A refrigerator comprising an ice making unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice making units in refrigerators occupy valuable space in the freezing compartment and cannot be easily moved or used outside, leading to inefficient use of interior volume and dull ice surfaces due to exposure to air when removed.
Innovation Solution
A portable ice making unit with a detachable, double-walled casing and handle, allowing it to be moved on a shelf, used inside and outside, and featuring a convex ice tray and cut-outs for efficient cooling and easy ice cube transfer, maintaining ice cube transparency and preventing surface dulling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice making unit is disposed inside the freezing compartment, then the ice cubes can be kept isolated from air to maintain transparency, but the space of the freezing compartment is not used effectively and the unit cannot be moved according to user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making unit is designed with a detachable structure that allows it to be moved from a fixed position inside the freezing compartment to a shelf position. The unit can be detached from the freezing compartment wall and placed on a shelf, enabling dynamic repositioning according to user needs while maintaining space efficiency in the freezing compartment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ice making unit is made portable and detachable, then the unit can be moved and used outside the refrigerator, but the ice cubes become exposed to air causing dull surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making unit is equipped with a transparent cover that can be opened or closed. When the unit is detached and moved outside the refrigerator, the cover can be closed to isolate the ice cubes from air exposure, maintaining their transparency. The cover acts as a protective barrier that can be flexibly deployed based on the unit's location.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ice making unit has a closed configuration to protect ice cubes from air, then transparency is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent cover serves multiple functions: it isolates ice cubes from air to maintain transparency, acts as a protective barrier during transport, and can be integrated with the detachable structure to provide a sealed environment. This multi-functional design minimizes additional complexity while achieving the protection goal.
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 provides flexible positioning and efficient use of refrigerator space, allows ice cubes to be used without exposure to air, maintaining transparency and preventing dulling, and enables the ice making unit to be used both inside and outside the refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
the ice making unit has a double walled casing. Insulation material or cooling liquid, for example liquid nitrogen, is filled between the walls, thus enabling the ice cubes to be stored outside without melting for a longer period of time
Implementation Method 2
the wall of the ice tray is convex. By means of the convex shape of the ice tray, the ice cubes can be easily transferred into the container to be used without scattering
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a shelf (2) whereon the foodstuffs to be frozen are placed; and an ice making unit (8) having at least one ice cube container (3) wherein water is filled for making ice, a twisting knob (4) that is connected to the ice cube container (3) and that enables the ice cubes in the ice cube container (3) to fall out by being twisted, an ice tray (5) disposed under the ice cube container (3) and wherein the ice cubes fall, a housing (6) whereon the ice cube container (3) and the twisting knob (4) are situated and that houses the ice cube container (3) and a casing (7) whereon the housing (6) and the ice tray (5) are detachably mounted and that holds the housing (6) and the ice tray (5) together.