Refrigerator Water Container Pump for Pipe-Free Ice Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators require a direct connection to a household water pipe to continuously supply water to ice making devices and dispensers, limiting installation flexibility and increasing costs due to the need for a long water supply line and restricted placement.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design that includes a detachable water supply container with a pump and connecting passage, allowing water to be supplied to ice making devices and dispensers without an external water pipe connection, using a container connecting part on the refrigerating compartment door to securely hold various-sized mineral water bottles and ensure reliable water supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a direct connection to household water pipe is used to continuously supply water to ice making device and dispenser, then water supply reliability is improved, but installation flexibility deteriorates and installation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater supply reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply system is divided into separate functional modules: a removable water supply container, a container connecting part with coupling mechanism, and a pump unit. This segmentation allows the container to be independently replaced and the system to be installed in locations without direct water pipe access, resolving the contradiction between reliable water supply and installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A pump unit acts as an intermediary device to transfer water from the removable container to the ice making device and dispenser. This intermediary mechanism enables continuous water supply operation without requiring direct connection to household water pipes, thereby maintaining water supply reliability while improving installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater supply reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply container is extracted as a separate, self-contained unit that can be filled and replaced independently. This eliminates the need for extensive plumbing infrastructure and long water supply lines, reducing installation costs while maintaining continuous water supply capability through the pump-driven transfer mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If water supply container with large capacity is used to make ice once, then water capacity for ice making is improved, but water freezes in container due to freezing compartment temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater capacity for ice makingVSAvoidcontinuous ice making function

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply container is positioned in a location that is not directly exposed to the freezing compartment's extreme temperatures. The container connecting part and pump system create a spatial separation between the water storage location and the ice making location, allowing the container to maintain liquid water while still supplying it to the freezing compartment for ice production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump unit serves as an intermediary that actively transfers water from the container to the ice making device, enabling continuous operation even when the container has large capacity. This active transfer mechanism prevents water from remaining stagnant in the container where it would freeze, while ensuring continuous supply to the ice making device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design enables flexible installation, reduces costs by eliminating the need for extensive plumbing, and provides a stable water supply through the use of modular components and widely available mineral water bottles, ensuring continuous operation of ice making devices and dispensers.

Implementation Method 1

a pump inside the water supply container to guide water within the water supply container into the ice tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS8434318B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2013.05.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a body defining a storage space; a door selectively shielding the storage space; a container connecting part disposed in the storage space or the door; a water supply container separably coupled to the container connecting part, the water supply container including an opening for injecting water; an ice making device for making ice using the water supplied from the water supply container; a water supply passage fluidly connecting the water supply container to the ice making device, the water supply passage extending in an inside direction of the water supply container; and a pump connected to the water supply passage to supply the water within the water supply container into the ice making device. According to the refrigerator, installation cost is reduced, and quality and reliability are improved.