EP3961133B1

EP3961133B1 - Water outlet mechanism and refrigerator having a water outlet mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3961133B1
Application number: EP19925808.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Qihai DU; Yanqing Zhang; Jianjun Xue; Zhenyu Zhao; Lihua ZUO
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-26
Filing date: 2019-10-15
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-15
Also published as: AU2019442261A1; AU2019442261B2; EP3961133A4; WO2020215623A1; CN111854259B; EP3961133A1; CN111854259A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliance, to a water outlet mechanism and particularly to a refrigerator having the water outlet mechanism.

BACKGROUND

A conventional refrigerator has a structural design with a function of providing iced water. As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, a spout 1 of the structure is generally prevented from water overflow by building a check valve 5 in the spout 1 and by fixing a sealing ring 3. The pressure of water in a water tube 2 is controlled by turning on or off a water valve, and the opening and closing of the check valve 5 is controlled through the water pressure to achieve water supply.
Specifically, in FIG. 4, a first step 14 is formed between a fitting port 13 and a spout inner chamber 11, the sealing ring 3 is disposed on a step surface of the first step 14, and the check valve 5 is disposed in the interior of the spout inner chamber 11. The sealing ring 3 and other portions of the spout 1 move together from the lower left to the upper right so that the water tube 2 is inserted into the spout inner chamber 11. However, since the size and structure of the check valve 5 and the space limitation of the entire spout 1 cause a bearing surface of the sealing ring 3 to be too small, it is very liable to occur during the mounting of the spout 1 that the water tube 2 drives the sealing ring 3 offset from the fitting position to between the first step 14 and the check valve 5, so that the sealing ring fails to function to seal, and water leakage from the position of the sealing ring 3 might occur during actual use.

SUMMARY

To solve the problems about water leakage caused by incomplete sealing in the prior art, the present invention provides a water outlet mechanism as defined in claim 1, and a refrigerator including the water outlet mechanism as defined in claim 9.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a water outlet mechanism, comprising:

a spout having a hollow spout inner chamber, a water outlet formed at one end of the spout inner chamber, and a fitting port formed at the other end of the spout inner chamber;
a check valve which is disposed in the spout inner chamber and can disengage from the spout inner chamber through the fitting port;
a water tube one end of which extends through the fitting port into the spout inner chamber;
a sealing ring sealingly sleeved between the outside of the water tube and the inside of the spout;
a support assembled in the spout inner chamber, the sealing ring abutting against a side of the support facing away from the check valve, the support extending from an inner wall of the spout inner chamber towards a central axis of the spout inner chamber.

As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the support has as a cylindrical shape, and an end of the water tube runs through the support or is located in the support.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, a step is provided on the inner wall of the spout inner chamber, and the support is at least partially disposed between the step and the sealing ring.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the support is a T-shaped cylinder comprising a supporting portion and a flange portion, the flange portion has a circular ring shape, one side of the flange portion abuts against the step, and the other side of the flange portion abuts against the sealing ring, and the supporting portion is connected to the flange portion and extends toward the check valve and assumes a cylindrical structure.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the support is a circular ring cylinder, one end of the circular ring cylinder abuts against the step, the other end of the circular ring cylinder abuts against the sealing ring, and a width of the circular ring of the circular ring cylinder is greater than the width of the step.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the support is a hollow sleeve, one end of the hollow sleeve abuts against the check valve, and the other end of the hollow sleeve abuts against the sealing ring.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, in a cross section of the water outlet mechanism, the spout inner chamber is circular, an outer surface of the support is circular, and an outer diameter of the support is smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of the spout inner chamber.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the water tube comprises a water tube body defining the end of the water tube, and an assembly terminal sleeved on the outside of the water tube body, and wherein when the end of the water tube extends through the fitting port into the spout inner chamber, the assembly terminal limits the sealing ring.
According to claim 9, an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator comprising the water outlet according to claim 1.
As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a dispenser that comprises the water outlet mechanism.
As compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantageous effects: in the water outlet mechanism, at least partial space between the sealing ring and the check valve is filled by the support, the area of the supporting surface of the sealing ring is increased, and the sealing ring is not prone to deviate from its fitting position due to the assembling of the water tube, thereby solving the phenomenon of water overflow caused by incomplete sealing of the sealing ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional water outlet mechanism;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the conventional water outlet mechanism;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional water outlet mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of the conventional water outlet mechanism at position A of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a water outlet mechanism according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of position B of the water outlet mechanism according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a support of the water outlet mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a support of a water outlet mechanism according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a support of a water outlet mechanism according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

