KR20090092386A - Ice making assembly for a refrigerator and method for sensing a water level thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice-making assembly for a refrigerator and a water level detecting method of the same are provided to make the fixed water supply regardless of the geographical property of the installation place. An ice-making assembly for a refrigerator comprises a tray(21), a plurality of pins, a plurality of rods(23), and a water level sensor. The tray comprises a water supply part and a plurality of ice grooves. The pins are provided to the upper side of the tray. A plurality of rod passes through a plurality of pins to be inserted into the ice grooves when the icing is completed. A plurality of rods is tilted with the pin into one body. The water level sensor is located at the one of ice grooves.

Description

Ice making assembly for a refrigerator and method for sensing a water level

The present invention relates to an ice making assembly for a refrigerator and a water level sensing method of the ice making assembly.

A refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a chilled or frozen state.

Recently, various types and types of refrigerators have been introduced, for example, a side by side type in which the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment are respectively disposed on the left and right sides, and a bottom freezer type and the refrigerating compartment in which the refrigerating compartment is provided above the freezer compartment, And top mount methods provided.

In addition, recently, many refrigerators to which a home bar structure is applied to draw out food or drink without opening a refrigerator compartment door have been released. The refrigerator is provided with a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion member, which constitute a refrigeration cycle, and an evaporator is provided at the rear of the refrigerator body.

In addition, an ice making assembly is provided inside the refrigerator, and the ice making assembly may be mounted in a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment, or may be mounted in a freezing compartment door or a refrigerating compartment door.

In recent years, research on ice making assemblies that generate transparent ice as the consumer's demand for transparent ice generation increases has been actively conducted.

Meanwhile, in the case of the conventional ice making assembly, a separate water tank is mounted on one side of the refrigerator in order to supply the ice making water to the ice making tray, and is connected to the ice making tray by a tube, and the tap is directly connected to the water. And a structure in which the ice making tray is directly connected by a tube has been proposed.

However, in the conventional ice making assembly as described above, the water level sensing device is not provided separately in the ice making assembly itself. Therefore, the situation is taking a method of watering the tray for a certain time. However, the above water supply system has the following problems.

First, there is a problem that the water pressure is different for each region where the refrigerator is installed, the amount of water supplied for the same time.

Second, when the one ice making cycle ends, the remaining water remains in the tray, and the same amount of water is supplied every time, although the remaining water remaining in the plurality of ice cubes formed in the ice tray is not the same. Thus, some ice cubes have a problem that water overflow occurs. In addition, there is a problem that the excess water flows to the interior floor in the process of opening and closing the refrigerator door or condensation inside the refrigerator.

Third, when the water supply valve is broken, there is a problem in that ice is not made by making ice even though water is not supplied to the tray, and unnecessary cooling and tray heating operations are repeated. That is, a problem that does not detect a water supply error occurs.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and the level of the ice making assembly and the ice making assembly for the refrigerator to make a transparent water is made easily, and a certain amount of water is supplied every cycle for ice making. It is an object to provide a method.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator ice making assembly and a water level detecting method of the ice making assembly which is automatically stopped when the water supplied to the ice making tray reaches the set water level to prevent water overflow.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water level detection method of the ice making assembly and the ice making assembly for a refrigerator so that a constant amount of water is always provided regardless of the geographical characteristics that the water pressure varies depending on the installation site.

In addition, when water is not supplied to the ice tray due to a breakdown of the water supply valve, a water supply error can be detected quickly, thereby providing a refrigerator ice making assembly and a water level detecting method for minimizing unnecessary power consumption. It aims to do it.

Refrigerator deicing assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the tray is provided with a water supply and a plurality of ice groove; A plurality of pins provided on an upper side of the tray; A plurality of rods penetrating through the plurality of pins and inserted into the ice grooves, and when the ice making is completed, a plurality of rods which are raised and tilted integrally with the pins; and a water level sensor provided in any one of the plurality of ice grooves.

In addition, the control method of the ice-making assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the step of placing the rod perpendicular to the tray directly above the ice groove formed; The rod descending into the ice groove; Supplying water into the ice groove; And raising the water supplied to at least one electrode height including a ground electrode formed in the level sensor; and sensing the water level by a change in capacitance occurring between the ground electrode and any one of the other electrodes. .

