Spherical Ice Tray Structure to Prevent Ice Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-makers struggle to produce spherical ice of uniform size and shape, as the ice can deform or change shape during the ice-making process due to interference between the upper and lower trays, leading to irregular ice formation and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
An ice-maker design featuring an upper tray and lower tray made of elastic materials with specific structural elements, including grooves and protrusions, that maintain ice in place and prevent deformation, ensuring uniform ice formation and normal operation by minimizing contact between the trays and stabilizing the ice.
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 between the trays occurs causing water to freeze irregularly and ice deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray is designed with a flexible bottom that can elastically deform. During ice making, the bottom of the lower tray elastically contacts the upper tray to close the space between trays, preventing water leakage and ensuring uniform ice formation. The flexibility allows the tray to adapt to pressure changes while maintaining the spherical shape of the ice.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the lower tray by using an elastic material that can deform under pressure. The bottom of the lower tray is designed to elastically deform during operation, changing its shape parameter to maintain contact with the upper tray and prevent gaps, thereby ensuring uniform ice production.
2Ease of operation
If the lower tray is made movable for ice removal, then ice can be easily removed, but the tray may deform during operation causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray is designed with a flexible bottom that can elastically deform. During ice removal, the tray pivots open while the elastic bottom maintains structural integrity and prevents deformation that would cause interference with the upper tray. The flexibility allows smooth operation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower tray is designed to be pivotally movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position during ice making and removal operations. The tray can pivot open for ice removal and close during ice making, with the elastic bottom adapting to different operational states to prevent deformation and interference.
3Strength
If the trays are made of rigid material for structural strength, then the trays maintain shape, but ice deformation occurs due to tray interference
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray is designed with a flexible bottom that can elastically deform, replacing rigid material in the critical contact area. This flexibility prevents the tray from deforming during operation and interfering with the upper tray, thereby maintaining uniform ice shape while the rest of the tray structure provides necessary strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower tray is made of composite material or has a composite structure with different rigidity in different areas. The bottom portion is made elastic and flexible to prevent deformation during operation, while other portions maintain sufficient structural strength. This composite approach allows the tray to have both strength and flexibility where needed.
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 deformation and irregular formation, maintaining the ice's shape during removal and ensuring consistent ice-making operations.
Implementation Method 1
an upper tray (150) made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of upper chambers (111) defined therein, a lower tray (250) made of an elastic material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided is an ice-maker including an upper tray (150) made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray (205) 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 (111), respectively, each ejector-receiving opening (154) 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.