KR102619014B1 - Evaporator with double tube structure for ice making equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice making device used in a refrigerator or water purifier. The evaporator for ice making of the present embodiment is coupled to an evaporation tube, a refrigerant pipe and a heating tube that supply fluid into the evaporation tube, and a lower part of the evaporation tube to produce the refrigerant. A plurality of freezing pipes that form and separate ice on the surface by the pipe and the fluid supplied from the heating pipe, and a guide unit installed inside the evaporation pipe to allow the fluid to pass through the lower area of the freezing pipe; , the guide unit includes a guide plate that blocks the width direction of the evaporation pipe and the freezing pipe at the center position of the freezing pipe, and is coupled to the guide plate inside the freezing pipe to determine the volume of the flow path inside the freezing pipe. It is made of a cylindrical guide bar that sets, and the guide plate and the guide bar are assembled through an assembly slit formed on one side and integrated into one piece.

Description

Evaporator for ice making with double tube structure {Evaporator with double tube structure for ice making equipment}

The present invention relates to an ice-making device used in refrigerators or water purifiers, and more specifically, to an evaporator for ice-making with a double-tube structure that can improve ice-making efficiency by improving the flow path of the refrigerant flowing inside the pipe.

A traditional cooling system consists of a compressor that compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant supplied from the evaporator to high temperature and high pressure, a condenser that converts the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant supplied from the compressor into a medium-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and a low-temperature refrigerant supplied from the condenser. It consists of an expansion valve (capillary tube) that creates low pressure, and an evaporator that absorbs heat from the surroundings while vaporizing the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant to achieve cooling. These cooling systems are used for cooling in various devices such as air conditioners, ice makers, and water coolers.

In particular, an ice-making evaporator refers to a device that cools purified and supplied water to below freezing point to make ice and supplies it to the user. It is mainly installed and used in refrigerators and ice water purifiers that require ice.

As shown in FIG. 1, the evaporator for ice making may include an evaporation tube 11 through which the refrigerant flows, and a finger member 12 connected to the lower side of the evaporation tube 11. Inside the evaporation tube 11 A refrigerant pipe 13 through which refrigerant is supplied and a heating pipe 14 through which heating gas is supplied are respectively installed. In this evaporator, the refrigerant supplied to the end of the evaporation tube 11 through the refrigerant pipe 13 is immersed in water contained in a water pan or water is sprayed onto the finger member 12. (11) and the finger member (12) flows along the flow path (16) inside the finger member (12) to create ice on the surface of the finger member (12), and when ice of a predetermined size is created, the heating gas is instantaneously supplied through the heating tube (14). This separates the ice frozen on the surface of the finger member 12.

In such a conventional evaporator, a plate-shaped partition member 15 is further coupled to allow refrigerant to flow along the lower end of the finger member 12. The partition member 15 blocks the width direction of the evaporation tube 11 and the finger member 12, opens the lower region, and guides the refrigerant to flow along the lower end of the finger member 12.

Accordingly, the evaporator creates ice on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the finger member 11, and the conventional evaporator flows while the refrigerant is filled in the entire area inside the finger member 12. In other words, the evaporator is filled with refrigerant in the entire area including the lower area of the finger member 12 where ice making occurs, so a large amount of refrigerant must be supplied, and the ice making efficiency is relatively low compared to the supplied refrigerant. there is.

In order to prevent this, the applicant, through Korean Patent No. 10-2265422, has designed an evaporator that improves the efficiency of ice making and ice removal by constructing the finger member as a double pipe and reducing the volume inside the finger member through which the refrigerant or heating gas flows. It has been introduced.

Referring to FIG. 2, the evaporator of the patent document includes a lower member 20 having a lower base 21 and an immersion tube 22, and an upper member 30 having an upper base 31 and an insertion tube 32. and a partition block 40. The evaporator of the above configuration combines the lower member 20 and the upper member 30 so that the insertion tube 32 is inserted into the immersion tube 22, and the amount between the lower base 21 and the upper base 31 is A partition block 40 is coupled to the side. The insertion tube 32 has a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the immersion tube 22, and the refrigerant flows along the small space flow path 23 formed between the insertion tube 32 and the immersion tube 22.

Therefore, in the evaporator of the patent document, the insertion tube 32 reduces the internal volume of the immersion tube 22, so that a relatively small amount of refrigerant can be supplied, and the refrigerant is concentrated only in the lower part of the immersion tube 22, making ice making. It has the effect of improving efficiency.