Geographical characteristics in which a certain amount of water is supplied every cycle for ice making, and the water pressure varies depending on the installation location by the ice leveling assembly for a refrigerator and the water level detecting method of the ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration. Irrespective of the constant water supply is always an advantage. Therefore, the water overflow phenomenon is prevented in the water supply process, there is an advantage that the problem that the freezing or overflowing water flows out of the refrigerator.

In addition, even if the amount of water remaining in each ice cube of the ice tray in the transparent ice manufacturing process is different, there is an advantage that water is supplied to all the ice cubes at the same level.

In addition, when water is not supplied to the ice tray due to a failure of the water supply valve, there is an effect that can quickly detect this to minimize unnecessary power consumption.

1 and 2 are a perspective view showing the structure of the ice making assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an external perspective view of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ice making assembly immediately before being iced into the ice bank.

5 is an external perspective view of a tray constituting the ice making assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an external perspective view of the water level sensor provided in the ice making assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 5, and is a cross-sectional view showing the water level rising while water is supplied to the tray of the ice making assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a graph showing a change in capacitance in a circuit as the level rises.

9 to 12 are views showing the water level change that occurs when water is supplied to the tray of the ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the ice making assembly will be described as an example in which the freezing compartment door is mounted. However, it is noted that the ice making assembly can also be mounted in a freezer compartment or a refrigerator compartment and a refrigerator compartment door.

1 and 2 is an external perspective view showing a structure of an ice making assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a rear surface of the door 10, and an ice making chamber 11 in which an ice making assembly 20 is accommodated on a rear surface of the door 10. This depression is formed. In addition, a cold air supply hole 111 into which cold air supplied from an evaporator (not shown) flows into one side surface of the ice making chamber 11, and cold air to return the cold air introduced into the ice making chamber 11 back to the evaporator. The discharge hole 112 is formed.

In detail, an ice making assembly 20 is mounted above the ice making chamber 11, and an ice bank 30 is mounted below the ice making assembly 20 to store ice generated by the ice making assembly 20. . In addition, the ice making assembly 20 is protected by the ice making cover 31. In addition, the ice separated from the ice making assembly 20 by the ice making cover 31 falls safely to the ice bank 30 without being scattered out of the ice making chamber 11.

3 is an external perspective view of an ice making assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a state of an ice making assembly immediately before being iced into an ice bank.

3 and 4, in the ice making assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a tray 21 in which a plurality of ice grooves 211 are arranged to generate a specific type of ice, and the tray ( 21, a plurality of pins 24 that are movable and rotatably stacked on the upper side 21, a plurality of rods 23 penetrating the pins 24 and inserted into the ice groove 211, and the plurality of pins ( An ice sheet heater 25 provided on the lowermost side of the 24, a support plate 27 for supporting the ice sheet heater 25, the fins 24, and the rods 23 to be formed as a single body, and the tray 21. The water supply unit 26 is provided at one edge of the, and the control box 28 is provided at the other edge of the tray 21.

In detail, a heater (not shown) is mounted on the bottom of the tray 21 so that the tray 21 is maintained at a temperature higher than the freezing temperature. In addition, a support lever 271 extends at a front end of the support plate 27, and a hinge 272 is formed at one edge thereof. 4, ice I having the same shape as the ice groove 211 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rod 23.

In addition, the control box 28 is provided with a cam 29 and a drive motor for driving the cam 29. In addition, the hinge 272 is connected to the cam 29, and is raised and rotated in accordance with the rotation operation of the cam 29. Here, the moving heater 25 may be in contact with the rod 23 in the form of a plate, or alternatively, the heater may be embedded in the rod 23. In addition, the upper surface of the tray 21 opened by the support plate 27 is shielded so that the cold air supplied to the ice making chamber 11 indirectly cools the water supplied to the tray 21.

Hereinafter, the ice making and the ice making process performed in the ice making assembly 20 will be described.

First, in order for the ice generated by the ice making assembly 20 to form transparent ice, a heater attached to the tray 21 is driven to maintain the tray 21 at the temperature of the image.

In detail, in the case of the conventional ice making apparatus, since the water is rapidly frozen by the cold air supplied from the evaporator, air dissolved in the water cannot be discharged out of the water. That is, since ice is formed with gas dissolved in water, transparent ice cannot be generated.

