WO2010016383A1

WO2010016383A1 - Water spray device for ice making machine

Info

Publication number: WO2010016383A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/063059
Authority: WO
Inventors: 清史山岡; 卓司日比野; 修雄近藤; 秀行田代; 毅植田; 原田　聴
Original assignee: ホシザキ電機株式会社
Priority date: 2008-08-05
Filing date: 2009-07-21
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: EP2314959A4; JP2010038451A; US20110113814A1; EP2314959B1; CN102099642B; CN102099642A; JP5275719B2; EP2314959A1

Abstract

Ice making water is uniformly supplied to an ice making region of an ice making section. A water sprayer (30) is provided with a water spray section (32) provided above an ice making section (12) so as to extend in the width direction thereof and supplying ice making water to an ice making region (20) from water spray holes (34) arranged spaced from each other in the width direction, a buffer section (36) provided next to the water spray section (32) and having, at one end of the buffer section (36) in the width direction, an introduction section (38) for receiving the ice making water delivered under pressure, and a communication section (40) provided between the water spray section (32) and the buffer section (36) and leading the ice making water, which is received by the buffer section (36), to the water spray section (32) through the communication hole (42).

Description

Ice machine sprinkler

The present invention relates to a water sprinkler of an ice making machine that supplies ice making water to an ice making area of an ice making unit.

As an automatic ice maker that continuously manufactures ice, a flow-down type ice maker that generates ice by supplying ice making water from a sprinkler to the front side (ice making surface) of the ice making unit arranged in the vertical direction is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, the ice making unit 12 of the flow-down type ice making machine is disposed between a pair of

ice making plates

14 and 14 that are vertically arranged and face each other, and both

ice making plates

14 and 14. The cooling pipe 16 is basically configured to be provided in a meandering manner and to which a coolant is circulated and supplied. On the ice making surface of each ice making plate 14, a plurality of ice making regions 20 in which ice is generated are defined in the width direction by a plurality of partition members 18 extending in the vertical direction. A water sprinkler 22 is provided above the ice making unit 12 to supply ice making water circulated from the circulation pump 54 to the ice making region 20.

The water sprinkler 22 is a long cylindrical body having a substantially rectangular cross section, and is disposed so as to extend in the width direction along the upper side of the ice making unit 12. In addition, the sprinkler 22 has an introduction portion 24 connected to an ice-making water supply pipe 52 led out from the circulation pump 54 at one end portion in the width direction, and the other end portion is closed. Further, a plurality of watering holes 26 are provided at the bottom of the water sprinkler 22 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction corresponding to the ice making regions 20. The watering holes 26 are each set to a small diameter of about 3 mm to 5 mm so as not to be clogged by foreign matter contained in the ice making water.

In the flow-down type ice maker, during the ice making operation, the circulation pump 54 is operated to pump the ice making water to the sprinkler 22, and the ice making water is sprayed to each ice making region 20 through each water sprinkling hole 26. At the same time, the refrigerant is circulated and supplied from the condenser (not shown) to the cooling pipe 16, and the ice making water sprayed from the sprinkler 22 and flowing down on the ice making surface is cooled at a portion in contact with the cooling pipe 16 on the ice making surface. It is supposed to freeze. In the deicing operation, the supply of ice making water to the water sprinkler 22 is stopped, and the deicing water is supplied from the deicing water supply means 28 (see FIG. 11) provided below the sprinkler 22 to the

ice making plates

14, 14. 14 is supplied to the back side. In addition, hot gas is supplied to the cooling pipe 16, and the icing portion of the

ice making plate

14, 14 generated in the ice making region 20 melts, and the ice peels and falls from the ice making plate 14.
JP-A-7-218066

In the sprinkler 22, ice-making water pumped by the circulation pump 54 flows in vigorously from the introduction part 24 toward the closed end, and the flow rate of the ice-making water is high on the introduction part 24 side, and the pressure increases on the closed end side. Therefore, while the amount of ice making water sprayed from the water sprinkling hole 26 on the closed end side increases, there is a problem that the amount of ice making water sprinkled from the water sprinkling hole 26 on the introduction portion 24 side decreases. In some cases, air is sucked from the water sprinkling hole 26 on the introduction part 24 side, and ice making water may not be sprinkled from the water sprinkling hole 26. Thus, since the amount of ice making water supplied from the sprinkler 22 to each ice making region 20 varies, not only a certain size of ice is generated in each ice making region 20, but also deformed ice and cloudy ice are generated. And the commercial value of ice will be greatly impaired. In addition, the ice making water sprayed from the water sprinkling hole 26 may flow obliquely from the introduction part 24 side toward the closed end side, get over the partition member 18 and scatter to the outside of the ice making part 12, resulting in insufficient ice making water. There is a risk of causing adverse effects such as melting ice stored below the ice making unit 12.

