US20170307270A1 - Ice-making device - Google Patents
Ice-making device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170307270A1 US20170307270A1 US15/395,595 US201615395595A US2017307270A1 US 20170307270 A1 US20170307270 A1 US 20170307270A1 US 201615395595 A US201615395595 A US 201615395595A US 2017307270 A1 US2017307270 A1 US 2017307270A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cold air
- ice tray
- ice
- fan unit
- guide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/20—Distributing ice
- F25C5/22—Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D19/00—Axial-flow pumps
- F04D19/002—Axial flow fans
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/04—Producing ice by using stationary moulds
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
- F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
- F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/08—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation using ducts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
- F25C2400/10—Refrigerator units
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/061—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation through special compartments
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/067—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by air ducts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
- F25D2317/0683—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans the fans not of the axial type
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an ice-making device, and more particularly, to an ice-making device with enhanced ice-making efficiency.
- a refrigerator is an apparatus which maintains the interior of a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment at a low temperature and keeps food fresh by repeating a freezing cycle consisting of the compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation of a refrigerant.
- the refrigerator may include a refrigerator main body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment for storing food at a low temperature, and a refrigerator door for selectively opening and closing a front surface of the refrigerator main body.
- an ice-making device may be included to produce ice pieces having a predetermined shape using cold air.
- the ice-making device may include an ice-making unit with an ice tray for receiving cold air and freezing water into ice, and an ice bucket configured to store the ice produced by the ice-making unit.
- a refrigerator may include an evaporator disposed on a rear surface of a refrigerator main body, a blower fan configured to blow cold air generated by the evaporator, a cold air duct configured to distribute and guide cold air blown by the blower fan toward a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment, and an ice-making duct configured to connect the cold air duct to an ice maker, which is disposed on an inner surface of a refrigerator door, and configured to supply cold air to the ice maker.
- the performance of the ice-making device suffers when cold air does not rapidly flow and becomes stagnant. Furthermore, the cold air may not be uniformly supplied to the entire ice tray, and therefore the ice-making speed is reduced.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ice-making device for efficiently making ice, where the device is capable of ensuring that cold air supplied into an ice-making compartment flows rapidly (without becoming stagnant), even when the flow of air contacts an ice tray, and ensures that cold air makes relatively uniform contact with a surface of the ice tray.
- an ice-making device includes an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice, a duct configured to supply cold air toward a bottom surface of the ice tray, a scroll fan unit disposed under the ice tray and configured to blow cold air supplied by the duct, and a cold air guide disposed under the ice tray and configured to guide cold air blown by the scroll fan unit such that cold air contacts the entire bottom surface of the ice tray, where cold air is distributed substantially uniformly to the bottom surface of the ice tray.
- an ice-making device includes an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice, a duct configured to supply cold air toward a lower portion of the ice tray, and a scroll fan unit extending along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray and disposed under the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan blows cold air supplied from the ice-making duct along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerator including an exemplary ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram of a side view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerator including an ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary ice-making device having enhanced ice-making efficiency according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- refrigerator 1 may include a storage compartment 2 for storing food at a low temperature and an ice-making device 10 for freezing water to produce ice.
- the refrigerator 1 may include an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser for supplying cold air to the storage compartment 2 in order to store food at a low temperature.
- a cold air supply process is used to supply cold air in the refrigerator 1 .
- a hot refrigerant gas which has exchanged heat with ambient air through the evaporator is sent to the compressor where the refrigerant gas is compressed.
- the compressed refrigerant is liquefied by dissipating heat while passing through the condenser.
- the liquefied refrigerant is sent from the condenser to the evaporator.
- the liquefied refrigerant sent to the evaporator is evaporated by absorbing heat from ambient air.
- the liquefied refrigerant is wholly or partially converted to a gaseous refrigerant by the heat from the ambient air.
- the gaseous refrigerant is separated from the liquid refrigerant and is returned into the compressor.
- the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air around the evaporator. Using this heat transfer process, the evaporator cools the air inside the refrigerator 1 .
- the air cooled in the evaporator is delivered to the storage compartment 2 of the refrigerator 1 , thereby cooling the storage compartment 2 .
- the exemplary ice-making device 10 for efficiently making ice may include an ice tray 100 , an ice-making duct 200 , a scroll fan unit 300 and a cold air guide part 400 , according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Some embodiments may include other components (e.g., components well-known in the field of ice-making devices). Well-known components may not be described herein to avoid obscuring the spirit of the present disclosure.
