Ice Bank Joint Structure for Corrosion-Resistant Torque Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice bank driving unit joints made from sintered monolith stainless steel are heavy, difficult to process, and prone to corrosion due to nickel-plating exfoliation, increasing production costs and unit prices.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight ice bank joint featuring a plate portion made of plate-shaped stainless steel for strength and a reinforcing member, such as a plastic rim-shaped body, to enhance assembly simplicity and reduce corrosion, while maintaining sufficient rotational force delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the joint is formed by sintered monolith stainless steel, then sufficient strength against rotational force is secured, but the joint becomes heavy and difficult to process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength against rotational forceVSAvoidprocessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The joint is divided into two separate components: a body portion and a driving unit portion. These portions are connected through a simple assembly process rather than being integrally formed, which simplifies manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity and strength against rotational forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the outer surface of the joint is plated with Ni-P, then corrosion prevention is achieved, but processibility reduces and corrosion occurs when plating exfoliates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidprocessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The driving unit portion is extracted as a separate component that does not require plating. By separating this portion from the body, the need for Ni-P plating is eliminated, avoiding both the reduction in processibility and the corrosion issues that arise when plating exfoliates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If the joint is made from sintered monolith stainless steel, then sufficient strength is achieved, but the unit price increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidunit price

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the joint into separable body and driving unit portions enables simpler manufacturing processes and assembly, reducing production costs and unit price while maintaining the necessary strength through proper design of the connection interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driving unit portion is designed as a separate, simpler component that can be manufactured more economically. This portion does not require expensive plating processes, reducing overall material and processing costs while still fulfilling its functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2066990B1Refrigerator, ice bank and joint of the ice bank

Publication Date: 2015.11.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

Provided is an ice bank joint. The ice bank joint swiftly delivers rotational force from a motor to a transferring shaft installed inside an ice bank performing a function of transferring ice received inside the ice bank. The ice bank joint includes a plate portion and a reinforcing member. The plate portion has a driving part bent on at least one position, and the reinforcing member has a support part protruding from a position corresponding to the driving part to contact the driving part, thereby reinforcing the plate portion.