Refrigerator Door Opening Cam Control for Reduced Motor Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door opening devices require frequent operation of the driving motor, leading to reduced lifespan and potential malfunction due to excessive use, and delayed door opening when opening one door after another.
Innovation Solution
A door opening device with a rotation cam and actuating member that allows the driving motor to rotate in one direction to open both doors, utilizing a return spring for minimal motor use and a controller to manage door opening signals, detect malfunctions, and adjust operation modes to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driving motor rotates forward and in reverse to open doors using a conventional door opening device, then the door can be opened, but the lifespan of the driving motor and relay is shortened due to frequent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The return spring automatically returns the actuating member to its initial position after the door is opened, eliminating the need for the driving motor to reverse rotate. The system uses the stored elastic energy of the return spring to perform the return action, making the system partially self-serving and reducing motor operation frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation cam is designed with protrusions and spacing portions that are alternately disposed, creating a periodic structure. When the actuating member rotates, it sequentially contacts these protrusions and spacing portions, enabling the door opening device to open different doors in a periodic sequence without requiring the motor to reverse, thus reducing frequent bidirectional operations.
2Ease of operation
If the driving motor rotates forward and in reverse to open one door and then the other, then both doors can be opened, but the opening of the doors is delayed due to frequent motor operations
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation cam with alternately disposed protrusions and spacing portions creates a periodic action sequence. When the actuating member rotates continuously in one direction, it sequentially engages with these periodic features to open multiple doors in succession without motor reversal, significantly reducing the time required to open both doors compared to bidirectional motor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving motor operates continuously in one direction to rotate the actuating member through multiple door opening cycles. The return spring ensures continuous return of the actuating member to its initial position, maintaining continuous useful action without interruption for motor reversal, thereby increasing door opening productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the driving motor is frequently driven to open doors sequentially, then the door can be opened, but the driving motor may malfunction due to excessive use
Solution Approach 1:
The return spring performs the return function automatically without requiring motor intervention, making the system self-servicing for the return stroke. This reduces the total number of motor starting and stopping cycles, thereby reducing wear and potential malfunction from excessive use.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic structure of the rotation cam with alternately disposed protrusions and spacing portions enables the system to handle sequential door opening in a standardized periodic manner, optimizing motor operation cycles and preventing excessive or abnormal motor usage that could lead to malfunction.
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 reduces the number of driving motor operations, prolongs its lifespan, and prevents malfunction by minimizing motor use and detecting issues early, while also enabling rapid door opening and protecting against excessive operation.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring to return the actuating member to an initial position after opening one of the first and second doors
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a door opening device to easily open a door and a control method thereof are disclosed. The device opens doors using rotation of a driving motor, returns to an initial state without rotating the driving motor in reverse after opening doors, and opens doors using only forward and reverse rotation of driving motor when doors are sequentially opened. Moreover, position of rotation cam is detected at initial state when power is supplied or during operation to determine whether the device is malfunctioning. In the early time when position of the rotation cam is detected, the driving motor is rotated by force so that malfunction of driving motor due to chattering is prevented. Frequency of opening doors by a door opening signal is determined and the device is driven in a mode so that damage is prevented due to excessive operation.