Water-Soluble Defrost Drain Seal for NoFrost Evaporator Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defrost water channels in cooling devices, such as NoFrost devices, allow ambient air and moisture to enter the evaporator before startup or until the siphon is filled, leading to potential freezing issues and biological growth due to conventional membrane structures that are prone to clogging.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble channel sealing means, like a starch film, is used to temporarily seal the defrost water channel, which dissolves upon contact with water, preventing ambient air and moisture from entering and incorporating a substance to inhibit biological growth, ensuring easy and inexpensive assembly and environmental compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is used to seal the defrost water channel, then ambient air and moisture are prevented from entering the evaporator, but the membrane structure is susceptible to biological growth and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the sealing means from a permanent membrane to a water-soluble material. This parameter change allows the sealing means to dissolve after serving its temporary purpose, eliminating the medium for biological growth while maintaining the function of preventing ambient air and moisture entry during the critical startup phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable sealing means made of water-soluble material that serves its function temporarily during startup and then dissolves. This disposable approach eliminates the long-term presence of membrane structures that are susceptible to biological growth, while providing reliable temporary sealing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the defrost water channel is left open for assembly simplicity, then connection and assembly are easy and inexpensive, but ambient air can flow through the channel to the evaporator and freeze it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing a pre-formed water-soluble sealing means into the defrost water channel before assembly. This allows the channel to be open and accessible during assembly (maintaining ease of manufacture), while the pre-positioned sealing means prevents ambient air from reaching the evaporator. The sealing action occurs automatically when water contacts it after assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble sealing means acts as an intermediary element that temporarily blocks the defrost water channel during the startup phase. It mediates between the need for an open channel during assembly and the need to prevent ambient air flow during operation, dissolving automatically when water contacts it.
3Reliability
If a conventional membrane is used to seal the channel, then ambient air is blocked, but the membrane structure promotes biological growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional non-degradable membrane to water-soluble material. This parameter change maintains the sealing function while dramatically improving environmental compatibility, as the sealing means dissolves into harmless substances after serving its purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a disposable water-soluble sealing means that fulfills its sealing function temporarily and then dissolves. This approach improves environmental compatibility by eliminating persistent membrane structures, while maintaining reliable sealing during the critical startup period.
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 prevents ambient air and moisture from reaching the evaporator, reducing biological growth risks and simplifying the connection and assembly of cooling devices, while ensuring the channel sealing means is environmentally friendly and degradable.
Implementation Method 1
A water-soluble channel sealing means, which is designed as a film, in particular a starch film
Implementation Method 2
A siphon is integrated in the defrost water duct to prevent ambient air from flowing into the cold store via the defrost water duct
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to channel closure means for a defrosting water channel of a refrigeration device, in particular a NoFrost refrigerating device, said channel closure means being water-soluble. The invention also relates to a defrosting water channel of a refrigerating device, said defrosting water channel comprising said claimed channel closure means. The invention further relates to a refrigerating device, in particular a NoFrost refrigerating device, comprising said claimed defrosting water channel.