Ice crushing device and refrigerator
Solution Overview
Problem
Ice cubes stored in a refrigerator's barrel-shaped container tend to freeze together due to prolonged contact, leading to the need for a solution to prevent this sticking and ensure easy access to either crushed or whole ice cubes.
Innovation Solution
An ice crushing device with a rotatable ice knife assembly and an ice cube separation structure, where the rotary shaft drives the movable ice knife to rotate in different directions, applying shear force to break and separate ice cubes, preventing them from freezing together by optimizing the stirring effect and ensuring efficient ice cube access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stirring structure is set in the barrel-shaped container to make ice cubes move, then ice cubes do not freeze together, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice knife assembly serves multiple functions: it can rotate in a first direction to crush ice cubes and in a second direction to separate frozen ice cubes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate stirring and crushing mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining ice cube separation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The ice knife assembly is designed to be rotatable in two opposite directions, allowing dynamic adaptation between crushing mode and separation mode. This dynamic operation enables the same structure to perform different functions based on operational requirements, avoiding the need for additional dedicated stirring components
2Productivity
If the ice knife assembly rotates in the first direction to crush ice cubes, then crushed ice is produced, but frozen ice cubes cannot be separated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses bidirectional rotation of the ice knife assembly to dynamically switch between crushing function (first direction) and separation function (second direction). This allows the same mechanical structure to serve multiple purposes depending on the operational mode required
Solution Approach 2:
The ice knife assembly is designed as a universal component that performs both ice crushing and frozen ice cube separation through controlled rotation in different directions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each function
3Ease of operation
If the ice knife assembly rotates in the second direction to separate frozen ice cubes, then ice cube access is enabled, but ice crushing cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the rotation direction of the ice knife assembly based on the desired operation: rotating in the second direction for separation to enable easy ice cube access, and in the first direction for crushing. This dynamic control allows the same structure to optimize for different operational goals
4Quantity of substance
If ice cubes are stored in the barrel-shaped container for a long time, then sufficient storage is achieved, but ice cubes freeze together
Solution Approach 1:
The ice knife assembly performs preliminary separation action on ice cubes stored in the container by rotating in the second direction. This preliminary action prevents frozen ice cubes from blocking the outlet, ensuring reliable ice cube access even after prolonged storage
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by periodically or on-demand rotating the ice knife assembly in the second direction to separate frozen ice cubes during storage periods, ensuring the ice cubes remain accessible without requiring additional stirring mechanisms
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
The device effectively prevents ice cubes from freezing together, allowing for easy access to either crushed or whole ice cubes by enhancing the stirring effect and ensuring the ice crushing device operates efficiently, reducing the likelihood of ice cubes blocking the outlet when accessing complete ice cubes.
Implementation Method 1
the ice cubes in the ice storage container can be broken under the shear force of the movable ice knife and the fixed ice knife
Implementation Method 2
the frozen ice cubes can be separated under the cooperation of the movable ice knife and the ice cube separation structure
Data Source
AI summary
An ice crushing device includes an ice storage container and an ice knife assembly arranged in the ice storage container. The ice knife assembly includes a rotary shaft, a fixed ice knife, a movable ice knife and an ice cube separator, the rotary shaft is capable of driving the movable ice knife to rotate, the fixed ice knife and the ice cube separator are located at two sides of the rotary shaft separately, and the fixed ice knife and the ice cube separator are both fixed relative to the ice storage container.