Ice Maker External Housing Cooling Against Air Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household cooling appliances with an ice maker unit in the cooling compartment, the flow of cold air is impaired by the presence of ice form elements or crushed ice, leading to inadequate cooling of certain regions, which can result in defrosting or melting.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an air duct that extends along the outer side of the housing of the ice maker unit's first sub-unit, allowing cold air to flow externally around the housing for improved cooling without direct contact with internal ice form elements or crushed ice, thus preventing air congestion and ensuring comprehensive cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cold air is conducted directly into the ice maker unit, then the ice maker unit is cooled, but the flow of cold air is impaired by ice form elements or crushed ice, leading to air congestion and inadequate cooling of certain regions
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is configured to extend along the outer side of the housing, changing the cooling approach from internal (three-dimensional flow within the housing) to external (two-dimensional flow along the surface). This dimensional change allows cold air to cool the housing without being obstructed by ice form elements or crushed ice inside the housing, thereby maintaining efficient air flow while achieving the cooling objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is segmented into two separate paths: external cooling of the housing via the air duct extending along the outer side, and internal cooling of the ice maker components. This segmentation allows the housing to be cooled independently from the internal components, avoiding air flow interference from ice form elements while ensuring comprehensive cooling coverage.
2Temperature
If cold air flows directly through the interior of the housing, then internal components are cooled, but undesired turbulences and air congestion occur, impairing the passing of air to the ice chute
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as an intermediary thermal mass between the cold air and the internal ice maker components. By cooling the housing externally through the air duct, the housing wall serves as a mediator that transfers coldness to the internal components without requiring direct cold air flow through them. This eliminates turbulences and air congestion while maintaining effective cooling.
3Productivity
If the air duct extends along the outer side of the housing, then air flow is improved and cooling is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct serving the ice maker unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it supplies cold air to cool the housing, it extends along the outer side to maintain efficient flow, and it can potentially serve as a structural or aesthetic element of the ice maker assembly. This multi-functionality justifies the extended configuration by providing additional benefits beyond simple cooling.
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 external cooling method ensures even cooling of the ice maker unit's sub-units, preventing defrosting or melting and maintaining efficient air flow, even when ice form elements or crushed ice are present, thereby enhancing the overall cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
The air duct ends at the housing of the first sub-unit and is at least partly configured to extend along an outer side of the housing so that the cold air for cooling the housing flows along the outer side of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A household cooling appliance includes an outer housing, a cooling compartment in the outer housing, and an ice maker unit, which is arranged in the cooling compartment. The ice maker unit includes a first sub-unit, which is configured for making crushed ice from ice form elements. The first sub-unit has a housing. A crusher device for crushing the ice form element is arranged in the housing. A cooling device cools the first sub-unit with cold air. The cooling device has an air duct. The air duct ends at the housing of the first sub-unit and at least partly is configured to extend along an outer side of the housing so that the cold air for cooling the housing flows along the outer side of the housing.