Automatic door opening device and refrigerator having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic door opening devices for refrigerators generate noise during the resetting process due to the meshing of gear assemblies, leading to increased power consumption and component costs, and users face difficulty in opening heavy refrigerator doors.
Innovation Solution
The automatic door opening device employs symmetric mechanical clutch gear sets with opposite meshing teeth directions, utilizing a first elastic member for automatic recovery and eliminating the need for electrical resetting, allowing simultaneous operation of both door bodies with reduced power consumption and component costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw rod is driven by the electric motor to rotate backward and mesh with the gear assembly for resetting the rack pushing rod, then the door body can be reset, but noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the gear assembly from the resetting process. The rack pushing rod is designed to automatically reset without engaging the gear assembly, eliminating the source of noise while maintaining the door body reset function through a simpler mechanical recovery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack pushing rod automatically resets itself through its own mechanical structure without requiring the electric motor to drive the screw rod backward. The design allows the rack to return to its initial position autonomously, eliminating the need for active resetting that would generate noise.
2Reliability
If the gear assembly meshes with the screw rod for resetting, then the door body can be closed, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear assembly from the door closing mechanism, replacing it with a direct mechanical linkage that eliminates the need for complex gear engagement and reduces energy consumption during the closing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack pushing rod automatically returns to its initial position and engages with the door without requiring additional power from the electric motor, allowing the door to close using the stored mechanical energy and gravity rather than consuming electrical power.
3Reliability
If the gear assembly is used for resetting the rack pushing rod, then the door body can be reset, but component cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the gear assembly from the system, significantly reducing component count and cost. The resetting function is achieved through a simpler mechanical design that does not require expensive precision gear components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack pushing rod is designed to automatically reset through its own mechanical structure without requiring additional resetting components, reducing overall device complexity and component costs while maintaining the reset function.
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 reduces noise and power consumption, enhances user experience by simplifying operation, and decreases component costs through automatic recovery and simultaneous door opening.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member arranged in the pushing member and configured to enable the pushing member to be reset to an initial position
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses an automatic door opening device and a refrigerator having the same. The automatic door opening device comprises a base, a driving source member, two mechanical clutch gear sets and two pushing members, wherein the mechanical clutch gear set comprises a mechanical master gear, a mechanical slave gear, and a mechanical clutch member; in an initial state, the mechanical master gear is partially meshed with the mechanical clutch member which is separated from the mechanical slave gear; in a door body opening process, the mechanical master gear drives the mechanical slave gear to be in a transmission state; and after the door body is opened, the mechanical clutch gear set is recovered to an initial connection state.