Door Icemaker Tray Rotation to Prevent Water Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of an icemaker in a refrigerator's door compartment often results in water overflow when the door is opened and closed, leading to damage and reduced storage space, and existing solutions like water overflowing preventing covers hinder the icemaker's rotation.
Innovation Solution
An icemaker with a rotating tray and a water overflowing preventing member disposed around or adjacent to the tray, which rotates with the tray to prevent water overflow and is designed to return to its initial position by self-gravity, allowing for seamless door operation and ice discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the icemaker is installed in the door of the freezing compartment, then the storing space is sufficiently secured, but water stored in a tray may overflow when the door is opened and closed
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflowing preventing member is designed to rotate together with the tray, changing from a static cover to a dynamic component that moves with the tray during door opening/closing operations, preventing water overflow while allowing tray rotation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a water overflowing preventing cover is installed on the icemaker, then water overflow is prevented, but it is difficult to rotate the icemaker as the icemaker trips over the cover
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflowing preventing member is configured to rotate together with the tray, transforming from a fixed obstacle to a moving component that follows the tray's rotation, thereby eliminating interference with tray rotation while maintaining water overflow prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The water overflowing preventing member is integrated with the tray rotation mechanism, combining the water prevention function with the rotation motion, allowing both functions to coexist without interference
3Device complexity
If the icemaker is installed in the freezing compartment, then the icemaker structure is simple, but the storing space of the freezing compartment is reduced by the space occupied by the icemaker
Solution Approach 1:
The icemaker is relocated from the freezing compartment interior to the door, utilizing the door space dimension, thereby preserving the freezing compartment's storing space while maintaining the icemaker's functionality with the added benefit of door opening/closing driven rotation
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
Prevents water overflow and allows the icemaker to rotate freely, preventing contamination and electrical issues while maintaining storage space, by integrating the water preventing member with the tray's rotation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the water overflowing preventing member rotating together with the tray when the tray rotates
Data Source
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AI summary
An icemaker is provided, a water overflowing preventing member is provided to be capable of rotating together with a tray. Therefore, the overflowing of the water can be prevented when the door is opened and closed and ice is discharge from the tray as the tray rotates.