KR20080041059A - A preventing water-overflow structure of ice maker for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A water-overflow preventing structure for an ice maker of a refrigerator is provided to surround an ice tray by water-overflow guides at every side for preventing the water supplied into the ice tray from scattering or overflowing out of the ice tray to driving elements such as a motor and a gear, thereby preventing the driving elements from being frozen. A water-overflow preventing structure for an ice maker of a refrigerator includes an ice making chamber, an ice tray(200) containing water, and a main bracket(100) mounted in the ice making chamber and forming a space to mount the ice tray. The ice tray and the main bracket are mounted with water-overflow preventing guides for covering every side of the ice tray, wherein tray guides(240) in the semicircular shape are extended upward from right and left upper ends of the ice tray, tray hoods(162) contact front and rear upper ends of the ice tray for surrounding the ice tray, and connection frames(190) are formed at every sides of the main bracket in the shape corresponding to the tray guides.

Description

A preventing water-overflow structure of ice maker for refrigerator}

1 is a side cross-sectional view for showing a structure of an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator according to the prior art.

2 is a plan view for showing the structure of the ice making apparatus according to the prior art.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of the main bracket which is one component of the refrigerator ice-making device water splash prevention structure according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the shape of the ice tray as one component of the water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ice tray is mounted on the main bracket which is a component of the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention.

6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A 'of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100 ..... Main Bracket 120 ..... Tray Mount

140 ..... Drive Receptacle 160 ..... Tray Hood

162 ..... Front Tray Hood 162´ ... Insert Tray

164 ..... rear tray hood 180 ..... shaft insertion hole

190 ..... Connecting frame 200 ..... Ice tray

220 ..... rotating shaft 240 ..... tray guide

300 ..... Drive Bracket

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ice maker, and more particularly, water of a refrigerator ice maker that prevents water contained in the ice tray from splashing out or overflowing by water overflow prevention guides formed on the front and both sides of the ice tray. An overflow prevention structure.

In general, a refrigerator is a device for low-temperature storage of food, and stored in a refrigerator or refrigerated according to the state of the food to be stored.

The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant, is continuously supplied into the refrigerator while repeatedly performing a cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and the supplied refrigerant is supplied by convection. It is evenly distributed inside the refrigerator to store food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.

1 is a side cross-sectional view for showing the structure of the automatic ice maker of the refrigerator according to the prior art, Figure 2 is a plan view for showing the structure of the ice maker according to the prior art.

As shown in these figures, a freezer compartment 2, a refrigerating compartment 3 and an ice making chamber 4 are generally formed inside the refrigerator main body 1, and the inside of the refrigerator main body 1 is cooled by the cooler 5. The air is configured to be supplied through the cold air duct 7 or the like by the air fan 6.

In addition, an ice making device for generating ice is provided in the ice making chamber 4, and the ice making device includes an ice maker 10 and a water supply device 20.

The ice maker 10 supports a drive unit 12 on which a control unit or a motor is installed, an ice maker 14 connected to the drive unit 12 through a rotation shaft, and the ice maker 14. It is configured to include a support frame 13 for the purpose. In addition, the lower portion of the ice tray 14 is provided with an ice container 18 for storing the generated ice.

On the other hand, a water supply device 20 is provided to supply a quantity of ice-making water to the ice-making container (14). The water supply device 20 is accommodated in the water supply tank 22 that stores a predetermined amount of water, the water support container 24 to receive a certain amount of water from the water supply tank 22, the water support container 24 A water supply pump 26 for supplying water to the ice making container 14, and a water supply pipe 28 for forming a moving path of water from the water supply pump 26 to the ice making container 14.

In addition to the above components, although not shown, a plurality of sensors are provided to detect a temperature, a horizontal position, or the like of the ice making container 14.

 The drive unit 12 of the ice maker 10 includes a circuit board 30 on which a control part including a microcomputer and the like is mounted. The motor 32 and the motor 32 are mechanical driving devices. It comprises a gear 34 for slowing, amplifying and transmitting the movement of the output, and an output shaft 36 for outputting the transmitted movement.

In addition, various sensors are configured to detect a rotation state of the output shaft 36 and to control a rotation operation of the ice making container 14, and the like. ) Is further provided.

On the other hand, the ice making container 14 is rotatably fixed to the support frame 13 around the rotating shaft 11 connected to the output shaft 36 of the drive unit 12. In addition, the ice making container 14 includes a plurality of ice making cells, which are spaces in which water is formed to be formed into ice, and a protrusion 16 is installed at one side of the ice making machine, so as to hit a predetermined portion of the auxiliary plate 15 during rotation. By receiving the ice making container 14 is twisted as a whole, the ice is configured to fall down.

