U.S. patent application number 13/054051 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for water sprinkle pipe for downflow type ice making machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Takashi Morishita, Yushi Yonekura, Kazuhiro Yoshida.
Application Number | 20110120169 13/054051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41668883 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110120169 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yonekura; Yushi ; et
al. |
May 26, 2011 |
Water Sprinkle Pipe for Downflow Type Ice Making Machine
Abstract
There is provided a water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice
making machine that regulates a flow of ice making water to
suppress generation of turbulence and can uniformly supply the ice
making water from water sprinkle holes. A water sprinkle pipe (22)
comprises: a pipe body (24) that is arranged to extend above an ice
making section, has a flow region (38) for the ice making water
defined therein, and has one end communicating with a discharge
opening of a circulation pump (30); and a plurality of water
sprinkle holes (26) provided in a lower surface of the pipe body
(24) in an extending direction. A regulation portion (40)
protruding from an inner surface of the pipe body (24) to the flow
region (38) side to locally narrow the flow region (38) is provided
on an upper surface of the pipe body (24) on an upstream side of
the upstream-most water sprinkle holes (26). Further, a
semicircular regulation portion (42) is formed on a downstream side
of the regulation portion (40) in the pipe body (24).
Inventors: |
Yonekura; Yushi;
(Toyoake-shi, JP) ; Yoshida; Kazuhiro;
(Toyoake-shi, JP) ; Morishita; Takashi;
(Toyoake-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki
Kaisha
Toyoake-shi, Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
41668883 |
Appl. No.: |
13/054051 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 21, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/063060 |
371 Date: |
January 13, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 1/12 20130101; F25C
2400/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/347 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2008 |
JP |
2008-207213 |
Claims
1. A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine,
comprising: a pipe body (24, 54, 62, 72, 86) that is arranged to
extend above an ice making section (14) and communicates with a
discharge opening of a pump (30) and through which ice making water
discharged from the discharge opening of the pump (30) flows; and a
plurality of water spray holes (26) provided on a lower surface of
the pipe body (24, 54, 62, 72, 86) and placed to be apart from each
other in an extending direction of the pipe body (24, 54, 62, 72,
86), the water sprinkle pipe being configured to supply the ice
making water sucked by the pump (30) and flowing through the pipe
body (24, 54, 62, 72, 86) to the ice making section (14) through
the water spray holes (26), wherein a regulation portion (40) that
protrudes from an inner surface of the pipe body (24, 54, 62, 72,
86) to locally narrow a flow region (38) for the ice making water
is provided on the upstream side of the upstream-most water spray
hole (26) in the pipe body (24, 54, 62, 72, 86).
2. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 1, wherein one or more second regulation
portions (42, 52, 64, 74) that protrude from the inner surface of
the pipe body (24, 54, 62, 74) to locally narrow the flow region
(38) for the ice making water are provided on the downstream side
of the regulation portion (40) in the pipe body (24, 54, 64,
72).
3. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 2, wherein the second regulation portion (42) is
provided to be placed above the water spray holes (26) and formed
into a semicircular shape bending from the upstream side toward the
downstream side.
4. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 2, wherein the second regulation portion (52) is
provided to be placed above the water spray holes (26) and formed
into a bent shape in such a manner that its surface on the upstream
side inclines toward the corresponding water spray hole (26) and
its surface on the downstream side inclines toward an upper surface
of the pipe body (54) from the surface on the upstream side at a
more gentle inclination angle.
5. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 2, wherein the second regulation portion is a
pair of side regulation portions (64, 64) that are provided to be
placed between the regulation portion (40) and the water spray hole
(26) adjacent thereto or between the water spray holes (26, 26)
adjacent to each other and protrude from a side surface of the pipe
body (62) to face each other.
6. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 2, wherein the second regulation portion is a
conical regulation portion (74) that is provided to be placed above
the water spray holes (26) and hung from an upper portion of the
inner surface of the pipe body (72) toward the corresponding water
spray hole (26).
7. The water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to claim 1, wherein the regulation portion (40) comprises
a plurality of guide protruding portions (82, 82) that are provided
on the upper surface of the pipe body (86) to be apart from each
other in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the
pipe body (86) and extend in the extending direction of the pipe
body (86) while downwardly protruding from the inner surface of the
pipe body (86).
