Drainless ice making appliance with gravity filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making appliances face issues with external drain lines being expensive and difficult to install, and water filters being replaced unnecessarily based on time or water usage, leading to inefficiencies in producing clear ice.
Innovation Solution
An ice making appliance with a deionization filter and conductivity sensor that filters water based on TDS levels, eliminating the need for external drains and optimizing filter replacement by sensing actual TDS levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external drain lines are used to dispose of excess water, then excess water management is effective, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drain line component from the ice making system, eliminating the need for external drain lines while maintaining effective excess water management through the reservoir-based gravity drainage system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses gravity to automatically drain excess water from the reservoir without requiring external power or complex mechanical components, making the system self-service and reducing installation complexity
2Ease of operation
If filters are replaced on a predetermined schedule, then maintenance is simplified, but filter replacement occurs unnecessarily early
Solution Approach 1:
The conductivity sensor provides real-time feedback on water quality and TDS levels, enabling the system to determine when filter replacement is actually needed based on actual performance rather than predetermined schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/time-based filter replacement schedule with an electronic sensing system that monitors water quality and triggers replacement only when necessary
3Manufacturing precision
If deionization filter is used to reduce TDS levels, then clear ice production is improved, but filter maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors filter performance through the conductivity sensor and manages filter replacement timing, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and simplifying maintenance for the user
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
Enables production of clear ice without external drains and reduces unnecessary filter replacements, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction by ensuring filters are replaced only when needed.
Implementation Method 1
a deionization filter provided within the first reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a conductivity sensor coupled to the deionization filter
Implementation Method 3
The first circulation system includes an inlet downstream of the deionization filter whereby the first circulation system supplies filtered water to the ice mold
Implementation Method 4
a second circulation conduit, and a second pump provided in the cabinet to pump meltwater through the second circulation conduit to the first reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The ice making appliance includes a cabinet, an ice storage compartment, an ice mold provided above the ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the cabinet, a deionization filter provided within the first reservoir, a conductivity sensor coupled to the deionization filter, and a first circulation system is provided in the first reservoir. The first circulation system includes an inlet downstream of the deionization filter whereby the first circulation system supplies filtered water to the ice mold. A second reservoir is provided within the cabinet, and the second reservoir in fluid communication with the first reservoir.