Refrigerator having transmission assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice cubes in refrigerators tend to freeze together when stored in a barrel-shaped container, leading to the need for a stirring mechanism to prevent this, but existing solutions do not effectively distribute forces to prevent bending or fracture of the stirrer and ice knife assembly, and can result in uneven stirring and increased installation difficulty.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a rotary stirrer and ice knife assembly with horizontally arranged rotary shafts, where the axes of the stirrer and ice knife assembly are perpendicular, and equipped with stirring claws and a gear transmission assembly, to ensure uniform force distribution and efficient stirring, reducing the likelihood of bending or fracture and improving stirring efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stirring structure is set in the barrel-shaped container to prevent ice cubes from freezing together, then the ice cubes can be kept separate, but the stirrer is prone to bending or fracture due to uneven force distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring function is divided into two separate components: a stirrer for general mixing and an ice knife assembly for breaking ice. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the ice knife assembly handling the force-intensive ice-breaking task separately from the stirrer, thereby preventing excessive forces from bending or fracturing the stirrer.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice knife assembly acts as an intermediary between the ice cubes and the stirring mechanism. It transfers and distributes forces evenly during the ice-breaking process, preventing concentrated loads from directly affecting the stirrer and causing structural failure.
2Reliability
If a stirring structure is set in the barrel-shaped container to prevent ice cubes from freezing together, then the ice cubes can be kept separate, but the installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stirrer and ice knife assembly are merged into a single integrated structure that rotates together on a common axis. This combination simplifies the installation process by reducing the number of separate components that need to be installed and aligned, while still providing both stirring and ice-breaking functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated stirrer-ice knife assembly performs multiple functions (stirring and ice-breaking) through a single rotational mechanism, making the installation process more straightforward compared to separate mechanisms, while maintaining the reliability of preventing ice cubes from freezing together.
3Reliability
If a stirring structure is set in the barrel-shaped container to prevent ice cubes from freezing together, then the ice cubes can be kept separate, but the stirring effect becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The ice knife assembly is designed to dynamically interact with the ice cubes during rotation, continuously breaking and redistributing them. This dynamic action ensures uniform stirring效果 by preventing any single area from being over-stirred or under-stirred, achieving even distribution of ice cubes throughout the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice knife assembly extends radially outward from the stirrer axis, creating a three-dimensional stirring pattern that covers the entire volume of the ice storage container. This dimensional extension ensures that ice cubes are evenly stirred throughout the container rather than just at the center or surface.
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 effectively prevents ice cubes from freezing together by optimizing the stirring effect, ensuring uniform force distribution, and reducing the risk of mechanical failure, while simplifying the installation process and enhancing the longevity of the stirrer and ice knife assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a gear transmission assembly, to ensure uniform force distribution and efficient stirring
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator door and an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice storage container disposed on the refrigerator door, a stirrer provided in the ice storage container and an ice knife assembly provided in the ice storage container. The stirrer includes a rotary shaft and the rotary shaft of the stirrer is in a first fixed position relative to the ice storage container. The ice knife assembly includes a rotary shaft and the rotary shaft of the ice knife assembly is in a second fixed position relative to the ice storage container. The rotary shaft of the stirrer is located above the rotary shaft of the ice knife assembly, and an orthographic projection of the rotary shaft of the stirrer in a horizontal plane is perpendicular to that of the rotary shaft of the ice knife assembly in the same horizontal plane.