KR20110054760A

KR20110054760A - Ice maker

Info

Publication number: KR20110054760A
Application number: KR1020090111527A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박정철
Original assignee: 웅진코웨이주식회사
Priority date: 2009-11-18
Filing date: 2009-11-18
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Also published as: KR101647651B1

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ice maker is provided to reduce energy required for making ice and to easily supply cooled water to an ice making tray without a pump. CONSTITUTION: An ice maker comprises a water source(200), multiple ice making members(300), an ice making tray(400), a cold water tank(500), and a water supply unit(600) for ice making. The ice making members are located under the water source and are connected to an evaporator(E) connected to a freezer system. The ice making members are submerged in the ice making tray filled with water. The ice making tray is located under the ice making members. The cold water tank is located under the ice making tray and stores cooled water. The water supply unit receives the cooled water from the water source and heat-exchanges the water with the water stored in the cold water tank. The water supply unit supplies the heat-exchanged water to the ice making tray.

Description

Ice maker {ICE MAKER}

The present invention relates to an ice maker that can supply cooled water to an ice tray.

Ice maker is a device for producing ice is provided in the ice purifier or refrigerator. The ice maker includes a plurality of ice producing members connected to an evaporator connected to a refrigerating system, and an ice making tray which is located under the plurality of ice producing members and contains water so that the plurality of ice producing members can be locked.

Therefore, when water is supplied to the ice making tray so that the plurality of ice making members can be locked, and the refrigeration system is operated, cold refrigerant flows to the evaporator and cold refrigerant flows to each of the ice making members connected to the evaporator.

Accordingly, ice is generated in each of the plurality of ice making members by heat exchange between the water contained in the ice making tray and a cold refrigerant flowing through the plurality of ice making members, that is, heat transfer from the water contained in the ice making tray to the plurality of ice making members. do.

On the other hand, conventionally, water of normal temperature was supplied to the ice making tray. Therefore, the water contained in the ice making tray had to be cooled from room temperature to below freezing point for the production of ice. Therefore, there is a problem that the ice making time is long. In addition, there is a problem that takes a lot of energy for ice making. Accordingly, there is a problem in that ice making performance and efficiency is poor.

The present invention is made by recognizing at least one of the needs or problems occurring in the conventional ice maker.

One object of the present invention is to be able to supply the cooled water to the ice tray.

Another object of the present invention is to shorten the ice making time and to save energy for ice making.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the ice making performance and efficiency.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable easy cooling of the cooled water to the ice tray without a separate device such as a pump.

An ice maker according to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the above problems may include the following features.

The present invention is basically based on the cooling of the water supplied to the ice making tray by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank, and then supplying the water to the ice making tray.

Ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention is a water supply source for supplying water; A plurality of ice-making members located below the water supply and connected to the evaporator connected to the refrigeration system; An ice making tray positioned under the plurality of ice making members and containing water to lock the plurality of ice making members; A cold water tank located below the ice tray and storing cooled water; And an ice making water supply unit for supplying water from a water supply source and cooling the supplied water by cooling with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank and then supplying the water to the ice making tray. As shown in FIG.

In this case, the ice-making water supply unit is connected to a water supply source on one side of the first supply pipe having a valve; A cooling pipe having one side connected to the first supply pipe and passing through the inside of the cold water tank; And a second supply pipe connected to one side of the cooling pipe and configured to supply water to the ice tray. It may include.

In addition, the cooling tube may be provided with a desorption support for supporting the cooling tube and to facilitate the removal of the cooling tube.

In this case, the detachable support portion support unit body provided in the cooling tube; An elastic member inserted into the support body; And a first support member elastically supported by the elastic member. It may include.

In addition, the detachable support portion may further include a second support member, one side of which is fixed to the ice maker body and the other side of which the first support member is in close contact with the elastic force of the elastic member while supporting the support body.

On the other hand, the water supply source may be a purified water tank for storing the filtered water while passing through a plurality of purified water filters.

According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the cooled water can be supplied to the ice making tray.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice making time can be shortened and the energy for ice making can be reduced.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice making performance and efficiency can be increased.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily supply the cooled water to the ice making tray with a simple structure without a separate device such as a pump.