That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in the water sprinkler of the ice making machine according to the prior art, and uniformly supplies the ice making water to the ice making region of the ice making unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler for an ice machine.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, the water sprayer of the ice making machine of the present invention comprises:
In the water sprinkler of an ice making machine that receives the ice making water that is pumped and supplies it to the ice making area of the ice making unit,
A water sprinkling portion that is provided over the ice making portion in the width direction of the ice making portion and supplies ice making water to the ice making region of the ice making portion from water sprinkling holes spaced apart in the width direction,
A buffer part provided side by side in the watering part and having an introduction part at one end in the width direction for receiving the pumped ice-making water,
It is provided between the said watering part and the said buffer part, The communication part which guides the ice-making water received in this buffer part to a watering part through a communication hole is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to the sprinkler of the ice making machine according to the present invention, ice making water can be evenly supplied to the ice making region of the ice making unit.

It is a front view which shows the ice making part of the flow-down type ice making machine which provided the water sprinkler which concerns on the suitable Example of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the ice making part of the flow-down type ice making machine which provided the water sprinkler of the Example. (a) is a top view which shows the watering device of an Example, (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of (a). (a) is a top view which shows the watering device provided with the communication part of the modification 1, (b) is sectional drawing cut | disconnected and shown by the BB line of (a). It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the communication part of the example 1 of a change. (a) is a top view which shows the watering device provided with the communication part of the modification 2, (b) is sectional drawing cut | disconnected and shown by CC line of (a). It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the communication part of the example 2 of a change. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the communication part of the example 2 of a change. It is a top view of the watering device which shows another example of a buffer part. It is a front view which shows the ice making part of the flow-down type ice making machine which arrange | positioned the conventional water sprinkler. It is side sectional drawing which shows the ice making part of the flow-down type ice making machine which arrange | positioned the conventional water sprinkler.

12 ice making parts, 20 ice making areas, 32 sprinkling parts, 34 sprinkling holes,
36,90,92 buffer section, 38 introduction section,
40,62,67,72,76,80 communication part,
42,64,68,74,78,82 communication hole,
90a, 92a Buffer space (internal space)

Next, the water sprinkler of the ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the ice making unit shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the ice making parts 12 of the flow-down type ice making machine provided with the water sprinkler according to the embodiment are arranged vertically so that the plate surfaces extend substantially vertically and face each other. It consists of a pair of ice-

making plates

14 and 14. Between the opposing surfaces of the

ice making plates

14 and 14, a cooling pipe 16 is provided which is repeatedly meandered so that the straight portion extends in the width direction of the ice making portion 12. It contacts the back side (opposing surface) of the

ice making plates

14 and 14. Each ice making plate 14 is an ice making surface opposite to the surface facing the other ice making plate 14, and a plurality of partitioning members 18 are provided so as to protrude in the longitudinal direction of the ice making surface of each ice making plate 14. The plurality of partition members 18 are arranged to be separated from each other in the width direction of the ice making plate 14, and a plurality of ice making regions 20 are defined on the ice making surface along the width direction of the ice making plate 14 by these partition members 18. Further, above the ice making unit 12, a water sprinkler 30 that supplies ice making water to the ice making region 20 of each ice making plate 14 during ice making operation and a deicing water supply that supplies deicing water to the back side of each ice making plate 14 during ice removing operation. Means 28 are provided.

