Refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice, and method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice making devices face inefficiencies due to mechanical complexity, energy consumption, and reduced ice production rates, as they require heating to release ice cubes or use flexible trays that are poor heat conductors and prone to breaking.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating oscillators on the ice tray to keep water moving during freezing and vibrating the tray to release clear ice, eliminating the need for additional components like heaters and drain lines, and utilizing metallic trays for efficient heat conduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metal trays are used to conduct heat efficiently, then ice production rate is improved, but mechanical complexity and energy consumption increase due to heating requirements for ice release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice production rateVSAvoidmechanical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through an oscillator mounted on the metal tray to vibrate the tray during ice formation and release. The vibration keeps water moving during freezing to prevent air bubble entrapment and produces clear ice, while also enabling ice cube release without heating, thereby maintaining high ice production rate with metal trays while avoiding the complexity of heating mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Ease of operation

If heating is applied to release ice cubes from metal trays, then ice release is achieved, but energy consumption increases and ice production rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice releaseVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The oscillator generates mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to the metal tray, causing the formed ice cubes to loosen and release from the tray walls. This vibration-based release mechanism eliminates the need for heating, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective ice release operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Device complexity

If flexible plastic trays are used to release ice cubes by twisting, then mechanical complexity is reduced, but heat conduction efficiency decreases and ice production rate slows down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical complexityVSAvoidice production rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of both metal and flexible trays by combining a metal tray structure with an oscillator mechanism. The metal tray provides superior heat conduction for fast ice production, while the oscillator provides the flexible tray's ability to easily release ice cubes through vibration, thereby achieving both high productivity and simple ice release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Use of energy by moving object

If oscillators are added to the ice tray to produce clear ice and enable vibration release, then energy consumption and mechanical complexity are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oscillator is designed to perform multiple functions: it vibrates the tray during ice formation to keep water moving and produce clear ice, and then vibrates the tray again to release the formed ice cubes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating mechanisms and drain lines, reducing overall device complexity while lowering energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This method enables the production and release of clear ice with reduced energy consumption and mechanical complexity, improving ice production rates by preventing air bubble entrapment and ensuring efficient ice ejection without damaging the tray.

Implementation Method 1

at least one oscillator disposed on the ice tray, the at least one oscillator structured to keep the water moving during the ice production process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

The at least one oscillator may also be used to vibrate the ice tray to release the clear ice into a collection tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

utilizing metallic trays for efficient heat conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9903631B2Refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice, and method thereof

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORP

AI summary

A refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice and a method thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an ice tray of the ice making device may include at least one receiving part that receives water for freezing into the clear ice, the at least one receiving part having an opening provided at a top portion thereof through which the water is supplied and the clear ice is discharged from the at least one receiving part. At least one oscillator may be disposed on the ice tray, the at least one oscillator structured to keep the water moving during the ice production process. The at least one oscillator may also be used to vibrate the ice tray to release the clear ice into a collection tray.