Heated Ice Tray Ejector for Low-Energy Ice Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers consume high energy for ice production and separation, and the process of removing ice from the tray is inconvenient, leading to increased energy waste and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a semi-cylindrical ice tray with partition ribs, a brushless direct current motor, and a heating mechanism that facilitates easy ice separation and efficient energy use by optimizing heat transfer and air flow, allowing for automatic ice dispensing and reduced compressor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual ice tray is used in the freezing compartment, then the structure is simple and energy consumption is low, but ice separation is inconvenient and requires opening the freezing compartment door
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker automatically separates ice from the tray using an ejector mechanism that rotates to push ice cubes out, and automatically dispenses ice through a dispenser without requiring user intervention to open the freezing compartment door
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making system is divided into separate functional components: ice tray for freezing, ejector for separation, and dispenser for delivery, allowing automatic operation while maintaining simple manual ice tray structure
2Ease of operation
If an automatic ice maker with heater is used to facilitate ice separation, then ice separation becomes easy, but energy consumption increases due to heater operation
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates in advance during the ice making cycle to pre-warm the ice tray bottom, creating a temperature difference that facilitates automatic ice separation without requiring additional heating energy during the separation phase
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the ice tray bottom using the heater to create thermal expansion and contraction cycles that naturally separate ice from the tray, reducing the need for continuous high-energy heating
3Productivity
If heat transfer fins are added to improve ice-making performance, then ice making efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat transfer fins are added only to the bottom surface of the ice tray where heat exchange with the cooling plate is most critical, rather than covering the entire tray structure, thus improving ice making efficiency while minimizing added 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 solution enhances ice production efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies ice separation, improving the overall performance and convenience of the ice-making process.
Implementation Method 1
a heating mechanism that facilitates easy ice separation and efficient energy use by optimizing heat transfer and air flow
Implementation Method 2
the cool air is easily transferred to ices during ice making to increase an ice making amount and thus improve energy efficiency
Implementation Method 3
a brushless direct current motor, and a heater arranged below the ice tray to selectively heat the lower surface of the ice tray
Data Source
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AI summary
An ice maker is disclosed, which comprises an ice tray for receiving water to form ice; an ejector rotatably provided, rotating the ice formed by the ice tray to discharge the ice from the ice tray; and a motor for rotating the ejector, capable of performing forward and backward rotation,