Top-Driven Auger Ice Maker to Eliminate Mold Base Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Auger-style ice makers in compact refrigeration appliances face leakage issues due to the connection of the motor drive through the base of the mold, leading to water leakage and potential freezing within the appliance.

Innovation Solution

The ice making assembly features a mold with an auger that extends from above, eliminating the need for seals at the base and reducing leakage paths, with a threaded portion for rotating the ice cube out through an opening in the side wall, and optional dividing walls and splitters to assist in ice cube removal and splitting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the motor drive is connected through the base of the mold, then the auger can be positioned to lift the ice cube, but water leakage occurs at the seal interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauger positioning for ice cube liftingVSAvoidseal interface leakage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The motor drive mechanism is extracted from the base connection and repositioned to connect to the distal end of the auger shaft above the mold. This eliminates the seal interface at the base that caused leakage, while preserving the auger's ability to lift ice cubes through its threaded portion engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of connecting the motor drive through the base of the mold (bottom-up approach), the connection is inverted to occur at the distal end of the auger shaft above the mold (top-down approach). This reversal eliminates the sealing problem while maintaining functional effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If water refills the mold after ice removal, then continuous ice production is enabled, but leakage travels into the refrigeration appliance and may freeze

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous ice productionVSAvoidwater leakage and freezing in appliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The problematic seal interface is extracted and removed from the system by eliminating the base connection. This prevents water leakage while allowing continuous operation, as water cannot leak through the non-contact base area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of water leakage into a benefit by using the open base structure to prevent leakage entirely. The base becomes a non-contact support structure rather than a sealed connection point, eliminating the leakage pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If a seal is present at the base to prevent leakage, then water containment is improved, but the seal interface becomes a leakage point under repeated freezing and mechanical rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater containment at sealVSAvoidseal integrity under freezing and rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is extracted and removed from the system by eliminating the base connection between motor and auger. Without a seal interface, there is no leakage point under freezing and rotation conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The base structure serves as an intermediary that provides mechanical support without requiring a seal. The motor mount and base are positioned to allow the auger shaft to extend through without direct sealed contact, using the base as a non-sealing structural element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 prevents water leakage and enhances ice cube removal efficiency, allowing for continuous operation without freezing issues and increased ice production rates in compact refrigeration appliances.

Implementation Method 1

The auger further has a threaded portion configured for moving the ice cube out of the mold through the opening via rotation of the auger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThreaded portion mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentUS8528356B2Auger style ice maker and refrigeration appliance incorporating same

Publication Date: 2013.09.10 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An ice making assembly includes a mold configured for forming an ice cube. The mold has a base, a side wall, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end above and outside of the mold, a distal end within the mold, and a central section between the distal end and the proximal end and extending through the opening. The auger further has a threaded portion configured for moving the ice cube out of the mold through the opening via rotation of the auger. A motor may be located above the mold and attached to the proximal end of the shaft for rotating the auger to lift the ice cube from the mold. The ice cubes may be formed with a gap and a splitter may split the ice cubes at the gap.