- the ice tray 100 may freeze water stored therein and may produce ice (e.g., ice pieces). The water contained in the ice tray 100 is frozen into ice pieces by cold air.
- the ice tray 100 may include partition walls configured to divide the water/ice pieces, an ice-releasing member configured to discharge the ice pieces out of the ice tray 100 , an ice-releasing member guide configured to guide the ice-releasing member, and ice cells formed by the partition walls.
- the partition walls and the ice cells may have different shapes depending on the shape of the ice pieces to be produced.
- the number of the partition walls and the ice cells may be modified as desired.
- the ice-making duct 200 is configured to receive cold air generated in the refrigerator 1 and supply cold air to an underside of the ice tray 100 .
- the ice-making duct 200 may have a substantially rectangular three-dimensional shape.
- the ice-making duct 200 may include a flow path through which cold air flows.
- the shape of the ice-making duct 200 is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and may be modified or changed as desired.
- the scroll fan unit 300 may be installed under the ice tray 100 to increase the velocity or amount of cold air supplied from the ice-making duct 200 into the ice-making compartment.
- the scroll fan unit 300 may enhance ice-making efficiency by rotating to force cold air along a surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the ice tray 100 and rapidly cool water contained in the ice tray 100 .
- the scroll fan unit 300 may be disposed longitudinally along the bottom surface of the ice tray 100 in order to feed cold air toward an entire lower portion of the ice tray 100 .
- cold air flowing into the ice-making compartment is moved longitudinally along the bottom surface of the ice tray 100 by the scroll fan unit 300 and is supplied to the entire ice tray 100 .
- This technique increases the overall ice-making speed and efficiency of the ice tray 100 .
- the scroll fan unit 300 may include a rotary shaft 310 , a spiral blade portion 320 and a drive unit 330 .
- the rotary shaft 310 is disposed under the ice tray 100 and extends along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray 100 .
- the rotary shaft 310 may be rotated by an external force.
- the spiral blade portion 320 may be spiral-shaped and wound around an outer surface of the rotary shaft 310 .
- the spiral blade portion 320 may be used to force cold air in a particular direction as the rotary shaft 310 rotates.
- the cold air introduced into the ice-making compartment is forcibly moved in a direction by the spiral blade portion 320 .
- the rotary shaft 310 and the spiral blade portion 320 are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray 100 , the cold air is moved in the longitudinal direction of the ice tray 100 .
- the cold air may make contact with the lower portion (e.g., the bottom surface) of the ice tray 100 and may cool the water contained in the ice tray 100 .
- the spiral blade portion 320 forcibly moves cold air in this way, the cold air does not stay in one place (e.g., stagnate) and may continuously make contact with a lower portion of the ice tray 100 . This makes it possible to supply the cold air to the entire ice tray 100 and increase the speed of ice-making.
- the drive unit 330 may comprise a motor and is used to rotate the rotary shaft 310 .
- an independent motor may be included in the drive unit 330 , or alternatively the drive unit 330 may receive power from an auger motor already installed in the ice-making device 10 .
- the cold air guide 400 may be disposed under the ice tray 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is configured to guide cold air so that the cold air guided by the scroll fan unit 300 is uniformly supplied to the lower portion of the ice tray 100 .
- the cold air guide 400 may surround the scroll fan unit 300 so that the scroll fan unit 300 is positioned inside the cold air guide 400 .
- the cold air guide 400 guides cold air so that cold air blown by the scroll fan unit 300 is supplied to the lower portion of the ice tray 100 , and little or no cold air is dispersed to other parts of the refrigerator 1 .
- the cold air guide 400 may include a housing 410 , a cover portion 420 and an installation groove portion 430 .
- the housing 410 forms an outer shell of the cold air guide 400 and is disposed under the ice tray 100 .
- the cover portion 420 extends from the opposite side surfaces of the housing 410 to the opposite side surfaces of the ice tray 100 .
- the cover portion 420 may prevent the cold air from flowing toward the outside of the housing 410 .
- the scroll fan unit 300 rotates, cold air is moved by the spiral blade unit 320 .
- the cold air is blown by the rotational force of the spiral blade unit 320 and is at risk of being dispersed outward due to centrifugal force; however, the cover portion 420 confines the cold air within the housing 410 so that the cold air is not dispersed away from the housing 410 .
- the cover portion 420 prevents cold air from escaping and ensures that the cold air is substantially supplied to the ice tray 100 .
- the installation groove portion 430 is formed in the lower portion of the housing 410 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the scroll fan unit 300 .