Below the ice making section 12, an ice making water tank 50 for storing ice making water flowing down the

ice making plates

14, 14 is disposed. The ice making water tank 50 is connected to a circulation pump (pressure feeding means) via an ice making water supply pipe 52. ) 54. During the ice making operation, refrigerant is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 from the refrigeration system, and ice making water is supplied from the water sprinkler 30 to each ice making region 20, thereby generating substantially half-moon-shaped ice in the ice making region 20. It has become so. In the deicing operation, hot gas is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 by switching the refrigeration system valve, and deicing water is supplied from the deicing water supply means 28 to the back side of the

ice making plates

14 and 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water sprinkler 30 includes a water sprinkling part 32 disposed above the ice making part 12, a buffer part 36 that receives ice-making water pumped by a circulation pump 54, a water sprinkling part 32, and a buffer part. And a communication portion 40 for connecting and communicating 36. In the watering device 30 of the embodiment, the watering portion 32, the buffer portion 36, and the communication portion 40 are integrally formed from a synthetic resin material.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water sprinkling part 32 is a hollow cylindrical body having a circulation space 32a in which ice-making water circulates, and is formed in a substantially rectangular cross section in the embodiment. The water sprinkling unit 32 is disposed above the ice making unit 12. The water sprinkling portion 32 extends over the entire width direction of the ice making plate 14 and is approximately the size from the protruding end of the partition member 18 in one ice making plate 14 to the protruding end of the partition member 18 in the other ice making plate 14. It is formed with a matching size (see FIG. 2). A sprinkling hole group including a plurality of sprinkling holes 34 that are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other in the opposing direction of the pair of

ice making plates

14, 14 at the bottom of the sprinkling portion 32 is provided in each ice making plate 14. Correspondingly, they are provided (see FIG. 3). In addition, each water sprinkling hole 34 constituting the sprinkling hole group is located on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 14 and is arranged in the width direction of the ice making plate 14 so as to correspond to each ice making region 20 of the ice making plate 14. In the example, each ice making region 20 is disposed at the center in the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the buffer portion 36 is a hollow cylindrical body having a buffer space 36a in which ice-making water circulates, and is formed in a circular cross section in the embodiment. Further, the buffer part 36 is provided side by side on the side of the water spray part 32. Here, the buffer part 36 is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the ice making part 12, and is formed in the same size as the size of the water sprinkling part 32 in the width direction in the embodiment. Furthermore, the buffer part 36 is provided with an introduction part 38 to which the ice making water supply pipe 52 is connected at one end in the width direction, and the other end in the width direction is closed.

The communication part 40 includes a communication hole 42 communicating with the circulation space 32a of the water spraying part 32 and the buffer space 36a of the buffer part 36. The communication hole 42 is connected to the buffer space 36a of the buffer part 36 via the introduction part 38. It is configured to extend in a lateral direction that intersects the inflow direction of the ice making water supplied (see FIG. 2). The communicating part 40 of the embodiment is composed of a plurality of rectangular cylinders 41 that are spaced apart in the width direction of the ice making part, and one communicating hole 42 is opened in each rectangular cylinder 41 (see FIG. 3). ). The plurality of communication holes 42 are all formed with the same cross-sectional dimensions (see FIG. 3B). Further, the plurality of communication holes 42 are provided so as to communicate with a position shifted in the width direction from the water spray holes 34 that are spaced apart in the width direction of the water sprinkling part 32 in the water sprinkling part 32 (see FIG. 3A). In addition, the communicating hole 42 of an Example is arrange | positioned in the center part between these watering

holes

34 and 34 between the watering

holes

34 and 34 adjacent.

(Effects of Example)
Next, the effect | action of the watering device 30 which concerns on an Example is demonstrated. In the ice making operation, the ice making water pumped from the ice making water tank 50 by the circulation pump 54 is supplied to the water sprinkler 30 from the introduction part 38 to the buffer space 36 a of the buffer part 36 through the ice making water supply pipe 52. Since the buffer portion 36 is closed at the other end in the width direction positioned in the inflow direction of the ice making water, the ice making water hits the closed end of the buffer portion 36 and drops the flow velocity, and then the buffer space via each communication hole 42. It is led from 36a to the distribution space 32a of the sprinkler 32. That is, in the circulation space 32a of the water sprinkling part 32, the ice making water is passed through each communication hole 42 from the lateral direction intersecting the separating direction of the plurality of water sprinkling holes 34 constituting the water sprinkling hole group (the width direction of the ice making part 12). Is introduced. Then, the ice making water hits the inner wall of the water sprinkling part 32 facing the communication hole 42 in the circulation space 32a, and the flow velocity is further reduced, and the ice making water is guided along the inner wall to both sides in the width direction. Therefore, in the distribution space 32a of the water sprinkling part 32, the flow velocity difference and the pressure difference of the ice making water are reduced in the width direction, and the ice making water can be evenly discharged from the plurality of water sprinkling holes 34 provided in the water sprinkling part 32 in a balanced manner. .

