Icemaker Mold Shell with Movable Sub-Shells for Leak-Free Demolding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers in refrigerators face challenges in ensuring the integrity and ease of demolding ice cubes due to water leakage and irregular shapes, which affect the aesthetics and efficiency of the ice making process.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker incorporates a mold shell with movable sub-mold shells that can switch between separated and closed states, driven by a mechanism with push rods to ensure precise alignment and deformation for smooth demolding, and features a closed water inlet design to prevent leakage, allowing for specialized ice cube shapes like spheres or polyhedrons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed mold shell is used for ice making, then the structure is simple, but the ice cubes are difficult to demold and may break
Solution Approach 1:
The mold shell is designed with movable sub-mold shells that can dynamically change position. The first sub-mold shell remains fixed while the second sub-mold shell moves away from the first during demolding, creating a dynamic structure that enables easy ice cube removal while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If water inlet is not properly designed, then the structure is simple, but water leaks during ice making affecting ice cube integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The water inlet is designed with localized quality variations - the first sub-mold shell has a first water inlet at its first end, while the second sub-mold shell has a second water inlet at its second end. This asymmetric, location-specific water inlet design ensures proper water distribution and prevents leakage during the ice making process.
3Shape
If traditional demolding methods are used, then the process is simple, but ice cubes have irregular shapes and poor aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The demolding process is made dynamic through the movement of the second sub-mold shell. As the second sub-mold shell moves away from the first sub-mold shell, it creates space for the ice cube to be easily removed while maintaining its regular shape formed during freezing, thus improving both shape consistency and demolding ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold shell is segmented into multiple sub-mold shells (first and second sub-mold shells) that can move independently. This segmentation allows the second sub-mold shell to move away during demolding, creating a simple yet effective mechanism for consistent ice cube shaping and easy removal.
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 enhances the integrity and ease of demolding ice cubes, ensuring consistent shape and size while improving the efficiency and aesthetics of the ice making process.
Implementation Method 1
the first push rod is configured to push against the first sub-mold shell when the first sub-mold shell moves to a first predetermined position
Implementation Method 2
the second push rod is configured to push against the second sub-mold shell when the second sub-mold shell moves to a second predetermined position
Implementation Method 3
injecting water into an ice tray in the ice maker, then supplying cold to the ice making compartment to make the water in the ice tray freeze into an ice cube
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator body and an icemaker. An ice making chamber is defined in the refrigerator body. The icemaker is provided in the ice making chamber. The icemaker comprises a mold shell and a drive mechanism. The mold shell is provided with a water inlet and comprises a plurality of sub-mold shells. The plurality of sub-mold shells are configured to be switchable between a separated state and a closed state. The plurality of sub-mold shells are away from each other in the separated state, and the plurality of sub-mold shells are close to each other and closed in the closed state. The drive mechanism is configured to drive the plurality of sub-modules to switch between the separated state and the closed state.