Ice-Making Member Heat Transfer Control for Spherical Ice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers require complex configurations and specific ice making molds to produce various forms of ice, such as rounded or spherical ice, which limits their ability to form ice easily without these molds.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker that varies the heat transfer between an ice making member and water by using a heat transfer control member with different heat transfer rates and thicknesses, allowing for the production of ice in various forms without the need for a mold matching the desired shape, such as rounded or spherical ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If an ice making mold in a specific form (rounded, spherical, hemispherical) is used to produce ice in various forms, then the desired ice shape is achieved, but the device complexity increases and the configuration becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making member has different thicknesses at different locations, creating local variations in heat transfer characteristics. The thinner portions allow greater heat transfer for faster ice formation, while thicker portions provide insulation and slower freezing, enabling diverse ice shapes without complex molds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the ice making member (thickness) to control heat transfer rates. By varying thickness from thin to thick portions, the system achieves different freezing rates and ice shapes without requiring different mold configurations for each ice type
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ice making molds are provided to produce various types of ice, then ice form versatility is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single ice making member with varied thickness portions serves multiple functions by producing different ice shapes (rounded, spherical, hemispherical, angular) depending on which portion contacts the water. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized molds while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making member is segmented into multiple portions with different thickness characteristics (thin portions for rapid freezing, thick portions for slow freezing). Each segment contributes to forming different ice shapes, allowing one component to replace multiple specialized molds
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
Enables the production of ice in various forms, including rounded and spherical ice, through a simplified configuration without the need for a corresponding ice making mold, facilitating easy and efficient ice formation.
Implementation Method 1
an amount of heat transferred between an ice making member connected to a cooling unit and water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator having a refrigerant flowing therein
Implementation Method 3
cooling water to a temperature below zero degrees Celsius, freezing point, producing ice
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7(b)
AI summary
Disclosed is an ice maker, wherein the heat transfer amount between an ice generation member connected to a cooling unit and water directly or indirectly coming in contact with the ice generation member varies by part of the ice generation member so as to allow the ice generation member to generate various shapes of ice such as round ice without edges, and particularly, spherical ice. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker comprises: a cooling unit (200) for cooling; and one or more ice generation members (300) connected to the cooling unit (200) and directly or indirectly coming in contact with water to generate ices (I). The heat transfer amount between the ice generation member (300) and the water directly or indirectly coming in contact with the ice generation member (300) varies by part of the ice generation member (300) so as to allow various shapes of ice (I) to be generated at the ice generation member (300).