigerant passage, connected to the heater, and made of a heat-conductive material.

In addition, the ice-forming unit may include an immersion member connected to the evaporator body and at least partially submerged in water to form ice.

In addition, a member connection hole to which the immersion member is connected may be formed in the evaporator main body.

In addition, a connection space connected to the refrigerant passage is formed in the immersion member so that the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage can flow.

Further, the immersion member may be provided with a partition member that divides the connection space into a refrigerant inflow passage through which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant passage and a refrigerant outflow passage through which refrigerant flows out into the refrigerant passage.

In addition, a communication hole communicating the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet may be formed in the partition member so that the refrigerant in the refrigerant inlet can flow to the refrigerant outlet.

And, the partition member may pass through the refrigerant passage and extend up to the evaporator main body.

In addition, the partition member may contact the immersion member and the evaporator body.

A passage through which the ice-separating unit passes may be formed in the partition member.

Also, the ice-separating unit may contact the passage part.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, at least a part of the ice-separating unit for separating ice formed by the evaporator may be inserted into the refrigerant passage formed in the evaporator so that the refrigerant flows.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, generation of noise is minimized when the ice formed by the evaporator is separated, and resistance to corrosion of the evaporator may not be lowered due to the separation of the ice formed by the evaporator.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention.
2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I' in Fig. 1;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' of FIG. 1;
5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention, showing ice making.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention, showing ice separation.
7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 of a second embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention.

In order to help understand the characteristics of the present invention as described above, an evaporator for an ice maker related to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

Hereinafter, the described embodiments will be described based on the most suitable embodiments for understanding the technical characteristics of the present invention, and the technical characteristics of the present invention are not limited by the described embodiments, but the following description It is to illustrate that the present invention can be implemented, such as the embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications within the technical scope of the present invention through the embodiments described below, and these modified embodiments will be said to fall within the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, in the reference numerals described in the accompanying drawings to help understanding of the embodiments described below, among components that perform the same action in each embodiment, related components are indicated by the same or extended numbers.

First Embodiment of Evaporator for Ice Maker

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 .

1 is a perspective view of an evaporator for an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporator for an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II' of FIG. 1.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention during ice making, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention. indicates ice.

The first embodiment of the evaporator 100 for an ice maker according to the present invention may include an evaporator main body 200, an ice forming unit 300, and an ice-separating unit 400.

As shown in FIG. 3, a refrigerant flow path R is formed in the evaporator main body 200, and as shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant may flow.

A connection pipe (T) communicating with the refrigerant flow path (R) may be connected to one side and the other side of the evaporator body 200, respectively. To this end, one side and the other side of the evaporator main body 200 may be formed with a pipe connection hole (HT) to which the connection pipe (T) is connected, respectively, as shown in FIG.

The connection pipe (T) connected to one side of the evaporator main body 200 is connected to an expansion valve or capillary tube (not shown) of the refrigerating cycle, and the connection pipe (T) connected to the other side is connected to the compressor (not shown) of the refrigeration cycle. ) can be connected to Accordingly, the refrigerant flows from the expansion valve or the capillary tube of the refrigeration cycle to the evaporator main body 200, and may flow into the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200. Then, the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 may flow through the refrigerant passage R and then flow to the compressor of the refrigeration cycle, as shown in FIG.

The evaporator main body 200 may have a U-shaped tubular shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, the shape of the evaporator main body 200 is not particularly limited, and any shape is possible as long as it can form the refrigerant passage R through which the refrigerant flows.

As shown in Figure 2, the evaporator main body 200 may be formed with an insertion hole (H). At least a part of the ice stripping unit 400 may be inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 through the insertion hole H.

A member connection hole HC may be formed in the evaporator main body 200 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . An immersion member 310 included in the ice forming unit 300 to be described later may be connected to the evaporator main body 200 through the member connection hole HC.

The evaporator main body 200 may be made of a thermally conductive material. For example, the evaporator main body 200 may be made of metal such as stainless steel. However, the material constituting the evaporator main body 200 is not particularly limited, and may be made of any known material as long as the refrigerant flow path R can be formed.