However, in the evaporator of the patent document, blocking flanges 33 must be separately processed on both sides of the insertion tube 32 in order to block the width direction inside the immersion tube 22. At this time, the blocking flange 33 must protrude from both sides of the insertion tube 32, but there is a disadvantage in that it is difficult to process the protruding blocking flange 33 on such a circular tube.

In addition, since the evaporator must also block the width direction of the internal space formed by the lower member 20 and the upper member 30, there is a disadvantage in that a separate partition block 40 must be further combined.

Korean Patent No. 10-2265422 (registered on 2021.06.09)

The present invention was proposed to solve the above problems, and its object is to provide an evaporator for ice making with a double tube structure that is easy to process and simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an evaporator for an ice water purifier that can improve ice-making efficiency while minimizing the supply amount of refrigerant.

The ice-making evaporator of the present embodiment for solving the above problems includes an evaporation tube, a refrigerant pipe and a heating tube that supply fluid into the evaporation tube, and are coupled to a lower part of the evaporation tube to supply fluid from the refrigerant pipe and the heating tube. It includes a plurality of freezing tubes that form and separate ice on the surface by the fluid, and a guide unit installed inside the evaporation tube to allow the fluid to pass through a lower area of the freezing tube,

The guide unit includes a guide plate that blocks the width direction of the evaporation pipe and the freezing pipe at the center position of the freezing pipe, and is coupled to the guide plate inside the freezing pipe to adjust the volume of the flow path inside the freezing pipe. It is made of a cylindrical guide bar, and the guide plate and the guide bar are assembled through an assembly slit formed on one side and integrated into one piece.

In addition, the guide plate has a first width and a first blocking wall portion that blocks the width direction of the inside of the evaporation tube, and has a second width and extends below the first blocking wall portion to be the width of the inside of the freezing pipe. It consists of a second blocking wall portion that blocks the direction, and the guide bar is coupled to the second blocking wall portion.

Additionally, the guide bar may have a hollow cylindrical shape.

In addition, the guide plate further includes a shielding cover in which a portion of the second blocking wall is cut and bent into a semicircular shape, and the guide plate and the guide are configured so that the shielding cover shields one side of the upper opening of the guide bar. The bar can be assembled.

Additionally, the shielding cover may be assembled to shield the guide bar opening on the front side in the direction in which fluid flows.

The present invention can improve ice-making efficiency while minimizing the supply amount of refrigerant, and at the same time has the effect of simplifying processing and manufacturing processes.

A diagram showing the internal structure of an evaporator according to a conventional embodiment of Figure 1,
Figure 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an evaporator according to another conventional embodiment;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an evaporator according to this embodiment;
Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the main configuration of the evaporator of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a plan view showing the fluid flow structure of the evaporator of Figure 3;
6 and 7 are views showing a first embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment,
8 and 9 are views showing a second embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment,
10 and 11 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment.

The technical problems achieved by the present invention and its implementation will become clear by the preferred embodiments described below. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be examined in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

It should be understood that the differences in this embodiment, described later, are not mutually exclusive. That is, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the specific shape, structure, and characteristics described may be implemented in other embodiments with respect to one embodiment, and the positions of individual components within each disclosed embodiment. Alternatively, it should be understood that the arrangement may be changed, and similar reference numbers in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions across various aspects, and the length, area, thickness, etc. may be exaggerated for convenience. In the description of this embodiment, expressions such as top, bottom, before, after, first, second, etc. indicate relative positions, directions, and orders, and their technical meaning is not limited by dictionary meaning.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the evaporator according to this embodiment, Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the main configuration of the evaporator of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a plan view showing the refrigerant flow structure of the evaporator of Figure 3.

First, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the evaporator of this embodiment includes an evaporation tube 100 having a predetermined length, a freezing tube 200 coupled to the lower surface of the evaporation tube 100, and an evaporation tube 100. ) and a guide unit 300 that guides the flow of refrigerant and heating gas (hereinafter referred to as 'fluid') flowing inside the freezing pipe 200, and a refrigerant that is introduced into the evaporation pipe 100 and supplies the refrigerant. It includes a tube 400 and a heating tube 500 that is introduced into the evaporation tube 100 and supplies heating gas, and on one side of the evaporation tube 100, the refrigerant and heating gas supplied inside are forcibly discharged. The discharge pipe 600 may be further combined.

