Height-Adjustable Refrigerator Shelf Linkage Against Tipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration appliances with height-adjustable shelves face instability issues during height adjustment, particularly when loaded, leading to a risk of tipping and refrigerated goods falling.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device is implemented that blocks pivoting movement of arms when their axes are in the same plane, ensuring all arms rotate in the same direction, preventing tipping by limiting arm movement to specific directions and incorporating a toothed wheel or belt drive to maintain stability across different shelf positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shelf is made height-adjustable with pivotable arms, then the adaptability of the storage device is improved, but the stability of the shelf is worsened during height adjustment movement
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling device is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the pivotable arms. This coupling device synchronizes the movement of multiple arms, ensuring they pivot in the same direction and preventing opposing movements that would cause the shelf to tip. The coupling device acts as a mediator that coordinates arm movements to maintain stability during height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static arm positioning to dynamic coordinated movement. The coupling device enables the arms to move dynamically in a synchronized manner, allowing the shelf to be adjusted to different heights while maintaining stability throughout the adjustment process. The arms can pivot freely in one direction while being constrained in the opposite direction through the coupling mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the arms are allowed to pivot freely in opposite directions for sloping positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the object's composition is worsened due to tipping risk
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting motion of each arm is segmented into independent directional control. The coupling device allows each arm to pivot freely in the downward direction (enabling easy adjustment to sloping positions) while constraining upward movement in a coordinated manner. This segmentation of motion freedom enables operational ease while preventing instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device creates asymmetric constraints on arm movement: free pivoting in one direction (downward for sloping positions) and constrained coordination in the opposite direction (upward movement). This asymmetric freedom of movement allows the shelf to be easily adjusted to sloping positions while preventing tipping during adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerating appliance has a housing (1) enclosing an internal space and a storage device (8) which can be adjusted in height by arms (17) provided in the internal space. The arms (17) are pivotable about first parallel axes (18) which are spaced apart from one another and fixedly mounted to the housing and pivotable about second parallel axes (20) which are spaced apart from one another and fixedly mounted to the storage device (8). The arms (17) are connected to each other by means of a coupling device which, in a position in which the first and second axes (18, 20) of the arms (17) lie on the same plane, prevent an inverse pivotable movement of the arms (17).