Glazed door for cooling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The marketing of fresh and ultra-fresh food products in self-service stores using open vertical refrigerated cabinets leads to significant heat exchange between the store atmosphere and the colder cabinet interior, increasing energy consumption and reducing customer comfort, as conventional cold doors with physical barriers can hinder sales and are inefficient for positive cold applications.
Innovation Solution
A glazed opening for climate chambers with integrated hinge support sections between glass substrates, eliminating the external structural frame, enhancing visibility and reducing manufacturing costs, and incorporating a door closure reminder system with damping function and non-magnetic seals to minimize thermal bridging and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional cold doors with external structural frames are used, then the opening provides structural support and hinge mounting, but the frame significantly reduces visibility through the glazing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the external structural frame from the glazing assembly, integrating the hinge support function directly into the glass substrate through embedded reinforcement elements. This eliminates the obstructive frame while maintaining necessary structural support for the door mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional frame structure surrounding the glazing to a three-dimensional embedded reinforcement system within the glass substrate itself. The hinge support is created by embedding rigid elements within the thickness of the glass, moving the structural function from the perimeter to the interior volume.
2Ease of operation
If open vertical refrigerated cabinets are used for self-service, then customer access to products is facilitated, but significant heat exchange increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies low-emissivity coatings to the glazing surfaces, changing the optical and thermal parameters of the glass. This coating reflects infrared radiation while maintaining visible light transmission, thereby reducing heat transfer between the store environment and the refrigerated cabinet interior while preserving customer visibility and access.
3Ease of manufacture
If glazed openings with integrated hinge support between glass substrates are used, then visibility is enhanced and manufacturing costs are reduced, but the hinge mounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge support function with the glazing structure itself by embedding reinforcement elements within the glass substrate. This integration eliminates the need for separate external mounting structures, reducing the total number of components and simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the increased complexity of the embedded hinge mechanism.
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
This solution optimizes energy savings and customer comfort by reducing heat exchange and maintaining clear visibility while minimizing manufacturing costs and thermal bridging, ensuring effective temperature preservation and improved sales through unobstructed product access.
Implementation Method 1
insulating glazing comprising at least two glass substrates spaced apart by at least one gas layer
Implementation Method 2
a first low-emissivity transparent coating on an inner face of the outer substrate
Implementation Method 3
an anti-fog or anti-frost layer, thus avoiding means usual heating systems
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 8(1)~8
AI summary
The frame has an insulating glass (20) including two inner and outer glass substrates (21, 23) spaced by a spacer arranged at periphery of the glass substrates for arranging a gas gap (25) between the glass substrates. The glass has an oblong section (4) forming a support for an articulation unit (3) of the frame. The support section is arranged between the glass substrates at an edge of the glass and opposite to the gas gap with respect to the spacer. The support section is arranged along a side of the glass. The articulation unit is cooperated with the support section.