Refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure and refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure and a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure comprises: a side plate, which is provided with a temperature measurement hole on the top side; a main door hinge plate, which is arranged on the top side outer wall of the side plate; a hinge reinforcing plate, which is arranged on the top side inner wall of the side plate, the hinge reinforcing plate is fixed on the top side of the side plate through a bolt with the main door hinge plate, one end of the hinge reinforcing plate is provided with a first clamping groove; and an ambient temperature sensor, which is arranged in the first clamping groove and is abuttingly clamped at two opposite sides in the first clamping groove, the ambient temperature sensor is arranged opposite to the temperature measurement hole. In the application, the ambient temperature sensor and the hinge reinforcing plate are installed after the side plate is foamed, and the ambient temperature sensor can be preliminarily fixed through the first clamping groove, thereby omitting the step of binding the adhesive tape and then unbinding the adhesive tape in the traditional installation mode, the installation can be completed after the ambient temperature sensor is clamped in the first clamping groove and the last step of binding the adhesive tape is used, and the refrigerator production efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerators typically have an ambient temperature sensor installed to detect the outside air temperature and adjust the internal temperature in conjunction with the controller. Currently, when assembling the ambient temperature sensor in refrigerators, the manufacturer usually provides a sensor with a rubber plug. This plug is wrapped around the sensor's wiring harness for protection. During installation, the rubber plug is first installed in a through-hole in the refrigerator side panel. Then, the sensor is temporarily secured to the top of the side panel with tape to prevent damage during subsequent foaming. After foaming, the tape is removed, the door hinge plate is installed on the top of the side panel, and then the sensor is installed on the hinge plate to neaten the refrigerator surface. Finally, the hinge cover plate is installed on the hinge plate to conceal the sensor. Because this existing installation process is cumbersome, requiring the tape to be applied and then removed before installation on the hinge plate, it impacts refrigerator production efficiency.

[0003] Therefore, the existing technology still needs to be improved and enhanced. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor installation structure and a refrigerator, which aims to solve the problem that the installation of the refrigerator ambient temperature sensor requires binding tape and then unbinding the tape before it can be installed on the door hinge plate, which is a cumbersome installation process and leads to low refrigerator production efficiency.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve the technical problem is as follows: In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure, comprising: Side plate, the top side of which is provided with a temperature measuring hole; The main door hinge plate is located on the top outer wall of the side plate; A hinge reinforcement plate is provided on the top inner wall of the side plate. The hinge reinforcement plate is connected to the main door hinge plate by bolts and fixed to the top side of the side plate. One end of the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a first slot. An ambient temperature sensor is disposed in the first slot and its two ends are respectively abutted and engaged with the two opposite sides of the first slot. The ambient temperature sensor is disposed opposite to the temperature measuring hole.

[0006] As a further improvement, the above-mentioned refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure also includes: A hinge cover is disposed on the top side of the side plate and covers the main door hinge plate inside.

[0007] As a further improved technical solution, the top side of the side plate is provided with a positioning hole, and the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a positioning protrusion that matches the positioning hole, and the positioning protrusion is disposed in the positioning hole.

[0008] As a further improved technical solution, two positioning holes and two positioning protrusions are provided. The two positioning protrusions are symmetrically arranged on one side of the hinge reinforcing plate, and the two positioning protrusions are respectively engaged with the two positioning holes one by one.

[0009] As a further improved technical solution, the side edge of the main door hinge plate is provided with a downward-opening second slot, and the inner side of the hinge cover plate is provided with a locking protrusion that matches the second slot. The locking protrusion is disposed in the second slot so that the hinge cover plate and the main door hinge plate are locked together and fixed.

[0010] As a further improved technical solution, the outer contour of the second slot protrudes upward on the main door hinge plate, so that the depth of the second slot is consistent with the thickness of the main door hinge plate.

[0011] As a further improved technical solution, the upper and lower sides of the card protrusion are respectively inclined to form a card protrusion with a triangular cross-section, and the end where the upper and lower sides of the card protrusion are connected is rounded.

[0012] As a further improved technical solution, one end of the main door hinge plate is provided with a notch, and the notch is arranged opposite to the temperature measuring hole.

