Freezer Door Ice-Making Assembly for Space-Saving Ice Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have a limited freezing space due to the integration of the ice maker and ice bank within the freezing chamber, leading to increased cold air loss when accessing ice, and require complex installation processes for the ice-making assembly.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making assembly is integrated into the freezing chamber door, featuring an ice-making chamber, water bucket, and ice bank, with a home-bar door for easy access and automatic water supply, utilizing a coupling mechanism for secure attachment and a lever system for ice tray rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and ice bank are integrated into the freezing chamber, then the ice-making function is provided, but the freezing space is reduced and cold air loss increases when accessing ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making assembly is segmented from the main freezing chamber and integrated into the freezing chamber door. The door is divided into a first door body and a second door body, with the ice-making assembly housed in a dedicated space on the second door body. This segmentation allows the freezing chamber interior to be fully utilized for food storage while the ice-making function is provided in the door structure, thereby increasing the effective freezing space.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice-making assembly is relocated from the three-dimensional interior space of the freezing chamber to the two-dimensional plane of the freezing chamber door. By utilizing the door structure as the housing for the ice-making chamber and ice bank, the invention transforms the spatial arrangement, allowing the ice-making components to occupy space that would otherwise be structural rather than functional storage space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and ice bank are integrated into the freezing chamber, then the ice-making function is provided, but cold air loss increases when the freezing chamber door is opened to access ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bank is extracted from the main freezing chamber interior and placed in a dedicated ice bank chamber on the freezing chamber door. This extraction allows ice to be accessed by opening only the ice bank door (a smaller, separate door on the door assembly) rather than opening the entire freezing chamber door, thereby minimizing cold air loss when accessing ice.
Solution Approach 2:
The freezing chamber door assembly acts as an intermediary structure that houses the ice-making and ice storage functions separately from the main freezing chamber. By providing a dedicated ice bank chamber with its own access door on the door assembly, the invention creates an intermediate access point that allows ice retrieval without direct opening of the freezing chamber, reducing energy loss.
3Volume of stationary object
If the ice-making assembly is provided on the freezing chamber door, then the freezing space is increased, but the installation process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making assembly is merged with the freezing chamber door assembly as an integrated unit. The ice-making chamber, water bucket, ice bank, and mounting structures are combined into a single assembly that is installed as one unit on the freezing chamber door. This merging simplifies the installation process compared to installing separate components, while still providing the benefit of increased freezing space.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a water bucket is provided above the ice-making chamber, then water supply is enabled, but the water bucket may move freely and installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Installation guide means are provided that include guide protrusions on the water bucket and corresponding guide recesses on the ice-making assembly. These guide features are pre-formed during manufacturing to align and guide the water bucket into its correct position during installation, preventing free movement and ensuring proper installation without requiring complex adjustment procedures.
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
This design enhances space utilization, reduces cold air loss during ice retrieval, simplifies installation, and improves operational efficiency by allowing ice access without opening the freezing chamber door and automating water distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a water supply hole which is opened when the water bucket is installed, so that water in the water bucket is automatically introduced into an ice tray
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a freezing chamber door provided with an ice-making assembly. Ice made by the ice-making assembly can be immediately drawn out to the outside by opening an exclusively used home-bar door. In addition, an ice-making case is coupled by a coupling formed integrally with the freezing chamber door and the ice-making case without a coupling tool or operation. Moreover, if a water bucket is installed to the ice-making case, a water supply hole of the lower end of the water bucket is opened by an opening and closing structure, so that water in the water bucket is automatically supplied to an ice tray. In addition, an ice-separating lever having a ⊂ shape is provided to simultaneously rotate a plurality of ice trays. Meanwhile, an ice bank cooperates with the home-bar door to be drawn out forward as the home-bar door is opened.