The ice forming unit 300 may be connected to the evaporator main body 200 . In addition, in the ice formation unit 300 , ice (I) may be formed by contacting at least a part of water in a state in which a refrigerant having a freezing point or less flows in the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200 .

The ice forming unit 300 may include, for example, an immersion member 310 . The immersion member 310 may be connected to the evaporator main body 200 . The immersion member 310 may be connected to the evaporator main body 200 by being welded to the evaporator main body 200 in a state in which one end is inserted into the aforementioned member connection hole formed in the evaporator main body 200 . However, the configuration in which the immersion member 310 is connected to the evaporator main body 200 is not particularly limited, and any known configuration such as connection by fitting or adhesive is possible.

At least a portion of the immersion member 310 may be submerged in water. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, at least a portion of the immersion member 310 may be submerged in water contained in the tray member TR. And, in this state, when the refrigerant below freezing point flows in the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200, ice (I) may be formed in the immersion member 310.

A connection space (SC) connected to the refrigerant flow path (R) of the evaporator main body 200 may be formed in the immersion member 310 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 can flow through the immersion member 310, that is, the connection space SC of the immersion member 310. And, as a result, the immersion member 310 is cooled more quickly by the refrigerant having a freezing point or less, so that ice (I) can be formed more quickly and easily in the immersion member 310 .

A partition member 311 may be provided in the immersion member 310 . By the partition member 311, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection space (SC) of the immersion member 310 may be partitioned into a refrigerant inlet path (RI) and a refrigerant outlet path (RO). In addition, a communication hole 311a is formed in the partition member 311 so that the refrigerant inlet passage RI and the refrigerant outlet passage RO partitioned by the immersion member 310 can communicate with each other.

Accordingly, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 may flow into the refrigerant inlet passage RI of the connection space SC of the immersion member 310 as shown in FIG. And, the refrigerant in the refrigerant inlet path (RI) may flow to the refrigerant outlet path (RO) of the connection space (SC) of the immersion member 310 through the communication hole (311a) of the immersion member (310). Thereafter, the refrigerant may flow through the refrigerant flow path (R) of the evaporator main body 200 through the refrigerant outlet path (RO) of the connection space (SC) of the immersion member 310 and flow through the refrigerant flow path (R).

Meanwhile, the partition member 311 may extend to the evaporator main body 200 through the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . Accordingly, all of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 may flow through the connection space SC of the immersion member 310 .

In this configuration, the partition member 311 may contact the immersion member 310 and the evaporator body 200. In addition, a passage part 311b may be formed in the partition member 311 . A portion of the ice-separating unit 400 inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 may pass through the passage portion 311b of the partition member 311 . Also, the ice-separating unit 400 may contact the passing portion 311b of the partition member 311 .

Accordingly, during ice separation as shown in FIG. 6, heat generated from the ice separation unit 400 inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator body 200 is easily transferred to the immersion member 310 through the partition member 311. As the ice is transferred, the ice (I) may be more easily separated from the immersion member 310 .

The immersion member 310 and the partition member 311 may be made of a thermally conductive material. For example, the immersion member 310 and the partition member 311 may be made of metal such as stainless steel. However, the material constituting the immersion member 310 and the partition member 311 is not particularly limited, and may be made of any well-known material as long as it can be connected to the evaporator main body 200 or provided to the immersion member 310. there is.

On the other hand, the configuration of the ice forming unit 300 is not particularly limited, and is connected to the evaporator main body 200 and includes an ice making frame (not shown) in which water is sprayed or flows, and any well-known configuration is possible.

The ice-separating unit 400 may be provided in the evaporator main body 200 . Also, the ice-separating unit 400 may directly or indirectly heat at least one of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200, the evaporator main body 200, and the ice forming unit 300. Accordingly, the ice I formed in the ice forming unit 300 may be separated from the ice forming unit 300 . For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the immersion member 310 of the ice forming unit 300 is heated by the ice separating unit 400 in a state in which the tray member TR is rotated so as not to interfere with the separation of the ice I. The ice (I) formed in ) may be separated from the immersion member 310 .

