Ice maker appliance with automatic shut off features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice maker appliances continue to perform harvest cycles without forming ice due to lack of liquid water, leading to energy wastage and potential issues with ice clogs, as water may freeze within fill tubes, preventing proper water flow to the mold body.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker appliance with a controller that operates a harvest mechanism to perform cycles, determines the amount of ice harvested, and suspends operation if it's less than a predetermined threshold, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption and addressing issues related to ice clogs by incorporating heating elements to clear blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the harvest mechanism operates continuously to ensure ice production, then ice supply reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly when water flow is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the actual amount of ice harvested during each harvest cycle and uses this feedback information to determine whether to continue or suspend subsequent harvest operations. When the monitored ice amount falls below a threshold, indicating potential water flow blockage, the controller suspends the harvest mechanism to prevent unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining reliable ice supply when conditions are normal
Solution Approach 2:
The harvest mechanism operation transitions from a static continuous operation mode to a dynamic adaptive mode where the controller adjusts operation based on real-time monitoring of ice harvest amounts, enabling the system to respond flexibly to changing water flow conditions and optimize the balance between reliability and energy consumption
2Ease of operation
If the harvest mechanism operates without detecting water flow issues, then operational simplicity is maintained, but ice clogs form in fill tubes due to frozen water
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary detection during each harvest cycle by monitoring the amount of ice harvested before water can freeze in the fill tube. When insufficient ice is detected, the controller proactively suspends operation and activates heating elements to melt potential blockages before they fully form, preventing ice clogs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by using heating elements to counteract the freezing process in the fill tube before complete blockage occurs. The controller monitors ice harvest amounts and activates heating as a preventive measure to melt water before it freezes and creates clogs, thereby preventing the harmful effect while keeping the system easy to operate
3Duration of action of moving object
If harvest cycles continue despite no ice formation, then the system maintains a consistent operating rhythm, but significant energy is wasted on unsuccessful harvest attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements feedback by monitoring the actual ice harvest amount during each cycle and comparing it against expected values. When the feedback indicates no ice formation (ice amount below threshold), the controller suspends subsequent harvest cycles to eliminate energy waste, while still maintaining consistent operation during successful ice production cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by performing monitoring and evaluation during each harvest cycle, and only suspending operation when necessary. This approach maintains the full operating rhythm during normal conditions while applying selective suspension only when ice formation fails, optimizing the balance between operational consistency and energy efficiency
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
The solution effectively reduces energy wastage by automatically suspending harvest operations when insufficient ice is formed and prevents ice clogs by using heating elements to clear blockages, ensuring efficient operation and user notification of potential water supply issues.
Implementation Method 1
the operation of the harvest mechanism may be suspended... features for automatically suspending operation of a harvest mechanism
Implementation Method 2
determining the amount of ice harvested is less than a predetermined threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an ice maker appliance includes operating a harvest mechanism of an ice maker assembly to perform a harvest cycle. An amount of ice may be harvested from the ice maker appliance due to the harvest cycle. The method further includes determining the amount of ice harvested is less than a predetermined threshold. The method also includes suspending operation of the harvest mechanism based on the amount of ice harvested less than the predetermined threshold.