Drip tray for a compact machine compartment and refrigerator using a drip tray

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing refrigerator machine compartments face challenges in reducing their volume without compromising the fan flow rate, leading to inefficiencies in heat exchange and defrosted water removal.

Innovation Solution

A drip tray and fan assembly configuration where the fan assembly is inserted into a compact machine compartment, with a drip tray design that includes a defrosted water storage space and a fan assembly accommodation space, allowing for reduced height and depth, preventing water from entering the fan assembly, and enhancing the assembly's stability and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If the machine compartment volume is reduced, then storage capacity increases, but heat exchange efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine compartment volumeVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The fan assembly is nested within the drip tray structure, with the fan motor housed inside the drip tray body and the fan blades extending into the machine compartment space. This nesting arrangement allows the fan assembly to occupy minimal additional volume while maintaining its air moving capability for heat exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The drip tray is designed with a three-dimensional structure that utilizes vertical space within the machine compartment. The drip tray has a bottom wall, side walls, and a rear wall that create depth in the Z-direction, allowing water collection without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby maintaining compact volume while preserving heat exchange functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of stationary object

If the machine compartment volume is reduced, then storage capacity increases, but defrosted water removal efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine compartment volumeVSAvoiddefrosted water removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The drip tray design allows defrosted water to be collected in the bottom wall area and removed through the rear wall opening, creating a self-draining configuration that utilizes the natural slope and gravity to facilitate water removal without requiring additional active pumping mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the drip tray design includes separate storage and accommodation spaces, then assembly stability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly stabilityVSAvoiddrip tray structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drip tray and fan assembly are merged into a single integrated structure where the drip tray body serves dual purposes: collecting defrosted water and housing the fan motor. The side walls and rear wall of the drip tray simultaneously provide structural support, water containment, and motor mounting surfaces, reducing the need for separate support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drip tray structure performs multiple functions: it collects and stores defrosted water in its bottom area, houses the fan motor within its body, provides structural support for the fan assembly, and facilitates air flow through its openings. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the machine compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration reduces the machine compartment's volume while maintaining or improving heat exchange efficiency and defrosted water removal, thereby increasing storage capacity and simplifying assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The machine compartment may include a fan which generates an air flow through the compressor and the condenser. The air flow may be used to evaporate the water contained in the drip tray.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

The defrosted water stored in the drip tray may be evaporated by the heat released from the compressor and condenser of the machine compartment.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The defrosted water stored in the drip tray may be evaporated by the heat released from the compressor and condenser of the machine compartment.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11162729B2Drip tray for a compact machine compartment and refrigerator using a drip tray

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A drip tray provided in a machine compartment of a refrigerator including a fan assembly accommodation space blocked from a defrosted water storage space via an inner wall such that defrosted water does not flow into the fan assembly accommodation space. The fan assembly includes a cutout, wherein the cut-out overlaps a portion of the defrosted water storage space beyond the inner wall when the fan assembly is provided in the fan assembly accommodation space.