Drainage assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drainage systems for insulated structures, such as refrigerators, face challenges in securely and efficiently redirecting defrosted liquid, with existing solutions often failing to minimize rotation and secure positioning of flexible bodies within apertures, leading to potential leaks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A drainage assembly featuring a flexible body with radially extending notches and flanges, interlocking drainage tubes, and a rotatable locking feature that stabilizes the assembly within the insulated structure, ensuring secure fluid communication and minimizing rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible body is used in the drainage assembly, then adaptability to different aperture positions is improved, but rotational stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage assembly uses a flexible body made of elastomeric material that can bend and deform to accommodate different aperture positions and angles between the wrapper and liner. This flexible body maintains sealing contact while adapting to various configurations, solving the adaptability requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage tube includes pre-formed flanges that are disposed within notches of the flexible body before final installation. These flanges are positioned in advance to prevent rotation and stabilize the assembly once installed, addressing the rotational stability issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drainage assembly allows movement to accommodate insulation thickness variations, then adaptability is improved, but leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible body acts as a compliant sealing element that can deform to maintain contact with both the wrapper and liner surfaces, accommodating variations in insulation thickness while preventing leakage paths through the drainage assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage tube is nested within the flexible body, with the tube's flanges disposed within notches of the flexible body. This nested arrangement allows the inner tube to remain stable while the outer flexible body adapts to dimensional variations, maintaining sealing integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple drainage tubes are connected with flanges and notches, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage assembly is segmented into distinct components: the flexible body with notches and the drainage tube with flanges. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with precise features, then assembled together to achieve accurate positioning without requiring complex integrated manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated structure includes a wrapper that defines a first aperture. A liner defines a second aperture and is coupled to the wrapper. A negative pressure is maintained between the wrapper and the liner. A drainage assembly extends between the liner and the wrapper and is disposed within the first aperture and the second aperture. The drainage assembly includes a flexible body that has a plurality of flexures, first and second surfaces, and an opening that is defined between the first and second surfaces. The flexible body has at least one notch that is defined on the first surface that extends from a portion of the opening. A drainage tube extends through the opening that is defined by the flexible body and is operably coupled to the flexible body. The drainage tube includes at least one flange disposed within the at least one notch of the flexible body.