8. A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine,
comprising: a pipe body (92) that is arranged to extend above an
ice making section (14) and communicates with a discharge opening
of a pump (30) and through which ice making water discharged from
the discharge opening of the pump (30) flows; and a plurality of
water spray holes (26) provided on a lower surface of the pipe body
(92) and placed to be apart from each other in an extending
direction of the pipe body (92), the water sprinkle pipe being
configured to supply the ice making water sucked by the pump (30)
and flowing through the pipe body (92) to the ice making section
(14) through the water spray holes (26), wherein a reduced-pressure
straightening portion (94) comprising a semicircular
reduced-pressure space (96) that protrudes upwards from an inner
surface of the pipe body (92) to locally expand a flow region (38)
for the ice making water is provided on the upstream side of the
upstream-most water spray hole (26) in the pipe body (92).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a water sprinkle pipe for a
downflow type ice making machine and more particularly to a water
sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine that is
arranged above an ice making section and supplies ice making water
to the ice making section through water spray holes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an automatic ice making machine that continuously
produces ice, a downflow type ice making machine that includes an
ice making machine formed of a pair of ice making plates and cools
down an ice making surface of each ice making plate by a
refrigerant supplied to an evaporation tube arranged between both
the ice making plates to produce the ice is known (see Patent
Document 1). Briefly explaining an outline configuration of this
downflow type ice making machine hereinafter, a plurality of
partition members are arranged on the ice making surfaces of the
ice making section, and ice making regions extending in a vertical
direction are defined between the partition members adjacent to
each other. Further, a water sprinkle pipe including a plurality of
water spray holes are arranged above the ice making section so that
ice making water stored in an ice making water tank and sucked by a
circulation pump is supplied to the respective ice making regions
through the water spray holes.
[0003] The water sprinkle pipe includes an elongated pipe body
having a flow region for the ice making water therein and the
plurality of water spray holes provided in a lower surface of the
pipe main body. One end side of the pipe body is bent downwards at
a substantially right angle to form a bent portion, and a
connecting portion is formed at an open end of the pipe body
extending downwards from the bent portion. This connecting portion
communicates with a discharge opening of the circulation pump
through a coupling tube. Furthermore, at the time of an ice making
operation, the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank
is sucked by the circulation pump to flow into the pipe body from
the connecting portion. The ice making water that has flowed in the
pipe body is injected to the lower ice making section from the
respective water spray holes while flowing through the flow
region.
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
7-305928 (1995)
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] Meanwhile, the ice making water flowing through the flow
region of the water sprinkle pipe has a water pressure and a flow
velocity that are increased on a connecting portion side close to
the circulation pump. Moreover, a flow direction of the ice making
water is forcibly changed when passing through the bent portion.
Therefore, the ice making water flowing through the water sprinkle
pipe is apt to become turbulent on the side close to the
circulation pump, and the ice making water may not be uniformly
supplied in the water spray holes on the upstream side close to the
bent portion in particular in some cases. Additionally, when the
flow velocity of the ice making water is high, a negative pressure
may be formed in the flow region and outside air may be sucked
through the water spray holes according to circumstances.
Therefore, fine air bubbles are mixed in the ice making water
supplied to the ice making section, which becomes a cause of
production of clouded ice or ice having a different shape.
[0006] Therefore, in view of the problems inherent in the
conventional technology, the present invention is proposed to
preferably solve these problems, and an object of the present
invention is to provide a water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type
ice making machine that can suppress occurrence of a turbulence in
the water sprinkle pipe and uniformly supply ice making water from
each water spray hole.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0007] To solve the above-described problem and preferably achieve
the expected object, there is provided a water sprinkle pipe for a
downflow type ice making machine according to the present
invention, comprising: [0008] a pipe body that is arranged to
extend above an ice making section and communicates with a
discharge opening of a pump and through which ice making water
discharged from the discharge opening of the pump flows; and a
plurality of water sprinkle holes provided in a lower surface of
the pipe body and placed to be apart from each other in an
extending direction of the pipe body, the water sprinkle pipe being
configured to supply the ice making water sucked by the pump and
flowing through the pipe body to the ice making section through the
water sprinkle holes, [0009] wherein a regulation portion that
protrudes from an inner surface of the pipe body to locally narrow
a flow region for the ice making water is provided on the upstream
side of the upstream-most water sprinkle hole in the pipe body.
