Evaporator Fan Mounting With Vibration-Decoupled Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration devices experience noise emissions due to fan vibrations, which are transmitted to the evaporator, and there is a need for a cost-effective, easy-to-assemble, and vibration-decoupled fan attachment that can withstand transportation vibrations and be easily replaced without special tools.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration device with a fan housing featuring vibration-decoupled mounting using ring-shaped damping elements and a pivotable locking mechanism, allowing the fan to be securely attached and detached from the evaporator while minimizing noise transmission, utilizing an external rotor motor and a bearing shell with specific recesses and locking elements for secure and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fan is rigidly mounted to the evaporator, then the attachment is simple and secure, but vibrations are transmitted to the evaporator causing noise emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bearing shell as an intermediary component between the fan housing and evaporator. This bearing shell acts as a mediator that allows secure mounting while preventing vibration transmission. The bearing shell is designed with receiving recesses that accommodate bearing journals of the fan housing, creating a buffered connection rather than direct rigid contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the vibration transmission path by separating the fan mounting function from the evaporator structure. Instead of directly attaching the fan to the evaporator, the bearing shell is extracted as a dedicated mounting component that handles the mechanical connection while isolating vibrations from the evaporator body.
2Ease of repair
If the fan is easily detachable for replacement, then serviceability is improved, but the attachment may become loose during transportation vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism with pivotable locking elements that can transition between locked and unlocked states. The locking elements are designed to pivot into locked positions during assembly, providing secure attachment that resists transportation vibrations. For replacement, the locking elements can be deliberately unlocked, enabling easy fan removal without requiring special tools.
3Reliability
If special locking mechanisms are used to prevent loosening during transportation, then attachment stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are designed as self-locking components that automatically secure the fan housing to the evaporator through their own mechanical action. The pivotable locking elements engage with the bearing shell structure without requiring external actuation or complex control systems, achieving stable attachment through self-contained mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: bearing journals for positioning, bearing shell for support, and separate locking elements for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, avoiding the need for a single complex integrated mounting mechanism.
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 effectively reduces noise emissions by decoupling fan vibrations from the evaporator, ensures easy and tool-free replacement of the fan, and maintains a secure attachment during transportation, enhancing the operational efficiency and serviceability of refrigeration devices.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing shell having at least a first receiving recess for pivotally mounted receiving of the first bearing journal and a second receiving recess for receiving the second bearing journal, and that a pivotable locking element is provided for locking the second bearing journal in the second receiving recess
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerating device comprising an evaporator (3), comprising a fan (5) and a fan housing (11) for generating an air flow on the evaporator (3), and comprising a bearing shell (4) for retaining the fan housing (11) on the evaporator (3) in a vibration-decoupled manner. The fan housing (11) has at least one first bearing pin (13) and a second bearing pin (21). The bearing shell (4) has at least one first receiving recess (15) for receiving the first bearing pin (13) in a pivotal manner and a second receiving recess (23) for receiving the second bearing pin (21), and a pivotal locking element (30) is provided for locking the second bearing pin (21) in the second receiving recess (23).