Rotating Ice Divider Assembly to Prevent Chute Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical spray-type ice making machines face issues with water leakage and ice adhesion due to surface tension between the divider and ice chute, leading to reduced ice capacity and potential damage from unharvested ice, especially with small or incomplete batches and sediment buildup.
Innovation Solution
A divider assembly with rotating dividers and an angled flap design that prevents contact with the ice chute, allowing free movement and maintaining a gap for water flow, and an attachment bracket to secure the dividers, ensuring effective ice harvesting and water retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the dividers are positioned close to the ice chute to prevent water leakage, then water retention is improved, but surface tension causes the dividers to adhere to the ice chute and fail to open during harvest
Solution Approach 1:
A Teflon® coated strip is introduced as an intermediary between the divider and the ice chute. This non-stick coating prevents surface tension adhesion while allowing the divider to remain positioned close to the ice chute for effective water retention. The coating acts as a mediator that eliminates the harmful adhesive force without requiring the divider to be physically separated from the chute.
2Ease of operation
If the dividers are positioned far from the ice chute to allow free movement, then divider operation is improved, but water leakage increases and ice capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The Teflon® coated strip serves as a mediator that enables the divider to be positioned close to the ice chute without suffering from adhesion problems. This allows the system to simultaneously achieve good water retention (by being close to the chute) and easy operation (by preventing surface tension bonding).
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the contact interface are changed by applying a Teflon® coating, which fundamentally alters the interaction between the divider and ice chute. This parameter change (surface energy reduction) prevents adhesion while maintaining the geometric proximity needed for water retention.
3Loss of substance
If the dividers completely span the width of the opening to prevent water loss, then water retention is improved, but gaps between dividers allow water to escape
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring all dividers to be perfectly positioned and spaced to eliminate gaps, the Teflon® coating is applied locally at the critical contact point between each divider and the ice chute. This local quality change prevents water leakage through the gaps by eliminating surface tension adhesion, which is the primary mechanism causing water loss rather than the gaps themselves.
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 solution ensures reliable ice harvesting of all sizes, prevents water leakage, and reduces the risk of ice buildup, maintaining refrigerant flow and machine integrity by eliminating adhesion issues and allowing unfrozen water to return to the reservoir.
Implementation Method 1
the flat back side of the conventional divider rests against the ice chute to its rear. During the freeze cycle, the addition of recirculating water between the divider and ice chute often creates a surface tension between the two parts, usually, enough to prevent the divider from opening during the subsequent harvest.
Implementation Method 2
A released cube falls down toward an inclined ice slide which guides it obliquely towards the opening of the evaporator housing. Then, by its own weight, the cube falls through a separating device and into the ice storage bin.
Implementation Method 3
An inclined ice slide is positioned below the freeze plate and above the sprayer assembly directing fallen ice toward an opening between the water system and the ice storage bin.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making machine having a refrigeration system and a water system, the water system having a water reservoir located below a freeze plate adapted to hold water, and a sprayer assembly located below the freeze plate for spraying water from the water reservoir toward the pockets. An inclined ice slide is positioned below the freeze plate and above the sprayer assembly directing fallen ice toward an opening. A divider assembly separating the water system from the ice storage bin includes a plurality of dividers, wherein the dividers may rotate outwardly away from the opening to allow formed ice to fall into the ice storage bin. Each divider is formed from a generally rectangular body having a front face with a triangular-shaped thickness and an extension flap extending away from the body opposite the front face.