Two-Plane Ice Compartment Door for Access and Sub-Freezing Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator designs face challenges in maintaining sub-freezing temperatures for ice makers and ice buckets outside the freezer compartment, particularly in French door-type bottom freezers, where access and space utilization are compromised, and there is a need for a cost-effective solution that balances functionality and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A two-plane door design for the ice compartment, with a lower vertical section and an upper oblique section, complements the angled front face of the ice maker, allowing gravity-driven ice dispensing and sub-freezing air flow while providing user access and maintaining sub-freezing temperatures within the compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice bucket is placed in the door of the refrigerated compartment, then user access to ice is improved, but maintaining sub-freezing temperatures becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bucket is nested within an insulated ice compartment that is itself integrated into the refrigerator door. This nested structure allows the ice bucket to be easily accessible while the surrounding insulated compartment maintains sub-freezing temperatures through thermal isolation from the warmer door environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice compartment door is merged with the main refrigerator door, creating a unified structure where the ice compartment has its own door within the door. This integration allows the ice bucket to be accessible from the refrigerated compartment while maintaining thermal isolation through the double-door configuration.
2Temperature
If an insulated wall surrounds the ice bucket, then sub-freezing temperatures are maintained, but user access to ice is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated ice compartment is nested within the refrigerator door structure, with the ice bucket nested within the insulated compartment. This nested arrangement provides thermal insulation while allowing easy access to the ice bucket through the compartment door, eliminating the need to break through insulation to reach ice.
3Volume of stationary object
If the ice maker is positioned away from the freezer compartment, then space utilization is improved, but delivering sub-freezing cooling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated ice compartment acts as an intermediary between the freezer compartment and the ice bucket. It receives sub-freezing cold air from the freezer through a dedicated opening and maintains these temperatures within the compartment, effectively mediating the thermal transfer while allowing flexible positioning of the ice maker.
4Ease of manufacture
If a conventional single-plane door is used for the ice compartment, then manufacturing is simpler, but space optimization and aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ice compartment door incorporates an oblique upper section that extends into the third dimension, creating a two-plane configuration. This dimensional change optimizes space utilization by better fitting the door to the angled front face of the ice maker, while the lower vertical section maintains manufacturing simplicity similar to conventional doors.
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 two-plane door design effectively maintains sub-freezing temperatures, ensures easy access to the ice bucket, and optimizes space usage without significant increases in material or manufacturing costs, balancing competing design factors.
Implementation Method 1
An opening in the oblique ice compartment door section allows ice to fall by gravity from the ice maker into the ice compartment
Implementation Method 2
An insulated ice compartment is on the inside of a door to the refrigerated food compartment
Data Source
AI summary
In a refrigeration appliance, an enclosure or container defines an enclosed space. A two-plane door forms a portion of the container. The two-plane door opens along one pivot axis and allows access to the enclosed interior space. The container can be a thermally insulated in-door ice compartment of a refrigerated appliance. One example is a bottom freezer style, with the in-door ice compartment in the cold food section of the appliance.