Refrigerator Drawer Rail Assembly With Low-Force Auto Closing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator drawer doors with auto closing units require significant opening force due to the combination of spring restoring force, magnetic force, and pressure differences, making it difficult for consumers like children, the elderly, or women to open the doors efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An auto closing unit with a rail assembly that includes a fixed rail, a movable rail, and an elastic member with two springs of different lengths, where the shorter spring has a larger elastic coefficient and is initially unstretched to reduce opening force, and both springs are stretched to maintain closing force, preventing eccentric movement and enhancing usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If both springs are stretched to maintain closing force, then auto-closing force is maintained, but opening force becomes too large for easy operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the spring configuration changeable during operation. The first spring transitions from an unstretched state during door opening to a stretched state during door closing, while the second spring remains stretched throughout. This dynamic adjustment of spring states allows the opening force to be reduced while maintaining closing force, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and closing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the elastic potential energy parameters of the springs at different operational phases. The first spring's elastic coefficient and compression state are dynamically adjusted - remaining uncompressed during opening to minimize resistance, then compressing during closing to provide additional closing force. This parameter change strategy directly addresses the contradiction by optimizing force characteristics for each operational phase.
2Reliability
If the spring is initially stretched to provide closing force, then auto-closing function is achieved, but the door becomes difficult to open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spring system into two independent springs with different functions and states. The first spring is dedicated to providing closing force during the closing phase, while the second spring maintains a stretched state for continuous closing assistance. This segmentation allows the first spring to remain unstretched during opening (improving ease of operation) while the second spring ensures reliable auto-closing function is maintained throughout the cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic spring state management where the first spring transitions from unstretched to compressed based on door position and motion phase. During opening, the first spring remains relaxed to minimize resistance. During closing, it compresses to provide additional closing force. This dynamic behavior maintains reliable auto-closing while ensuring easy door opening.
3Device complexity
If a single spring is used for auto closing, then device complexity is reduced, but eccentric movement of the rail assembly occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the two springs with different initial states and functional roles. The first spring has a different compression characteristic and operational phase compared to the second spring. This asymmetric configuration ensures that forces are distributed evenly across the rail assembly, preventing eccentric movement while maintaining relatively simple device structure with only two springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two spring mechanisms working in coordination to achieve stable rail assembly operation. The first spring provides closing force during the closing phase, while the second spring maintains continuous stretched state for additional closing assistance. This combination of springs, though increasing component count slightly, prevents the eccentric movement that would occur with a single spring, thereby stabilizing the rail assembly composition.
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 reduces the opening force required to open the door by minimizing the initial resistance from the unstretched spring and maintains effective auto-closing force through the stretched springs, improving usability and preventing eccentric rail movement.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member that is connected to the slider and stretched and contracted when the slider is moved
Implementation Method 2
A magnet is also enclosed inside a gasket mounted on a rear surface of the door, and therefore a force capable of overcoming a magnetic force acting between the rear surface of the door and a front surface of a main body of the refrigerator is further required to open the drawer
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator a first rail assembly provided at a first side surface of the storage compartment, and a second rail assembly provided at a second side surface of the storage compartment. At least one of the first or second rail assembly includes a fixed rail, a movable rail and an auto closure module. The fixed rail is mounted to first or second side surface of a storage compartment. The movable rail slides along a lateral direction of the fixed rail and is coupled to a door frame. An auto closure module is provided at the rear of the fixed rail, and includes first and second elastic springs having different lengths. The first elastic spring moves with the movable rail such that a restorative force is not exerted for a prescribed distance as the door is pulled, and the second elastic spring has a first end, which moves with the movable rail, and a second end, which is fixed, and such that the second elastic spring exerts a restorative force as the door is pulled.