WO2013162146A1

WO2013162146A1 - Ice maker for refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2013162146A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/010374
Authority: WO
Inventors: 지준동; 이경수; 이희창
Original assignee: 주식회사 대창
Priority date: 2012-04-26
Filing date: 2012-12-03
Publication date: 2013-10-31
Also published as: KR101381670B1; KR20130120725A

Abstract

Disclosed is an ice maker for a refrigerator. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker for a refrigerator comprises: an ice tray which is formed at an incline in at least one direction, and is formed so as to have at least one ice-making-water discharge part; a coolant tube which is formed on the outside of the ice tray and is linked to a compressor of the refrigerator in such a way as to supply cold air to the ice tray; and a water-supply unit which supplies the ice-making water into the ice tray.

Description

Refrigerator Ice Maker

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly, to a refrigerator ice maker that manufactures transparent ice using a freezing point drop principle.

In general, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment for storing food and a freezer compartment for freezing food. At this time, an ice maker for manufacturing ice is installed in the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional ice maker for a refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional refrigerator ice maker 10 includes an ice tray 11, an ejector 13, a control unit 15, a side guide 17, an ice bank 19, a water supply pipe 21, and a water supply cup. (23), and the full moon lever 25.

In the conventional refrigerator ice maker 10, the ice tray 11 has an ice making space for accommodating water therein. A plurality of partitions are formed inside the ice tray 11 to separate the ice making space into a plurality. The ice tray 11 is supplied with water (ie, ice making water) through the water supply pipe 21 and the water supply cup 23. Water contained in the ice making space is deiced by cold air.

When ice making is completed, the controller 15 operates a heater (not shown) installed under the ice tray 11 to slightly melt ice that is firmly coupled to the inner surface of the ice tray 11.

Next, the controller 15 rotates the ejector 13 clockwise with a motor (not shown) to push up the ice in the ice tray 11 upwards. The ejector 13 includes an ejector shaft 13-1 connected to a motor (not shown) and a plurality of ejector pins 13-2 formed to be spaced apart from each other on the ejector shaft 13-1. Here, when the motor (not shown) rotates the ejector shaft 13-1 clockwise, the ejector pin 13-2 rotates together with the ejector shaft 13-1 to ice the ice in the ice tray 11. Separated from the tray 11 is pushed upwards. At this time, the ejector shaft 13-1 is positioned at the center of the ice tray 11 to rotate the ejector pins 13-2. In this case, when the ice is iced in the ice tray 11, the ejector pin 13-2 rotates into the ice tray 11 to push up the ice.

Next, the ice pushed up by the ejector pin 13-2 descends on the side guide 17 formed on one side of the ice tray 11 and is accommodated in the ice bank 19. Thereafter, the controller 15 rotates the ejector 13 counterclockwise with a motor (not shown) to return the ejector 13 to its original position.

Here, the conventional refrigerator ice maker 10 performs an ice making process in a state in which ice-making water in the ice tray 11 is filled with ice-making water. At this time, the ice-making water supplied through the water supply cup 23 may contain impurities (or foreign matter). When ice is produced by freezing the ice-making water containing the impurities, the ice is not transparent and turbid ice is formed. There is a problem.

In addition, the ice-making water containing impurities has a problem that the freezing point is lowered, the overall ice-making time is longer and the power consumption is increased. That is, pure water has a freezing point of 0 ° C, whereas water containing impurities freezes at a temperature lower than 0 ° C due to the freezing point drop. Therefore, it takes a long time to freeze the ice-making water containing impurities, thereby increasing the power consumption.

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator ice maker that can produce transparent ice.

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator ice maker that can reduce the ice making time and power consumption.

In the icemaker for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker provided in the refrigerator includes: an ice tray which is formed to be inclined in at least one direction and at least one ice-making water discharge unit is formed; A refrigerant pipe formed outside the ice tray and connected to a compressor of the refrigerator to supply cold air to the ice tray; It includes a water supply for supplying ice-making water into the ice tray.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by flowing the ice making water in the ice tray while circulating, pure water in the ice tray is frozen and stacked sequentially, thereby making it possible to manufacture transparent ice. At this time, since the pure water freezes at a freezing point of 0 ° C., the total ice making time can be shortened, thereby reducing power consumption and improving the daily ice making amount.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional ice maker for a refrigerator.

