Ice maker and a refrigerator including the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice makers face issues with ice detection failure due to assembly tolerance and distortion of the magnet lever, leading to incorrect signal detection and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The design enhances the cam gear's cam surface by increasing its thickness and adding protrusions towards the center, and integrates a shaft support for the magnet lever to reduce force transfer and prevent distortion, ensuring correct-position signal detection by a magnet and Hall sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the ice detection arm is lowered to enter the ice storage container, then the ice detection function is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice detection accuracyVSAvoidice detection arm mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detection function from a complex mechanical arm system and implements it through a simplified magnet-based detection mechanism. The magnet is positioned to detect ice presence without requiring a complex rotating arm structure, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical ice detection arm system with a magnetic field-based detection mechanism. Instead of using a physical arm that rotates and contacts ice, a magnet detects ice presence through magnetic interaction, eliminating the need for complex mechanical movement and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the ice detection arm rotates to separate ice from the ice making plate, then the ice transfer function is improved, but the reliability decreases due to ice getting stuck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice transfer efficiencyVSAvoidice detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotating arm used for ice separation with a magnetic actuation system. The magnet lever, actuated by magnetic force from the cam gear, reliably separates ice from the making plate without the mechanical complexity and reliability issues of rotating arms that can get stuck.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnet lever as an intermediary component between the cam gear and the ice making plate. This magnet lever acts as a mediator that transfers the cam gear's rotational motion into effective ice separation force, improving reliability by avoiding direct mechanical contact that causes sticking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If the cam gear transfers force directly to the magnet lever, then the power transfer is improved, but the magnet lever distortion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmagnet lever structural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a shaft support as an intermediary structural element between the cam gear and the magnet lever. This shaft support distributes and balances the force from the cam gear, preventing direct unbalanced force application that causes magnet lever distortion, while still maintaining effective power transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a shaft support structure that provides preliminary force distribution and balancing before the force reaches the magnet lever. This pre-cushioning of forces prevents distortion by ensuring balanced force application, maintaining both power transfer efficiency and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of manufacture

If assembly tolerance occurs between the ice detection arm and DC motor, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to rubbing and collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly tolerance flexibilityVSAvoidice detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical connection between detection components and the motor with a magnetic field-based detection system. This substitution eliminates rubbing and collision issues that occur with mechanical assemblies subject to tolerance variations, maintaining detection precision while preserving manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a magnet as an intermediary detection element that operates through magnetic field interaction rather than direct mechanical contact. This intermediary approach allows for assembly tolerance without causing rubbing or collision, maintaining both ease of manufacture and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11371766B2Ice maker and a refrigerator including the same

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.