Refrigerator

Abstract

This application discloses a refrigerator, including a cabinet and a door; a hinge assembly connects the door to the cabinet, allowing the door to rotate relative to the cabinet; a gravity self-closing structure includes a rolling part and a fixing member, the fixing member including a guide part for cooperating with the rolling part to allow the door to move along the height direction of the cabinet under its own gravity; the guide part includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface; when the rolling part is located at the junction of the first and second inclined surfaces, the door is in an open receiving cavity, and the gravitational potential energy of the door is at its maximum; when the rolling part is located at the second end of the first inclined surface, the door, through its own gravity, drives the rolling part to roll along the first inclined surface toward the first end closer to the first inclined surface, and the angle of rotation of the door relative to the cabinet gradually decreases. Through the rolling friction between the rolling part and the guide part, the frictional resistance between them is effectively reduced, ensuring that the door obtains sufficient self-closing force under the action of the gravity component, thus increasing the gravity self-closing effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and in particular to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In modern home decoration, refrigerators are becoming a new market favorite because they can blend seamlessly with cabinetry, enhancing the overall aesthetics and ambiance of the space. At the same time, the increasing demand for storage space from consumers is driving the continuous increase in refrigerator capacity. This trend has led to the emergence of large-capacity refrigerators, which not only offer more storage space but also better meet users' pursuit of home aesthetics.

[0003] As refrigerator doors become longer and heavier, a gravity-based self-closing structure is incorporated to ensure a tight seal between the door and the refrigerator body when closed. This structure utilizes the door's own weight to automatically close the door during the final stage of closure, causing the door to tend to move closer to the refrigerator body, thus sealing the refrigerator body.

[0004] However, existing gravity-based self-closing structures are mainly mechanical self-closing solutions based on elastic components (such as springs and torsion springs), but these solutions all have significant drawbacks in practical applications. During long-term use, springs are prone to fatigue, leading to a decrease in elasticity and consequently, a reduction in self-closing force. This results in problems such as the door not closing completely or closing too slowly. Furthermore, to ensure sufficient self-closing force, the initial spring force is usually large, requiring users to overcome significant resistance when opening the door, resulting in poor ease of operation. In addition, when the freezer compartment generates negative pressure, the resulting door self-closing force is significantly insufficient, making it difficult for the refrigerator door to close automatically. This not only affects the user experience but may also cause cold air leakage due to an incompletely closed door, increasing energy consumption and affecting food preservation, ultimately leading to an ineffective seal between the door and the refrigerator.

[0005] In view of the above, this application is hereby submitted. Utility Model Content

[0006] This utility model aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art.

[0007] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a refrigerator is provided, comprising: A housing that defines multiple cavities; the height of the housing extends from its top to its bottom. A door, which is rotatably mounted on the housing to close or open the receiving cavity; A hinge assembly connects the door to the housing, allowing the door to rotate relative to the housing; the hinge assembly includes: The first hinge component is provided on the housing; The second hinge component is provided on the door body; A gravity-operated self-closing structure is located on the lower side of the door; the gravity-operated self-closing structure includes: A rolling part, which is rotatably connected to the lower end of the second hinge member; A fastener, which is connected to the first hinge member; the fastener includes: A fixing plate, which is connected to the first hinge member; A guide portion, which cooperates with the rolling portion to allow the door to move along the height direction of the housing under its own weight; the guide portion includes: A first inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate; the second end of which is away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface. A second inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to the second part of the fixing plate; the second end of which is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface, and the second end of which is further away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface; As the rolling part rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface toward the second end of the second inclined surface, the angle at which the door body flips relative to the box body gradually decreases. When the rolling part is located at the second end of the first inclined surface, the door body drives the rolling part to roll along the first inclined surface toward the first end closer to the first inclined surface by its own gravity, and the angle of the door body relative to the box body gradually decreases.

[0008] In the above technical solution, the gravity self-closing structure is driven to close by the door's own weight. When the door is not fully closed, the rolling part slides downward along the first inclined surface, and the door automatically rotates in the closing direction under the action of the gravity component, causing the door to gradually flip and fit against the cabinet, ultimately sealing the receiving cavity. Through the rolling friction between the rolling part and the guide part, the frictional resistance between the two is effectively reduced, increasing the gravity self-closing effect. This ensures that the door obtains sufficient self-closing force under the action of the gravity component, reliably overcoming the negative pressure of the freezer compartment to achieve a tight seal; at the same time, it avoids the angle being too small, which would cause a surge in resistance to be overcome when opening the door, ensuring that the user can open the door with less effort, and ensuring both reliable self-closing and convenient opening operation.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, a plane parallel to the height direction of the box is defined as a first plane, the projection of the second end of the first inclined surface onto the first plane is a first straight line, the projection of the upper surface of the fixing plate onto the first plane is a second straight line, and the straight line distance between the first straight line and the second straight line is L, where L≥3mm and L≤6mm.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the distance L between the first straight line formed by the projection of the second end of the first inclined surface onto the first plane and the second straight line formed by the projection of the upper surface of the fixed plate onto the first plane is set to at least 3mm. This ensures the stable operation of the gravity self-closing structure, ensures that the guide part has sufficient tilt height difference, provides sufficient space for the conversion of gravitational potential energy for the rolling part, avoids insufficient driving force due to too small a height difference, and ensures that the door can reliably complete the closing action under the action of gravity. At the same time, L≤6mm can control the space occupied by the first inclined surface in the height direction of the cabinet, and avoids the overall volume of the gravity self-closing structure from increasing due to too large a height difference, thereby affecting the adaptability of the bottom of the refrigerator to the ground.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the first inclined surface forms a first included angle ∠a with the upper surface of the fixed plate, where ∠a > 15° and ∠a < 30°.

