Ice Maker with Unidirectional Freezing for Transparent Ice Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers cannot produce transparent ice due to air bubble inclusion, resulting in unsatisfactory transparency, and have complex structures and high costs, making them unaffordable for many bars and restaurants.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a refrigeration box with unidirectional cooling, ice containers with specific inlet and outlet holes, a refrigeration assembly including a fan and evaporator, and a heating pipe, along with a thermal insulation layer, to produce transparent ice with minimal air bubble inclusion and easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If common ice making process is used, then ice production is simple, but air bubbles are mixed into the ice resulting in unsatisfactory transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making process is segmented into distinct phases: water filling, freezing, and demolding. The freezing phase is further divided into unidirectional freezing (top to bottom) and bidirectional freezing stages. This segmentation allows precise control over ice formation to eliminate air bubbles while maintaining process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the freezing direction parameter from conventional bidirectional or simultaneous freezing to unidirectional top-to-bottom freezing. This parameter change prevents air bubble entrapment by allowing bubbles to escape upward during freezing, significantly improving ice transparency without requiring complex equipment modifications.
2Manufacturing precision
If existing transparent ice maker is used, then transparent ice can be produced, but the structure is complex and purchase cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adapts a conventional ice maker structure to produce transparent ice by modifying the freezing control method rather than requiring a completely new specialized device. The existing refrigeration system, water tank, and ice mold are utilized with added control logic for unidirectional freezing, making the solution universally applicable to standard ice makers while achieving transparent ice production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies the essential freezing function from specialized transparent ice makers and implements it through controlled unidirectional freezing in a conventional ice maker setup. By replicating the key functional principle (top-to-bottom freezing) rather than copying the entire complex system, transparent ice can be produced with simpler, more affordable equipment.
3Manufacturing precision
If bulk finished transparent ice is purchased, then transparency requirement is met, but post-processing cutting is troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker produces transparent ice in the desired final shape and size before use, eliminating the need for post-purchase cutting and processing. By preliminarily forming the ice in the correct configuration during the freezing process, the system eliminates troublesome post-processing operations while maintaining high transparency.
4Productivity
If conventional ice making is used, then ice production is efficient, but air bubble inclusion reduces ice quality
Solution Approach 1:
The unidirectional freezing process continues steadily from top to bottom without interruption or direction changes, maintaining continuous ice formation. This continuous unidirectional action prevents air bubble entrapment that occurs in intermittent or multi-directional freezing processes, achieving both high transparency and efficient production.
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 design enables high transparency and ease of ice removal, reducing the need for post-processing cuts and lowering production costs, while ensuring consistent ice shape and size without additional segmentation.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigeration assembly is configured to cool water in the die cavities and the refrigeration box in a single direction
Implementation Method 2
the refrigeration assembly includes a fan, an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, where the fan and the evaporator are disposed in the refrigeration box and located above the ice containers
Implementation Method 3
a thermal insulation layer provided in the cabinet body and the cabinet door and wrapping the refrigeration box and the heating pipe
Implementation Method 4
a heating pipe provided in the cabinet body and wrapping the refrigeration box
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes a cabinet body, and a refrigeration box and a refrigeration assembly provided in the cabinet body. The refrigeration box is connected to a water inlet pipe, a support member is provided in the refrigeration box, a grid tray is arranged on the support member, and ice containers are sequentially arranged on the grid tray. Die cavities are provided in the ice containers, water inlet holes communicated with the die cavities are formed in bottoms of the ice containers, and water outlet holes communicated with the die cavities are formed in tops of the ice containers. The refrigeration assembly includes a fan, an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. The fan and the evaporator are disposed in the refrigeration box, and the compressor and the condenser are disposed outside the refrigeration box. A heating pipe wraps the refrigeration box.