In order to help the understanding of the features of the present invention as described above, it will be described in more detail with respect to the ice maker associated with an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the described embodiments will be described on the basis of the most suitable embodiments for understanding the technical features of the present invention, and the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the described embodiments. It is to be exemplified that the present invention can be implemented as in the following embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope of the present invention through the embodiments described below, and such modified embodiments fall within the technical scope of the present invention. And, in order to help the understanding of the embodiments described below, in the reference numerals described in the accompanying drawings, among the components that will have the same function in each embodiment, the related components are denoted by the same or extension numbers.

Embodiments related to the present invention are basically based on the cooling of the water supplied to the ice making tray by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank, and then supplying the water to the ice making tray.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ice maker 100 according to the present invention includes a water supply source 200, a plurality of ice making members 300, an ice making tray 400, a cold water tank 500, and ice making. It may be configured to include a water supply unit 600.

The water supply source 200 may supply water to the ice making tray 400. This water supply source 200, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, for example, if the ice maker 100 is provided in an ice water purifier (not shown), the water filtered through a plurality of water filters (not shown) It may be a purified water tank. However, the water supply source 200 is not limited to the purified water tank and may be any one as long as it can supply water to the ice making tray 400.

The plurality of ice making members 300 may be positioned below the water supply source 200 as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the plurality of ice making members 300 may be connected to a refrigeration system (not shown). Accordingly, a cool coolant or a hot coolant may flow in the plurality of ice making members 300. That is, when the ice I is generated in the plurality of ice making members 300, a cool refrigerant may flow in the interior of the plurality of ice making members 300. In addition, a hot refrigerant may flow inside the plurality of ice making members 300 at the time of detachment of the ice I generated in each of the plurality of ice making members 300 from the ice making member 300. .

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ice making tray 400 may be positioned below the plurality of ice making members 300. In addition, the ice making tray 400 may contain water so that the plurality of ice making members 300 may be locked. As described above in the state where the plurality of ice making members 300 are immersed in the water contained in the ice making tray 400, when a cool refrigerant flows inside the plurality of ice making members 300, the ice making tray 400 is filled. Heat exchange occurs between the water and the cold refrigerant flowing through the plurality of ice making members 300. That is, heat transfer is performed from the water contained in the ice making tray 400 to a cold refrigerant flowing through the plurality of ice making members 300. Accordingly, ice I may be generated in each of the ice making members 300.

Cold water tank 500 may be located below the ice tray 400 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The cold water tank 500 may store cooled water. The method of cooling the water stored in the cold water tank 500 may be performed by sending the ice I generated in the plurality of ice making members 300 to the cold water tank 500 as shown in FIG. 1. However, the method of cooling the water stored in the cold water tank 500 is not limited thereto, and a separate evaporator (not shown) connected to the refrigeration system (not shown) or the cooling system (not shown) to the cold water tank 500. Any method may be used as long as it is capable of cooling the water stored in the cold water tank 500, such as cooling.

The ice making water supply unit 600 may receive water from the water supply source 200. Then, the supplied water may be cooled by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500. That is, the water supplied from the water supply source 200 may be cooled by heat transfer from the water supplied from the water supply source 200 to the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500. In addition, the ice making water supply unit 600 may supply the water supplied from the water supply source 200, which has been cooled as described above, to the ice making tray 400.

To this end, the ice making water supply unit 600 may include a first supply pipe 610, a cooling pipe 620, and a second supply pipe 630, as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, one side of the first supply pipe 610 may be connected to the water supply source 200. Therefore, water may be supplied from the water supply source 200 to the first supply pipe 610. In addition, the first supply pipe 610 may be provided with a valve (V) as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The valve V may be operated to adjust the supply of water from the water supply source 200 to the first supply pipe 610.

The cooling pipe 620 may be connected to one side of the first supply pipe 610 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first supply pipe 610 and the cooling pipe 620 may be connected by a connection member. Accordingly, the water supplied from the water supply source 200 to the first supply pipe 610 may flow into the cooling pipe 620. In addition, the cooling pipe 620 may be provided to pass through the interior of the cold water tank 500, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the water supplied from the water supply source 200 flowing through the cooling tube 620 to the first supply tube 610 is subjected to heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500 while flowing the cooling tube 620. Can be cooled by. That is, the water flowing through the cooling tube 620 may be cooled by heat transfer from the water flowing through the cooling tube 620 to the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500. To this end, the cooling tube 620 may be a 'U' shape as shown in the illustrated embodiment. However, the shape of the cooling tube 620 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment as long as it can cool the water flowing through the cooling tube 620 by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500. Even possible.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 1 the cooling tube 620 may be provided with a removable support 621. The detachable support part 621 may support the cooling tube 620. In addition, the detachment of the cooling tube 620 may be easily performed by the detachment support part 621.

