Twistable Cooling Member Design for Faster Ice Making
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators take a long time to make ice due to low cooling speeds in ice making trays, which affects user convenience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a twistable cooling member with high heat conductivity, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the ice making tray, which includes multiple cooling fins and a connection part to enhance cooling efficiency and facilitate ice ejection by rotating and twisting the tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a conventional ice making tray is used without additional cooling components, then the device complexity is low, but the ice making time is long due to low cooling speed
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is nested inside the ice making tray, with cooling fins arranged within the ice making recesses. This nested configuration allows the cooling member to be integrated into the tray structure without occupying additional space, thereby reducing ice making time while avoiding significant increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling member extends in the longitudinal direction of the ice making tray, utilizing the length dimension to maximize heat exchange surface area. This dimensional approach increases cooling efficiency without requiring additional vertical or horizontal space that would complicate the device structure
2Productivity
If the cooling member is rigidly fixed to the ice making tray, then the heat exchange efficiency is high, but the ice ejection is interfered with when the tray is rotated and twisted
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to dynamically adapt during tray rotation and twisting. The elastic connection maintains thermal contact during normal operation while permitting the necessary movement for ice ejection, thus preserving both heat exchange efficiency and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The connection part functions as a flexible element that can bend and deform elastically. This flexibility allows the cooling member to move with the tray during ice ejection while maintaining sufficient thermal contact, resolving the conflict between rigid heat exchange and flexible movement
3Speed
If the cooling member is made with high heat conductivity material, then the cooling speed increases, but the cost of manufacture increases
Solution Approach 1:
High heat conductivity material is used specifically for the cooling fins that directly contact the water, while other parts of the assembly use standard materials. This localized application of expensive material optimizes cooling speed where needed while controlling overall manufacturing cost
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 cooling member significantly reduces ice making time by accelerating the cooling process and ensures smooth ice ejection without interfering with the tray's rotation, maintaining effective heat exchange even after restitution.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling member having a predetermined shape may be received in the ice making recesses... When the cooling member cooled by cold air contacts with the water in this state, the water may be cooled quickly by heat-exchange with the cooling member
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of cooling fins spaced apart from each other; and a connection part that connects the cooling fins with each other
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator including an ice maker is disclosed. The refrigerator includes an ice maker (100) comprising: an ice making tray (110) rotatably provided therein; a driving unit (130) connected with the ice making tray (110), to rotate the ice making tray (110) selectively; and a cooling member (120) provided in the ice making tray (110), contactable with water supplied to the ice making tray (110).