[0013] As a further improved technical solution, the main door hinge plate is provided with a first screw hole, the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a second screw hole, and the top side of the side plate is provided with a third screw hole. The first screw hole, the second screw hole and the third screw hole are provided in multiples and in the same quantity. Each first screw hole corresponds one-to-one with each second screw hole and each third screw hole.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure as described in any one of the above-described embodiments.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages: In this invention, the ambient temperature sensor is installed on the hinge reinforcement plate inside the side panel. Therefore, the wiring harness of the ambient temperature sensor does not need to be protected with rubber plugs, eliminating the installation and fixing process of rubber plugs in the traditional assembly process. At the same time, in this invention, the ambient temperature sensor and the hinge reinforcement plate are installed after the side panel is foamed, and the ambient temperature sensor can be initially fixed through the first slot on the hinge reinforcement plate. This eliminates the need to first bind and then unbind the tape in the traditional installation method, and also eliminates the need to pay attention to the installation position when installing the sensor on the door hinge plate. After the ambient temperature sensor is engaged with the first slot, the final binding step is completed with tape. The installation method of the ambient temperature sensor in this invention is simpler and more convenient than the traditional installation method, improving the production efficiency of refrigerators. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This invention provides a three-dimensional structural diagram of a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hinge reinforcement plate in this invention; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the main door hinge plate in this invention; Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the side plate in this invention; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged diagram of B in the middle; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the hinge cover plate in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the hinge cover plate in this invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Side panel; 101. Temperature measurement hole; 102. Positioning hole; 103. Third screw hole; 2. Main door hinge plate; 201. Second slot; 202. Notch; 203. First screw hole; 3. Hinge reinforcement plate; 301. First slot; 302. Positioning protrusion; 303. Limiting protrusion; 304. Second screw hole; 4. Ambient temperature sensor; 5. Hinge cover plate; 501. Locking protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0019] Refrigerators typically have an ambient temperature sensor installed to detect the outside air temperature and adjust the internal temperature in conjunction with the controller. During refrigerator assembly, the ambient temperature sensor is usually installed on the door hinge assembly, which facilitates the sensing of outside air temperature and makes the refrigerator's appearance more streamlined. Current refrigerator ambient temperature sensors are usually installed on the outside of the refrigerator; therefore, the sensors supplied by manufacturers usually come with a rubber plug. The rubber plug covers the wiring harness of the ambient temperature sensor, protecting the harness as it passes through the refrigerator. During installation, the rubber plug is first installed in the through-hole of the refrigerator side panel. Then, the ambient temperature sensor is temporarily bound to the top side of the side panel with tape to prevent damage caused by mold compression during subsequent foaming. After foaming, the tape is removed, the door hinge plate is installed on the top side of the side panel, and then the ambient temperature sensor is installed on the door hinge plate to smooth the refrigerator's surface. Finally, the hinge cover plate is installed on the door hinge plate to conceal the ambient temperature sensor. The existing ambient temperature sensor installation process is cumbersome, requiring the application and removal of adhesive tape before installation onto the door hinge, which impacts refrigerator production efficiency. Therefore, this invention provides the following embodiments to solve the aforementioned technical problems.

[0020] Example 1 Please see Figures 1 to 8 The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor 4 mounting structure includes: a side plate 1 with a temperature measuring hole 101 on its top side; a main door hinge plate 2 on the top outer wall of the side plate 1; a hinge reinforcing plate 3 on the top inner wall of the side plate 1, the hinge reinforcing plate 3 being bolted to the main door hinge plate 2 and fixed to the top side of the side plate 1, one end of the hinge reinforcing plate 3 having a first slot 301; and an ambient temperature sensor 4 disposed within the first slot 301 with both ends abutting against two opposite sides within the first slot 301, the ambient temperature sensor 4 being positioned opposite the temperature measuring hole 101.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the refrigerator ambient temperature sensor 4 mounting structure includes a side plate 1, a main door hinge plate 2, a hinge reinforcement plate 3, and an ambient temperature sensor 4; wherein, the side plate 1 serves as a side support structure for the refrigerator body, bearing the overall assembly load and structural support, and the temperature measurement hole 101 opened on the top side of the side plate 1 is a channel for internal and external air circulation, as detailed in [link to details]. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The temperature measurement hole 101 ensures that the ambient air outside the refrigerator can directly contact the ambient temperature sensor 4, thus ensuring the real-time performance and accuracy of temperature detection.

[0022] This embodiment employs a split hinge plate assembly structure. The main door hinge plate 2 is fitted onto the outer wall end face of the top side of the side plate 1, and the hinge reinforcement plate 3 is fitted onto the inner wall end face of the top side of the side plate 1. The two are aligned vertically and clamped tightly against the side plate 1. A series of bolts are used to lock and fix the entire assembly structure, ensuring stability and providing a stable mounting surface for the ambient temperature sensor 4. The hinge reinforcement plate 3 is integrally formed with a first slot 301. The dimensions of the first slot 301 match the detection body dimensions of the ambient temperature sensor 4. An interference fit is used, allowing both ends of the ambient temperature sensor 4 to tightly abut against the inner side walls of the first slot 301, enabling rapid positioning and initial installation of the ambient temperature sensor 4. After the interlocking is complete, tape (not shown) is used to bind the ambient temperature sensor 4 to the hinge reinforcement plate 3, further reinforcing the stability of the ambient temperature sensor 4 and completing the installation. The ambient temperature sensor 4 is integrally fixed in the first slot 301 of the hinge reinforcement plate 3 and installed inside the side plate 1. Therefore, there is no need to use a rubber plug to protect the wiring harness, saving the plug installation process of traditional assembly.

[0023] Meanwhile, the assembled ambient temperature sensor 4 is precisely aligned with the temperature measurement hole 101 on the top side of the side panel 1. The two positions correspond one-to-one without structural obstruction. External ambient air can circulate freely through the temperature measurement hole 101 and directly act on the sensing probe of the ambient temperature sensor 4. This avoids problems such as temperature detection delay and data deviation caused by cabinet structure obstruction and sealing, greatly improving the accuracy of ambient temperature detection. It ensures that the refrigerator controller can accurately adjust the internal cooling parameters according to the actual external ambient temperature and adapt to the cooling needs under different ambient temperatures.

[0024] In this embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor 4 and the hinge reinforcement plate 3 are installed after the side plate 1 is foamed. The ambient temperature sensor 4 can be initially fixed through the first slot 301 on the hinge reinforcement plate 3, which eliminates the step of binding tape and then unbinding tape before and after foaming in the traditional installation method. After the ambient temperature sensor 4 is engaged with the first slot 301, the final binding step is completed with tape. The installation method of the ambient temperature sensor 4 in this invention is simpler and more convenient than the traditional installation method, which improves the production efficiency of refrigerators.

[0025] like Figure 4 , Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the refrigerator ambient temperature sensor 4 mounting structure further includes a hinge cover plate 5, which is disposed on the top side of the side plate 1 and covers the main door hinge plate 2. The side edge of the main door hinge plate 2 has a downward-opening second slot 201, and the inner side of the hinge cover plate 5 has a locking protrusion 501 that matches the second slot 201. The locking protrusion 501 is disposed within the second slot 201 to secure the hinge cover plate 5 to the main door hinge plate 2. Specifically, the hinge cover plate 5 serves as a decorative and protective structure for the overall appearance of the refrigerator. It completely covers the outside of the main door hinge plate 2, providing all-round protection for the main door hinge plate 2, connecting bolts, and internal temperature measurement holes 101. This not only prevents external dust and moisture from entering the assembly gaps and prevents the ambient temperature sensor 4 and the hinge metal structure from becoming damp, rusted, or malfunctioning due to dust accumulation, but also hides various assembly structures and wiring harnesses, making the top of the refrigerator side panel 1 and the main door hinge area smooth and flat, thus improving the overall integrated appearance of the refrigerator.

[0026] This embodiment uses a snap-fit ​​adapter structure to achieve rapid assembly of the hinge cover plate 5. The side edge of the main door hinge plate 2 is integrally formed with a second slot 201, as detailed below. Figure 4 The second slot 201 adopts a downward-opening slot structure, which has a high assembly error tolerance and facilitates alignment and insertion; correspondingly, the hinge cover plate 5 has an integrally formed protrusion 501 with a raised structure, as detailed in [link to details]. Figure 8 The shape and size of the protrusion 501 match the inner cavity of the second slot 201. When assembling the hinge cover plate 5, simply align the hinge cover plate 5 with the top side of the side plate 1 and the outer side of the main door hinge plate 2, and gently press it down from top to bottom. This allows the inner protrusion 501 to smoothly engage with the inner cavity of the second slot 201. The interference fit between the slot and the protrusion 501 enables quick locking and positioning, eliminating the need for screws, glue, or other auxiliary fixing accessories. The assembly operation is simple and efficient. Simultaneously, the downward-opening second slot 201 provides vertical and horizontal limits for the protrusion 501, effectively restricting the hinge cover plate 5 from moving up and down, shifting left and right, or loosening outwards. This ensures that the hinge cover plate 5 fits tightly and is securely fixed after assembly, reducing the likelihood of warping, detachment, or abnormal noises over long-term use. The assembly stability and durability are significantly enhanced. This snap-fit ​​assembly structure further simplifies the overall assembly process of the refrigerator hinge assembly, reduces the number of fasteners used, and while reducing the cost of parts, further improves the assembly efficiency of the entire refrigerator, making it suitable for the needs of rapid assembly line operations.

[0027] Furthermore, the outer contour of the second slot 201 protrudes upward on the main door hinge plate 2, so that the depth of the second slot 201 is consistent with the thickness of the main door hinge plate 2. The upper and lower sides of the protrusion 501 are respectively inclined to form a protrusion 501 with a triangular cross-section, and the end where the upper and lower sides of the protrusion 501 are connected is rounded.

[0028] Specifically, the second slot 201 adopts a raised slot structure. The overall outer contour of the second slot 201 protrudes upward relative to the surface of the main door hinge plate 2, making the overall depth of the second slot 201 equal to the thickness of the main door hinge plate 2 itself. This structural design makes the second slot 201 a through-hole slot structure, without the thin-walled limitation of the slot bottom in traditional recessed slot structures. The inside of the slot is open and unobstructed, which can effectively increase the engagement stroke and engagement area between the slot and the protrusion 501, improve the limiting strength after engagement, and avoid problems such as cover plate loosening and warping caused by insufficient engagement stroke. On the other hand, the through-hole slot structure facilitates one-piece stamping and forming with molds, eliminating the need for secondary cutting processing, resulting in high structural consistency, effectively reducing the processing tolerance of parts, and improving the yield rate of mass production. At the same time, the raised slot structure can form a local reinforcing rib effect at the edge of the main door hinge plate 2, effectively improving the structural strength of the side of the main door hinge plate 2, reducing the long-term stress deformation and warping of the hinge plate, and ensuring the hinge stability of the door hinge structure.

[0029] Correspondingly, the latching protrusion 501 on the inner side of the hinge cover plate 5 adopts a triangular cross-section structure, as detailed in [link to details]. Figure 8 The upper and lower side plates of the latch 501 are both inclined slopes, giving the latch 501 an overall triangular cross-sectional shape. Compared to rectangular or trapezoidal latch 501 structures, the triangular slope has a natural guiding and alignment function. During the assembly of the hinge cover plate 5, the inclined slope of the latch 501 can form an oblique guiding fit with the edge of the groove of the second latch 201, automatically correcting assembly alignment deviations, reducing assembly jamming and misalignment problems, further reducing assembly difficulty, and adapting to rapid press-fitting operations on assembly lines.

[0030] Meanwhile, the top of the inclined surfaces on both sides of the cam 501 are connected by a rounded corner design. The rounded corner transition can completely eliminate the sharp edges of the cam 501. On the one hand, during the pressing and insertion into the second slot 201, it can avoid the sharp edges from scratching or damaging the inner wall of the slot, preventing the slot from wearing and deforming and generating debris, effectively protecting the integrity of the mating structure and improving the service life of the parts. On the other hand, the rounded corner transition can further improve the smoothness of insertion, reduce the pressing resistance, and avoid the cam 501 from cracking or breaking due to excessive force during assembly, thus greatly improving the fault tolerance rate and structural reliability of the assembly.

