A cooling device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The nonhomogeneous spreading of polyurethane insulation material during the manufacturing of cooling devices causes structural defects and deformation of the board casing, leading to increased costs and labor due to the need for additional support members.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating protrusions on the board casing that extend from the base to the ceiling with recesses to increase strength during insulation material application, which are later broken and removed to prevent deformation and facilitate easy circuit board placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If support members are placed between the board casing walls to prevent deformation during polyurethane injection, then the board casing strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboard casing strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The board casing is segmented by adding protrusions that divide the internal space into multiple regions. These protrusions are strategically positioned to provide structural support against polyurethane injection pressure without requiring external support members, thus preventing deformation while avoiding increased manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions are nested within the board casing structure itself, extending from the inner wall toward the outer wall. This internal nesting provides reinforcement without adding external components, eliminating the need for separate support members and reducing both cost and labor requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If the board casing structure is modified to prevent deformation during insulation material application, then the manufacturing process is improved, but the circuit board placement flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecasing deformation controlVSAvoidcircuit board placement flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions are designed with varying dimensions and positions tailored to specific local requirements of the board casing. Each protrusion is optimized for its particular location to provide necessary support while maintaining overall flexibility for circuit board placement, thus achieving both manufacturing precision and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions are pre-positioned within the board casing during manufacturing to provide structural support during polyurethane injection. After the insulation material cures, the protrusions are removed, leaving the board casing with improved dimensional stability while maintaining flexibility for subsequent circuit board placement operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively prevents board casing deformation during insulation material application, eliminating the need for design changes or additional support members, and allows for easy mounting of circuit boards without dimension limitations.

Implementation Method 1

an insulation material such as polyurethane is injected between the inner wall and the outer wall in liquid form while inside the mold, and then the polyurethane expands after a while due to its properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolyurethane expansion:

Implementation Method 2

the insulation material continues to cool down. Due to the nonhomogeneous spreading of the insulation material in the insulation volume, different forces act on the inner wall and outer wall of the body, and structural defects occur in the inner and outer walls due to the irregular shrinkage of the insulation material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolyurethane cooling and shrinkage:

Data Source

PatentEP4177554B1A cooling device
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 ARCELIK AS
  • EP4177554B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

This invention helps to prevent any deformation of the walls of the board casing (2) by increasing the strength of the board casing (2) during the filling of the insulation material, thanks to the temporary protrusions (5) extending from the base (3) of the board casing (2) and after the insulation material is filled, the protrusions (5) are broken and removed from the board casing (2), allowing the desired electronic card to be easily placed inside the board casing (2), regardless of the dimensions of the electronic card to be placed in the board casing (2).