Icemaker appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Icemaker appliances experience mineral and ice build-up, leading to increased total dissolved solids (TDS) that decrease the freezing point of water, inhibit ice generation, and cause auger seizure, with manual cleaning being difficult and risky.
Innovation Solution
An icemaker appliance with a closed-loop water circulation system, including an upper and lower reservoir, a pump, and conduits, which flows water through the icemaking cylinder to dilute minerals and maintain equal water levels, preventing ice build-up and auger seizure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If manual cleaning is performed to remove mineral build-up, then mineral removal is achieved, but user safety and component integrity are compromised due to difficult access and damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-cleaning by circulating water through the icemaking chamber and components automatically. The water circulation system flows water through conduits that contact mineral build-up areas, and the system controls this circulation without user intervention, allowing the appliance to clean itself safely and effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a water circulation system with pumps and conduits to hydraulically flush water through the icemaking chamber and internal components. This hydraulic action removes mineral deposits by circulating water through pathways that contact build-up areas, eliminating the need for manual cleaning while protecting components from damage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If manual cleaning is performed to remove mineral build-up, then mineral removal is achieved, but component damage risk increases due to user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-cleaning by circulating water through the icemaking chamber and components automatically. The water circulation system flows water through conduits that contact mineral build-up areas, and the system controls this circulation without user intervention, allowing the appliance to clean itself safely and effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a water circulation system with pumps and conduits to hydraulically flush water through the icemaking chamber and internal components. This hydraulic action removes mineral deposits by circulating water through pathways that contact build-up areas, eliminating the need for manual cleaning while protecting components from damage.
3Quantity of substance
If water levels decrease in the icemaking chamber, then ice build-up continues, but auger rotation is inhibited leading to seizure
Solution Approach 1:
The water circulation system operates continuously or periodically to maintain adequate water levels in the icemaking chamber. By continuously circulating water through the chamber and reservoir, the system prevents water level depletion that would otherwise lead to excessive ice build-up and auger seizure, ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates level sensors or detection mechanisms that monitor water levels in the icemaking chamber. When water levels drop below optimal thresholds, the control system activates the water circulation pump to replenish water from the reservoir, maintaining conditions that prevent auger seizure and ensure continuous operation.
4Quantity of substance
If TDS levels increase due to mineral build-up, then freezing point decreases, but ice generation is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a water circulation system with pumps and conduits to hydraulically flush water through the icemaking chamber and internal components. This hydraulic action removes mineral deposits by circulating water through pathways that contact build-up areas, eliminating the need for manual cleaning while protecting components from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically flushes the icemaking chamber and water pathways with fresh water to reduce TDS levels. By changing the water composition parameter (removing dissolved solids through circulation and replacement), the system maintains optimal freezing points for ice generation, preventing productivity decline.
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 system effectively reduces mineral and ice build-up, maintains water freezing point, and prevents auger seizure, facilitating automatic and safe cleaning without user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to flow water through a first conduit from the lower reservoir
Implementation Method 2
An icemaker appliance including an upper reservoir positioned above a lower reservoir along a vertical axis
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaker appliance is provided, the icemaker appliance including an upper reservoir positioned above a lower reservoir along a vertical axis. The upper reservoir is positioned at least partially overlapping an icemaking vessel along the vertical axis. A pump is configured to flow water through a first conduit from the lower reservoir. A second conduit fluidly couples the pump to the upper reservoir. A supply conduit is fluidly coupled the upper reservoir to the icemaking vessel.