Ice maker and refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-makers struggle to produce spherical ice of uniform size and shape due to deformation of the lower tray and interference between the upper and lower trays, leading to irregular ice formation and operational issues during ice-making and removal.
Innovation Solution
An ice-maker design featuring an upper tray and lower tray made of elastic material with specific structural elements, including grooves and protrusions, to maintain ice in place and prevent deformation, ensuring uniform ice formation and easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the upper tray and lower tray are closed to make spherical ice, then spherical ice can be produced, but a space occurs between the trays causing water to freeze irregularly and ice of non-uniform size and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray is designed with a flexible bottom that can elastically deform. During ice removal, the bottom of the lower tray elastically moves downward to create separation between the upper and lower trays, preventing interference and allowing clean ice removal. During ice making, the bottom returns to its original position to maintain proper tray closure for uniform spherical ice formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower tray incorporates a dynamic bottom structure that changes position based on operational phase. The bottom is configured to be rigid during ice making to ensure tray closure, and becomes flexible during ice removal to allow separation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining closure for uniform ice shape and allowing separation for clean ice removal.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lower tray is made rigid to prevent deformation, then structural stability is improved, but interference between upper and lower trays occurs during ice removal
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the lower tray is constructed from elastic material that provides flexibility only where needed for ice removal, while the rest of the tray structure remains rigid for stability. This localized flexibility allows the bottom to elastically deform during ice removal without compromising the overall structural integrity of the lower tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower tray is segmented into a rigid upper portion that maintains structural stability and a flexible bottom portion that enables ice removal. This segmentation allows different parts of the same component to have different mechanical properties, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If the trays are separated to allow ice removal, then ice can be easily removed, but water level becomes uncontrolled causing irregular ice formation
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray bottom undergoes periodic elastic deformation synchronized with the ice making and removal cycle. During ice making, the bottom maintains its original position for proper water level control. During ice removal, the bottom elastically moves downward to separate trays, then returns to original position, creating a periodic action that alternates between precision ice making and easy ice removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic bottom structure is pre-configured to provide controlled separation during ice removal, preventing excessive tray separation that would cause water level issues. The elasticity inherently limits the separation distance, cushioning against over-separation while still enabling sufficient gap for ice removal.
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 ensures the production of spherical ice of uniform size and shape by preventing ice from moving into lower chambers and minimizing interference between trays, maintaining water level and ensuring normal ice-making operations.
Implementation Method 1
an upper tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray made of an elastic material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ice-maker including an upper tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of lower chambers defined therein in contact with the plurality of upper chambers to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, respectively, each ejector-receiving opening defined in the upper tray and opened to each of the plurality of upper chambers, an upper ejector disposed above the upper tray, wherein the upper ejector is configured to pass through the ejector-receiving opening and remove each ice from each ice chamber, a water supply for supplying water for ice-making through the ejector-receiving opening, and a driver for pivoting the lower tray, wherein a side wall extending upward along a perimeter of the plurality of lower chambers is formed on top portions of the plurality of lower chambers, wherein a chamber wall extending downward along a perimeter of the plurality of upper chambers is formed on bottom portions of the plurality of upper chambers, wherein the chamber wall is inserted into an internal space of the side wall when the lower tray is closed, and wherein a groove is defined in an outer face of the chamber wall to maintain pieces of ice frozen along a perimeter of the chamber wall in an attached state.