Refrigerator Door Ice Maker Cover Structure for Stable Odor-Free Ice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice-making devices in refrigerators reduce storage capacity and allow food odors to permeate ice due to their installation within the freezing chamber, affecting storage efficiency and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making device is installed on the backside of the refrigerator door with a detachable cover, utilizing a cold air duct for efficient cold air supply and an ice bank for storing and dispensing ice, while incorporating insulating materials and interlocking mechanisms for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the ice maker is installed on the rear side of the freezing chamber to extend from side to side, then the ice making function is achieved, but the storage capacity of the freezing chamber is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is relocated from the horizontal plane (extending side to side in the freezing chamber) to the vertical plane (mounted on the backside of the door). This dimensional change allows the ice maker to utilize the door's thickness and vertical space, thereby preserving the freezing chamber's storage capacity while maintaining the ice making function.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice maker is extracted from the freezing chamber interior and relocated to the door structure. This extraction removes the space-occupying component from the storage area, resolving the contradiction between having an ice maker and maintaining storage capacity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ice maker is installed in the freezing chamber, then the ice making function is achieved, but the smell of other food stored in the freezing chamber permeates the ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the freezing chamber environment where food odors are present. By relocating it to the door structure, the ice making process is separated from the source of odor contamination, preventing food smells from permeating the ice while maintaining the ice making capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure acts as an intermediary between the freezing chamber and the ice maker. This intermediate location provides physical separation, allowing the ice maker to receive cold air from the freezing chamber without being directly exposed to food odors and other contaminants present in the chamber.
3Quantity of substance
If the ice maker is relocated to the backside of the door, then the storage capacity is maximized, but the ice maker may move or play during operation
Solution Approach 1:
Mounting holes are pre-formed on the backside of the door at precise locations, and the ice maker is designed with corresponding mounting features. This preliminary preparation ensures proper alignment and secure attachment, preventing movement during operation while maintaining the space-saving relocation benefit.
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 maximizes storage capacity, prevents food odors from contaminating ice, enhances product durability, and ensures safe user interaction by minimizing ice maker movement and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air duct provided at one side of the storage space so as to supply the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space
Implementation Method 2
an insulating material is provided in the cold air duct so as to prevent the inside of the cold air duct from being frozen by the cold air supplied to the ice maker
Data Source
AI summary
An ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice maker for making ice, which is provided on a backside of a door of the refrigerator; and an ice maker cover for selectively opening or closing the ice maker. Fixing recesses are formed to be open downwardly on outsides of both sides of the ice maker cover, and receive fixing protrusions provided at corresponding positions on opposite sides of a pair of support steps that protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door by a predetermined length and are formed to be elongated in an up and down direction. Play prevention steps are provided at lower ends of both sides of the ice maker cover and are seated on play prevention ribs provided to be elongated in a horizontal direction at corresponding positions of the opposite sides of the support steps below the fixing protrusions.