EXTRUSION TYPE ICE MAKER

Abstract

An extrusion type ice maker is provided which comprising a mounting frame with a compressor disposed at the bottom of the mounting frame and a condenser at the back surface; a cylinder is disposed above the compressor on the mounting frame, and a screw rod is disposed inside the cylinder; an evaporator is wound around the cylinder; a motor is disposed at the top of the mounting frame and an output shaft of the motor is in transmission connection with an upper end of the screw rod and the upper end of the screw rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor through a fixing pin; an outlet of the compressor is connected to an inlet of the condenser, and an outlet of the condenser is connected to an inlet of the evaporator; an outlet of the evaporator is connected to an inlet of the compressor.

Description

This application is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202222642197.1, filed on Oct. 8, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of ice maker technologies, and in particular to an extrusion type ice maker.

BACKGROUND

Ice maker is a mechanical freezing equipment which freezes water into ice cubes through a refrigerant of a refrigerating system by use of an evaporator. During an ice making process, the ice maker needs to crush the ice cubes and then extrude out the ice cubes from an ice making chamber. The continuous extrusion of the ice cubes is mainly achieved by a motor driving a screw rod. As the screw rod rotates, the ice cubes are extruded out continuously. Generally, a motor is mounted at a lower end of the screw rod to drive the rotation of the screw rod. This structure may cause water in the screw rod to seep into the motor easily, thus heightening the waterproof requirements. As a result, in some ice makers, the motor is mounted at the upper end of the screw rod to avoid the seepage of water in the screw rod into the motor, thus eliminating the problem of water seepage. But, when the screw rod squeezes the ice cubes from bottom up during rotation, the screw rod may receive a reactive force of the ice cubes, namely, the screw rod is pushed downward, resulting in easy slip and any damage to the motor. Therefore, the service life of the ice maker is shortened.

SUMMARY

For the current situations of the prior arts, the technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a highly waterproof extrusion type ice maker capable of preventing axial endplay of a screw rod to extend the service life of the ice maker.

In order to address the above technical problem, the present disclosure provides the following technical solution: there is provided an extrusion type ice maker, comprising a mounting frame. A compressor is disposed at the bottom of the mounting frame and a condenser is disposed at the back surface of the mounting frame. A cylinder is disposed above the compressor on the mounting frame. A screw rod is disposed inside the cylinder. An evaporator is wound around the cylinder. A motor is disposed at the top of the mounting frame and an output shaft of the motor is in transmission connection with an upper end of the screw rod. Further, the upper end of the screw rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor through a fixing pin. An outlet of the compressor is connected to an inlet of the condenser, and an outlet of the condenser is connected to an inlet of the evaporator. An outlet of the evaporator is connected to an inlet of the compressor.

Furthermore, an angular contact bearing is sleeved on the output shaft of the motor.

Furthermore, a water inlet for water injection is disposed at a lower part of the cylinder.

Furthermore, a sealing element is disposed at the bottom of the cylinder.

Furthermore, a mouth die is disposed at the top of the cylinder, and a plurality of communication openings are disposed on the mouth die. An ice outlet is disposed above the cylinder. The communication openings communicate the cylinder with the ice outlet.

Furthermore, the output shaft of the motor is inserted into an upper end of the screw rod, and the fixing pin radially penetrates through the output shaft and the screw rod.

Furthermore, the motor is a brushless motor.

Compared with the prior arts, the present disclosure has the following beneficial effects: the output shaft of the motor is connected to the screw rod through the fixing pin, such that the screw rod and the output shaft can be fixedly connected so as to effectively avoid the axial endplay of the screw rod and resist the reactive force of the ice cubes. Thus, the screw rod can rotate more stably, avoiding failure resulting from slip and any damage. Furthermore, the motor is mounted above the cylinder, preventing water seepage and extending the service life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solution of the prior art more clearly, brief descriptions will be made below to the accompanying drawings involved in descriptions of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative, and other drawings may also be obtained by those skilled in the art based on these drawings without paying creative work.

The structures, scales, sizes and the like depicted in the specification are only used by those skilled in the art to know and read the contents disclosed by the specification rather than to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the structures, scales, sizes and the like do not have technically substantive meanings. Any modification, changes or adjustment to the structures, the scales and sizes shall all fall within the scope of protection covered by the technical contents disclosed by the present invention without affecting the effects and the purposes achieved by the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a radial sectional view of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a split schematic diagram of a motor and a screw rod according to the present disclosure.

