CN218033920U

CN218033920U - Ice making assembly and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN218033920U
Application number: CN202222027386.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李闪闪; 李大鹏; 周思健; 魏建
Original assignee: TCL Home Appliances Hefei Co Ltd
Current assignee: TCL Home Appliances Hefei Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-08-01
Filing date: 2022-08-01
Publication date: 2022-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-01

Abstract

The application provides an ice making subassembly and refrigerator, including water storage tank, water pump, ice making box and water level detection subassembly, wherein the water storage tank has first accommodation space and is used for holding water, and the water pump communicates with first accommodation space and can extract the water in the first accommodation space to the ice making box, and the water level detection subassembly includes floating part, first connecting electricity connection portion and connecting portion, and wherein the floating part can be according to water level in the water storage tank rises or descends to drive first electric connector reverse motion, first electric connector is used for control the water pump is opened or is stopped. When the water storage quantity in the water storage tank is insufficient and the water level is low, the first electric connecting piece controls the water pump to stop so as to prevent the problem that the water pumping quantity of the water pump is insufficient, so that the ice making quantity is inaccurate and the ice making quantity is insufficient.

Description

Ice making assembly and refrigerator

Technical Field

The application belongs to the technical field of ice making, and particularly relates to an ice making assembly and a refrigerator.

Background

At present, a refrigerator becomes one of necessary household appliances, people have higher and higher requirements on the refrigerator, and the refrigerator generally has an ice making function, wherein an ice making assembly generally installs an ice making box in a freezing chamber of the refrigerator, installs a water tank assembly in a refrigerating chamber, and extracts water in the water tank into the ice making box through a water pump to make ice after water is injected into the water tank.

However, when the water stored in the water tank is insufficient, the problem that the water pump is likely to cause insufficient water pumping amount due to air inclusion when pumping water, so that the ice making amount is inaccurate and insufficient is caused.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The embodiment of the application provides an ice making subassembly and refrigerator to when solving water storage tank water stock not enough, it leads to the volume of drawing water not enough to mix with the air when the water pump draws water to appear easily, leads to the inaccurate and not enough problem of ice making volume.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an ice making assembly, which is suitable for a refrigerator, and includes:

a water storage tank having a first receiving space for receiving water therein;

the water pump is communicated with the first accommodating space;

the water pump is used for pumping water in the water storage tank to the ice-making box;

the water level detection assembly comprises a floating part, a first electric connecting piece and a connecting part, the first electric connecting piece is connected with the floating part through the connecting part, the floating part can ascend or descend according to the water level in the water storage tank and drive the first electric connecting piece to move reversely, and the first electric connecting piece is used for controlling the water pump to start or stop.

Optionally, when the water level of the floating part is higher than a preset disconnection water level, the first electric connection part is located at a first position, so that the water pump operates to pump water;

when the water level of the floating piece is lower than the preset disconnection water level, the floating piece can drive the first electric connecting piece to be located at a second position so that the water pump stops pumping water, and the second position is higher than the first position.

Optionally, the water level detection assembly further comprises a second electrical connector;

when the second electric connecting piece detects that the distance between the second electric connecting piece and the first electric connecting piece is smaller than or equal to a preset connection distance, the second electric connecting piece sends out a first signal to enable the water pump to operate and pump water;

when the second electric connecting piece detects that the distance between the second electric connecting piece and the first electric connecting piece is larger than the preset connection distance, the second electric connecting piece sends out a second signal to enable the water pump to stop pumping water.

Optionally, the water storage tank includes a first side wall and a support portion, the support portion is disposed on the first side wall, and when the water level of the floating member is higher than the preset cut-off water level, the support portion carries the first electrical connector, so that the first electrical connector is located at the first position.

Optionally, the second electrical connector is located outside the water storage tank, and the second electrical connector is located on a side of the first side wall away from the first accommodating space.

Optionally, the first side wall further includes a fixing portion, the fixing portion is fixedly connected with the supporting portion, the fixing portion is located at one end, far away from the first electrical connector, of the supporting portion, and the second electrical connector is arranged in the fixing portion.

Optionally, the water storage tank still includes the space bar, the space bar set up in the first accommodation space, the space bar with first lateral wall interval sets up, first electric connector with the floating piece is located respectively the both sides of space bar, the space bar is kept away from the via hole has been seted up to the one end of water storage tank's diapire, connecting portion wear to locate the via hole.

Optionally, the water storage tank further comprises an auxiliary sleeve, the auxiliary sleeve penetrates through the through hole, and the connecting portion penetrates through the auxiliary sleeve.

