A refrigerator comprising an ice making unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ice making units in refrigerators face issues with water overflowing or splattering from the ice cube tray when the freezing compartment door is opened or closed during the ice formation process, leading to inefficiencies in space usage and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sealing members that extend between the ice cube tray and the side walls of the refrigerator body, with one end fixed on the body and the other end resting against the tray, which move and detach during rotation to prevent deformation and ensure water remains contained, utilizing channels, supporting plates, and inclined configurations to manage water flow and prevent folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sealing members are made foldable to accommodate ice tray rotation, then the sealing members can adapt to tray movement, but the sealing members deform due to bending during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members are designed with flexibility to dynamically adapt their position during ice tray rotation. The sealing members can bend and deform elastically to accommodate the rotational movement of the ice tray while maintaining continuous sealing contact, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members are constructed as flexible elements that can bend and conform to the moving ice tray. This flexibility allows them to maintain sealing effectiveness during rotation without rigid structural constraints, solving the contradiction between needing to adapt to movement and maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sealing members are fixed rigidly to the body, then the sealing members maintain structural stability, but the sealing members fold and deform when the ice tray rotates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members transition from rigid fixed structures to dynamic flexible elements that can adapt their configuration during ice tray rotation. This allows them to maintain structural stability when not in use while becoming adaptable during the rotation operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members use flexible material construction that allows bending and deformation during ice tray rotation, eliminating the folding problem associated with rigid structures while maintaining adequate structural stability for sealing functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If the ice tray is placed on the freezing compartment door to save space, then space utilization is improved, but water overflows and splatters when the door is opened or closed during ice formation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members act as intermediary elements between the ice tray and the freezing compartment door body. These sealing members create a barrier that prevents water from overflowing or splattering during door operation, thus resolving the contradiction between space utilization and preventing water leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members are positioned in advance to prevent water overflow before it can occur during door opening or closing. This preliminary protective measure counteracts the potential harmful effect of water splatter while maintaining the space-saving door-mounted ice tray configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents water overflow and splattering, allowing safe and efficient ice cube retrieval while maintaining sealing member durability and ensuring the ice making process operates without interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
more than one sealing member (4) that extends between the side walls of the body (3) and the ice cube tray (2)... The sealing members (4), that extend between the side walls of the body (3) and the ice cube tray (2), prevent water from leaking out by isolating the gap between the side walls of the body (3) and the ice cube tray (2) from the outside environment
Implementation Method 2
The channel (13) compresses the sealing members (4) on the side wall of the body (3) and facilitates the fixing of the sealing members (4) on the body (3)
Implementation Method 3
the sealing members (4) extend between the ice cube tray (2) and the side walls of the body (3) in an inclined manner. By means of the inclined configuration of the sealing members (4), splattering of the water inside the ice cube tray (2) onto the body (3) is made difficult
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising an ice making unit (5) wherein ice cubes are formed and that has an ice cube tray (2) that is moved by being rotated, a body (3) whereon the ice cube tray (2) is located and that encloses the ice cube tray (2) and more than one sealing member (4) that extends between the side walls of the body (3) and the ice cube tray (2).