Refrigerator Dispenser Integral Lever for Water and Ice Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration equipment with integrated water purifiers and ice makers have complex dispenser assemblies, leading to increased manufacturing and material costs due to separate levers for water and ice dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser configuration with an integral lever pivotally coupled to an ice guide, allowing both water and ice discharge through a single lever mechanism, featuring sensing switches and restoring members to simplify assembly and user operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate levers are used for water and ice dispensing, then user control is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate control levers (water discharge lever and ice discharge lever) into a single integral lever with two distinct pressing portions. This merging reduces the number of components and simplifies the dispenser assembly while maintaining the ability to independently control water and ice dispensing through the different portions of the same lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral lever serves multiple functions: one portion controls water discharge while the other portion controls ice discharge. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require two separate components, reducing complexity while preserving full operational control.
2Ease of operation
If separate levers are used for water and ice dispensing, then independent control is achieved, but manufacturing and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the water discharge lever and ice discharge lever into a single integral lever, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and inventoried. This consolidation lowers manufacturing complexity and material costs while preserving independent control capabilities through the lever's distinct pressing portions.
3Device complexity
If a single integral lever is used, then assembly is simplified and cost is reduced, but user control mechanism becomes less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The integral lever is segmented into two distinct pressing portions, each associated with a specific function (water or ice discharge). This segmentation maintains operational intuitiveness by providing separate control zones on the same component, allowing users to easily distinguish and access the appropriate control area for their desired function.
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 configuration simplifies the dispenser structure, reduces component count, and lowers manufacturing and material costs while maintaining easy user control for dispensing water and ice.
Implementation Method 1
a first switch configured to generate a sensing signal for opening of the water discharge port when a pressing (e.g., by a user) of the water discharge button is sensed
Implementation Method 2
a second switch configured to generate a sensing signal for opening of the ice discharge port when a pressing (e.g., by a user) of the ice discharge button is sensed
Implementation Method 3
a first restoring member configured to restore automatically the position of the integral lever to the original position prior to the pressing of the water discharge button when the pressing is released; and a second restoring member configured to restore automatically the position of the integral lever to the original position prior to the pressing of the ice discharge button when the pressing is released
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with a single lever switch for a user to control dispensing both water and ice. A water/ice dispenser includes a main body, an ice discharge port disposed on one side of the main body, an ice guide coupled to the outlet of the ice discharge port, a water discharge port disposed on the other side of the main body, and an integral lever. The integral lever is coupled pivotally to the ice guide through its middle portion. One end of the integral lever serves as a water discharge button for a user to request dispensing water and the other end of the integral lever serves as an ice discharge button for a user to request dispensing ice.