Refrigerator and ice maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers in refrigerators require users to bend down to access the ice bin in the freezing compartment, and there is no effective solution to prevent water overflow during rotation or external vibration, leading to entangled ice.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design with a first and second tray that rotate relative to each other, featuring a water overflow prevention wall and a pusher mechanism to separate ice, installed in the refrigerator door to facilitate easy access and prevent water overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice maker is installed in the freezing compartment, then the ice maker can be provided in a fixed state, but the user has to bend down to access the ice bin and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is designed with a rotatable lower assembly that can rotate relative to the upper assembly. This dynamic structure allows the ice bin to be positioned in different locations, enabling easy access from the door while maintaining a fixed installation state in the freezing compartment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lower assembly is rotated at a predetermined angle during water supply, then spherical ice can be made, but water may overflow and entangle the ice
Solution Approach 1:
A water overflow prevention wall is provided in the ice maker to prevent water from overflowing before it can cause problems. This preliminary protective structure ensures that even when the lower assembly rotates during water supply, water remains contained and does not entangle the ice.
3Ease of operation
If the ice maker is installed in the door for easy access, then the user can easily take out ice, but water may overflow during door rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow prevention wall is installed in advance in the ice maker to create a barrier that prevents water from overflowing. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when the door rotates, water cannot escape and entangle the ice, thus resolving the contradiction between easy access and overflow prevention.
4Productivity
If the pusher passes through the opening to separate ice, then ice can be separated smoothly, but water may spill through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow prevention wall acts as an intermediary structure between the opening and the water. It allows the pusher to pass through the opening for ice separation while simultaneously blocking water from spilling through the same opening, thus resolving the contradiction between ice separation efficiency and water spillage prevention.
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 prevents water overflow and allows easy access to ice, ensuring smooth ice separation and minimizing water spillage due to door rotation or vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a second tray configured to define the other portion of the ice-making cell and to be rotatable with respect to the first tray
Implementation Method 2
a water overflow prevention wall configured to surround the first tray in the state of being spaced apart from the first tray when the second tray is at the water supply position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator of the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet having storage chambers; doors for opening/closing the storage chambers; and an ice maker which is disposed in the storage chamber or the door and which is for making ice, wherein the ice maker includes: a first tray for defining a portion of ice-making cells; a first tray case for supporting the first tray; a second tray which defines the other portion of the ice-making cells and which can rotate with respect to the first tray; and a second tray case for supporting the second tray, the second tray moves in the forward direction to an ice-making position after the supply of water to the ice-making cells at a water supply position is completed, the second tray moves in the forward direction to an ice-removal position in order to remove the ice of the ice-making cells after the making of ice at an ice-making position is completed, and then moves in the reverse direction, the second tray is separated from at least a portion of the first tray at the water supply position, and the first tray case includes a water overflow prevention wall which encompasses the first tray while being spaced from the first tray at the water supply position of the second tray.