In this way, since the ice (I) is separated from the ice forming unit 300 by heating the refrigerant or the evaporator body 200 or the ice forming unit 300 by the ice-separating unit 400, the refrigerant above the freezing point is removed from the evaporator body. A flow path switching valve (not shown) for flowing into the refrigerant flow path R of 200 is not required. Therefore, noise during separation of the ice I can be minimized.

The ice-separating unit 400 may be provided on the evaporator body 200 so that at least a portion thereof is inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator body 200 . For example, the ice-separating unit 400 may be inserted into the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200 through the aforementioned insertion hole H of the evaporator main body 200 .

As a result, since the ice-separating unit 400 contacts the refrigerant present in the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200, the evaporator main body 200 or the immersion member 310 of the ice forming unit 300, etc. It is not heated to a high temperature by the unit 400 and can be heated only to the extent that the ice I formed in the ice forming unit 300 can be separated.

Therefore, resistance to corrosion of the evaporator 100 for an ice maker may not decrease.

The ice-separating unit 400 may include a heater 410 . The heater 410 may be electrically connected to, for example, a power source (not shown). Also, the heater 410 may generate heat by electric energy. However, the heater 410 is not particularly limited, and any well-known heater can be used as long as it can generate heat.

The heater 410 may have a shape corresponding to a heater insertion pipe 420 to be described later. Accordingly, the heater 410 can be easily installed inside the heater insertion pipe 420 . For example, the heater 410 may be rod-shaped as shown in FIG. 2 . However, the shape of the heater 410 is not particularly limited, and any shape is possible as long as it corresponds to the heater insertion pipe 420 .

The ice-separating unit 400 may include a heater insertion pipe 420 . The heater insertion pipe 420 may be provided in the evaporator main body 200 so that at least a portion thereof is inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200. For example, the heater insertion pipe 420 may be inserted into the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200 through the insertion hole H of the evaporator main body 200.

A heater 410 may be provided inside the heater insertion pipe 420 . For example, one side of the heater insertion tube 420 may be blocked and the other side may be open. In addition, the heater 410 may be inserted into the heater insertion tube 420 through the open other side of the heater insertion tube 420 and the heater 410 may be provided inside the heater insertion tube 420 .

The heater insertion tube 420 may have a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the evaporator main body 200 . Accordingly, at least a portion of the heater insertion pipe 420 can be easily inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200. The heater insertion pipe 420 may be, for example, cylindrical. However, the shape of the heater insertion tube 420 is not particularly limited, and any shape is possible as long as the shape corresponds to at least a part of the evaporator main body 200.

The heater insertion tube 420 may be made of a thermally conductive material. For example, the heater insertion tube 420 may be made of metal such as stainless steel. However, the material constituting the heater insertion tube 420 is not particularly limited, and at least a part is inserted into the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200 and the heater 410 is any known material that can be provided therein. It can also be made of material.

The heater 410 and the heater insertion pipe 420 may contact each other. Accordingly, heat generated from the heater 410 may be more quickly transferred to the heater insertion pipe 420 . Then, the heat transferred to the heater insertion tube 420 is immersed through the refrigerant present in the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 or the partition member 311 of the evaporator main body 200 or the ice forming unit 300. It can be delivered to the member 310 more quickly. Accordingly, the ice I may be easily separated from the immersion member 310 .

Evaporator for ice maker Example 2

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 .

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporator for an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of an evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention, same as that of Figure 3, and Figure 9 is an ice maker according to the present invention A cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 4 of the second embodiment of the evaporator.

Here, the second embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention is the configuration of the first embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker and the ice-separating unit 400 according to the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 There is a difference.

Therefore, in the following, the differentiated configuration will be mainly described, and the remaining configurations can be replaced with those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the second embodiment of the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention, the heater 410 included in the ice-separating unit 400 may be located outside the evaporator body 200 as shown in FIG. 8 . Also, the ice stripping unit 400 may further include a heat conducting member 430 in addition to the heater 410 described above.

