Ice Maker Airflow Passages to Prevent Cooling Stagnation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with an ice maker, positioning a water overflow reducing plate above the ice making tray can lead to accumulation of cool air, interfering with the ice making process and reducing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design with an ice making tray, a water overflow reducing plate, and separate cool air inlet and outlet passages that allow for the introduction and release of cool air, with a driving unit and control unit to rotate the tray or plate to establish a cool air outlet passage and separate ice when the water is frozen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water overflow reducing plate is positioned above the ice making tray, then water overflow is reduced, but cool air accumulates and interferes with the ice making process
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow reducing plate is divided into multiple segments that can rotate independently around the ice making tray. This segmentation allows the plate to perform dual functions: covering the tray to prevent water overflow while creating channels for cool air circulation to reach the ice making tray, thus resolving the contradiction between overflow prevention and cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The plate transitions from a static structure to a dynamic rotating structure. By rotating around the ice making tray, the plate can adjust its position to both cover the tray for overflow prevention and create gaps for cool air flow, thereby maintaining both water containment and thermal exchange functionality
2Ease of operation
If the ice making tray is rotated to separate ice cubes, then ice separation is achieved, but water may slop and freeze adjacent components
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow reducing plate is positioned and configured to prevent water sloping during the rotation process. By maintaining coverage over the ice making tray during rotation, the plate prevents water from sloping out and freezing adjacent components, thus protecting them while still allowing ice separation to occur
Solution Approach 2:
The water overflow reducing plate acts as an intermediary between the rotating ice making tray and the surrounding components. It mediates the potential harmful effect of water sloping during rotation by providing a barrier that contains water within the tray, thereby protecting adjacent components from freezing while allowing the rotation function to proceed
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 prevents cool air accumulation, enhances ice making speed by facilitating rapid air circulation and reduces the risk of water overflow, ensuring efficient ice production and component protection.
Implementation Method 1
an ice making tray associated with the ice maker and configured to retain water to be frozen
Implementation Method 2
a cool air inlet passage configured to allow cool air to be introduced to an area inside of the plate and a cool air outlet passage that is separate from the cool air inlet passage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6(a)~6(d)
AI summary
A refrigerator includes an ice maker positioned in the refrigerator and configured to make ice. The refrigerator also includes a plate positioned at an open side of the ice making tray and configured to reduce water overflow. The refrigerator further includes a cool air inlet passage configured to allow cool air to be introduced to an area inside of the plate. In addition, the re¬ frigerator includes a cool air outlet passage that is separate from the cool air inlet passage, and configured to allow release of cool air from the area inside of the plate to an exterior of the plate.