Clear Barrel Ice Maker with Vertical Mold and Selective Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers either produce cloudy or opaque ice or barrel-shaped ice, but not both, failing to meet consumer preferences for clear and cylindrical ice.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a mold body with vertically oriented mold cavities, a heater to maintain water in a lower portion as liquid, and a drain conduit to manage water flow, allowing chilled air to freeze water from the top down, forming clear barrel ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water is frozen in conventional mold cavities, then ice is produced, but the ice becomes cloudy or opaque
Solution Approach 1:
The mold cavity is segmented into two distinct zones: a lower portion with a heated floor that maintains water in liquid state, and an upper portion that freezes clear. This segmentation allows different thermal conditions in different regions, producing clear ice while maintaining reliable formation
Solution Approach 2:
The floor of the mold cavity is given special local quality by incorporating a heater that maintains higher temperature at the bottom. This creates a temperature gradient where the lower portion remains liquid while the upper portion freezes, ensuring clear ice formation without compromising reliability
2Shape
If conventional ice makers are used, then ice production is achieved, but the ice shape is not barrel-shaped
Solution Approach 1:
The mold cavity is designed with a curved, barrel-shaped geometry rather than flat or angular shapes. The cavity features a rounded bottom and tapered sides that converge toward the opening, naturally forming barrel-shaped ice when frozen from the top down
3Manufacturing precision
If heater is added to maintain liquid water at bottom, then clear ice is formed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater serves multiple functions: it maintains the floor temperature to prevent freezing, creates the temperature gradient necessary for clear ice formation, and facilitates ice release from the mold. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components
4Productivity
If drain conduit is added to manage water flow, then ice formation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain conduit extracts excess liquid water from the mold cavity, removing it from the system. This extraction prevents water from interfering with the freezing process and allows for continuous or repeated ice production cycles, improving overall efficiency
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 effectively produces clear and cylindrical ice barrels by maintaining water in a liquid state at the bottom of the mold cavities while freezing the top portion, resulting in purer ice and efficient ice formation.
Implementation Method 1
a heater in thermal communication with the floor of each mold cavity of the plurality of mold cavities. The heater is configured to maintain water within a lower portion of each mold cavity in a liquid state
Implementation Method 2
directing a flow of chilled air from the chilled chamber of the refrigerator towards openings of the plurality of mold cavities. As a result, the liquid water in an upper portion of each of the plurality of mold cavities freezes from the top down
Implementation Method 3
a drain conduit in fluid communication with the mold body and configured to receive a flow of liquid water from the mold cavities
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator (100) and an ice maker (160) therefore are provided. The ice maker (160) includes a mold body (170). A plurality of mold cavities (200) are defined in the mold body (170). Each mold cavity (200) extends between a floor (202) and an opening (206) along a longitudinal axis (A). Each mold cavity (200) is enclosed by at least one sidewall between the floor (202) and the opening (206). The longitudinal axis (A) of each mold cavity (200) is oriented generally along the vertical direction (VI). The ice maker (160) also includes a heater (182) in thermal communication with the floor (202) of each mold cavity (200) of the plurality of mold cavities (200). The heater (182) is configured to maintain water within a lower portion (207) of each mold cavity (200) in a liquid state. The ice maker (160) further includes a drain conduit (214) in fluid communication with the mold body (170) and configured to receive a flow of liquid water from the mold cavities (200).