Ice-Crushing Device Stop Assembly to Prevent Crushed Ice Falling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ice crushing devices in refrigerators suffer from a low rate of supplying entire ice due to the fall of ice cubes, which is exacerbated by the addition of a slope at the ice outlet that reduces the entire ice supply rate.
Innovation Solution
An ice crushing device with a stop assembly is introduced, featuring a stopper and an elastic member that provides a restoring force to prevent crushed ice from falling without affecting the entire ice supply rate, and is designed to automatically return to its initial position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slope with certain height is added at the ice outlet to prevent ice cubes from falling, then the probability of ice cubes falling is reduced, but the entire ice is pressed into pieces between the movable ice cutters and the slope, reducing the entire ice supply rate
Solution Approach 1:
The stop assembly is segmented into multiple functional parts: a stopper member with stopping surface, an elastic member for providing restoring force, and a rotating shaft for movement. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently while working together to prevent ice cube falling without blocking the entire ice outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop assembly is designed as a dynamic structure where the stopper member can rotate around the rotating shaft. The elastic member provides restoring force to return the stopper to its initial position after being displaced by ice cubes. This dynamic design allows the stop assembly to adapt to different ice cube sizes and forces while maintaining its prevention function.
2Ease of operation
If the ice outlet is kept open for easy ice removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but ice cubes are prone to fall out when the ice box is taken out or the refrigerator shakes
Solution Approach 1:
The stop assembly acts as an intermediary element between the open ice outlet and the ice cubes. The stopper member positioned at the outlet forms a stopping surface that prevents ice cubes from falling while still allowing users to easily remove ice by pushing the stopper aside or rotating it. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between keeping the outlet open and preventing ice cube falling.
3Reliability
If the stop assembly is added to prevent crushed ice from falling, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop assembly is designed to be self-operating through the elastic member that automatically provides restoring force to return the stopper to its initial position after being displaced. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external actuators, motors, or complex control systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable prevention of crushed ice falling.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member is designed with specific geometric parameters including a stopping surface area of 30-70% of the ice outlet area and a height that creates an optimal stopping angle. These parameter optimizations ensure effective ice cube prevention while minimizing the size and complexity of the stop assembly structure.
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 stop assembly effectively prevents crushed ice from falling while maintaining the original ice supply rate, ensuring that the entire ice can be taken out without being pressed into pieces, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of the ice crushing device.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (72) which provides a restoring force so that the stopper (73) can automatically return
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention discloses an ice crushing device and a refrigerator. The ice crushing device comprises a housing assembly comprising a housing and an ice bank, an ice-discharging substrate being provided at the bottom of the ice bank, the ice-discharging substrate being provided with an ice-discharging port communicated with the ice bank; a driving mechanism for driving the ice bank or an ice cutter shaft to rotate; an ice crushing mechanism; a stop assembly; when the ice crushing device is in a first state, the stop assembly is in an initial state and a stopping surface is formed at the ice-discharging port to stop the ice cubes from falling; when the ice crushing device is in a second state, the stop assembly displaces or changes its shape under the action of an external force to release the stopping surface; after the external force disappears, the stop assembly returns to the initial state and forms the stopping surface again.