[0012] In the above technical solution, setting the first angle formed by the first inclined surface and the upper surface of the fixed plate to be greater than 15° provides sufficient driving torque for the gravity self-closing structure. This ensures that when the rolling part rolls along the first inclined surface, the component of the door's weight along the direction of the first inclined surface is sufficiently large, avoiding problems such as door jamming or incomplete closure due to insufficient force caused by an excessively small angle. Setting the first angle formed by the first inclined surface and the upper surface of the fixed plate to be less than 30° effectively avoids door operation problems caused by an excessively large tilt angle, ensuring safety and structural stability. A tilt angle of less than 30° slows down the rolling speed of the rolling part along the first inclined surface, making the door's self-closing process under gravity smoother, reducing wear on the edges of the door and housing, preventing the rolling part from being under high-intensity load for a long time due to excessive pressure, reducing wear on the rolling components, and extending their service life.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the second inclined surface forms a second included angle ∠b with the upper surface of the fixed plate, where ∠b < 45°.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the second angle formed between the second inclined surface and the upper surface of the fixed plate is set to less than 45°, making the slope of the second inclined surface gentler. When the user pushes the door to make the rolling part roll along the second inclined surface, the process of the door flipping angle is smoother, effectively avoiding violent impact between the door and the cabinet, and protecting the door and cabinet structure. At the same time, the gentle slope means that the user does not need to overcome excessive resistance when pushing the door, and it is less effort to push the door to move the rolling part along the second inclined surface when closing the door, thus improving the convenience of daily use.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the rolling portion includes: A rolling element that rolls against the guide portion; A roller is inserted through the rolling element, and both ends of the roller are connected to the lower end of the door body; The length of the rolling element is equal to the width of the first inclined surface, and the width of the first inclined surface is equal to the width of the second inclined surface.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the length of the rolling element is set to be equal to the width of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, ensuring that the rolling element and the guide part always maintain a full fit, avoiding localized force concentration during the rolling process due to size mismatch, and reducing component wear; at the same time, it makes the force on the rolling element on the guide part more balanced, preventing deviation or jamming during rolling, ensuring smooth operation of the door during the flipping and self-closing process, and further improving the reliability and service life of the gravity self-closing structure.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the first hinge member includes: A hinge plate is connected to the housing, and a fixing plate is disposed on the upper surface of the hinge plate; The first hinge axis is located on the hinge plate; The second hinge axis is disposed on the hinge plate; the first hinge axis is located on the side of the second hinge axis away from the guide portion; The second hinge component includes: First trajectory slot; The second track groove; wherein the first hinge shaft cooperates with the first track groove, and the second hinge shaft cooperates with the second track groove, so that the door body moves relative to the box body.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the structure of double hinge shafts and double track grooves provides precise guidance and stable support for the door's movement. The first and second hinge shafts cooperate with their corresponding track grooves to form a double limiting structure, which can strictly constrain the door's movement trajectory, preventing the door from swaying or deviating during the flipping process. This ensures that the door always rotates smoothly along the preset path, distributing the load generated by the door's weight, reducing the stress on individual hinge shafts, lowering the risk of component deformation or wear, and extending the service life of the hinge assembly. Simultaneously, the first hinge shaft is located on the side of the second hinge shaft furthest from the guide section, working synergistically with the gravity self-closing structure to make the force on the door more balanced during flipping, further improving the stability of the door's opening, closing, and self-closing processes, and ensuring the reliable operation of the overall structure.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, in a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the housing, the outer contour of the projection of the first inclined surface in the plane is arc-shaped: from the first end of the first inclined surface to the second end of the first inclined surface, the first inclined surface extends in a direction gradually away from the second hinge axis. The outer contour of the projection of the second inclined surface into the plane is arc-shaped; from the second end of the second inclined surface to the first end of the second inclined surface, the second inclined surface extends in a direction that gradually approaches the second hinge axis.

[0020] In the above technical solution, the projected outer contours of the first and second inclined surfaces are set as arcs in a plane perpendicular to the height of the box. The first inclined surface gradually moves away from the second hinge axis from the first end to the second end, and the second inclined surface gradually moves closer to the second hinge axis from the second end to the first end. This can perfectly match the rotation trajectory of the door around the hinge axis, avoid problems such as jamming or excessive local friction when the rolling part rolls on the guide part, ensure that the contact point between the rolling part and the guide part always maintains a reasonable force angle, disperse the local pressure of the door weight on the rolling part, avoid the component wear too quickly due to force concentration, and further improve the smoothness of use and the durability of the structure.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, the hinge assembly further includes a drive unit; The drive unit includes: A roller is disposed on the side of the hinge plate away from the second hinge member; A rotating shaft passes through the roller, and a connecting plate is connected to each of the opposite ends of the rotating shaft. The upper end of the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the side of the hinge plate away from the second hinge member.

[0022] In the above technical solution, a drive unit is added to the hinge assembly. The drive unit can provide additional support to the door body, prevent the hinge shaft from deforming due to long-term overload, and extend the overall service life of the hinge assembly. During the door flipping process, the roller can roll along the preset path with the door body, converting the sliding friction between the door body and the housing into rolling friction, greatly reducing the movement resistance, making the door opening and closing easier and smoother, and reducing frictional wear between components.

[0023] In some embodiments of this application, the hinge plate is provided with mounting holes, the two connecting plates are respectively disposed at two opposite edges of the mounting holes, and the roller is at least partially located within the mounting holes.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the mounting hole provides an embedded receiving space for the roller, preventing the roller from protruding completely from the outside of the hinge plate, greatly reducing the volume occupied by the hinge assembly in the horizontal direction, and improving the overall layout compactness. A second aspect of the embodiments of this application also discloses a refrigerator, comprising: A housing that defines multiple cavities; the height of the housing extends from its top to its bottom. A door, which is rotatably mounted on the housing to close or open the receiving cavity; A hinge assembly connects the door to the housing, allowing the door to rotate relative to the housing; the hinge assembly includes: The first hinge component is provided on the housing; The second hinge component is provided on the door body; A foot; the foot is disposed on the side of the first hinge plate away from the second hinge member; A gravity-operated self-closing structure is located on the lower side of the door; the gravity-operated self-closing structure includes: A rolling part, which is rotatably connected to the lower end of the door body; A fastener, which is connected to the first hinge member; the fastener includes: A fixing plate, which is connected to the first hinge member; A guide portion, which cooperates with the rolling portion to allow the door to move along the height direction of the housing under its own weight; the guide portion includes: A first inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate; the second end of which is away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface. A second inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to the second part of the fixing plate; the second end of which is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface, and the second end of which is further away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface; When the rolling part rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface toward the second end of the second inclined surface, the angle of rotation of the door relative to the box gradually decreases, and the door moves along the height direction of the box toward the top of the box; when the rolling part is located at the connection between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, the door opens the receiving cavity, and the gravitational potential energy of the door reaches its maximum; when the rolling part is located at the second end of the first inclined surface, the door drives the rolling part to roll along the first inclined surface toward the first end of the first inclined surface by its own gravity, and the angle of rotation of the door relative to the box gradually decreases.

