A cooling device comprising an insulation material that is provided to be distributed homogeneously in the insulation volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cooling devices experience malfunctions and increased maintenance costs due to gaps formed in the insulation material during solidification, which can cause the sheet metal to collapse, especially at the ceiling, leading to reduced efficiency and user perception issues.

Innovation Solution

A regulating member with holes is placed within the insulation volume to split the insulation material into smaller pieces as it solidifies, minimizing air gaps and preventing collapses by controlling the flow of the material, allowing for the use of quick-solidifying polyurethane and reducing production time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If quick-solidifying polyurethane is used as the insulation material, then the body-insulation process is accelerated, but the number of gaps in the insulation material increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody-insulation process speedVSAvoidhomogeneity of insulation material
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation material is divided into smaller pieces by passing through holes on the regulating members during filling. This segmentation prevents the material from forming large continuous gaps during quick solidification, allowing faster curing without sacrificing homogeneity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If slow-solidifying polyurethane is used to prevent collapses on the surface, then gaps are reduced, but production slows down and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface collapse preventionVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the insulation material through the regulating members with holes, the material fills more uniformly and solidifies without causing surface collapses. This allows the use of quick-solidifying material while maintaining surface quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If insulation material is filled rapidly, then production time is reduced, but gaps and collapses occur more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation filling timeVSAvoidinsulation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The regulating members with holes are installed beforehand in the insulation volume to pre-establish a flow control structure. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when insulation material is rapidly filled, it is automatically distributed uniformly through the holes, preventing gaps and collapses during fast filling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively eliminates air gaps during solidification, decreases malfunction rates, lowers maintenance costs, and enhances user perception by maintaining the structural integrity of the cooling device while improving production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the insulation material, that is preferably polyurethane, expands and solidifies once it is filled into the body of the cooling device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer expansion and solidification: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

the insulation material is provided to be homogeneously distributed by means of the plates placed to the inner side of the inner wall of the body, contacting the insulation material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow regulation through perforations: Flow Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2756241B2A cooling device comprising an insulation material that is provided to be distributed homogeneously in the insulation volume
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 ARCELIK AS
  • EP2756241B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2756241B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2756241B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having an inner wall (3), an outer wall (4), an insulation volume (5) between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and an insulation material (6) filled into the insulation volume (5), and wherein the gaps occurring in the insulation material (6) are eliminated.