- the scroll fan unit 300 may be disposed in the installation groove portion 430 .
- the ice tray 100 , the ice-making duct 200 , the scroll fan unit 300 and the cold air guide 400 are disposed in the main body 11 of the ice-making device 10 , and may be mounted to the refrigerator 1 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an ice-making device including an ice tray configured to make ice pieces from water, an ice-making duct, a scroll fan unit, and a cold air guide. The ice-making duct is configured to receive a cold air and supply the cold air toward a lower portion of the ice tray. The scroll fan unit is installed under the ice tray and configured to transfer the cold air supplied from the ice-making duct. The cold air guide is provided under the ice tray and configured to guide the cold air so that the cold air transferred by the scroll fan unit is uniformly supplied to a lower portion of the ice tray.
Description
- This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0050019, filed on Apr. 25, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an ice-making device, and more particularly, to an ice-making device with enhanced ice-making efficiency.
- A refrigerator is an apparatus which maintains the interior of a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment at a low temperature and keeps food fresh by repeating a freezing cycle consisting of the compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation of a refrigerant.
- The refrigerator may include a refrigerator main body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment for storing food at a low temperature, and a refrigerator door for selectively opening and closing a front surface of the refrigerator main body.
- In the freezing compartment, an ice-making device may be included to produce ice pieces having a predetermined shape using cold air. The ice-making device may include an ice-making unit with an ice tray for receiving cold air and freezing water into ice, and an ice bucket configured to store the ice produced by the ice-making unit.
- In general, a refrigerator may include an evaporator disposed on a rear surface of a refrigerator main body, a blower fan configured to blow cold air generated by the evaporator, a cold air duct configured to distribute and guide cold air blown by the blower fan toward a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment, and an ice-making duct configured to connect the cold air duct to an ice maker, which is disposed on an inner surface of a refrigerator door, and configured to supply cold air to the ice maker.
- When cold air generated from the evaporator is moved along the cold air duct by the blower fan, some cold air is introduced into the freezing compartment or the refrigeration compartment, and the remaining cold air is moved toward the ice-making duct. The cold air freezes the water contained in the ice tray to produce ice while making contact with the ice tray of the ice-making device.
- However, the performance of the ice-making device suffers when cold air does not rapidly flow and becomes stagnant. Furthermore, the cold air may not be uniformly supplied to the entire ice tray, and therefore the ice-making speed is reduced.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ice-making device for efficiently making ice, where the device is capable of ensuring that cold air supplied into an ice-making compartment flows rapidly (without becoming stagnant), even when the flow of air contacts an ice tray, and ensures that cold air makes relatively uniform contact with a surface of the ice tray.
- According to one embodiment, an ice-making device is disclosed. The ice-making device includes an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice, a duct configured to supply cold air toward a bottom surface of the ice tray, a scroll fan unit disposed under the ice tray and configured to blow cold air supplied by the duct, and a cold air guide disposed under the ice tray and configured to guide cold air blown by the scroll fan unit such that cold air contacts the entire bottom surface of the ice tray, where cold air is distributed substantially uniformly to the bottom surface of the ice tray.
- According to another embodiment, an ice-making device is disclosed and includes an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice, a duct configured to supply cold air toward a lower portion of the ice tray, and a scroll fan unit extending along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray and disposed under the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan blows cold air supplied from the ice-making duct along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray.
-
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerator including an exemplary ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a side view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. - In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
- One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.
- It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their size, and a predetermined size is merely exemplary and not limiting. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics.
- The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, may include modifications of form for manufacturing.
- One embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerator including an ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an exemplary ice-making device for efficiently making ice according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary ice-making device having enhanced ice-making efficiency according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. - Referring to
FIG. 1 ,refrigerator 1 may include astorage compartment 2 for storing food at a low temperature and an ice-makingdevice 10 for freezing water to produce ice. - The
refrigerator 1 may include an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser for supplying cold air to thestorage compartment 2 in order to store food at a low temperature. - A cold air supply process is used to supply cold air in the
refrigerator 1. A hot refrigerant gas which has exchanged heat with ambient air through the evaporator is sent to the compressor where the refrigerant gas is compressed. The compressed refrigerant is liquefied by dissipating heat while passing through the condenser. The liquefied refrigerant is sent from the condenser to the evaporator. - The liquefied refrigerant sent to the evaporator is evaporated by absorbing heat from ambient air. In the evaporator, the liquefied refrigerant is wholly or partially converted to a gaseous refrigerant by the heat from the ambient air. The gaseous refrigerant is separated from the liquid refrigerant and is returned into the compressor. In the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air around the evaporator. Using this heat transfer process, the evaporator cools the air inside the
refrigerator 1. The air cooled in the evaporator is delivered to thestorage compartment 2 of therefrigerator 1, thereby cooling thestorage compartment 2. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 to 4 , the exemplary ice-makingdevice 10 for efficiently making ice may include anice tray 100, an ice-makingduct 200, ascroll fan unit 300 and a coldair guide part 400, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. - Some embodiments may include other components (e.g., components well-known in the field of ice-making devices). Well-known components may not be described herein to avoid obscuring the spirit of the present disclosure.
