Ice Maker Air Duct Baffle Design to Reduce Freezing Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator ice makers face complications in assembly and suffer from inefficient heat exchange due to horizontal cold air flow, leading to longer freezing times for ice cubes.
Innovation Solution
The ice making machine incorporates an inclined baffle at the air outlet of the induced air duct, perpendicular to the cold air flow direction, and an ice-turning motor to drive the ice tray assembly, along with simple assembly components like clamping slots and elastic limiters for easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air inlets are designed to be flush with the surface of the ice tray, then the structure is simple, but cold air flows horizontally causing eddy currents and insufficient heat exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cold air flow direction from horizontal to vertical by positioning air inlets at the bottom of the ice tray and directing cold air upward through vertical channels. This dimensional change eliminates eddy currents and improves heat exchange efficiency between the cold air and ice tray surfaces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional assembly methods are used for the ice making machine, then the structure is stable, but the assembly process is complicated and difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making machine is divided into modular components including the ice tray assembly, motor assembly, and housing. Each module can be manufactured separately and assembled through simple snap-fit connections, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural stability through precise geometric fitting.
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
This design enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces freezing time, and simplifies the assembly process of the ice maker within refrigerators.
Implementation Method 1
The air outlet is provided with a sloped baffle. The sloped baffle is arranged at an angle and is perpendicular to a surface of the ice tray along a cold air flow direction
Implementation Method 2
An ice-turning motor is fixedly connected to one end of the ice tray and is used to drive the ice tray to turn over
Implementation Method 3
The assembly components include a clamping slot, a fixed hanging column, and an elastic limiter
Implementation Method 4
the ice-making machine frame is installed in a box of a freezing chamber of a refrigerator
Data Source
AI summary
An ice-making machine includes an ice-making tray assembly that has multiple ice trays. An ice-turning motor is fixedly connected to one end of the ice-making tray assembly. The ice-turning motor is used to drive the ice-making tray assembly to turn. The ice-making machine also includes an air duct that has an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet has an inclined baffle arranged at an angle along the cold air flow direction. The inclined baffle gradually approaches the ice-making tray assembly at an acute angle relative to a horizontal surface of the icemaking tray assembly.