Ice-Making Chamber Duct Assembly With Foam Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with ice making chambers face challenges due to the high thermal conductivity of expandable polystyrene (EPS) used in connection ducts, which increases duct size, complicates alignment with peripheral components, and requires additional fixing members, making assembly time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The use of passage forming members made from synthetic resin, such as ABS, coupled with insulation portions of polyurethane foaming agents to reduce insulation thickness and increase the size of the ice making chamber, allowing for easier alignment and assembly without additional fixing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If expandable polystyrene (EPS) is used in connection ducts, then insulation is provided, but thermal conductivity is high causing increased duct size and complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polyurethane foam (insulation material with low thermal conductivity) with a synthetic resin shell (ABS or similar). This composite structure achieves effective thermal insulation while maintaining a compact duct size and simplifying assembly, resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from EPS (high thermal conductivity) to polyurethane foam (low thermal conductivity). This parameter change in thermal conductivity allows for reduced insulation thickness and compact duct dimensions, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining insulation effectiveness.
2Loss of energy
If EPS is used in connection ducts, then insulation is achieved, but alignment with peripheral components becomes difficult requiring additional fixing members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from EPS to polyurethane foam, which has superior adhesion properties. This allows the insulation material to bond directly to peripheral components without requiring additional fixing members, greatly simplifying alignment and assembly while maintaining cold air loss prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyurethane foam's inherent adhesion property enables self-fixing to peripheral components during the foaming process. The material serves its own fixation function, eliminating the need for separate fixing members and simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Device complexity
If additional fixing members are used for connection ducts, then assembly is possible, but fabrication time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The polyurethane foam insulation material performs self-fixation to the synthetic resin shell and peripheral components through its adhesion property during the foaming process. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional fixing members, significantly reducing fabrication time and labor costs while maintaining assembly feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the insulation function and the fixation function into a single integrated system. The polyurethane foam serves both as thermal insulation and as the bonding agent that secures the connection duct to peripheral components, eliminating the need for separate fixing members and streamlining the manufacturing process.
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 reduces the insulation thickness of the connection duct, increases the size of the ice making chamber, and simplifies the assembly process by using materials with low thermal conductivity and rigidity, preventing cold air loss and reducing fabrication time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
insulation portions formed around the passage forming members by a foaming operation
Implementation Method 2
connection duct part provided with passage forming members configuring a cold air passage therein
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with an ice making chamber is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body that defines a cooling chamber, and lateral wall passages formed at a lateral wall of the cooling chamber. A door that is rotatably coupled to the cooling chamber may be provided with an ice making chamber installed on an interior side thereof, and a connection duct part that connects the ice making chamber to the lateral wall passages. The connection duct part may include passage forming members that define a cold air passage therein, and insulation portion formed around the passage forming members, whereby components of the duct may be quickly and easily assembled at correct positions.