Detachable Water Container Ice Maker for Controlled Water Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual ice makers face challenges in accurately supplying a predetermined amount of water to the ice making tray, often resulting in overflow and splashing during the water pouring process due to their complex structure and lack of reliable mounting systems.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with an improved ice maker design featuring a detachable water container with a movable cover that opens when mounted, utilizing a slide mechanism and guide surfaces to ensure precise water supply and prevent leakage, allowing for stable and controlled water distribution to the ice making tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is manually poured into the ice making tray, then the ice making process can be performed, but water may overflow or splash during the pouring process
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into a detachable water container and a mounting part with guide structures. The water container is separated from the ice making tray, and the mounting part includes a guide surface and guide groove that work together to control water flow, preventing overflow and splashing during the water supply process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting part acts as an intermediary between the water container and the ice making tray. It includes a guide surface and guide groove that mediate the water flow from the container to the tray, ensuring controlled dispensing and preventing harmful overflow and splashing effects.
2Device complexity
If a detachable water container is used, then the structure is simplified and reliability is improved, but the mounting structure must be reliable to prevent water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is designed to be self-aligning and self-sealing. When the water container is placed on the mounting part, the guide surface and guide groove automatically align the components, and the structure itself prevents leakage without requiring additional complex fastening or sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting part has localized guide surfaces and guide grooves that provide precise geometric control at the water discharge point. This local geometric design ensures reliable water flow control and prevents leakage without complicating the overall structure of the detachable container system.
3Ease of operation
If the water container cover is movable to open and close, then water supply control is improved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is extracted as a separate movable component from the water container body. This allows the cover to be independently mounted on the mounting part with simple guide structures, enabling easy opening and closing for water supply control without adding complex mechanisms to the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically open and close based on water supply needs. The mounting structure provides simple guidance for this motion, achieving operational flexibility without significant structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body in which a storage compartment is formed, a door to open and close the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided on the door to generate ice, wherein the ice maker includes a frame having a water container mounting part, an ice making tray provided on the frame and in which ice is generated, and a water container detachably mounted on the frame to supply water to the ice making tray, and wherein the water container is configured such that at least a portion of the water container is opened when mounted on the water container mounting part.