Ice Maker Bracket and Tray Assembly to Prevent Water Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making devices lack a secure bracket for supporting the ice making chamber and do not effectively prevent water from flowing into surrounding structures, leading to inefficiencies in ice production and installation.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ice making device includes a bracket with a through hole to securely support the ice making chamber and a liquid supply assembly that directs water to the upper part of the chamber, preventing it from flowing into surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a bracket is used to support the ice making chamber, then the structural stability is improved, but the complexity of the device increases due to additional coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into multiple functional components: a support body, a coupling protrusion for mechanical attachment, and a blocking wall for liquid containment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving structural stability without requiring a complex integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the bracket and the ice making chamber, providing a simple mechanical interface for secure attachment. This intermediary component enables firm coupling without complex fastening mechanisms.
2Productivity
If water is supplied to the upper part of the ice making chamber, then the ice making performance is improved, but water may flow into surrounding structures causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking wall, which initially appears as a simple structural element, serves to convert the potential harmful effect of water leakage into a beneficial containment feature. By strategically positioning the blocking wall, it guides water flow to the intended ice making area while preventing unwanted leakage, thus converting a potential problem into a solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the water supply and the surrounding structures. It intercepts water flow at the critical point where leakage could occur, redirecting it into the ice making chamber while protecting adjacent components from water damage.
3Productivity
If multiple trays are coupled to the bracket, then the productivity is improved by generating multiple types of ice, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with universal coupling features (coupling protrusions and coupling grooves) that can accommodate multiple different tray types. This multi-functional design allows a single bracket structure to support various ice making trays, enabling diverse ice production without requiring separate specialized support structures for each tray type.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple trays can be arranged in a nested or stacked configuration on the bracket, with each tray utilizing the same coupling mechanism. This nesting approach maximizes the use of vertical space and allows multiple ice making operations to occur simultaneously within a compact footprint, increasing productivity without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
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 solution allows for a firm coupling of the tray and bracket, prevents water from flowing into surrounding structures, and enhances ice making performance by ensuring that water is directed correctly within the chamber.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid supply assembly for supplying liquid to an upper side of the second one tray
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaker according to the present embodiment may comprise a bracket provided in an ice-making chamber. The icemaker may further comprise a first tray part supported by the bracket. The first tray part can include a tray body forming some of ice-making cells for making ice. The first tray part can further include an extended part, which extends from the tray body and is supported by the bracket. The icemaker may further comprise a second tray part, which forms other ice-making cells, can come in contact with the first tray part during ice-making and is separated from the first tray part during ice-removal.