Wherein: 1. a spout; 11. a spout inner chamber; 12. a water outlet; 13. a fitting port; 14. a first step; 15. a second step; 2. a water tube; 21. a water tube body; 22. an assembly terminal; 3. a sealing ring; 4. a support; 4a. a T-shaped cylinder; 42. a flange portion; 41. a supporting portion;4b. a circular ring cylinder; 4c. a hollow sleeve; 5. a check valve; 6. a press button;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments shown in figures 5-9. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Variations can be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a water outlet mechanism, which may be applied to a refrigerator, that is, the present embodiment also provides a refrigerator having the water outlet mechanism. Certainly, the present embodiment is not limited thereto.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 2 and FIGS. 5 through 9, the refrigerator comprises a dispenser, the dispenser comprises the water outlet mechanism, and the water outlet mechanism is used for supplying iced water. An iced water making device is disposed in a refrigerating chamber of the refrigerator and connected to the water outlet mechanism. The iced water making device comprises a water valve for opening/closing the water outlet mechanism.
Specifically, the water outlet mechanism comprises a spout 1, a water tube 2, a check valve 5 and a sealing ring 3. The spout 1 has a hollow spout inner chamber 11, a water outlet 12 formed at one end of the spout inner chamber 11, and a fitting port 13 formed at the other end of the spout inner chamber 11, an end of the water tube 2 extending from the fitting port 13 through the fitting port 13 into the spout inner chamber 11; the check valve 5 is disposed in the spout inner chamber 11 and can disengage from the spout inner chamber 11 through the fitting port 13, a second step 15 is formed in the spout inner chamber 11, one end of the check valve 5 abuts against the second step 15, and the second step 15 restricts the movement of the check valve 5 toward the water outlet 12; the check valve 5 has an open state and a closed state, to control the remaining water in the water tube 2 and the spout inner chamber 11 not to flow out.
The refrigerator is provided with a press button 6 which serves as a switch. The press button 6 is triggered to control the opening and closing of the water valve. The water valve controls water to flow into or out of the water tube 2. When the water valve is opened, the water pressure drives the check valve 5 to open, and water flows out of the water outlet 12 of the spout 1. When the water valve is closed, the water pressure in the water tube 2 weakens and does not suffice to open the check valve 5, the check valve 5 closes the water outlet 12, and the water in the water tube 2 and the spout inner chamber 11 remains inside.
The sealing ring 3 is sealingly sleeved between the outside of the water tube 2 and the inside of the spout 1, and the sealing ring 3 restricts the water in the spout inner chamber 11 from overflowing from the fitting port 13; the sealing ring 3 is elastic. While the water tube 2 is inserted through the fitting port 13 into the spout inner chamber 11, the sealing ring 3 is pressed by the water tube 2 and the spout 1 to deform elastically to fill a gap between the water tube 2 and the spout inner chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the spout 1 moves towards the upper right as shown until the water tube 2 is inserted from the lower left into the interior of the spout inner chamber 2. A direction in which the water tube 2 moves relative to the spout 1 is set as a first direction, namely, the lower left as shown. The water in the water tube 2 flows towards the lower left. The sealing ring 3 restricts the water from overflowing towards the fitting port 13 on the upper right.
As mentioned in the BACKGROUND, it is very liable to occur during the mounting of the spout 1 that the water tube 2 drives the sealing ring 3 offset from the fitting position to between the first step 14 and the check valve 5, so that the sealing ring fails to function to seal, and water leakage from the position of the sealing ring 3 might occur during actual use.
In the present invention, the water outlet mechanism further comprises a support 4 assembled in the spout inner tube 11, said support 4 supporting the sealing ring 3, so that the sealing ring 3 is not prone to misalignment such that water overflow is impossible. The technical solutions of the present invention will be introduced below in conjunction with three specific embodiments of the water outlet mechanism shown in figures 5-9. The extent of protection of the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments but is defined by the claims.

