Refrigerator Water Dispenser with Separate Cooled and Purified Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in efficiently dispensing cooled water, especially when a large amount is required, as the cooled water supply can be difficult to manage and may reduce cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that includes separate purified water and cooled water passages, controlled by respective valves, allowing for selection between purified and cooled water dispensing based on user input, with the purified water valve opening and cooled water valve closing based on user selection, and vice versa, to manage water flow efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cooled water is supplied to the dispenser through a shared passage with purified water, then the cooling function can be provided, but when a large amount of water is dispensed it becomes difficult to dispense cooled water and cooling performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water supply system into separate purified water passage and cooled water passage, with dedicated valves for each. This segmentation allows independent control of purified water and cooled water flow, preventing the cooling performance degradation that occurs when large amounts of water are dispensed through a shared passage.
2Productivity
If separate purified water passage and cooled water passage are used with respective valves, then efficient dispensing of both water types is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into distinct purified water passage and cooled water passage, each with its own valve. This segmentation enables efficient simultaneous or alternating dispensing of both water types without interference, improving overall productivity despite the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser is designed to handle multiple water types (purified and cooled) through a unified control interface, allowing the same dispensing mechanism to serve multiple functions. The control unit coordinates both valves and passages to provide versatile water dispensing capabilities.
3Reliability
If cooled water is supplied regardless of user selection, then the cooling function is always available, but user control over water type selection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water flow based on user selection through the control unit. When cooled water is selected, the cooled water valve opens and purified water valve closes; when purified water is selected, the opposite occurs. This dynamic control ensures the cooling function is available when needed while respecting user preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives user input through the input unit and adjusts valve operations accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the cooling function remains available while providing precise user control over water type selection and dispensing.
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 ensures efficient dispensing of both purified and cooled water, maintaining cooling performance and user control, even when large amounts are dispensed, by isolating the water supply and cooling mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a water tank configured to store water that has passed through the filter device, wherein the water tank is positioned to allow the stored water to be cooled by cool air within the storage space
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage space, a door configured to open or close the storage space, and a dispenser located in the door and configured to dispense cooled water and purified water. The refrigerator also includes a purified water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the purified water, a cooled water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the cooled water, and a dispensing amount input part that sets an amount of purified water to be dispensed based on the purified water being selected through the purified water input part. The refrigerator further includes a filter device located within the storage space to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and a water tank storing water that has passed through the filter device in a cooled state.