refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators with drawer-type doors face issues such as reduced storage capacity, poor appearance due to exposed lifting mechanisms, noise during operation, and inadequate cooling performance, particularly when the drawer is elevated, leading to user dissatisfaction and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design where an electric device for elevation is integrated within the door part, and a mechanical device for elevating the drawer is housed inside, minimizing storage loss, improving aesthetics, and enhancing cooling performance by optimizing cool air circulation and temperature uniformity, while also illuminating the drawer part for easier storage confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the lifting mechanism is disposed outside the bin, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but safety problems occur and appearance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting mechanism is nested inside the bin structure, with the driving part housed within the bin wall and the lifting rod extending through the bin bottom. This nesting approach hides the mechanical components from external view, eliminating safety hazards and improving appearance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then safety and appearance are improved, but storage capacity is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting mechanism is positioned in the vertical dimension by extending the lifting rod through the bin bottom, allowing the driving part to be located in the bin wall rather than occupying horizontal storage space. This dimensional arrangement preserves storage capacity while achieving safe and aesthetically pleasing internal placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the drawer-type door is disposed in the lower region, then the structure is compact, but user convenience is reduced due to back turning and difficulty handling heavy items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer part is made dynamically movable through the lifting mechanism, allowing it to be elevated from the lower region to a higher position during operation. This dynamic adjustment enables users to access items without bending or turning their backs, improving convenience while maintaining the compact lower-region placement when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the driving part is exposed to the outside, then the structure is simple, but noise during operation is transmitted and user satisfaction is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The driving part is nested within the bin wall structure, creating an enclosed space that isolates the noise-generating components from the external environment. This nesting approach attenuates noise transmission while maintaining structural simplicity and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 provides a safer, more efficient, and aesthetically pleasing refrigeration experience by maintaining storage capacity, reducing noise, and ensuring uniform cooling and improved user convenience through enhanced drawer elevation and lighting.

Implementation Method 1

a driving device configured to provide power is disposed on the door part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

refrigerators cool the inside of the storage space by using cool air generated by being heat-exchanged with a refrigerant circulated through a refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3617634B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3617634B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3617634B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3617634B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a storage chamber, an evaporator unit disposed behind the storage chamber, a grill pan assembly which covers the evaporator unit and in which an outlet and an inlet are provided, a fan disposed at one side of the grill pan assembly to supply cool air to the storage chamber through the outlet and forcibly circulate the cool air so that the cool air of the storage chamber is suctioned into the inlet, a drawer door including a door part that opens and closes the storage chamber and a drawer part disposed behind the door part to define a storage chamber, a rail configured to connect the drawer door to the cabinet, the rail being configured to allow the drawer door to be inserted and withdrawn therethrough, and a lighting unit disposed on an upper portion of a rear surface of the door part to emit light toward the drawer part, wherein an upper air guide disposed above an upper end of the drawer part to guide the cool air discharged from the outlet toward a lower side of the drawer part is disposed on the lighting unit.