Cooling Drain Pipe Sealing to Prevent Insulation Moisture Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration devices face challenges in reliably draining condensed water without forming thermal bridges through the insulation material, which can lead to moisture seepage into the insulation, compromising its thermal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A water drain system featuring a pipe that penetrates the insulation layer at a sloping orientation, with a groove and rib design for secure sealing, and a corrugated hose configuration to minimize cold bridges and facilitate assembly, ensuring effective water collection and drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the drain line passes through the insulation material layer by the shortest possible route, then the thermal bridge effect is minimized, but the sealing reliability deteriorates and moisture can penetrate into the insulation material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealing structure consisting of a groove and rib system. The groove is formed in the insulation material layer, and a rib protruding from the drain line engages with this groove to create a reliable seal. This intermediary mechanism allows the drain line to pass through the insulation layer while maintaining both thermal efficiency and sealing reliability, preventing moisture penetration without requiring the shortest possible route.
2Loss of energy
If a separate pipe is used to avoid thermal bridges, then thermal insulation is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drain line with the inner container by integrally forming the drain line on the inner container. This integration eliminates the need for separate pipes and complex connections, reducing device complexity while still allowing the drain line to traverse the insulation layer through a controlled opening with proper sealing. The groove-rib sealing mechanism is incorporated directly into this integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain line is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first section that opens into the groove for water collection, and a second section that extends through the insulation layer to the exterior. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity in the integrated design.
3Reliability
If the drain line is tightly connected to prevent moisture leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but the risk of condensation water condensing on the outlet connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the drain line connection to a separate groove structure formed in the insulation material layer. The rib on the drain line engages with this groove to create the seal, while the drain line itself remains positioned to minimize thermal bridge effects. This separation allows the sealing mechanism to be optimized independently from the thermal considerations.
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 provides a reliable and efficient drainage system that prevents moisture from entering the insulation, maintaining thermal efficiency while simplifying assembly and ensuring a secure seal against insulation material penetration.
Implementation Method 1
a insulating material layer (5) enclosed between these walls
Implementation Method 2
condensation water condensing on a section of the outlet connector
Implementation Method 3
the edge of the opening is preferably clamped between the opposite side walls of the groove
Implementation Method 4
This one-piece socket must cross the insulating material layer over as short a path as possible so that it can form a cold bridge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling device comprising a heat-insulating housing (1, 2) which surrounds an inner chamber (7,8) and which comprises a solid outer wall (3), a solid inner wall (4) and an insulating material layer (5) which is integrated between said walls, in addition to a water drain which extends through the two walls (3, 4) and the insulating material layer (5). Said invention is characterised in that the water drain comprises a pipe (14) which extends through an opening of at least one of the walls (3, 4), and that the edge of the opening engages in a peripheral groove of the pipe.