Ice making method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 on the gyration member and associated components, which reduces their durability and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves different driving protocols for the gyration member when producing ice for user consumption versus ice for generating cold water, with reduced gyration periods and angles to minimize wear and tear, and using a sensor to determine the release time based on ice size detection during specific durations.
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 patent applies partial action by using the gyration member only when highly transparent ice is required, rather than continuously gyrating for all ice making operations. The control unit determines whether gyration is necessary based on the type of ice to be produced, thereby reducing the total number of gyrations and extending component life while maintaining ice transparency quality when needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If the gyration member gyrates continuously to produce both user-supplied transparent ice and cold water generation ice, then both ice types are produced with high transparency, but the load on the gyration member and magnetic force generation member increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by controlling the gyration member to operate only during specific periods when highly transparent ice is required, rather than continuously. The control unit activates gyration based on the ice production mode, creating periodic operation cycles that reduce cumulative load on the gyration member and magnetic force generation member while maintaining transparency quality for user-supplied ice.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gyration member is used for both making transparent ice and detecting ice formation level, then both functions are achieved, but the number of gyrations increases leading to increased wear and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recognizes the multi-functionality of the gyration member, which serves both to create highly transparent ice and to detect ice formation levels. By controlling the unit to activate gyration only when both functions are simultaneously needed (i.e., when producing user-supplied transparent ice), the system maximizes the utility of the gyration member while minimizing unnecessary wear from using it for single-purpose tasks like cold water generation.
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 and load on the gyration member and its components, extending their lifespan and improving durability, while maintaining the production of highly transparent ice.
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
a sensor S provided to measure a gyration period of the gyration member C
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ice making method capable of reducing the required number of gyrations 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.