Anti-door-bumping kit for a cooling device and method for preventing door bumping in a cooling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The unintentional opening of the freezer compartment door in no-frost refrigerators due to pressure pulses generated by the abrupt closing of the fridge compartment door, caused by fluid communication between the compartments.
Innovation Solution
An anti-door-bumping kit comprising a catch unit with an elastically retaining mechanism, mounted on a support, which projects from the refrigerator's surface to engage the freezer door and prevent inadvertent opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fridge compartment door is closed abruptly, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the freezer compartment door unintentionally opens due to pressure pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic retaining mechanism is pre-installed on the freezer compartment door to provide counteracting force before pressure pulses occur. When the fridge door closes abruptly and generates pressure pulses, the pre-positioned elastic mechanism immediately engages to prevent the freezer door from opening, thus applying anti-action in advance to counter the harmful effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic retaining mechanism acts as a cushioning element that absorbs and dampens the pressure pulses generated by abrupt fridge door closure. By being in place beforehand, it cushions the freezer door against the impact of pressure waves, preventing unintended door opening while allowing normal operation.
2Reliability
If an elastic retaining mechanism is added to prevent door bumping, then door stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-door-bumping kit is divided into separate modular components: an elastic retaining mechanism and a support structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently and enables easy installation and replacement without affecting the entire refrigerator system, thus managing complexity through modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves as an intermediary element that connects the elastic retaining mechanism to the freezer compartment door. This mediator component simplifies the overall system by providing a stable mounting platform and transmission interface, reducing the complexity of directly integrating the elastic mechanism into the door structure.
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
Effectively prevents door bumping by elastically retaining the freezer door, allowing normal operation while adjusting resistance to suit different door positions and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member 25 which is also received in the axial cavity 24A and is configured to exert an elastic force on the catch member 26 in the catching direction Z
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Here described is an anti-door-bumping kit (10) for a cooling device, such as, e.g., a refrigerator, comprising: - a spring-operated catch unit (20) for elastically retaining a door of the cooling device to prevent door bumping, while enabling opening and closing of the door during its normal use, and - a support (40) having an outer boundary surface (44) intended to face the door of the cooling device in the installed condition of the kit (10), the catch unit (20) being mounted on the support so as to project from the outer boundary surface (44) of the support (40) in a catching direction (Z) transversal to the outer boundary surface (44), wherein the support (40) has fixing parts (42) for fixing the kit (10) to the cooling device, or to a cabinet inside which the cooling device is housed, and wherein the catch unit (20) is mounted on the support (40) so as to enable to adjust the length of its portion projecting from the outer boundary surface (44) of the support (40) in the catching direction (Z), for bringing the catch unit into engagement with the door of the cooling device when installing the kit.