Specifically, the evaporation pipe 100 accommodates the guide unit 300, the refrigerant pipe 400, and the heating pipe 500 inside, providing a fluid flow path 100a to the inside, and at the same time forming the freezing pipe 200 and The guide unit 300 is combined to allow ice to be formed on the surface of the freezing pipe 200. The evaporation tube 100 for this purpose has the shape of a pipe with a predetermined inner diameter and length, and can have a cross-section of various shapes such as circular, oval, square, and tunnel. In the description of this embodiment, the pipe is of square shape. An evaporation tube 100 having a structure is illustrated.

The evaporation tube 100 for this purpose may be composed of a hexahedral-shaped main body 110 with an open top, and a cover 120 that seals the upper opening.

The main body 110 provides a space within which the guide unit 300, the refrigerant pipe 400, and the heating pipe 500 are disposed, and a flow path 100a through which fluid can flow. In addition, the main body 110 provides a plurality of coupling holes 111 at the bottom into which the ice pipe 200 is coupled, and the coupling holes 111 are provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main body 110. dogs can be formed.

On one side of the main body 110, a pair of assembly holes 112 are formed where the refrigerant pipe 400 and the heating pipe 500 are assembled, and between the pair of assembly holes 112, a discharge pipe through which fluid is discharged ( 600) are combined. The main body 110 may have a straight or 'U' shaped structure depending on the structure of the evaporator.

The cover unit 120 is coupled to cover the upper opening of the main body 110 after the guide unit 300, the refrigerant pipe 400, and the heating pipe 500 are coupled to the main body 110. The cover part 120 is integrated with the main body part 110 and forms a hexahedral evaporation tube 100 having a predetermined length, width, and thickness. The cover part 120 for this purpose is composed of a plate having a length and width corresponding to the main body part 110.

In this embodiment, the main body 110 has a hexahedral shape with an open top and the cover 120 has a plate shape. However, the lower main body 110 has a plate shape and the upper cover part has a plate shape. (120) may be shaped like a cube or tunnel with an open bottom.

The freezing tube 200 is configured to form ice on the outer surface using refrigerant flowing along the internal space, and is coupled to the coupling hole 111 at the lower surface of the evaporation tube 100. The freezing tube 200 may be coupled to the evaporation tube 100 by laser welding. The freezing pipe 200 may have a predetermined diameter and may have a cylindrical shape with an open top and a closed bottom. The freezing pipe 200 is preferably formed to have a slightly narrower outer diameter toward the bottom so that the formed ice can be easily separated.

The guide unit 300 is configured to guide the fluid flowing along the flow path 100a inside the evaporation tube 100 to flow along the lower space inside the freezing tube 200. The guide unit 300 includes a guide plate 310 that allows fluid to flow into the lower space of each freezing pipe 200, and a guide bar 320 that sets the volume with which the fluid is filled or flows within the freezing pipe 200. It is composed. Therefore, the guide unit 300 of this embodiment is composed of a combination of a guide plate 310 and a guide bar 320, and the detailed configuration of the guide unit 300 will be described later.

The refrigerant tube 400 and the heating tube 500 are configured to supply refrigerant and heating gas to the end of the evaporation tube 100, respectively, and form a tube shape with a predetermined diameter. The refrigerant or heating gas is selectively supplied through the refrigerant pipe 400 and the heating pipe 500 according to external control, and flows along the flow paths 100a and 200a of the evaporation pipe 100 and the freezing pipe 200 to form ice. Ice is formed on the surface of the pipe 200 or the formed ice is separated. The refrigerant and heating gas supplied inside the evaporation pipe 100 are discharged again through the discharge pipe 600.

The refrigerant pipe 400 and the heating pipe 500 are installed to penetrate the guide plate 310 within the evaporation pipe 100 and are configured to supply fluid to the end of the evaporation pipe 100. For this purpose, a pair of through holes 301 through which the refrigerant pipe 400 and the heating pipe 500 pass respectively are formed in the guide plate 310.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the evaporator configured as above, when refrigerant is supplied to the end end (left end in the drawing) of the evaporation tube 100 through the refrigerant tube 400, the supplied refrigerant is supplied to the evaporation tube 100. It sequentially moves along the flow path 100a and the flow path 200a of the freezing pipe 200 to the starting end of the evaporation pipe 100 (right end in the drawing). At this time, in the freezing pipe 200, the refrigerant is guided to fill and pass through the lower end of the freezing pipe 200 by the guide unit 300, and as a result, ice is formed on the outer surface of the freezing pipe 200. After ice of a sufficient size is generated on the surface of the freezing pipe 200, heating gas is supplied again through the heating pipe 500 to separate the ice.

