Refrigerator Water Supply System Using Gravity and Pump Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators have complex water supply systems for dispensers and icemakers, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring multiple components and pumps to distribute water effectively.
Innovation Solution
A simplified water supply system where a single water tank is positioned over the dispenser, allowing gravity-fed water distribution, and a pump is placed underneath to supply water to the icemaker, utilizing the space between refrigerator doors and a hinge shaft for efficient passage routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single water tank is used to supply both dispenser and icemaker, then device complexity is reduced, but water distribution efficiency to both components may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into two independent pathways: one utilizing gravity flow for the dispenser and another utilizing a pump for the icemaker. This segmentation allows each component to receive water through its own optimized pathway, maintaining high efficiency while simplifying the overall system by eliminating the need for multiple separate water tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The single water tank serves multiple functions by supplying water to both the dispenser and the icemaker through different distribution mechanisms. The tank is positioned to enable gravity-fed supply to the dispenser while also connecting to a pump system for icemaker supply, making one component perform the work of what would traditionally require multiple separate water storage systems.
2Ease of operation
If water tank is positioned over dispenser for gravity-fed supply, then ease of operation is improved, but space utilization in refrigerator door assembly may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is positioned in the vertical dimension above the dispenser, utilizing the height space within the refrigerator door assembly. This vertical arrangement enables gravity-fed water supply to the dispenser while efficiently using the available three-dimensional space, avoiding the need for horizontal expansion that would compromise space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank, pump, and associated components are nested within the refrigerator door assembly structure. The tank is positioned in the door, the pump is integrated into the door assembly, and water passages are routed through the door's internal structure, allowing all components to coexist in a compact nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization.
3Ease of manufacture
If pump is disposed under water tank to supply icemaker, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into two independent pathways: one utilizing gravity flow for the dispenser and another utilizing a pump for the icemaker. This segmentation allows each component to receive water through its own optimized pathway, maintaining high efficiency while simplifying the overall system by eliminating the need for multiple separate water tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank is positioned in the vertical dimension above the dispenser, utilizing the height space within the refrigerator door assembly. This vertical arrangement enables gravity-fed water supply to the dispenser while efficiently using the available three-dimensional space, avoiding the need for horizontal expansion that would compromise space utilization.
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 water supply to both the dispenser and icemaker, reducing complexity and enhancing efficiency by using gravity for dispenser supply and a pump for icemaker supply, while maintaining compactness and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The water tank is disposed over the dispenser so that water in the water tank can be supplied to the dispenser by gravity
Implementation Method 2
A pump for sending or pumping water of the water tank to the icemaker is provided
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator including an icemaker provided to the freezer compartment or a freezer compartment door configured to open/close the freezer compartment, a dispenser provided to a refrigerator compartment door configured to open/close the refrigerator compartment, a water tank provided to the refrigerator compartment door, the water tank having an inlet for putting in water and an outlet for supplying water to the dispenser, a pump configured to send the water supplied from the water tank to the icemaker, and a slide cap movably provided to the water tank so as to be selectively coupled to a passage connected to the pump.