Ice Tray Cover Mechanism to Prevent Water Splashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice makers face issues with water or thin ice overflowing or splashing from the ice tray during water supply or when subjected to external forces, leading to ice pieces sticking together and reduced freezing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a conductive ice tray with a pulse heating mechanism and an ice tray cover that prevents overflow by rotating to expose and cover the tray, minimizing water splashing and ensuring efficient ice separation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is supplied to the ice tray during freezing operation, then the ice making process continues, but water may overflow or splash out of the tray causing ice pieces to stick together
Solution Approach 1:
The ice tray cover is positioned in advance to cover the tray opening before water supply begins. This preliminary positioning prevents water from splashing or overflowing during the water supply operation, thereby maintaining ice separation quality while allowing continuous ice making
Solution Approach 2:
The ice tray cover acts as an intermediary element between the water supply source and the ice tray. It mediates the water supply process by allowing water to reach the tray while preventing excessive water from splashing out, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous water supply and ice separation quality
2Ease of operation
If the ice tray is shaken by external force during freezing, then ice separation may be facilitated, but water or thin ice may splash out of the tray
Solution Approach 1:
The ice tray cover is positioned in advance to cover the tray opening before any shaking or external force is applied. This preliminary positioning prevents water or thin ice from splashing out during shaking operations, while still allowing ice separation to occur through the covered tray
3Reliability
If a cover is added to prevent water overflow, then ice separation quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice tray cover serves multiple functions: it prevents water overflow during water supply, prevents water splashing during shaking, and can be part of the ice separation mechanism. By making the cover multi-functional, the patent improves ice separation quality without proportionally increasing device complexity
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
The solution effectively prevents water and thin ice from overflowing, reducing ice sticking and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the ice maker by ensuring clean and separate ice production.
Implementation Method 1
a heater heats the ice tray such that the outer surface of the ice in the ice tray melts and separates from the ice tray
Implementation Method 2
An ice maker design featuring a conductive ice tray with a pulse heating mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker and a controlling method thereof are provided. The system and method may prevent the overflow or splashing of water or thin ice out of an ice tray during the supply of water or when the ice maker is shaken by an external force. The ice maker may include an ice tray, and an ice tray cover that covers an open portion of the ice tray. The cover may include an opening through which water may be supplied to the ice tray, and through which ice may be discharged from the ice tray. The cover may move together with the tray, or may move separately from the tray, to facilitate these supply and discharge processes.