- The
ice tray 100 may freeze water stored therein and may produce ice (e.g., ice pieces). The water contained in theice tray 100 is frozen into ice pieces by cold air. Theice tray 100 may include partition walls configured to divide the water/ice pieces, an ice-releasing member configured to discharge the ice pieces out of theice tray 100, an ice-releasing member guide configured to guide the ice-releasing member, and ice cells formed by the partition walls. - The partition walls and the ice cells may have different shapes depending on the shape of the ice pieces to be produced. The number of the partition walls and the ice cells may be modified as desired.
- The ice-making
duct 200 is configured to receive cold air generated in therefrigerator 1 and supply cold air to an underside of theice tray 100. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ice-makingduct 200 may have a substantially rectangular three-dimensional shape. The ice-makingduct 200 may include a flow path through which cold air flows. The shape of the ice-makingduct 200 is not limited to the shape illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 , and may be modified or changed as desired. - The
scroll fan unit 300 may be installed under theice tray 100 to increase the velocity or amount of cold air supplied from the ice-makingduct 200 into the ice-making compartment. Thescroll fan unit 300 may enhance ice-making efficiency by rotating to force cold air along a surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of theice tray 100 and rapidly cool water contained in theice tray 100. - In this regard, as illustrated in
FIG. 2 , thescroll fan unit 300 may be disposed longitudinally along the bottom surface of theice tray 100 in order to feed cold air toward an entire lower portion of theice tray 100. Thus, cold air flowing into the ice-making compartment is moved longitudinally along the bottom surface of theice tray 100 by thescroll fan unit 300 and is supplied to theentire ice tray 100. This technique increases the overall ice-making speed and efficiency of theice tray 100. - Specifically, the
scroll fan unit 300 may include arotary shaft 310, aspiral blade portion 320 and adrive unit 330. - The
rotary shaft 310 is disposed under theice tray 100 and extends along a longitudinal direction of theice tray 100. Therotary shaft 310 may be rotated by an external force. - The
spiral blade portion 320 may be spiral-shaped and wound around an outer surface of therotary shaft 310. Thespiral blade portion 320 may be used to force cold air in a particular direction as therotary shaft 310 rotates. Thus, when therotary shaft 310 rotates, the cold air introduced into the ice-making compartment is forcibly moved in a direction by thespiral blade portion 320. Because therotary shaft 310 and thespiral blade portion 320 are disposed along a longitudinal direction of theice tray 100, the cold air is moved in the longitudinal direction of theice tray 100. Thus, the cold air may make contact with the lower portion (e.g., the bottom surface) of theice tray 100 and may cool the water contained in theice tray 100. - Because the
spiral blade portion 320 forcibly moves cold air in this way, the cold air does not stay in one place (e.g., stagnate) and may continuously make contact with a lower portion of theice tray 100. This makes it possible to supply the cold air to theentire ice tray 100 and increase the speed of ice-making. - The
drive unit 330 may comprise a motor and is used to rotate therotary shaft 310. For example, an independent motor may be included in thedrive unit 330, or alternatively thedrive unit 330 may receive power from an auger motor already installed in the ice-makingdevice 10. - The
cold air guide 400 may be disposed under theice tray 100 as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 and is configured to guide cold air so that the cold air guided by thescroll fan unit 300 is uniformly supplied to the lower portion of theice tray 100. - The
cold air guide 400 may surround thescroll fan unit 300 so that thescroll fan unit 300 is positioned inside thecold air guide 400. Thecold air guide 400 guides cold air so that cold air blown by thescroll fan unit 300 is supplied to the lower portion of theice tray 100, and little or no cold air is dispersed to other parts of therefrigerator 1. - Specifically, the
cold air guide 400 may include ahousing 410, acover portion 420 and aninstallation groove portion 430. - The
housing 410 forms an outer shell of thecold air guide 400 and is disposed under theice tray 100. - The
cover portion 420 extends from the opposite side surfaces of thehousing 410 to the opposite side surfaces of theice tray 100. Thecover portion 420 may prevent the cold air from flowing toward the outside of thehousing 410. - Specifically, when the
scroll fan unit 300 rotates, cold air is moved by thespiral blade unit 320. At this time, the cold air is blown by the rotational force of thespiral blade unit 320 and is at risk of being dispersed outward due to centrifugal force; however, thecover portion 420 confines the cold air within thehousing 410 so that the cold air is not dispersed away from thehousing 410. Thus, thecover portion 420 prevents cold air from escaping and ensures that the cold air is substantially supplied to theice tray 100. - The
installation groove portion 430 is formed in the lower portion of thehousing 410 and extends along the longitudinal direction of thescroll fan unit 300. Thescroll fan unit 300 may be disposed in theinstallation groove portion 430. - As described above, the
ice tray 100, the ice-makingduct 200, thescroll fan unit 300 and thecold air guide 400 are disposed in themain body 11 of the ice-makingdevice 10, and may be mounted to therefrigerator 1. - Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure.
- Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.
- From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims (17)
1. An ice-making device, the device comprising:
an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice;
a duct configured to supply cold air toward a bottom surface of the ice tray;
a scroll fan unit disposed under the ice tray and configured to blow cold air supplied by the duct; and
a cold air guide disposed under the ice tray and configured to guide cold air blown by the scroll fan unit, wherein cold air substantially uniformly contacts the bottom surface of the ice tray.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein cold air supplied by the duct freezes liquid held in the ice tray to create ice.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a temperature of cold air supplied by the duct is below a freezing point of water.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scroll fan unit extends along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scroll fan unit comprises:
a rotatable shaft configured to extend along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray;
a spiral blade wound around an outer surface of the rotatable shaft to blow cold air along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray; and
a drive unit configured to rotate the rotatable shaft.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cold air guide surrounds the scroll fan unit, and guides the cold air blown by the scroll fan unit to the bottom surface of the ice tray.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the cold air guide comprises:
a guide housing;
a guide cover portion extending from opposite side surfaces of the guide housing toward opposite side surfaces of the ice tray, the guide cover portion serving to guide cold air to the bottom surface of the ice tray; and
an installation groove portion disposed at a lower portion of the guide housing and extending along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan unit is disposed within the installation groove portion.
8. An ice-making device, the device comprising:
an ice tray configured to hold liquid and ice;
a duct configured to supply cold air toward a lower portion of the ice tray; and
a scroll fan unit extending along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray and disposed under the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan unit blows cold air supplied from the duct along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein cold air supplied by the duct freezes liquid held in the ice tray to create ice.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein a temperature of cold air supplied by the duct is below a freezing point of water.
11. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a cold air guide disposed under the ice tray and configured to guide cold air blown by the scroll fan unit, wherein the cold air is uniformly supplied to the lower portion of the ice tray.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the scroll fan unit comprises:
a rotatable shaft extending along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray;
a spiral blade disposed on the rotatable shaft to blow cold air along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray; and
a drive unit configured to rotate the rotatable shaft.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the cold air guide surrounds the rotatable scroll fan unit and guides cold air blown by the scroll fan unit to the lower portion of the ice tray.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the cold air guide comprises:
a housing;
a cover portion extending from opposite side surfaces of the housing toward opposite side surfaces of the ice tray and configured to guide cold air to the lower portion of the ice tray; and
an installation groove portion disposed at a lower portion of the housing and extending along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan unit is disposed within the installation groove portion.
15. An ice-making device, the device comprising:
an ice tray configured to hold fluid and ice;
a duct configured to supply cold air toward a lower portion of the ice tray;
a scroll fan unit disposed under the ice tray and configured to transfer cold air from the duct; and
a cold air guide disposed under the ice tray and configured to guide cold air transferred by the scroll fan unit, wherein the cold air transferred by the scroll fan unit is substantially uniformly supplied to a lower portion of the ice tray,
wherein the scroll fan unit comprises:
a rotatable shaft installed and configured to extend along a longitudinal direction of the ice tray;
a spiral blade disposed on the rotatable shaft, the spiral blade serving to transfer cold air along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray; and
a drive unit configured to rotate the rotatable shaft, and wherein the cold air guide comprises:
a housing;
a cover portion extending from opposite side surfaces of the housing toward opposite side surfaces of the ice tray and configured to guide cold air to the lower portion of the ice tray; and
an installation groove portion disposed at a lower portion of the housing and extending along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray, wherein the scroll fan unit is disposed within the installation groove portion.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein cold air supplied by the duct freezes liquid held in the ice tray to create ice.
