Air Duct Assembly for Space-Efficient Refrigerator Dry Food Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air duct assemblies for refrigerators occupy significant space and require additional structures to ensure proper air circulation for dry food storage, limiting the utilization of refrigerator volume.
Innovation Solution
An air duct assembly with a simple structure that includes an outer and inner cover housing, a damper assembly for controlled airflow, and sealing strips to minimize space requirements and integrate seamlessly with the refrigerator compartment, allowing external airflow to be supplied directly to the compartment without additional auxiliary structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drying chamber assembly is added to the refrigerator, then the storage capability for dry food materials is improved, but the refrigerator volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct assembly is merged with the compartment wall structure, where the outer cover housing is fixed to the outer side of the compartment wall and the inner cover housing is disposed on the inner side, integrating the air duct function into the existing wall structure rather than adding a separate auxiliary structure
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct assembly serves multiple functions: it provides air supply to the drying chamber, enables controllable ventilation through the damper assembly, and integrates with the compartment wall structure, allowing one component to perform multiple roles that would otherwise require separate structures
2Productivity
If an additional air duct assembly is used to supply air to the drying chamber, then the air circulation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct assembly is segmented into an outer cover housing and an inner cover housing with a damper assembly in between, allowing each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and enabling controllable air circulation
Solution Approach 2:
The damper assembly is designed to be rotatable between an open position (allowing air flow) and a closed position (blocking air flow), providing dynamic control over air circulation without requiring complex control mechanisms
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 enables efficient air circulation for dry food storage without occupying additional space, maintaining the refrigerator's volume while ensuring controlled ventilation and dehumidification for effective drying, thus enhancing storage capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating damper, pivotally installed on an inner side of the damper framework, and configured to controllably rotate to an open position so as to communicate the air supply path from the air inlet to the vent, and controllably rotate to a closed position so as to block the air supply path from the air inlet to the vent
Implementation Method 2
an air inlet is formed in the outer cover housing, so as to allow external air to enter the external accommodating cavity via the air inlet. A vent is formed in the compartment wall, so that the external accommodating cavity communicates with the internal accommodating cavity. An air outlet is formed in the inner cover housing, so as to supply the air in the internal accommodating cavity to the inside of the compartment
Data Source
AI summary
An air duct assembly is provided that is configured to supply air to a compartment and including: an outer cover housing, configured to be fixed to an outer side of a compartment wall defining the compartment, an external accommodating cavity being defined inside the outer cover housing; an inner cover housing, configured to be disposed opposite to the outer cover housing on an inner side of the compartment wall, an internal accommodating cavity being defined inside the inner cover housing. An air inlet is formed in the outer cover housing, so as to allow external air to enter the external accommodating cavity via the air inlet. A vent is formed in the compartment wall, so that the external accommodating cavity communicates with the internal accommodating cavity. An air outlet is formed in the inner cover housing, so as to supply the air in the internal accommodating cavity to the inside of the compartment.