Numerals of the drawings are described below: 1. mounting frame, 2. compressor, 3. condenser, 4. evaporator, 5. cylinder, 5.1 water inlet, 6. screw rod, 7. motor, 7.1 output shaft, 7.2 angular contact bearing, 8. fixing pin, 9. sealing element, 10. mouth die, 10.1 communication opening, 11. ice outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be further detailed below in combination with specific embodiments.

In the descriptions of the present invention, it is understood that orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms such as “central”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, and “circumferential” is used only for ease of descriptions and simplification of descriptions and does not indicate or imply that the indicated devices or elements must have a particular orientation, or be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, such terms shall not be understood as limiting of the present invention.

Further, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptions only and shall not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated features. As a result, the features defined by “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one feature. In the descriptions of the present invention, the meaning of “several” refers to at least two, for example, two or three or the like, unless otherwise clearly stated.

In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly stated or defined, the terms “mount”, “connect”, “couple”, and “fix” and the like shall be understood in a broad sense, for example, may be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or formed into one piece; or may be mechanical connection, or electrical connection; or direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be internal communication between two elements or mutual interaction of two elements, unless otherwise stated. Those skilled in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention according to actual situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly stated or defined, the first feature being “on” or “below” the second feature refers to that the first feature and the second feature are in direct contact, or the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, the first feature being “above” or “on” the second feature refers to that the first feature is exactly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only refers to that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being “under” or “below” the second feature refers to that the first feature is exactly under or obliquely below the second feature, or only refers to that the first feature has a smaller horizontal height than the second feature.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the present disclosure provides an extrusion type ice maker, comprising: a mounting frame 1. A compressor 2 is disposed at the bottom of the mounting frame 1 and a condenser 3 is disposed at the back surface of the mounting frame 1. A cylinder 5 is disposed above the compressor 2 in the mounting frame 1. A screw rod 6 for pushing ice cubes from bottom up is disposed inside the cylinder 5. An evaporator 4 is wound around the cylinder 5. A motor 7 is disposed at the top of the mounting frame 1 and an output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 is in transmission connection with an upper end of the screw rod 6. Further, the upper end of the screw rod 6 is fixedly connected to the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 through a fixing pin 8. An outlet of the compressor 2 is connected to an inlet of the condenser 3, and an outlet of the condenser 3 is connected to an inlet of the evaporator 4. An outlet of the evaporator 4 is connected to an inlet of the compressor 2. Thus, a refrigerant circulates among the compressor 2, the condenser 3 and the evaporator 4. In this way, the evaporator 4 carries away heat inside the cylinder 5 to freeze water in the cylinder 5 into ice, and then the ice cubes are extruded upward as the screw rod 6 rotates.

In the present disclosure, the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 is connected with the screw rod 6 through the fixing pin 8, such that the screw rod 6 can be fixedly connected to the output shaft 7.1, thus effectively preventing axial endplay as well as resisting the reactive force of the ice cubes. In this way, the screw rod 6 can rotate more stably so as to prevent failures resulting from slip and possible damages. Furthermore, the motor 7 is mounted above the cylinder 5, avoiding water seepage and extending its service life.

An angular contact bearing 7.2 is sleeved on the output shaft 7.1 inside the motor 7. Since the screw rod 6 is fixedly connected to the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 through the fixing pin 8, the screw rod 6 can squeeze the ice cubes from bottom up during rotation and thus receive a downward reactive force from the ice cubes. In this case, the output shaft 7.1 can receive a downward pull force. Hence, the disposal of the angular contact bearing 7.2 can share the pull force received by the output shaft 7.1, thus better protecting the output shaft 7.1.

A water inlet 5.1 for water injection is disposed at a lower part of the cylinder 5.

A sealing element 9 is disposed at the bottom of the cylinder 5 to prevent water seepage from the cylinder 5, thus achieving waterproof effect.

