Drawer Refrigerator Cable Routing for Sliding Door Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with drawer-type doors face challenges in protecting electric wire cables connected to control panels from damage due to interference during sliding and insertion operations, leading to potential damage and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring sliding frames and fixed frames with a guide hole and electric wire cable housing to manage the electric wire cable, including a push member to guide the cable back into the receiving space, preventing damage and ensuring the cable remains protected during door movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer type door is made slidable for easy operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the electric wire cable may be damaged due to interference during sliding movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (cable protection assembly with guide holes and receiving spaces) that mediates between the sliding door movement and the electric wire cable. This intermediary structure guides the cable through protected pathways and provides receiving spaces to accommodate cable movement, preventing direct interference between the sliding door and the cable while maintaining smooth door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable protection assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: guide holes in the fixed frame to direct cable movement, receiving spaces to accommodate cable displacement, and protective housings to shield the cable. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of cable protection during door sliding, ensuring reliability while maintaining operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If the electric wire cable is exposed for connection to the control panel, then the ease of connection is improved, but the cable becomes vulnerable to damage from surrounding interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality protection by providing targeted cable protection only where needed. The guide holes are positioned at specific locations where the cable passes near moving parts, and receiving spaces are created at critical zones susceptible to interference. This localized approach protects the cable from damage risks while maintaining ease of connection at the control panel interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is nested within a protective structure consisting of guide holes that channel the cable through safe pathways, receiving spaces that accommodate cable movement, and protective housings that enclose vulnerable sections. This nested arrangement allows the cable to remain accessible for connection while being protected from surrounding interference throughout its routing path.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cable is routed freely for easy installation, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the cable may become damaged or tangled during door movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the cable routing path through guide holes and pre-positioning receiving spaces during the manufacturing process. The cable is initially installed through these predetermined pathways, ensuring proper routing and protection are established before the product enters service. This preliminary configuration maintains ease of installation while ensuring reliable cable protection during subsequent door movements.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a storage chamber having an opening; a drawer type door to open or close the opening; a display positioned at the drawer type door; a first connector provided at a sidewall of the storage chamber; a second connector provided at the drawer type door and being electrically connected to the display; a first frame coupled to an inner wall of the storage chamber, the first frame to cover the first connector; a second frame coupled to the drawer type door, the second frame to support a storage box; and a wire electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector. The first frame has a first accommodating part to accommodate one portion of the wire and the second frame has a second accommodating part to accommodate another portion of the wire.