Ice making method
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ice making methods require a high number of gyrations of the gyration member to produce highly transparent ice and determine the optimal release time, leading to increased load and reduced durability of the gyration member and sensor components.
Innovation Solution
The method differentiates the driving of the gyration member for making ice for user consumption and ice for generating cold water, reducing the number of gyrations by adjusting the driving duration and using a sensor to detect the ice formation level only when necessary, with the gyration member driven during basic ice making and size detection times for user ice and only during size detection for cold water ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the gyration member gyrates periodically to make highly transparent ice and detect ice formation level, then the transparency and detection accuracy are improved, but the number of gyrations increases significantly leading to increased load and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The gyration member performs partial gyrations only during specific phases (ice making phase and detection phase) rather than continuous gyrations. This partial action reduces the total number of gyrations while still achieving the required ice transparency and detection accuracy, thereby reducing wear and improving durability
2Manufacturing precision
If the gyration member gyrates continuously to make both user ice and cold water ice with high transparency, then the transparency of both ice types is improved, but the number of gyrations increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality levels of ice transparency are applied to different purposes: user ice requires high transparency while cold water ice can have lower transparency requirements. The gyration member is driven only during user ice making to achieve high transparency, while cold water ice is made without continuous gyration, reducing total gyration time while meeting differentiated quality requirements
3Measurement precision
If the sensor detects ice formation level continuously with gyration, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the load on the sensor and gyration member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor performs detection at periodic intervals during specific phases (ice making phase and detection phase) rather than continuous detection. This periodic action maintains sufficient detection accuracy for determining ice release timing while reducing the operational load on both the sensor and gyration member, improving their durability
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 approach reduces the number of gyrations, decreases the load on the gyration member and sensor, and extends their operational lifespan by optimizing the driving durations and detection methods.
Implementation Method 1
With water in the tray member T, when the gyration member C periodically gyrates, waves are generated in the water in the tray member T
Implementation Method 2
the gyration member C may also be used to detect whether or not the formation of ice I generated on the dipping members D has reached an intended level along with a sensor S
Implementation Method 3
when a cold refrigerant flows in the dipping members D, ice I is generated on the dipping members D
Implementation Method 4
when a hot refrigerant flows in the dipping members D, the ice I generated on the dipping members D is separated from the dipping members D
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
There is provided an ice making method capable of reducing the required number ofgyrations of a gyration member used for making ice to have a high level of transparency and determining a point in time at which ice is to be released. The ice making method for making highly transparent ice by revolving a gyration member provided in a tray member in which water is put such that a plurality of dipping members, on which ice is generated or from which generated ice is released, are immersed, wherein a method for driving the gyration member in making ice to be supplied to a user and a method for driving the gyration member in making ice to be used for generating cold water are different in order to reduce the number of gyrations of the gyration member.