Ice maker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice makers produce cloudy ice due to trapped air bubbles and have inefficient energy use, complex structures, and reduced storage capacity due to the need for additional components like thawing rods and separating devices.

Innovation Solution

An ice maker with a water supplying-ice separator that includes a rotating shaft with outlets and ice separating rods, allowing for controlled discharge and separation of ice, enabling the production of transparent ice while simplifying the structure and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a thawing rod and heating device are used to separate ice, then ice separation is achieved, but energy consumption increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal field system (heating device and thawing rod) with a mechanical field system (rotating water supplying-ice separator with ice separating rods). The ice separating rods mechanically lift and separate ice from the container through rotation, eliminating the need for heating devices and reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable ice separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a thawing rod and heating device are used to separate ice, then ice separation is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the water supply function and ice separation function into a single integrated component - the water supplying-ice separator. This rotating separator performs both water distribution to the ice-making container and ice separation through its ice separating rods, eliminating the need for separate heating devices and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The water supplying-ice separator is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs water supply, water distribution, and ice separation functions. The ice separating rods are integrated into the rotating separator structure, allowing one component to fulfill multiple roles that previously required separate dedicated devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If heating device and separating device are added, then ice separation capability is improved, but storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separation capabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the water supply system and ice separation system into the single rotating water supplying-ice separator component, the patent eliminates the need for separate heating devices and dedicated separating devices. This integration reduces the total volume occupied by ice-making components, thereby increasing the storage capacity of the refrigerator while maintaining effective ice separation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 ice maker can produce transparent ice with high transparency and reduce energy usage by controlling the discharge of ice-making water and using a simplified structure, enhancing efficiency and storage capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a cooler configured to provide a chill to the ice-making water filled in the ice making container to cool the ice-making water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

The ice-making water in the ice making container starts to freeze from a part that first comes into contact with an ambient chill

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 3

a driver configured to rotate the water supplying-ice separator; and a controller configured to control the driver, so that the at least one ice separating rod separates the made ice from the ice making container by the rotation of the water supplying-ice separator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentUS11221169B2Ice maker

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a water supply to supply an ice-making water. The ice maker also includes an ice making container to be filled with the ice-making water. The ice maker further includes a cooler to provide a chill to the ice-making water. The ice maker additionally includes a water supplying-ice separator including at least one ice separating rod and a water supplying shaft. The water supplying shaft includes a water passage therein and a plurality of outlets wherein the ice-making water is discharged through the plurality of outlets to the ice making container. The at least one ice separating rod is provided on the water supplying shaft. The ice maker also includes a driver configured to rotate the water supplying-ice separator. The ice maker additionally includes a controller to control the driver so that the at least one ice separating rod separates the ice.