Ice Making Machine Cold Air Duct Design for Efficient Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice making machines face inefficiencies in supplying cold air to ice trays due to complex structures and positional dependencies between cold air ducts and ice trays, leading to ineffective cold air distribution and reduced ice making efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An ice making machine design featuring a cold air supply port connected to a frame body through a cold air duct, with an inclined flow passage and strategically positioned cold air blowing outlets to ensure efficient cold air distribution across the ice tray, including a snap-fit structure for easy attachment and reinforcement ribs for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cold air duct is integrally formed in an upper part of the ice tray, then cold air can be supplied to the ice tray, but the structure becomes complicated and the ice making machine becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold air supply effectivenessVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cold air duct is separated from the ice tray structure. The duct is formed as a separate component that connects to the ice tray positioning area, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly. This segmentation simplifies both the duct design and the ice tray design while maintaining effective cold air supply to the ice making chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the separate cold air duct with positioning protrusions) that mediates between the cold air supply system and the ice tray. This intermediary component facilitates cold air distribution without requiring integral formation with the ice tray, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the cold air duct is positioned closely to the ice tray, then cold air can be effectively supplied to the water surface, but the positional relationship becomes dependent on specific arrangements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making efficiencyVSAvoidarrangement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cold air duct is designed with movable or adjustable positioning capabilities. The duct can be positioned at different locations above the ice tray while maintaining effective cold air supply through its positioning protrusions that engage with corresponding recesses in the ice tray or support structure. This dynamic positioning capability allows adaptation to different ice tray arrangements without compromising ice making efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cold air duct is designed as a universal component that can work with different ice tray configurations. The positioning mechanism (protrusions and recesses) allows the duct to be adapted to various ice tray positions and orientations, making the system versatile and independent of specific arrangement requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a cold air duct covers the upper part of the ice tray to regulate cold air flow, then cold air distribution is improved, but the duct shape becomes complicated and large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold air distribution effectivenessVSAvoidduct volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing comprehensive coverage of the entire upper part of the ice tray, the cold air duct is designed to supply cold air only to the specific areas where ice making chambers are located. The duct includes localized blowing outlets positioned above individual ice making chambers, allowing targeted cold air supply without the need for a large, complex duct structure covering the entire tray area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enhances ice making efficiency by effectively spreading cold air over the ice tray, improving cold air distribution and structural integrity while allowing for flexible arrangement and easy maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

cold air supplied to the ice making chamber through the cold air blowing outlet is flowed over the ice tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

an inclined flow passage part which is inclined with respect to a direction where an ice making recessed part provided in the ice tray is opened

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

cold air blowing outlet which faces the ice making recessed part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS10935295B2Ice making machine

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 SANKYO SEIKI MFG CO LTD

AI summary

An ice making machine may include an ice tray, a drive unit which is provided at one end of the ice tray and is structured to turn the ice tray, a frame body which supports the ice tray and the drive unit, and a cold air duct which connects an opening formed in the frame body with the cold air supply port. The frame body is provided with a wall part which faces the drive unit at the other end of the ice tray and the opening is formed in the wall part. The cold air duct is provided with an inclined flow passage part inclined with respect to a direction where an ice making recessed part in the ice tray is opened, and the inclined flow passage part is provided with a cold air blowing outlet which faces the ice making recessed part.