[0025] In the above technical solution, by setting up pads, additional support can be provided for the door, especially when the door is fully open or under a certain weight. This can distribute the pressure of the door on the first and second hinge shafts, preventing deformation of the hinge shafts due to long-term overload and extending the overall service life of the hinge assembly. The pads can also finely adjust the installation height of the hinge plate by their own thickness, adapting to assembly errors of different housings, ensuring precise alignment of the guide and rolling parts, guaranteeing the stable functioning of the gravity self-closing structure, and improving the overall assembly flexibility and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified structural diagram of A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second hinge component according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first hinge component according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the first state structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the second state structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the third state structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth state structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0028] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows: Box body 100; door body 200; Hinge assembly 300; first hinge component 310; hinge plate 311; first plate portion 3111; second plate portion 3112; third plate portion 3113; first hinge shaft 320; second hinge shaft 321; second hinge component 330; first track groove 331; second track groove 332; support plate 333; Gravity-enclosed structure 340; Fixing component 343; guide part 3431; first inclined surface 3401; second inclined surface 3402; fixing plate 3432; Rolling part 345; Rolling element 3451; Roller 3452; Mounting plate 3453; Connecting plate 350; pad 400; drive unit 500; mounting hole 501; roller 502; rotating shaft 503. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Typical embodiments embodying the features and advantages of this utility model will be described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that this utility model can have various variations in different embodiments, all of which do not depart from the scope of this utility model, and the descriptions and illustrations therein are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit this utility model.

[0030] In the description of this application, 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", etc., 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 application 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 application.

[0031] 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 one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0032] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; 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; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] This application discloses a refrigerator, as shown in the appendix below. Figures 1-10 Describe the refrigerator.

[0034] This application provides a refrigerator, as shown in the embodiments below. Figures 1-10 The refrigerator includes a cabinet 100 having a receiving cavity, a door 200 connected to the cabinet 100 for opening and closing the receiving cavity, and a refrigeration device for supplying cold air to the receiving cavity. The cabinet 100 includes an inner liner defining the receiving cavity, an outer shell connected to the outside of the inner liner to form the appearance of the refrigerator, and a heat insulation layer disposed between the inner liner and the outer shell to insulate the receiving cavity.

[0035] Among them, see Figure 1 The direction from the bottom wall to the top wall of the enclosure 100 is the height direction. The enclosure 100 may have a front wall and a rear wall arranged opposite each other. The side of the enclosure 100 facing the user can be the front wall of the main body. The direction in which the line of intersection of the top wall and the rear wall of the enclosure 100 extends is the width direction.

[0036] In this embodiment, the cabinet 100 may define multiple receiving cavities. Each receiving cavity has a retrieval opening at its front end for placing or removing items, allowing the user to insert or remove food from the cavity. The cabinet 100 is provided with a rotatable door 200 to open or close the retrieval openings of the receiving cavities. For example, the door 200 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 100 by hinge assemblies 300 located at the upper and lower parts of the refrigerator.

[0037] In some embodiments of this application, the multiple accommodating cavities may include a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are distributed along the width direction of the refrigerator. The refrigerator compartment extends along the height direction of the cabinet 100. The freezer compartment extends along the height direction of the cabinet 100.

[0038] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 1 The refrigerator body 100 can be equipped with two doors 200. The two doors 200 are a refrigerator door and a freezer door. The refrigerator door is used to open or close the refrigerator compartment, and the freezer door is used to open or close the freezer compartment. When the refrigerator door and the freezer door are closed at the same time, the front wall of the refrigerator door and the front wall of the freezer door together form the front wall of the refrigerator.

[0039] The refrigerator has two accommodating cavities along its width. The doors 200 of each cavity are large and heavy, making them prone to sagging. Adjusting the height of a sagging door 200 is difficult by manually lifting it.

[0040] The enclosure 100 includes a first sidewall (one of the left and right sidewalls of the enclosure 100) and a second sidewall (the other of the left and right sidewalls of the enclosure 100) disposed opposite each other along its width direction. A hinge assembly 300 is disposed on the enclosure 100 and close to the first sidewall to connect a door 200 close to the first sidewall to the enclosure 100, allowing the door 200 to rotate relative to the enclosure 100 to open or close.

[0041] In some embodiments of this application, a door seal is provided on the side wall of the door 200 near the housing 100. The door seal surrounds the access opening. When the door 200 is closed, the door seal adheres to the front face of the housing 100 to effectively seal the connection between the door 200 and the housing 100, thereby ensuring that the door 200 seals the access opening and preventing cold air from escaping.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, the door 200 is rotatably connected to the housing 100 via an upper hinge assembly 300 and a lower hinge assembly 300.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 The hinge assembly 300 includes a first hinge member 310 and a second hinge member 330. The first hinge member 310 and the second hinge member 330 cooperate and can rotate relative to each other. The first hinge member 310 is disposed on the housing 100; the second hinge member 330 is disposed on the door 200.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first hinge component 310 includes a hinge plate 311. The hinge plate 311 includes a first plate portion 3111 connected to the housing 100, a second plate portion 3112 extending forward from the first plate portion 3111, and a third plate portion 3113 connecting the first plate portion 3111 and the second plate portion 3112. The first plate portion 3111 is parallel to the bottom wall of the housing 100, and the third plate portion 3113 is inclined from one end near the first plate portion 3111 towards the end near the second plate portion 3112, gradually moving away from the first plate portion 3111. The first plate portion 3111 can be fastened to the bottom wall of the housing 100 using fasteners such as screws, pins, and bolts.

[0045] Specifically, for the hinge at the upper end of the door 200, the first plate portion 3111 is connected to the top wall of the housing 100. For the hinge at the lower end of the door 200, the first plate portion 3111 is connected to the lower bottom surface of the housing 100. The first hinge component 310 includes a first hinge shaft 320 and a second hinge shaft 321 disposed on the second plate portion 3112. Both the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 are perpendicular to the second plate portion 3112. The first ends of the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 are connected to the hinge plate 311.

[0046] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5The refrigerator may also include a gravity-operated self-closing structure 340, located at the lower end of the door 200. The gravity-operated self-closing structure 340 may include a cooperating rolling part 345 and a fixing member. The rolling part 345 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the door 200 and connected to the lower surface of the second hinge member 330. The fixing member is connected to the first hinge member 310. That is, the rolling part 345 can be installed at the lower end of the door 200 by welding, bolting, or bonding, and the fixing member 343 can be fixedly mounted on the second plate portion 3112 of the hinge plate 311. The rolling part 345 and the fixing member can be arranged along the height direction of the refrigerator body 100.

[0047] The rolling part 345 can adopt a structure such as a cylindrical roller or a trapezoidal roller.

[0048] During the process of rotating the door 200 from the open state to the closed state, the door 200 can automatically move towards the box 100 through the gravity self-closing structure 340, so that the door 200 can automatically close, and the door 200 can abut against the box 100 when it is closed, reducing the gap between the door 200 and the box 100.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The fixing component also includes a guide portion 3431, which is located on the surface of the fixing plate 3432 facing the door body 200. The rolling portion 345 rolls against the outer surface of the guide portion 3431, so that the door body 200 moves along the height direction of the housing 100 under its own weight.

