Ice Dispenser Door Cam Assembly for Leak-Resistant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice dispenser assemblies in refrigerators face issues with air leaks due to spring limitations, leading to reduced energy efficiency and stress on motor coupling designs, as existing spring designs have less deflection in the closed position and increased forces challenge the motor's torque limits.
Innovation Solution
An ice dispenser assembly with a rotatable arm and a first torsion spring that provides greater torque in the closed position than the open position, ensuring improved sealing and reducing stress on the motor, using a cam mechanism to enhance the sealing efficiency of the ice door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing spring designs are used in the ice door assembly, then the door can be opened and closed, but the spring provides less deflection in the closed position and creates excessive forces that challenge motor torque limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spring configuration from a single spring to multiple springs (first and second springs) with different positioning and orientations. This distributes the closing force across multiple points, reducing the peak force on any single component while maintaining adequate deflection in the closed position for reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice door assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: first and second springs for closing force, a cam mechanism for force modulation, and a motor for opening. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the cam acting as an intermediary to regulate force transmission to the door seal.
2Reliability
If spring force is increased to improve door sealing, then the door seal performance improves, but unwanted stress and creep in the door arm occurs which adversely affects the door seal
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism serves as an intermediary between the spring force and the door arm. It converts the linear spring force into a controlled rotational motion that applies force to the door at an optimal point and angle, reducing stress concentration and preventing creep in the door arm while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism introduces dynamic force modulation, allowing the spring force to vary during the door closing motion. This dynamic adjustment ensures adequate sealing force is applied only when needed, while minimizing stress on the door arm during the opening and intermediate positions.
3Reliability
If additional spring force is applied to close the door, then the door sealing improves, but the additional forces challenge the strength limitations of the motor coupling design
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the motor provide closing force against the spring, the design inverts the approach: the spring provides the closing force, and the motor only needs to overcome this spring force to open the door. The cam mechanism further modulates this force, reducing the peak loads on the motor coupling during operation.
4Loss of energy
If the ice door fails to seal properly, then air leaks occur causing accumulation of condensation and reduced energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the spring configuration parameters (number of springs, their positioning, and orientation) to achieve optimal deflection in the closed position. This ensures reliable sealing contact between the ice door and the dispenser housing, preventing air leaks that would cause condensation and energy loss.
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 effectively prevents air leaks and maintains energy efficiency by ensuring a secure seal of the ice door, reducing stress on the motor and improving the overall performance of the ice dispenser assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a first torsion spring engaging the cam in the open position and the closed position, wherein a torque of the first torsion spring against the cam is greater in the closed position than the open position
Data Source
AI summary
An ice dispenser assembly for an ice maker is provided. The ice dispenser assembly includes a dispenser housing defining at least one side wall having a dispenser and an opening in fluid communication with the ice maker. The ice dispenser assembly also includes an ice door covering the opening. The ice door is rotatable between an open position permitting ice from the ice maker to be received through the dispenser and a closed position restricting cooled air from escaping from the ice maker. The ice dispenser assembly also includes rotatable arm coupled to the ice door for rotating the ice door between the open position and the closed position. The rotatable arm extends across the opening between a first end and a second end. The first end includes a cam. The ice dispenser assembly further includes a first torsion spring engaging the cam in the open position and the closed position, wherein a torque of the first torsion spring against the cam is greater in the closed position than the open position.