Miniaturized motor assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making devices lack a motor that allows precise control over torque and rotational direction for ice harvesting, leading to potential damage of the ice tray and reduced lifespan due to excessive force during ice loosening and harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized motor assembly with a gear train assembly that includes a reversible motor and a control board, capable of rotating the ice tray through multiple stages and directions to release ice with minimal mechanical stress, utilizing a compact housing and interconnected gears to manage torque effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor is used to rotate the ice tray for harvesting, then ice can be loosened and harvested, but excessive torque may damage the tray and shorten its life
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly provides dynamically controllable torque through electronic control, allowing the system to adjust the rotational force applied to the ice tray in real-time. This enables precise control over the harvesting process, applying only the necessary torque to loosen and harvest ice without exceeding the tray's structural limits, thereby preventing damage while maintaining harvesting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the torque parameter during operation by controlling motor rotation speed and direction through the control board. By varying these parameters, the system can apply gentle torque for loosening ice and controlled torque for harvesting, avoiding the constant high torque that would damage the tray and extend its service life.
2Ease of operation
If prior ice makers are used without precise motor control, then ice harvesting can be performed, but accurate control over torque and rotational direction cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The control board receives feedback from sensors that detect ice levels and tray position, and adjusts motor torque and rotational direction accordingly. This closed-loop control system enables precise measurement and adjustment of operational parameters, ensuring accurate control over the ice harvesting process while maintaining ease of automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical torque control mechanisms with an electrically controlled motor system. This substitution allows for precise electronic control of torque and rotational direction through the control board, enabling accurate measurement and adjustment of operational parameters that would be difficult to achieve with purely mechanical systems.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact motor assembly is designed for limited freezer space, then space efficiency is improved, but the motor must be miniaturized which may reduce power
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly is designed with a nested structure where the gear train is integrated within the motor housing, and the control board is positioned in the back section of the compact housing. This nesting arrangement maximizes the use of available space, allowing the motor to be miniaturized without sacrificing essential functional components, thereby maintaining adequate power in a compact form factor suitable for limited freezer space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor, gear train, and control board into a single integrated motor assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mounting spaces for each component, reducing the overall volume required while maintaining the motor's power output through efficient spatial arrangement and shared structural elements.
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 enables efficient ice harvesting with reduced stress on the ice tray, extending its lifespan and allowing for precise control over the ice harvesting process, suitable for compact spaces in appliances like refrigerators and vending machines.
Implementation Method 1
a reversible motor positioned within the base, the motor having an input shaft, a gear train assembly coupled to the input shaft of the motor
Implementation Method 2
a gear train assembly coupled to the input shaft of the motor, the gear train assembly having an output shaft coupled to an ice receiving tray
Data Source
AI summary
A compact, miniaturized motor assembly for use in an ice making and harvesting device in an appliance is provided. The miniaturized motor assembly includes a gear train assembly having an output shaft engaged with an ice receiving and storage component. A DC motor powers the gear train assembly, which rotates the output shaft in a plurality of directions to effectively loosen and release ice from an ice making device while offering less stress on the ice making device. A method for releasing ice from an ice making device and completing an ice harvesting cycle using the miniaturized motor assembly is also provided.