Methods of producing clear ice shapes using suction, and apparatuses for performing same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clear icemakers require significant thermal insulation to produce clear ice, which increases the time needed to form the ice shape and can lead to cloudiness due to trapped air bubbles.

Innovation Solution

An icemaker with a suction device and replenishment system that draws a portion of the freezable liquid out of the mold cavity during freezing and simultaneously replenishes it, controlling the direction of freezing to exclude impurities and air bubbles, thereby eliminating cloudiness without the need for extensive thermal insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If directional freezing with thermal insulation is used to produce clear ice, then impurities are excluded from the ice, but the freezing time is significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclarity of iceVSAvoidfreezing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts impurities and air bubbles from the freezing water by applying suction to remove a first portion of water during the freezing process. This active removal mechanism replaces the passive thermal insulation method, achieving clear ice without the time penalty of extensive insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction device is activated during the freezing process to preemptively remove impurities before they can be trapped in the ice structure. By continuously extracting water containing air bubbles and impurities as freezing progresses, the method prevents cloudiness formation rather than relying on slow thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If thermal insulation is applied to control freezing direction, then clear ice is produced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclarity of iceVSAvoidinsulation structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal insulation mechanical system with a suction-based liquid removal system. Instead of using insulated walls and controlled thermal gradients to achieve directional freezing, the invention uses a suction device to actively manage water removal and impurity extraction, simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs hydraulic principles by using suction (negative pressure) to control the water removal process during freezing. The suction device creates a pressure differential that drives water out of the mold cavity, replacing the need for complex thermal insulation systems with a simpler pneumatic/hydraulic control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of manufacture

If water is allowed to freeze in place without removal, then the process is simple, but air bubbles are trapped causing cloudiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of processVSAvoidclarity of ice

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device operates continuously or periodically during the freezing process to continuously remove water containing impurities and air bubbles. This continuous action maintains clear ice formation throughout the freezing process while keeping the system relatively simple, avoiding the need for complex multi-stage processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 icemaker efficiently produces clear ice shapes by continuously removing impurities and air bubbles, resulting in clear, dense, and crystal-clear ice without the prolonged freezing times associated with traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

a suction device in fluid communication with the closed mold cavity and designed and configured to, during operation of the icemaker, draw a first portion of the freezable liquid out of the closed mold cavity during freezing of the freezable liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

causing the freezable liquid in the closed mold cavity to freeze in an inwardly direction relative to the closed mold cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS11774156B2Methods of producing clear ice shapes using suction, and apparatuses for performing same

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 WINTERSMITHS LLC

AI summary

An icemaker for making clear ice shapes using a process that removes and replenishes a freezable liquid, such as water, from and to one or more ice-mold cavities during freezing of the freezable liquid in the ice-mold cavity(ies). This process removes air bubbles from the freezable liquid during freezing that would otherwise result in cloudy ice. In some embodiments, the icemaker includes a suction system to draw freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and a replenishment system to replenish the cavity(ies) with freezable liquid to replace the freezable liquid that the suction system draws out of the cavity(ies). In some embodiments, the replenishment includes a reservoir containing freezable liquid and the suction system includes a pump that draws the freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and discharges it to the reservoir. Methods of making clear ice and other systems for making clear ice are also disclosed.