Ice storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ice storage systems face issues with ice becoming stuck between the transferring and breaking members, leading to operational inefficiencies and potential breakdowns, and result in significant remaining ice not being transferred.

Innovation Solution

The ice storage system incorporates a transferring member with an elastic transformable part and a breaking member with rotatable and fixed components, positioned to prevent ice from getting stuck, allowing for smooth transfer and breaking of ice without interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ice is transferred by the transferring member and broken by the breaking member, then ice can be discharged as broken ice, but ice may become stuck between the transferring member and the breaking member causing operational issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice discharge optionsVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transferring member is designed to rotate, creating dynamic movement that prevents ice from becoming stuck between the transferring member and the breaking member. This rotational motion allows the system to adapt to different ice positions and maintains operational reliability by avoiding jamming conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The breaking member is configured with multiple breaking portions or edges that can independently contact and break ice. This segmentation allows ice to be broken at multiple points simultaneously, reducing the likelihood of ice becoming stuck in a single location and improving overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the transferring member rotates to transfer ice, then ice transfer efficiency is improved, but ice may become stuck between the transferring member and the breaking member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice transfer efficiencyVSAvoidoperational smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating transferring member provides continuous motion for efficient ice transfer, while the dynamic configuration of the breaking member allows it to accommodate the moving ice without causing jams. The system maintains both high productivity and operational smoothness through coordinated movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The breaking member acts as an intermediary element between the rotating transferring member and the discharge port. It is positioned and configured to receive ice from the transferring member and guide it outward, preventing ice from becoming stuck in the transition zone while maintaining transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the breaking member is positioned to break ice effectively, then ice breaking function is improved, but ice may become stuck between the transferring member and the breaking member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice breaking efficiencyVSAvoidmember configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking member is segmented into multiple breaking edges or portions that can contact ice at different locations. This segmentation provides effective ice breaking capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as each segment is a basic geometric feature rather than a complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breaking member combines multiple functions into a single component: it breaks ice, guides ice toward the discharge port, and prevents ice from becoming stuck. This merging of functions improves ice breaking efficiency while avoiding the need for multiple separate complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration prevents ice from getting stuck, ensures continuous and efficient transfer and breaking of ice, and significantly reduces remaining ice not transferred by the transferring member.

Implementation Method 1

the transferring member may have a transferring wing, and the transferring wing may have an elastic transformable part bendable by external force applied by ice present between the transferring member and the breaking member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3467407B1Ice storage
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 COWAY CO LTD
  • EP3467407B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3467407B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3467407B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ice storage is disclosed. The ice storage according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a storage body having a storage space for storing ice and a discharge port for discharging ice to the outside; a transferring and breaking part which, by having at least a part thereof provided in the storage space, transfers the ice in the storage space to the discharge port and, if necessary, breaks the transferred ice; and a door part allowing the ice to be discharged through the discharge port as unbroken ice or broken ice unbroken or broken by the transferring and breaking part, wherein the transferring and breaking part comprises a transferring member for transferring ice and a breaking member for breaking ice, wherein the transferring member and the breaking member may be configured such that ice is not stuck therebetween while being transferred.