Dual-Tray Ice Maker Assembly to Reduce Water Leakage and Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers struggle to produce transparent ice with uniform transparency and prevent water leakage and overflowing during the ice making process, as heat transfer between tray assemblies can disrupt ice formation and lead to opaque ice due to incomplete bubble removal.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a first and second tray assembly with extension parts to reduce heat transfer and water leakage, featuring a heater to control ice formation, and a controller to manage the ice making process, ensuring uniform transparency and efficient water management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a heater is disposed on one tray assembly to control ice formation, then transparent ice can be produced by managing heat transfer, but heat may be transferred to the adjacent tray assembly disrupting ice formation and producing opaque ice
Solution Approach 1:
A partition wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the first and second tray assemblies. This partition wall physically blocks and isolates the heat transfer path from the heater on one tray assembly to the adjacent tray assembly, preventing heat interference that would disrupt ice formation and cause opaque ice, thereby maintaining uniform ice transparency.
2Productivity
If water is supplied to the ice making cell during the ice making process, then ice production continues, but water may leak between tray assemblies and overflow from the ice maker
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall serves as an intermediary barrier that not only isolates heat transfer but also prevents water leakage between the first and second tray assemblies. By blocking the path through which water could leak, the partition wall ensures reliable operation during continuous water supply while maintaining ice making productivity.
3Productivity
If both upper and lower cells make ice simultaneously, then ice production efficiency is maintained, but bubbles are not completely discharged and opaque ice is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making system is segmented into separate zones using the partition wall, which divides the ice making cell into first and second tray assemblies. This segmentation allows independent control of ice formation in each zone, enabling complete bubble discharge in one tray while the other makes ice, thus producing transparent ice while maintaining overall production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by alternately making ice in the first and second tray assemblies rather than simultaneously. The partition wall enables this periodic operation where one tray makes ice while the other can be used for bubble discharge or preparation, ensuring transparent ice production while maintaining continuous ice making capability.
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 produces transparent ice with uniform transparency by minimizing heat transfer and water leakage, preventing overflowing, and maintaining consistent ice making rates through controlled heating and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly
Implementation Method 2
a cooler supplying cold air to the ice making cell
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator according to the present invention may comprise a first tray assembly forming one part of ice-making cells, and a second tray assembly forming the other part of same. Any one tray assembly, from among the first and second tray assemblies, comprises a first part forming at least a part of the ice-making cells, and a second part extending from a set point on the first part so as to reduce water supplied to the ice-making cells from leaking through a space between the first and second tray assemblies.