Dual-Tray Ice-Making System for Rapid Spherical Ice Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators take a long time to produce spherical ice, failing to meet user demands for faster ice production.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a dual ice-making tray system, comprising a first and second hemispherical ice-making cells that can form a spherical ice-making cell, controlled by a user interface and processor to selectively supply different amounts of water based on the chosen ice shape, enabling rapid production of spherical or hemispherical ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single hemispherical ice-making cell is used, then the structure is simple, but the ice production speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making tray is divided into a first tray and a second tray, each containing a hemispherical ice-making cell. By segmenting the single cell into two separate cells in separate trays, the system can produce spherical ice faster by forming two hemispheres simultaneously that can be combined, thus improving productivity without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The first ice-making cell and second ice-making cell are designed as nested hemispherical structures that can be coupled together. The first cell fits within or alongside the second cell, allowing both to occupy compact space while maintaining their individual hemispherical shapes for rapid spherical ice production
2Productivity
If spherical ice is produced using traditional methods, then the ice shape meets user demand, but the production time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-forms two hemispherical ice cells in separate trays simultaneously before combining them into a spherical ice product. This preliminary action of creating the two halves in parallel significantly reduces the total production time compared to forming a complete sphere in a single cell, as both hemispheres are prepared concurrently
Solution Approach 2:
The ice-making system dynamically switches between producing hemispherical ice (single tray) and spherical ice (dual trays coupled) based on user demand. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize production speed for spherical ice when needed while maintaining flexibility for other ice types, thereby reducing overall production time loss
3Productivity
If dual ice-making trays are coupled to form spherical ice cell, then ice production speed improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second ice-making trays are designed to be coupled together through a simple joining mechanism that merges the two hemispherical cells into a complete spherical ice-making cavity. This merging approach allows rapid spherical ice production by combining two simpler components rather than creating one complex single-cell structure, improving productivity while keeping individual component complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The dual tray system is designed with universal coupling capability where the same two trays can function independently for hemispherical ice production or be coupled together for spherical ice production. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized complex mechanisms, as the trays serve multiple purposes, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
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 system allows for faster production of spherical and hemispherical ice by optimizing water supply, addressing user demands for speed and variety.
Implementation Method 1
the ice-making tray is provided to form a spherical ice-making cell by allowing the first ice-making cell and the second ice-making cell to come into contact with each other by coupling the first ice-making tray and the second ice-making tray
Implementation Method 2
a water supply valve configured to open and close the water supply pipe, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the refrigerator to control the water supply valve to allow a first amount of water to be supplied to the spherical ice-making cell
Implementation Method 3
A refrigerator with a dual ice-making tray system, comprising a first and second hemispherical ice-making cells that can form a spherical ice-making cell
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, an ice-making tray disposed in the storage compartment, a first ice-making tray including a first ice-making cell in a hemispherical shape, a second ice-making tray coupled to the first ice-making tray and including a second ice-making cell in a hemispherical shape, wherein the ice-making tray is provided to form a spherical ice-making cell by allowing the first ice-making cell and the second ice-making cell to come into contact with each other by coupling the first ice-making tray and the second ice-making tray, a water supply pipe provided to supply water to the ice-making tray, a water supply valve configured to open and close the water supply pipe, a user interface configured to receive a user input to select a spherical ice production mode or a hemispherical ice production mode, memory storing one or more computer programs, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the user interface, and the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the refrigerator to, control the water supply valve to allow a first amount of water to be supplied to the spherical ice-making cell based on the selection of the spherical ice production mode, and configured to control the water supply valve to allow a second amount of water to be supplied to the spherical ice-making cell based on the selection of the hemispherical ice production mode.