Meanwhile, the guide unit 300 guides the refrigerant or heating gas to flow only along the lower space flow path 200a of the freezing pipe 200. To this end, the guide unit 300 is installed to open only a portion of the space below the freezing pipe 200 in the width direction (x direction) and to shield the remaining internal space of the evaporation pipe 100 and the freezing pipe 200.

The guide unit 300 of this embodiment is composed of a guide plate 310 and a guide bar 320 combined. Here, the guide plate 310 blocks the width direction of the evaporation tube 100 and the freezing tube 200 and guides the fluid to flow only through the lower space of the freezing tube 200. In addition, the guide bar 320 fills a portion of the internal space of the ice pipe 200 so that the flow path has a narrow volume, so that ice making and separation can be easily performed even if a relatively small amount of fluid is supplied. Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the guide unit 300 will be described with reference to each embodiment.

6 and 7 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment.

The guide plate 310 of this embodiment is a plate with a predetermined width and thickness, and has a first blocking wall portion 311 at the top having a first width w1 and a first blocking wall portion 311 having a second width w2. It consists of a second blocking wall portion 312 extending downward from the wall portion 311. The first width w1 of the first blocking wall portion 311 has a width corresponding to the inner width of the evaporation tube 100, and the second width w2 of the second blocking wall portion 312 has a width corresponding to the inner width of the evaporation tube 100. It has a width corresponding to the inner width of . In addition, the first blocking wall portion 311 has a height corresponding to the inner thickness of the evaporation tube 100, but the second blocking wall portion 312 has a shorter length than the freezing pipe 200.

Additionally, the guide bar 320 of this embodiment has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter (w3) and length. The guide bar 320 is formed to have a diameter w3 and a length smaller than the inner space of the freezing pipe 200 so as to form a flow path 200a between the freezing pipes 200.

The guide unit 300 configured as described above is assembled by being inserted into the evaporation tube 100 and the freezing tube 200. In the assembled state, the guide unit 300 guides fluid to flow into the freezing pipe 200 by blocking the left and right widths of the flow path 100a of the evaporation tube 100 with the first blocking wall 311, and the second blocking wall part (312) blocks the left and right widths of the freezing pipe 200 and guides fluid to flow in the vertical and longitudinal direction of the freezing pipe. Therefore, there is an advantage in not processing a separate blocking flange (see 33 in FIG. 2) on the guide bar 320 in order to block the width direction of the freezing pipe 200.

Meanwhile, as shown in (a) of FIG. 7, an assembly slit 321 is formed in the guide bar 320 to assemble the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320. The assembly slit 321 is formed to have a width corresponding to the thickness of the guide plate 310 at a position crossing the maximum diameter of the guide bar 320. Accordingly, the second blocking wall portion 312 is inserted into the assembly slit 321 of the guide bar 320, and the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320 are assembled as one piece.

Additionally, as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, the assembly slit 312 may be formed at a predetermined depth on both sides at a position crossing the maximum diameter of the guide bar 320. At this time, the second blocking wall portions 312 are separated from each other so that they can be respectively inserted into the pair of assembly slits 312. Accordingly, the pair of second blocking wall portions 312 are inserted into the pair of assembly slits 312 of the guide bar 320, and the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320 are integrally assembled.

8 and 9 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment.

The guide plate 310 of this embodiment is, like the first embodiment, a plate having a predetermined width and thickness, and includes a first blocking wall portion 311 at the top having a first width w1, and a second width w2. ) and a second blocking wall portion 312 extending downward from the first blocking wall portion 311. The first width w1 of the first blocking wall portion 311 has a width corresponding to the inner width of the evaporation tube 100, and the second width w2 of the second blocking wall portion 312 has a width corresponding to the inner width of the evaporation tube 100. It has a width corresponding to the inner width of . In addition, the first blocking wall portion 311 has a height corresponding to the inner thickness of the evaporation tube 100, but the second blocking wall portion 312 has a shorter length than the freezing pipe 200.

In addition, the guide bar 320 of this embodiment has a predetermined diameter (w3) and length and, unlike the first embodiment, has a hollow cylindrical shape with an open top.