[0050] Reference Figure 6 - As shown in Figure 9, the guide portion 3431 includes a first inclined surface 3401 and a second inclined surface 3402. The first end of the first inclined surface 3401 is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate 3432, and the second end of the first inclined surface 3401 is located away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface 3401. The first end of the second inclined surface 3402 is connected to a second portion of the fixing plate 3432, and the second end of the second inclined surface 3402 is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface 3401. The second end of the second inclined surface 3402 is located away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface 3402, so that a height difference is created between the connection point of the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402 and the first end of the first inclined surface 3401, achieving gravity-driven self-closing of the door.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402 are smoothly connected, and the first inclined surface 3401 and the fixing member are also smoothly connected, so that the relative movement between the rolling part 345 and the guide part 3431 is smoother.

[0052] When the rolling part 345 rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface 3402 toward the second end of the second inclined surface 3402, the angle of rotation of the door 200 relative to the box 100 gradually decreases, and the door 200 moves along the height direction of the box 100 toward the top of the box 100. During this process, the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 gradually increases. When the rolling part 345 moves to the connection point between the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402, the door 200 opens the receiving cavity, and the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 reaches its maximum. When the rolling part 345 is located at the second end of the first inclined surface 3401, the door 200 drives the rolling part 345 to roll along the first inclined surface 3401 toward the first end of the first inclined surface 3401 by its own gravity. The angle of rotation of the door 200 relative to the box 100 gradually decreases, and finally the self-closing door 200 completely closes the receiving cavity.

[0053] For example, the guide portion 3431 and the rolling portion 345 have a 3° interference fit with the hinge shaft 320 as the rotation center. That is, there is a 3° angle difference between the contour design of the guide portion 3431 and the rolling portion 345. When the door 200 is fully closed, this interference fit keeps the rolling portion 345 on the first inclined surface 3401 and still guided by the first inclined surface 3401, continuously converting gravity into a preload force towards the housing 100. This avoids sealing failure caused by gaps after the door 200 is closed, and by precisely controlling the interference angle, ensures that the preload force is moderate and does not excessively increase the resistance when opening the door, thus balancing sealing reliability and ease of operation.

[0054] When the rolling part 345 rolls along the first inclined surface 3401 to its first end, the door 200 is in a state where the receiving cavity is completely closed. Due to the 3° angle difference between the guide part 3431 and the rolling part 345, the door 200 forms a negative angle relative to the cabinet 100. That is, the door 200 is further tilted towards the cabinet 100 from the closed position. In this state, the rolling part 345 still maintains contact with the first inclined surface 3401, and the weight of the door 200 itself generates a component force towards the cabinet 100 along the first inclined surface 3401. This component force continues to act on the door 200, making it tightly press against the cabinet 100. Combined with the door seal, this enhances the sealing performance, effectively counteracting the door loosening that may be caused by the negative pressure in the freezer compartment, and preventing cold air leakage.

[0055] Reference Figure 6 When the rolling part 345 is located near its first end on the first inclined surface 3401, the door 200 closes to seal the receiving cavity. (See reference...) Figure 7 and Figure 8When the rolling part 345 gradually moves from the first end of the first inclined surface 3401 to its second end, until it abuts against the connection between the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402, the door 200 opens the receiving cavity. At this time, the opening angle of the door 200 is about 15-25°. (Refer to...) Figure 8 As the rolling part 345 continues to roll along the second inclined surface 3402, until the rolling part 345 leaves the second inclined surface 3402, the rotation angle of the door body 200 relative to the box body 100 gradually increases.

[0056] As the door 200 changes from an open state to a closed state, the opening angle of the door 200 gradually decreases, and the rolling part 345 gradually approaches the first inclined surface 3401. As the door 200 continues to close, the rolling part 345 cooperates with the first inclined surface 3401 of the guide part 3431, causing the distance between the lower end of the door 200 and the lower end of the housing 100 to gradually decrease, thereby driving the door 200 to move towards the fixed plate 3432 (downwards). During this process, the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 gradually decreases, and its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the door 200 to move automatically downwards, achieving automatic closing of the door 200. The gravity self-closing structure 340 is driven to close by the gravity of the door 200 itself, and the door 200 automatically rotates in the closing direction under the action of the gravitational component.

[0057] The above technical solution specifies the specific arrangement of the guide part 3431 and the rolling part 345, which has a simple structure and is easy to form. The inclined surface makes the interaction between the rolling part 345 and the guide part 3431 smoother and more fluid. The rolling friction effectively reduces the frictional resistance between the two and increases the gravity self-closing effect. The gravity self-closing structure 340 is driven to close by the gravity of the door body 200 itself. When the door body 200 is not completely closed, the rolling part 345 slides down along the first inclined surface 3401, and the door body 200 automatically rotates in the closing direction under the action of the gravity component, causing the door body 200 to gradually flip and fit against the cabinet 100, and finally close the receiving cavity. This ensures that the door body 200 obtains sufficient self-closing force under the action of the gravity component, which can reliably overcome the negative pressure of the freezer compartment to achieve a tight closure; at the same time, it avoids the angle being too small, which would cause a surge in resistance to be overcome when opening the door, ensuring that the user can open the door with less effort. While ensuring reliable self-closing, it also takes into account the convenience of opening the door.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 6-9Let the plane parallel to the height direction of the housing 100 be defined as the first plane, the projection of the first inclined surface 3401 onto the first plane be defined as the first straight line, and the projection of the upper surface of the fixing plate 3432 onto the first plane be defined as the second straight line. The straight-line distance between the first straight line and the second straight line is L, where L ≥ 3mm and L ≤ 6mm. It can be understood that the distance L between the first straight line and the second straight line is the height of the connection point between the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402 from the fixing plate 3432.

[0059] In the above technical solution, the second end of the first inclined surface 3401 is at least 3mm higher than the fixing member, which ensures the stable operation of the gravity self-closing structure 340 and ensures that the guide part has a sufficient tilt height difference, providing a clear potential energy difference starting point for the rolling part 345 from the second end of the first inclined surface 3401 to the first end of the first inclined surface 3401. When the rolling part 345 enters the first inclined surface 3401, the height difference of at least 3mm will form an initial gravity component force. In conjunction with the first inclined surface 3401, it ensures that the door 200 obtains sufficient driving force when it first starts self-closing, increasing the gravity self-closing effect. It ensures that the door 200 obtains sufficient self-closing force under the action of gravity component force, and can reliably overcome the negative pressure of the freezer compartment to achieve tight closure. It provides sufficient space for the rolling part 345 to convert gravitational potential energy, avoids insufficient driving force due to too small a height difference, and ensures that the door can reliably complete the closing action under the action of gravity.

