Flush Pressure Sensor Housing for Refrigeration Door Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration appliances with pressure sensors for door opening aids have a connection housing that projects into the storage chamber, causing usability restrictions and potential impairment of the sensor by impurities or condensate.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance design with a pressure sensor located outside the storage chamber, using a deflectable membrane to relay pressure fluctuations while keeping impurities away, and a bayonet coupling for secure anchorage without projecting into the chamber, ensuring the sensor's accessibility and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connection housing is inserted through the opening to anchor the pressure sensor, then the pressure sensor can communicate with the storage chamber, but part of the connection housing projects into the storage chamber forming a disturbing foreign body
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the storage chamber and positioned outside, eliminating the projecting connection housing while maintaining communication capability through a sealed connection system
Solution Approach 2:
The connection housing is nested within the wall opening with the apron fitting into the wall structure, allowing the pressure sensor to be anchored without projecting into the storage chamber
2Measurement precision
If the pressure sensor is disposed inside the storage chamber for direct measurement, then pressure fluctuations can be recorded accurately, but impurities or condensate may penetrate and impair the sensor's functional capability
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable membrane acts as an intermediary between the storage chamber environment and the pressure sensor, transmitting pressure fluctuations while blocking impurities and condensate
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the direct storage chamber environment and positioned outside, using the membrane as a barrier to prevent harmful factors while maintaining measurement capability
3Reliability
If the pressure sensor is disposed inside the insulation material layer, then it can communicate with the storage chamber, but it becomes inaccessible for fault detection and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the insulation material layer and positioned outside, making it accessible for maintenance while maintaining communication through the sealed connection housing and membrane system
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 minimizes fittings within the storage chamber, prevents sensor impairment, and ensures easy replacement and maintenance, while maintaining accurate pressure readings by keeping the connection housing flush with the wall surface and using a membrane to filter out impurities.
Implementation Method 1
a deflectable membrane to relay pressure fluctuations arising in the storage chamber to the pressure sensor as a result of its deflectability
Implementation Method 2
impurities or condensate which might impair the functional capability of the pressure sensor are kept away from the pressure sensor by the membrane
Implementation Method 3
an apron protruding circumferentially from the connection housing fits closely in an elastically deformed manner against the outside of the inner container
Implementation Method 4
Form-locking anchorage of the connection housing on an inner surface of the inner container is thus possible without the connection housing having to project over the surrounding wall surface into the storage chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, includes a storage chamber delimited by an inner container and a pressure sensor disposed outside the storage chamber. The pressure sensor communicates with the storage chamber by way of a connection housing anchored in an opening of a wall surface of the inner container. An exposed surface of the connection housing facing the storage chamber is flush with the surrounding wall surface.