Door-Mounted Ice Making Assembly with Integrated Fill Tube Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator appliances with icemakers that form clear ice require additional heaters and electrical connections, increasing cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An ice making assembly with a heating assembly comprising a heating element and a heat sink thermally coupled to a fill tube and ice making chamber, controlled by a controller to regulate temperature for forming clear ice without additional heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional heaters and insulation are used to maintain higher localized temperatures for clear ice making, then ice clarity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating functions for the fill tube and ice making chamber into a single integrated heating element. The heating element is positioned to simultaneously heat water in the fill tube and the chamber air, eliminating the need for separate heating components and reducing system complexity while maintaining the temperature control needed for clear ice formation
Solution Approach 2:
The single heating element serves multiple functions: it heats the water in the fill tube to prevent freezing during water supply, and simultaneously heats the ice making chamber air to maintain higher localized temperatures for clear ice formation. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of components needed
2Manufacturing precision
If additional heaters and electrical connections are added to control localized temperature, then ice clarity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating functions for the fill tube and ice making chamber into a single integrated heating element. The heating element is positioned to simultaneously heat water in the fill tube and the chamber air, eliminating the need for separate heating components and reducing system complexity while maintaining the temperature control needed for clear ice formation
Solution Approach 2:
The single heating element serves multiple functions: it heats the water in the fill tube to prevent freezing during water supply, and simultaneously heats the ice making chamber air to maintain higher localized temperatures for clear ice formation. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of components needed
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
Facilitates the formation of clear ice with reduced cost and complexity by using a single heating element for both the fill tube and ice making chamber, maintaining optimal temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heating assembly comprising a heating element and a heat sink that are thermally coupled to the fill tube, wherein the heating element is selectively energized to heat the water flowing through the fill tube
Implementation Method 2
a heating assembly comprising a heating element and a heat sink that are thermally coupled to the fill tube
Implementation Method 3
an ice tray mounted to the icemaker frame assembly and defining a plurality of mold cavities for receiving water that is formed into ice
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet and rotatable between a closed position enclosing the chilled chamber and an open position providing access to the chilled chamber, and an ice making assembly mounted to the door of the refrigerator appliance. The ice making assembly includes an icemaker frame assembly mounted to the door and defining an ice making chamber, an ice tray mounted to the icemaker frame assembly and defining a plurality of mold cavities for receiving water that is formed into ice, a fill tube for selectively supplying the water into the ice tray, and a heating assembly comprising a heating element and a heat sink that are thermally coupled to the fill tube, wherein the heating element is selectively energized to heat the water flowing through the fill tube and the ice making chamber.