Ice-Making Assembly with Heated Spindle to Prevent Freezing Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues of blockage due to freezing under low temperatures and formation of loose ice chips under high temperatures, with existing deicing times taking up to 32 minutes and inefficient ice compaction leading to small ice pieces.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making assembly with a temperature control member to maintain the ice-scraping member above the freezing point, a balanced axial force mechanism to prevent blockage, and a structured design to minimize environmental influence, including a refrigerant system for efficient ice production and a compacting mechanism to form ice cubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ice-making chamber operates under low environmental temperature conditions, then ice production efficiency is improved, but ice blocks and freezes onto the ice-extruding screw rod causing blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the ice-scraping member by introducing a heating wire that heats the spindle to a temperature between -10℃ and 10℃, which is higher than the ice layer temperature. This parameter change prevents the ice-scraping member from freezing to the ice layer, enabling reliable ice discharge while maintaining high ice production efficiency under low environmental temperature conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The heating wire acts as an intermediary element between the ice-scraping member and the ice layer. By generating heat, it creates a temperature difference that prevents direct freezing contact between the ice-scraping member and the ice layer, thus avoiding blockage while allowing continuous ice production
2Stability of the object's composition
If the ice-scraping member temperature is low to maintain ice layer stability, then ice layer integrity is improved, but ice chips freeze to the ice-scraping member causing blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selectively changes the temperature parameter only of the ice-scraping member (spindle) while maintaining the ice layer temperature. The heating wire raises the spindle temperature to -10℃ to 10℃, creating a temperature gradient where the ice layer remains stable and intact while the scraping surface remains free from freezing adhesion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by heating only the specific location of the ice-scraping member (the spindle surface that contacts the ice layer) while leaving the rest of the system at lower temperatures. This localized temperature control ensures ice layer integrity is maintained overall while preventing freezing at the critical scraping interface
3Speed
If the ice-making chamber operates under high environmental temperature conditions, then ice discharge speed is improved, but ice chips are not fully compacted leading to loose ice pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the ice-scraping member to pre-compact the ice layer into the ice-extruding screw rod before the extrusion process begins. The scraping member presses the ice chips firmly into the screw rod channels, ensuring proper compaction even when the ice-making chamber operates at higher temperatures that would otherwise result in loose ice pieces
4Productivity
If the axial force of the ice-scraping member is not balanced, then ice scraping effectiveness is improved, but the driving device experiences excessive stress and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by designing a support structure with a first support point and a second support point that are positioned to balance the axial force generated during ice scraping. The first support point bears the axial force when the ice-scraping member presses against the ice layer, while the second support point provides counterbalancing support, preventing excessive stress on the driving device and simplifying its structure
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 solution reduces ice-discharging resistance, prevents blockage, ensures smooth ice discharge, and minimizes small ice pieces, with deicing times reduced to 12 minutes in case of blockage, while enhancing refrigerating efficiency and simplifying the driving device structure.
Implementation Method 1
a heating wire wound on the outer circumference of the spindle... the heating wire is controlled to heat the spindle to a temperature between -10℃ and 10℃
Implementation Method 2
Ice makers are mechanical equipment for quickly freezing water into ice by means of the heat pump technique
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an ice-making assembly and an ice-making device. Wherein, the ice-making assembly includes a barrel, a mount, an ice-extruding member, an ice-scraping member and a temperature control member. An ice-making chamber is formed in the barrel. The ice-scraping member is assembled in the ice-making chamber and includes a spindle, a support structure arranged on the spindle, and a receiving cavity extending in an axial direction of the spindle. The ice-scraping member is driven by a driving device to rotate with respect to the barrel. The temperature control member is assembled in the receiving cavity. The mount is assembled at a lower end of the barrel. The ice-extruding member is assembled at an upper end of the barrel. Wherein, a cross-sectional area, perpendicular to an axial direction of the spindle, of the spindle of the ice-scraping member increases gradually in a direction close to the mount.