Ice Duct Cover Control for Blockage-Aware Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice dispensing systems in refrigerators face issues with abnormal operation loads and currents when attempting to close the ice duct, leading to incomplete closure and increased energy consumption, which can result in cold air leakage and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making device with a control system that monitors the operation load and current applied to the duct-covering part, automatically opening and closing the duct until normal operating conditions are met, and includes a warning mechanism to alert users of repeated abnormal operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the duct-covering part is controlled to close the duct, then the cold air leakage is reduced, but the operation load becomes abnormal when ice blocks the duct
Solution Approach 1:
The control part monitors the operation load (operation current) of the duct-covering part during closing operation. When the operation current exceeds a predetermined reference value, the control part identifies this as abnormal operation and responds by opening the duct again. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and correct abnormal conditions automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by monitoring its own operation parameters. The control part automatically detects abnormal operation loads and triggers corrective actions (opening the duct) without external intervention, enabling the system to service itself and maintain reliable operation.
2Reliability
If the duct-covering part attempts to close the duct repeatedly, then the closure reliability improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control part uses operation current monitoring as feedback to determine when to stop repeated closing attempts. Once the operation current returns to normal levels (indicating successful closure or abnormal condition detection), the control part ceases further closing operations, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from redundant attempts.
3Reliability
If the operation current is monitored to detect abnormal conditions, then the operational reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing mechanisms with electrical current monitoring. Instead of using mechanical sensors or complex detection devices to identify blockages, the system simply monitors the operation current of the motor driving the duct-covering part, which naturally increases when encountering resistance. This substitution maintains high reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice-making device includes a duct through which ice is dispensed and a duct-covering part opening and closing the duct. When an operation load applied to the duct-covering part while the duct-covering part closes the duct is greater than a preset normal load, the duct-covering part operates to open the duct.