Cold storage box

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cold storage facilities, a large temperature difference leads to significant dew condensation on sliding doors and frames, which can accumulate on lower frames without being completely drained, reducing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A cold storage design featuring a sliding door with a vertically extending drain channel and a porous body with water permeability attached to the door's upper surface, establishing fluid communication with the drain channel to enhance drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a drain hole is formed in the lower frame to drain dew condensation water, then the drainage function is provided, but the dew condensation water may remain on the lower frame without being completely drained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage efficiencyVSAvoidwater accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage system is segmented into multiple components: the drain hole in the lower frame, the drain channel in the sliding door, and the porous body. This segmentation allows water to be drained through multiple pathways simultaneously, improving overall drainage efficiency and preventing water accumulation on the lower frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The porous body acts as an intermediary component between the drain channel and the drain hole. It establishes fluid communication while controlling the flow of dew condensation water, enabling efficient drainage from the sliding door through the lower frame without causing water accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the sliding door and frame are exposed to large temperature difference, then the cold storage function is maintained, but a relatively large amount of dew condensation water generates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature differenceVSAvoiddew condensation water
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage system extracts the harmful dew condensation water that forms due to the temperature difference. The drain channel and porous body work together to remove the condensed water from the sliding door and frame surfaces, preventing water accumulation while maintaining the necessary temperature difference for cold storage function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a porous body with water permeability is attached to the sliding door to establish fluid communication with the drain channel, then the drainage efficiency is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A porous body with water permeability is attached to the sliding door to establish fluid communication with the drain channel. The porous structure allows dew condensation water to pass through efficiently while adding minimal structural complexity. The porous material provides multiple flow pathways that enhance drainage efficiency without requiring complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 increases the efficiency of draining dew condensation water by suppressing the flow rate and ensuring that water is smoothly drained through the designated outlet, preventing accumulation on lower frames.

Implementation Method 1

a porous body with water permeability, the porous body being attached to an upper surface of the sliding door to establish fluid communication with the drain channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP4276392B1Cold storage box
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 PHC HLDG CORP
  • EP4276392B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276392B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4276392B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A cold storage box comprising: a box body having a front opening; a frame framing the opening; a sliding door attached to the frame and having, at a left-side end and a right-side end, a drainage channel that extends vertically; and a water-permeable porous body attached to an upper surface of the sliding door so as to face the drainage channel.