Ice Maker Heat Transfer Control for Spherical Ice Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice makers require complex configurations and specific ice making molds to produce various forms of ice, such as rounded or spherical ice, which limits their ability to easily produce these forms.

Innovation Solution

An ice maker that varies the amount of heat transferred between an ice making member connected to a cooling unit and water through a heat transfer control member with different heat transfer rates and geometries, allowing ice to be produced in various forms without the need for molds corresponding to the desired shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an ice making mold corresponding to the desired ice shape is used, then ice in various forms can be produced, but the device configuration becomes complex and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to produce ice in various formsVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by varying the heat transfer rate at different portions of the ice making member. By controlling the heat transfer parameters (through different materials, thicknesses, or structures), the invention achieves different ice shapes without requiring different mold geometries. The heat transfer rate is the key parameter being modified to control ice formation patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the conventional approach by not using geometric mold shapes to determine ice shape. Instead, it uses heat transfer distribution patterns to control ice formation. Rather than the mold shape dictating the ice shape, the heat transfer characteristics dictate the ice shape, fundamentally reversing the traditional mold-ice relationship.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an ice making mold in a specific form is provided, then the desired form of ice can be produced, but the ease of production is reduced due to the need for multiple molds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction of various ice formsVSAvoidease of producing various ice forms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ice making member is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating regions with different heat transfer characteristics into a single component. This universal design allows one ice making member to produce multiple ice shapes (spherical, rounded, angular) by controlling which portions are activated or by varying heat transfer rates, eliminating the need for multiple specialized molds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing heat transfer parameters (rate, distribution, intensity) at different portions of the ice making member, the system can produce various ice forms using a single device. The parameter control mechanism allows easy switching between different ice shapes without physical mold changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 the production of ice in various forms, including rounded and spherical ice, through a simplified configuration, without the need for molds, facilitating easy production of multiple ice shapes.

Implementation Method 1

an amount of heat transferred between an ice making member connected to a cooling unit and water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an amount of heat transferred between the ice making member and the water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member varies according to portions of the ice making member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9766006B2Ice maker

Publication Date: 2017.09.19 COWAY CO LTD

AI summary

An ice maker is provided that varies an amount of heat transferred between an ice making member connected to a cooling unit and water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member according to portions of the ice making member, and producing ice in various forms including rounded ice without edges, especially spherical ice, on the ice making member, the ice maker including a cooling unit performing cooling; at least one ice making member connected to the cooling unit and being in direct or indirect contact with water to allow ice to be produced thereon; with an amount of heat transferred between the ice making member and the water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member varies according to portions of the ice making member, such that ice is produced in various forms on the ice making member.