Refrigerator Ice Maker Airflow Filtration to Prevent Ice Odor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators lack effective deodorization, allowing odors from food and drinks to penetrate and be absorbed by the ice, as the deodorizing devices in refrigerators do not reach the inner space of the ice makers due to protective casing, leading to unpleasant odor absorption by the ice.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a deodorizing filter placed within the cold air channel of the ice maker's discharge assembly, which allows deodorized cold air to circulate over the ice bucket, and a heater to increase the air temperature before discharge, ensuring odors are eliminated and not absorbed by the ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protective case is provided around the ice maker's cooling space, then the ice making assembly is protected and structurally sound, but odors from the refrigerator interior can penetrate into the cooling space and be absorbed by the ice
Solution Approach 1:
A deodorizing filter is introduced as an intermediary component within the cold air channel between the cooling space and the ice bucket. This filter mediates the airflow, allowing cold air to pass through while capturing and removing odors, thus preventing odor absorption by the ice while maintaining the protective case structure
Solution Approach 2:
The deodorizing filter is strategically placed only in the cold air channel where air flows from the cooling space to the ice bucket, rather than modifying the entire case structure. This localized approach maintains the overall structural integrity while specifically addressing the odor absorption problem in the critical airflow path
2Productivity
If cold air is circulated directly from the cooling space to the ice bucket, then the ice making process is efficient, but odors in the cold air are absorbed by the ice
Solution Approach 1:
The deodorizing filter serves as an intermediary in the cold air path, allowing the efficient circulation of cold air from the cooling space to the ice bucket while simultaneously removing odors. The filter is positioned to intercept odor-laden air without creating significant flow resistance, thus maintaining ice making efficiency while eliminating odor absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The deodorizing filter performs preliminary deodorization of the cold air before it reaches the ice bucket and contacts the ice. By removing odors in advance during the airflow path, the ice is protected from absorbing unpleasant smells while the efficient cold air circulation for ice making is preserved
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 effectively deodorizes the cold air used to make ice, preventing odor absorption and maintaining the quality of ice produced, enhancing user satisfaction by eliminating unwanted smells.
Implementation Method 1
a deodorizing filter which is placed in a cold air channel and allows the cold air to pass over the ice bucket after the cold air circulates from the insulation space to the outside of the ice maker
Implementation Method 2
a heater to increase the air temperature before discharge
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker for refrigerator. The ice maker includes a case for protecting a cooling space to which cold air is supplied, an ice making assembly for making ice by using the cold air in the cooling space, an ice bucket for containing the ice made by the ice making assembly in the cooling space, a discharge assembly having an insulation space which is provided as a path through which the ice contained in the ice bucket is discharged to the outside of the case, and a deodorizing filter placed on a cold air channel that allows the cold air to go by the ice bucket after the cold air coming from the ice making assembly passes through the insulation space.