As described above, the water sprinkler 30 receives the pressure-fed ice making water by the buffer 36 and introduces it into the water sprinkling part 32 through the communication hole 42 of the communication part 40. By suppressing the influence of the above, it is possible to equalize the amount of ice making water supplied from the plurality of water sprinkling holes 34 to the corresponding ice making region 20. That is, in the ice making unit 12, the ice grows stably and evenly in each ice making region 20, and the resulting ice also has a uniform size, and generation of deformed ice or cloudy ice due to excess or deficiency of the ice making water is generated. Can be suppressed. Moreover, the ice making unit 12 can perform ice making evenly in the entire ice making region 20 in each ice making plate 14, so that the cooling efficiency and the deicing efficiency are good and the ice making capacity can be improved. Further, since the flow rate of ice making water is suppressed, the ice making water does not flow obliquely from each water sprinkling hole 34, and the ice making water shortage or the ice stored below the ice making part 12 due to splashing outside the ice making part 12 Inconveniences such as melting can be avoided.

The water sprinkler 30 acts such that the plurality of communication holes 42 respectively reduce the flow speed of the ice making water. In addition, the water sprinkler 30 is provided so that each communication hole 42 communicates with the position shifted in the width direction from the water spray hole 34 in the water spray part 32, so that ice-making water flowing into the circulation space 32 a of the water spray part 32 from the communication hole 42 is provided. The ice making water buffered by the water sprinkling part 32 can be prevented from flowing out from the water sprinkling holes 34, and can be made to flow out from the water sprinkling holes 34.

(Change example)
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment, and can be modified as follows. In the modified example described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9, the same components as those of the ice making unit 12 and the water sprinkler 30 of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

(1) In the embodiment, the communication portion 40 is composed of a plurality of independent rectangular cylinders 41. However, like the watering device 30 shown in FIG. The structure which forms the communicating hole 64 by making it swell so that it may space apart from the other plate-shaped part 63 may be sufficient. That is, the water sprinkler 30 can employ a configuration in which a plurality of communication holes 64 are provided in one communication portion 62 so as to be separated in the width direction. Each communication hole 64 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the plurality of communication holes 64 are all formed in the same size (see FIG. 4B).
(2) As shown in FIG. 5, the communication portion 67 is configured such that the size of the communication hole 68 decreases from one end side in the width direction where the introduction portion 38 of the buffer portion 36 is provided toward the other end side. Also good. Here, in the buffer portion 36, although the flow velocity difference between the ice making water is buffered to some extent by the buffer space 36a, there is a flow velocity difference between the introduction portion 14 side and the closed end side, and the communication hole 68 provided on the introduction portion 38 side. However, the ice making water does not easily flow into the communication hole 68 provided on the closed end side. That is, the communication hole 68 on the introduction part 38 side of the buffer part 36 where ice making water is difficult to flow in is set large, and the communication hole 68 on the closed end side of the buffer part 36 where ice making water is easy to flow in is set to the introduction part 38. By setting it to be smaller than that on the 38th side, it is possible to balance the amount of ice making water flowing into the plurality of communication holes 68. Accordingly, the ice making water flows into the circulation space 32a of the water sprinkling portion 32 so as to be even in the width direction from the plurality of communication holes 68, and the amount of ice making water sprayed from the plurality of water sprinkling holes 34 is further equalized. .

