Refrigerator Ice Crusher Structure to Prevent Clogging and Ice Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice crushing devices in refrigerators face issues such as ice cubes dropping out due to shaking, iron chips contaminating the ice, and clogging from frozen ice cubes, leading to reduced crushing efficiency and potential mechanical sticking.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a housing assembly with a rotating ice bucket, an ice crusher featuring movable and fixed cutters with three blades each, and ice agitating rods to prevent clogging, along with a gear system and a slope on the ice-discharging plate to prevent ice cubes from falling, and a gear assembly to ensure efficient power transmission and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If gears are used in the driving mechanism, then power transmission is achieved, but iron chips fall off and contaminate the ice cubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful gears from the ice crushing system. The driving mechanism is replaced with a direct drive system where the motor connects directly to the ice bucket without intermediate gears, eliminating the source of iron chip contamination while maintaining power transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new intermediary mechanism (direct coupling structure) between the motor and ice bucket that transmits power without the harmful intermediate gears. This mediator eliminates contamination while preserving the necessary power transmission function
2Productivity
If ice crushing amount per time is increased, then productivity improves, but the ice crushing mechanism might get stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ice crushing process by providing multiple ice cutters (at least two) that work simultaneously or sequentially. This divides the total crushing load into smaller portions, maintaining high productivity while preventing any single cutter from becoming overloaded and stuck
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple ice cutters that can operate with partial engagement or staggered timing, allowing the system to process large amounts of ice without requiring all cutters to handle the full load simultaneously, thus preventing mechanical sticking
3Quantity of substance
If ice cubes are frozen together at the top, then storage is efficient, but the ice crushing mechanism gets stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an ice unblocking mechanism that performs preliminary action to separate frozen-together ice cubes before they reach the crushing zone. This preventive measure ensures that even when ice cubes are stored frozen together, they are separated in advance to prevent mechanism sticking
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the ice bucket and cutter arrangement to allow the crushing mechanism to skip through or bypass frozen blocks of ice rather than getting stuck. The mechanism can jump over frozen sections and continue crushing, maintaining reliability despite frozen storage conditions
4Ease of operation
If the ice bucket rotates, then ice discharge is facilitated, but ice cubes may drop out due to shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the ice bucket with features that counteract the shaking effect before it causes ice cubes to drop. This includes vibration isolation elements and secure positioning features that prevent ice displacement during the necessary rotation for discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ flexible sealing elements or damping materials in the ice bucket structure that allow necessary movement for discharge while absorbing vibrations that would cause ice cubes to become loose and drop out
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 configuration enhances ice crushing efficiency by preventing ice cubes from falling and reducing the risk of mechanical sticking, while maintaining a high ice crushing rate and ensuring cleanliness by preventing iron chips and crushed ice from entering the gear system.
Implementation Method 1
an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket... each movable ice cutter comprises three blades evenly distributed in the circumferential direction... the ice crusher further comprises three ice agitating rods connected to the ice cutter shaft
Implementation Method 2
a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate... the housing assembly further comprises an ice-discharging plate provided at a bottom of the ice bucket, the ice-discharging plate is provided with an ice-discharging port communicated with the ice bucket
Data Source
AI summary
An ice crushing device and a refrigerator are provided, the ice crushing device includes a housing assembly including a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; wherein the ice crusher includes an ice cutter shaft fixed with respect to the housing, and several movable ice cutters and several fixed ice cutters disposed on the ice cutter shaft at an interval, each movable ice cutter includes three blades evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, the ice crusher further includes three ice agitating rods connected to the ice cutter shaft, the three ice-agitating rods are fixed corresponding one to one with the three blades, and at least one of the blades or one of the ice agitating rods is fixed relative to circumferential direction of the ice bucket.