[0060] A height of L≤6mm controls the space occupied by the first inclined surface 3401 in the height direction of the cabinet 100, avoiding an increase in the overall volume of the gravity self-closing structure 340 due to excessive height difference, which would affect the adaptability of the refrigerator bottom to the ground, especially in scenarios with strict installation space requirements such as built-in refrigerators. At the same time, a moderate height difference can prevent the rolling part from having an excessively long rolling stroke, effectively reducing the force required for opening the door, thus balancing structural compactness and ease of operation. Furthermore, a length L between 3mm and 6mm allows for a more balanced contact force between the rolling part 345 and the first inclined surface 3401. This prevents the rolling part 345 from experiencing concentrated pressure and increased localized wear due to an excessively small L, while also preventing excessively large fluctuations in torque during the rolling of the rolling part 345, thus avoiding a violent impact on the housing during the final stage of the door 200's self-closing process. This further enhances the operational stability and service life of the gravity self-closing structure 340.

[0061] In some embodiments of this application, referring to the figures, the first inclined surface 3401 forms a first included angle ∠a with the upper surface of the fixing plate 3432, where ∠a > 15°. If the first included angle is less than 15°, and the second end of the first inclined surface 3401 is required to be at least 3mm higher than the fixing member, the length of the first inclined surface 3401 will increase. The end of the first inclined surface 3401 away from the second plate portion 3112 will be flush with the edge of the hinge plate. Consequently, when the door is opened, the guide portion 3431 only has the upward slope of the first inclined surface 3401, without the downward slope of the second inclined surface 3402. This causes the door 200 to suddenly drop when the door is opened, affecting the user experience. When the door is closed, because there is no upward slope of the second inclined surface 3402, the door 200 cannot be lifted, making it impossible to close the receiving cavity.

[0062] Therefore, setting the first included angle ∠a formed by the first inclined surface 3401 and the upper surface of the fixed plate 3432 to be greater than 15° can provide sufficient driving torque for the gravity self-closing structure. This angle design can ensure that when the rolling part 345 rolls along the first inclined surface 3401, the component of the door's weight along the inclined surface direction is large enough, avoiding the problem of door self-closing jamming and incomplete closure due to insufficient component force caused by an angle that is too small; at the same time, a sufficient tilt angle can accelerate the door's self-closing response speed and reduce the loss of cold air when the door 200 is not fully closed, which not only ensures the reliability of the self-closing function, but also helps to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 6-9 The first inclined surface 3401 and the upper surface of the fixed plate 3432 form a first included angle ∠a, where ∠a < 30°. When the first included angle is greater than 30°, the door's self-closing angle will be less than 15°. It is understandable that when the rolling part 345 is located at the second end of the first inclined surface 3401, the rotation angle of the door 200 relative to the box 100 is less than 15°, and the component force perpendicular to the glass surface of the door generated by the door's weight on the inclined surface will be large, making it difficult to open the door.

[0064] Therefore, setting the first included angle formed by the first inclined surface 3401 and the upper surface of the fixed plate 3432 to less than 30° effectively avoids the operation problem of the door 200 caused by excessive tilt angle, ensuring safety and structural stability. The tilt angle of less than 30° can slow down the rolling speed of the rolling part 345 along the first inclined surface 3401, making the self-closing process of the door 200 under gravity drive smoother, reducing the wear of the edges of the door 200 and the box 100, preventing the rolling part 345 from being under high-intensity load for a long time due to excessive pressure, reducing the wear of the rolling parts, and extending their service life.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 6-9The second inclined surface 3402 and the upper surface of the fixed plate 3432 form a second included angle ∠b, where ∠b < 45°. It should be noted that within the limited space on the fixed plate 3432, the included angle between the second inclined surface 3402 and the fixed plate 3432 is less than 45°. This angle can be adjusted according to actual needs. The smaller the second included angle, the gentler the slope of the second inclined surface 3402, making closing the door easier.

[0066] Therefore, by setting the second included angle formed by the second inclined surface 3402 and the upper surface of the fixed plate 3432 to less than 45°, the slope of the second inclined surface 3402 is made gentler. When the door 200 is closed, the process of the door 200 flipping angle is smoother when the user pushes the door 200 to make the rolling part 345 roll along the second inclined surface 3402, effectively avoiding violent impact between the door 200 and the box 100, and protecting the structure of the door 200 and the box 100. At the same time, the gentle slope means that the user does not need to overcome excessive resistance when pushing the door 200, and it is less effort to push the door 200 to move the rolling part 345 along the second inclined surface 3402 when closing the door, thus improving the convenience of daily use.

[0067] In some embodiments of this application, the rolling part 345 may include a rolling element 3451 and a roller 3452. The rolling element 3451 rolls against the guide part 3431; the roller 3452 passes through the rolling element 3451, and both ends of the roller 3452 are connected to the lower end of the door body 200. The roller 3452 may be a riveting shaft, which refers to a cylindrical part installed between two components through a riveting process, acting as a hinge or pivot. In this application, a capped cylinder passes through the rolling element 3451 and then through the lug on the lower surface of the mounting plate 3453. The other end of the cylinder is then hammered or deformed using a tool to form a new cap, thereby tightly fixing all components together. The length of the rolling element 3451 is equal to the width of the first inclined surface 3401, and the width of the first inclined surface 3401 is equal to the width of the second inclined surface 3402. The length of the rolling element is set to be equal to the width of the first and second inclined surfaces to ensure that the rolling element and the guide part always maintain a full fit, avoiding localized stress concentration during rolling due to size mismatch, and reducing component wear. At the same time, it makes the force on the rolling element on the guide part more balanced, preventing deviation or jamming during rolling, ensuring smooth operation of the door during flipping and self-closing, and further improving the reliability and service life of the gravity self-closing structure.

[0068] In some embodiments of this application, the hinge assembly 300 may further include a first hinge shaft 320 and a second hinge shaft 321. The first hinge shaft 320 is disposed on the hinge plate 311, and the second hinge shaft 321 is disposed on the hinge plate 311; the first hinge shaft 320 is located on the side of the second hinge shaft 321 away from the guide portion 3431. The lower ends of the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 are fixed to the hinge plate 311. The first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 and the hinge plate 311 may be an integrally formed structure, or they may be separate structures connected by welding, bonding, or other methods. In some embodiments of this application, the hinge assembly 300 may further include a second hinge element 330, which is disposed on the door body 200. The second hinge component 330 includes a first track groove 331 and a second track groove 332; wherein, the first hinge shaft 320 cooperates with the first track groove 331, and the second hinge shaft 321 cooperates with the second track groove 331, so that the door body 200 moves relative to the box body 100.

[0069] Among them, reference Figure 10 In the height direction of the housing 100, the extension height of the first hinge shaft 320 is greater than the extension height of the second hinge shaft 321; the extension height of the first track groove 331 is greater than the extension height of the second track groove 332. That is, the length of the first hinge shaft 320 matches the depth of the first track groove 311, and the length of the second hinge shaft 321 matches the depth of the second track groove 332. By setting a height difference between the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321, when the door 200 rotates around the dual axes, it will not open excessively outward due to the equal height of the two axes. This effectively avoids collisions and interference between the door 200 and surrounding kitchen cabinets, walls, and other structures when opening, and guides the door 200 to naturally fit into the housing when closing, reducing the need for manual alignment and improving operational convenience.