[0010] To solve the above-described problem and preferably achieve
the expected object, there is provided a water sprinkle pipe for a
downflow type ice making machine according to the present
invention, comprising: [0011] a pipe body that is arranged to
extend above an ice making section and communicates with a
discharge opening of a pump and through which ice making water
discharged from the discharge opening of the pump flows; and a
plurality of water sprinkle holes provided in a lower surface of
the pipe body and placed to be apart from each other in an
extending direction of the pipe body, the water sprinkle pipe being
configured to supply the ice making water sucked by the pump and
flowing through the pipe body to the ice making section through the
water sprinkle holes, [0012] wherein a reduced-pressure
straightening portion comprising a semicircular reduced-pressure
space that protrudes upwards from an inner surface of the pipe body
to locally expand a flow region for the ice making water is
provided on the upstream side of the upstream-most water sprinkle
hole in the pipe body.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0013] According to the water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice
making machine of the present invention, turbulence of the ice
making water flowing through the sprinkle pipe can be suppressed
from being produced, and the ice making water can be uniformly
supplied from all the sprinkle holes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an overall structural view showing a downflow type
ice making machine including a water sprinkle pipe according to
Embodiment 1;
[0015] FIG. 2 is cross-sectional views showing the water sprinkle
pipe according to Embodiment 1, wherein (a) is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view showing the entire water sprinkle pipe, (b) is
an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a primary
part of the water sprinkle pipe, and (c) is a transverse
cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in (b);
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view
showing a primary part of a water sprinkle pipe according to
Embodiment 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view
showing a primary part of a water sprinkle pipe according to
Embodiment 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view
showing a primary part of a water sprinkle pipe according to
Embodiment 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is cross-sectional views showing a primary part of a
water sprinkle pipe according to Embodiment 5, wherein (a) is a
longitudinal cross-sectional view and (b) is a transverse
cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in (a); and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a
primary part of a water sprinkle pipe according to Embodiment
6.
EXPLANATIONS OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0021] 14 . . . ice making section, 24, 54, 62, 72, 86, and 92 . .
. pipe body, 26 . . . water sprinkle hole, 30 . . . circulation
pump, 38 . . . flow region, 40 . . . regulation portion, 42 . . .
semicircular regulation portion (second regulation portion), 52 . .
. second regulation portion (second regulation portion), 64 . . .
lateral regulation portion (second regulation portion), 74 . . .
conical regulation portion (second regulation portion), 82 . . .
guide protruding portion, 94 . . . reduced-pressure straightening
portion, 96 . . . reduced-pressure space
BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] Preferred embodiments of a water sprinkle pipe for a
downflow type ice making machine according to the present invention
will now be described hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an overall configuration
of a downflow type ice making machine 10 having a water sprinkle
pipe 22 according to Embodiment 1 provided therein. In the downflow
type ice making machine 10, a pair of ice making plates 12 (one ice
making plate 12 alone is shown in FIG. 1) are oppositely arranged
to constitute an ice making section 14, and an evaporation tube 16
led out from a non-illustrated freezing system is arranged between
both the ice making plates 12 in a meandering manner. A plurality
of partition members 18 extending in a vertical direction are
provided on a surface (an ice making surface) of the ice making
plate 12 at predetermined intervals, and each ice making region 20
where ice pieces are manufactured is defined between the partition
members 18, 18 adjacent to each other.
[0024] As shown in a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 2,
the water sprinkle pipe 22 through which the ice making water is
supplied to the ice making section 14 includes a pipe body 24
extending in a horizontal direction above the ice making section 14
and a plurality of water sprinkle holes 26 provided in a lower
surface of the pipe body 24. A bent portion 28 that is bent at a
substantially right angle is formed on one end side (an upstream
side) of the pipe body 24. A connecting portion 34 that is
connected with a discharge opening (not shown) of a later-described
circulation pump (a pump) 30 through a coupling tube 32 is formed
at an open end (one end) directed to a lower side from the bent
portion 28. Further, the other end of the pipe body 24 is closed to
form a closed end 36.
[0025] A flow region 38 through which the ice making water flows
from the connecting portion 34 side (the one end side) toward the
closed end 36 side (the other end side) is defined in the pipe body
24, whereby the ice making water can flow through the flow region
38 under a predetermined water pressure by the circulation pump 30.
