Ice Shutter Isolation in Refrigerators to Prevent Cube Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice cubes in refrigerators tend to stick together due to cold air flowing from the ice maker into the ice bank, which hinders their efficient dispensing and reduces ice making capacity.
Innovation Solution
An ice shutter mechanism is introduced to isolate the ice bank from the cold air flow, comprising a shutter upper portion made of injection-molded plastic and a lower portion of silicone, which rotates to prevent cold air from entering the ice bank, redirecting it back to the freezing compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cold air is supplied to the ice maker for ice making, then ice cubes are generated efficiently, but the cold air flows into the ice bank causing ice cubes to stick together
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space of the ice making apparatus is segmented into two distinct regions: an ice making space for generating ice cubes and an ice storage space for storing them. A partition wall with a selective passage separates these spaces, allowing controlled interaction while maintaining functional independence. This segmentation prevents cold air from the ice making space from continuously flowing into the ice storage space, thereby preventing ice cubes from sticking together while still enabling efficient ice production.
Solution Approach 2:
A shutter mechanism acts as an intermediary between the ice making space and the ice storage space. This shutter selectively controls the passage of cold air and ice cubes: it remains closed during ice making to prevent cold air from reaching the ice bank, and opens when ice cubes need to be transferred to the storage space. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing ice cube generation while blocking the harmful cold air flow that causes sticking.
2Quantity of substance
If ice cubes are stored in large quantity in the ice bank, then dispensing availability is improved, but heat exchange causes ice cubes to stick together
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making apparatus is divided into functionally separate zones: an ice making space where ice cubes are generated and an ice storage space where they are accumulated. The partition wall with selective passage ensures that the storage space is isolated from the cold air flow in the making space, allowing large quantities of ice cubes to be stored without the heat exchange and air flow that cause sticking.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter mechanism serves as an intermediary that controls access between the ice making space and storage space. It remains closed during storage to prevent cold air from the making space from entering the storage space, thereby eliminating the heat exchange and air flow that cause ice cubes to stick together, while still allowing ice cubes to be transferred when needed.
3Duration of action of moving object
If cold air flows through the ice bank path, then ice making operation is maintained, but ice cube dispensing is hindered due to sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is segmented into ice making and ice storage functions with a partition wall separating them. The selective passage in the partition wall allows the system to maintain ice making operation continuity by keeping the making space isolated, while preventing cold air from flowing into the storage space where it would cause ice cubes to stick and hinder dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter mechanism dynamically adjusts its state based on operational needs: it remains closed during ice making and storage to prevent cold air flow that causes sticking, and opens selectively when ice cubes need to be transferred from the making space to the storage space. This dynamic control maintains ice making continuity while ensuring easy dispensing by preventing ice cube sticking.
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
Prevents ice cubes from sticking together, enhancing ice making capacity by approximately 15% and ensuring efficient ice cube dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
cold air supplied to the ice maker for ice making flows in the ice bank through a path for conveying ice cubes
Implementation Method 2
Heat exchange may occur due to a difference in temperature between ambient air and the ice cubes or air flowing in from the outside, causing the ice cubes to stick to each other
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a main body including a compartment, an ice bank configured to store ice cubes, an ice maker configured to generate ice cubes and to move the ice cubes to the ice bank, the ice maker including an ice tray, a cover configured to isolate the ice bank and the ice maker from the compartment, the cover including a first opening and an ice shutter configured to prevent cold air flowing through the first opening of the cover into the ice maker from being introduced into the ice bank.