Refrigerator Ice Maker With Independent Cooling Circuit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with ice makers rely on evaporators from other chambers for refrigeration, leading to excessive load on those chambers, reduced refrigeration efficiency, and vulnerability to system faults, preventing both chamber and ice maker from functioning properly.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with an ice maker that has an independent compressor refrigerating system, including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, capillary tubes, and drier filter, integrated into the door body, allowing for a separate cold air circulation system that is not dependent on other chambers' refrigeration systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ice maker uses evaporators from other chambers for refrigeration, then the ice maker can perform ice-making, but the refrigerating load on other chambers becomes excessive and the refrigeration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigeration system into separate independent units: the main refrigerator chambers (freezing and refrigerating) have their own evaporators, while the ice maker is equipped with a dedicated independent evaporator. This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function without overloading other chambers, resolving the contradiction between ice-making capability and excessive refrigerating load on other chambers.
2Productivity
If the ice maker uses evaporators from other chambers, then ice-making is enabled, but the system becomes vulnerable to faults in other chambers' refrigeration systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements structural segmentation by providing the ice maker with a dedicated evaporator independent from the main chamber evaporators. This ensures that faults in the main refrigeration system (compressor, evaporators of freezing/refrigerating chambers) do not affect ice maker operation, thereby improving reliability and operational independence while maintaining ice-making function.
3Device complexity
If the ice maker uses cold air from other chambers, then the ice maker can be simplified, but the refrigeration effect of those chambers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by equipping the ice maker with its own evaporator rather than relying on cold air from other chambers. Although this increases the ice maker's structural complexity slightly, it preserves the refrigeration effect of the main chambers by preventing them from bearing the additional cooling load required for ice-making.
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 setup reduces the load on other chambers, enables independent ice making, and ensures the ice maker operates regardless of other refrigeration system conditions, simplifying ice access for users.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator is provided around the ice maker to provide cold air for refrigeration
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerating system is in the form of a compressor refrigerating system that comprises a compressor
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerating system is in the form of a compressor refrigerating system that comprises a compressor, a condenser
Implementation Method 4
the refrigerating system is in the form of a compressor refrigerating system that comprises a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, capillary tubes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A refrigerator with an ice maker (211) comprises a freezing chamber (3), a refrigerating chamber (2), door bodies (21, 31) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and an ice maker (211) provided in the freezing chamber (3), the refrigerating chamber (2) or the door body (21, 31) for making ice. The ice maker (211) is connected with a refrigerating system independent from the freezing chamber (3) and the refrigerating chamber (2) so that the ice maker (211) is not affected by the refrigerating conditions of other chambers and can make ice independently.