The plurality of water sprinkle holes 26 are provided in an
extending direction of the pipe body 24 at fixed intervals to
supply the ice making water to the corresponding ice making regions
20 so that the ice making water flowing through the flow region 38
can be supplied to the ice making section 14 via the water sprinkle
holes 26. It is to be noted that two columns of the water sprinkle
holes 26 are provided in the lower surface of the pipe body 24 to
be apart from each other in a direction (which will be referred to
as a width direction hereinafter) orthogonal to the extending
direction of the pipe body 24 in association with the pair of ice
making plates 12 (see FIG. 2(c)). Moreover, an installation concave
portion 25 that is utilized to position a later-described deicing
water supply tube 44 is provided on the lower surface of the pipe
body 24. As shown in FIG. 2(c), this installation concave portion
25 extends to be placed between the water sprinkle holes 26, 26
aligned in the width direction of the pipe body 24, and the lower
surface of the pipe body 24 is pushed up by the installation
concave portion 25 to slightly narrow the flow region 38.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b), a regulation portion 40 that
protrudes from an inner surface of the pipe body 24 to locally
narrow the flow region 38 is provided on an upper surface of the
pipe body 24 and on an upstream side of the uppermost water
sprinkle holes 26. This regulation portion 40 is formed by making a
dent having a predetermined depth in the upper surface of the pipe
body 24, and as shown in FIG. 2(b), the regulation portion 40
includes a bottom surface 40a that is one level lower than the
upper surface of the pipe body 24 and parallel to a flowing
direction of the ice making water. Additionally, a second
regulation portion 42 is provided on a downstream side of the
regulation portion 40 on the upper surface of the pipe body 24.
Like the regulation portion 40, this second regulation portion 42
protrudes from the upper surface of the pipe body 24 toward the
flow region 38 side to narrow the flow region 38. As shown in FIG.
2(b), the second regulation portion 42 is formed to have a
semicircular cross-sectional shape that is bent from the upstream
side toward the downstream side (which will be referred to as a
semicircular regulation portion 42 hereinafter). Further, in regard
to an arrangement position of the semicircular regulation portion
42, this portion is provided to be placed above the upstream-most
water sprinkle holes 26. That is, it is arranged in such a manner
that the lowermost end (a top portion) of the semicircular
regulation portion 42 is placed above the water sprinkle holes 26.
As described above, in Embodiment 1, the regulation portion 40 and
the semicircular regulation portion 42 are configured to narrow the
flow region 38 on two stages, thereby avoiding generation of
turbulence of the ice making water. It is to be noted that, as
shown in FIG. 1, the deicing supply tube 44 through which water
having an ordinary temperature (deicing water) is supplied to a
back surface of the ice making plate 12 in a deicing operation is
fixed to the lower surface of the water sprinkle pipe 22 in a state
where it is positioned in the installation concave portion 25.
[0027] An ice making water tank 46 that is opened on an upper side
to store the ice making water is provided below the ice making
section 14. A discharge opening 46a is provided in a bottom portion
of this ice making water tank 46, and an inlet tube 48 of the
circulation pump 30 is connected to the discharge opening 46a.
Further, the coupling tube 32 is led out from an outlet opening of
the circulation pump 30, and the coupling tube 32 is connected with
the connecting portion 34 as described above. Furthermore, the ice
making water in the ice making water tank 46 is supplied to the
water sprinkle pipe 22 through the inlet tube 48 and the coupling
tube 32 by the circulation pump 30. It is to be noted that the ice
making water that has been supplied to the ice making water 14 but
not been frozen in the ice making section 14 falls to be collected
in the ice making water tank 46 from the ice making section 14 to
be circulated and supplied:
[0028] Operation of Embodiment 1
[0029] An operation of the water sprinkle pipe 22 according to
Embodiment 1 will now be described hereinafter. At the time of an
ice making operation, a refrigerant is circulated and supplied to
the evaporation tube 16 from the freezing system, the circulation
pump 30 is actuated, and the ice making water in the ice making
tank 46 is sucked through the inlet tube 48. The ice making water
sucked from the ice making water tank 46 is supplied to the upper
side through the coupling tube 32 to reach the connecting portion
34 of the water sprinkle pipe 22. Then, the ice making water flows
into the water sprinkle pipe 22 through the connecting portion 34,
whereby a direction of the ice making water is forcibly changed to
a horizontal direction in the bent portion 28. Then, this change in
direction disturbs a flowing direction of the ice making water, and
turbulence is apt to be produced in the ice making water that has
passed through the bent portion 28. Further, the proximity of the
bent portion 28 of the flow region 38 is close to the circulation
pump 30, and a flow rate of the ice making water is high.
