Barrel Ice Maker Ejector Pad Mechanism Without Piston Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face challenges in producing and reliably harvesting barrel-shaped ice due to premature wear of seals caused by piston movement, which affects the efficiency and longevity of ice production.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring mold cavities shaped to form barrel-shaped ice, with an ejector pad and arms connected to a motor that moves between low and high positions to eject ice from the mold cavity, eliminating the need for seals at the piston location and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piston is used to push ice out of the mold cavity, then ice can be harvested from the mold cavity, but the seal at the piston location wears out prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston and seal components from the ice maker system entirely. Instead of using a piston to eject ice, the invention uses a different mechanism that eliminates the need for seals, thereby solving the wear and reliability problem while maintaining ice harvesting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional piston-based mechanical ejection system with an alternative mechanism that does not require seals. This substitution eliminates the harmful friction and wear associated with piston-seal interactions, improving system reliability
2Ease of operation
If a piston passes through the bottom of the mold cavity to eject ice, then ice can be pushed out, but the movement causes seals to wear out
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the piston component that causes seal wear. The ice ejection function is achieved through a different mechanism that does not involve a piston passing through the mold cavity bottom, thereby eliminating seal wear while maintaining ejection capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of pushing ice out from the bottom with a piston, the invention employs an alternative ejection approach that inverts the traditional mechanism, avoiding the need for seals and their associated wear problems
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
The solution enables reliable production and harvesting of barrel-shaped ice, enhancing the efficiency and longevity of the ice-making process by minimizing seal wear and improving ice ejection mechanics.
Implementation Method 1
A motor is in operative communication with the first arm and the second arm. The motor can move the ejector pad upward generally along the vertical direction from the low position to a high position proximate the opening of the mold cavity.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes a mold cavity. The mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. A first arm and a second arm are connected to opposite sides of an ejector pad and extend upward from the ejector pad. The ejector pad is movable via the first and second arms between a low position and a high position and can eject ice from the mold cavity when the ejector pad moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.