Cold Air Guide With Inclined Ribs for Uniform Ice Making

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice making in refrigerators is inefficient due to non-uniform cold air distribution, leading to longer ice production times.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a cold air guide system within the ice making compartment that directs and distributes cold air uniformly across the ice making tray, utilizing inclined guide ribs and a hollow guide body to concentrate and redirect cold air flow effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cold air is introduced into the ice making compartment without guidance, then the ice making compartment receives cold air, but the cold air distribution is non-uniform and ice making time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice making speedVSAvoidice making time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cold air guide acts as an intermediary device between the cold air inlet and the ice making tray. It receives cold air from the inlet and redirects it toward the tray, ensuring uniform distribution. The guide body with its specific geometry (inclined guide ribs, curved surfaces) mediates the airflow path, transforming the non-uniform cold air flow into a uniform distribution pattern that accelerates ice making while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If cold air is introduced directly without guidance, then the structure is simple, but the cold air distribution uniformity is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecold air distribution uniformityVSAvoidice making device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cold air guide implements local quality by creating different geometric features at different locations within the guide body. The inclined guide ribs are positioned specifically to redirect airflow at certain angles, while curved surfaces are located to enhance flow uniformity. This localized geometric variation ensures uniform cold air distribution across the ice making tray without requiring a completely complex overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enables faster and more uniform ice making by ensuring consistent cold air distribution across the ice making tray, reducing ice production time and enhancing user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

cold air introduced into the ice making compartment through the cold air inlet is guided by the cold air guide toward the ice making tray

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer by convection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

ice making tray provided at the ice making device and configured to receive and retain liquid be frozen into ice

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change from liquid to solid: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP2440866B1Refrigerator including ice making device
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2440866B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2440866B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2440866B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator, which includes an ice making compartment, an ice making device arranged in the ice making compartment, and an ice making tray provided at the ice making device and configured to receive and retain water to be frozen to make ice. The refrigerator also includes a cold air inlet (51 ) provided at the ice making compartment and configured to allow cold air to be introduced into the cold air compartment, and a cold air guide (60) configured to guide cold air from the cold air inlet (51 ) toward the ice making tray.