Rotating Ice Mold for Clear Ice Sphere Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers produce cloudy ice due to trapped air, resulting in an undesirable appearance and taste when used in beverages, and the production of clear ice is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker with a rotating ice mold that includes a metallic and insulated piece, where water is injected into a cavity and the mold is rotated from an injection position to a tilted position to freeze water on the side surfaces, using a thermoelectric device for cooling, allowing the formation of clear ice spheres.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ice making process is used, then ice is produced quickly, but the ice becomes cloudy due to trapped air
Solution Approach 1:
The ice mold is rotated dynamically during the freezing process to change the orientation of the cavity relative to the cooling source. This dynamic adjustment allows water to freeze incrementally on the side surfaces facing the cooling source while preventing air entrapment, producing clear ice without sacrificing production speed
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making process uses periodic rotation of the mold combined with incremental water injection cycles. The mold rotates to specific positions periodically to allow controlled freezing on side surfaces, then rotates back to receive more water, creating a rhythmic process that ensures clarity while maintaining efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If processing techniques for clear ice are used, then ice clarity is improved, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ice mold is divided into multiple segments or positions that can be independently oriented toward the cooling source. By segmenting the freezing process into discrete rotational positions, the system achieves clear ice formation without requiring complex multi-component processing equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating mold design allows the ice making process to self-regulate air exclusion through its own motion. The periodic rotation and incremental freezing automatically prevent air entrapment without requiring additional active components or complex control systems, reducing overall device complexity
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
The ice maker effectively produces clear ice spheres by eliminating trapped air and efficiently freezing water on the side surfaces of the cavity, enhancing the appearance and taste of ice cubes.
Implementation Method 1
A thermoelectric device is thermally engaged with the second piece for freezing water in the cavity
Implementation Method 2
A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece... The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.