2 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 are views showing the flow of ice-making water in the ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

6 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ice tray and a refrigerant pipe of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a refrigerant pipe is accommodated in an ice tray in a refrigerator ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the refrigerator ice maker of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9. However, this is only an exemplary embodiment and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

The technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are merely means for effectively explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

2 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the refrigerator ice maker may be installed in a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment in the refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ice maker 100 for a refrigerator includes an ice tray 102, an ice making water storage 104, a water supply 106, and a pump 108. Here, the water supply unit 106 includes a water supply cup 106-1 and a water supply pipe 106-2.

The ice tray 102 has an ice making space containing ice making water therein. A plurality of partitions 111 may be formed on the inner surface of the ice tray 102 to be spaced apart from each other. In this case, the plurality of partitions 111 serve to separate the ice making space into a plurality of spaces so that the ice making water accommodated in the ice making space is iced with a plurality of ices. An ice making water passage 114 may be formed in each partition wall 111.

A water cup 106-1 may be formed at an upper portion of the ice tray 102. At this time, the ice tray 102 receives the ice making water from the water supply cup 106-1. The other side of the ice tray 102 may be formed with an ice making water discharge part 117 for discharging ice making water.

In addition, the control box 120 may be formed at one side of the ice tray 102. The control box 120 may be provided with a power unit (not shown) for providing a rotational force to the ejector (not shown). The control box 120 may be provided with a control circuit (not shown) for controlling the overall operation of the refrigerator ice maker 100. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a control circuit (not shown) may be installed outside the control box 120 (eg, the main board of the refrigerator).

The ice tray 102 is installed inclined in the refrigerator. For example, the ice tray 102 may be installed with the other side of the ice tray 102 inclined downward based on one side of the ice tray 102. In this case, when the ice-making water is supplied through the water cup 106-1 from one side of the ice tray 102, the ice-making water supplied passes through the ice-making water passage 114 formed in each partition wall 111. Flow down to the other side of the 102 is discharged through the ice making water discharge unit 117.

A coolant pipe 110 may be formed on the lower surface of the ice tray 102. The refrigerant pipe 110 is connected to a compressor (not shown) of the refrigerator and serves to freeze iced water in the ice making space by supplying cold air to the ice tray 102. Here, it has been described that the cold air is supplied to the ice tray 102 through the coolant pipe 110 formed on the lower surface of the ice tray 102, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Can supply cold air.

The ice making unit 104 is formed under the ice tray 102. The ice making water storage unit 104 stores the ice making water. At this time, the ice making water is supplied to the ice tray 102 through the pump 108 and the water supply unit 106, is discharged from the ice tray 102 is stored in the ice-making water storage unit 104 again.

The water supply unit 106 supplies the ice making water to the ice tray 102. The water supply unit 106 includes a water supply cup 106-1 and a water supply pipe 106-2. Here, although the water supply unit 106 is illustrated as being formed on one side of the ice tray 102, the position of the water supply unit 106 is not limited thereto. One end of the water supply pipe 106-2 is connected to the ice making water storage unit 104, and the other end of the water supply pipe 106-2 is connected to the water supply cup 106-1.

The pump 108 serves to suck the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 104 to flow into the water supply pipe 106-2. In this case, the ice making water stored in the ice making water storage unit 104 is supplied to the water supply cup 106-1 through the water supply pipe 106-2.

In the refrigerator ice maker 100 configured as described above, when the pump 108 is operated after filling the ice making unit 104 with the ice making unit, the ice making unit of the ice making unit 104 is supplied to the water supply pipe 106-2. Inflow is supplied to the water supply cup (106-1).

Next, ice-making water is supplied into the ice tray 102 from the water supply cup 106-1 formed on one side of the ice tray 102. At this time, since the other side of the ice tray 102 is formed to be inclined downward, the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray 102 passes through the ice-making water passage 114 formed in each partition 111, the ice tray 102 Will flow down to the other side. Here, when cold air is supplied to the ice tray 102 through a refrigerant pipe (not shown), pure water of the ice making water is frozen on the inner wall of the ice tray 102, and water containing impurities in the ice making water is the ice tray. On the other side of the 102 is discharged through the ice making water discharge unit 117 is stored in the ice making water storage (104).

That is, since the freezing point of the ice-making water is 0 ° C., the freezing water quickly freezes on the inner wall of the ice tray 102 in the process of flowing to the other side of the ice tray 102, and the water containing impurities in the ice-making water drop freezing point. Due to the freezing point is less than 0 ℃, pure water does not freeze at a freezing temperature flows down as it is discharged through the ice-making water discharge unit 117 is stored in the ice-making water storage unit 104 again.

