Spherical Ice Storage Tray With Concave Cavities to Minimize Melting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers produce ice cubes that change shape when stored together due to melting, leading to irregularities and inefficiencies in storage and handling.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a freezer and an ice maker that produces spherical ice pieces, which are stored in a tray with concave cavities matching the ice's radius, allowing for efficient stacking and minimizing shape changes during storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ice cubes are stored together in a box-like tray, then storage efficiency is improved, but the shape of the ice cubes changes due to melting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by using spherical ice pieces instead of traditional cubic ice. The spherical shape allows the ice pieces to be stored in cavities without flat surfaces that would cause them to stick together and deform. The curved surface of the spheres minimizes contact area with adjacent ice pieces, preventing shape changes during storage while maintaining efficient use of storage space.
2Stability of the object's composition
If spherical ice pieces are produced and stored in cavities, then shape stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the storage function into separate cavities, each designed to hold a single spherical ice piece. This segmentation prevents ice pieces from contacting each other and deforming their shapes. The tray is divided into multiple identical cavities, allowing modular construction and simplified manufacturing despite the specialized spherical design.
3Shape
If ice pieces are produced with precise spherical shape, then fit in cavities is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the radius of the spherical ice pieces to match the radius of the storage cavities. By carefully selecting and maintaining this geometric parameter, the ice pieces fit snugly in the cavities without requiring excessive manufacturing precision. The radius parameter is chosen to provide a balance between tight fit for shape stability and tolerance for practical manufacturing variations.
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 method maintains the spherical shape of ice pieces, facilitating easy handling and storage without the need to tip the tray, while a water recovery system slows down melting and ensures continuous ice production.
Implementation Method 1
providing a freezer having a refrigerated space that can be maintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water
Implementation Method 2
minimize melting of ice spheres
Data Source
AI summary
An ice support and storage tray includes one or more cavities having upwardly facing spherical surface portions that support spherical pieces of ice. The tray is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to reduce melting of the spherical pieces of ice. The spherical support surfaces minimize melting points that could otherwise cause the spherical pieces of ice to melt and develop irregular surface shapes. The ice tray may be used in a freezer having an ice maker that transports spheres of ice to the ice support cavities. The ice storage tray may be configured to permit removal of spheres of ice without tipping the tray upside down and/or twisting/deforming the tray.