Ice Maker Water Flow Sensing for Consistent Refrigerator Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face issues with inconsistent water supply to ice makers due to varying water pressures, leading to excessive or deficient water amounts, which can result in irregular ice formation and transfer difficulties, and simultaneous water supply to both ice makers and dispensers at suboptimal flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system featuring a flow amount sensor and a controller that adjusts water supply to the ice maker based on sensed pressure, prioritizing water supply to the dispenser when needed, ensuring proper water distribution and preventing ice maker and dispenser flow rate issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If water supply is made continuous for a preset time period without calculating or sensing exact amount, then the structure is simple, but the water supply amount becomes excessive or deficient due to water pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow sensor that detects the actual water supply amount and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the water supply time based on the detected amount, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures precise water supply regardless of water pressure variations, while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical time-based water supply control with an electronic control system that uses a flow sensor and controller to precisely manage water supply amount, achieving higher precision without significantly increasing mechanical complexity
2Quantity of substance
If water supply amount exceeds proper amount, then water supply is sufficient, but ice becomes too big and bursts or sticks together, and ice tray distorts
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor provides real-time feedback on water supply amount, allowing the controller to stop water supply exactly when the proper amount is reached, preventing overfilling that would cause ice to burst or stick together
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-sets the appropriate water supply amount for ice making and uses the flow sensor to detect when this amount has been reached, stopping water supply in advance before excessive water can cause ice formation problems
3Quantity of substance
If water supply amount is below proper amount, then water supply is restricted, but defective ice making and difficulty in transferring ice occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor ensures that the exact proper amount of water is supplied to the ice maker by continuously monitoring and providing feedback to the controller, preventing both overfilling and underfilling that would cause ice transfer difficulties
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the correct water supply amount needed for proper ice making and uses the flow sensor to ensure this amount is precisely delivered, preventing defective ice making before it occurs
4Adaptability or versatility
If water dispensing signal is applied during water supply to ice maker, then dispenser can provide water, but water flow rates to both ice maker and dispenser become lower than proper rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects water dispensing signals in advance during ice maker water supply and preemptively stops the ice maker supply, then redirects all water flow to the dispenser, ensuring the dispenser receives water at proper flow rate without compromising overall system adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the water supply from the ice maker when a dispensing signal is detected, separating the water supply paths to ensure the dispenser receives adequate water flow, then restores the ice maker supply after dispensing is complete
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 solution maintains a consistent water supply to the ice maker, preventing ice formation issues and ensuring smooth ice transfer, while prioritizing dispenser convenience by managing water flow effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a flow amount sensor; and a controller connected to the flow amount sensor for controlling a water supply amount to the ice maker taking a water supply amount sensed by the flow amount sensor into account
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and method of operating a refrigerator are provided in which an amount of water supplied to an ice maker may be accurately controlled. The refrigerator may include an ice maker, a dispenser for dispensing water, a flow passage control valve for selectively guiding water to the ice maker and the dispenser, a flow amount sensor, and a controller operably coupled to the flow amount sensor for controlling an amount of water supplied to the ice maker based on a water supply amount sensed by the flow amount sensor.