Optionally, the space bar orientation one side of floating piece is equipped with first limiting plate, first limiting plate set up in the both ends of floating piece, be equipped with the chimb on the first limiting plate, first limiting plate the chimb with the space bar encloses to establish and forms first guide way, floating piece set up in the first guide way.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a refrigerator including the ice making assembly of any one of the above.

The utility model provides an ice-making assembly and refrigerator, including water storage tank, water pump, ice-making box and water level detection subassembly, wherein water storage tank has first accommodation space and is used for holding water, and the water pump communicates with first accommodation space and can extract the water in the first accommodation space to ice-making box, and water level detection subassembly includes the floating part, first connecting electricity connection portion and connecting portion, and wherein the floating part can be according to water level in the water storage tank rises or descends to drive first electric connector reverse motion, first electric connector is used for control the water pump is opened or is stopped. When the water storage quantity in the water storage tank is insufficient and the water level is low, the first electric connecting piece controls the water pump to stop so as to prevent the problem that the water pumping quantity of the water pump is insufficient, so that the ice making quantity is inaccurate and the ice making quantity is insufficient.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described below. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the application, and that for a person skilled in the art, other drawings can also be derived from them without inventive effort.

For a more complete understanding of the present application and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the following description.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a first structure of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 isbase:Sub>A first cross-sectional view taken along A-A of the ice-making assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a first configuration of a water storage tank in an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 isbase:Sub>A second cross-sectional view taken along A-A of the ice-making assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a second configuration of a water storage tank in an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application.

Description of reference numerals:

11. a water storage tank; 12. a water pump; 13. an ice-making box; 111. a first accommodating space; 112. a first side wall; 114. a support portion; 115. a partition plate; 117. a first limit plate; 119. a second limiting plate; 121. a pump cartridge; 141. a float member; 142. a connecting portion; 145. a first electrical connection; 147. a second electrical connection; 1151. a via hole; 1153. an auxiliary sleeve; 1172. a convex edge; 1175. a first guide groove; 1195. a second guide groove;

200. a refrigerator; 201. a refrigerating chamber; 202. and (4) freezing the room.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is to be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

But when the water storage in the water tank is not enough, mix with the air and lead to the volume of drawing water not enough when the water pump draws water easily to appear, lead to the inaccurate and insufficient problem of ice making volume.

Based on above problem, this application embodiment provides an ice making subassembly and refrigerator to when solving water storage tank water storage volume not enough, mix with the air and lead to the volume of drawing water not enough when the water pump draws water easily appears, lead to the inaccurate and not enough problem of ice making volume. The following description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, fig. 1 is a first structural schematic diagram of an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second configuration of an ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 isbase:Sub>A first cross-sectional view taken along A-A of the ice-making assembly of FIG. 2; fig. 4 is a first structural schematic diagram of a water storage tank in an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of the present application provides an ice making assembly suitable for a refrigerator, the ice making assembly includes a water storage tank 11, a water pump 12, an ice making box (not shown), and a water level detection assembly, wherein the water storage tank 11 has a first receiving space 111 and is used for receiving water, and the water pump 12 is communicated with the first receiving space 111 and can pump water in the first receiving space 111 to the ice making box; the water level detection assembly includes a floating member 141, a first electric connector 145 and a connecting portion 142, the first electric connector 145 is connected with the floating member 141 through the connecting portion 142, the floating member 141 floats on the water surface of the first receiving space 111 and can ascend or descend according to the water level in the first receiving space 111 and drives the first electric connector 145 to move reversely through the connecting portion 142, and the first electric connector 145 is used for controlling the water pump 12 to be started or stopped.

It can be understood that the overall density of the floating member 141 is less than that of water, so that the floating member 141 can float on the water surface, and the mass of the floating member 141 is greater than that of the first electrical connection member 145, so that the first electrical connection member 145 can be moved by the self-gravity when the floating member 141 descends. In particular, the floating member 141 may be provided hollow.

Referring to fig. 3, when the water stored in the first accommodating space 111 is insufficient, the water level of the floating member 141 is low, the first electrical connecting member 145 is pulled by the connecting portion 142 to rise, and the first point connecting member controls the water pump 12 to stop pumping water, so that the problems of insufficient pumping water amount caused by air inclusion during pumping water by the water pump 12, inaccurate ice making amount and insufficient ice making amount are avoided. And the water storage in first accommodation space 111 is not enough, and pump 12 draws water inadequately, stops the operation of pump 12 when the pumping inefficiency, empty circumstances such as the pump 12 can also be avoided, reduces the pump 12 energy consumption.

