Twistable Metal Ice Tray Assembly Without Heater-Based Ice Release

Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic ice makers in refrigerators are energy-intensive due to the use of electrical resistance heaters to release ice, which reduces system reliability and increases energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

An ice maker assembly with a metal tray having ice-phobic recesses and a driving mechanism that rotates the tray to flex and dislodge ice pieces without the need for heaters, utilizing a processor-controlled rotatable driving body to press the tray against a frame body, thereby releasing ice pieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical resistance heaters are used to release ice from the tray, then ice release is achieved, but energy consumption increases and system reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the heater component from the ice maker system entirely. Instead of using electrical resistance heaters to release ice, the invention employs a mechanical twisting action of the tray itself to dislodge and release the ice cubes, thereby eliminating the energy-consuming and reliability-reducing heater element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal field (heaters) with a mechanical field (twisting mechanism). The tray is designed to twist in a controlled manner, using mechanical force to break the bond between ice cubes and the tray, substituting the thermal energy approach with a purely mechanical release mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If heaters are used to release ice pieces, then ice release is achieved, but the system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the heater component from the ice maker system entirely. Instead of using electrical resistance heaters to release ice, the invention employs a mechanical twisting action of the tray itself to dislodge and release the ice cubes, thereby eliminating the energy-consuming and reliability-reducing heater element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray serves multiple functions: it forms the ice cubes, holds them during freezing, and releases them through its own twisting motion. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heater components, simplifying the overall system structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If heaters are used to release ice, then ice release is achieved, but additional energy is required to cool the heated environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice release efficiencyVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal field (heaters) with a mechanical field (twisting mechanism). The tray is designed to twist in a controlled manner, using mechanical force to break the bond between ice cubes and the tray, substituting the thermal energy approach with a purely mechanical release mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the adhesive bond between ice and tray, which normally prevents release, into a beneficial feature by designing the tray geometry and twisting mechanism to systematically break this bond. The same adhesion that holds ice during freezing is overcome through controlled mechanical deformation rather than thermal energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This solution reduces energy consumption by eliminating the need for heaters, enhances system reliability by simplifying the mechanism, and improves ice release efficiency without damaging the ice pieces.

Implementation Method 1

The processor controls the driving body to rotate the tray in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an ice maker with a tray having a plurality of ice-phobic recesses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIce-phobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS9587871B2Heater-less ice maker assembly with a twistable tray

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An ice maker assembly is provided that includes a tray having a plurality of ice-phobic recesses. The recesses may possess a total water volume of 70 cc or greater. The tray comprises metal material and can be formed with a substantially uniform strain distribution. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the ice-forming tray, and a processor that is operatively coupled to the driving body. The processor controls the driving body to rotate the tray in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses.