Door opening device and refrigerator including same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door opening devices for refrigerators are complex, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced durability, and they often require significant force to open due to the weight of the door and magnetic forces, compromising usability and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A door opening device with a handle assembly comprising a handle body and handle cover, where the handle cover is made of metal to push a push rod, reducing wear and damage, and featuring a simple structure for easy manufacturing and assembly, with a return spring for elastic force and a guide bracket for smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the door opening device uses a complex structure with multiple parts operating in cooperation, then the initial force required to open the door is reduced, but the durability decreases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device is divided into two functional modules: a push rod module (with push rod, guide bracket, return spring) and a handle module (with handle body, handle cover, driving arm). This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently - the push rod module can be made of metal for durability while the handle module provides the opening force mechanism, resolving the contradiction between force reduction and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The push rod acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the handle and the door body. When the handle is pulled, the driving arm rotates and pushes the push rod, which then pushes the door body to open it. This intermediary mechanism amplifies the opening force while keeping the handle structure simple and durable.
2Reliability
If the parts operating in cooperation are made of metal to increase durability, then the durability improves, but the manufacturing cost increases and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the door opening device have different material qualities matched to their functional requirements. The push rod, guide bracket, and return spring (components requiring durability and elastic properties) are made of metal, while the handle body and handle cover (components requiring aesthetic appearance and user comfort) can be made of other materials. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between durability and manufacturing cost.
3Ease of manufacture
If only some parts are made of metal while other parts are made of other materials, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the exterior design lacks unity and aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The handle body and handle cover are merged into an integrated handle assembly that provides both structural function and aesthetic appearance. The driving arm is integrated with the handle cover, creating a unified metallic appearance on the exterior while the interior components can use different materials. This merging resolves the contradiction between manufacturing cost and aesthetic unity.
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 enhances durability, reduces material costs, improves usability by minimizing the force required to open the door, and maintains a unified and aesthetically pleasing exterior design.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring may be connected to the link block, the return spring supplying elastic force to the link block in a direction of moving the link block to an initial position after the link block and the guide bracket rotate relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a door opening device and a handle assembly including a handle body and a handle cover assembled with each other. The handle body may have a structure for rotating the handle assembly, and when the handle cover is coupled to the handle body, the handle cover may constitute at least a portion of a surface of the handle body. Additionally, a driving arm may be provided in the handle cover and configured to push a push rod while the driving arm rotates with the handle body. The driving arm is made of metal.