Therefore, the ice making assembly 20 according to the present invention is characterized in that the tray 21 is maintained above the freezing temperature, so that the air dissolved in the water is discharged to the outside before freezing by slowing down the ice production rate. That is, transparent ice is easily generated by the ice making assembly 20 according to the present invention.

Meanwhile, water is supplied while the rod 23 is inserted into the ice groove 211, and ice is started when water is completed. When ice making starts, cold air is supplied to the ice making chamber 11. The pin 24 is cooled below the freezing temperature by the supplied cold air. The rod 23 is cooled to below freezing temperature through heat conduction with the fins 24. Here, a part of the rod 23 is inserted into the ice groove 211 of the tray 21 is in a state submerged in water. Then, water contacting the outer circumferential surface of the rod 23 is gradually frozen and attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rod 23. Then, freezing is diffused from the outer circumferential surface of the rod 23 to the inner circumferential surface of the ice groove 211.

In addition, when ice making is completed, the cam 29 rotates to allow the rod 23 to be separated from the ice groove 211. That is, the cam 29 rotates to allow the rod 23 to rise, and when the rod 23 rises and the ice I is completely separated from the ice groove 211, the cam 29 is further moved. Rotation causes the rod 23 to tilt at an angle.

Here, the ice making completion time may be determined according to whether or not the set time has elapsed from the time when ice making is started. That is, it may be determined that ice making is completed when a predetermined time elapses after ice making starts.

As another method, when a predetermined time elapses from the start of ice making, the cam 29 is driven to cause the rod 23 to rise by a predetermined height. Here, the predetermined height refers to a height until the ice condensed on the rod 23 is completely separated from the ice groove 211. In addition, when the residual amount remaining in the ice groove 211 in the state in which the rod 23 is raised is less than or less than a predetermined amount, it may be determined that ice making is completed. In addition, the amount of the residual water may be detected by a water level sensor mounted on the tray 21. On the contrary, when the remaining water remaining in the ice groove 211 is more than the set amount, the rod 23 is lowered back to the original position and ice making is continued. The water level sensor will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the other hand, when the de-icing is completed through the above-described determination method, the rod 23 is raised. In addition, the hinge 272 rotates while the rod 23 is raised to completely remove the ice attached to the rod 23 from the ice making tray 21. The hinge 272 is rotated by the cam 29. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the rod 23 is rotated at a predetermined angle, and the moving heater 25 is operated in this state.

In detail, when the heating heater 25 operates, the surface of the rod 23 and the ice are separated while the temperature of the rod 23 increases. Then, the separated ice falls to the ice bank 30.

5 is an external perspective view of a tray constituting the ice making assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of ice grooves 211 are arranged in the tray 21 constituting the ice making assembly 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, a groove 213 having a predetermined depth is formed between the ice groove 211 and the ice groove 211.

In detail, the water is transferred to the adjacent groove 213 through the groove 213. The groove 213 extends from the lower end of the ice groove 211 to a top end of the ice groove 211.

In addition, a guide 212 is formed at one side edge of the tray 211 to guide the supplied water to the ice groove 211. Therefore, the water supplied through the water supply unit 26 is guided to the ice groove 211 by the guide 212. Then, water is sequentially transmitted from the ice groove 211 close to the guide 212, and is filled up to the ice groove 211 farthest from the guide 212.

In addition, the water level sensor 40 is mounted on the side of the ice groove 211 formed on the opposite side of the portion where the guide 212 is formed. In addition, a temperature sensor 50 is mounted at one side of the tray 21 to control the tray 21 to be maintained at a constant temperature. In addition, a tray heater (not shown) may be mounted on the tray 21, and the tray heater may be mounted in a structure embedded in the tray 21 or may be mounted in a structure attached to an outer circumferential surface of the tray 21. have.

6 is an external perspective view of the water level sensor mounted to the ice making assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the water level sensor 40 provided in the ice making assembly 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the side of the ice groove 211 as described above. In addition, the water level sensor 40 is a capacitive sensor, and senses the level of water supplied to the tray 21 by using a phenomenon of detecting the presence or absence of an object by detecting a change in dielectric constant of a medium filled between two electrodes. do.

In detail, the water level sensor 40 is provided with a plurality of electrodes, and output terminals 41 respectively extending from the electrodes are connected to the control unit of the refrigerator. In addition, the plurality of electrodes is covered by the waterproof layer 42 so that a resistor by water is not formed between the electrodes. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which three electrodes are formed in the water level sensor 40 will be described.