[0070] For dual-track embedded hinges, due to space constraints, the running trajectories of the two hinge axes may intersect or overlap. By setting the two axes as long and short axes, i.e., having a height difference, and using track grooves of different depths and widths, the two hinge axes can move along their respective tracks, avoiding deviation from the predetermined track at track intersections or overlaps, thus ensuring the normal movement of the door 200.

[0071] By matching the lengths of different hinge shafts with the depths of their corresponding track grooves, the two hinge shafts are always fully embedded within their respective track grooves, forming a constraint relationship. When the door 200 flips, the hinge shafts will not risk coming out due to insufficient groove depth or deviation in movement trajectory due to height mismatch, ensuring that the door 200 flips strictly along the preset path and avoiding left-right swaying or jamming during opening and closing. Especially at the extreme positions where the door 200 is fully open or closed, it can be precisely aligned, improving the smoothness of use.

[0072] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 The second hinge component 330 may further include a support plate 333, through which the first track groove 331 and the second track groove 332 pass. The support plate 333 has two through holes, which communicate with the first track groove 331 and the second track groove 332 respectively. The rolling part 345 may further include a mounting plate 3453, on the lower surface of which a lug is provided, and both ends of the roller 3452 are fixed to one lug. A mounting groove is provided on the lower surface of the support plate 333, and the contour of the mounting groove matches the outer contour of the mounting plate 3453. The mounting plate 3453 is installed in the mounting groove, and the mounting plate 3453 and the support plate 333 can be connected by one or more combinations of bolts, adhesives, or welding.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The fastener includes a fixing plate 3432. Specifically, for the hinge assembly 300 located at the bottom of the refrigerator, the fixing plate 3432 is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the second plate portion 3112 of the hinge plate 311. The fixing plate 3432 has two first through holes, through which the first ends of the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 respectively pass and connect to the hinge plate 311. That is, in Figures 4-5 In this configuration, the lower end of hinge pin 320 passes through the first through hole 3404 and connects to hinge plate 311. The second ends of the first hinge pin 320 and the second hinge pin 321 are respectively inserted into the first track groove 331 and the second track groove 332. It is understood that, referring to... Figure 5 Along the height direction of the housing 100, the upper ends of the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 are respectively inserted into the first track groove 331 and the second track groove 332. When the door 200 is closing or opening, the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 slide in the first track groove 331 and the second track groove 332 respectively, so as to drive the door 200 to move relative to the housing 100 along the height direction of the housing 100 under the action of its gravity, so that the door 200 can open to the required rotation angle.

[0074] The structure of dual hinge shafts and dual track grooves provides precise guidance and stable support for the movement of the door 200. The first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321 cooperate with their corresponding track grooves to form a double limiting structure, which can strictly constrain the movement trajectory of the door 200, preventing the door 200 from swaying or deviating during the flipping process. This ensures that the door 200 always rotates smoothly along the preset path, disperses the load generated by the weight of the door 200, reduces the stress on individual hinge shafts, reduces the risk of component deformation or wear, and extends the service life of the hinge assembly. At the same time, the first hinge shaft 320 is located on the side of the second hinge shaft 321 away from the guide part 3431, forming a synergistic effect with the gravity self-closing structure, making the force on the door 200 more balanced during flipping, further improving the stability of the door 200's opening, closing, and self-closing processes, and ensuring the reliable operation of the overall structure.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, in a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the housing 100, the outer contour of the projection of the first inclined surface 3401 in its plane is arc-shaped: from the first end of the first inclined surface 3401 to the second end of the first inclined surface 3401, the first inclined surface 3401 extends in a direction gradually away from the second hinge axis 321; the outer contour of the projection of the second inclined surface 3402 in its plane is arc-shaped; from the second end of the second inclined surface 3402 to the first end of the second inclined surface 3402, the second inclined surface 3402 extends in a direction gradually closer to the second hinge axis 321.

[0076] In a plane perpendicular to the height of the box, the projected outer contours of the first and second inclined surfaces are set to be arc-shaped. The first inclined surface 3401 gradually moves away from the second hinge axis 321 from the first end to the second end, and the second inclined surface 3402 gradually moves closer to the second hinge axis 321 from the second end to the first end. This perfectly matches the rotation trajectory of the door around the hinge axis, avoiding the problem of jamming or excessive local friction when the rolling part 345 rolls on the guide part 3431. This ensures that the door 200 can operate smoothly from half-open and hovering to automatic closing. At the same time, it allows the contact point between the rolling part 345 and the guide part 3431 to always maintain a reasonable force angle, dispersing the local pressure of the door 200's gravity on the rolling part 345, avoiding premature wear of components due to concentrated force, and further improving the smoothness of use and the durability of the structure.

[0077] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The hinge assembly also includes a drive unit 500. The drive unit 500 allows for easy movement of the refrigerator.

[0078] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 The drive unit 500 may include a roller 502. The roller 502 is disposed on the side of the hinge plate 311 away from the second hinge member 330.

[0079] Reference Figure 4 The drive unit 500 may further include a rotating shaft 503, which passes through the roller 502. A connecting plate 350 is connected to each of the opposite ends of the rotating shaft 503. The upper end of the connecting plate 350 is fixedly connected to the side of the hinge plate 311 away from the second hinge member 330. In other words, both ends of the rotating shaft 503 are fixed to the lower surface of the hinge plate 311 by a connecting plate 350.

[0080] Thus, by adding a drive unit 500 to the hinge assembly 300, the drive unit 500 can provide additional support to the door body, preventing the hinge shaft 300 from deforming due to long-term overload, and extending the overall service life of the hinge assembly 300. During the flipping process of the door body 200, the roller 502 can roll along the preset path with the movement of the door body 200, converting the sliding friction between the door body 200 and the housing 100 into rolling friction, greatly reducing the movement resistance, making the opening and closing of the door easier and smoother, while reducing frictional wear between components, preventing the door body 200 from deviating or colliding when the opening angle is too large, further ensuring the stability of the movement of the door body 200, and ensuring that the gravity self-closing structure 340 and the hinge assembly 300 work together accurately and reliably.

[0081] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 4 A mounting hole 501 is provided on the first plate portion 3111 of the hinge plate 311. Two connecting plates 350 are respectively provided at the two opposite edges of the mounting hole 501. The drive part 500 is at least partially installed in the mounting hole 501. That is, the drive part 500 is at least partially located on the side of the first plate portion 3111 away from the bottom wall of the housing 100.

