Refrigerator and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators without a dispenser and equipped only with an ice maker face issues of foreign substances and contaminated water in the water supply flow path due to undrained water and filter replacement, affecting ice quality and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a water supply flow path including an ice maker pipe and a drain pipe, controlled by a controller that initiates a drain mode to remove contaminants and old water, using valves and a flow sensor to ensure complete drainage, even when water is not supplied for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is provided to purify water supplied to the ice maker, then water purification is improved, but foreign substances generated during filter replacement cannot be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into multiple functional sections: a water supply section with the filter, a branch section with switching valves, and a drain section with a drain pipe. This segmentation allows water to be directed to different destinations based on operational mode, enabling separate pathways for ice making and for flushing foreign substances.
Solution Approach 2:
A drain pipe is introduced as an intermediary component that provides a dedicated pathway for discharging foreign substances and contaminated water from the water supply flow path. The drain pipe connects to the water supply section downstream of the filter, creating an intermediate drainage route that separates the purification function from the discharge function.
2Use of energy by moving object
If water is not supplied for a long period of time, then energy consumption is reduced, but water in the water supply flow path becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic flushing action through the drain pipe at predetermined intervals regardless of whether water is being supplied to the ice maker. This periodic drainage operation periodically removes stagnant and potentially contaminated water from the water supply flow path, preventing contamination while the system remains in low-energy standby mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically controls the draining operation through the drain pipe based on predetermined conditions (time intervals or filter replacement detection) without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the discharge of contaminated water, maintaining hygiene automatically as part of its normal operation cycle.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a drain pipe is added to discharge contaminated water, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain pipe is merged with the existing water supply flow path structure, connecting to the water supply section downstream of the filter. The switching valves are integrated at the branch section where they naturally divide the water flow. This merging approach allows the drainage function to be added without creating entirely separate independent systems, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply flow path is designed with multi-functionality: the same filter and water supply section serve both ice making operations and the drainage/flushing function. The switching valves provide universal control for directing water to either the ice maker or the drain pipe. This multi-functionality reduces the need for completely separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an ice maker provided in the cabinet or the door, a water supply flow path configured to connect the ice maker to a water supply source outside the cabinet, a filter connected to the water supply flow path to purify water supplied to the ice maker, at least one valve provided in the water supply flow path, and a controller configured to control operation of the ice maker and the valve. The water supply flow path includes an ice maker pipe connected to the ice maker to supply water for ice making and a drain pipe configured to drain water in the water supply flow path to outside of the cabinet. The controller controls the valve to block water supply to the ice maker and drain water through the drain pipe when a drain signal is input.