Refrigerator Ice Maker Layout With Shared Water Line Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with an icemaker located in the fresh food compartment, maintaining efficient ice production and storage is challenging due to temperature control issues and the need for multiple water delivery lines through limited space, increasing manufacturing costs and reducing ice production rates.
Innovation Solution
An ice making apparatus with an icemaker in the fresh food compartment, utilizing a single main water conduit through the hinge assembly and a valve to divert water between the icemaker and water dispenser, along with a temperature sensor for accurate temperature control, reduces heat sources and minimizes water delivery lines, enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate water delivery lines are used to supply both the ice making compartment and the drinking water delivery system, then both functions can be supplied, but the hinge assembly becomes more complex and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate water delivery lines into a single shared water conduit that passes through the hinge assembly. This single conduit supplies both the ice making compartment and the drinking water delivery system, reducing hinge complexity while maintaining full water delivery functionality to both systems
Solution Approach 2:
The single water conduit serves multiple functions by branching to supply both the ice making compartment and the drinking water delivery system. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated lines for each system, simplifying the hinge assembly while maintaining versatility
2Ease of operation
If the icemaker is disposed in the fresh food compartment, then convenience is improved, but the rate at which ice can be made is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated cooling channel that acts as an intermediary, delivering cold air directly from the freezer compartment to the ice maker in the fresh food compartment. This dedicated cold air delivery path ensures the ice maker receives sufficient cooling despite its remote location, maintaining high ice production rates while preserving the convenience of having the ice maker accessible in the fresh food compartment
3Temperature
If cold air is delivered through an interior channel of the access door to the icemaker, then the icemaker temperature is maintained, but the structural complexity of the access door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent routes the cold air channel through the hinge assembly, utilizing the three-dimensional space available in the hinge rather than complicating the flat access door structure. This dimensional approach allows cold air delivery while keeping the access door structure simple and easy to manufacture
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 configuration simplifies the access door structure, improves temperature control for efficient ice production, and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for multiple delivery lines, resulting in faster ice production and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor disposed in the ice making compartment and adjacent the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a channel for transport of a working medium for cooling the ice making compartment
Implementation Method 3
the ice mold body defining therein a plurality of ice cavities for containing water therein for freezing into ice cubes
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ice making compartment; an icemaker disposed in the ice making compartment and including an ice mold body, the ice mold body defining therein a plurality of ice cavities for containing water therein for freezing into ice cubes, and a channel for transport of a working medium, the channel having an outlet; and a temperature sensor disposed in the ice making compartment and adjacent the outlet.