[0082] The mounting hole 501 provides an embedded space for the roller 502, preventing it from protruding completely from the hinge plate 311. This significantly reduces the horizontal volume occupied by the hinge assembly 300, making it particularly suitable for built-in refrigerators or small kitchen spaces. It also prevents the roller 502 from interfering with surrounding structures, improving the overall compactness of the layout. The connecting plate 350 is fixed to the edge of the mounting hole 501, allowing the force on the connecting plate 350 to be directly transmitted to the hinge plate 311. Compared to independent bracket fixing, this provides higher support strength and can stably bear the load of the roller 502 and the door 200. It also prevents the roller 502 from getting stuck due to force displacement of the connecting plate 350, thus enhancing the overall structural stability of the hinge assembly 300.

[0083] In a second aspect of this application, a refrigerator is also provided, with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 4The device includes: a housing 100 defining multiple cavities; the height of the housing 100 is from its top to its bottom; a door 200 rotatably disposed on the housing 100 to close or open the cavities; and a hinge assembly 300 connecting the door 200 to the housing 100 so that the door 200 can be rotated relative to the housing 100. The hinge assembly 300 includes: a first hinge member 310 disposed on the housing 100 and a second hinge member 330 disposed on the door 100.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The hinge assembly may also include a pad 400. The pad 400 is located on the side of the hinge plate 311 away from the second hinge member 330. That is, the pad 400 is located on the lower surface of the hinge plate 311. The pad 400 is mounted on the lower surface of the second plate portion 3112. The pad 400 can be bolted to the lower surface of the second plate portion 3112. By setting the pad 400, additional support can be provided for the door body 200, especially when the door body 200 is fully open or bears a certain weight, it can share the pressure of the door body 200 on the first hinge shaft 320 and the second hinge shaft 321, avoid deformation of the hinge shaft due to long-term overload, and extend the overall service life of the hinge assembly 300. The pad 400 can also finely adjust the installation height of the hinge plate 311 by its own thickness, adapt to the assembly errors of different housings, ensure the precise matching position of the guide part 3431 and the rolling part 345, ensure the stable functioning of the gravity self-closing structure 340, and improve the flexibility and reliability of the overall assembly. By adjusting the position of the pads 400 relative to the hinge plate 311 along a direction perpendicular to the hinge plate 311, the box 100 can be placed stably.

[0085] By adjusting the position of the feet 400 along the direction perpendicular to the hinge plate 311 (i.e., the height direction of the refrigerator), tilting caused by uneven ground can be compensated. Even if there is a slight slope or unevenness on the placement surface, the height of the feet 400 can be adjusted individually to ensure that the refrigerator body 100 stands stably, avoiding problems such as poor door sealing (cold air leakage), spillage of internal food, or shaking of the entire unit caused by tilting.

[0086] The pads 400 can be made of wear-resistant rubber or hard plastic, which can prevent the metal hinge plate 311 from directly contacting the ground and causing scratches. At the same time, it can buffer the local pressure of the weight of the box 100 on the ground and prevent the ground from deforming.

[0087] By incorporating rollers 500, sliding friction is converted into rolling friction, significantly reducing pushing resistance. Users can easily adjust the position of the housing 100 without tools. The rolling part 345 is installed within the mounting hole 501 and located on the side of the first plate 3111 away from the bottom of the housing. This ensures support stability during rolling and prevents scratches caused by direct friction between the bottom of the housing and the ground during movement. It complements the function of the feet 400: during movement, the height of the feet 400 can be adjusted to allow the rollers 500 to contact the ground and bear weight; when stationary, the feet 400 can be lowered to support the ground, leaving the rollers 500 suspended, enabling quick switching between moving and stationary states while maintaining both flexibility and stability.

[0088] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The refrigerator may also include a gravity-operated self-closing structure 340, located at the lower end of the door 200. The gravity-operated self-closing structure 340 may include a cooperating rolling part 345 and a fixing member. The rolling part 345 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the door 200 and connected to the lower surface of the second hinge member 330. The fixing member is connected to the first hinge member 310. That is, the rolling part 345 can be installed at the lower end of the door 200 by welding, bolting, or bonding, and the fixing member 343 can be fixedly mounted on the second plate portion 3112 of the hinge plate 311. The rolling part 345 and the fixing member can be arranged along the height direction of the refrigerator body 100.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The fixing component also includes a guide portion 3431, which is located on the surface of the fixing plate 3432 facing the door body 200. The rolling portion 345 rolls against the outer surface of the guide portion 3431, so that the door body 200 moves along the height direction of the housing 100 under its own weight.

[0090] Reference Figure 6 - As shown in Figure 9, the guide portion 3431 includes a first inclined surface 3401 and a second inclined surface 3402. The first end of the first inclined surface 3401 is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate 3432, and the second end of the first inclined surface 3401 is located away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface 3401. The first end of the second inclined surface 3402 is connected to a second portion of the fixing plate 3432, and the second end of the second inclined surface 3402 is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface 3401. The second end of the second inclined surface 3402 is located away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface 3402, so that a height difference is created between the connection point of the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402 and the first end of the first inclined surface 3401, achieving gravity-driven self-closing of the door.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402 are smoothly connected, and the first inclined surface 3401 and the fixing member are also smoothly connected, so that the relative movement between the rolling part 345 and the guide part 3431 is smoother.

[0092] When the rolling part 345 rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface 3402 toward the second end of the second inclined surface 3402, the angle of rotation of the door 200 relative to the box 100 gradually decreases, and the door 200 moves along the height direction of the box 100 toward the top of the box 100. During this process, the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 gradually increases. When the rolling part 345 moves to the connection point between the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402, the door 200 opens the receiving cavity, and the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 reaches its maximum. When the rolling part 345 is located at the second end of the first inclined surface 3401, the door 200 drives the rolling part 345 to roll along the first inclined surface 3401 toward the first end of the first inclined surface 3401 by its own gravity. The angle of rotation of the door 200 relative to the box 100 gradually decreases, and finally the self-closing door 200 completely closes the receiving cavity.

[0093] For example, the guide portion 3431 and the rolling portion 345 have a 3° interference fit with the hinge shaft 320 as the rotation center. That is, there is a 3° angle difference between the contour design of the guide portion 3431 and the rolling portion 345. When the door 200 is fully closed, this interference fit keeps the rolling portion 345 on the first inclined surface 3401 and still guided by the first inclined surface 3401, continuously converting gravity into a preload force towards the housing 100. This avoids sealing failure caused by gaps after the door 200 is closed, and by precisely controlling the interference angle, ensures that the preload force is moderate and does not excessively increase the resistance when opening the door, thus balancing sealing reliability and ease of operation.

