Refrigeration device comprising an ice maker with a coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration appliances with ice makers face issues where drive forces cause the ice cube container to separate from its holder, potentially opening the appliance door due to the transmission of drive forces through a coupling, leading to instability and improper operation.
Innovation Solution
A self-securing coupling configuration that converts drive forces into tensile forces, ensuring the coupling remains connected and prevents separation of the ice cube container from its holder by utilizing contact surfaces with downward and upward gradients, along with a lead-in chamfer and different material segments for efficient and quiet operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a coupling connects the drive to the conveying device to transmit drive forces, then the conveying device can be driven to convey ice cubes, but the drive forces cause the ice cube container to separate from the ice cube container holder
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into two separate coupling segments: a drive-side coupling segment and a conveyor screw-side coupling segment. These segments are connected via a coupling connection that allows relative movement. The segmentation enables the coupling to absorb drive forces through controlled separation and reconnection of the segments, preventing force transmission to the ice cube container holder while maintaining power transmission to the conveying device.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling connection parameters are designed to change state during operation. The coupling segments can move relative to each other by a controlled amount (0.5mm to 2mm), changing the mechanical connection state from rigid to flexible. This parameter change allows the coupling to absorb tensile forces generated during drive operation, preventing separation of the ice cube container while maintaining adequate force transmission for conveying ice cubes.
2Productivity
If the coupling is designed to transmit drive forces effectively, then the conveying device operates efficiently, but the ice cube container is pushed out of the ice cube container holder
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling acts as an intermediary element between the drive and the conveying device. It transmits drive forces under normal conditions to enable efficient ice cube conveying. When tensile forces exceed a threshold, the coupling segments separate, acting as a force-absorbing intermediary that prevents excessive forces from reaching the ice cube container holder, thus maintaining container stability while preserving conveying efficiency during normal operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If humps are added to the base of the ice cube container to prevent it from being pushed out, then the container remains stable, but the container must be raised to remove it from the holder
Solution Approach 1:
The force-absorbing function is extracted from the ice cube container structure and relocated to the coupling mechanism. Instead of modifying the container with humps or protrusions, the coupling segments are designed to separate and absorb tensile forces. This extraction maintains the ice cube container's simple geometry and easy removability while providing the necessary stability through the coupling's force-absorbing action.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration device has an ice maker with an ice cube container in which a conveying device for conveying the ice cubes is disposed. The conveying device is connected by way of a coupling to a drive of the ice maker for transmitting drive forces. The coupling is configured to transfer the drive forces of the drive to transform them partially into forces that are oriented towards the drive.