Twist Ice Tray Directional Cooling for Clear Ice and Frost Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice making systems in refrigerators face challenges in efficiently producing clear ice and managing frost buildup on heat sink fins, leading to suboptimal ice formation and increased maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An ice making assembly with a twist ice tray, metal heat sinks, and directional cooling using a canopy and heater, which includes defrost water channels to manage frost and ensure efficient ice formation by maintaining air temperature above freezing and rotating the tray to release ice cubes while melting frost for defrosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ice making systems are used, then ice production is achieved, but impurities are trapped within the ice causing cloudy appearance and frost buildup on heat sink fins occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by directing water flow to flush impurities from the ice making compartments before freezing occurs. The defrost water channels are pre-configured to receive and drain water away from the heat sink fins, preventing frost accumulation before it becomes problematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts harmful elements by removing impurities from the water before ice formation through the flushing action. The defrost water channels extract melted frost from the heat sink fins and transport it away through the drainage system, separating the harmful substances from the ice making process.
2Use of energy by moving object
If heat sink fins are used for cooling, then efficient heat transfer is achieved, but frost accumulates on the fins requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by using the ice making water flow to automatically flush and clean the heat sink fins during normal operation. The defrost water channels enable the system to self-defrost by draining melted frost away, eliminating the need for manual intervention or separate defrosting cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by utilizing water flow through the defrost water channels to physically flush impurities and melted frost from the heat sink fins. The water acts as a cleaning medium, using fluid dynamics to remove accumulated frost and maintain heat transfer efficiency.
3Productivity
If ice pieces are formed in compartments, then ice production is achieved, but impurities remain trapped causing cloudy ice
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary flushing action through the defrost water channels to clear impurities from the ice making compartments before the freezing process begins. This preliminary cleaning ensures that only pure water enters the compartments for ice formation, preventing impurity entrapment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts impurities from the water supply before ice formation by channeling defrost water through the compartments to flush out contaminants. This extraction of harmful substances occurs prior to the ice making process, ensuring clear ice production while maintaining productivity.
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 produces clear ice by directing impurities to the top and efficiently manages frost buildup, enhancing ice formation quality and reducing maintenance through directional freezing and defrosting mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
using the temperature sensor and the heater to maintain an air temperature above the ice piece making compartments above freezing
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of metal heat sinks engaged to the bottom surface of the ice making compartments
Implementation Method 3
the heat sinks have a plurality of downwardly extending and spaced apart metal fins that extend away from the bottom surface of each ice piece making compartment
Implementation Method 4
moving the fins into closer proximity to the canopy and into a volume of air proximate the canopy that has a temperature above freezing due to heat applied to the volume of air proximate the canopy from the heater such that frost on the metal fins melts
Implementation Method 5
a plurality of defrost water water channels...configured to receive defrost water from a plurality of heat sinks...and deliver defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray
Implementation Method 6
forming the ice pieces within the ice piece making compartments directionally with freezing starting from a portion of the ice piece making compartments distal from the canopy and proximate the heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
An ice piece making assembly and a refrigeration appliance containing the ice piece making assembly is disclosed. The ice making assembly produces ice pieces by directional freezing and includes: an ice piece forming tray having a motor engaging end, a distal end, a first side, a second side and a bottom surface, a plurality of ice piece making compartments divided by divider walls, and a plurality of heat sinks engaged to the bottom surface of the ice making compartments and deliver defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray positioned at at least one of the distal end and the motor engaging end; and an ice piece forming tray canopy spaced a distance above the ice piece forming tray wherein the ice piece forming tray canopy comprises a heater and a temperature sensor.