Refrigerator with an ice bank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with ice banks equipped with ice-crushing units face challenges in installation due to increased thickness, making them difficult to mount and detach from the door, and there is a risk of ice cubes being discharged during detachment.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring an ice bank with a detachable-mounting apparatus and a mode conversion system that allows ice cubes to be dispensed in either non-crushed or crushed states, ensuring easy mounting and detachment without ice cube discharge, using a guide member and elastic support for controlled ice cube dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an ice-crushing unit is added to the ice bank, then ice cubes can be dispensed in crushed state, but the ice bank thickness increases making it difficult to mount and detach from the door
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bank is divided into modular components: a detachable ice bank body containing the ice-crushing unit, and a separate mounting base. This segmentation allows the ice bank to be installed only when ice-crushing functionality is needed, reducing the effective thickness issue during normal operation while providing versatility when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice bank is designed with detachable mounting features that allow it to be dynamically installed and removed from the door. The mounting base includes engagement structures that securely attach the ice bank body when needed, and release mechanisms that allow easy removal, transforming the static thickness problem into a dynamic solution.
2Ease of operation
If the ice bank is made detachable for easy installation, then mounting flexibility improves, but ice cubes may be discharged during detachment
Solution Approach 1:
Before detachment occurs, a cover member is automatically positioned to close the discharge opening of the ice bank. This preliminary action prevents ice cubes from falling out during the detachment process, while still allowing easy mounting and removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary element between the ice bank body and the external environment during detachment. It temporarily seals the discharge opening, mediating the transition between mounted and detached states without losing ice cubes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a mode conversion system is added to control ice cube dispensing, then ice cube size control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mode conversion system uses a movable guide member that can be dynamically positioned in different locations within the ice bank. By simply changing the position of this single component, the system switches between different ice cube dispensing modes without requiring complex mechanisms or multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member serves multiple functions: it guides ice cubes to the discharge opening, controls ice cube size by adjusting its position, and can be moved to different locations to create different dispensing modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ice bank for a refrigerator, comprises: an ice bank body having an ice-crushing unit and a discharging passage; and a mode conversion apparatus disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or guiding the ice cubes to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state, wherein the mode conversion apparatus comprises: a guide member rotatably disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state; an elastic member for elastically supporting the guide member; and a driving unit for generating a driving force so as to rotate the guide member. Accordingly, ice cubes can be dispensed in a non-crushed state or in a crushed state, and limitations in installation places of the ice bank can be reduced.