Refrigerator Ice Crusher Cooling Channel to Prevent Meltwater Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with ice making devices, melted ice can accumulate and cause water to flow into the dispenser, leading to inefficiencies and reliability issues due to temperature fluctuations and external air introduction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cool air supply channel that directs cooled air from the ice making chamber to the crushing chamber, preventing ice from melting and maintaining a consistent temperature, while also forming an ice movement path to guide ice to the dispenser and incorporating an ice crushing device to manage ice distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ice is stored in the ice bank and transferred to the crushing chamber, then ice can be supplied to the dispenser, but ice may melt and water flows into the dispenser
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the crushing chamber before ice is transferred to it. The cool air supply channel is activated beforehand to lower the temperature of the crushing chamber, ensuring that when ice arrives, the environment is already prepared to prevent melting. This proactive temperature preparation resolves the contradiction by maintaining ice integrity while enabling continuous supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The cool air supply channel acts as an intermediary element between the ice making chamber and the crushing chamber. It transfers cooled air from the ice making chamber through the insulating diaphragm to the crushing chamber, creating a thermal bridge that maintains appropriate temperature conditions without direct physical contact between the chambers. This intermediary mechanism prevents ice melting while enabling ice transfer.
2Ease of operation
If the crushing chamber is isolated from the ice making chamber, then ice crushing can be performed separately, but temperature control becomes difficult causing ice to melt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the refrigeration system into distinct functional chambers: the ice making chamber for ice production and the crushing chamber for ice crushing. These chambers are separated by an insulating diaphragm that provides both physical separation for independent operation and thermal connection for temperature control. This segmentation allows independent functionality while maintaining temperature stability through the cool air supply channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The cool air supply channel serves multiple functions: it provides thermal insulation between chambers, transports cooled air from the ice making chamber to the crushing chamber, and maintains temperature stability in the crushing chamber. This multi-functional element resolves the contradiction by enabling both separate operation and temperature control through a single integrated mechanism.
3Productivity
If a separate insulating diaphragm divides the ice making chamber from the refrigerating chamber, then ice making can be performed independently, but temperature control in the crushing chamber becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by utilizing cool air flow as a medium to transfer thermal energy from the ice making chamber to the crushing chamber. The cool air supply channel creates a controlled air flow path that carries cooled air across the insulating diaphragm, using gas dynamics to achieve temperature control without direct thermal contact. This pneumatic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling independent ice making while maintaining crushing chamber temperature through air-based heat transfer.
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 effectively prevents water from forming due to melted ice, enhances the reliability of the refrigerator by maintaining a consistent temperature in the crushing chamber and ensuring efficient ice distribution to the dispenser, thereby improving the overall performance and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a cool air supply channel to supply a part of the cool air supplied to the ice making chamber to the crushing chamber is provided in the ice making chamber door
Implementation Method 2
an ice maker provided in the ice making chamber and including an ice making tray to generate ice due to cool air supplied to the ice making chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a separate cool air supply channel formed in an ice making chamber door so as to supply cool air to a crushing chamber formed in the ice making chamber door, which is connected to the front portion of an ice bank storing ice dropped from an ice making tray, to open and close an ice making chamber, thereby preventing ice remaining in the crushing chamber from melting.