A mouth die 10 is disposed at the top of the cylinder 5, and a plurality of communication openings 10.1 are disposed on the mouth die 10. An ice outlet 11 is disposed above the cylinder 5. The communication openings 10.1 communicate the cylinder 5 with the ice outlet 11. The plurality of communication openings 10.1 can speed up the push for the ice cubes, reduce buildup and clogging of the ice cubes and increasing the ice making efficiency.

The output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 is inserted into the upper end of the screw rod 6, and the fixing pin penetrates radially through the output shaft 7.1 and the screw rod 6. Since the motor 7 is disposed above, the connection position of the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 and the upper end of the screw rod 6 is surrounded by the ice outlet 11. Insertion of the output shaft 7.1 into the upper end of the screw rod 6 can further achieve the effect of isolation and waterproofness. The screw rod 6 avoids direct exposure of the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 inside the ice outlet 11 so as to prevent moisture in the ice outlet 11 entering the motor 7, thus improving the sealing and waterproof performance.

The motor 7 is a brushless motor which features low noise and smooth operation. Thus, the requirements of the users for noise reduction can be satisfied. Further, the service life of the motor can be extended and the maintenance cost of the motor is diminished.

During use, the compressor 2 compresses the refrigerant through a piston, such that the refrigerant is changed from gaseous state into liquid state for heat release. After the liquid refrigerant enters the condenser 3 for heat dissipation, the liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator 4 through a capillary tube. After entering the evaporator 4, the refrigerant is changed from liquid state into gaseous state for heat absorption. Since the evaporator 4 is wound around the cylinder 5, the evaporator 5 can carry away heat in the cylinder 5 as the refrigerant is changed from liquid state into gaseous state. Thus, a temperature in the cylinder 5 is reduced, and water in the cylinder 5 is changed into ice. Along with the rotation of the screw rod 6 in the cylinder 5, ice cubes are extruded from bottom up, and output from the ice outlet 11 through the mouth die 10. When the screw rod 6 squeezes the ice cubes, the screw rod 6 may also receive a reactive force of the ice cubes, which in turn pushes the screw rod 6 downward. Since the upper end of the screw rod 6 is connected to the output shaft 7.1 of the motor 7 through the fixing pin 8, both the separation of the screw rod 6 and the axial endplay of the screw rod 6 can be effectively avoided, and the reactive force of the ice cubes can be resisted. In this case, the screw rod 6 can rotate more stably. Further, the angular contact bearing 7.2 sleeved on the output shaft 7.1 in the motor 7 can share the force received by the output shaft 7.1 from the screw rod 6, thus better protecting the output shaft 7.1 against any damages. Moreover, the motor 7 is mounted above the cylinder 5, avoiding water seepage and extending the service life.

The materials, reagents and experimental apparatuses involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure all are commercially available products in the ice maker field unless otherwise stated.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are used only to describe the technical solution of the present disclosure rather than to limit the present disclosure. Although detailed descriptions are made to the present disclosure by referring to the preceding embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the technical solutions recorded in the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to partial technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions will not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An extrusion type ice maker, comprising a mounting frame, wherein a compressor is disposed at the bottom of the mounting frame and a condenser is disposed at the back surface of the mounting frame; a cylinder is disposed above the compressor on the mounting frame, and a screw rod is disposed inside the cylinder; an evaporator is wound around the cylinder; a motor is disposed at the top of the mounting frame and an output shaft of the motor is in transmission connection with an upper end of the screw rod and the upper end of the screw rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor through a fixing pin; an outlet of the compressor is connected to an inlet of the condenser, and an outlet of the condenser is connected to an inlet of the evaporator; an outlet of the evaporator is connected to an inlet of the compressor.

2. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein an angular contact bearing is sleeved on the output shaft of the motor.

3. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein a water inlet for water injection is disposed at a lower part of the cylinder.

4. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein a sealing element is disposed at the bottom of the cylinder.

5. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein a mouth die is disposed at the top of the cylinder, and a plurality of communication openings are disposed on the mouth die; an ice outlet is disposed above the cylinder, and the communication openings communicate the cylinder with the ice outlet.

6. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein the output shaft of the motor is inserted into an upper end of the screw rod, and the fixing pin radially penetrates through the output shaft and the screw rod.

7. The extrusion type ice maker of claim 1, wherein the motor is a brushless motor.