The ice making apparatus according to the related art having such a configuration freezes the water supplied from the water supply tank 22 through the water supply pipe 28 in the ice making container 14 (an ice making step), and a driving device including a motor is installed. The drive unit 12 rotates the ice making container 14 and inverts the ice sheet by turning it up and down (the step of ice) to repeat the cycle of storing the ice in the ice container 18 below it.

However, the above conventional technologies have the following problems.

When water is supplied using the water supply pump 26 to supply the water stored in the water supply tank 22 to the ice making container 14, that is, the end of the water supply pipe 28 on the ice making container 14 side, that is, the The height of the end from which the water supplied from the water supply tank 22 is discharged into the ice making container 14 is located at a position higher upward from the bottom surface of the ice making container 14.

Therefore, there is a problem that water discharged from the water supply pipe 28 to the ice making container 14 is splashed in all directions.

In addition, the water splashed in all directions as described above is splashed on the driving unit 12, so that the water penetrates into the motor 32, the gear 34, and the output shaft 36 to freeze.

In addition, when the motor 32, the gear 34 and the output shaft 36 is frozen as described above, there is a problem that a malfunction of the ice making device occurs.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the driving unit 12 may be provided with a heating wire, but this increases the cost of the product and increases the power consumption, which is undesirable.

An object of the present invention was devised to solve the above problems, by forming a water splash prevention guide on the left and right sides of the ice tray ice is generated, the refrigerator ice-making to prevent the water supplied to the ice tray splashes left and right It is to provide a water splash prevention structure of the device.

Another object of the present invention is formed in a shape surrounding the front of the ice tray on one side of the main bracket forming a space in which the ice tray is mounted inside the refrigerator compartment, to prevent the water supplied to the ice tray to be splashed forward It is to provide a water splash prevention structure of the device.

Another object of the present invention, when the ice is iced in the ice tray, the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus is provided with a configuration for controlling the flow in the main bracket to reduce the interference of the main bracket in the rotation movement path of the ice tray To provide.

The water splash prevention structure of the freezer compartment ice making apparatus according to the present invention includes an ice making chamber for generating ice, an ice tray provided inside the ice making chamber and receiving water for ice making, and mounted inside the ice making chamber. It has a configuration including a main bracket to form a space for mounting the ice tray, the ice tray and the main bracket is further provided with a water splash prevention guide for shielding the front, rear, left and right of the top of the ice tray It features.

The water splash prevention guide includes a tray guide extending upward from the left / right upper end of the ice tray and a tray hood formed to contact the upper end of the front / rear surface of the ice tray to surround the ice tray. It is characterized by.

The tray guide is formed in a semicircular shape.

The front and rear left and right sides of the main bracket are formed in a shape corresponding to the tray guide, and the connecting frames connected to the front and rear surfaces of the main bracket are respectively formed.

The tray hood is formed to extend from the upper end of the front of the main bracket inward, the front tray hood shielding the front upper side of the eye tray, and is formed to be connected to the rear side of the main bracket and one side of the connection frame, the eye And a rear tray hood for shielding the rear upper side of the stray.

The connecting frame is characterized in that the curved portion (형성) is formed in the center portion.

A tray insertion groove recessed upward is formed in the front lower side of the main bracket to receive a portion of the front surface of the ice tray.

According to the present invention having such a configuration there is an advantage that the water contained in the ice tray overflowing or splashing to the outside is prevented.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus according to the present invention.

 On the other hand, the water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus according to the present invention is applicable to a refrigerator provided with an ice making device on the back of the door, the detailed description thereof is omitted in the present invention with a focus on the components forming the ice making device The invention will be described.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of the main bracket which is one component of the refrigerator ice making apparatus water splash prevention structure according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an ice tray which is one component of the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus according to the present invention 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ice tray is mounted on the main bracket which is a component of the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention.

As shown in these drawings, the main bracket 100 mounted on the rear surface of the freezer door is formed with a tray mounting part 120 which is a space in which the ice tray 200 to be described below is mounted, and the tray mounting part 120 is provided. The right side of the drive unit receiving portion 140 is formed.

Although not shown, the driving unit accommodating unit 140 accommodates a motor connected to the ice tray 200, a plurality of gears connected to the motor, and the motor (not shown) and a gear (not shown). The upper side of the drive unit accommodating unit 140 is accommodated is mounted to the drive bracket 300 for preventing the motor (not shown) and the gear (not shown) burn out from the outside.

In addition, the drive bracket 300 further includes a water supply unit 320 for supplying water for ice making to the ice tray 200. Although not shown, the water supply unit 320 includes a water container in which water is accommodated, a transport pipe (not shown) for transporting the water contained in the water tank to the ice tray 200, and water transported in the water tank as needed. A circulation pump for transferring to the ice tray 200 is provided to supply water required for ice making to the ice tray 200.

