refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators face challenges in maintaining the ice maker and power supply structure, which are inconvenient to separate and prone to electrical accidents due to the motor and power cable placement, and leak cold air from the ice-making chamber.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of wireless power transmission between the refrigerator body and ice maker, and between the refrigerator door and storage basket, allowing modularization and separation of the ice maker and storage basket for easier maintenance, while preventing cold air leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the motor and ice maker are connected through a motor shaft, then the ice maker can operate with power from the motor, but it becomes difficult to separate the ice maker from the motor for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice maker operationVSAvoidice maker maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: the motor unit in the refrigerator body and the ice maker unit that can be detached. The motor shaft connection is replaced with a wireless power transmission system, allowing the ice maker to be physically separated from the motor while still receiving power, thus enabling easy maintenance and replacement of the ice maker without disturbing the motor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical connection between the motor and ice maker via motor shaft is replaced with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the physical mechanical linkage, allowing the ice maker to be freely detachable while maintaining operational capability through contactless power transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Power

If power cables and power terminals are disposed inside the refrigerator, then power can be supplied to the motor, but electrical accidents may occur due to low temperature environment and moisture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply to motorVSAvoidelectrical safety

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wired electrical power transmission system with physical power cables and terminals is replaced with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic induction. This eliminates exposed electrical connections inside the refrigerator that could be affected by moisture and low temperature, thereby improving electrical safety and reliability while maintaining continuous power supply to the motor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If an opening is formed for the motor shaft to pass through, then the motor can be connected to the ice maker, but cold air leaks from the ice-making chamber to the outside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor-ice maker connectionVSAvoidcold air leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical motor shaft passing through the ice-making chamber wall is replaced with a wireless power transmission system. This eliminates the need for physical openings in the chamber wall, thereby preventing cold air leakage while still enabling power transmission to the ice maker through electromagnetic fields that can penetrate the chamber wall material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless power transmission system acts as an intermediary between the motor and ice maker, allowing power transfer without direct physical connection through the chamber wall. This intermediary system enables both power transmission and cold air isolation simultaneously by using electromagnetic coupling through the chamber wall material as the mediator.

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 simplifies the structure of the ice maker and storage basket, facilitates maintenance, and prevents cold air leakage by eliminating the need for power cables, enhancing safety and storage space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

a power transmitter 180 that wirelessly transmits power to the power receiver 190

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless power transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

cooling the inside of a storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating through a refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3951294B1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator may include a body having an open front; a refrigerator door configured to shield the open front of the body;, an ice storage provided on the refrigerator door to store ice; an ice-making chamber provided in the body to produce the ice; an ice maker disposed in the ice-making chamber to transfer the produced ice to the ice storage; a power receiver provided to the ice maker to receive wireless power; and a power transmitter disposed on one side of one of the body and the ice-making chamber to transmit wireless power to the power receiver.