Ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers for household refrigeration appliances require electrical switches to detect the rotational position of the ice making tray, increasing component count and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker uses the electric motor's current consumption to determine its rotational state, eliminating the need for positional switches by analyzing current magnitude and time-dependent behavior to control the motor's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical switches are used to detect the rotational position of the ice making tray, then the rotational position detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical switch-based position detection system with an electrical parameter-based detection system. The control unit determines the rotational position of the ice making tray by monitoring the current consumption of the electric motor during rotation, eliminating the need for physical switches and wiring harnesses connected to the tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the electric motor's own current consumption characteristics as the detection signal. The motor's current profile during rotation naturally indicates the tray's position (horizontal, inclined, vertical) without requiring external sensors or switches, allowing the motor to serve both its driving function and the position detection function.
2Ease of operation
If electrical switches and wiring harnesses are installed for position detection, then the rotational state control is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the electrical switches and their associated wiring harnesses from the system. The position detection function is achieved through the control unit's analysis of the motor's current consumption, which is already present in the system, thereby simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor serves dual functions: it provides the mechanical torque to rotate the ice making tray and simultaneously acts as a sensor whose current consumption characteristics reveal the tray's rotational position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection components.
3Productivity
If the ice making tray is twisted during emptying, then the ice cube release is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making tray is designed with dynamic twisting capability during the emptying phase. The tray can be rotated and twisted by the electric motor to break the adhesion between ice cubes and the tray surface, then returned to its initial position, enabling automatic ice release without additional mechanical ejection mechanisms.
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 approach reduces the number of components and manufacturing costs while ensuring accurate detection of rotational states, enabling efficient ice making and emptying processes.
Implementation Method 1
a drive unit for driving the ice making tray in rotation, the drive unit comprising an electric motor
Implementation Method 2
controlling the operation of the electric motor as a function of its electric current consumption
Implementation Method 3
the ice making tray is rotated from a freezing position... so that the ice cubes can fall by gravity from the ice making tray into a collecting container below
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker for a household refrigeration appliance is proposed, which comprises an ice making tray arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation and a drive unit for driving the ice making tray in rotation. The drive unit has an electric motor, the operation of which is controlled by a drive control system depending on the electric current consumption of the electric motor.