Refrigerator Door Hinge With Fluid Connection for Full Interior Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with water dispensing units in the door often have limited interior access due to the use of single, rigid hinge axes, which restrict the door's opening angle and create a partially blocked opening, impeding access to the interior.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-joint hinge system with an arc-routed cable and a supporting carrier to facilitate both rotational and translational movements of the door, allowing the cable to be easily pulled out or pushed into the door or housing without snagging, and providing a vertical section to absorb torsion, ensuring the door can be opened fully without obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a single rigid hinge axis is used to support heavy doors with components, then mechanical stability is improved, but the door opening behavior and free opening cross section are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into multiple segments (first hinge part, second hinge part, third hinge part) connected by joint pins, forming a multi-joint hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows the hinge to achieve both stability through multiple connection points and improved door opening behavior through the coordinated movement of segments, resolving the contradiction between mechanical stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge transitions from a static, rigid single-axis design to a dynamic multi-joint mechanism where the joint pins can rotate relative to each other. This dynamic capability allows the hinge to adapt to the door's weight and opening motion, providing stability when closed while enabling smooth opening behavior and improving the free opening cross section.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door thickness is increased to accommodate components, then component mounting capability is improved, but the free opening cross section is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-joint hinge segments the door support function across multiple hinge parts and joint pins distributed along the door edge. This allows components to be mounted on the door without requiring excessive thickness at a single location, as the distributed hinge structure provides multiple mounting surfaces while maintaining a slimmer overall door profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism extends the door support function into the depth dimension through multiple joint pins arranged along the door thickness, rather than relying on a single thick hinge axis. This dimensional distribution allows components to be mounted on the door face while the hinge mechanism handles the structural load, reducing the need for increased door thickness.
3Device complexity
If the cable is routed directly through the hinge bearing point, then connection simplicity is improved, but the cable reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing is extracted from the hinge bearing point itself and redirected through a separate path between the first and second hinge parts. This separation removes the cable from the high-stress hinge rotation zone, preventing cable damage while maintaining connection simplicity through the straightforward routing between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The space between the first and second hinge parts serves as an intermediary pathway for the cable, mediating between the component on the door and the housing. This intermediary route protects the cable from the mechanical stresses of hinge operation while maintaining a simple and direct connection path.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerating device (1), in particular a refrigerator and/or a freezer cabinet, comprising a heat-insulating housing (2) and a heat-insulating door (3). At least one component (4) is provided on or in the door (3), said component being fluidically and/or electrically connected by means of a line (5) to at least one element (6) which is arranged on the housing (2). The door (3) is articulated to the housing (2) by means of a multilink hinge (7). A support (13), which supports the line (5) when the door is open, is provided in the intermediate area between the door (13) and the housing (2). The invention is characterised in that the inner chamber of the refrigerating device (1) can be almost completely accessed, when a water dispensing unit (20) is provided on the door (3) and even with solid doors (3).