Liquid discharging member
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to create a compact and easily maintainable water discharging member for refrigerators that can be sterilized using ultraviolet light, while preventing water from invading the ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) and ensuring the structure is watertight and easily manufactured.
Innovation Solution
A water discharging member with a UV LED installed in a direction opposite to the water flow, utilizing a window to transmit deep ultraviolet light for sterilization and a sealing mechanism to prevent water ingress, featuring a compact design with a key and groove system for easy assembly and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UV LED is installed in the water discharging member for sterilization, then the sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the risk of water invading the UV LED increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharging member is divided into a water flow path section and a UV LED installation section, physically separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows the UV LED to be isolated from direct water contact while still enabling sterilization of the water flow path through ultraviolet radiation transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent or translucent partition wall acts as an intermediary between the UV LED and the water flow path. This partition wall transmits ultraviolet light for sterilization while simultaneously blocking water from reaching the UV LED, solving both the sterilization effectiveness and water invasion prevention requirements.
2Volume of moving object
If the water discharging member is designed with a compact structure for narrow door space, then the space utilization is improved, but the complexity of sealing and manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall that separates the UV LED from water is merged with the sealing structure of the water discharging member. The same partition wall that provides ultraviolet transmission also serves as a waterproof barrier, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing overall structural complexity despite the compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall performs multiple functions simultaneously: it separates the UV LED from water, transmits ultraviolet light for sterilization, and provides waterproof sealing. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed in the compact structure, making manufacturing easier despite the space constraints.
3Reliability
If the UV LED is positioned to radiate ultraviolet light onto all inner wall surfaces, then the sterilization coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharging member incorporates curved or angled inner wall surfaces that reflect and redirect ultraviolet light. This curvature allows a single UV LED positioned in the partition wall to radiate light that covers all inner wall surfaces through reflection, achieving complete sterilization coverage without requiring multiple LEDs or complex positioning mechanisms.
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 allows for effective sterilization of the water discharging member, preventing bacterial growth and ensuring a compact, watertight, and easily maintainable structure, reducing the need for frequent replacements and optimizing space within the refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
a light source 80 that is configured to radiate ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
The inner space of the nozzle pipe 75 and the light-source installing part 77 may be spatially divided by sealing a sealing member or seal 87. Because water flows in the nozzle pipe 75 and the light-source bracket 77 includes the ultraviolet-light source, the water that flows in the nozzle pipe 75 may not enter the light-source bracket 77.
Implementation Method 3
a window 85 that is disposed between one end of the nozzle pipe 75 and the light source, that divides the inner space of the nozzle pipe and an area where the light source is disposed and that is configured to transmit ultraviolet light radiated from the light source 80 to the nozzle pipe 75
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A refrigerator provided with a dispenser, wherein a water discharging member that is installed in the dispenser includes: a nozzle pipe (75); a light source (80) that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe; and a window (85) that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, that divides the inner space of the nozzle pipe and an area where the light source is disposed and that transmits ultraviolet light radiated from the light source to the nozzle pipe.