Movable Water Distribution Plate for Cold Water Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerators with water storage devices face issues as normal-temperature water from the inlet mixes with cold water due to high tap water pressure, causing the water temperature to rise, making it difficult for users to obtain cold water at the desired temperature.
Innovation Solution
A water storage device with a movable water distribution plate that separates the storage cavity into inlet and outlet sections, using a concave arc surface to prevent mixing by directing incoming water to drive the plate towards the outlet end, creating turbulence and maintaining cold water temperature, and a spring mechanism for plate return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water storage device allows water to flow freely from the inlet end to the outlet end, then water supply is continuous, but incoming normal-temperature water mixes with cold water causing temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage cavity is divided into a first water storage cavity (for cold water) and a second water storage cavity (for incoming water) using a water distribution plate. This segmentation prevents mixing between cold water and incoming normal-temperature water while maintaining continuous water supply through the solenoid valve outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The water distribution plate is designed to be movable rather than fixed. When incoming water flows in, it drives the water distribution plate to move toward the outlet end, dynamically adjusting the partition position based on water flow conditions while maintaining separation between cold and incoming water.
2Productivity
If high-pressure tap water enters the water storage device quickly, then water flow rate is high, but cold water temperature rises due to rapid mixing
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage cavity into separate zones for cold water and incoming water, the patent allows high flow rates without mixing. The water distribution plate creates distinct flow paths that accommodate high productivity while preventing thermal contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The water distribution plate acts as an intermediary barrier between the incoming water and cold water zones. It mediates the interaction between high-pressure incoming water and cold water storage, allowing the former to enter quickly while preventing direct contact with the latter.
3Temperature
If a water distribution plate is added to separate water zones, then water temperature is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water distribution plate is made movable to reduce structural complexity. Instead of requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, the plate uses water pressure itself to move and return, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining temperature separation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The water distribution plate automatically moves and returns based on water flow pressure without requiring external control mechanisms. The incoming water pressure drives the plate forward, and elastic restoring force returns it, creating a self-regulating system that reduces complexity.
4Reliability
If the water distribution plate moves to the outlet end, then water mixing is prevented, but water outlet communication is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The water outlet slot is positioned in a specific spatial relationship with the water distribution plate's movement path. The slot extends in a direction that allows water to flow around or through the plate's position, solving the blocking issue by utilizing spatial dimensionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The water outlet structure is segmented into multiple pathways, including the water outlet slot and the solenoid valve outlet. This segmentation ensures that even when the water distribution plate moves to separate water zones, water can still reach the outlet through alternative paths.
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
Effectively prevents mixing of incoming water with cold water, allowing users to retrieve cold water at the desired temperature while ensuring continuous water supply without interruption.
Implementation Method 1
when water enters from the water inlet end, the incoming water drives the water distribution plate to move towards the water outlet end
Implementation Method 2
a driving member configured to drive the water distribution plate to return to the water inlet end after the water distribution plate moves toward the water outlet end
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A water storage device (1) and a refrigerator, the water storage device (1) comprising: a housing (11) having a water inlet end (111) and a water outlet end (112), and a water distribution plate (13). The water distribution plate (13) divides a water storage cavity (12) into a water inlet cavity and a water outlet cavity; a gap for allowing water to flow through is provided between the outer edge of the water distribution plate (13) and the inner wall of the housing (11); when the water distribution plate (13) moves from the water inlet end (111) towards the water outlet end (112), water entering the water inlet cavity from the water inlet end (111) will not mix with cold water in the water outlet cavity.