Integrated Auger Motor Assembly for Slide-In Icemaker Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct-cooling type icemakers face challenges with frost formation due to temperature differences, requiring complex installation and maintenance of refrigerant pipes in contact with ice making trays, which complicates assembly and repair.
Innovation Solution
An integrated auger motor assembly that includes an auger motor, ice making compartment fan, solenoid valve, and drain hose, allowing for easy installation and maintenance by sliding components in and out of the ice making compartment, reducing frost formation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a refrigerant pipe is directly contacted with the ice making tray to enable direct-cooling, then cooling speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for precise disposal and fixing of the refrigerant pipe inside the ice making compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant pipe is integrated into the ice making tray as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate disposal and fixing of the pipe inside the compartment. The tray and pipe form a combined assembly that simplifies installation while maintaining direct cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making compartment is divided into an ice making tray assembly (containing the refrigerant pipe) and a driving assembly (containing the auger motor). This segmentation allows the refrigerant pipe to be pre-assembled with the tray, reducing installation complexity while preserving the direct cooling benefit.
2Productivity
If the refrigerant pipe is disposed inside the ice making compartment to achieve direct contact with the ice making tray, then cooling efficiency is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates due to difficult access and complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making compartment is segmented into a removable ice making tray assembly and a driving assembly. The refrigerant pipe is integrated with the tray, allowing the entire tray assembly to be easily removed for maintenance without disassembling the refrigerant pipe connections, thus maintaining cooling efficiency while improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making tray assembly containing the refrigerant pipe is extracted as a separate removable unit from the driving assembly. This allows maintenance personnel to access and service the refrigerant pipe by simply removing the tray assembly, without needing to disassemble the entire ice making compartment, thereby improving maintenance accessibility while preserving cooling efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (auger motor, fan, solenoid valve, drain hose) are installed separately in the ice making compartment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and assembly quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components (auger motor, fan, solenoid valve, drain hose) are merged into a single integrated driving assembly that can be installed as one unit in the ice making compartment. This reduces assembly complexity and improves assembly quality while maintaining the adaptability of individual component functions through modular design within the integrated assembly.
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
Enhances assembly quality and facilitates maintenance by simplifying the installation and repair process, reducing frost issues and improving the efficiency of the ice making process.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant pipe is configured to make direct contact with an ice making tray of an ice maker so that the ice making tray may serve as a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
an air duct having a heat insulation member to surround the refrigerant pipe in the ice making compartment
Implementation Method 3
an auger motor assembly having an auger motor to drive the auger
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A structure of an auger motor assembly capable of easily installing an auger motor to drive an auger at an inside an ice making compartment, a solenoid valve to select whether to crush ice, an ice making compartment fan to flow the air at an inside the ice making compartment, and a drain hose to discharge the defrost water of the ice making tray to an outside the ice making compartment, so that the auger motor assembly is installed easily at an inside the ice making compartment by being inserted into the inside the ice making compartment through an open front surface of the ice making compartment in a sliding manner.