Double-Door Cooling Mechanism With Reduced Door Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooling devices with two side-by-side doors, the overlapping door opening mechanisms create a gap between the doors, compromising insulation effectiveness and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The door opening mechanisms are designed with handles at the same height and support members positioned differently, allowing the handles to rotate in a way that reduces the gap between the doors, utilizing a cam shaft and transmission member to facilitate easy door separation while maintaining insulation and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If door opening mechanisms are secured on the side wall of the door, then the door can be easily opened, but the mechanisms overlap and cause a gap to be formed between the two doors
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are positioned at different heights (vertical dimension) rather than at the same location, allowing the door opening mechanisms to be staggered vertically. This dimensional change eliminates the overlap that causes the gap while maintaining the ease of door opening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening mechanisms are configured asymmetrically with respect to vertical positioning - one mechanism is higher than the other. This asymmetric arrangement allows both mechanisms to coexist on adjacent doors without overlapping, thereby eliminating the gap formation while preserving operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If door opening mechanisms are secured on the side wall of the door, then the door can be easily opened, but the insulation effectiveness of the interior air decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning support members at different heights, the door opening mechanisms are staggered vertically, eliminating the gap between doors. This reduces air leakage and improves insulation effectiveness while maintaining ease of door opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric vertical positioning of support members eliminates the overlapping region that would create a gap, thereby reducing energy loss through the door junction while preserving the door opening function.
3Shape
If the handles are positioned to minimize the gap between doors, then the appearance is improved, but the door opening mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adjusting handle shapes or positions extensively, the solution uses vertical positioning of support members at different heights. This simpler dimensional adjustment achieves gap reduction without requiring complex handle designs or additional mechanism components.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device (1) is described that includes a body (2) wherein the objects to be cooled are placed, two doors (3) providing access into the body (2) and which remain side by side when closed, two door opening mechanisms (4), each situated on one door (3) and wherein the distance between the doors (3) is decreased.