Additionally, the assembly slit 321 may be formed in the partition wall of the guide bar 320 at a position crossing the maximum diameter of the guide bar 320, as shown in (a) of FIG. 9. Accordingly, the second blocking wall portion 312 is inserted into the assembly slit 321 of the guide bar 320, and the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320 are assembled as one piece.

Additionally, the assembly slit 313 may be formed in the second blocking wall portion 312 at a position corresponding to the partition crossing the maximum diameter of the guide bar 320, as shown in (b) of FIG. 9. Accordingly, the partition wall of the guide bar 320 is inserted into the assembly slit 313 of the second blocking wall portion 312, and the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320 are assembled as one piece.

10 and 11 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the guide unit according to this embodiment.

The guide unit 300 of this embodiment further includes a shielding cover 314 on the guide plate 310. When the guide bar 320 has a hollow cylindrical shape with an open top, as in the second embodiment, a small amount of material is used, which has the advantage of reducing manufacturing costs and reducing the weight of the product. However, the fluid flows into the guide bar 320. Internal empty space may enter. The shielding cover 314 blocks the inflow of fluid by shielding the opening on one side of the guide bar 320.

Specifically, the guide plate 310 of this embodiment, like the first and second embodiments, is a plate having a predetermined width and thickness, and includes a first blocking wall portion 311 at the top having a first width w1, It consists of a second blocking wall part 312 that has a second width w2 and extends below the first blocking wall part 311, and in the boundary area between the first blocking wall part 311 and the second blocking wall part 312. A semicircular shielding cover 314 is formed to protrude in the horizontal direction.

The shielding cover 314 may be formed by cutting a portion of the guide plate 310 into a semicircular shape and then bending it in the horizontal direction on one side. The shielding cover 314 has a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the guide bar 320, and shields one opening of the guide bar 320 when the guide plate 310 and the guide bar 320 are assembled. At this time, the shielding cover 314 shields half of the circular opening of the guide bar 320, that is, the opening on one side, and is preferably assembled to shield the opening in the direction through which fluid flows. Accordingly, the guide unit 300 of this embodiment can prevent fluid from flowing into the guide bar 320 during the fluid flow process and being wasted without contributing to freezing or separation.

In the guide unit 300 of this embodiment, the assembly slits 321 and 313 may be formed on the guide bar 320 as shown in (a) of FIG. 11 or on the guide plate 310 as shown in (b) of FIG. 11. You can.

As such, the evaporator of this embodiment can simplify the assembly process and reduce manufacturing costs due to its simple structure.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described as described above, various modifications and other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. These modifications and other embodiments are to be considered and included in the appended claims without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

100: Evaporation tube
110: main body 120: cover part
200: Freezing tube
300: Guide unit
310: guide plate 320: guide bar
311: first blocking wall part 312: second blocking wall part
313, 321: assembly slit 314: shielding cover
400: Refrigerant pipe
500: Heating tube
600: discharge pipe

Claims (5)

An evaporation pipe, a refrigerant pipe and a heating pipe that supply fluid into the evaporation pipe, and a plurality of freezing pipes coupled to the lower part of the evaporation pipe to form and separate ice on the surface by the fluid supplied from the refrigerant pipe and the heating pipe. , and a guide unit installed inside the evaporation tube to allow fluid to pass through the lower region of the freezing tube,
The guide unit is,
a guide plate blocking the width direction of the evaporation tube and the freezing tube at the center position of the freezing tube; and,
It consists of a hollow cylindrical guide bar that is coupled to the guide plate inside the freezing pipe and sets the volume of the flow path inside the freezing pipe,
The guide plate and the guide bar are assembled into one piece through an assembly slit formed on one side,
The guide plate includes a first blocking wall portion that has a first width and blocks the width direction inside the evaporation tube, and a second width that extends below the first blocking wall portion to block the width direction inside the freezing pipe. It consists of a second blocking wall portion for blocking and a shielding cover in which a portion of the second blocking wall portion is cut and bent into a semicircular shape, and the guide plate and the guide are configured such that the shielding cover blocks one side of the upper opening of the guide bar. An evaporator for ice making with a double tube structure in which the bar is assembled. According to claim 1,
The guide bar is a double-tube structure ice-making evaporator coupled to the second blocking wall. delete delete According to claim 1,
The shielding cover is assembled to shield the guide bar opening on the front side in the direction in which the fluid flows.

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