Clear Ice Tray Inversion Mechanism for Bubble-Free Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers produce cloudy ice due to trapped air, which affects the taste and appearance of beverages, and current methods to produce clear ice are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a thermally conductive floor, a flexible grid, and a thermoelectric plate, combined with a motor-driven system that rotates and inverts the grid to release ice cubes, allowing air bubbles to escape and promoting clear ice formation without the need for a drain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ice making process is used, then ice cubes are produced quickly and easily, but the ice cubes are cloudy due to trapped air
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker inverts the traditional freezing approach by freezing water from the bottom up rather than from the top down. The tray is rotated 180 degrees during freezing so that the bottom surface (in contact with the cold plate) forms clear ice first, while air bubbles rise and escape during the subsequent harvesting phase when the tray is returned to normal orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic rotation of the ice tray during the freezing and harvesting cycles. The tray rotates 180 degrees to invert the freezing direction, and the flexible grid rotates with the tray to enable ice release. This dynamic movement allows the same hardware to achieve both clear ice formation and easy harvesting without additional complex mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If clear ice is produced by agitating ice cube trays during freezing, then air bubbles escape and clear ice forms, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible grid serves multiple functions: it defines ice cube compartments during freezing, allows air bubbles to escape during the freezing process, and enables easy ice harvesting when rotated. The grid's flexibility and removability provide additional functionality for ice release without requiring separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic rotation of the ice tray during the freezing and harvesting cycles. The tray rotates 180 degrees to invert the freezing direction, and the flexible grid rotates with the tray to enable ice release. This dynamic movement allows the same hardware to achieve both clear ice formation and easy harvesting without additional complex mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If a drain is added to remove air bubbles during freezing, then clear ice can be produced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows air bubbles to escape naturally during the freezing process through the flexible grid structure without requiring an active drain system. The grid's design enables passive air removal as water freezes from the bottom up, eliminating the need for pumps, valves, or drain mechanisms while still achieving clear ice production.
4Shape
If the grid is made rigid to maintain compartment shape, then ice cube geometry is precise, but ice harvesting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The grid is constructed from flexible material that maintains its structural integrity and compartment definition during the freezing process, ensuring precise ice cube geometry. During harvesting, the grid's flexibility allows it to be rotated and flexed, enabling easy ice cube release without damaging the ice or requiring excessive force.
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 ice by removing air bubbles during the freezing process, resulting in clearer and more aesthetically pleasing ice cubes that enhance the enjoyment of beverages, while also being cost-effective for consumer use.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric plate positioned in thermal contact with the floor of the basin
Implementation Method 2
a water basin with a thermally conductive floor
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making tray has a water basin with a thermally conductive floor and a flexible grid positioned therein to define a plurality of ice making compartments. A motor is coupled to the basin to rotate the basin and grid to an inverted position, and a link is coupled between the motor and drive such that the grid is rotatable out of the basin and is flexed to release ice cubes formed therein.