[0030] Therefore, when the ice making water arrives at the
regulation portion 40, a water pressure of the ice making water is
temporarily increased whilst a flow rate of the same is reduced
since the ice making water flows through the flow region 38
narrowed by the regulation portion 40 (see FIG. 2(b)). Furthermore,
when the ice making water passes through the regulation portion 40,
the flow region 38 broadens to reduce the pressure of the ice
making water, whereby the direction of the ice making water is set
to an extending direction of the water sprinkle pipe 22.
[0031] Subsequently, the ice making water that has passed through
the regulation portion 40 arrives at the semicircular regulation
portion 42. That is, when the ice making water flows through the
flow region 38 narrowed by the semicircular regulation portion 42,
the water pressure of the ice making water is again increased, and
the flow rate of the ice making water is further reduced. Moreover,
the ice making water is guided to the water sprinkle holes 26 by
the semicircular regulation portion 42, and the ice making water is
smoothly supplied to the ice making section from the water sprinkle
holes 26. When the ice making water passes through the semicircular
regulation portion 42, the water pressure thereof is reduced, and
the direction of the ice making water is further set to the
extending direction of the pipe body 24. As described above, in the
water sprinkle pipe 22 according to Embodiment 1, when the ice
making water passes through the regulation portion 40 and the
semicircular regulation portion 42, two-stage deceleration is
carried out. As a result, the ice making water can flow
straightforward in the flow region 38 at a fixed low rate. Although
the thus decelerated ice making water is supplied to the ice making
section 14 through each water sprinkle hole 26, the ice making
water can be likewise stably supplied through the upstream-most
water sprinkle holes 26 where supply of the ice making water is
unstable in conventional examples. That is, the ice making water
can be uniformly supplied from all the water sprinkle holes 26,
thereby uniforming sizes of ice pieces to be manufactured.
Furthermore, since the ice making water flows through the flow
region 38 at the fixed low rate and the ice making water is
supplied toward the water sprinkle holes 26 by the semicircular
regulation portion 42, cavitation and the like hardly occur in the
water sprinkle holes 26. As a result, clouding of ice pieces to be
manufactured can be suppressed, or ice pieces having different
shapes can be prevented from being manufactured.
[0032] It is to be noted that one semicircular regulation portion
42 is provided in Embodiment 1, but the plurality of semicircular
regulation portions 42 may be provided on the downstream side of
the regulation portion 40 at fixed intervals. In this case, each
semicircular regulation portion 42 is provided to be placed above
the corresponding water sprinkle holes 26. When the plurality of
semicircular regulation portions 42 are provided, the ice making
water can be decelerated more than once, thereby realizing more
stable supply of the ice making water.
Embodiment 2
[0033] In regard to a water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice
making water according to Embodiment 2, differences from Embodiment
1 will be mainly explained. It is to be noted that like reference
numerals denote members equal to those in Embodiment 1, thereby
omitting a description thereof. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view showing a primary part of a water sprinkle
pipe 50 according to Embodiment 2, and the same regulation portion
40 as that in Embodiment 1 is provided on an upper surface of a
pipe body 54 close to a bent portion 28 by making a dent in this
upper surface. Further, a plurality of second regulation portions
52 (which will be referred to as second regulation portions
hereinafter) are provided on the upper surface of the pipe body 54
on a downstream side of the regulation portion 40. The second
regulation portion 52 is bent in such a manner that an
upstream-side surface thereof is inclined toward corresponding
water sprinkle holes 26 and a downstream-side surface thereof is
inclined toward the upper surface of the pipe body 54 at a gentler
inclination angle than that of the upstream-side surface thereof.
In the second regulation portion 52, the lowest bottom portion 52a
is placed to be biased toward the upstream side, and a flow region
38 is narrowed by an amount corresponding to downward protrusion of
each second regulation portion 52. Moreover, the second regulation
portions 52 are provided in association with all the water sprinkle
holes 26, and the bottom portions 52a are placed above the
respective water sprinkle holes 26. It is to be noted that the
second regulation portions 52, 52 adjacent to each other are
configured to couple their ends on the upstream side and the
downstream side with each other as shown in FIG. 3.
[0034] In an ice making operation, when ice making water is
supplied to the water sprinkle pipe 50, the ice making water first
passes through the regulation portion 40 via the bent portion 28.
Then, the ice making water is temporarily decelerated in this
regulation portion 40, and the ice making water is directed to an
extending direction of the water sprinkle pipe 50. Subsequently,
the ice making water passes through the upstream-most second
regulation portion 52 where secondary deceleration is carried out.
