Ice Maker Guide Rib Layout for Uneven Cooling and Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators face challenges in efficiently producing and separating ice, leading to increased energy consumption and inconvenience in ice retrieval, as well as inefficiencies in cooling and temperature maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker with an ice tray featuring partition ribs and an ejector mechanism that rotates to discharge ice pieces, combined with a motor-driven system and protrusion pins to facilitate easy ice separation and improved heat transfer, allowing for efficient ice generation and reduced energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an automatic ice maker is installed inside the refrigerator, then ice production is automated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is designed to automatically detect when the ice tray is full and stop the freezing cycle without requiring user intervention. The system self-regulates the ice production process, turning off the water supply and cooling cycle automatically when the predetermined capacity is reached, thereby eliminating the need for continuous energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice maker incorporates a sensing mechanism that provides feedback about the ice tray's filling status to the control system. When the sensor detects that the ice tray has reached its predetermined capacity, it sends a signal to stop the water supply and cooling cycle, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy usage based on actual ice production needs.
2Ease of operation
If the ejector rotates to discharge ice pieces, then ice separation is facilitated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex mechanical ejector to push ice out, the invention inverts the approach by using a heater to slightly melt the ice tray's inner surface, creating a release layer that allows ice pieces to separate naturally. This thermal inversion method replaces complex mechanical ejection mechanisms with a simpler thermal field approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameters of the ice tray by applying controlled heating to the tray's inner surface. This parameter change (temperature increase) creates a thin melt layer that reduces adhesion between the ice and tray, facilitating ice separation without requiring complex mechanical ejection structures.
3Productivity
If cool air is transferred to ice pieces during ice generation, then ice making amount increases, but temperature control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker employs localized cooling zones within the ice tray, with different regions receiving varying amounts of cool air based on their specific thermal needs. The system provides enhanced cooling to areas where ice formation is slower while maintaining optimal temperature in regions where ice is already forming, thereby increasing overall ice production without compromising temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent cooling zones or channels that can be controlled separately. This segmentation allows the system to optimize cool air distribution to different parts of the ice tray independently, maximizing ice production in each zone while maintaining precise temperature control through localized adjustment of cooling parameters.
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 enhances ice production efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies ice separation, ensuring reliable and efficient ice discharge while maintaining optimal cooling conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a protrusion portion that increases a contact area between the cool air and water to transfer heat from the water to the cool air more efficiently
Implementation Method 2
an ejector that is configured to rotate relative to the ice tray, that is configured to cause rotation of ice pieces in a rotation direction relative to the ice tray, and that is configured to discharge the ice pieces from the ice tray
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes an ice tray, an ejector configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray and cause rotation of ice pieces, and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate relative to the ice tray. The ice tray includes a first guide rib located at a lower portion of the ice tray and configured to exchange heat with cool air supplied from a cool air inlet, and a second guide rib located at the lower portion of the ice tray and arranged at a center region of the lower portion of the ice tray. The ice tray defines a first area including the first guide rib, and a second area including both of the first and second guide ribs, where the first area of the ice tray is located closer to the cool air inlet than the second area.