Twist ice tray assembly for a refrigerator appliance
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator ice makers with plastic ice trays experience slow ice production due to low thermal conductivity, and small ice storage bins exacerbate this issue, leading to inefficient ice production.
Innovation Solution
A twist ice tray assembly with two ice trays positioned side-by-side, featuring an overflow spout that connects the trays, allowing for simultaneous filling and freezing of compartments, and a gear assembly driven by a motor to facilitate efficient ice harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic ice trays are used, then the ice maker structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the thermal conductivity is low resulting in slow ice production
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is divided into two separate ice trays instead of using a single large tray. Each tray has its own mold body and compartments, allowing independent filling and freezing operations. This segmentation enables continuous ice production while maintaining the simplicity of individual plastic tray manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Two ice trays are combined in a side-by-side arrangement within the same ice maker housing, sharing common components such as the drive mechanism, overflow spout system, and storage bin. This merging doubles the ice production capacity while utilizing the same structural framework and manufacturing processes for each tray.
2Device complexity
If a single ice tray is used, then the device structure is simple, but the storage capacity is limited and ice production rate is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker transitions from a single-tray configuration to a dual-tray side-by-side arrangement, effectively utilizing horizontal space in the icebox. This dimensional change doubles the ice storage capacity and production rate without significantly increasing vertical height or complicating the overall device structure.
3Device complexity
If water fills only one tray at a time, then the filling system is simple, but the ice production rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow spout system is designed to automatically transfer water from the first tray to the second tray once the first tray is filled. This preliminary action ensures that the second tray begins filling immediately after the first tray reaches capacity, enabling continuous ice production without requiring complex control systems or manual intervention.
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 twist ice tray assembly enhances ice production rate by optimizing thermal conductivity and storage capacity, enabling faster ice formation and harvesting.
Implementation Method 1
The overflow spout may define an overflow channel in downstream fluid communication with the first plurality of compartments
Implementation Method 2
Water held within the plastic ice tray can take a relatively long time to freeze due to the low thermal conductivity of the plastic
Implementation Method 3
liquid water is directed to the ice maker and frozen
Data Source
AI summary
A twist ice tray assembly for a refrigerator appliance may include a first ice tray in downstream fluid communication with a fill tube of the refrigerator appliance. The first ice tray may include a first tray surface, a first mold body, and an overflow spout. The first mold body may extend downward from the first tray surface to define a first plurality of compartments for receiving liquid water from the fill tube. The overflow spout may extend outward from the first tray surface. The overflow spout may define an overflow channel in downstream fluid communication with the first plurality of compartments. The twist ice tray assembly may include a second ice tray. The second ice tray may include a second tray surface and a second mold body. The second mold body may extend downward from the second tray surface. The second mold body may define a second plurality of compartments.