Refrigerator Ice Bank Weight Control to Prevent Ice Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with icemakers often face issues with ice accumulation in the ice bank, leading to jamming and inefficient ice management, as existing systems lack effective mechanisms to monitor and adjust ice levels dynamically based on usage patterns.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system equipped with a weight sensor to measure the ice bank's weight, a controller to determine ice variation over time, and a discharge device to melt and remove excess ice, along with a display unit to inform users of ice disposal needs, allowing for dynamic adjustment of ice production and removal based on usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the icemaker continuously produces ice until the ice bank is full, then the ice bank becomes full of ice, but ice becomes jammed in the ice bank
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a weight sensor to continuously monitor the weight of the ice bank and provides feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts the ice production based on this feedback, dynamically changing the ice determination reference value according to the measured weight variation over time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism prevents overfilling and jamming while optimizing ice storage quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice determination reference value is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller adjusts this reference value based on the variation in ice bank weight measured over time periods. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different usage patterns and prevent jamming while maximizing ice storage efficiency.
2Productivity
If the icemaker produces ice continuously, then ice storage capacity is maximized, but ice jamming occurs reducing system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensor continuously monitors ice bank weight and provides real-time feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the ice determination reference value, enabling the system to maintain high productivity while preventing jamming through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors its own ice bank weight and self-regulates ice production without external intervention. The controller uses the weight sensor data to autonomously adjust the ice determination reference value, enabling the system to self-manage ice production and prevent jamming.
3Device complexity
If a fixed ice determination reference value is used, then the control logic is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying usage patterns leading to inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ice determination reference value transitions from a fixed parameter to a dynamic one that changes based on measured weight variations over time. This dynamic approach adapts to varying usage patterns and improves ice management efficiency while adding only minimal complexity through the weight sensor and adjustment logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ice determination reference value parameter based on weight measurements. By adjusting this parameter dynamically according to actual ice bank conditions and usage patterns, the system optimizes ice management efficiency without requiring complex control algorithms.
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 solution enables efficient ice management by preventing jamming, optimizing ice storage according to usage, and informing users when ice disposal is necessary, thus maintaining refrigerator performance and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge device configured to melt the ice stored in the ice bank
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes an icemaker, an ice bank that is configured to store ice released from the icemaker, a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of the ice bank, and a controller configured to determine, based on weight measurements measured by the weight sensor, a variation in amount of ice stored in the ice bank during a set time period, and adjust an ice determination reference value based on the determined variation in the amount of ice stored in the ice bank during the set time period.