Direct Cool Icemaker Defrost Using Radiant Heat in Drain Duct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct cool icemakers face issues with incomplete melting of frost unconnected to the mold body, leading to accumulated ice that prevents further ice production over time due to reliance on conductive heat transfer for defrosting.
Innovation Solution
A defrost heating element positioned within a drain duct below the mold body, generating radiant heat to completely melt frost without relying on conduction, ensuring thorough frost removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resistance heating element is used on the mold body to melt frost, then the mold body can be defrosted, but frost unconnected to the mold body is not completely melted and accumulates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a defrosting agent (heating element) positioned in the drain duct that acts as an intermediary to melt frost indirectly. The heating element melts frost through heat transfer via air convection and meltwater flow, rather than direct contact, allowing it to effectively remove unconnected frost that conventional direct-contact heating elements cannot address.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional direct-contact resistance heating element approach with an alternative defrosting mechanism positioned in the drain duct. This substitution changes the defrosting methodology from direct conductive heating to a combination of radiative and convective heating, enabling complete frost removal including unconnected frost.
2Device complexity
If conventional defrosting methods are used, then the structure is simple, but frost accumulates around the mold body preventing continuous ice production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the heating element from the traditional position on the mold body to a new spatial dimension within the drain duct below the mold body. This dimensional relocation allows the heating element to access and melt frost from a different perspective, effectively targeting unconnected frost that accumulates in the drain duct area.
3Reliability
If a heating element is placed in the drain duct, then complete frost melting is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain duct serves multiple functions: it collects meltwater from the mold body during normal operation and now also houses the defrosting heating element. By utilizing the existing drain duct structure for dual purposes, the patent avoids adding separate complex defrosting infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 reduces or delays frost buildup, ensuring continuous ice production by completely melting frost around the mold body, unlike conventional methods that often leave residual ice.
Implementation Method 1
A defrost heating element is positioned below the mold body and within the drain duct. The defrost heating element is spaced from the mold body. The defrost heating element is operable to melt frost on the mold body with radiant heat from the defrost heating element.
Implementation Method 2
Certain refrigerator appliance include an icemaker for generating ice cubes. Some icemakers, referred to as 'direct cool' icemakers, have a mold body that is cooled via conductive heat transfer to a refrigerant loop coupled to the mold body.
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaker assembly includes a mold body defining a plurality of cavities. A working fluid line is directly attached to the mold body, and a drain duct is disposed below the mold body. A defrost heating element is positioned below the mold body and within the drain duct. The defrost heating element is spaced from the mold body, and the defrost heating element is operable to melt frost on the mold body with radiant heat from the defrost heating element. A related appliance is also provided.