Embodiment 1

The water outlet mechanism further comprises:
a support 4 assembled in the spout inner chamber 11, wherein the sealing ring 3 abuts against a side of the support 4 facing away from the check valve 5, the support 4 extends from the spout 1 towards a central axis of the spout inner chamber 11, the movement of the support in the first direction is restricted, and the sealing ring 3 abuts against the support 4.
The water tube 2 comprises a water tube body 21 defining the end of the water tube 2, and an assembly terminal 22 sleeved on the outside of the water tube 2 body. When the end of the water tube 2 extends through the fitting port 13 into the spout inner chamber 11, the assembly terminal 22 abuts against the sealing ring 3, and the assembly terminal 22 prevents the sealing ring 3 from moving in a direction opposite to the first direction.
The support 4 has a cylindrical shape, the water tube 2 runs through the cylindrical support 4, and the cylindrical structure of the support 4 is adapted for the space in the spout inner chamber 11. In general, a cross section of the spout inner chamber 11 is circular. The cross-section of a surface adapted for the spout inner chamber 11 is also circular. An outer diameter of the spout inner chamber 11 is smaller than an inner diameter of the spout inner chamber 11. If the cross section of the spout inner chamber 11 is set in other shapes, the cross section of the support 4 is also made in the corresponding shapes.
A step is provided on a side wall of the spout inner chamber 11, the support 4 is provided between the step and the sealing ring 3, the step is named the first step 14 in the figures, and the support 4 abuts against the first step 14.
In the present embodiment, the support 4 is a T-shaped cylinder 4a. As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the T-shaped cylinder 4a comprises a supporting portion 41 and a flange portion 42. The flange portion 42 has a circular ring shape. One side of the flange portion 42 abuts against the step, and the other side of the flange portion 42 abuts against the sealing ring 3. The supporting portion 41 is connected to the flange portion 42 and extends out of the cylinder toward the check valve 5. The supporting portion 41 is inserted into the spout inner chamber 11 in the first direction until the flange portion 42 abuts the first step 14, and then the sealing ring 3 is mounted into the spout inner cylinder 11 from the fitting port 13 until the sealing ring 3 abuts the other side of the flange portion 42. The water tube 2 is inserted into the flange portion 42 and the supporting portion 41. The first step 14 restricts the movement of the T-shaped cylinder 4a in the first direction.
The flange portion 42 abuts against the first step 14. The supporting portion 41 reduces the area of the gap in the spout inner chamber 11 except for the water tube 2, and restricts the movement of the support 4 in the spout inner chamber 11, so that the support 4 supports itself and the sealing ring 3 more stably and meanwhile supports the water tube 2 and prevents water overflow caused by the misalignment of the support 4 and the sealing ring 3 when the water tube 2 is inserted.
Furthermore, the cross section of the flange portion 42 perpendicular to the first direction is a circular ring. A width of the circular ring of flange portion 42 is greater than a step height of the first step 14 and smaller than the width of the circular ring of the sealing ring 3; As such, the flange portion 42 can provide a larger supporting area relative to the first step 14, so that it supports the sealing ring 3 more stably. Since the sealing ring 3 is in a interference-fitted state between the water tube 2 and the spout 1 to function to support, it achieves the sealing effect. To prevent the flange portion 42 from hindering the sealing of the sealing ring 3, the width of the circular ring of the flange portion 42 is made smaller than the width of the circular ring of the sealing ring 3, which can be better implemented.
As compared with the prior art, the present embodiment has the following advantageous effects: in the water outlet mechanism, at least partial space between the sealing ring 3 and the check valve 5 is filled by the support 4, the area of the supporting surface of the sealing ring 3 is increased, and the sealing ring 3 is not prone to deviate from its fitting position due to the assembling of the water tube 2, thereby solving the phenomenon of water overflow caused by incomplete sealing of the sealing ring 3.

Embodiment 2

The difference between the present embodiment and Embodiment 1 only lies in the structure of the support 4. The difference will be described in detail below, and other portions that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 will not be detailed any more here.
In the present embodiment, the support 4 is a circular ring cylinder 4b, an inner wall of the spout inner chamber 11 forms the first step 14, and the circular ring tube 4b and the sealing ring 3 are sequentially inserted through the fitting port 13 into the spout inner chamber 11 in the first direction until one end of the circular ring cylinder 4b abuts against the first step 14, the other end of the circular ring cylinder 4b abuts against the sealing ring 3, and the water tube 2 runs through the sealing ring 3 and the circular ring cylinder 4b.
The sealing ring 3 and the first step 14 are separated by the circular ring cylinder 4b. The circular ring cylinder 4b is not prone to deformation. That is, when the water tube 2 presses the sealing ring 3 to thereby exert a pressure on the circular ring cylinder 4b, the circular ring cylinder 4b is not deformed and pressed into between the first step 14 and the check valve 5, thereby restricting the sealing ring 3 from misalignment and thereby avoiding occurrence of the problem about overflow as stated in the BACKGROUND.
Furthermore, the width of the circular ring of the circular ring cylinder 4b is greater than the step height of the first step 14 and smaller than the width of the circular ring of the sealing ring 3. Since the width of the circular ring of the circular ring cylinder 4b is larger, the circular ring cylinder 4b provides a larger supporting area relative to the first step 14 and supports the sealing ring 3 more stably.

