Icemaker assembly having a plunger
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ice withdrawal systems in refrigerators continue to rotate the ice bucket's blades even after power is shut off, leading to unintended ice dispensing and inconvenience due to residual kinetic energy and moment of inertia, causing ice to fall on the floor when the withdrawal button is released.
Innovation Solution
A plunger mechanism is introduced that can enter and exit a rotation chamber within the ice bucket, using elastic force and a magnetic field to control the rotation of the blades, ensuring immediate stoppage of ice withdrawal by interfering with the blade's rotation when power is off, thus preventing further ice dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power is shut off to the electric motor to stop ice withdrawal, then energy consumption is reduced, but the rotation member continues to rotate due to inertia causing unintended ice dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger is positioned in advance within the rotation chamber to block the rotation path of the rotation member. When power is shut off, the plunger is already in place to prevent any further rotation, counteracting the inertial motion before it can cause unintended ice dispensing. This preliminary blocking action ensures reliable stoppage while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the rotation member is designed to rotate freely to enable smooth ice withdrawal, then ease of operation is improved, but unintended rotation continues after power off due to inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger acts as an intermediary element between the power source and the rotation member. During operation, the plunger is retracted to allow free rotation and smooth ice withdrawal. When power is shut off, the plunger is extended into the rotation chamber to block the rotation path, preventing unintended rotation. This intermediary mechanism maintains ease of operation during use while eliminating harmful post-power-off rotation.
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 plunger mechanism effectively stops the ice withdrawal operation promptly, preventing ice from falling and enhancing user convenience by ensuring controlled and secure ice dispensing without the need for additional drivers or structural changes to the existing system.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body installed in the plunger housing and configured to pressurize the plunger in an entrance direction
Implementation Method 2
a driven portion configured to receive external force generated while power is supplied to a movement member by a power supply for providing power for moving the movement member and configured to move the plunger in a direction for pulling out the plunger from the rotation trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
A stopper of an ice bucket may be for promptly stopping withdrawal of ice when a command for withdrawal of ice from the ice bucket is stopped. The stopper may be configured such that a plunger enters a rotation trajectory of a blade, at a time when the plunger needs to be moved so as to promptly stop the blade by the plunger.