In detail, the water level sensor 40 includes an electrode A provided at the top, an electrode B provided at the middle portion, and an electrode C provided at the bottom. In addition, when the water level sensor 40 is mounted on the tray 21, the electrode A may be positioned slightly lower than the full water level of the ice groove 211. In addition, the electrode C may be mounted at a position higher than the lower end of the ice groove 211. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrode C may be mounted at the same position as the lower end of the groove 213 to be in contact with the supplied water. can do. As mentioned above, the electrodes A, B, and C are blocked from contact with water by the waterproof layer 42. In addition, the electrode C is grounded, and the electrodes A and B are charged with the electrode C depending on the water level.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 5, and is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water level rising while water is supplied to a tray of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A graph showing the change in capacitance in a circuit.

7 and 8, when water is not filled in the ice groove 211 of the tray 21, an air capacitance Ca between the electrode A and the electrode C or between the electrode B and the electrode C may be used. ) Will be detected. In the state where the air capacitance is sensed, no signal is transmitted to the controller through the output terminal 41. Further, even when the water level is between the electrode B and the electrode C, since the electrode C is grounded, no signal is transmitted to the controller through the output terminal 41.

On the other hand, when water starts to be supplied to the tray 21 and the water level rises to the point where the electrode B is located, a change in capacitance occurs between the electrode B and the electrode C. That is, as the capacitance Cw of the air is changed from the capacitance Cw of the water, the sensing signal is transmitted through the output terminal of the electrode B, and the controller detects this.

As shown in FIG. 8, since the capacitance Cw of the water is larger than the capacitance Ca of the air, when the water level reaches the electrode B, a change in capacitance occurs, and the controller detects this to detect the water level. It will detect the ascent to.

In addition, when the water level increases further and rises to the electrode A point, a change in capacitance occurs between the electrode A and the electrode C. In other words, the medium between electrode A and electrode C changes from air to water, resulting in a change in capacitance. In addition, the detection signal is transmitted through the output terminal 41, in particular, the output terminal connected to the electrode A, and receives the signal from the controller to sense that the water level rises to the electrode A.

9 to 12 are views showing the water level change that occurs when water is supplied to the tray of the ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the water supply starts and a predetermined time elapses, the water level difference between the side on which the guide 212 of the tray 21 is formed and the opposite side is shown.

In detail, when the water supply starts, water is filled from the ice groove 211 closest to the guide 212. In addition, the water supplied to the ice groove 211 is not delivered to the adjacent ice groove 211 until the water filled in the ice groove 211 exceeds the groove 213. Then, the water level is passed over the lower end of the groove 213, the water is delivered to the adjacent ice groove 211. However, due to the shape of the narrow groove 213 and the surface plan of the water, a large amount of water is not transferred to the adjacent ice grooves 211 at once. That is, at the initial stage of water supply, the level of the ice groove 211 near the guide 212 and the ice groove 211 on which the water level sensor 40 is mounted-the ice groove 211 farthest from the guide 212. The water level difference at-will widen significantly.

As shown in FIG. 9, the water level a of the ice groove 211 at the point closest to the guide 212 and the ice at the farthest point from the guide 212 are detected at the electrode B. A large water level difference h1 is formed between the water levels b of the grooves 211. In the water supply process, the water level is shown in an inclined form as shown in the drawing.

For this reason, when the water is continuously supplied without stopping the water supply and the water supply is stopped at the instant of detecting the full water level in the ice groove 211 equipped with the water level sensor 40, water overflow may occur. That is, when the water supply is stopped at the moment of detecting the full water level, when the water supplied through the guide 212 is transferred to the opposite ice groove 211 and the water level is balanced, the water level is higher than the full water level so that the water overflow occurs. Done.

In order to prevent this from happening, the water supply proceeds for a predetermined time and once the water level reaches the electrode B, the water supply is stopped.

Referring to FIG. 10, the water supply is suspended by sensing the water level at the electrode B, and when the set time elapses, the water level c at equilibrium becomes higher than the electrode B. The figure shows the water level after one.

In detail, at the time of detecting the water level at the electrode B, the water supply is stopped and waited. Here, the waiting time may be appropriately determined by the water pressure of the water supplied to the tray and the area of the groove 213.