Embodiment 3

The difference between the present embodiment and Embodiment 1 only lies in the structure of the support 4. The difference will be described in detail below, and other portions that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 will not be detailed any more here.
In the present embodiment, the support 4 is a hollow sleeve 4c. One end of the hollow sleeve 4c abuts against the check valve 5, and the other end of the hollow sleeve 4c abuts against the sealing ring 3. In the present embodiment, what supports the sealing ring 3 is the hollow sleeve 4c. At this time, the inner wall of the spout inner chamber 11 is a straight wall, the check valve 5 restricts the movement of the hollow sleeve 4c in the first direction, and the gap between the spout inner chamber 11 and the water tube 2 is filled by the hollow sleeve 4c.
Furthermore, the inner wall of the spout inner chamber 11 forms the first step 14; one end of the hollow sleeve 4c abutting against the sealing ring 3 is flush with the step surface of the first step 14, that is, the sealing ring 3 is jointly supported by the first step 14 and the hollow sleeve 4c; while the hollow sleeve 4c fills the spout inner chamber 11, it also supports the sealing ring 3. The present embodiment has higher requirements for fitting accuracy and can also solve the technical problem to be solved by the present invention.
The detailed descriptions set forth above are merely specific illustrations of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A water outlet mechanism, wherein the mechanism comprises:
a spout (1) having a hollow spout inner chamber (11), a water outlet (12) formed at one end of the spout inner chamber (11), and a fitting port (13) formed at the other end of the spout inner chamber (11);

a check valve (5) which is disposed in the spout inner chamber (11) and can disengage from the spout inner chamber (11) through the fitting port (13);

a water tube (2) one end of which extends through the fitting port (13) into the spout inner chamber(11);

a sealing ring (3) sealingly sleeved between the outside of the water tube(2) and the inside of the spout (1);

a support (4) assembled in the spout inner chamber (11), the sealing ring (3) abutting against a side of the support (4) facing away from the check valve (5), the support (4) extending from an inner wall of the spout inner chamber (11) towards a central axis of the spout inner chamber (11).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the support (4) has a cylindrical shape, and an end of the water tube (2) runs through the support (4) or is located in the support (4).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a step (14) is provided on the inner wall of the spout inner chamber (11), and the support (4) is at least partially disposed between the step(14) and the sealing ring (3).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the support (4) is a T-shaped cylinder (4a) comprising a supporting portion (42) and a flange portion(41), the flange portion (41) has a circular ring shape, one side of the flange portion (41) abuts against the step (14), and the other side of the flange portion (41) abuts against the sealing ring (3), and the supporting portion (42) is connected to the flange portion (41) and extends toward the check valve (5) and assumes a cylindrical structure.
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the support (4) is a circular ring cylinder (4b), one end of the circular ring cylinder (4b) abuts against the step (14), the other end of the circular ring cylinder(4b) abuts against the sealing ring (3), and a width of the circular ring of the circular ring cylinder (4b) is greater than the width of the step (14).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the support(4) is a hollow sleeve (4c), one end of the hollow sleeve (4c) abuts against the check valve (5), and the other end of the hollow sleeve (4c) abuts against the sealing ring (3).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 2, wherein in a cross section of the water outlet mechanism, the spout inner chamber (11) is circular, an outer surface of the support (4) is circular, and an outer diameter of the support (4) is smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of the spout inner chamber (11).
The water outlet mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the water tube (2) comprises a water tube body (21) defining the end of the water tube (2), and an assembly terminal (22) sleeved on the outside of the water tube body (21), and wherein when the end of the water tube (2) extends through the fitting port (13) into the spout inner chamber (11), the assembly terminal (22) limits the sealing ring (3).
A refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises the water outlet mechanism according to claim 1.
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the refrigerator comprises a dispenser which comprises the water outlet mechanism.