Rotating Spherical Ice Maker With Accurate Tray Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with temperature sensor accuracy due to heat from heaters and complex structures, leading to twisting wires and reduced sensing precision, especially when making spherical ice.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design with a temperature sensor accommodated in a recessed groove on the upper tray, positioned closer to the contact surface, and supported by installation ribs, preventing wire twisting and maintaining accuracy by minimizing heat interference from heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the temperature sensor and heater are rotated with the ice-making dish, then the structure is compact, but the wires twist and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making system is divided into two functional groups: the temperature sensor and heater remain stationary while the ice-making dish rotates independently. This segmentation allows the rotating dish to be separated from the stationary sensing and heating components, preventing wire twisting while maintaining structural compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor and heater are extracted from the rotating ice-making dish and positioned separately in stationary locations. This extraction eliminates the wire twisting problem that would occur if these components rotated with the dish, while still allowing them to function in close proximity to the ice-making process.
2Extent of automation
If the ice maker is open upward to automatically receive water and transfer ice, then automation is improved, but the ice shape is limited to flat-sided forms
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making dish is designed with a spherical curvature instead of flat surfaces, enabling the formation of spherical ice cubes. The rounded geometry of the dish allows water to freeze into spherical shapes while maintaining the automated water reception and ice transfer functions through the rotating mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice-making dish is made rotatable to dynamically transfer ice from the molding position to the ejection position. This dynamic rotation enables automated ice transfer while the spherical shape of the dish provides the desired ice form, combining automation with shape versatility.
3Loss of energy
If the upper portion of the ice transfer heater is exposed to cold air, then heat transfer efficiency is reduced, but the heater structure is simpler
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating cover or housing is introduced as an intermediary structure to protect the exposed portion of the ice transfer heater from cold air. This cover acts as a thermal barrier that reduces heat loss to the surrounding cold environment while maintaining the relative simplicity of the heater element itself.
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 design enhances temperature sensing accuracy, prevents wire disconnection, and simplifies the mounting process, ensuring precise temperature measurement during the ice-making process while producing spherical ice efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the upper tray or the ice chamber
Implementation Method 2
an upper heater configured to provide heat to the upper tray
Implementation Method 3
Cold air may be supplied to the ice chamber
Implementation Method 4
making ice by freezing water supplied to an ice chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker for a refrigerator includes: an upper assembly including an upper tray forming an upper chamber, which is a portion an ice chamber, and having an upper opening, and a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the ice chamber in contact with the upper tray; and a lower assembly being rotatable with respect to the upper assembly and having a lower tray forming a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber, in which a contact portion between the temperature sensor and the upper tray is positioned closer to a contact surface of the upper tray and the lower tray than the upper opening.