Back Cover Housing Cooling Components for Refrigerator Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices face challenges in maintaining uniform internal temperatures and efficient air circulation, especially in multi-compartment systems where robust air return ducts are difficult to construct, affecting the freshness and storage capacity of foodstuffs.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device design featuring a back cover that houses cooling components, including a fan unit with air channels and an insulation member, which enhances air circulation and prevents icing while minimizing space occupancy, using a plastic material for the back cover and interconnected supporting ribs for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooling components are housed within the storage chamber, then air circulation is improved, but the storage volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The back cover is positioned in the interstitial space between the inner and outer back walls, utilizing the depth dimension of the cooling device. This allows cooling components to be housed without encroaching on the storage chamber volume, as the back cover occupies the space between the two back walls rather than within the storage chamber itself.
2Temperature
If air return ducts are constructed in multi-compartment systems, then temperature uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The back cover serves multiple functions: it houses cooling components (fan unit, evaporator), provides air return pathways through integrated channels, and acts as a structural element between inner and outer back walls. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate air return ducts, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining temperature uniformity across compartments.
3Ease of manufacture
If the back cover is made of plastic material, then manufacturing ease is improved, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The back cover is segmented with multiple supporting ribs that divide the plastic structure into smaller, reinforced sections. These ribs (first supporting ribs and second supporting ribs) provide structural reinforcement to the plastic material, distributing mechanical loads and preventing deformation while maintaining the ease of plastic manufacturing processes.
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 provides efficient air circulation and enhanced freshness with minimal volume occupancy, preventing icing and ensuring effective air direction and insulation, thus maintaining optimal storage conditions within the cooling device.
Implementation Method 1
a fan unit having a fan and at least one fan unit is attached to the inner back wall
Implementation Method 2
the back cover has an inner housing for receiving an insulation member and allowing air to be returned
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes a cabinet, a cooling system with cooling components, an inner casing having walls delimiting a storage chamber for storing foodstuffs, an inner back wall forming a rear part of the inner casing, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing, and an outer back wall forming a rear part of the outer casing. The cooling device further includes a back cover disposed between the inner back wall and the outer back wall for covering and housing at least one cooling component.