Refrigerator and ice maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers in refrigerators are inconvenient for users as they require bending to access the ice bin, and there is a risk of water overflowing and ice becoming entangled due to door rotation or external vibration, with no effective solutions to prevent water overflow during water supply or external vibrations.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design where a second tray moves to an ice-making position after water supply is complete, then reverses to draw out ice and return to the water supply position, with a water overflow prevention wall to restrict water overflow, and a pusher with a deformable blocking wall to separate ice easily, all integrated into the refrigerator door to facilitate user access and prevent water overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice maker is provided in the freezing compartment, then the ice maker can be integrated into the refrigerator structure, but the user has to bend down to access the ice bin and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bin is designed to be movable relative to the ice maker, allowing it to be pulled out for easy access by users. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by enabling simple user access while maintaining a compact integrated structure when the bin is in its stored position.
2Ease of operation
If the door is rotated during water supply, then the ice maker can be accessed, but water overflows and drops into the ice bin causing ice to become entangled
Solution Approach 1:
A water overflow prevention wall is provided that extends from the ice-making cell to prevent water from overflowing into the ice bin when the door is rotated during water supply. This preliminary protective structure prevents the harmful effect of water overflow before it can occur.
3Productivity
If the lower assembly is rotated at a predetermined angle during water supply, then water can be supplied to the ice maker, but water overflows due to vibration or door rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow prevention wall is positioned to extend from the ice-making cell to block water overflow paths. This preliminary protective measure prevents water from spilling during the water supply process, even when the lower assembly is rotated or external vibrations occur.
4Ease of operation
If a pusher is provided to separate ice, then ice can be easily removed, but water may overflow through the opening during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The water overflow prevention wall is positioned to extend from the ice-making cell to block water overflow paths. This preliminary protective measure prevents water from spilling during the water supply process, even when the lower assembly is rotated or external vibrations occur.
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 design allows for easy access to ice, prevents water overflow during door rotation or vibration, and ensures smooth ice separation, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the second tray moves to an ice-making position in a forward direction. After the generation of the ice is completed at the ice-making position, the second tray moves in a reverse direction so as to draw the ice out of the ice-making cell
Implementation Method 2
a water overflow prevention wall configured to surround the first tray in the state of being spaced apart from the first tray when the second tray is at the water supply position. When the second tray is at the water supply position, water supplied to the ice-making cell may be restricted to overflow through a gap between the first tray and the second tray by the water overflow prevention wall
Implementation Method 3
a pusher provided with a pushing bar that passes through the opening to easily separate the ice from being separated from the first tray. The blocking wall may be made of a deformable material, and the through-hole may have a diameter less than that of the pushing bar
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator may include a cabinet, a door, and an ice maker. The ice maker may include a first tray; a first tray case; a second tray; and a second tray case. After supply of water to the ice-making cell while the second tray is at a water supply position, the second tray is to move in a first direction to an ice-making position. After generation of the ice while the second tray is at the ice-making position, the second tray is to move in a second direction so as to draw the ice out of the ice-making cell, and then the second tray is to move in the first direction to the water supply position. At the water supply position, the second tray is spaced from a portion of the first tray, and the first tray case includes a water overflow prevention wall configured to surround part of the first tray by being spaced apart from the first tray when the second tray is disposed at the water supply position.