Door Ice Storage Layout for Uniform Refrigerator Ice Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators with ice-making units have inefficient use of space in the storage compartment, leading to reduced capacity and non-uniform ice discharge due to horizontal or vertical placement of ice storage containers and the placement of ice shredders and movers, which affects the amount and uniformity of ice supplied to the dispenser.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring an ice storage container with an inclined rear wall surface, rotating and supporting blades, and a driver with a gear assembly to move and shred ice cubes, along with a shaking lever and spiral blade to ensure uniform discharge and increased capacity, optimizing the use of space and improving ice distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the ice storage container is provided horizontally in the front-rear direction, then the ice storage container can be installed in the door, but it takes up a relatively large space in the storage compartment and reduces the capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice storage container capacityVSAvoidstorage compartment space

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ice storage container is changed from horizontal placement to vertical placement in the door, utilizing the vertical dimension space rather than occupying horizontal storage compartment space. This dimensional change allows the ice storage container to be positioned in the door structure, freeing up storage compartment space while increasing ice storage capacity through vertical stacking arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the ice storage container is provided vertically, then the capacity of the ice storage container increases, but the shredded ice piles up in the outlet path and the amount of ice discharged is not uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice storage container capacityVSAvoidice discharge uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ice storage container is divided into multiple compartments with separating partitions. This segmentation prevents shredded ice from piling up in the outlet path by creating separate discharge channels for different ice cubes, ensuring uniform ice discharge. The partitions guide ice cubes to exit one by one rather than allowing them to accumulate and discharge irregularly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet path is designed with a curved bottom surface instead of a flat or angular shape. This curvature prevents ice cubes from getting stuck or piling up at corners, allowing smooth and uniform discharge of shredded ice through the outlet. The rounded geometry facilitates consistent ice flow regardless of the vertical storage configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Volume of moving object

If the ice shredder and driver are provided in the lateral side of the ice storage container, then the ice can be shredded and discharged, but the capacities of the ice storage container and storage compartment decrease correspondingly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice storage container capacityVSAvoidice making unit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ice shredder and driver are integrated into the bottom structure of the vertical ice storage container rather than being separate lateral components. The shredding mechanism is combined with the outlet structure, and the driver is merged with the container's support framework. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional lateral space while maintaining the ice shredding and discharge functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver mechanism serves multiple functions: it supports the vertical ice storage container structure, provides the shredding action through integrated blades, and controls the discharge timing. By making the driver multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, reducing overall device complexity and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enhances spatial efficiency, increases the ice storage container capacity, and ensures a uniform amount of ice is supplied to the dispenser, preventing ice pileup and improving the overall performance of the ice-making unit.

Implementation Method 1

a rear wall surface forming an angle of inclination with respect to a level surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

an ice shredder which shreds the ice cubes supplied from the ice storage container into pieces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS7797961B2Refrigerator having improved ice-making unit configuration

Publication Date: 2010.09.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a refrigerator including a main body cabinet forming a storage compartment; a door operable to open and close the storage compartment; an ice tray provided in the door and capable of making ice cubes; and an ice storage container receiving the ice cubes made by the ice tray, and having an ice outlet formed in a lower part thereof and a rear wall surface forming an angle of inclination with respect to a level surface.