Extruded Ice Machine Die Mounting Without Radial Fastening Screws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making machines face issues with the instability and maintenance of the extrusion die due to axial and tangential forces, thermal stresses, and the need for radial fastening screws that weaken the structure and facilitate leakage, making it difficult to disassemble for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The ice making machine employs a flange with a series of holes for fastening screws and a ring with radially spaced seats and projections that secure the extrusion die without penetrating screws, using a rubber or Teflon gasket for a liquid-tight fit, allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and compensating for thermal deformations through existing clearances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial dowels or screws are used to fasten the die to the evaporator, then the die is securely mounted, but the structure of the evaporator is weakened and leakage points are created
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening function from the evaporator body by introducing a separate flange component. The die is mounted to the flange rather than directly to the evaporator, eliminating the need for penetrating fasteners through the evaporator wall. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure die mounting while preserving evaporator structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange acts as an intermediary component between the evaporator and the die. It provides mounting surfaces and fastening points without requiring holes through the evaporator body. The flange transfers the mounting function away from the evaporator structure, solving both the stability and integrity requirements simultaneously.
2Reliability
If screws are used to fasten the die, then the die is securely mounted, but differential thermal deformations can cause screw breakage or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening components are extracted from the thermal stress zone by mounting them on the flange rather than directly on the evaporator body. The flange is positioned away from the coldest areas, reducing thermal gradients and preventing differential expansion that would damage screws or dowels.
3Reliability
If the die is radially fastened to the evaporator, then the die is securely mounted, but maintenance operations become difficult as the die cannot be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into three separate components: the evaporator body, the flange, and the die. This segmentation allows the die to be easily detached from the flange during maintenance while the flange remains attached to the evaporator. The modular design resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and ease of maintenance.
4Ease of manufacture
If holes are provided in the evaporator wall for fastening, then the die can be mounted, but the evaporator structure is weakened and liquid leakage is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the evaporator body and relocated to the flange component. This eliminates the need for holes through the evaporator wall, preventing liquid leakage paths while maintaining the ability to securely mount the die through the flange's fastening holes.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for making extruded ice obtained by passing a mass of ice in granules through an extrusion die (20) arranged at the end of a main cooled drum (4). The latter at one end has a flange (10) upon which a ring (14) clamping the die is fastened. Thus, screws for fastening the die to the main drum are not required, so that operations for the machine maintenance and for replacing the die are considerably facilitated.