Refrigerator Ice Bank Transfer Layout for Lower Cooling Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face inefficiencies in ice production and storage, leading to increased power consumption and reduced storage capacity due to the need for continuous cool air supply to the ice making compartment, which also affects the cooling efficiency and storage space.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that includes an ice maker in the freezing compartment, a transfer device to move ice pieces to an ice bank in the refrigerating compartment door, and a cool air duct system that recirculates cool air from the ice bank back to the freezing compartment, optimizing ice production and storage while reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice maker is located in the refrigerating compartment, then the ice pieces can be stored in the ice bank within the same compartment, but the continuous supply of cool air to the ice making compartment reduces cooling efficiency and increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigerator into distinct functional zones: the freezing compartment houses the ice maker and provides cool air, while the refrigerating compartment stores the ice bank. This segmentation allows each compartment to perform its specialized function without continuous cross-contamination of cool air, reducing energy waste while maintaining easy ice accessibility in the refrigerating compartment.
2Quantity of substance
If the ice maker is located in the refrigerating compartment, then the ice pieces can be stored in the ice bank, but the storage capacity of the refrigerating compartment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ice making function from the refrigerating compartment and relocates it to the freezing compartment. The refrigerating compartment is dedicated solely to ice storage in the ice bank, while the freezing compartment houses the ice maker. This extraction resolves the space conflict by assigning separate functions to separate compartments, maximizing both ice storage capacity and general food storage space.
3Productivity
If continuous cool air is supplied to the ice making compartment, then the ice pieces can be continuously produced, but the cooling efficiency decreases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ice making function with the freezing compartment, which is already dedicated to cold storage. The freezing compartment's cooling system continuously produces cold air that naturally flows to the ice maker, eliminating the need for separate cool air supply systems. This merging maintains high ice production rates while improving overall cooling efficiency by avoiding redundant cooling operations.
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 ice making efficiency, reduces power consumption by minimizing continuous cool air supply to the ice making compartment, and increases storage capacity by utilizing the refrigerating compartment for ice storage, improving overall cooling efficiency and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a transfer member rotatably mounted inside the housing and configured to transfer the ice pieces within the housing
Implementation Method 2
a driving motor connected to a rotation shaft of the transfer member and configured to rotate the transfer member
Implementation Method 3
an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment and configured to make the ice pieces
Implementation Method 4
a cool air duct system that recirculates cool air from the ice bank back to the freezing compartment
Implementation Method 5
an ice bank that is disposed at the refrigerating compartment door, that defines an insulation space for storing the ice pieces
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a refrigerating compartment door opening or closing the refrigerating compartment, a dispenser disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to dispense water or ice pieces, and an ice bank disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to define an insulation space for storing the ice pieces dispensed by the dispenser. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment to make the ice pieces, a transfer device disposed in the freezing compartment to transfer the ice pieces supplied from the ice maker into the ice bank, and an ice chute connecting the transfer device to the ice bank.