Reversible Pump Water Dispenser for Temperature-Controlled Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water dispensing systems in refrigerators face challenges in maintaining the desired temperature of residual water in the dispenser fluid line, leading to inefficient heat transfer and increased cooling demands, especially when dispensing liquids at higher temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with a main tank for temperature-controlled fluid, an auxiliary tank, and a reversible pump that moves fluid from the auxiliary tank through the dispenser line to the outlet and back to the main tank after dispensing, ensuring only temperature-controlled water is dispensed and residual water is efficiently removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If residual water is allowed to remain in the dispenser fluid line, then the system structure is simpler, but the temperature control of dispensed water deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the residual water from the dispenser fluid line by introducing a suction line with a suction pump that actively removes accumulated water from the line and returns it to the storage tank, preventing temperature degradation of dispensed water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a suction pump and suction line that acts as a mediator between the dispenser fluid line and the storage tank, enabling the removal of residual water without complicating the main dispensing structure
2Ease of operation
If residual water in the dispenser line is not removed, then the device operation is simpler, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically removing residual water through the suction pump and suction line, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining heat transfer efficiency by preventing warm residual water from accumulating in the dispenser line
3Temperature
If a suction pump is added to remove residual water, then temperature control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump is designed to perform multiple functions: removing residual water from the dispenser line, preventing temperature degradation, and maintaining system efficiency, thereby justifying the added complexity through multi-functionality
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 solution maintains the temperature of dispensed water, reduces heat transfer within the refrigerator, and optimizes cooling efficiency by preventing the dispensing of non-temperature-controlled residual water, thus enhancing the overall performance of the refrigeration system.
Implementation Method 1
a reversible pump that selectively moves the water held in the tank through the dispenser fluid line to the dispenser outlet and selectively removes residual water remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing through the dispenser outlet back into the water tank
Implementation Method 2
a main tank for holding a fluid. The main tank controls the temperature of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
selectively removes residual water remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing through the dispenser outlet back into the water tank
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing system for an appliance has a main tank for holding a fluid. The main tank controls the temperature of the fluid. A dispenser outlet fluidly is connected to the tank by a dispenser fluid line. An auxiliary tank holds a volume of the fluid. A flow control device selectively moves the fluid held in the auxiliary tank to the main tank then through the dispenser fluid line to the dispenser outlet and selectively removes the fluid remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing.