Carrier Rail Mounting for Refrigeration Components in Tight Spaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration devices lack a straightforward method to easily install additional components such as water check valves, monitoring device housings, and solenoid valve holders, especially in cramped spaces like furniture or building niches.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration device with a mounting rail and associated components like horizontally extending foot ribs and positioning ribs that engage with the rail, providing a form-fit mechanism for secure attachment without additional fixing means, allowing for easy installation of monitoring devices and other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional components are installed in cramped spaces of refrigeration devices, then the functionality of the refrigeration device is improved, but the installation complexity and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinstallation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting rail is divided into multiple engagement sections along its longitudinal direction, allowing components to be installed at different positions independently. This segmentation enables flexible installation in cramped spaces without requiring complex overall restructuring of the mounting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting rail acts as an intermediary element between the refrigeration device structure and additional components. It provides standardized engagement sections that simplify the installation process, eliminating the need for complex direct mounting arrangements in cramped spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional components are installed in cramped spaces of refrigeration devices, then the functionality of the refrigeration device is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting rail is designed as a universal mounting structure with multiple engagement sections that can accommodate various types of additional components (water check valves, monitoring devices, solenoid valves). This multi-functionality reduces the need for component-specific mounting arrangements, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting rail system provides flexible positioning along its longitudinal direction, allowing the configuration to be adapted dynamically to different installation scenarios and component requirements, thereby managing complexity through flexibility rather than fixed complex structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional mounting methods are used for additional components, then the structural stability is maintained, but the installation time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting rail is pre-configured with multiple engagement sections during manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site preparation work. This preliminary action significantly reduces installation time while maintaining structural stability, as the engagement sections are already optimally positioned for various component mounting requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2859287B1Refrigeration device with a carrier rail
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2859287B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2859287B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2859287B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance (100) with a carrying rail (300). According to the invention, an additional component is connected with a form fit to a carrying rail (300). The invention further relates to an additional component for installation in a refrigeration appliance (100) and to a fastening element (500) for such an additional component.