A household refrigeration device comprising a drain pipe having a flexible extremity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household refrigeration appliances face challenges in installing drain pipes due to their rigid design, which results in fixed positions that do not accommodate different orientations of inner containers, leading to inefficient use of space and increased production and assembly efforts for various angle configurations.

Innovation Solution

A drain pipe with sections of different elasticities allows for flexible positioning and adjustment relative to the socket, enabling a secure and precise coupling while maintaining dimensional stability, allowing a single drain pipe to be used across various inner container configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid drain pipe is used, then dimensional stability is ensured, but positioning flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidpositioning flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The drain pipe is divided into multiple sections with different material properties. The first section (15) is made of elastic material to provide positioning flexibility, while the second section (18) is made of rigid plastic material to provide dimensional stability. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific functional requirement independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the drain pipe are assigned different material qualities based on their functional requirements. The first section has elastic properties for adaptation, while the second section has rigid properties for stability. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple drain pipes with different angles are produced, then adaptability to various inner containers is improved, but production effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to inner container configurationsVSAvoidproduction effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single drain pipe design with an elastic first section can accommodate multiple inner container configurations and socket orientations. The elastic section adapts to different angles and positions, making one drain pipe type universal for various applications, thereby eliminating the need to produce multiple specialized drain pipes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The drain pipe incorporates an elastic, dynamically adaptable section that can change its shape and angle to fit different mounting configurations. This dynamic property allows a single static component to serve multiple functional positions, reducing the variety of components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid drain pipe is positioned to fit different socket orientations, then coupling precision is improved, but forces on the connection piece increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling precisionVSAvoidforces on connection piece
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The material parameter of the first section is changed to elastic material, allowing it to deform and adapt to different socket orientations without applying excessive forces. This parameter change enables precise coupling while reducing mechanical stress on the connection piece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 facilitates a more flexible and needs-based installation of the drain pipe, reducing installation complexity and space requirements, while enabling precise positioning without applying undue forces on the connection piece, thus improving usability and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

The first pipe section, with the particularly greater material elasticity, is arranged so that it overlaps with the socket at least in regions when it is mounted on the socket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The drain pipe has a first pipe section, the material of which has a first elasticity, and the drain pipe has a second pipe section, viewed along a longitudinal axis of the drain pipe, that is different from the first pipe section and the material of which has a second elasticity that is different from the first elasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3467410B1A household refrigeration device comprising a drain pipe having a flexible extremity
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3467410B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3467410B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance (1) with a housing (2) in which at least one receiving chamber (7) for food is formed, which is bounded by walls of an inner container (4) of the household refrigeration appliance (1), wherein the inner container (4) has a nozzle (12) for draining liquid medium from the receiving chamber (7), and with a drain pipe (13) separate from the nozzle (7), which is coupled to the nozzle (7), wherein the drain pipe (13) has a first pipe section whose material has a first elasticity, and a second pipe section which differs from the first pipe section along a longitudinal axis (A) of the drain pipe (13) and whose material has a second elasticity different from the first elasticity.