At least a portion of the heat conducting member 430 may be provided in the evaporator main body 200 so as to be inserted into the refrigerant passage R of the evaporator main body 200 . For example, the heat conducting member 430 may pass through the insertion hole (H) of the evaporator main body 200 and be inserted into the refrigerant flow path (R) of the evaporator main body 200.

The heat conducting member 430 may be connected to the heater 410 . Accordingly, the heat conducting member 430 may be heated by the heater 410 . By heating the heat conducting member 430, ice is formed through the refrigerant present in the refrigerant flow path R of the evaporator main body 200 or the partition member 311 of the evaporator main body 200 or the ice forming unit 300. Heat may be transferred to the immersion member 310 of the portion 300 . Also, the ice I formed on the immersion member 310 may be separated from the immersion member 310 .

The heat conductive member 430 may be made of a heat conductive material. For example, the heat conducting member 430 may be made of metal such as stainless steel. However, the material constituting the heat conductive member 430 is not particularly limited, and may be made of any well-known material as long as it is a heat conductive material.

As described above, when the evaporator for an ice maker according to the present invention is used, at least a part of the ice-separating unit for separating ice formed by the evaporator can be inserted into the refrigerant passage formed in the evaporator so that the refrigerant flows, and the ice formed by the evaporator can be removed. Generation of noise during separation is minimized, and resistance to corrosion of the evaporator may not be reduced due to separation of ice formed by the evaporator.

The above-described evaporator for an ice maker is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but the above embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or part of each embodiment so that various modifications can be made. .

100: evaporator for ice maker 200: evaporator body
300: ice forming unit 310: immersion member
311: partition member 311a: communication hole
311b: passage part 400: ice-separating unit
410: heater 420: heater insertion pipe
430: heat conduction member R: refrigerant flow path
I: ice H: insertion hole
HT: pipe connection hole HC: member connection hole
SC: connection space RI: refrigerant inlet
RO: Refrigerant outflow path T: Connection pipe
TR: tray member

Claims (17)

An evaporator main body having a refrigerant flow path;
an ice forming unit connected to the evaporator body and forming ice by contacting at least a part of water in a state in which the refrigerant having a freezing point or less flows through the refrigerant passage; and
An ice-separating unit provided on the evaporator body and directly or indirectly heating at least one of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and the evaporator body and the ice-forming unit so that ice is separated from the ice-forming unit; and
The ice-separating unit is provided on the evaporator body so that at least a part thereof is inserted into the refrigerant passage,
The ice-separating unit includes a heater,
The ice-separating unit further includes a heat-conducting member provided on the evaporator main body and connected to the heater so that at least a part thereof is inserted into the refrigerant passage, and made of a heat-conductive material;
The heater is formed outside the evaporator main body. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator body has an insertion hole through which the ice separating unit passes so as to be inserted into the refrigerant passage. delete delete delete delete delete delete The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the ice forming unit includes an immersion member connected to the evaporator body and at least partially submerged in water to form ice. 10. The evaporator according to claim 9, wherein a member connection hole to which the immersion member is connected is formed in the evaporator body. The evaporator of claim 9, wherein a connection space connected to the refrigerant passage is formed in the immersion member so that the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage flows. 12. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 11, wherein the immersion member includes a partition member that divides the connection space into a refrigerant inlet through which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant passage and a refrigerant outflow through which refrigerant flows out into the refrigerant passage. 13. The evaporator for an ice maker according to claim 12, wherein a communication hole communicating the refrigerant inlet passage and the refrigerant outlet passage is formed in the partition member so that the refrigerant in the refrigerant inlet passage flows into the refrigerant outlet passage. 13. The evaporator of claim 12, wherein the partition member passes through the refrigerant passage and extends to the evaporator body. 15. The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein the partition member contacts the immersion member and the evaporator body. 15. The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein a passage through which the ice-separating unit passes is formed in the partition member. 17. The evaporator of claim 16, wherein the ice-separating unit contacts the passage part.

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