Low-Profile Gear Box for Ice Dispenser
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compact gear boxes for ice dispensers in refrigerators/freezers have a relatively large height due to the stacked arrangement of motors and gear trains, which limits their compactness and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compact gear box design where the motor and gear train are housed within a low-profile structure, with the gear train located entirely on the side of the motor, allowing the output shaft to extend through the housing and enabling reversible operation for dispensing ice cubes and crushed ice, while maintaining a low height by ensuring the gear train's maximum height does not exceed the motor's height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the motor and gear train are stacked upon each other along a side of the motor, then the gear box can be compact, but the height becomes relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The gear train is arranged entirely on one side of the motor in a planar configuration rather than stacking components vertically. The gear train extends laterally from the motor shaft along one side, utilizing horizontal space instead of vertical space, thereby reducing the overall height of the gear box while maintaining compact volume.
2Length of stationary object
If the gear train is located entirely on one side of the motor, then the height is reduced, but the space arrangement becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The gear train is segmented into multiple gears (first gear, second gear, third gear, and output gear) that are arranged in sequence along one side of the motor. Each gear is positioned at a specific location along the motor side, allowing the power transmission path to be distributed laterally rather than concentrated vertically, thus reducing height while managing spatial constraints through systematic segmentation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the output shaft extends through the housing wall, then the gear box can be integrated with ice dispenser, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The output shaft is designed to extend through the housing wall to provide direct mechanical connection with the ice dispenser mechanism. This single structural feature enables multiple functions: power transmission from the gear train, rotational output for ice dispensing, and mechanical coupling with the dispenser. The housing is configured with an opening that accommodates the output shaft, integrating the gear box and dispenser into a unified system.
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 design achieves a significantly reduced size, allowing for more space within the refrigerator/freezer for other components, such as a larger ice bucket, while maintaining high torque and low-speed rotational capabilities for efficient ice dispensing and crushing.
Implementation Method 1
a direct current motor inside of the housing and having a motor shaft
Implementation Method 2
a gear train inside of the housing and driven by the motor shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A gear box has a housing and a direct current motor inside of the housing. A rotatable output shaft extends through a wall of the housing and is rotatably driven by the motor via a gear train. The gear box can be used to dispense ice from a refrigerator/freezer. The motor drives the output shaft in one direction to dispense ice cubes. The motor also drives the output shaft in an opposite direction to crush ice and dispense the crushed ice. The gear box has a low-profile height. The gear train is located in front of a motor shaft of the motor and has a maximum height which does not exceed a maximum height of the motor. The motor shaft is perpendicular to the input gear of the gear train and to the output shaft of the gear box.