Ice Maker Ejector Rotation Sensing to Reduce Heater Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators face challenges with energy efficiency and ease of ice separation, as they often require long compressor operation to maintain low temperatures and can be inconvenient for users when separating ice from trays.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker with an ice tray featuring partition ribs and an ejector system that rotates ice pieces, utilizing protrusion pins and a motor to facilitate easy ice discharge, along with a heater for selective heating and sensors for efficient operation, enhances energy efficiency and ice separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the compressor operates for a long time to maintain low temperature in the freezing compartment, then the temperature stability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker performs preliminary actions by pre-cooling water in the ice tray before the freezing compartment door is opened. The ice is made in advance and stored in the ice tray, so when the door opens and temperature rises, the pre-made ice is already available without needing prolonged compressor operation to cool new water
2Ease of operation
If the ejector rotates the ice pieces in the ice tray, then the ice separation is facilitated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector is segmented into multiple protrusion pins arranged in a circular pattern, each pin corresponding to a different cell in the ice tray. This segmentation allows independent action on each ice piece while using a simple rotating mechanism rather than complex individual actuators for each cell
Solution Approach 2:
The single ejector assembly with multiple protrusion pins serves multiple functions: it pushes ice pieces out of cells, rotates ice pieces to facilitate separation, and can selectively act on different cells by rotating to different positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each task
3Ease of operation
If the protrusion pins are positioned to contact ice pieces at the center of cells, then the ice rotation is improved, but the ice making amount decreases due to reduced water contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion pins have different positions and orientations tailored to each cell's specific geometry. Each pin is positioned to optimize both water contact area for freezing and ice rotation capability for that particular cell, creating local quality variations that satisfy both requirements simultaneously
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
The solution reduces energy consumption during ice making and separation, improves ice generation efficiency, and ensures reliable ice discharge by optimizing the contact area between water and the ice tray, leading to increased ice production and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to selectively supply heat to the ice tray
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the protrusion pin about the axis of the rotary shaft
Implementation Method 3
an ice tray configured to receive water
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes an ice tray, a motor configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray, an ejector configured to cause rotation of an ice piece, the ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, a heater configured to selectively supply heat to the ice tray, and a first sensor unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the protrusion pin about an axis of the rotary shaft. The first sensor unit is further configured to, before discharge of the ice piece from the ice tray, detect whether the protrusion pin has rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis of the rotary shaft, and the heater is further configured to be turned off based on the first sensor unit detecting that the protrusion pin has rotated by the predetermined angle.