17. The device of claim 15 , wherein a temperature of cold air supplied by the duct is below a freezing point of water.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020160050019A KR101798552B1 (en) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-04-25 | Ice maker having advanced efficiency for ice-making |
KR10-2016-0050019 | 2016-04-25 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170307270A1 true US20170307270A1 (en) | 2017-10-26 |
Family
ID=60090085
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/395,595 Abandoned US20170307270A1 (en) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-12-30 | Ice-making device |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20170307270A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101798552B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN107305077A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190093936A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-28 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US20190093935A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-28 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US10883751B2 (en) | 2017-09-28 | 2021-01-05 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US20210148623A1 (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-05-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
CN115031457A (en) * | 2022-08-12 | 2022-09-09 | 合肥美的电冰箱有限公司 | Ice maker and refrigeration equipment |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107940884B (en) * | 2017-11-06 | 2020-08-28 | 青岛海尔股份有限公司 | Refrigerator with a door |
KR20190125119A (en) * | 2018-04-27 | 2019-11-06 | 주식회사 위니아대우 | Ice maker and refrigerator having same |
CN112136013A (en) * | 2019-09-03 | 2020-12-25 | 海信容声(广东)冰箱有限公司 | A kind of refrigerator |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120174613A1 (en) * | 2011-01-10 | 2012-07-12 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice making device and refrigerator having the same |
US20140150486A1 (en) * | 2012-12-03 | 2014-06-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Refrigerator with ice mold chilled by air exchange cooled by fluid from freezer |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR100227257B1 (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 1999-11-01 | 전주범 | Automatic ice making apparatus |
KR20050022967A (en) * | 2003-08-28 | 2005-03-09 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | ice-maker in the refrigerator |
US20080034780A1 (en) * | 2006-08-11 | 2008-02-14 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice making apparatus and refrigerator having the same |
KR101907166B1 (en) * | 2011-12-30 | 2018-10-15 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
-
2016
- 2016-04-25 KR KR1020160050019A patent/KR101798552B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2016-12-30 US US15/395,595 patent/US20170307270A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2017
- 2017-01-05 CN CN201710007043.6A patent/CN107305077A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120174613A1 (en) * | 2011-01-10 | 2012-07-12 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice making device and refrigerator having the same |
US20140150486A1 (en) * | 2012-12-03 | 2014-06-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Refrigerator with ice mold chilled by air exchange cooled by fluid from freezer |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190093936A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-28 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US20190093935A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-28 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US10883751B2 (en) | 2017-09-28 | 2021-01-05 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US10935296B2 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2021-03-02 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US10935295B2 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2021-03-02 | Nidec Sankyo Corporation | Ice making machine |
US20210148623A1 (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-05-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US11859893B2 (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2024-01-02 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
CN115031457A (en) * | 2022-08-12 | 2022-09-09 | 合肥美的电冰箱有限公司 | Ice maker and refrigeration equipment |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR101798552B1 (en) | 2017-11-17 |
CN107305077A (en) | 2017-10-31 |
KR20170121512A (en) | 2017-11-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20170307270A1 (en) | Ice-making device | |
US10247462B2 (en) | Ice-making device for refrigerator and refrigerator including the same | |
US8745992B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
EP3239629A1 (en) | Ice-making device | |
EP2414751B1 (en) | Refrigerator having ice making room | |
US10119740B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US10508852B2 (en) | Refrigerator and method of supplying water in refrigerator | |
CN107449213A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20160149070A (en) | Refrigerator including ice maker and defrost water collecting method thereof | |
US10168089B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
WO2011114656A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20070120765A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20140095787A (en) | Machine Room of a Refrigerator | |
CN107345721B (en) | Ice making device of refrigerator | |
KR101798536B1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20080015341A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR101659923B1 (en) | Refrigerator and refrigerant cycling method for ice making thereof | |
JP2017146023A (en) | refrigerator | |
US20170292723A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US10132544B2 (en) | Ice-making device for refrigerator | |
KR101754374B1 (en) | Ice maker for refrigerator | |
WO2021131150A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR101659921B1 (en) | Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof | |
EP2397797A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20170059781A (en) | Ice making system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, KOREA, REPU Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KIM, DONG SUN;REEL/FRAME:040811/0058 Effective date: 20161219 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |