Cooling assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerated cabinets often require additional support structures for their outer surfaces, which can complicate maintenance and energy efficiency, and do not allow for easy access or presentation of goods without opening the cold room, disrupting customer shopping experiences.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting refrigerated cabinet design with shelves forming the structural support for cover elements, enabling the shelves to be walked upon and filled from inside, with transparent or partially transparent cover elements allowing external visibility of goods without opening the cold room, and a modular structure for flexible expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a separate skeleton support structure is used for the outer surface, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support function into the shelves themselves, which are designed with sufficient structural strength to support both goods and the outer surface cover elements. This eliminates the need for a separate skeleton support structure, reducing device complexity while maintaining stability through the integrated shelf design.
2Ease of operation
If the cold room is opened for filling shelves, then the goods can be accessed and filled, but the temperature stability deteriorates and customer shopping experience is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filling operation from the customer shopping area by providing rear access to the cold room. Staff can fill shelves through a separate rear opening without disrupting customers or causing temperature fluctuations from frequent front door openings. The shelves are designed to be accessible from the rear for efficient restocking.
3Loss of information
If transparent cover elements are used for the outer surface, then the visibility of goods is improved, but the insulation performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparent cover elements selectively to the front display areas where visibility is needed for customer viewing, while other portions of the cold room can use opaque insulation materials. This local application of transparency maintains energy efficiency while providing necessary product visibility in display zones.
4Volume of stationary object
If shelves are arranged close together for compact design, then the space utilization is improved, but the accessibility for filling and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides accessibility to shelves through a rear dimension by creating a walkable space at the back of the cold room. Staff can access and fill shelves from this rear area without needing to open the front customer-facing doors, thus maintaining compact front dimensions while ensuring operational accessibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling assembly (100) comprising at least two shelves (2, 4) each having at least two supports (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4; 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) and several shelves (2.5; 4.5) arranged thereon. The, shelves (2, 4) are mounted at a distance from each other thus forming an accessible intermediate chamber (10). The cooling assembly (100) also comprises several cover elements (20) which are secured to at least one of the shelves (2, 4) thus forming an outer surface of the cooling device (100).