On the other hand, the ice tray 200 shown in Figure 4 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, the bottom surface is a plurality of water receiving space so that the cooled ice is formed in an individual polygonal shape when the water contained therein is cooled and phase-changed into ice It is partitioned and formed into a predetermined shape. The shape of the water receiving space may be formed in various shapes, but it is most preferable that the water receiving space is formed in a hexagonal shape in which the cross section becomes narrower toward the lower side, since the operation of ice-making ice is easy.

Then, the left and right sides of the ice tray 200 is formed with a rotating shaft 220 protruding outward, the rotation shaft 220 is formed in the shaft insertion hole 180 formed on the side of the main bracket 100 Is inserted. In addition, one side of the rotation shaft 220 is connected to the above-described motor (not shown) among the left / right sides, and the other side is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 180 to rotate.

In addition, the shaft insertion hole 180 into which the rotation shaft 220 which is not connected to the motor (not shown) is inserted is limited so that the rotation radius of the rotation shaft 220 does not exceed 160 °. The left and right sides of the 200 are distorted when the motor 200 is rotated by a motor (not shown) so that the ice generated in the ice tray 200 is easily iced.

On the other hand, when the water contained in the water supply unit 320 is supplied to the ice tray 200 as described above, the main bracket 100 and the main bracket 100 to prevent the water from splashing or overflowing to the outside of the ice tray 200 The ice tray 200 is provided with a water splash prevention guide.

The splashing prevention guide is a tray hood 160 formed in a shape that wraps around the ice tray 200 in contact with the front / rear top of the ice tray 200, and at the upper left and right sides of the ice tray 200 It consists of a tray guide 240 extending upwardly.

Description of the tray hood 160 will be described in detail below. Looking at the tray guide 240 shown in FIG. 4, the tray guide 240 is a panel formed in a substantially semi-circular shape. It is formed in the same shape.

The tray guide 240 of this shape not only prevents the water contained in the ice tray 200 from splashing or overflowing to the left and right sides of the ice tray 200, but also rotates together when the ice tray 200 is rotated. Since the tray guide 240 is formed in a polygon, the rotation radius is reduced, thereby reducing the space required for rotation.

On the other hand, the front / rear left / right side of the main bracket 100 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the tray guide 240, the connection frame 190 is connected to the front / rear of the main bracket 100 ) Is formed.

The connection frame 190 is formed to be round in a semicircle shape so as to correspond to the tray guide 240, and a curved portion 192 protruding upward is further formed at the center portion.

The curved portion 192 is configured to reduce deformation caused by the rotation of the tray hood 160 to be described below.

On the other hand, the tray hood 160 and the rear tray hood 164 formed to surround a portion of the rear upper portion of the ice tray 200 along the curvature of the tray guide 240 in the rear of the ice tray 200 and The front tray hood 162 extends from the front upper end of the main bracket 100 to the rear side of the ice tray 200.

In addition, when the rear tray hood 164 is viewed in FIG. 5, the left side is connected to the connection frame 190 and the right side is formed to be connected to the rear surface of the main bracket 100.

”와 같이 우측이 후방으로 절곡되어 형성되는데, 상기와 같이 후방트레이후드(164)의 우측이 후방으로 절곡되도록 형성되는 것은, 전술한 물공급부(320)에서 공급되는 물이 상기 아이스트레이(200)로 유입되는 공간을 확보하기 위함이다.That is, when the shape from the left end to the right end of the rear tray hood 160 is viewed from above, approximately “

The right side is formed to be bent backwards, as shown in FIG. This is to secure the space flowing into.

On the other hand, the front tray hood 162 is formed in the shape of the upper half of the ellipse having a gentle curvature from the upper end of the front of the main bracket 100 to the rear, so that the water contained in the interior of the ice tray 200 splashes forward To prevent or overflow.

Hereinafter, the appearance of the ice tray 200 mounted on the main bracket 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 5, the upper end of the rear of the ice tray 200 is in contact with the lower surface of the rear tray hood 164, and the front upper end of the ice tray 200. Is in contact with the front lower portion of the main bracket (100).

Looking at this in detail, a tray insertion groove 162 ′ recessed upward is formed at the front lower end of the main bracket 100 to insert a portion of the front surface of the ice tray 200. Accordingly, the front surface of the ice tray 200 inserted into the tray insertion groove 162 ′ is more firmly shielded to prevent the water contained in the inside of the ice tray 200 from splashing or overflowing to the outside.

Hereinafter will be described the operation of the water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention configured as described above.

In order to generate ice by using an ice maker of the refrigerator to which the present invention is applied, the user fills a water tank (not shown) provided in the water supply unit 320 and then waters the ice tray 200 using a water supply unit. Will be supplied.

