Refrigerator Drawer Door Handle-Slider Opening Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require a large force to open the door due to the weight of the door and temperature-induced pressure differences within the storage compartment, making it difficult for users to open the door easily.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a drawer-type door with a planar door main body, a pocket unit for user hand insertion, a handle member with a lever and hinge unit that rotates to engage sliders to open and close the door, and an elastic member to maintain the closing position, allowing the door to be opened with a relatively small force while enhancing the external appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional heavy door is used in the refrigerator, then the door provides sufficient structural strength and sealing, but it requires a large force to open the door due to weight and pressure difference
Solution Approach 1:
A slider mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the user's manual operation and the door opening action. The slider translates a small rotational motion into a larger linear displacement, mechanically amplifying the user's input force to overcome the pressure difference and door weight, thereby enabling easy door opening without requiring direct application of large force
2Ease of operation
If a drawer type door with handle member is used, then the ease of opening is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The handle member and slider mechanism are merged into an integrated assembly where the handle's rotational motion directly drives the slider through a connected linkage. This combination eliminates the need for separate actuating mechanisms, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining the ease of opening benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The handle member serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for manual operation and as part of the mechanical transmission system that drives the slider. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving ease of operation
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
Enables easy opening of the door with reduced effort and maintains an aesthetically pleasing appearance by utilizing a handle member and slider mechanism that reduces the force required to open the door, while the elastic member ensures the door remains closed.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge unit may be applied with a lubricating oil
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member which supplies an elastic force to the handle member or the slider so that the slider can maintain the closing position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator including a main body cabinet forming a storage compartment including a front opening, and a drawer type door entering and exiting the storage compartment to open and close the front opening, the drawer type door including: a basket entering and exiting the storage compartment; a door main body coupled to a front area of the basket to open and close the front opening of the storage compartment; a pocket unit formed at an upper wall surface of the door main body to receive a user's hand; a handle member adjacent to the pocket unit to rotate in forward and backward directions with respect to the door main body; and a pair of sliders reciprocating between an opening position and a closing position.