That is, since the upstream-side surface of the second regulation
portion 52 has a shape inclined downwards at a sharp angle, a water
pressure of the ice making water is precipitously increased to
carry out the deceleration. Additionally, the ice making water is
guided to the water sprinkle holes 26 by the upstream-side surface
of each second regulation portion 52, thereby smoothly supplying
the ice making water from the water sprinkle holes 26. On the other
hand, since the downstream-side surface of the second regulation
portion 52 is inclined upwards at a gentle inclination angle, the
ice making water is gradually depressurized in accordance with this
shape. Meanwhile, the ice making water is directed toward the
extending direction of the water sprinkle pipe 22.
[0035] Then, the ice making water is continuously decelerated by
the subsequent second and third second regulation portions 52, 52,
whereby the ice making water is further directed. That is, the
regulation portion 40 and the plurality of second regulation
portions 52 suppress generation of turbulence, and the ice making
water can thereby flow through the flow region 38 at a fixed low
rate. As a result, the ice making water can be uniformly supplied
from all the water sprinkle holes 26 to uniform sizes of ice pieces
to be manufactured. Further, since the ice making water likewise
flows on the upstream side of the flow region 38 at the fixed low
rate, cavitation hardly occurs in the water sprinkle holes 26, thus
suppressing manufacture of clouded ice pieces/ice pieces having
different shapes. Furthermore, since the ice making water is
supplied toward the water sprinkle holes 26 by the respective
second regulation portions 52, the ice making water can be smoothly
supplied from the water sprinkle holes 26.
Embodiment 3
[0036] A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to Embodiment 3 will now be described. In a description
of Embodiment 3, differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly
explained. As shown in FIG. 4, in a water sprinkle pipe 60
according to Embodiment 3, a regulation portion 40 is provided near
a bent portion 28 on an upper surface of a pipe body 62 by making a
dent in this upper surface like Embodiment 1. Moreover, a plurality
of pairs of lateral regulation portions (second regulation
portions) 64, 64, which protrude to face each other, are provided
on both inner side surfaces of the pipe body 62. Each lateral
regulation portion 64 is constituted by integral molding so as to
bulge with a semicircular cross section from the inner side surface
of the pipe body 62, and one pair of lateral regulation portions
64, 64 narrow a flow region 38 from laterals. Here, the
upstream-most lateral regulation portions 64 are provided between
the regulation portion 40 and the upstream-most water sprinkle
holes 26. The lateral regulation portions 64 on the downstream side
of these regulation portions 64 are provided to be placed between
the water sprinkle holes 26, 26 adjacent to each other. It is to be
noted that the upstream-most lateral regulation portions 64, 64 are
provided at positions biased toward the regulation portion 40 side
between the regulation portion 40 and the upstream-most water
sprinkle holes 26. Further, the lateral regulation portions 64, 64
placed between the water sprinkle holes 26, 26 are provided at
positions biased to the upstream-side water sprinkle holes 26. That
is, the water sprinkle holes 26 are provided near the upstream side
of the respective lateral regulation portions 64 (see FIG. 4) to
facilitate supply of ice making water decelerated by the lateral
regulation portions 64 to an ice making section 14 through the
water sprinkle holes 26.
[0037] In an ice making operation, when the ice making water is
supplied to the water sprinkle pipe 60, the ice making water first
passes through the regulation portion 40 via the bent portion 28.
Then, in this regulation portion 40, the ice making water is
temporarily decelerated and directed toward an extending direction
of the water sprinkle pipe 60. Subsequently, the ice making water
arrives at the upstream-most lateral regulation portions 64, 64
where secondary deceleration is carried out. That is, since the
flow region 38 is narrowed from both laterals by the pairs of the
lateral regulation portions 64, 64, a water pressure of the ice
making water is increased and a flow rate of the same is reduced on
the upstream side of the lateral regulation portions 64. Further,
when the ice making water passes through the lateral regulation
portions 64, 64, the ice making water is depressurized and directed
to a horizontal direction. Furthermore, since a flow of the ice
making water is regulated by the lateral regulation portions 64, 64
protruding from both the laterals in a well balanced manner,
thereby more effectively directing the ice making water.