In this case, since the water supplied from the water supply unit 320 is supplied in a state spaced apart from the bottom of the ice tray 200 by a predetermined interval, when the water is in contact with the bottom surface of the ice tray 200, the ice tray ( Fried outside of 200). However, the water splashed to the outside of the ice tray 200 as described above is blocked by the water splash prevention guide is formed so as to wrap in contact with the upper end of the ice tray 200, the water to the drive device (not shown) Splashing is prevented.

In detail, the water splashed to the front and rear of the ice tray 200 is formed on the front of the rear tray hood 164 and the front tray hood 162 and the main bracket 100 formed on the main bracket 100. Blocked by water, the water splashing to the left / right of the ice tray 200 is blocked by the tray guide 240.

When the water is filled in the ice tray 200 through the water supply unit 320 as described above, the user closes the freezing chamber door. In this case, the water filled in the ice tray 200 flows by the impact of closing the door. However, this is also blocked by the water splash prevention guide as described above.

On the other hand, the water contained in the ice tray 200 is a phase change by the cold air after a predetermined time becomes ice.

Although not shown, the ice formed as described above is accommodated in an ice bank (not shown) provided at the rear side of the ice tray 200. For this purpose, the ice tray 200 is provided in the drive unit accommodating unit 140. The rotational force of the motor (not shown) is provided to rotate in the arrow direction (clockwise) shown in FIG.

At this time, the rear tray hood 164 formed to cover the upper portion of the ice tray 200 is caused to interfere with the ice tray 200, in which case, the rear frame hood 164 is connected to the connection frame 190 A curved portion 192 is formed at the center of the curved portion 192 so that the curved portion 192 extends in the left / right direction when the ice tray 200 is rotated.

Therefore, a space in which the ice tray 200 is rotatable is formed, and the ice contained in the rotated ice tray 200 falls and is stored in the ice bank (not shown).

On the other hand, after the ice is stored in the ice bank (not shown) as described above, the motor (not shown) is rotated in reverse, the ice tray 200 is rotated counterclockwise to return to the initial position, even at this time, The length of the curved portion 192 is extended in the left / right direction so that the ice tray 200 is easily rotated.

In addition, since the connection frame 190 is connected to the rear tray hood 164, the rear tray hood 164 can be restored to its initial position even if it is twisted by the ice tray 200.

The water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus according to the present invention as described above is not limited to the above embodiment, but many other modifications are possible based on the present invention by those skilled in the art.

For example, the shape of the curved portion formed at the center of the connecting frame may be different, and the shape of the tray hood may be changed, but the change of the shape may be easily changed based on the present invention. It will be obvious to be included in the technical idea.

According to the water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making device according to the present invention, the water is supplied and / or accommodated inside the ice tray is configured so that the front, rear, left and right of the upper side of the ice tray is wrapped by the splashing prevention guide There is an advantage that the outside is not splashed on the driving device such as a motor or a gear so that the driving device does not freeze.

The rear tray guard is connected to the connecting frame to prevent water from splashing behind the ice tray, and a curved portion is formed at the center of the connecting frame to prevent interference with the rear tray guard when the ice tray is rotated for the ice work. After reducing, the connecting frame prevents the shape deformation of the rear tray guard has the advantage of preventing the distortion of the water splash prevention guide by the ice operation.

Claims (7)

An ice making chamber for producing ice; An ice tray provided inside the ice making chamber and containing water for ice making; A main bracket mounted inside the ice making chamber and including a main bracket forming a space in which the ice tray is mounted; The eye tray and the main bracket, The water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice making apparatus, characterized in that the water splash prevention guide further shields the front, rear, left and right of the top of the ice tray. According to claim 1, wherein the water splash prevention guide, A tray guide extending upward from an upper left / right side of the ice tray; And a tray hood formed in a shape that wraps the ice tray in contact with an upper end of the front and rear surfaces of the ice tray. The method of claim 2, wherein the tray guide, The water splashing prevention structure of the refrigerator ice-making device characterized in that formed in a semi-circular shape. The method of claim 2, The front / rear left / right sides of the main bracket are formed in a shape corresponding to the tray guide, and connection frames connected to the front / rear surfaces of the main bracket are formed, respectively. rescue. The method of claim 4, wherein the tray hood, A front tray hood extending inward from an upper front end of the main bracket to shield the front upper side of the ice tray; It is formed to be connected to the rear side of the main bracket and one side of the connecting frame, the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that it comprises a rear tray hood for shielding the rear upper side of the ice tray. The method of claim 4, wherein the connection frame, The water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that the curved portion is formed in the center portion. The method of claim 5, wherein the lower side of the front bracket of the main bracket, The tray insertion groove recessed upwardly is formed, the water splash prevention structure of the refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that accommodates the front portion of the ice tray.

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