Mobile cooling box with ice maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile cooling boxes are unable to both freeze water and maintain cooled goods simultaneously, requiring users to choose between freezing or cooling, and stationary devices capable of ice production are not portable.
Innovation Solution
A mobile cooling box with an integrated ice maker module and evaporator that allows for freezing and cooling in a single unit, featuring a removable ice maker module with a snap-in attachment system and ice trays with cap holes for efficient ice cube formation and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a mobile cooling box uses a powerful cooling unit capable of freezing water, then ice can be produced, but the temperature becomes too cold for beverages and the user must choose between freezing or cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling box is divided into two separate compartments: a freezing compartment with high cooling power for making ice, and a cooling compartment with lower cooling power for storing beverages. This segmentation allows each compartment to operate at its optimal temperature without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between freezing capability and beverage storage flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
Different thermal characteristics are applied to different parts of the cooling box. The freezing compartment uses high-density insulation and a powerful cooling unit for rapid ice production, while the cooling compartment uses standard insulation and a lower-power cooling unit for maintaining beverage temperatures. This local differentiation enables simultaneous freezing and cooling operations
2Power
If a mobile cooling box uses a powerful cooling unit to freeze water, then ice can be produced, but the device becomes too heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent units: a compact high-power freezing unit and a separate lower-power cooling unit. This allows the freezing function to be concentrated in a small, efficient module that doesn't require the entire system to be oversized, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining ice-making capability
Solution Approach 2:
The freezing compartment is designed to provide excessive cooling power relative to its size, enabling rapid ice production in a compact form. This partial concentration of high power in a small module avoids the need for a uniformly powerful (and therefore heavy) entire system
3Adaptability or versatility
If a stationary household cooling device provides both freezer and cooling compartments, then ice can be produced and cooled goods stored, but the device is not capable of being moved around
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile cooling box is designed as a universal device that can perform both freezing and cooling functions in a single portable unit. The integrated design combines two compartments with different thermal characteristics into one mobile system, providing the versatility of stationary devices while maintaining portability
4Stability of the object's composition
If the ice maker module is permanently integrated into the cooling box, then the freezing compartment is stable, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker module is designed as a separate, removable component that can be easily detached from the cooling box. This modular segmentation allows the freezing compartment to remain stable during operation while enabling simple removal for cleaning, maintenance, or storage, thereby reducing overall device complexity
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 the transportation of both frozen and cooled goods, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for outdoor use by maintaining a stable freezing compartment while keeping the rest of the unit cooled.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporator provides sufficient cooling power for freezing goods when being placed in the freezing zone, while at the same time providing sufficient cooling power to keep the remaining inside of the mobile cooling unit cooled at the predefined cooling temperature.
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments relate to an improved mobile cooling box with an ice maker that is capable of freezing water and making ice, for example, ice cubes.