On the other hand, the water level equilibrium is made during the water supply waiting time, and the water level in the equilibrium state is higher than that of the electrode B.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the water supply waiting time passes and water supply starts again, a water level difference h2 is generated between the ice groove 211 adjacent to the guide 212 and the ice groove 211 on the opposite side.

However, when water supply is made again in a state where the water level is at a predetermined height or more, the water level difference h2 does not greatly increase as compared with the case of the initial water supply. This is because the intermediate water level is formed at a point spaced apart from the lower end of the groove 213 by a predetermined height, so that the water transfer is made smoother than the initial water supply. This is because the surface tension of the water is also less affected by the initial water supply.

In detail, when the water level rises after a predetermined time and a predetermined time passes, the water level is sensed by the electrode A. FIG. Then, the water supply is stopped again so that the water level is balanced.

As shown in FIG. 12, the final level d in the state of level balance is formed at a point higher than the electrode A. FIG.

For this reason, the electrode A is to be located slightly lower than the full water level of the tray 21 to prevent water overflow after the end of water supply.

As presented in the embodiments of the present invention, at least two electrodes are provided for the purpose of detecting a change in capacitance occurring between the two electrodes and for stopping water supply primarily at an intermediate level. Therefore, according to the position of the electrode B, the water supply stop time is earlier or later.

In addition, according to the position of the electrode B, the amount of residual water after the completion of ice making is determined. In detail, when the water level in the ice groove 211 is lower than the position of the electrode B, since the change in the capacitance is not sensed, the controller recognizes that there is no water. In the case of the ice making apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the ice is started and a predetermined time elapses, the rod 23 is slightly raised to detect how much the residual water is. When the detected residual amount is less than or equal to the set amount, the ice making is determined to be completed, and when more than the set amount, the ice is started, and the rod 23 is lowered again to continue ice making.

From the characteristics of this ice making assembly 20, the amount of residual water is determined according to the position of the electrode B. That is, the lower the position of the electrode B, the smaller the amount of residual water, and the smaller the residual amount, the larger the size of the ice.

As described above, by using the capacitive sensor 40 for detecting a change in capacitance, it is possible to accurately detect the water level, and the water supply is divided into several times, thereby preventing the overflow of water in the water supply process. There are advantages to it.

Claims (11)

A tray provided with a water supply unit and a plurality of ice grooves; A plurality of pins provided on an upper side of the tray; A plurality of rods penetrating through the plurality of pins and inserted into the ice grooves, and being lifted and tilted integrally with the pins when ice making is completed; and An ice making assembly for a refrigerator comprising a water level sensor provided in any one of the plurality of ice grooves. The method of claim 1, The water level sensor is an ice-making assembly for a refrigerator, characterized in that the capacitive sensor for detecting the water level by detecting a change in capacitance according to the difference between the capacitance of the air and water. The method of claim 1, And the water level sensor is mounted on an ice groove side of the furthest side from the water supply unit. The method of claim 1, An ice making assembly for a refrigerator, wherein grooves having a predetermined depth are formed at two adjacent ice groove boundary portions. The method of claim 1, The water level sensor has a plurality of electrodes including a ground electrode is arranged at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction, the plurality of electrodes is covered with a waterproof layer, the ice-making assembly for a refrigerator. The method of claim 5, wherein And the ground electrode is provided at a lowermost side of the plurality of electrodes. The rod is positioned perpendicularly above the tray in which the ice groove is formed; The rod descending into the ice groove; Supplying water into the ice groove; And Raising the water supplied to at least one electrode height including a ground electrode formed in the level sensor; and And detecting a water level due to a change in capacitance occurring between the ground electrode and any one of the other electrodes. The method of claim 7, wherein The step of lowering the load and the step of supplying water is variable level detection method of the ice making assembly for a refrigerator. The method of claim 7, wherein And when a change in capacitance occurs between the ground electrode and one of the other electrodes, a detection signal is transmitted to the controller through an output terminal connected to the one of the other electrodes. The method of claim 7, wherein When there are a plurality of electrodes in contact with the supplied water, the ground electrode detects the level of the capacitance change occurring between the electrode on the upper side to the control unit, characterized in that the water level detection method of the ice making assembly for refrigerators . The method of claim 7, wherein And a water level is detected when the water level in the ice groove is at least equal to the height of the electrode located directly above the ground electrode.