[0031] Through the above structural cooperation, the triangular cross-section protrusion 501 and the through-body second slot 201 form a precise oblique self-locking engagement. After the protrusion 501 is engaged in the slot, it can fit tightly against the inner wall of the second slot 201, forming a bidirectional limiting mechanism. This not only restricts the hinge cover plate 5 from detaching outwards, but also restricts the left-right and up-down displacement of the cover plate, avoiding defects such as loosening, abnormal noise, warping, and detachment. At the same time, both the hinge cover plate 5 and the main door hinge plate 2 are integrally injection molded or stamped, requiring no additional processing or auxiliary parts. The structure is simple and the cost is low. While ensuring ease of assembly, it greatly improves the installation firmness of the hinge cover plate 5 and the flatness of the overall appearance.

[0032] In one embodiment of this invention, the top side of the side plate 1 is provided with a positioning hole 102, as detailed below. Figure 6 The hinge reinforcement plate 3 is provided with positioning protrusions 302 that are adapted to the positioning holes 102, and the positioning protrusions 302 are disposed within the positioning holes 102. There are two positioning holes 102 and two positioning protrusions 302, which are symmetrically arranged on one side of the hinge reinforcement plate 3, and each positioning protrusion 302 is respectively engaged with one of the two positioning holes 102. Specifically, this embodiment adds a symmetrical positioning and fitting structure between the side plate 1 and the hinge reinforcement plate 3 to achieve pre-positioning and anti-offset limiting of the hinge reinforcement plate 3 before assembly, effectively avoiding problems such as alignment deviation, installation tilt, misalignment of bolt holes, and assembly misalignment that are prone to occur during the assembly of the hinge reinforcement plate 3, further improving the overall assembly accuracy and structural stability.

[0033] The positioning hole 102 is located on the mounting surface of the top side of the side plate 1. It is a through hole or countersunk hole structure with precise positioning and uniform diameter. The corresponding positioning protrusion 302 is integrally formed on the inner side plate 1 of the hinge reinforcement plate 3. The outer diameter and height of the positioning protrusion 302 are matched with the diameter and depth of the positioning hole 102, which can achieve a plug-in fit with minimal gap. During the assembly process, the positioning protrusion 302 can be aligned and inserted into the positioning hole 102 of the side plate 1 to achieve the initial hooking and pre-fixation of the hinge reinforcement plate 3 on the side plate 1. This allows the hinge reinforcement plate 3 to maintain a fixed position and not slip or shift even without tightening the bolts, eliminating the need for manual alignment and significantly reducing the difficulty of manual assembly.

[0034] Meanwhile, this solution adopts a symmetrical arrangement of dual positioning protrusions 302 and dual positioning holes 102. The two positioning protrusions 302 are symmetrically distributed along the width direction of the hinge reinforcement plate 3, forming a dual-point limiting structure. Compared with single-point positioning, which is prone to deflection and rotation deviation, dual-point symmetrical positioning can form a stable planar limiting constraint, effectively restricting the left and right swing, front and back deflection, and angular tilt of the hinge reinforcement plate 3, ensuring that the mating surfaces of the hinge reinforcement plate 3 and the side plate 1 are completely fitted and the assembly flatness is consistent. Structurally, this ensures the coaxiality and fitting accuracy of the assembly among the hinge reinforcement plate 3, the side plate 1, and the main door hinge plate 2.

[0035] During the bolt tightening process, this symmetrical positioning structure can pre-lock the relative positions of each component, ensuring that the bolt holes of the main door hinge plate 2 and the hinge reinforcing plate 3 are automatically and accurately aligned. This avoids the plate being squeezed and shifted, or the holes being misaligned, during the bolt tightening process. It also reduces assembly defects such as bolt jamming, incomplete tightening, and stripping, improving tightening accuracy and assembly consistency. Simultaneously, the insertion and engagement of the positioning protrusion 302 and the positioning hole 102 further fills the assembly gap between the side plate 1 and the hinge reinforcing plate 3, improving the compactness and rigidity of the overall assembly structure and reducing potential problems such as hinge plate loosening, abnormal noise, and door hinge wobbling during long-term refrigerator use. Furthermore, the precise pre-positioning structure further ensures the relative positional accuracy of the ambient temperature sensor 4 within the first slot 301 at the end of the hinge reinforcing plate 3 and the temperature measurement hole 101 of the side plate 1. This avoids problems such as misalignment, obstruction, and sensing angle deviation of the ambient temperature sensor 4 caused by hinge plate assembly offset, continuously ensuring the detection accuracy of the ambient temperature sensor 4.

