A cooling device comprising a body with improved structural alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooling devices, the inhomogeneous distribution of insulating material during production leads to differential pressure forces causing deformation and misalignment of papery material walls, resulting in structural issues and poor user satisfaction, especially in double or multi-door refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
The back wall of the cooling device is enhanced with protrusions and recesses on its surface, obtained by pressing, which increase mechanical resistance and stiffness, preventing deformation and ensuring better structural alignment without additional re-alignment phases during production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If liquid insulating material is injected between liner and outer case during production, then heat insulation is provided, but inhomogeneous distribution causes deformation and misalignment of papery material walls
Solution Approach 1:
The papery material wall is designed with locally varied thickness, featuring a thicker central portion and thinner peripheral portions. This non-uniform thickness distribution allows the wall to better withstand the inhomogeneous pressure forces generated during insulating material injection, preventing deformation and maintaining structural alignment while preserving heat insulation performance.
2Weight of moving object
If papery material is used for outer case walls, then light weight and optimal insulation are achieved, but structural alignment deteriorates due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The papery material wall incorporates a thicker central portion that provides enhanced structural support and resistance to deformation during insulating material injection, while the thinner peripheral portions maintain the overall lightweight characteristic. This localized thickness variation allows the wall to achieve both light weight and improved structural alignment.
3Productivity
If body is demolded before complete curing of insulating material, then production time is reduced, but differential pressure forces cause collapsing and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The body structure is pre-designed with a thicker central portion in the papery material wall before the insulating material injection process. This preliminary structural reinforcement enables the body to withstand the differential pressure forces that occur during the curing process, allowing early demolding without compromising structural alignment or causing deformation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures improved structural alignment and reduced production time and costs, while also enhancing acoustical properties by minimizing vibrations and noise, maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The back wall (5) of the outer case (4) has an outer surface (8) and comprises a plurality of protrusions (9) and/or recesses (10) arranged on the outer surface (8)
Implementation Method 2
the insulating material, such as polyurethane, is injected as a liquid between them while in the mold, and over a short period of time expands to fill the space between liner and outer case
Implementation Method 3
an insulating material, that is generally closed-cell rigid polyurethane, is filled between the liner and the outer case of the body in order to provide heat insulation between the inner volume and the outer environment
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) that has a liner (3) and an outer case (4) comprising a back wall (5) made of a semi-rigid papery material such as a paperboard or a cardboard. The liner (3) and the outer case (4) define between them an intermediate volume filled with an insulation material, such as for instance polyurethane foam.