Next, the ice making water re-stored in the ice making water storage unit 104 is pulled up again by the pump 108 and introduced into the water supply pipe 106-2, and the water supply cup 106-1 through the water supply pipe 106-2. Is supplied.

Next, the ice making water in the water supply cup 106-1 is again supplied into the ice tray 102. At this time, as described above, the pure water of the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray 102 is frozen on the inner wall of the ice tray 102, the water containing impurities in the ice-making water at the other side of the ice tray 102 It is discharged through the ice making water discharge unit 117 and stored in the ice making water storage unit 104 again. In this case, ice tray 102 is stacked with ice of pure water.

Next, the ice making water stored in the ice making water storage unit 104 is pulled up by the pump 108 to flow into the water supply pipe 106-2, and to the water supply cup 106-1 through the water supply pipe 106-2. The feeding process is performed repeatedly. As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the ice making process is performed while the ice making water is circulated through the ice making unit 104 → the water supply unit 106 → the ice tray 102 → the ice making unit 104.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by flowing into the ice tray 102 while circulating the ice making water, the pure water in the ice tray 102 is frozen and stacked sequentially, thereby making it possible to manufacture transparent ice . At this time, since the pure water freezes at a freezing point of 0 ° C. immediately, the total ice making time can be reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption and improving the daily ice making amount of the refrigerator.

On the other hand, when the ice in the ice tray 102 is stacked by a certain height, the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 104 may be discharged, the new ice-making water can be filled to continue the ice making process.

Here, after the ice-making water discharged through the ice-making water discharge unit 117 of the ice tray 102 is stored in the ice-making water storage unit 104, the ice-making water is drawn up by the pump 108 and supplied to the ice tray 102 again. Although described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a separate hose may be connected between the ice making water discharge part 117 and the pump 108 to circulate the ice making water. In addition, ice making water may be continuously supplied from one side of the ice tray 102, and the ice making water may be discharged to the outside of the ice maker from the ice making water discharge part 117 of the ice tray 102. In this case, the ice-making water discharged to the ice maker 102 may be supplied to the ice tray 102 again to circulate the ice-making water.

Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of partitions 111 may be formed on the ice tray 102 to be spaced apart from each other. At this time, each partition wall 111 is formed with an ice making water passage 114 to pass the ice making water. The ice-making water passage 114 may have, for example, a shape of a groove in which a part of the partition wall 111 is removed from an upper end to a lower end of the partition wall 111. However, the shape of the ice making water passage 114 is not limited thereto, and the ice making water passage 114 may be a through-hole formed through the partition 111 at the lower end of the partition 111.

4 and 5 are views showing the flow of ice-making water, respectively, in the ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the ice making water passage 114 is formed at one side of each partition 111 in the partition 111 in the ice tray 102, the ice making water is in the ice tray 102. It passes through the ice-making water passage 114 and flows in a straight line.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 5, when the ice-making water passage 114 is alternately formed at one side of the partition 111 and the other side of the partition 111 in each partition 111 in the ice tray 102, Ice water flows into the zig zag in the ice tray 102. On the other hand, Figures 4 and 5 is only one embodiment showing the ice-making water passage in the ice tray 102, in addition to that can be formed of the ice-making water passage in a variety of ways.

Referring to FIG. 6, the refrigerator ice maker 200 includes an ice tray 202, an ice making water storage unit 204, a water supply unit 206, and a pump 208. Here, since the ice making water storage unit 204 and the pump 208 have the same configuration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the water supply cup 206-1 is positioned at the center of the ice tray 202, and the ice tray 202 is formed to be inclined in both directions. For example, the ice tray 202 may be installed with one side and the other side of the ice tray 202 inclined downward with respect to the center of the ice tray 202. At this time, the ice-making water discharge portion 217 is formed on both sides of the ice tray 202, respectively.

Here, when the ice making water is supplied into the ice tray 202 through the water cup 206-1, the ice making water supplied into the ice tray 202 flows to both sides of the ice tray 202. At this time, the pure water of the ice-making water is frozen on the inner wall of the ice tray 202, the water containing impurities in the ice-making water is discharged through the ice-making water discharge unit 217 on both sides of the ice tray 202, the ice-making water The storage unit 204 is stored.

7 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a refrigerator ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice tray and a refrigerant pipe of the refrigerator ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a refrigerant pipe is accommodated in an ice tray in a refrigerator ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 to 9, the ice maker 300 for a refrigerator includes an ice tray 302, an ice making water storage unit 304, a water supply unit 306, a pump 308, and a refrigerant pipe 310. . Here, since the ice making unit 304, the water supply unit 306, and the pump 308 have the same configuration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the coolant pipe 310 is formed on the ice tray 302. A plurality of refrigerant protrusions 315 may be formed below the refrigerant pipe 310 to be spaced apart from each other. The end of the refrigerant pipe 310 is connected to the compressor of the refrigerator. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor of the refrigerator circulates inside the refrigerant pipe 310 to supply cold air to the ice tray 302.