[0036] Furthermore, the bottom side of the main door hinge plate 2 is provided with a positioning groove (not shown). The top end of the positioning protrusion 302 extends through the positioning hole 102 and into the positioning groove to engage with it. Specifically, the positioning protrusion 302 extends outward from the hinge reinforcement plate 3. During assembly, the positioning protrusion 302 is first passed through the positioning hole 102 on the top side of the side plate 1. After the main door hinge plate 2 is attached to the outer wall of the side plate 1, the end of the positioning protrusion 302 extending out of the side plate 1 is precisely embedded in the corresponding positioning groove on the bottom side of the main door hinge plate 2, forming a through-type engaging and limiting structure between the side plate 1, the hinge reinforcement plate 3, and the main door hinge plate 2. This structure can simultaneously constrain the relative sliding of the three plates in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Combined with the two symmetrically arranged positioning protrusions 302 mentioned above, it forms a multi-point bidirectional locking mechanism. During assembly, the alignment can be completed without the need for continuous manual support of each hinge plate, making it easy to insert and tighten the bolts at once. At the same time, the through-and-click engagement method eliminates the assembly gap between the plates, improves the overall structural rigidity of the hinge assembly, and is less prone to loosening and door shaking during long-term use. It can also stably maintain the relative position of the first slot 301 on the hinge reinforcement plate 3 and the temperature measurement hole 101 on the side plate 1, ensuring that the temperature measurement position of the ambient temperature sensor 4 does not shift.

[0037] Furthermore, one end of the main door hinge plate 2 is provided with a notch 202, as detailed in [link to details]. Figure 4 The notch 202 is positioned opposite to the temperature measuring hole 101. Specifically, the main door hinge plate 2 is attached to the outer wall of the side plate 1, and a notch 202 is made in the area directly opposite the temperature measuring hole 101 of the side plate 1. The notch 202 forms a through ventilation channel and will not obstruct the temperature measuring hole 101. Ambient air can pass through the notch 202 and the temperature measuring hole 101 in sequence to directly contact the sensing surface of the ambient temperature sensor 4, avoiding the problem of temperature measurement lag and value distortion caused by the main door hinge plate 2 blocking the airflow. This ensures the temperature sensitivity and detection accuracy of the ambient temperature sensor 4. At the same time, the notch 202 is integrally formed in the main door hinge plate 2, without additional processing steps and without increasing the production cost of parts.

[0038] In one embodiment of this invention, a limiting protrusion 303 is provided on the side of the first slot 301 opposite to the opening of the first slot 301. The limiting protrusion 303 is used to abut against the side periphery of the ambient temperature sensor 4. Specifically, the limiting protrusion 303 is integrally formed at the bottom of the first slot 301 and protrudes towards the slot opening. When the ambient temperature sensor 4 is inserted into the first slot 301 through the slot opening, the back side wall of the ambient temperature sensor 4 can be tightly against the limiting protrusion 303 to form a restraining force. Combined with the clamping and limiting of the two sides of the slot on both ends of the sensor, a three-sided enclosed positioning structure is formed. The limiting protrusion 303 can restrict the ambient temperature sensor 4 from moving backward towards the bottom of the slot, further improving the fixing reliability of the ambient temperature sensor 4 after it is snapped in, ensuring that the ambient temperature sensor 4 is always accurately aligned with the temperature measurement hole 101 of the side plate 1, and avoiding the temperature detection effect being affected by the ambient temperature sensor 4 moving backward and blocking the ventilation path.

