Door-Mounted Chilled Component with Direct Cold Plate Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators lack innovative features to enhance commercial desirability, and existing designs do not efficiently integrate chilled components directly cooled by the refrigerator's cooling system for improved functionality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a door-mounted chilled component, such as an ice maker, that includes a heat transfer plate and a biaser mechanism to establish thermal communication with a cold plate when the door is closed, allowing for direct cooling and easy access to the chilled component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a door-mounted chilled component is added to enhance commercial desirability, then the refrigerator's features and user experience are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chilled component is integrated with the door structure, merging the cooling function into an existing component rather than adding a separate independent system. The heat transfer plate is positioned to utilize the cold plate already present in the door, combining multiple functions (cooling, door operation, ice making) into a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural closure, houses the cold plate for cooling, supports the movable chilled component, and incorporates the biaser mechanism for automatic positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
2Ease of operation
If the chilled component is movably mounted on the door to allow easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of thermal communication is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The chilled component is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be easily accessed and removed by the user. The movement is controlled by a biaser mechanism that automatically returns the component to its operational position, combining ease of access with reliable thermal contact during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biaser mechanism automatically positions the chilled component to ensure thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed, without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates to maintain reliable thermal contact while allowing user access when needed.
3Productivity
If the chilled component is positioned to be in thermal communication with the cold plate for direct cooling, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chilled component is extracted from the traditional fixed position within the compartment and relocated to the door, where it can directly access the cold plate. This extraction allows the component to be positioned optimally for thermal communication while utilizing existing door infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer plate serves as an intermediary between the chilled component and the cold plate, facilitating efficient thermal communication. This intermediary structure enables direct cooling while maintaining a simple overall design that leverages the door's existing thermal management system.
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
This design enhances user experience by providing a directly cooled chilled component, maintaining optimal temperatures for food preservation and enhancing the refrigerator's features, thus improving commercial appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a chilled component movably mounted on the door adjacent the cold plate, the chilled component includes a heat transfer plate on a side of the chilled component for thermal communication with the cold plate
Implementation Method 2
a biaser moves the chilled component into thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a fresh food compartment with an interior wall, an opening, and a door movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the fresh food compartment via the opening; a cold plate mounted in the interior wall with an evaporator in contact with the cold plate; a chilled component movably mounted on the door adjacent the cold plate, the chilled component includes a heat transfer plate on a side of the chilled component for thermal communication with the cold plate, and a biaser moves the chilled component into thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed. The chilled component may be: an ice maker, a liquid/drink cooler, a vegetable cooler, a meat cooler, and/or a wine cooler. The biaser may include the following for moving the chilled component: a spring, an inclined plane, a pulley and weights, and/or a hydraulic piston.