Vertical ice maker producing clear ice pieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard ice makers produce cloudy or impure ice due to air bubbles and imperfections, and existing solutions either require frequent water addition or large water flow, leading to inefficient ice production and quality issues.
Innovation Solution
An ice making assembly with an upper fluid chamber supplying fluid to vertical channels, where ice forming members are cooled by the refrigerant circulation system, allowing continuous fluid flow and recirculation to form clear ice pieces with minimal water usage, and the ice maker is designed to be modular for various refrigerator configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water is continuously flowed over vertical ice-forming plate with multiple spaced points, then ice purity is improved, but water consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making system is segmented into multiple independent freezing zones along the vertical plate, each with its own water supply point. This allows water to be distributed efficiently across multiple locations simultaneously, reducing total water consumption while maintaining purity through continuous flow across all zones
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal ice formation to vertical ice formation, allowing gravity to assist water flow and refrigerant circulation. This dimensional change enables more efficient water distribution and drainage, reducing overall water consumption while maintaining continuous flow for high purity ice production
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple spaced points are used on vertical ice-forming plate, then ice purity is improved, but device complexity and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical ice-forming plate serves multiple functions: it acts as the freezing surface, the structural support for multiple water supply points, and the pathway for refrigerant circulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall system while enabling multiple spaced freezing points for high purity ice production
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to automatically distribute water through gravity-fed channels to multiple spaced points on the vertical plate, and automatically drain melted water through the same vertical structure. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex pumping and control systems while maintaining continuous water flow for pure ice formation
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 effectively produces clear ice pieces with minimal water consumption, preventing air bubbles and cloudiness, and allows for flexible placement within the refrigerator, maintaining ice quality by recirculating and replenishing water efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
fluid contacting the ice forming members freezes, forming clear ice pieces
Implementation Method 2
multiple spaced points located on the vertical ice-forming plate are in contact with an evaporator line such that water flowing over the spaced points freezes in layers
Implementation Method 3
hot refrigerant gas flows into the evaporator line, the warming effect detaches the ice pieces from the ice-forming plate
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.