Drainless Clear Ice Maker with Dual Reservoir Water Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Icemaker appliances with external drain lines are costly and difficult to install, and they require user intervention to remove leftover water with high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) that cannot form clear ice, making them inefficient for producing clear ice without waste.
Innovation Solution
An icemaker appliance design that recirculates and reuses water within the device, utilizing a dual reservoir system and circulation systems to manage water with varying TDS levels, allowing for continuous clear ice production without an external drain, and includes a controller to regulate the water distribution and recycling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external drain line is used to dispose of excess water, then the icemaker can effectively manage water with high TDS, but the installation becomes expensive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drain line connection from the icemaker system, eliminating the need for external drainage infrastructure. The water recycling system processes and reuses water internally without requiring connection to municipal drainage systems, thereby simplifying installation while maintaining water management capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the water supply function and water disposal function into a single integrated water recycling system. The same water reservoir and circulation system that supply water to the ice mold also collect and recycle excess water, eliminating the need for separate drain lines and reducing installation complexity
2Reliability
If an external drain line is installed for water disposal, then excess water can be removed, but cleaning the icemaker becomes burdensome and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water supply reservoir and water disposal functions into a single integrated system. The water reservoir serves dual purposes: supplying water to the ice mold and collecting excess water for recycling, eliminating separate drain components that would require cleaning and simplifying maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The water recycling system automatically manages excess water removal and recycling without requiring user intervention for drain line maintenance or cleaning. The system self-regulates water circulation and recycling, reducing the cleaning burden on users
3Manufacturing precision
If potable municipal water is used in the icemaking process, then clear ice can be formed, but leftover water with high TDS accumulates and must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers excess water with high TDS that would normally be discarded through drain lines. The water recycling system collects this leftover water and recirculates it back to the ice mold, allowing continued clear ice production without wasting water or requiring disposal through external drains
Solution Approach 2:
The water recycling system enables continuous useful action by constantly recirculating water from the reservoir back to the ice mold. This continuous circulation allows the icemaker to maintain clear ice production without interruption from TDS accumulation, eliminating the need to stop and drain water
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
Enables efficient production of clear ice by recycling water, reducing installation complexity and user maintenance, while eliminating the need for external drainage, thus improving operational efficiency and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a first circulation system provided in the first reservoir, the first circulation system configured for supplying liquid from the first reservoir to the first ice mold
Implementation Method 2
heat transfer between liquid water in the ice maker and refrigerant of the sealed system generates ice
Implementation Method 3
water from the water supply may flow to the ice maker within the icemaker appliances... generates ice
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaker appliance includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a first circulation system associated with the first reservoir, and a second circulation system associated with the second reservoir. Liquid in the first reservoir is directed toward a first set of ice molds and liquid from the second reservoir is directed toward a second set of ice molds. Liquid in the first reservoir is selectively supplied to the second reservoir.