French-Door Refrigerator Rotating Bar for Door-Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In French Door Refrigerators (FDR-type), the gap between the pair of doors is not effectively sealed by traditional gaskets, leading to heat insulation inefficiencies and potential cool air loss.
Innovation Solution
A rotating bar system is introduced, featuring a heat insulation member, metallic plate, and heat generating member, with an insertion protrusion that can rotate and guide into a groove to seal gaps between doors, and a sealing member to prevent interference and enhance insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional gasket is used to seal the gap between doors, then the structure is simple, but the gap between the pair of doors cannot be effectively sealed leading to heat insulation inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the sealing bar rotatable rather than fixed. The sealing bar can rotate between a first position (parallel to the door) and a second position (perpendicular to the door), allowing it to adapt to different door configurations and effectively seal the gap between doors while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing bar is divided into multiple segments including a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a connection portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific sealing function independently while working together as a complete sealing system, improving overall sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the rotating bar is always in the first position parallel to the door, then the sealing is effective, but the rotating bar interferes with the other door when one door is open
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing bar dynamically changes its orientation based on door position. When the door is closed, the sealing bar rotates to the first position parallel to the door for effective sealing. When the door is open, it rotates to the second position perpendicular to the door, clearing the path and preventing interference with the open door's movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing bar proactively rotates to the perpendicular position before the door opens, preventing potential interference. This preliminary action ensures smooth door operation without collision or obstruction, addressing the conflict between sealing effectiveness and operational ease.
3Loss of energy
If the metallic plate is directly exposed, then heat conduction is efficient, but frost forms on the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of cold temperature (which causes frost) into a beneficial heating function. The heating wire wrapped around the metallic plate generates heat that prevents frost formation while maintaining efficient heat conduction from the refrigeration system, thus eliminating the harmful frost issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the metallic plate is actively controlled by the heating wire. By adjusting and maintaining the plate's temperature above the frost point, the system prevents frost formation while preserving the plate's heat conduction efficiency for cooling purposes.
4Reliability
If the heat insulation member is not provided, then the structure is simpler, but cool air is discharged from the storage compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulation member is nested within the rotating sealing bar structure. The insulation member is positioned inside the bar, utilizing the existing structural space, thereby providing insulation functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity or occupying additional external space.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing bar employs composite construction by combining the heat insulation member with the metallic plate and other structural components. This composite structure integrates multiple functions (sealing, insulation, structural support) into a single integrated component, improving cool air retention while managing structural complexity.
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 rotating bar system ensures complete door closure, improves heat insulation efficiency, and reduces energy consumption by minimizing heat loss and frost formation, while allowing for easy operation and preventing cool air discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a heat insulation member configured to block cool air from being discharged from a storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
a heat generating member configured to radiate heat to prevent the frost from being formed at the plate
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator provided with a rotating bar configured to seal a gap between one pair of doors, capable of preventing the door from being incompletely closed due to an erroneous operation of the rotating bar, the rotating bar capable of sealing a gap formed between the rotating bar and a body as well as a gap formed between one pair of doors, the rotating bar being elastically supported by an elastic member so as to move by receiving an external force from a guide part provided on the body, the rotating bar including a sealing member protruding from the rotating bar so as to seal a gap between the rotating bar and the body.