Composite Refrigerator Door Leaf With Bonded Glass-Metal Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration devices have limitations in manufacturing cost-effectiveness and aesthetic appeal for their door panels, particularly in achieving a stable and easily cleanable design while maintaining structural integrity and quality.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration device with a heat-insulated door leaf comprising a metal carrier and a glass plate bonded using an adhesive film, pressed together under high pressure and temperature, forming a composite that is easy to clean and manufacture, with an insulating material adhering to the carrier for enhanced stability and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a glass plate is used for the door leaf to achieve ease of cleaning and aesthetic appeal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to additional bonding processes and materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by bonding a glass plate to a metallic carrier using an adhesive layer. This composite structure combines the cleaning ease and aesthetic appeal of glass with the structural stability and manufacturing simplicity of metal, resolving the contradiction between ease of cleaning and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the bonding process by applying specific temperature and pressure conditions during adhesive curing. This allows the adhesive to achieve optimal bonding strength while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process, reducing complexity despite the added bonding step

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If a metal carrier is used behind the glass plate to enhance structural stability and appearance, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to additional materials and processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The metallic carrier serves as a structural backbone that provides strength and stability while the glass plate provides aesthetic coverage. This composite approach allows each material to perform its optimal function, achieving high strength without requiring excessive metal thickness or complex metal forming processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal carrier is strategically positioned only behind the glass plate where structural support is needed, rather than constructing the entire door leaf from metal. This localized application of metal reduces material costs and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining necessary strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If an adhesive layer is used to bond the glass plate to the carrier, then the ease of manufacture is improved through simplified assembly, but the reliability may be compromised due to potential bonding failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidbonding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive bonding process is optimized by controlling temperature and pressure parameters during assembly. These controlled parameters ensure consistent adhesive curing and bonding strength, achieving reliable joints while maintaining simplified assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer acts as an intermediary material that chemically bonds the glass plate to the metal carrier. This intermediary creates a strong, durable connection that is more reliable than mechanical fasteners while still allowing for simple assembly processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Illumination intensity

If the door leaf is designed as a composite structure with multiple layers, then the aesthetic appeal and functionality are improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components and assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appealVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure of glass plate plus metal carrier creates an aesthetically pleasing door leaf that combines the visual appeal of glass with the质感 of metal. This dual-material approach enhances appearance and functionality while keeping the component count manageable through direct bonding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite 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 results in a door leaf that is both inexpensive to produce and aesthetically pleasing, with improved stability and ease of cleaning, while maintaining high-quality appearance and structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a glass plate (8) and a metal carrier (7) which are bonded to one another using an adhesive film (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

an insulating material which adheres to the carrier (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2473802B1Refrigerator and method for producing a door leaf of a refrigerator
Publication Date: 2015.12.16 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2473802B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2473802B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2473802B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigerator (1), to a method for producing a door leaf (3) of a refrigerator (1), and to a method for producing an outer door (6) for a door leaf (3) of a refrigerator (1). The refrigerator (1) has a basic structure (2), with a coolable inner chamber, and a heat-insulated door leaf (3), which is provided for opening and closing the inner chamber, is articulated on the basic structure (2) and has an inner door (5) and an outer door (6), which bound a cavity (12) filled with an insulating material (13). The outer door (6) is designed as a composite structure made up of a carrier (7), in particular made of metal, which faces the inner door (5), of a glass panel (8) and of an adhesive-bonding layer (9), which is arranged between the carrier (7) and the glass panel (8) and by means of which the carrier (7) and the glass panel (8) are connected.