Spherical Ice Maker Lever Layout for Accurate Ice-Full Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-makers lack an effective mechanism to detect the ice-full state without false detection, leading to potential breakage and interference with other components, and they occupy more space than necessary.
Innovation Solution
An ice-maker with a pivoting lower assembly and an ice-full state detection lever that extends below the pivoting radius, allowing it to detect ice layers above the first layer without interfering with the lower tray and preventing breakage, while maintaining a compact layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ice-full state detection lever is positioned within the pivoting radius of the lower assembly, then it can detect ice-full state, but it interferes with the lower tray movement and may cause breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The detection lever is extended below the pivoting radius of the lower assembly, moving the detection mechanism to a different spatial dimension (vertical level) that does not interfere with the horizontal pivoting motion of the lower tray, thus resolving the conflict between detection functionality and mechanical interference
Solution Approach 2:
The detection lever acts as an intermediary element that detects ice-full state through indirect contact (detecting ice layers above the first layer) rather than direct contact with the lower tray, preventing mechanical interference and breakage while maintaining detection accuracy
2Measurement precision
If the detection lever extends deeply into the ice bin, then it can detect ice-full state effectively, but it increases the risk of breakage and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The detection lever is positioned at a specific vertical level below the pivoting radius, allowing it to detect ice layers above the first layer without extending to the bottom of the ice bin, thus maintaining detection precision while reducing exposure to mechanical stress and breakage risks
Solution Approach 2:
The detection lever is designed with sufficient structural strength and positioned at an optimal depth to withstand potential contact with ice without breaking or deforming, providing beforehand cushioning against mechanical stress
3Volume of moving object
If the ice-maker uses a compact layout, then it saves space, but the detection mechanism may interfere with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The detection lever is positioned vertically below the pivoting radius of the lower assembly, utilizing the vertical dimension to avoid horizontal interference with other components, enabling a compact layout without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The detection mechanism is segmented from the main pivoting mechanism by positioning the detection lever at a different vertical level, allowing independent operation of each component within a compact space
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, an ice maker configured to make spherical ice, and an ice bin for storing the ice. The ice maker includes an upper assembly including a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers, a lower assembly disposed below and pivotably coupled to the upper assembly, wherein the lower assembly includes a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers that are configured to come in contact with the plurality of hemispherical upper chambers to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, a driver configured to pivot the lower assembly, and an ice-full state detection lever that is coupled to and configured to be pivoted by the driver, wherein the ice-full state detection lever is configured to pivot in the same direction as the lower assembly to detect whether the ice bin is in an ice-full state.