Embedded Refrigerator Hinge Assembly for Multi-Track Door Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have limited opening-closing freedom due to fixed hinge parts, making them unsuitable for embedded applications in home integration and smart home scenarios where adaptability to different placement positions and styles is required.
Innovation Solution
An embedded refrigerator with a switching assembly that includes a hinge system allowing the door to rotate in situ, move from the pivoting side to the accommodating chamber, and then from the chamber to the pivoting side, enhancing the door's opening angle and avoiding interference with surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed hinge part is used to connect the door and cabinet, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the opening-closing freedom degree of the door is greatly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into multiple independent parts: a first hinge part connected to the cabinet, a second hinge part connected to the door, and a switching assembly with multiple fitting portions. Each part can move and switch independently, allowing the door to achieve multiple motion tracks (rotation in situ, movement towards accommodating chamber, movement towards pivoting side) while maintaining structural clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly transforms from a static fixed connection to a dynamic multi-position system. The switching assembly includes multiple fitting portions (first, second, third, fourth fitting portions) that can engage at different positions, enabling the door to switch between different motion states and opening angles adaptively
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door is placed in a cupboard for embedded refrigerator application, then style integration is achieved, but the door motion interferes with surrounding structures
Solution Approach 1:
The switching assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door and cabinet. It includes multiple fitting portions that can engage at different positions to mediate the door's motion, allowing the door to rotate in situ or move towards the accommodating chamber without colliding with surrounding cabinet structures, thus enabling embedded installation while avoiding interference
3Ease of operation
If the door rotates in situ and moves between pivoting side and accommodating chamber, then opening-closing freedom is enhanced, but the hinge assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The first hinge part, second hinge part, and switching assembly work together as one unit, combining rotation in situ, movement towards accommodating chamber, and movement towards pivoting side functions, thereby enhancing door motion flexibility without requiring multiple separate mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An embedded refrigerator which includes a cabinet, a door and a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly includes a first hinge part, a second hinge part and a switching assembly; when the door is in an opening process, the first hinge part moves relative to the switching assembly, and then, the second hinge part moves relative to the switching assembly; the hinge assembly drives the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, then drives the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, drives the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and then drives the door to continuously rotate in situ relative to the cabinet. The refrigerator can increase an opening-closing freedom degree of the door.