To this end, the detachable support part 621 may include a support part body 621a, an elastic member 621b, and a first support member 621c as in the embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the detachable support part 621 may include a second support member 621d.

The support unit body 621a may be provided in the cooling tube 620 as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the elastic member 621b may be inserted into the support body 621a as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The elastic member 621 b may exert an elastic force on the first support member 621 c. The elastic member 621b may be a coil spring as shown in the illustrated embodiment. However, the elastic member 621 b is not limited to the coil spring as shown in the illustrated embodiment, and any type of plate spring may be provided as long as the elastic member 621 b is inserted into the support body 621 a to exert an elastic force on the first support member 621 c. It is possible. The first support member 621c may be elastically supported by the elastic member 621b inserted into the support body 621a as shown in FIG. 1. To this end, the first support member 621c may be inserted into the support body 621a and elastically supported by the elastic member 621b as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, one side of the second support member 621d may be fixed to the ice maker body B as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The other side of the second support member 621d may support the support body 621a as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, the other side of the second support member 621d may be in close contact with the first support member 621c by the elastic force of the elastic member 621b as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the cooling tube 620 may be firmly supported by the elastic force of the elastic member 621b.

By the detachable support part 621 provided in the cooling tube 620, for example, when foreign matter accumulated inside the 'U'-shaped cooling tube 620, the external force to the cooling tube 620 as shown in FIG. When the cooling tube 620 is pushed to the right as shown in the drawing, the elastic member 621b can be compressed and the cooling tube 620 can be easily separated from the ice making unit 600 for ice making. As described above, the cooling tube 620 separated from the ice making water supply unit 600 removes the foreign matter accumulated therein and then external force is applied to the cooling tube 620 so that the elastic member 621 b is compressed as shown in FIG. 2. When the external force is removed in the state of FIG. 1, the cooling tube 620 may be firmly supported as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, one side of the second supply pipe 630 may be connected to the cooling pipe 620. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, one side of the second supply pipe 630 and the cooling pipe 620 may be connected by a connection member. Therefore, the water cooled by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500 while flowing the cooling tube 620 may flow through the second supply pipe 630. The other side of the second supply pipe 630 may be configured to supply water to the ice making tray 400 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, the water cooled by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500 while flowing the cooling tube 620 may be supplied to the ice making tray 400 through the second supply pipe 630. When the water cooled in this way is supplied to the ice making tray 400, the difference between the water contained in the ice making tray 400 and the freezing point at which the ice I freezes is little. Therefore, it is not necessary to take much time to cool the water contained in the ice making tray 400 around each ice producing member 300 below the freezing point so that the ice I is generated in the plurality of ice producing members 300. . Therefore, the ice making time can be shortened. Accordingly, ice making performance and efficiency can be improved.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, the water supply source 200 is located at a higher position than the ice making tray 400. Therefore, although the cooling pipe 620 is provided to pass through the interior of the cold water tank 500 at a lower position than the ice making tray 400, as described above, the water supply source 200 is located at a higher position than the ice making tray 400. As such, the water supplied from the water supply source 200 may be supplied to the ice making tray 400 via the first supply pipe 610, the cooling pipe 620, and the second supply pipe 630. Therefore, the water cooled can be easily supplied to the ice making tray with a simple structure without a separate device such as a pump.

Hereinafter, the operation of one embodiment of the ice maker 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, if the ice maker 100 according to the present invention is provided in an ice water purifier (not shown), for example, the water supply source 200 is equipped with a plurality of water filters (not shown). While filtered water (W) can be stored. In addition, the water (W) stored in the cold water tank 500, for example, as shown in the ice (I) generated from the plurality of ice producing member 300 may be sent to the cold water tank 500 to be cooled. In addition, the valve V provided in the first supply pipe 610 may be closed. In addition, the ice tray 400 may be empty as shown.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, when the valve V provided in the first supply pipe 610 is opened, the water supply source 200, for example, the water W stored in the purified water tank, may be caused by gravity. 610. Water flowing through the first flow tube 610 flows into the cooling tube 620 connected to the first flow tube 610 to flow through the cooling tube 620. Water flowing through the cooling pipe 620 passes through the cold water tank 500 as shown. Accordingly, the water flowing through the cooling tube 620 is cooled by heat exchange with the cooled water W stored in the cold water tank 500, that is, the cooling stored in the cold water tank 500 in the water flowing through the cooling tube 620. It is cooled by heat transfer to the water (W). As such, the water cooled by the heat exchange with the cooled water W stored in the cold water tank 500 while passing through the cooling pipe 620 is illustrated through the second supply pipe 630 connected to the cooling pipe 620. As it is supplied to the ice tray 400.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the plurality of ice making members 300 are locked and the supply of the cooled water W to the ice making tray 400 is completed, the first supply pipe 610 is closed. Close the valve (V) provided in the).

