Rotating Spherical Ice Tray for Leak-Free Ice Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice makers face challenges in efficiently forming and separating spherical ice without leakage and sticking issues, requiring complex mechanisms for vertical linear motion which increases manufacturing costs and failure rates.

Innovation Solution

The ice maker design features a rotatable lower tray with hemispherical cells that contacts a similarly shaped upper tray, using a rotation shaft and guide parts to facilitate ice formation and separation without vertical linear motion, employing links and ejecting pins to guide and separate ice pieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vertical linear motion mechanism is used to separate ice from tray, then ice separation is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separationVSAvoiddriving mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the tray vertically to separate ice, the invention rotates the lower tray horizontally so that ice pieces fall off due to gravity when the tray is in the ice removing position, eliminating the need for complex vertical motion mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical vertical linear motion system with a simple rotational mechanism driven by a motor, significantly simplifying the driving system while achieving the same ice separation function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If complex vertical linear motion mechanism is used, then ice separation is reliable, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the separation mechanism from vertical linear motion to horizontal rotation, where ice pieces naturally detach due to gravity when the tray rotates to the removing position, greatly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If simple rotation mechanism is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but ice leakage and sticking issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidice formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different surface properties to different regions of the tray - the contact surface between upper and lower trays has high adhesion to prevent water leakage during freezing, while the ice removing surface has low adhesion to facilitate ice detachment, achieving both reliability and simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hemispherical cell shapes in both upper and lower trays, where the curved surfaces naturally guide water flow and ice formation, preventing leakage while allowing clean ice detachment during rotation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Productivity

If conventional ice maker structure is used, then ice making is achieved, but ice production speed is slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice production speedVSAvoiddriving mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements periodic rotation of the lower tray through four distinct positions (water supplying, contacting, ice making, and ice removing), enabling continuous ice production cycles with faster turnaround compared to conventional linear motion systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary water supply to the lower tray before the freezing process begins, and uses the rotation mechanism to pre-position trays for optimal ice formation and rapid ejection, increasing overall production speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 driving mechanism, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances ice production speed by eliminating the need for vertical linear motion, while preventing water leakage and ice sticking through precise curvature contact and elastic deformation.

Implementation Method 1

a rotation guide part that is rounded with a predetermined curvature and that is disposed in a region where the lower tray contacts the upper tray during rotation of the lower tray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

enhances ice production speed by eliminating the need for vertical linear motion, while preventing water leakage and ice sticking through precise curvature contact and elastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9335081B2Ice maker and ice making method using the same

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Provided is an ice maker, which includes an upper tray, a lower tray, and a rotation shaft. Upper cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the upper tray. Lower cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The rotation shaft is connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray to rotate the lower tray relative to the upper tray. A rotation guide part rounded with a predetermined curvature is disposed in a region where the lower tray contacts the upper tray while the lower tray is rotated.