Ice Bin Latch and Seal for Fresh-Food Icemaking Compartments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottom mount refrigerators lack an efficient and practical icemaking compartment within the fresh food compartment due to temperature and structural challenges, as the fresh food compartment is typically above freezing, requiring innovative insulation, airflow, and control systems, and existing solutions like U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,959 face issues with ice formation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A bottom mount refrigerator design with an insulated icemaking compartment within the fresh food compartment, utilizing a cold air duct from the freezer compartment to maintain temperatures between 0° and 32° F, featuring a separate icemaking compartment with a sealed front cover, integral or remote installation, and a control system for efficient icemaking and dispensing, including a fan for air flow management and an ice dispenser on the refrigerator door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an icemaking compartment is placed within the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator, then ice can be made and dispensed from the refrigerator compartment, but the temperature control becomes challenging since the fresh food compartment is normally above freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The fresh food compartment is segmented into two distinct thermal zones: the main fresh food storage area maintained at refrigerating temperatures (above freezing), and a separate icemaking compartment maintained at freezing temperatures (below 32°F). This segmentation allows each zone to have independent temperature control, enabling ice production within the refrigerator compartment without compromising the overall temperature stability of the fresh food storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated icemaking compartment acts as an intermediary space between the freezer and the main fresh food compartment. This intermediate zone is thermally isolated from the main fresh food compartment through insulation barriers, allowing it to be cooled to freezing temperatures via dedicated airflow passages from the freezer, while the main fresh food compartment remains at higher temperatures suitable for food storage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an icemaking compartment is added to the fresh food compartment, then ice dispensing is enabled, but the structural complexity and insulation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The icemaking compartment is merged with the existing refrigerator compartment structure, utilizing the refrigerator compartment door and existing wall spaces. The insulated front cover of the icemaking compartment integrates with the refrigerator door assembly, and the seal between the icemaking compartment and fresh food compartment utilizes existing gasket systems, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite adding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The front cover of the icemaking compartment serves multiple functions: it acts as a thermal barrier to maintain temperature differential, provides a mounting surface for the ice dispenser mechanism, and integrates with the refrigerator door sealing system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying the overall structure despite the added complexity of having a separate icemaking zone.
3Productivity
If a separate icemaking compartment is used with temperatures between 0° and 32° F., then effective ice making is achieved, but the compartment requires significant insulation and sealing to maintain temperature differential
Solution Approach 1:
The icemaking compartment is pre-cooled and thermally isolated from the main fresh food compartment before the ice making process begins. Insulation barriers are pre-installed around the icemaking compartment, and sealed passages are pre-configured to direct cold airflow from the freezer to the icemaking compartment, ensuring minimal thermal energy loss during operation and maintaining efficient ice production.
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
Enables efficient and convenient icemaking within the fresh food compartment of bottom mount refrigerators, improving energy efficiency, safety, and user convenience while maintaining a lower temperature than the refrigerator compartment but not as cold as the freezer, with a simplified control system and aesthetically pleasing design.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a cold air duct from the freezer compartment to maintain temperatures between 0° and 32° F
Implementation Method 2
an insulated icemaking compartment within the fresh food compartment
Implementation Method 3
featuring a separate icemaking compartment with a sealed front cover, integral or remote installation, and a control system for efficient icemaking and dispensing, including a fan for air flow management
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh focm 8od compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency, including movement of the damper between open and closed positions. An improved latch and seal are provided for the ice bin assembly to allow removal of the bin assembly and to ensure a positive seal between the bin assembly and the front cover of the ice compartment.