[0038] Then, the ice making water is continuously decelerated in
the subsequent second and third lateral regulation portions 64, 64,
whereby the ice making water is further directed. Here, the ice
making water decelerated by the lateral regulation portions 64, 64
is smoothly supplied to an ice making section 14 through the water
sprinkle holes 26, 26 provided in the vicinity of the upstream side
of the lateral regulation portions 64, 64. As described above, the
regulation portion 40 and the plurality of lateral regulation
portions 64 can decelerate the ice making water on multiple stages,
whereby the ice making water can flow through the flow region 38 at
a fixed low rate. Therefore, the ice making water can be stably
supplied from all the water sprinkle holes 26, thus uniforming
sizes of ice pieces to be manufactured. Moreover, since the ice
making water likewise flow at the fixed low rate on the upstream
side of the flow region 38, cavitation hardly occurs in the water
sprinkle holes 26 on the upstream side, thus suppressing
manufacture of clouded ice pieces/ice pieces having different
shapes. It is to be noted that the lateral regulation portion 64
has the shape protruding with the semicircular cross section from
the inner side surface of the pipe body 62 in Embodiment 3, but the
lateral regulation portion 64 may be configured to protrude with a
triangular cross section from the inner side surface of the pipe
body 62.
Embodiment 4
[0039] A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to Embodiment 4 will now be described. In a description
of Embodiment 4, differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly
explained. As shown in FIG. 5, a water sprinkle pipe 70 according
to Embodiment 4 includes a plurality of conical regulation portions
74 provided on an inner upper surface of a pipe body 72 in addition
to the same regulation portion 40 as that in Embodiment 1. Each
conical regulation portion 74 is formed to be suspended from the
inner upper surface of the pipe body 72 by a predetermined
distance, and the flow region 38 is narrowed by this conical
regulation portion 74. Further, each conical regulation portion 74
is provided in accordance with each water sprinkle hole 26 on the
upper surface of the pipe body 72, and a lower end portion thereof
is directed toward the water sprinkle hole 26.
[0040] In an ice making operation, when ice making water is
supplied to the water sprinkle pipe 70, the ice making water is
first supplied via a bent portion 28 to the regulation portion 40
where the ice making water is temporarily decelerated. Then, the
ice making water is secondarily decelerated by the upstream-most
conical regulation portion 74. That is, the ice making water is
subjected to the secondary deceleration when passing through the
flow region 38 narrowed by the conical regulation portions 74.
Further, since the ice making water is guided to the corresponding
water sprinkle holes 26 along the conical regulation portions 74,
the ice making water can be smoothly supplied to the ice making
section 14 through the water sprinkle holes 26. The ice making
water is depressurized when passing through each conical regulation
portion 74, whereby the ice making water is directed toward an
extending direction of the water sprinkle pipe 70. Thereafter,
continuous deceleration is performed by the subsequent second and
third conical regulation portions 74,74, and hence the ice making
water flows through the flow region 38 at a fixed low rate. As a
result, the ice making water can be stably supplied to each water
sprinkle hole 26, occurrence of cavitation and others can be
suppressed, and a quality of ice pieces to be manufactured can be
improved. Furthermore, since each conical regulation portion 74 has
a conical shape protruding downwards, the ice making water that has
adhered to the conical regulation portions 74 naturally falls when
supply of the ice making water to the water sprinkle pipe 70 is
stopped, thus improving drainage. It is to be noted that the ice
making water that has fallen from the conical regulation portions
74 is discharged to the outside of the water sprinkle pipe 22
through the water sprinkle holes 26, and hence it does not stay in
the water sprinkle pipe 70.
[0041] It is to be noted that the configuration that the regulation
portion 42 is provided on the upper surface of the pipe body 24,
54, 62, or 72 has been explained in each of Embodiments 1 to 4, but
the regulation portion 42 may be provided on the side surface of
the pipe body 24, 54, 62, or 72 or may be provided on the entire
inner peripheral surface of the pipe body 24, 54, 62, or 72 as long
as the regulation portion 42 can locally narrow the flow region 38.
Moreover, the shape of the regulation portion 42 can be arbitrarily
changed, and the regulation portion 42 does not have to include the
bottom portion 40a explained in Embodiments 1 to 4. Additionally,
the shapes of the second regulation portions 42, 52, 64, and 74 are
not restricted to the shapes described in Embodiments 1 to 4, and
any other shapes can be adopted as long as such shapes can locally
narrow the flow region 38. For example, the second regulation
portion may be configured to protrude with an
equilateral-triangular cross section from the upper surface of the
pipe body 24, 54, 62, or 72.
