Ice Maker Manual Actuation Design to Eliminate Electrical Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers in refrigerators and freezers often require complex electrical or electronic components and external water supplies, which can be costly and impractical, especially in pure freezers where water tanks cannot be used due to freezing issues.
Innovation Solution
A simplified ice maker design featuring a manually actuated ice mold that can be angled and twisted using a rotary knob, eliminating the need for electrical components and external water supplies, with a water tank that uses a labyrinth seal for waterproofing and a baffle to prevent water leakage during tilting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electrical or electronic components are used in ice makers, then automation and functionality are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes all electrical and electronic components from the ice maker system. The ice mold is operated purely mechanically through manual rotation by the user, eliminating motors, sensors, control circuits, and power supply requirements. This extraction resolves the contradiction by achieving simplicity and low cost while sacrificing automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice maker requires direct user interaction to rotate the ice mold for ice ejection. The system serves itself through manual operation without requiring external power sources or automated control systems. This self-service approach through manual operation resolves the contradiction between automation and device complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If external water supply connections are used, then water availability is improved, but installation complexity and adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into a removable water tank that can be filled independently and attached to the ice maker. This segmentation allows the ice maker to be placed anywhere without requiring permanent plumbing connections, resolving the contradiction between water availability and installation adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
A portable water tank serves as an intermediary between the external water source and the ice maker. The tank can be filled from any container and brought to the ice maker, eliminating the need for direct external water supply connections and enabling flexible placement anywhere in the refrigerator or freezer.
3Quantity of substance
If water tanks are positioned in refrigerator sections, then water supply to ice maker is improved, but usability in pure freezers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is designed with dynamic characteristics - it can be quickly removed, emptied of frozen water, refilled, and reattached. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to pure freezer environments where water would otherwise freeze in a fixed tank, resolving the contradiction between water supply and freezer usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows discarding of frozen water from the tank and recovering the tank for refilling. When water freezes in the tank in a pure freezer, the user simply removes the tank, discards the frozen water, refills it with fresh water, and reattaches it to the ice maker, maintaining continuous operation in pure freezer environments.
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 reduces costs and complexity by allowing manual operation and eliminating the need for external water connections, while maintaining efficient ice production and preventing water leakage, making it suitable for both refrigerators and freezers.
Implementation Method 1
the connection area being waterproof by a labyrinth seal without additional sealing elements or further elements
Implementation Method 2
the ice mold has a wall which prevents water from leaking when the ice mold is tilted
Implementation Method 3
After the water in the ice mold has frozen
Implementation Method 4
After the water in the ice mold has frozen
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an ice maker, preferably for a refrigerator and/or freezer, comprising a housing, a water tank, an ice mold for ice production, and an ice container for receiving the ice produced, wherein the water tank can be arranged on the ice maker by means of oblique insertion, and/or wherein the ice maker can be arranged by oblique insertion, preferably on a refrigerator and/or freezer or on an element, preferably of the refrigerator and/or freezer.