icemaker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing icemakers face issues with inconsistent ice cube formation due to improper water distribution, difficulty in maintenance and inspection, and contamination risks from components like the recirculation pump.
Innovation Solution
An icemaker design featuring a sprayer with calibrated holes and nozzles for precise water injection into cells, a movable support mechanism for easy access and drainage, and a recirculation pump positioned outside the collecting tank to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed sprayer is used for water injection, then the structure is simple, but the nozzles cannot be properly positioned and water distribution is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer is made movable relative to the evaporator through a support mechanism with guides, allowing the sprayer to be positioned at different locations. This dynamic positioning enables proper alignment of nozzles with cell openings while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the recirculation pump is positioned inside the collecting tank, then the structure is compact, but water contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation pump is extracted from the collecting tank and positioned externally. This separation removes the pump from the water storage environment, eliminating the contamination risk while maintaining a compact overall design through external positioning rather than internal integration.
3Ease of operation
If the sprayer is fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but access for cleaning and maintenance is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer is designed with a movable support mechanism that includes guides for controlled movement. This allows the sprayer to be easily extracted and repositioned for cleaning and maintenance while maintaining stable positioning during operation, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and positional stability.
4Manufacturing precision
If no occlusion element is used, then the structure is simple, but ice cube shape and dimension defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion function is segmented into multiple calibrated holes in the occlusion element, each corresponding to a specific cell. This segmentation allows precise control of water injection into individual cells while maintaining a relatively simple overall occlusion mechanism structure, resolving the contradiction between ice cube homogeneity and mechanism simplicity.
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
Ensures homogeneous ice cube formation, simplifies maintenance and inspection, and protects water from contamination, resulting in consistent and clean ice production.
Implementation Method 1
a sprayer (4) for spraying water into the cells
Implementation Method 2
said sprayer being supported by a support in a movable way between an opening position and a closing position of said cells
Implementation Method 3
The cells release the ice cubes onto an underlying conveying baffle that is in turn inclined downwards so as to convey the ice cubes by the force of gravity to a collector
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The icemaker (1) comprises an evaporator (2) equipped with a plurality of open cells (3) for the formation of ice elements (13), a sprayer (4) for spraying water into the cells (3), a tank (5) for collecting the water not transformed into ice in the cells (3), the sprayer (4) having an element (8) for occluding the cells (3) equipped with a plurality of calibrated holes (9), each for access to a corresponding cell (3) and a plurality of nozzles (10), each engaged in a corresponding access hole (9) for the injection of water into a corresponding cell (3), the sprayer (4) being supported by a support (11) in a movable manner between an opening position and a closing position of the cells (3) by means of the occlusion element (8), a kinematic mechanism for moving said support (11) also being provided externally to said collection tank (5).