(3) In the embodiment, the communication portion 40 is composed of a plurality of independent rectangular cylinders 41. However, the communication portion 72 is formed so as to extend in the width direction of the ice making portion 12 like the water sprinkler 30 shown in FIG. You may comprise with a elongate single cylindrical body. The communication portion 72 is provided with one communication hole 74 whose length extends in the width direction of the ice making portion 12. As described above, if one communication hole 74 is provided in one communication portion 72, molding is easy. The plurality of communication holes 74 are formed to have the same vertical dimension in the width direction (see FIG. 6B).
(4) As shown in FIG. 7, the size of the communication hole 78 gradually narrows from the one end side in the width direction where the introduction portion 38 of the buffer portion 36 is provided to the other end side. It may be configured. In addition, like the communication part 80 of another example shown in FIG. 8, the communication hole 82 is not the structure which becomes narrow gradually toward the other end side from the width direction one end side, but toward the other end side from the width direction one end side. In other words, the configuration may be narrowed in stages. In the buffer portion 36, although the flow rate difference between the ice making water is buffered to some extent by the buffer space 36 a, there is a flow rate difference between the introduction portion 38 side and the closed end side, and the ice making water is connected to the communication holes 78 and 82 on the introduction portion 38 side. However, ice making water tends to flow into the communication holes 78 and 82 on the closed end side. That is, the communication holes 78 and 82 have a large vertical dimension on the side of the introduction part 38 of the buffer part 36 where ice making water is difficult to flow in. On the other hand, the upper and lower dimensions on the closed end side of the buffer part 36 where ice making water easily flows. By setting the size to be smaller than that of the introduction portion 38 side, it is possible to balance the amount of ice making water that circulates throughout the communication holes 78 and 82. Accordingly, the ice making water flows into the circulation space 32a of the water sprinkling portion 32 from the communication holes 78 and 82 so as to be even in the width direction, and the amount of ice making water sprayed from the plurality of water sprinkling holes 34 is further equalized. .

(5) The buffer portion 36 of the embodiment is formed so that the buffer space 36a has the same cross-sectional dimension from one end side in the width direction to the other end side. However, the buffer portion according to another example shown in FIG. 90, the buffer space 90a can be gradually narrowed from one end in the width direction where the introduction portion 38 is provided toward the other end. Further, like a buffer part 92 according to another example shown in FIG. 9B, the buffer space 92a is gradually reduced from one end side in the width direction where the introduction part 38 is provided toward the other end side. Also good. According to the

other buffer portions

90 and 92, the ice making water flowing into the

buffer spaces

90a and 92a from the introduction portion 38 hits not only the closed end but also the inner walls of the

buffer portions

90 and 92 positioned in the traveling direction. , 92 improves the buffering action against ice making water.

(6) In the embodiment, the configuration in which the ice making water pumped by the pump as the pumping means is received by the buffer unit has been described. However, the ice making water pressurized by the pumping means outside the ice making machine from an external water source such as a tap water Even if it is supplied, the present invention can be applied.
(7) Although the example in which the present invention is applied to the ice making unit of the flow-down type ice making machine has been described, a fountain having a cell-type ice making unit that generates ice by spraying and supplying ice making water to an ice making chamber provided in the ice making unit The present invention can also be applied to a type ice machine or a plate type ice machine that generates plate-like ice.

Claims

In the sprinkler of the ice making machine that receives the ice making water that is pumped and supplies it to the ice making area (20) of the ice making unit (12)
The ice making section (12) is provided across the width direction of the ice making section (12) above the ice making section (12), and from the sprinkling holes (34) spaced apart in the width direction to the ice making area (20) of the ice making section (12). A watering part (32) for supplying ice making water,
A buffer section (36, 90, 92) provided at one end in the width direction, which is provided side by side with the water sprinkling section (32) and has an introduction section (38) for receiving the pumped ice-making water,
Ice-making water provided between the water sprinkling part (32) and the buffer part (36, 90, 92) and received in the buffer part (36, 90, 92) communicates with the communication hole (42, 64, 68, 74). , 78, 82) and a communicating part (40, 62, 67, 72, 76, 80) leading to the watering part (32) through the water sprinkler of the ice making machine.
The water sprinkler of an ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the communication part (40, 62, 67) is provided with a plurality of the communication holes (42, 64, 68) separated in the width direction.
The water sprinkler of an ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the communication portion (72, 76, 80) includes a communication hole (74, 78, 82) formed to extend in the width direction.
The communication part (67, 76, 82) is connected to the communication hole (68, 78, 82) from the one end side where the introduction part (38) of the buffer part (36, 90, 92) is provided toward the other end side. The water sprinkler of the ice making machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the size of the ice making machine is reduced.
The buffer portion (90, 92) is formed so that the internal space (90a, 92a) becomes narrower from one end side where the introduction portion (38) of the buffer portion (90, 92) is provided toward the other end side. The water sprinkler of the ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.