Specifically, when the water stored in the first receiving space 111 is sufficient, the water level of the floating member 141 is higher than the preset cut-off water level, and the first electric connecting member 145 is located at the first position, the ice making assembly is normally operated, and the water pump 12 pumps water from the first receiving space 111 to the ice making housing through a water pipe (not shown) inserted into the first receiving space 111. The floating member 141 floats up and down at a position higher than a preset cut-off water level, so that the first electric connecting member 145 is not driven to ascend or descend, namely, when the stored water is sufficient and the water level is not reduced to a condition that the pumping amount of the water pump 12 is insufficient, the position of the first electric connecting member 145 is kept unchanged.

It is understood that the preset cut-off water level is a water level at which air inclusion may occur when the water pump 12 pumps water from the water storage tank 11, and the specific water level height may be specified according to parameters such as the size of the float member 141 and the depth of the water storage tank 11.

When the water stored in the first accommodating space 111 is insufficient, the water level of the floating member 141 is lower than the preset cut-off water level, the floating member 141 drives the first electric connecting member 145 to rise through the connecting portion 142, so that the first electric connecting member 145 is located at the second position, and at the moment, the first electric connecting member 145 controls the water pump 12 to stop operating, so that water pumping is stopped, and the situation that the water pumping amount is insufficient due to air inclusion when the water pump 12 pumps water is avoided. Specifically, the second position is higher than the first position. It is understood that the second position may be any position higher than the first position, or may be a range of positions, and the second position may be adjusted according to the depth of the water pump 12 inserted into the water storage tank 11, the depth of the water storage tank 11, and the like.

It is understood that the connection portion 142 may be a flexible cord, that is, when the floating member 141 is at a water level higher than the preset breaking water level, the flexible cord connecting the floating member 141 and the first electrical connector 145 bends without exerting a force on the first electrical connector 145, and when the floating member 141 is at the preset breaking water level, the flexible cord is straightened, and when the water level continues to drop, the floating member 141 pulls the first electrical connector 145 up through the flexible cord so as to move the first electrical connector 145 away from the first position.

Further, in this embodiment, the ice making assembly further includes a main control board (not shown), the water level detecting assembly further includes a second electrical connector 147, the second electrical connector 147 is electrically connected to the main control board, and the main control board can control the water pump 12 to start or stop. Wherein, the first electric connector 145 is provided with a magnetic structure, the first electric connector 145 and the second electric connector 147 can mutually and electromagnetically induce, and the second electric connector 147 can detect the distance from the first electric connector 145.

Specifically, referring to fig. 3, when the water stored in the first accommodating space 111 is sufficient, the water level of the floating member 141 is higher than the preset off water level, the first electrical connector 145 is located at the first position, the second electrical connector 147 detects that the distance between the second electrical connector 145 and the first electrical connector 145 is less than or equal to the preset on distance, the second electrical connector 147 sends a first signal, when the main control board receives the first signal, the main control board judges that the water stored in the first accommodating space 111 is sufficient, the ice making assembly normally operates, and the water pump 12 pumps water from the water storage tank 11 to the ice making box.

Referring to fig. 5 in conjunction with fig. 3, fig. 5 isbase:Sub>A second cross-sectional view of the ice making assembly shown in fig. 2 along the directionbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A. When the water pump 12 pumps water from the first accommodating space 111, the water level in the first accommodating space 111 drops, when the water level of the floating member 141 drops to a preset cut-off water level, the connecting portion 142 starts to drive the first electric connecting member 145 to rise, when the first electric connecting portion 142 rises to a second position, the second electric connecting member 147 detects that the distance between the second electric connecting member 147 and the first electric connecting member 145 is larger than a preset connection distance, namely the first electric connecting member 145 is separated from the detection range of the second electric connecting member 147, the second electric connecting member 147 sends a second signal at the moment, and after the main control board receives the second signal, the main control board judges that the water storage in the first accommodating space 111 is insufficient, namely when the situation that air is mixed during pumping water of the water pump 12 to cause insufficient water pumping amount can occur, the main control board controls the water pump 12 to stop running, so that the problems of inaccurate ice making amount and insufficient ice making amount caused by insufficient water pumping amount of the water pump 12 are avoided, and the running of the water pump 12 is reduced, so that the low-efficiency energy consumption is saved.

It should be noted that the preset connection distance may be any value, and the magnetic strength of the first electrical connector 145 or the detection range of the second electrical connector 147 may be adjusted to perform the adjustment.

