Refrigerator Ice Maker Layout Using Guided Cold Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require users to bend to access ice makers, which are often inconvenient, especially for short individuals, and rearranging the ice maker to address this issue increases manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cold air guiding device that directs cold air from a heat exchanger to an ice making compartment within the refrigerating compartment, allowing the ice maker to be positioned independently of the freezing compartment, and using a duct unit with a cold air supply fan to efficiently supply cold air for ice production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice maker is arranged in the freezing compartment, then the ice maker can be provided with cold air from the heat exchanger, but the user must bend to access the ice maker which is inconvenient especially for short individuals
Solution Approach 1:
A cold air guiding device comprising ducts and guide passages is introduced as an intermediary mechanism to redirect cold air from the heat exchanger in the freezing compartment to the ice maker in the refrigerating compartment. This allows the ice maker to be positioned in the more accessible refrigerating compartment while still receiving the necessary cold air supply through the guiding structure.
2Ease of operation
If the ice maker is moved to the refrigerating compartment to improve accessibility, then the user can easily access ice without bending, but the structure becomes more complex requiring additional cold air guiding components
Solution Approach 1:
The cold air guiding device is merged with the existing compartment structures by integrating ducts into the partition wall between the freezing and refrigerating compartments. The guide passages are formed within the partition structure itself, combining the cold air guiding function with the structural partition to reduce the number of separate components and simplify manufacturing.
3Ease of operation
If a cold air guiding device with ducts is installed to supply cold air to the ice maker in the refrigerating compartment, then the ice maker can be accessed easily, but the inner space of the refrigerating compartment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cold air guiding ducts are nested within the partition wall structure that separates the freezing and refrigerating compartments. By embedding the ducts within the existing partition rather than adding them as separate external components, the design utilizes the wall thickness to house the cold air passages, thereby minimizing the encroachment on the refrigerating compartment's inner storage space.
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
Enables easy access to ice without altering the refrigerator's capacity or freezing compartment layout, reduces manufacturing costs, and maximizes inner space by allowing flexible ice maker placement and preventing frosting in the refrigerating compartment.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air guiding device for guiding cold air generated by a heat exchanger to an ice making compartment
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger which generates cold air for freezing food stored in the freezing compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is disclosed which enables the user to easily take ice out of an ice maker without causing a variation in the capacity of the refrigerator or a limitation on the position of a freezing compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body which includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, an ice making compartment which is arranged in the refrigerating compartment, to make ice, a heat exchanger which generates cold air for freezing food stored in the freezing compartment, and a cold air guiding device which guides the cold air generated by the heat exchanger to the ice making compartment, to enable the ice making compartment to make ice.