Refrigerator Heating Pipe Mounting to Limit Inner Case Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing refrigerator designs face issues with deformation due to thermal contraction differences between plastic inner cases and steel outer cases, leading to reduced insulation performance and rigidity, which affects internal capacity and storage efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design that incorporates a reinforcement structure, including a heating pipe fixed to the inner case using clips and mounting portions, and a reinforcement frame to enhance rigidity and prevent deformation, while also improving spatial utility with an electric apparatus box and a steel reinforcement plate for fire prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the thickness of the insulating material is reduced to increase internal capacity, then the internal capacity is improved, but the insulation performance is lowered and rigidity is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal capacityVSAvoidinsulation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite insulation structure combining foam insulating material with a reflective insulation layer (aluminum foil). This composite approach allows reduced foam thickness while maintaining insulation performance through the synergistic effect of both materials, resolving the contradiction between internal capacity and insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a reinforcement frame made of steel material that forms a rigid skeleton within the refrigerator body. This reinforcement structure compensates for the loss of rigidity when insulating material thickness is reduced, allowing thinner insulation while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If the thickness of the insulating material is reduced to increase internal capacity, then the internal capacity is improved, but the rigidity is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal capacityVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If heating pipe is fixed directly to inner case, then the fixing is simple, but deformation of inner case occurs due to thermal contraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing structure complexityVSAvoidinner case deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mounting portion as an intermediary component between the heating pipe and the inner case. This mounting portion absorbs the thermal contraction stress, preventing direct transmission to the inner case and avoiding deformation while maintaining a relatively simple fixing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The design effectively reduces deformation, enhances insulation performance, and improves the structural integrity of the refrigerator, while preventing fire spread and optimizing internal space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

a heating pipe (400) fixed to a front edge of the inner case (11) to prevent dew condensation that occurs in the outer case (13)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

An insulating material is foamed between the inner case and the outer case so as to prevent outflow of cold air in the storage compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the plastic material has an approximately five times larger quantity of thermal contraction than that of the steel material, when the body thermally contracts, the inner case contracts greatly compared to the outer case and thus, while the temperature of the body is lowered to the room temperature, central parts of both sides of the body are deformed in a convex shape toward an outside of the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentUS9970701B2Refrigerator having a heating pipe

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A refrigerator reduces a quantity of deformation of a body by improving rigidity of the body using a reinforcement structure. The refrigerator may include an electric apparatus box in which electric apparatus components for controlling an operation of the refrigerator are accommodated. Electric apparatus components may be disposed in a hinge cover which is disposed in the front of the refrigerator to improve spatial utility and a reinforcement plate formed of a steel material may be disposed in the electric apparatus box to prevent a fire from spreading. A heating pipe fixed to a front edge of an inner case of the refrigerator prevents dew condensation in an outer case of the refrigerator. The heating pipe is mounted on a fixing groove formed in a mounting portion provided on the front edge of the inner case. The heating pipe is fixed to the mounting portion using a clip.