[0039] Furthermore, the main door hinge plate 2 is provided with a first screw hole 203, the hinge reinforcing plate 3 is provided with a second screw hole 304, and the top side of the side plate 1 is provided with a third screw hole 103. The first screw hole 203, the second screw hole 304 and the third screw hole 103 are provided in multiples and in the same quantity. Each first screw hole 203 corresponds one-to-one with each second screw hole 304 and each third screw hole 103. Specifically, the first screw hole 203, the second screw hole 304, and the third screw hole 103 are coaxially aligned. When assembling the locking bolt, the bolts can be inserted sequentially from the outside to the inside through the first screw hole 203, the third screw hole 103, and the second screw hole 304 to achieve simultaneous clamping and fixing. Multiple sets of screw holes are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence to form a multi-point uniform locking structure, which disperses the bolt locking stress and avoids local warping of the plate and poor fit caused by single-point locking. This ensures that the mating surfaces of the main door hinge plate 2, side plate 1, and hinge reinforcement plate 3 are completely and tightly fitted, improving the overall structural strength and assembly flatness of the hinge assembly. At the same time, the multi-screw hole alignment and positioning protrusion 302 pre-positioning structure automatically aligns the screw holes during assembly, eliminating the need for repeated manual adjustment of the plate position. This reduces assembly defects such as misaligned lock holes and difficulty in bolt insertion, improves assembly line efficiency, and can effectively suppress problems such as loose hinge plates and door hinge wobbling with long-term use.

[0040] Example 2 This embodiment also provides a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor 4 mounting structure as described in any one of the embodiments.

[0041] In summary, this embodiment of the invention provides a refrigerator ambient temperature sensor 4 mounting structure, including: a side plate 1, the top side of which is provided with a temperature measuring hole 101; a main door hinge plate 2, disposed on the top outer wall of the side plate 1; a hinge reinforcing plate 3, disposed on the top inner wall of the side plate 1, the hinge reinforcing plate 3 being bolted to the main door hinge plate 2 and fixed to the top side of the side plate 1, one end of the hinge reinforcing plate 3 being provided with a first slot 301; and an ambient temperature sensor 4, disposed in the first slot 301 with both ends respectively abutting and engaging with two opposite sides of the first slot 301, the ambient temperature sensor 4 being disposed opposite to the temperature measuring hole 101. In this invention, the ambient temperature sensor 4 and the hinge reinforcement plate 3 are installed after the side plate 1 is foamed. The ambient temperature sensor 4 can be initially fixed through the first slot 301, eliminating the step of binding tape and then unbinding tape in the traditional installation method. After the ambient temperature sensor 4 is engaged with the first slot 301, the final binding step can be completed with tape, thus improving the refrigerator production efficiency.

[0042] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0043] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0044] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0046] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0047] Of course, the above description of the embodiments of the present invention is quite detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. The present invention may have many other implementations. Based on this implementation, other implementations obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative effort are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure, characterized in that, include: Side plate, the top side of which is provided with a temperature measuring hole; The main door hinge plate is located on the top outer wall of the side plate; A hinge reinforcement plate is provided on the top inner wall of the side plate. The hinge reinforcement plate is connected to the main door hinge plate by bolts and fixed to the top side of the side plate. One end of the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a first slot. An ambient temperature sensor is disposed in the first slot and its two ends are respectively abutted and engaged with the two opposite sides of the first slot. The ambient temperature sensor is disposed opposite to the temperature measuring hole.

2. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A hinge cover is disposed on the top side of the side plate and covers the main door hinge plate inside.

3. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top side of the side plate is provided with a positioning hole, and the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a positioning protrusion that matches the positioning hole. The positioning protrusion is disposed in the positioning hole.

4. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, There are two positioning holes and two positioning protrusions. The two positioning protrusions are symmetrically arranged on one side of the hinge reinforcement plate, and the two positioning protrusions are respectively engaged with the two positioning holes one by one.

5. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side edge of the main door hinge plate is provided with a downward-opening second slot, and the inner side of the hinge cover plate is provided with a locking protrusion that matches the second slot. The locking protrusion is disposed in the second slot so that the hinge cover plate and the main door hinge plate are locked together and fixed.

6. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer contour of the second slot protrudes upward on the main door hinge plate so that the depth of the second slot is consistent with the thickness of the main door hinge plate.

7. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper and lower sides of the card protrusion are inclined to form a triangular cross-section, and the end where the upper and lower sides of the card protrusion are connected is rounded.

8. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the main door hinge plate is provided with a notch, which is positioned opposite to the temperature measuring hole.

9. The refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main door hinge plate is provided with a first screw hole, the hinge reinforcement plate is provided with a second screw hole, and the top side of the side plate is provided with a third screw hole. There are multiple first screw holes, second screw holes and third screw holes, and the number is the same. Each first screw hole corresponds to each second screw hole and each third screw hole.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the refrigerator ambient temperature sensor mounting structure as described in any one of claims 1-9.

Images