Ice Maker Tray Layout for Uniform Transparent Spherical Ice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers produce opaque ice due to incomplete bubble removal and uneven heat transfer, leading to deformation of ice shape and interference between trays during rotation.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design with upper and lower trays that utilize a cool air guide to evenly distribute cool air, ensuring uniform ice formation and preventing tray interference, while using flexible materials to maintain tray shape during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cells are arranged in a line to maximize heat transfer, then ice generation speed is improved, but ice shape uniformity deteriorates due to uneven cooling and water movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging cells in a triangular pattern rather than a linear symmetric arrangement. This asymmetric triangular layout ensures that all cells are equidistant from the cool air supply source, providing uniform cooling conditions while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency for rapid ice generation.
2Shape
If hemispherical upper and lower cells are used to form spherical ice, then ice shape is improved, but bubble removal is insufficient leading to opaque ice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a water supply groove that guides water to flow along the peripheral wall of the lower cell before freezing occurs. This preliminary water flow action ensures that bubbles are pushed outward during the freezing process, allowing for complete bubble removal and transparent ice formation while maintaining the spherical shape.
3Strength
If trays are made rigid for structural stability, then tray strength is improved, but tray deformation during rotation occurs due to mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells by making the tray body from a flexible material that can elastically deform during rotation to accommodate mechanical stress, then returns to its original shape. This flexible tray design prevents permanent deformation and maintains tray shape stability while allowing necessary movement during the ice making and ejection process.
4Manufacturing precision
If cool air is supplied uniformly to all cells, then ice generation uniformity is improved, but heat transfer efficiency to cells at opposite ends is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the cool air supply source at the center of the triangular cell arrangement, creating a localized cooling zone that radiates uniformly to all three cells. This central positioning ensures that each cell receives adequate cool air for uniform ice generation while maximizing the heat transfer efficiency through the short distance from the center supply point.
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
Produces transparent, uniformly shaped spherical ice by ensuring consistent cool air distribution and tray flexibility, preventing ice deformation and tray interference.
Implementation Method 1
the first side wall includes a cool air hole and the upper plate includes a tray opening, wherein the upper case further includes a cool air guide configured to guide cool air passing through the cool air hole toward the tray opening
Implementation Method 2
an ice maker configured to phase-change water of an ice chamber to ice by cool air supplied to the storage compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
An ice maker includes first and second trays configured to form a plurality of ice chambers configured to make ice, an upper case including a cool air hole through which cool air passes, and a tray opening configured to allow the first tray to contact the cool air passing through the cool air hole, a driver configured to move the second tray, and a connector configured to transfer power of the driver to the second tray, wherein the upper case further includes the cool air guide configured to guide the cool air passing through the cool air hole toward the tray opening.