Spherical Ice-Maker Tray Insulation for Uniform Freezing
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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 and thermal insulation issues, leading to deformation and inefficient ice production.
Innovation Solution
The ice-maker design includes a linear arrangement of ice chambers with thermally-insulating portions strategically placed to guide cold-air uniformly, delaying ice formation in chambers closer to the inlet and promoting even water distribution, while a shield and air layer enhance thermal insulation and prevent cold-air invasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cells are arranged in line with cold-air supplied from one side, then ice generation speed is maximized at both end cells, but water flows to middle cells by expansion force causing deformation from spherical shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermally-insulating portions at specific locations (particularly at the first cell closest to cold-air inlet) to create non-uniform thermal insulation across different cells. This local differentiation compensates for the non-uniform cold-air distribution, ensuring that the first cell does not freeze water too quickly, thereby preventing water expansion flow to middle cells and maintaining spherical shape of all ice cubes.
2Shape
If thermally-insulating portion is added to equalize ice formation speed, then spherical shape is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper tray serves multiple functions: it forms the upper mold for spherical ice cubes and simultaneously provides thermally-insulating portions that act as both structural support and thermal insulation barriers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate insulation components, thereby minimizing device complexity while maintaining spherical shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally-insulating portions are implemented as thin insulating layers or films integrated into the upper tray structure, rather than bulky three-dimensional insulation components. This approach provides effective thermal insulation while minimizing space occupation and structural complexity.
3Productivity
If cold-air is supplied from one direction, then ice formation starts from end cell, but water amount becomes excessive in last cell resulting in non-spherical shape
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally-insulating portions are pre-installed at strategic locations before ice making begins, particularly at the first cell, to preemptively counteract the excessive cooling effect. This preliminary anti-action prevents the first cell from freezing water too quickly, thereby preventing water expansion and ensuring uniform water distribution and spherical shape in all cells.
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
This design ensures uniform ice formation speeds across all chambers, preventing deformation and improving the thermal-insulation performance, resulting in evenly shaped spherical ice.
Implementation Method 1
thermally-insulating portions strategically placed to guide cold-air uniformly, delaying ice formation in chambers closer to the inlet
Implementation Method 2
a shield and air layer enhance thermal insulation and prevent cold-air invasion
Implementation Method 3
guide cold-air uniformly, delaying ice formation in chambers closer to the inlet
Implementation Method 4
ice formation speeds across all chambers, preventing deformation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
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. The ice-maker includes a cold-air hole for receiving cold air, an upper tray (150') made of an elastic material, wherein the upper tray is positioned to be exposed to the cold-air flowing from the cold-air hole, a lower tray made of an elastic material, wherein the lower tray is coupled to the upper tray to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers therebetween, a driver for pivoting the lower tray to open the spherical ice chambers, at least one thermally-insulating portion (152e) formed at a top face of the upper tray (150') and corresponding to at least one of the ice chambers respectively, wherein the at least one thermally-insulating portion (152e) is constructed to prevent the cold-air from invading the at least one corresponding ice chamber.