Thereafter, a refrigeration system (not shown) connected to the evaporator E is operated. Accordingly, a cool refrigerant flows inside the evaporator E and the plurality of ice making members 300. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of ice making members 300 exchange heat with the cool refrigerant flowing in the plurality of ice making members 300 and the cooled water W contained in the ice making tray 400. In other words, the ice I is generated by the heat transfer from the cooled water W contained in the ice making tray 400 to the cool refrigerant flowing through the inside of the plurality of ice making members 300.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, when ice I of a predetermined size is generated in the plurality of ice making members 300, the ice making tray 400 is rotated to a freezing position as shown. When the ice tray 400 is rotated to a defrosting position, the cooled water W contained in the ice tray 400 falls into the cold water tank 500 or a separate drip tray (not shown) connected to the ice tray 400. Can be moved to and stored. As such, after the ice tray 400 is rotated to a defrosting position, a refrigerating system (not shown) is operated to allow hot refrigerant to flow inside the evaporator E and the plurality of ice making members 300. Accordingly, the surface of the ice I in contact with each of the plurality of ice producing members 300 is melted to separate the ice I from the plurality of ice producing members 300 as shown. Accordingly, the ice I is dropped by its own weight and is sent to the ice reservoir (not shown) by the guide member (not shown), or is sent to the cold water tank 500 to store the water stored in the cold water tank 500 ( W) cools down.

As described above, when the ice maker 100 according to the present invention is used, the cooled water may be supplied to the ice tray 400.

Accordingly, ice making time can be shortened and energy for ice making can be reduced.

In addition, the ice making performance and efficiency can be increased.

And, the water can be easily supplied to the ice making tray with a simple structure without a separate device such as a pump.

The ice maker described above may not be limitedly applied to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.

1 is a view showing an embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing the separation of the cooling tube in one embodiment of the ice maker according to the present invention.

3 to 6 show the operation of one embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: ice maker 200: water supply source

300: ice making member 400: ice tray

500: cold water tank 600: water supply for ice making

610: first supply pipe 620: cooling pipe

621: removable support 621a: support body

621b: elastic member 621c: first support member

621d: second support member 630: second supply pipe

E: Evaporator W: Water

I: Ice V: Valve

B: ice maker body

Claims

A water supply source 200 for supplying water;

A plurality of ice producing members 300 positioned below the water supply source 200 and connected to an evaporator E connected to a refrigeration system;

An ice making tray 400 positioned under the plurality of ice making members 300 and containing water so that the plurality of ice making members 300 can be locked;

A cold water tank 500 positioned below the ice making tray 400 and storing cooled water; And

An ice making water supply unit 600 which receives water from the water supply source 200 and cools the water supplied by heat exchange with the cooled water stored in the cold water tank 500 and then supplies the water to the ice making tray 400;

Ice machine configured including.

According to claim 1, wherein the ice making water supply unit 600

A first supply pipe 610 having one side connected to the water supply source 200 and having a valve V;

A cooling pipe 620 having one side connected to the first supply pipe 610 and passing through the inside of the cold water tank 500; And

A second supply pipe 630 connected to one side of the cooling pipe 620 and configured to supply water to the ice tray 400;

Ice maker comprising a.

The ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the cooling tube (620) is provided with a detachable support (621) to support the cooling tube (620) and to easily detach the cooling tube (620).

The method of claim 3, wherein the removable support 621 is

A support unit body 621a provided in the cooling tube 620;

An elastic member 621b inserted into the support body 621a; And

A first support member 621c elastically supported by the elastic member 621b;

Ice maker comprising a.

The method of claim 4, wherein the removable support 621 is

One side is fixed to the ice maker body (B) and the other side supports the second support member (621d) that the first support member 621c is in close contact with the elastic force of the elastic member 621b while supporting the support body (621a). Ice maker further comprises.

The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the water supply source (200) is a purified water tank that stores filtered water while passing through a plurality of purified water filters.