[0094] When the rolling part 345 rolls along the first inclined surface 3401 to its first end, the door 200 is in a state where the receiving cavity is completely closed. Due to the 3° angle difference between the guide part 3431 and the rolling part 345, the door 200 forms a negative angle relative to the cabinet 100. That is, the door 200 is further tilted towards the cabinet 100 from the closed position. In this state, the rolling part 345 still maintains contact with the first inclined surface 3401, and the weight of the door 200 itself generates a component force towards the cabinet 100 along the first inclined surface 3401. This component force continues to act on the door 200, making it tightly press against the cabinet 100. Combined with the door seal, this enhances the sealing performance, effectively counteracting the door loosening that may be caused by the negative pressure in the freezer compartment, and preventing cold air leakage.

[0095] Reference Figure 6 When the rolling part 345 is located near its first end on the first inclined surface 3401, the door 200 closes to seal the receiving cavity. (See reference...) Figure 7 and Figure 8 When the rolling part 345 gradually moves from the first end of the first inclined surface 3401 to its second end, until it abuts against the connection between the first inclined surface 3401 and the second inclined surface 3402, the door 200 opens the receiving cavity. At this time, the opening angle of the door 200 is about 15-25°. (Refer to...) Figure 8 As the rolling part 345 continues to roll along the second inclined surface 3402, until the rolling part 345 leaves the second inclined surface 3402, the rotation angle of the door body 200 relative to the box body 100 gradually increases.

[0096] As the door 200 changes from an open state to a closed state, the opening angle of the door 200 gradually decreases, and the rolling part 345 gradually approaches the first inclined surface 3401. As the door 200 continues to close, the rolling part 345 cooperates with the first inclined surface 3401 of the guide part 3431, causing the distance between the lower end of the door 200 and the lower end of the housing 100 to gradually decrease, thereby driving the door 200 to move towards the fixed plate 3432 (downwards). During this process, the gravitational potential energy of the door 200 gradually decreases, and its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the door 200 to move automatically downwards, achieving automatic closing of the door 200. The gravity self-closing structure 340 is driven to close by the gravity of the door 200 itself, and the door 200 automatically rotates in the closing direction under the action of the gravitational component. Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0097] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A housing that defines multiple cavities; the height of the housing extends from its top to its bottom. A door, which is rotatably mounted on the housing to close or open the receiving cavity; A hinge assembly connects the door to the housing, allowing the door to rotate relative to the housing; the hinge assembly includes: The first hinge component is provided on the housing; The second hinge component is provided on the door body; A gravity-operated self-closing structure is located on the lower side of the door; the gravity-operated self-closing structure includes: A rolling part, which is rotatably connected to the lower end of the second hinge member; A fastener, which is connected to the first hinge member; the fastener includes: A fixing plate, which is connected to the first hinge member; A guide portion, which cooperates with the rolling portion to allow the door to move along the height direction of the housing under its own weight; the guide portion includes: A first inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate; the second end of which is away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface. A second inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to the second part of the fixing plate; the second end of which is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface, and the second end of which is further away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface; As the rolling part rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface toward the second end of the second inclined surface, the angle at which the door body flips relative to the box body gradually decreases. When the rolling part is located at the second end of the first inclined surface, the door body drives the rolling part to roll along the first inclined surface toward the first end closer to the first inclined surface by its own gravity, and the angle of the door body relative to the box body gradually decreases.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A plane parallel to the height direction of the box is defined as a first plane, the projection of the second end of the first inclined surface onto the first plane is a first straight line, the projection of the upper surface of the fixing plate onto the first plane is a second straight line, and the straight line distance between the first straight line and the second straight line is L, where L≥3mm and L≤6mm.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first inclined surface forms a first included angle ∠a with the upper surface of the fixed plate, where ∠a > 15° and ∠a < 30°.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second inclined surface forms a second included angle ∠b with the upper surface of the fixed plate, where ∠b < 45°.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rolling part includes: A rolling element that rolls against the guide portion; A roller is inserted through the rolling element, and both ends of the roller are connected to the lower end of the door body; The length of the rolling element is equal to the width of the first inclined surface, and the width of the first inclined surface is equal to the width of the second inclined surface.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first hinge component includes: A hinge plate is connected to the housing, and a fixing plate is disposed on the upper surface of the hinge plate; The first hinge axis is located on the hinge plate; The second hinge axis is disposed on the hinge plate; the first hinge axis is located on the side of the second hinge axis away from the guide portion; The second hinge component includes: First trajectory slot; The second track groove; wherein the first hinge shaft cooperates with the first track groove, and the second hinge shaft cooperates with the second track groove, so that the door body moves relative to the box body.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, In a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the housing, the outer contour of the projection of the first inclined surface in the plane is arc-shaped: from the first end of the first inclined surface to the second end of the first inclined surface, the first inclined surface extends in a direction that gradually moves away from the second hinge axis. The outer contour of the projection of the second inclined surface into the plane is arc-shaped; from the second end of the second inclined surface to the first end of the second inclined surface, the second inclined surface extends in a direction that gradually approaches the second hinge axis.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a drive unit; the drive unit includes: A roller is disposed on the side of the hinge plate away from the second hinge member; A rotating shaft passes through the roller, and a connecting plate is connected to each of the opposite ends of the rotating shaft. The upper end of the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the side of the hinge plate away from the second hinge member.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The hinge plate is provided with mounting holes, and the two connecting plates are respectively disposed at two opposite edges of the mounting holes, with the roller at least partially located inside the mounting holes.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A housing that defines multiple cavities; the height of the housing extends from its top to its bottom. A door, which is rotatably mounted on the housing to close or open the receiving cavity; A hinge assembly connects the door to the housing, allowing the door to rotate relative to the housing; the hinge assembly includes: The first hinge component is provided on the housing; The second hinge component is provided on the door body; A foot; the foot is disposed on the side of the first hinge plate away from the second hinge member; A gravity-operated self-closing structure is located on the lower side of the door; the gravity-operated self-closing structure includes: A rolling part, which is rotatably connected to the lower end of the door body; A fastener, which is connected to the first hinge member; the fastener includes: A fixing plate, which is connected to the first hinge member; A guide portion, which cooperates with the rolling portion to allow the door to move along the height direction of the housing under its own weight; the guide portion includes: A first inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to a first portion of the fixing plate; the second end of which is away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the first inclined surface. A second inclined surface, the first end of which is connected to the second part of the fixing plate; the second end of which is connected to the second end of the first inclined surface, and the second end of which is further away from the fixing member relative to the first end of the second inclined surface; When the rolling part rolls from the first end of the second inclined surface toward the second end of the second inclined surface, the angle of rotation of the door relative to the box gradually decreases, and the door moves along the height direction of the box toward the top of the box; when the rolling part is located at the connection between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, the door opens the receiving cavity, and the gravitational potential energy of the door reaches its maximum; when the rolling part is located at the second end of the first inclined surface, the door drives the rolling part to roll along the first inclined surface toward the first end of the first inclined surface by its own gravity, and the angle of rotation of the door relative to the box gradually decreases.

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