Ice Maker Cool Air Circulation to Prevent Accumulation and Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with ice makers, positioning a water overflow reducing plate above the ice making tray can lead to accumulation of cool air, which interferes with the supply of new cool air and affects ice making efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cool air outlet passage is positioned lower than the cool air inlet passage, and the ice making tray is rotated after the water surface is partially frozen, with a control unit detecting the water status and providing signals to the driving unit to promote ice separation, and a heater is used to aid in ice release.
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 new cool air supply
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making tray is made rotatable relative to the water overflow reducing plate. During ice making, the tray rotates to allow cool air to pass through from the inlet passage, located below the plate, through the tray and into the chamber above the plate, preventing cool air accumulation and maintaining efficient air circulation while the plate continues to prevent water overflow
Solution Approach 2:
The cool air inlet passage is positioned at a lower level than the water overflow reducing plate, creating a vertical dimension for air flow. Cool air enters from below, passes through the rotatable tray, and rises through the chamber above the plate, establishing a three-dimensional air circulation pattern that avoids accumulation while maintaining overflow protection
2Productivity
If the ice making tray is rotated for ice separation, then ice cubes are separated efficiently, but water may slop and freeze adjacent components
Solution Approach 1:
The relative rotation between the ice making tray and the water overflow reducing plate serves dual purposes: during ice making, rotation enables cool air circulation; during ice separation, rotation enables ice cube ejection from the tray while the water overflow reducing plate maintains its position to catch and contain any slopped water, preventing it from reaching and freezing adjacent components
Solution Approach 2:
The water overflow reducing plate acts as an intermediary protective element positioned between the ice making tray and adjacent components. During tray rotation for ice separation, the plate serves as a barrier that intercepts and contains slopped water, preventing it from reaching and damaging adjacent components while still allowing ice cubes to be separated
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 configuration prevents cool air accumulation, enhances ice making speed by facilitating rapid air circulation, and ensures efficient ice separation without freezing adjacent components.
Implementation Method 1
after the water surface is partially frozen
Implementation Method 2
at least one heater that is associated with the ice maker and configured to heat the ice making tray to promote separation of ice from the ice making tray
Implementation Method 3
cool air within the freezing chamber is provided to the ice maker to make ice
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 refrigerator 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.