It can be understood that system ice subassembly can also include prompting device (not shown), prompting device and main control board electric connection, and when the main control board received the second signal and judged the deposit water in the first accommodation space 111 not enough, the main control board sent the third signal to the prompting device, and the prompting device can indicate that the user lacks water in the deposit water tank 11 to make the user in time add water to deposit water tank 11. Wherein, the prompter can be a light-emitting element which emits light when receiving the third signal; or the prompter can also be a sound production element, and when the prompter receives the third signal, the prompter produces an alarm sound; the reminder may also be any other component that can alert the user.

Referring to fig. 3 to 5, in the present embodiment, the water storage tank 11 includes a first sidewall 112 and a supporting portion 114, the water pump 12 is located on a side of the sidewall of the water storage tank 11 away from the first accommodating space 111, and the first sidewall 112 is a sidewall between the first accommodating space 111 and the water pump 12, that is, the first sidewall 112 is a sidewall of the water storage tank 11 closest to the water pump 12. The supporting portion 114 is disposed on the first sidewall 112, the supporting portion 114 is used for carrying the first electrical connector 145, that is, when the water level of the floating member 141 is higher than the preset off water level, the first electrical connector 145 is located on the supporting portion 114, and at this time, the supporting portion 114 carries the first electrical connector 145 and the first electrical connector 145 is located at a first position, that is, the first position is the lowest position that the first electrical connector 145 can reach.

Illustratively, as shown in fig. 3 and 5, in the present embodiment, the second electrical connector 147 is located outside the water storage tank 11, and the second electrical connector 147 is located on a side of the first sidewall 112 away from the first accommodating space 111. Specifically, a pump cassette 121 may be provided on a side of the first sidewall 112 away from the first receiving space 111 to receive the water pump 12, and the second electric connection 147 may be fixed inside the pump cassette 121, thereby preventing the second electric connection 147 from being affected by water in the water storage tank 11.

It will be appreciated that the second electrical connection 147 may also be provided at other locations. In one embodiment, the first sidewall 112 further includes a fixing portion (not shown) fixedly connected to an end of the supporting portion 114 away from the first electrical connector 145, the second electrical connector 147 is disposed in the fixing portion, that is, the fixing portion is located below the first electrical connector 145, and the second electrical connector 147 is mounted below the first electrical connector 145.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, the water storage tank 11 further includes a partition plate 115, the partition plate 115 is disposed in the first accommodating space 111, the partition plate 115 is disposed at a distance from the first sidewall 112 and is parallel to the first sidewall 112, the first electrical connection member 145 and the floating member 141 are respectively located at two sides of the partition plate 115, and the first electrical connection member 145 is located between the first sidewall 112 and the partition plate 115. A through hole 1151 is formed in one end, away from the bottom wall of the water storage tank 11, of the partition plate 115, the connecting portion 142 penetrates through the through hole 1151, and the position of the through hole 1151 is higher than the preset disconnection water level and the supporting portion 114. When the floating member 141 is lowered and the first electrical connector 145 is lifted by the connecting portion 142, the connecting portion 142 slides along the through hole 1151, so as to move the first electrical connector 145.

Further, referring to fig. 3 and 5, in this embodiment, the water storage tank 11 further includes an auxiliary sleeve 1153, the auxiliary sleeve 1153 is disposed through the through hole 1151, the connecting portion 142 is disposed through the auxiliary sleeve 1153, and the auxiliary sleeve 1153 protrudes from two sides of the through hole 1151, so that the connecting portion 142 can be parallel to the direction of gravity when being connected to the first electrical connecting member 145 and the floating member 141, thereby reducing errors. That is, a portion that prevents the connection portion 142 from reaching the via 1151 from one end of the first electrical connector 145 or one end of the floating member 141 is not parallel to the direction of gravity. It will be appreciated that the material of the auxiliary housing 1153 may be a POM material, which reduces friction between the coupling portion 142 and the auxiliary housing 1153, thereby reducing frictional wear of the coupling portion 142 to extend the life thereof.

For example, please refer to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second structure of a water storage tank in an ice making assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; in order to avoid the floating movement of the floating member 141 on the water surface, in this embodiment, a first limiting plate 117 is disposed on one side of the partition plate 115 facing the floating member 141, the first limiting plate 117 is disposed at two ends of the floating member 141, a convex edge 1172 is disposed on the first limiting plate 117, the convex edge 1172 is located between the two first limiting plates 117 at two ends of the floating member 141, the first limiting plate 117, the convex edge 1172 and the partition plate 115 are surrounded to form a first guide groove 1175, the first guide groove 1175 is communicated with the first accommodating space 111, so that the water level in the first guide groove 1175 is the same as the water level in the first accommodating space 111, and the floating member 141 is disposed in the first guide groove 1175 to limit the movement of the floating member 141 on the water surface. Specifically, the first limit plate 117 can limit the movement of the floating member 141 along one side of the partition plate 115, and the raised edge 1172 can limit the movement of the floating member 141 toward the side away from the partition plate 115, so that the floating member 141 can only go up or down with the water level in the first guide groove 1175 in the direction parallel to the gravity direction, thereby improving the accuracy of water level detection.

