Spherical Ice-Maker with Shields for Uniform Cold-Air Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-makers produce spherical ice with non-uniform formation speeds and shapes due to uneven cold-air distribution, leading to deformed ice and jamming issues during removal.
Innovation Solution
An ice-maker design with a cold-air guide and shields to direct cold-air uniformly across ice chambers, delaying ice formation in chambers closer to the inlet and promoting even water distribution, while using elastic trays to prevent deformation during ice removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cold-air is supplied from one side to the ice chambers, then the ice-making process is simplified, but the ice formation speed becomes non-uniform across different chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shields in specific ice chambers (particularly the first ice chamber closest to the cold-air inlet) to create localized thermal insulation. This allows different parts of the system (chambers with shields vs. chambers without shields) to have different thermal characteristics, compensating for the non-uniform cold-air distribution and achieving uniform ice formation across all chambers.
2Productivity
If cells are arranged in line to maximize heat transfer, then cooling efficiency is improved, but ice shape deformation occurs due to uneven ice generation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies shields selectively to specific chambers (e.g., the first chamber) in the linear arrangement to create localized thermal barriers. This maintains the efficient linear cooling configuration while preventing excessive ice formation in chambers receiving concentrated cold-air, thereby preserving the spherical shape of the ice.
3Productivity
If the first ice chamber forms ice fastest due to cold-air concentration, then ice generation is efficient, but water distribution becomes uneven causing shape deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent preemptively introduces shields in the first ice chamber before the ice-making process begins. These shields prevent the concentration of cold-air in that chamber, thereby preventing the excessive ice formation and subsequent water redistribution that would lead to deformed ice shapes. The shields act as a preliminary countermeasure to the anticipated non-uniform cooling.
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
Ensures uniform ice formation speed and shape across all chambers, preventing jamming and maintaining the spherical shape of ice cubes.
Implementation Method 1
a shield formed on one side of the upper tray corresponding to an ice chamber closest to the cold-air hole to block cold-air from invading
Implementation Method 2
an upper tray made of an elastic material, wherein a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers are defined in the upper tray
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator including a cabinet having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment defined therein, and an ice-maker disposed in the freezing compartment, wherein the ice-maker includes a cold-air hole for receiving cold air, an upper tray having a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray pivotably disposed below the upper tray, wherein the lower tray has a plurality of lower chambers defined therein respectively connected to the upper chambers by pivoting, wherein each of the lower chambers and each of the upper chambers connected with each other define an ice chamber for forming spherical ice therein, a driver for pivoting the lower tray, and at least one shield formed on an outer face of the upper tray and corresponding to at least one of the ice chambers respectively, thereby to reduce the cold-air from invading the at least one corresponding ice chamber.