Heatable Refrigerator Door Bar With Closed-Door Power Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-door refrigeration appliances face challenges in maintaining a sealed interior due to gaps between doors, leading to ambient air infiltration and condensation on heatable struts, and existing solutions complicate the routing of electrical heating device supply lines through complex hinge constructions.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance design with a first door carrying a heatable strut, where electrical heating is supplied via a contact on the body that connects galvanically with the door when closed, and an additional supply line routed through the hinge or interior lighting housing, ensuring reliable heating current supply regardless of hinge design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strut is mounted on a door to seal the gap between doors, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the strut is exposed to ambient air through gaps causing condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the strut by introducing an electrical heating device that raises the strut's temperature above the dew point, preventing condensation. This is achieved by routing a heating supply line through the hinge mechanism, allowing electrical energy to be delivered to the strut despite its exposed position between moving doors.
2Reliability
If an electrical heating device is provided for the strut, then condensation is prevented, but routing the supply line through complex hinge constructions becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge serves multiple functions: it mechanically connects the door to the body, enables door pivoting movement, and simultaneously acts as a conduit for the electrical heating supply line. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate routing mechanisms and simplifies the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary element that facilitates the passage of the heating supply line from the stationary body to the moving door-mounted strut. By utilizing the existing hinge structure as a mediator, the patent avoids the complexity of creating dedicated cable management systems.
3Shape
If decorative panels cover the doors for aesthetic purposes, then appearance is improved, but hinge constructions become more complicated preventing cable routing
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed to perform both its mechanical function of enabling door movement and its electrical function of conducting heating current, even in the presence of decorative panels. The universal design allows the same hinge structure to serve multiple purposes without requiring additional components or complex modifications.
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 design effectively prevents condensation on the strut by ensuring a reliable electrical heating supply without complex sealing or routing issues, maintaining a sealed interior and adapting to various hinge and decorative panel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
which contains an electrical heating device
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising a carcass (1) and a couple of doors (4, 5) which are hinged to opposite sides (2, 3) of the carcass (1) and jointly delimit a first interior (7). A first door (4) of said couple of doors (4, 5) supports a bar (9) that engages into the interior (7) in the closed position of the first door (4), is provided with a contact surface (12) against which a rear side of the second door (5) rests in the closed position of both doors (4, 5), and is fitted with an electrical heating device (17). A supply contact (25) is attached to a housing of an interior light (22), said housing being mounted on the carcass (1). The supply contact (25), via which an electrical supply circuit of the electrical heating device (17) is conducted, is galvanically connected to a complementary contact (26) of the first door (4) when the first door (4) is closed.