Insulated ice compartment for bottom mount refrigerator with controlled damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottom mount refrigerators lack an efficient and practical ice dispensing system within the fresh food compartment due to temperature and structural challenges, including maintaining a suitable temperature for icemaking and integrating an icemaker without compromising insulation and electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
An insulated icemaking compartment is integrated within the fresh food compartment, utilizing a cold air duct from the freezer compartment, with a separate temperature control system and modular design, including a water fill tube exposed to ambient air to prevent freezing, and a control system for efficient icemaking and dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an icemaker is placed within the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator, then ice can be dispensed from the refrigerator compartment door, but the temperature control becomes difficult since the fresh food compartment is normally about 40° F. while ice making requires temperatures below 32° F.
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the refrigerator into separate functional zones by providing an insulated icemaking compartment within the fresh food compartment. This compartment is thermally isolated from the main fresh food space, allowing independent temperature control at sub-freezing levels while the rest of the fresh food compartment maintains its normal refrigeration temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulated icemaking compartment acts as an intermediary space that receives cold air from the freezer compartment through a cold air duct. This intermediary compartment enables ice making at low temperatures while being located within the warmer fresh food compartment, effectively mediating between the cold freezer and the warmer fresh food space.
2Productivity
If an insulated icemaking compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment, then effective ice making is enabled, but the structural complexity and manufacturing considerations increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated icemaking compartment is nested within the fresh food compartment structure. The compartment includes an outer shell that is integrally formed with or attached to the fresh food compartment liner, and an inner shell that defines the icemaking space, with insulation material between them. This nested configuration allows efficient ice making while integrating the complex structure into the existing refrigerator architecture.
3Temperature
If a cold air duct is used to supply cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment, then effective cooling is achieved, but the insulation requirements and seal integrity become more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different insulation qualities to different parts of the icemaking compartment based on their thermal requirements. The outer shell is thermally insulated from the fresh food compartment to prevent heat ingress, while the cold air duct provides a controlled thermal pathway from the freezer. Seals are provided at critical interfaces including the door opening and duct connections to maintain thermal integrity.
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
Enables efficient and timely icemaking, energy efficiency, safety, convenience, and aesthetic appeal by providing a functional ice dispenser in the refrigerator door without opening the door, while minimizing complexity and components.
Implementation Method 1
the water fill tube for supplying water to the icemaker extends downwardly through a vertically disposed hole in the top wall of the refrigerator, and is exposed to ambient air to prevent freezing of water within the fill tube
Implementation Method 2
Najewicz forms ice within the fresh food compartment using the thermoelectric icemaker even though the compartment is above a freezing temperature. Although Najewicz provides for a duct that runs from the freezer compartment to the thermoelectric icemaker, the cold air from the duct is used to remove heat from the thermoelectric icemaker.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.