Household refrigeration apparatus with a plug pin or a locking element in a wall unit of a housing of an ice maker as well as method for assembling a housing of an ice maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household refrigeration apparatuses with ice makers face challenges in accurate and efficient assembly, leading to potential thermal insulation issues and hygiene problems due to complex housing designs and difficulty in condensation water management.
Innovation Solution
A household refrigeration apparatus with an ice maker housing featuring a wall element of L-shape cross-section and a separate positioning bracket, allowing for non-destructive detachment and improved assembly accuracy, along with an integrated drain gutter for condensation water management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wall element is attached to walls of the interior container by multiple screw connections and additionally retained by an assembler, then the connection is secure, but the assembly process becomes expensive and time-consuming, and incorrect positions of the wall element may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The wall element is pre-positioned using positioning elements (protruding plug pins or locking elements) that are integrally formed with the wall unit. These positioning elements engage with corresponding receptacles in the interior container walls before final screw connection, ensuring accurate positioning is achieved in advance without requiring assembler intervention for retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning elements on the wall unit automatically engage with receptacles in the interior container, enabling the wall element to self-position and self-retain during assembly. This eliminates the need for an assembler to manually retain the wall element, reducing labor costs and assembly time while maintaining connection security.
2Strength
If the wall element is formed with a circumferential frame and bracket integrally configured, then the structural strength is improved, but the complexity of the wall element increases and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wall unit is divided into separate components: the wall element (L-shaped with first and second wall plates) and the positioning bracket. The positioning bracket is detachably connected to the wall element, allowing each component to be optimized independently. This segmentation reduces overall complexity while maintaining structural strength through proper connection design.
3Strength
If the wall element is formed with a circumferential frame and bracket integrally configured, then the structural strength is improved, but the difficulty of cleaning increases resulting in hygienic impairments
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the wall element from the positioning bracket through detachable connection, the design creates accessible interfaces and reduces crevices where condensation water could accumulate. The L-shaped wall element configuration with separate mounting bracket allows for easier access during cleaning operations compared to a fully integral complex frame structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If the wall element is attached by multiple screw connections requiring assembler retention, then the positioning accuracy can be controlled, but the assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning elements (protruding plug pins or locking elements) integrally formed with the wall unit automatically engage with receptacles in the interior container during assembly. This self-positioning mechanism ensures accurate positioning without requiring skilled assembler intervention or specialized retention tools, thereby reducing assembly costs while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A household refrigeration apparatus has an interior container with a first wall and with a second wall arranged angled thereto. The interior container bounds a first receiving space for food of the household refrigeration apparatus. An ice maker has a housing formed by a wall area of the first wall of the interior container and a wall area of the second wall of the interior container in certain areas. The housing bounds a receiving space of the ice maker. The housing has a wall unit, which is a unit separate from the interior container. The wall unit includes at least one positioning element, which is formed integrally with the wall unit and which is a protruding plug pin or a locking element.