Cooling Door Access With Shared Lamp-Switch Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

The frequent opening and closing of a cooling device door leads to increased interior temperature and compressor operation periods, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption, and existing supplementary door solutions complicate illumination by requiring additional switches, lamps, and cable groups, increasing production and labor costs.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device design that uses a single switch and existing lamp to illuminate the interior by employing an actuator that triggers the switch when either the main door or supplementary door is opened, eliminating the need for separate illumination components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a second lamp or switch group is used for illuminating the supplementary door opening space, then the illumination function is improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of supplementary door opening spaceVSAvoidnumber of switches and cable groups

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing switch is made to serve dual functions: detecting main door opening and detecting supplementary door opening. The actuator mechanism allows a single switch to control illumination for both door types, eliminating the need for separate switches and cable groups for the supplementary door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the illumination control for the main door and supplementary door into a single integrated system. The switch and lamp originally designed for the main door are merged to also control illumination when the supplementary door opens, reducing the total number of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If frequent door opening is allowed for access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the energy consumption and compressor operation period increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to objects in cooling deviceVSAvoidenergy consumption from compressor operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the door access system into two segments: a main door for full access and a supplementary door for frequent small accesses. The supplementary door can be opened independently without opening the main door, allowing users to retrieve items with minimal temperature impact while maintaining ease of access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2217873B1A cooling device

Publication Date: 2012.06.20 ARCELIK AS

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access of the user inside the body (2), an opening arranged on the door (3) that allows the user to access inside the body (2) without opening the door (3), and a supplementary door (4) that covers the opening, openable when desired to provide access of the user inside the body (2).