It can be understood that a second limiting plate 119 can be further provided, the second limiting plate 119, the first side wall 112, the supporting plate and the supporting portion 114 are enclosed to form a second guiding groove 1195, the second electrical connector 147 is disposed in the second guiding groove 1195 to limit the displacement of the second electrical connector 147, and the situation that the second electrical connector 147 shakes to cause inaccurate detection when ascending or descending is avoided.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application.

The embodiment of the application also provides a refrigerator 200, and the refrigerator 200 comprises any one of the ice making assemblies in the embodiments. It is understood that the refrigerator 200 further includes a refrigerating compartment 201 and a freezing compartment 202, wherein the ambient temperature of the freezing compartment 202 is lower than the ambient temperature of the refrigerating compartment 201, the water storage tank 11 of the ice making assembly is disposed in the refrigerating compartment 201, and the ice making box 13 of the ice making assembly is disposed in the freezing compartment 202. The user can take out the water storage tank 11 from the refrigerating room 201 at any time to add water into the water storage tank 11, and when the ice making box 13 has an ice making space, the water pump 12 pumps the water in the water storage tank 11 into the ice making box 13 to make ice for the user to use.

In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of the respective embodiments have respective emphasis, and for parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to the related descriptions of other embodiments.

In the description of the present application, the terms "first", "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying any number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.

The ice making assembly and the refrigerator provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail above, and the principles and embodiments of the present application are described herein by applying specific examples, and the description of the embodiments is only used to help understand the method and the core idea of the present application; meanwhile, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present application, there may be variations in the specific embodiments and the application scope, and in summary, the content of the present specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

Claims

1. An ice-making assembly adapted for use with a refrigerator, comprising:

a water pump in communication with the first receiving space;

the water level detection assembly comprises a floating piece, a first electric connecting piece and a connecting portion, the first electric connecting piece is connected with the floating piece through the connecting portion, the floating piece can ascend or descend according to the water level in the water storage tank and drive the first electric connecting piece to move reversely, and the first electric connecting piece is used for controlling the water pump to start or stop.

2. An icemaker assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical connection is in a first position when said float is above a predetermined trip level to operate said water pump to pump water;

3. An icemaker assembly according to claim 2 wherein said water level detection assembly further comprises a second electrical connector;

when the second electric connecting piece detects that the distance between the second electric connecting piece and the first electric connecting piece is smaller than or equal to a preset connection distance, the second electric connecting piece sends out a first signal to enable the water pump to operate to pump water;

4. An icemaker assembly according to claim 3 wherein said water holding tank includes a first side wall and a support portion disposed on said first side wall, said support portion carrying said first electrical connector when said float is at a water level above said predetermined trip water level such that said first electrical connector is in said first position.

5. An icemaker assembly according to claim 4 wherein said second electrical connection is external to said water holding tank and is on a side of said first side wall remote from said first holding space.

6. An icemaker assembly according to claim 4 wherein said first side wall further includes a retainer portion fixedly connected to said support portion, said retainer portion being located at an end of said support portion remote from said first electrical connector, said second electrical connector being disposed within said retainer portion.

7. An icemaker assembly according to claim 4, wherein the water storage tank further comprises a partition plate disposed in the first accommodating space, the partition plate is spaced apart from the first sidewall, the first electrical connector and the floating member are respectively disposed at two sides of the partition plate, a through hole is formed at an end of the partition plate away from the bottom wall of the water storage tank, and the connecting portion is disposed through the through hole.

8. An icemaker assembly according to claim 7 wherein said water storage tank further comprises an auxiliary sleeve, said auxiliary sleeve being disposed through said through hole, said connecting portion being disposed through said auxiliary sleeve.

9. An icemaker assembly according to claim 7, wherein a first limiting plate is disposed on one side of the partition plate facing the floating member, the first limiting plate is disposed at both ends of the floating member, a raised edge is disposed on the first limiting plate, the raised edge and the partition plate are enclosed to form a first guide groove, and the floating member is disposed in the first guide groove.

10. A refrigerator characterized in that it comprises an ice-making assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.