Ice-Making Chamber Duct Layout for More Fridge Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

In refrigerators with an ice-making chamber, the space of the cooling chamber is reduced due to the width of the ice-making chamber, and the insulation performance is compromised by a thin hinge-combining region, which also restricts the flow of foaming solution.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring a protrusion portion on the sidewall of the ice-making chamber to house the connecting duct, allowing the ice-making chamber door to be thicker without altering the cool air channel structure, thereby increasing the cooling chamber space and enhancing insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the width of the ice-making chamber is increased, then the ice-making capacity is improved, but the space of the refrigerating chamber is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice-making capacityVSAvoidrefrigerating chamber space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting duct is nested within the protrusion portion of the sidewall, allowing the duct to be housed inside the chamber wall itself rather than occupying additional space within the refrigerating chamber. This nesting approach enables the ice-making chamber to maintain its width while avoiding encroachment on the refrigerating chamber space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the connecting duct from a horizontal arrangement (occupying refrigerating chamber space) to a vertical arrangement within the protrusion portion of the sidewall. By utilizing the vertical dimension of the sidewall thickness, the duct is repositioned without reducing the horizontal space available in the refrigerating chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the thickness of the ice-making chamber door is increased to improve insulation, then the insulation performance is improved, but the structure of the cool air channel must be changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoidcool air channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sidewall is segmented into a main body and a protrusion portion, with the connecting duct specifically housed in the protrusion portion. This segmentation allows the door thickness to be increased in the main body for improved insulation while the protrusion portion accommodates the duct, maintaining the original cool air channel structure without requiring redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the thickness of the ice-making chamber door is increased, then the insulation performance is improved, but the space of the refrigerating chamber is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoidrefrigerating chamber space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If the connecting duct is provided inside the sidewall of the ice-making chamber, then the insulation is improved, but the structure of the cool air channel becomes complex and cannot be easily modified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoidcool air channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8438869B2Refrigerator with ice making room

Publication Date: 2013.05.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice-making chamber, and the refrigerator may include a refrigerator body and an ice-making chamber, and the ice-making chamber may include an ice-making chamber body one side of which is opened, a connecting duct provided in a first sidewall of the ice-making chamber to be connected to the refrigerator body, an ice-making chamber door provided at a second sidewall of the ice-making chamber to open and close the ice-making chamber, and a protrusion portion formed to be protruded at the first sidewall. Accordingly, the thickness of the ice-making chamber door can be secured without changing a cool air channel of the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing a cooling chamber.