Ice Maker Water Diverter for Dry Control Panel Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wet ice makers produce excess water during the cutting process, which can create discomfort and dissatisfaction by dripping onto user-accessible areas and electronics, necessitating a solution to divert this water effectively.
Innovation Solution
The ice making apparatus includes a control unit that calculates the water flow rate and valve open time to manage water supply, a recirculation pump to transport water to an evaporator plate, and a fluid diverter to direct excess water away from user-accessible areas through a drainage system, ensuring consistent ice production and preventing water from reaching the control panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gravity is used to feed ice into a container, then ice extraction is made easy for the user, but excess water from the cutting process drips onto user-accessible areas and electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful byproduct water from the ice making process and redirects it through a drainage system away from user-accessible areas and electronics, while maintaining the gravity-fed ice delivery mechanism that provides ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary drainage system and water management components that intercept and redirect the excess water from the cutting process, preventing it from reaching electronics while preserving the original ice feeding mechanism
2Productivity
If water supply valve remains open to ensure adequate water flow, then ice production is maintained, but water may overflow or create excess byproduct water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a control system with sensors that monitor water levels and flow conditions in real-time, providing feedback to the water supply valve control to adjust opening duration and prevent overflow while maintaining adequate water supply for ice production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the water supply valve operation dynamic by controlling its opening duration based on calculated flow rates and real-time conditions, allowing optimization of water usage to prevent excess byproduct water while maintaining ice production productivity
3Measurement precision
If contact sensor is positioned to detect water level accurately, then water flow control is improved, but sensor location may be inconsistent due to reservoir movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contact sensor with the reservoir bracket assembly, ensuring that the sensor moves with the reservoir as a unified structure, thereby maintaining consistent relative positioning and stable measurement precision throughout the apparatus lifecycle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the contact sensor within the reservoir bracket structure, with the sensor housed and positioned by the bracket that is itself attached to the reservoir, creating a nested configuration that ensures consistent sensor positioning relative to the water detection 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
This solution ensures consistent ice output, prevents excess water from reaching user-accessible areas, and maintains the integrity of the ice maker's electronics by effectively diverting and managing water within the device.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculation pump, the contact sensor, and the electrical connections for the recirculation pump
Implementation Method 2
onto an evaporator plate cooled to a temperature below the freezing point of the desired fluid to be frozen
Implementation Method 3
The evaporator plate may be thermally connected with a cooling unit such as, but not limited to a refrigeration assembly having a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser
Implementation Method 4
Wet ice makers generally use gravity to feed freshly frozen or cut ice into a container or bin
Data Source
AI summary
A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided where the ice maker includes a fluid inlet, a filtration element in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a control housing configured to engage the filtration element, and a filter cover disposed adjacent the control housing and configured to support the filtration element, wherein the filter cover comprises a plurality of fluid draining slots.