Twistable Ice Tray With Ice-Phobic Surfaces for Heaterless Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic ice-making systems in refrigerators are energy-intensive due to the use of electrical resistance heaters to release ice, which reduces system reliability and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker with a metal tray featuring recesses with ice-phobic surfaces and a driving mechanism that rotates the tray to flex and dislodge ice pieces without the need for heaters, distributing stresses evenly to enhance reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical resistance heaters are used to release ice from the tray, then ice release is achieved, but energy consumption increases and system reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the electrical resistance heater component from the ice-making system entirely. Instead of using heaters to release ice, the invention employs a mechanical twisting action of the tray itself to dislodge and release the ice cubes, thereby eliminating the source of high energy consumption and reliability issues associated with heating elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heating) with a mechanical field (twisting motion). The tray is designed to twist in a specific direction during the ice-making cycle, and this mechanical motion is used to release the ice cubes without requiring any thermal energy input from heaters.
2Ease of operation
If electrical resistance heaters are used to release ice, then ice release function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heater assembly, control circuitry, and associated components from the ice-making system. The ice release function is achieved through the inherent mechanical twisting motion of the tray, which is actuated by a simple drive mechanism, thereby significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is designed to perform dual functions: forming ice during one phase and releasing ice during another phase through its own twisting motion. The tray's geometric design and mounting configuration enable it to twist automatically in response to the drive mechanism, making the ice release function self-contained without requiring external heating systems.
3Temperature
If the tray is made from metal material, then thermal conductivity is improved for faster freezing, but stress distribution during twisting may become concentrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric features in the tray design, including offset recesses and strategically positioned reinforcement ribs. These asymmetric elements are specifically designed to distribute mechanical stresses more evenly throughout the metal tray during the twisting motion, preventing stress concentration while maintaining the metal's superior thermal conductivity for fast freezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality enhancements by adding reinforcement ribs and strategically designing the recess configurations in specific areas of the tray. These local modifications create zones of enhanced structural integrity that distribute stress during twisting, while the overall metal construction maintains high thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer during the freezing process.
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 solution reduces energy consumption by eliminating the need for heaters, improves system reliability through reduced complexity, and enhances ice release efficiency with minimal mechanical stress on the tray.
Implementation Method 1
a tray (50) having recesses (56) with ice-phobic surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker is provided that includes a tray having recesses that can include ice-phobic surfaces. The ice-phobic surfaces may include ice-phobic coatings, textured metal surfaces, hydrophobic coatings or other surfaces configured to repel water and ice. The tray can be formed from metal material and may exhibit a fatigue limit greater than about 150 Megapascals (MPa) at 105 cycles. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, and a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the tray. The driving body is further adapted to rotate the tray in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise cycle such that the tray presses against the frame body in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses of the tray.