Refrigerator Door Hinge Support Arm for Easy Aligned Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices face challenges in providing a low-cost, easy-to-assemble support arm for refrigerator doors that effectively resists tilting forces and ensures secure attachment without damaging insulation materials or other components during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A support arm with a fixation tab and corresponding fixation hole, along with a positioning tab and hole, is designed to align and secure the assembly holes, preventing radial deviations and disengagement, while a clearance tab forms a passage gap to avoid interference with insulation materials, ensuring easy and secure assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a support arm with fixation tab and positioning tab is used, then assembly ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation tab and positioning tab are pre-formed on the support arm during manufacturing. The positioning tab protrudes to align with the positioning hole before the fixation tab engages with the fixation hole, so that when the support arm is inserted into the connection plate, the holes are automatically aligned without requiring additional alignment operations by the assembler.
2Reliability
If fixation tab with seating part is used, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation tab is segmented into two functional parts: the main tab body that inserts into the fixation hole, and the seating part that presses against the inner wall of the fixation hole. This segmentation allows the tab to perform both insertion and locking functions, ensuring reliable attachment while being formable in a single stamping operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If clearance tab is added to form passage gap, then protection of insulation material is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clearance tab acts as an intermediary element that creates a passage gap between the support arm and the insulation material. This gap allows the fixation tab to be inserted and engaged without coming into contact with the insulation material, thereby protecting it from damage during the assembly process while maintaining structural integrity.
4Manufacturing precision
If positioning tab and positioning hole are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning tab is designed to protrude from the support arm and engage with the positioning hole in the connection plate before the fixation tab engages with the fixation hole. This preliminary engagement automatically aligns the assembly holes radially, ensuring precise positioning without requiring additional alignment steps or complex jigs during assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a home appliance, particularly a cooling device, having a heat insulated body (10) forming a cabinet; a door (20) hinged to said body (10); a connection plate (50) provided on the body (10) and having assembly hole (53); and a hinge (30) with a support arm (40) with an assembly hole (43) from one end connected to the connection plate (50) and from other end mounted to the door (20). Appliance further comprises a fixation tab (41) is provided on the support arm (40), and at least one fixation hole (51) provided on the connection plate (50) such that the fixation tab (41) rests therein; and the fixation hole (51) is positioned on the connection plate (50) such that the assembly holes (43, 53) are being aligned with each other when the fixation tab (41) is rested in the fixation hole (51).