Motorized Refrigerator Door Opening With Push Rod Load Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator door opening mechanisms are prone to damage due to external loads and improper control, leading to issues like gear and motor overload, and the door often rattles during opening.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a push rod and motor system controlled by a controller that maintains contact with the cabinet during door opening, reduces motor rotational speed, and detects external loads to prevent damage, ensuring smooth operation and maintaining the door open state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driving motor constantly operates until the push rod moves to the set position, then the door opening function is achieved, but the push rod and gears are broken or the driving motor is damaged due to external force applied to the refrigerator door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the motor operational state changeable - the motor operates continuously during normal door opening, but switches to intermittent operation when external force is detected, allowing the system to adapt its behavior based on real-time conditions to prevent damage while maintaining functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The position detecting member provides feedback about the push rod's position to the controller. When the push rod reaches the set position, this feedback triggers the controller to stop the motor temporarily, creating a control loop that prevents overload damage while maintaining door opening capability
2Reliability
If the driving motor constantly operates until the push rod moves to the set position, then the door opening function is achieved, but the driving motor is damaged due to overload
Solution Approach 1:
The motor's operational characteristics are made dynamic - switching between continuous operation during normal door opening and intermittent operation when external force is detected, allowing the system to reduce power consumption and prevent overload while maintaining door opening functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The controller preemptively stops the motor when external force is detected during door opening, preventing the motor from entering an overloaded state before damage can occur, thus protecting the motor while maintaining door opening capability
3Reliability
If the push rod moves forward to the set position, then the door opening function is achieved, but the push rod and/or gear are damaged when the user closes the door after increasing the opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stops the motor when the push rod reaches the set position, creating a pause before the user can manually close the door. This preliminary action prevents the scenario where the user closes the door while the motor is still operating, thereby protecting the push rod and gears from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The position detecting member provides feedback that triggers the controller to stop the motor when the push rod reaches the set position, creating a control loop that prevents the motor from operating during manual door closure, thus protecting the mechanical components
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a cabinet in which a storage compartment is formed; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a door opening device having a push rod which may move from an initial position to a door opening position for opening the refrigerator door and a motor for providing power to the push rod; and a controller controlling the motor, wherein the controller controls the push rod to move to the door opening position while in close contact with the cabinet or the refrigerator door in order to open the refrigerator door, and controls voltage supply to the motor so that a time period when the push rod is moved to the door opening position is maintained for a certain time.