Embodiment 5
[0042] A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to Embodiment 5 will now be described. In a description
of Embodiment 5, differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly
explained. As shown in FIG. 6, in a water sprinkle pipe 80
according to Embodiment 5, a regulation portion 40 is provided on
an upper surface of a pipe body 86 on an upstream side of the
upstream-most water sprinkle holes 26. The regulation portion 40
according to Embodiment 5 is constituted of a pair of guide
protruding portions 82, 82. Each guide protruding portion 82
protrudes downwards from an upper inner surface of a pipe body 86,
extends with a predetermined length in an extending direction of
the pipe body 86, and has a transverse cross section formed into a
rectangular shape (see FIG. 6(b)). Further, the pair of guide
protruding portions 82, 82 are provided to be apart from each other
in a width direction of the pipe body 86, and a guide region 84
through which ice making water is guided in the extending direction
of the pipe body 86 is defined between both the guide protruding
portions 82, 82 and between each guide protruding portion 82 and
the inner side surface of the pipe body 86.
[0043] In an ice making operation, when the ice making water is
supplied to the water sprinkle pipe 80, the ice making water
arrives at the regulation portion 40 through a bent portion 28.
Then, the guide protruding portions 82, 82 decelerate the ice
making water. On the other hand, when a part of the ice making
water passes through the guide region 84, it is directed toward an
extending direction of the pipe body 86. As a result, the ice
making water flows through a flow region 38 at a fixed low rate,
thereby uniformly supplying the ice making water from respective
water spray holes 26. Furthermore, occurrence of cavitation and
others can be suppressed, and a quality of ice pieces to be
manufactured can be improved. It is to be noted that the example
where the two guide protruding portions 82 are formed has been
explained in Embodiment 5, the three or more guide protruding
portions 82 may be formed. Moreover, a transverse crows-sectional
shape of each guide protruding portion 82 may be an elliptic shape
that is long in the extending direction of the water sprinkle pipe
70. As a result, flow resistance of the ice making water can be
suppressed. Additionally, a plurality of pairs (or triplets or
above) of guide protruding portions 82, 82 may be formed in the
extending direction of the pipe body 86. It is to be noted that the
above-described second regulation portion 42, 52, 64, or 74 may be
provided on a downstream side of the guide protruding portions 82,
82 in the pipe body 86.
Embodiment 6
[0044] A water sprinkle pipe for a downflow type ice making machine
according to Embodiment 6 will now be described. In a description
of Embodiment 6, differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly
explained. As shown in FIG. 7, in a water sprinkle pipe 90
according to Embodiment 6, a pressure-reduced straightening portion
94 is provided on an upper surface of a pipe body 92 near a bent
portion 28 on an upstream side of the upstream-most water spray
holes 26. This reduced-pressure straightening portion 94 is formed
to bulge upwards from the upper surface of the pipe body 92, and a
semicircular reduced-pressure space 96 into which ice making water
can flow is defined in this reduced-pressure straightening portion
94. That is, the reduced-pressure space 96 protrudes upwards in the
pipe body 92 from an inner surface thereof, whereby a flow region
38 is expanded. Further, when the ice making water flows into the
reduced-pressure space 96, the ice making water flows in the
reduced-pressure space 96 in a swirl (generation of a swirling
current), thereby reducing a water pressure of the ice making
water.
[0045] In an ice making water, when the ice making water is
supplied to the water sprinkle pipe 90, the ice making water
arrives at the reduced-pressure straightening portion 94 through
the bent portion 28. Then, a part of the ice making water flows
into the reduced-pressure space 96 of the reduced-pressure
straightening portion 94 to generate a swirling current in the
reduced-pressure space 96 (see FIG. 7). As a result, the ice making
water is depressurized to suppress a flow rate of the ice making
water, thereby uniformly supplying the ice making water from the
respective water sprinkle holes 26. Further, occurrence of
cavitation and others can be suppressed, and a quality of ice
pieces to be manufactured can be improved. Additionally, since the
ice making water further flows into the reduced-pressure space 96
as the flow rate of the ice making water increases, a
depressurizing effect can be further improved, and the ice making
water can be uniformly supplied. It is to be noted that, in the
water sprinkle pipe 90 according to Embodiment 6, the second
regulation portion 42, 52, 64, or 74 described in each of
Embodiments 1 to 4 may be provided.
[0046] It is to be noted that the configuration that the water
sprinkle pipe 22, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 is arranged above the ice
making section 14 in parallel has been explained in each of
Embodiments 1 to 6, but the water sprinkle pipe may be arranged in
a slightly inclined state, for example.
* * * * *