Ice Maker Drainage System with Segmented Coupling for Easy Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in ice makers face difficulties in separating and cleaning the drainage pipe due to its length and placement, leading to contamination and sanitation issues, as well as challenges in coupling and decoupling components, which can result in functional losses.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker design includes a first and second coupling portion with protrusions and sockets that allow for easy connection and disconnection of the drainage system, with a drainage passage configuration that keeps the pipe length short and facilitates water discharge, using an overflow socket and drain socket that can be rotated for coupling and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drainage pipe is extended from the rear drainage hole to the front portion of the product, then the separation of the pipe by a user may be facilitated at the front of the product, but a length of the pipe is relatively increased causing water to remain therein for an extended period of time and leading to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into multiple segments: a first drainage passage in the rear, a connection passage, and a second drainage passage in the front. This segmentation allows the front portion to be separated for easy maintenance while the rear drainage hole remains in its original position, preventing water accumulation and contamination in the extended pipe section.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection passage acts as an intermediary element connecting the first drainage passage (rear) and the second drainage passage (front). This intermediary structure enables the front drainage portion to be independently separated while maintaining the rear drainage function, solving both the ease of separation and contamination prevention requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the drainage pipe is extended to the front portion, then the separation of components may be facilitated, but pipe interior cleaning may not be easy due to the relatively long length
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is segmented into a rear first drainage passage, a connection passage, and a front second drainage passage. The front second drainage passage can be independently separated and removed, allowing easy cleaning of the entire drainage path without dealing with a long extended pipe, thus improving both separation ease and cleaning ease.
3Ease of manufacture
If additional components such as a clamp are used for the connection of a pipe to an ice storage portion and a water tank, then the connection may be achieved, but defects may occur in such an additional component at the time of performing coupling and separation and the component may be deformed due to use
Solution Approach 1:
The connection function is merged into the integral structure of the ice storage portion and water tank rather than using separate clamp components. The drainage passages are formed directly as part of these components, eliminating the need for additional clamps and thereby improving reliability by removing potential failure points while maintaining ease of connection through the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker including piping for water drainage therein is provided. The ice maker includes a cabinet body, an ice storage portion provided in the cabinet body and separable from the cabinet body, a first coupling portion disposed on a lower surface of the ice storage portion and having a first coupling hole, a drain portion provided downwardly of the cabinet body within the cabinet body and including a drainage passage connected to an external drainage hole, and an overflow socket inserted into the first coupling hole and connected to the drainage passage to connect the ice storage portion to the drain portion, and configuring a path allowing water received by the ice storage portion to be discharged to the drainage passage, thereby providing an ice maker having easy separation and coupling.