Refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice makers in refrigerators face issues with inefficient ice separation, potential defects, malfunctions, interference between the lower ejector and support, and the inability to produce spherical ice with uniform size and shape.

Innovation Solution

The ice maker incorporates an upper tray and a lower tray made of elastic material, with a lower support and driver for rotating the lower tray to facilitate ice separation. The lower ejector is designed with curvature matching the rotation radius, ensuring effective ice separation and preventing interference with the lower support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the lower ejector is positioned to push the lower chamber through the lower opening during rotation, then ice separation efficiency is improved, but the lower ejector may interfere with the lower support structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separation efficiencyVSAvoidinterference between lower ejector and lower support

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lower ejector is designed with a curved surface that corresponds to the rotation radius of the lower tray, allowing it to follow the rotational path and maintain effective contact with the lower chamber while avoiding collision with the lower support structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The lower ejector is positioned within the rotation radius of the lower tray rather than at the center, creating a localized ejection zone that optimizes ice separation while avoiding interference with the central lower support structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the lower tray is made elastic to rotate and contact the upper tray for spherical ice formation, then ice shape uniformity is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespherical ice uniformityVSAvoidtray structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lower tray is constructed from elastic material that can deform during rotation to maintain close contact with the upper tray, ensuring uniform spherical ice formation while the material's inherent elasticity provides sufficient structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The lower tray is designed with a curved bottom surface that corresponds to the rotation radius, creating a spherical cavity that forms uniform spherical ice while the curved structure distributes mechanical stresses evenly across the elastic material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If the lower ejector extends to the opened end of the lower chamber for effective ice separation, then ice separation completeness is improved, but the ejector head may interfere with the lower opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice separation completenessVSAvoidinterference between ejector head and lower opening

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector head is designed with a curved surface that corresponds to the rotation radius and the geometry of the lower chamber opening, allowing the ejector to extend to the opened end for complete ice separation while the curved profile prevents collision with the opening structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The ejector head geometry is pre-designed to anticipate and avoid interference with the lower opening during rotation, with the curved surface clearing the opening path before the ejection action occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS12222148B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. An ice maker of the refrigerator according to this embodiment includes: an upper tray which is made of an elastic material and in which a plurality of hemispherical upper chamber are defined; and a lower tray which is made of an elastic material and in which a plurality of lower chambers, which rotate to be in close contact with the upper tray so as to provide spherical ice chambers, are defined.