Swing Tray Icemaker for Clear Ice Without Bubble Entrapment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard icemakers produce cloudy ice due to air bubbles and imperfections, and existing solutions either require complex designs or are not effective in producing clear ice within domestic refrigerator configurations using minimal water.
Innovation Solution
A clear ice making system utilizing a swinging ice forming tray with ice forming fingers cooled by the refrigerator's refrigerant system, oscillating at 0.4-0.6 Hz to prevent bubble formation, and a fluid recycling method to minimize water usage, allowing for efficient ice production and storage within the refrigerator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a standard icemaker tray is used to form ice pieces, then ice pieces can be produced, but air bubbles and imperfections are trapped leading to cloudy appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The ice forming tray is made movable and is oscillated during the ice making process. The tray swings back and forth to prevent air bubbles from becoming trapped in the ice, allowing bubbles to escape while the ice forms around the cooling fingers. This dynamic movement resolves the contradiction by enabling clear ice production without requiring complex additional structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray undergoes periodic oscillation at a specific frequency (0.4-0.6 Hz) during ice formation. This periodic swinging motion continuously disrupts the water to prevent bubble entrapment while maintaining ice formation on the fingers. The periodic action effectively eliminates air bubbles throughout the ice making cycle, producing clear ice pieces.
2Manufacturing precision
If paddles are added to agitate water in the tray to escape entrapped gases, then clear ice can be produced, but the device becomes more costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding static paddles or complex agitation mechanisms, the invention makes the entire tray dynamic by enabling it to swing. This simpler approach achieves the same bubble-removal function as paddles would, but without the added structural complexity and manufacturing cost of separate agitation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating tray serves multiple functions: it forms ice on the cooling fingers, agitates the water to escape bubbles, and controls the ice making process. By making the tray itself the agitating element rather than adding separate paddles, the design achieves bubble removal without increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the icemaker is located in the fresh food compartment to allow ice dispensing, then ice can be easily accessed, but ice pieces are exposed to higher temperature and melt over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the ice making function from the ice storage function. The tray oscillates in the fresh food compartment for ice formation and easy dispensing, but the formed ice pieces are transferred to and stored in the freezer compartment. This segmentation allows the tray to access the warmer fresh food compartment without causing the ice to melt, since the ice resides in the colder freezer compartment for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating tray automatically transfers ice from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment after formation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual ice handling and ensures ice is moved to the appropriate storage location without melting, resolving the temperature contradiction.
4Manufacturing precision
If a swinging tray mechanism is implemented to prevent bubble formation, then clear ice is produced, but the mechanism adds complexity to the icemaker
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a simple swinging mechanism where the tray pivots on side walls of the housing. This dynamic movement is achieved with minimal additional components compared to static tray designs, and the swinging motion itself is the key to producing clear ice without requiring complex bubble removal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillation mechanism is integrated into the existing tray structure and housing, combining the tray support function with the oscillation function. The side walls of the housing serve as pivot points, merging the structural support with the motion mechanism to minimize additional complexity.
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 system effectively produces clear ice with minimal water usage, suitable for various refrigerator configurations, and prevents wasteful melting by storing ice in the freezer compartment.
Implementation Method 1
Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into the ice forming tray and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator
Implementation Method 2
a motor controller operates a motor to oscillate the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz (Hz)
Implementation Method 3
the motor controller operates the motor to swing or pivot the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that any fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains via gravity from the tray into a fluid reservoir below
Implementation Method 4
During an ice harvest event, the ice forming members are heated to release ice pieces formed thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.