Carbonated Water Overflow Venting in Refrigerator Dispensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with carbonated water production functions require numerous sensors for pressure and water level monitoring, leading to increased size and potential spoilage issues due to the need for large components and storage of carbonated water.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design incorporating a detachable carbonated water container with a relief valve and discharge module, allowing for efficient overflow management and reduced component size, along with a nozzle module for improved carbon dioxide dissolution in water, enhancing safety and cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate carbonated water tank is provided with sensors for pressure and water level monitoring, then carbonated water production function is achieved, but the refrigerator size increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the carbonated water production function with the existing water dispenser system. The carbonated water tank integrates with the dispenser module, and the relief valve combines overflow discharge with pressure relief functions. This merging eliminates the need for separate monitoring sensors and reduces overall system size while maintaining carbonated water production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a pressure relief mechanism, an overflow discharge valve, and a safety device. By making this component multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate sensors for pressure and water level monitoring, thereby reducing the refrigerator size while achieving the carbonated water production function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate carbonated water tank is provided for storage, then carbonated water production is enabled, but carbonated water may be spoiled when kept for a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares purified water in advance and stores it in the water tank, then carbonates it on-demand when a user requests carbonated water through the dispenser. This preliminary preparation of base water without premature carbonation prevents spoilage while enabling quick carbonated water production when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve automatically monitors and releases excess pressure and overflow without requiring external sensors or control systems. This self-regulating mechanism ensures safe operation and maintains carbonated water quality by preventing over-pressurization and contamination, thereby improving reliability without adding complex monitoring components.
3Reliability
If numerous sensors are installed for pressure and water level sensing, then safe carbonated water production is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is designed to automatically detect and respond to pressure and overflow conditions without requiring external sensors. The valve's mechanical design includes a buoyancy-based float mechanism that self-activates when water level rises or pressure increases, providing safety through passive mechanical feedback rather than electronic sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the carbonated water tank and the external environment. It mediates pressure and overflow control through its buoyancy-based float mechanism, which translates internal tank conditions into automatic valve activation, thereby providing safety functionality without direct electronic sensor involvement.
4Reliability
If a relief valve is added to discharge overflow from the carbonated water container, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve integrates multiple safety functions into a single component: pressure relief, overflow discharge, and automatic shut-off. By combining these functions that could otherwise require separate devices into one unified valve mechanism, the patent improves safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve employs a buoyancy-based float mechanism that automatically activates the valve when water level rises or pressure increases, without requiring external sensors, controllers, or power sources. This self-service capability provides enhanced safety functionality while adding minimal complexity to the system.
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 design simplifies the carbonated water production process, reduces the refrigerator's size, and improves the safety and cleanliness of carbonated water production by efficiently managing overflow and enhancing the solubility of carbon dioxide in water.
Implementation Method 1
at least one relief valve which has one side facing the opening of the carbonated water container and discharges a discharging liquid which overflows from the carbonated water container to the discharge module
Implementation Method 2
a carbon dioxide supply module connected to the production module to supply carbon dioxide
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which includes a carbonated water production assembly, wherein the carbonated water production assembly includes a structure in which purified water or carbonated water which overflow from a carbonated water container (170) in which the carbonated water is produced is discharged by detouring. Through this, cleanliness of the carbonated water container may be improved, and safety may be improved during the carbonated water production.