The ice tray 302 is formed to be inclined in the refrigerator. An ice making space is formed inside the ice tray 302. Here, the coolant protrusion 315 of the coolant tube 310 is accommodated in the ice making space. In this case, the refrigerant protrusion 315 may be submerged in whole or in part in the ice making space.

A water cup 306-2 may be formed at an upper portion of the ice tray 302. In this case, an ice making water discharge part (not shown) may be formed at the other side of the ice tray 302. Ice making water discharge unit (not shown) may be formed in a form that can be opened and closed.

In the refrigerator ice maker 300 configured as described above, the ice making water in the ice making water storage unit 304 is pulled up to the water supply cup 306-2 through the pump 308, and then supplied into the ice tray 302. At this time, when the ice making water discharge unit (not shown) is closed, the ice making water is gradually filled in the ice tray 302.

Next, when all or part of the coolant protrusion 315 is immersed in the ice making water, the ice making water discharge part (not shown) is opened to start discharging the ice making water in the ice tray 302 to the ice making water storage part 304. Then, the ice making water supplied from one side of the ice tray 302 through the water cup 306-2 flows to the other side of the ice tray 302 and is discharged from the ice making water discharge unit (not shown). At this time, the amount of ice making water supplied through the water supply cup 306-2 and the amount of ice making water discharged through the ice making water discharge unit (not shown) may be adjusted to be the same. Then, the height of the ice-making water in the ice tray 302 can be kept constant.

Since the coolant protrusion 315 in which the coolant flows inside the ice tray 302 is immersed in the ice making water, the pure water of the ice making water is frozen on the outer wall of the coolant protrusion 315, and impurities in the ice making water are included. The water is discharged to the ice making reservoir 304 through the ice making discharge unit (not shown).

At this time, when the ice-making water is supplied into the ice tray 302 while continuously circulating in the order of the ice-making water storage unit 304 → water supply unit 306 → ice tray 302 → ice-making water storage unit 304, a refrigerant protrusion ( Pure water is accumulated on the outer wall of the 315) sequentially frozen. Here, pure ice is obtained by separating the frozen ice on the outer wall of the refrigerant protrusion 315.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

[Description of the code]

100, 200, 300:

ice maker

102, 202, 302: ice tray

104, 204, 304: De-icing

water storage unit

106, 206, 306: Water supply unit

106-1, 206-1, 306-1: water supply cup 106-2, 206-2, 306-2: water supply pipe

108, 208, 308: pump 111: bulkhead

114: ice-making water passage 117: ice-making water discharge

120: control box 110, 310: refrigerant pipe

315: refrigerant projection

Claims

In the ice maker provided in the refrigerator,

An ice tray which is formed to be inclined in at least one direction and includes at least one ice-making water discharge unit;

A refrigerant pipe formed outside the ice tray and connected to a compressor of the refrigerator to supply cold air to the ice tray; And

And a water supply unit for supplying ice-making water into the ice tray.
The method of claim 1,

Pure water of the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray is frozen on the inner surface of the ice tray, and water containing impurities in the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray is discharged through the ice-making water discharge part and circulated. .
The method of claim 1,

The ice maker for the refrigerator,

An ice making water storage unit formed at a lower portion of the ice tray and storing ice making water supplied from the water supply unit and discharged to the ice making water discharge unit; And

And a pump for supplying ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage unit to the water supply unit.
The method of claim 1,

The ice tray,

A plurality of partitions formed on an inner surface of the ice tray; And

A refrigerator ice maker further comprising an ice making water passage formed in each of the partition walls.
The method of claim 4, wherein

The ice-making water passage portion,

Refrigerator ice makers are formed alternately on one side and the other side of each partition.
The method of claim 1,

The ice tray,

Both sides of the ice tray is formed to be inclined downward, refrigerator ice maker.
The method of claim 1,

The refrigerant pipe,

The icemaker for a refrigerator is formed on the ice tray, the refrigerant pipe is formed with a plurality of refrigerant projections accommodated in the ice tray.
The method of claim 7, wherein

Pure water of the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray is frozen on the outer wall of the refrigerant projection, and water containing impurities in the ice-making water supplied into the ice tray is discharged through the ice-making water discharge part and circulated. .