Improved evaporator mounting structure refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators have evaporators located at the rear of the bottommost storage space, which reduces the front-rear direction volume, limits storage space depth, and makes it inconvenient to place large or difficult-to-separate articles.

Innovation Solution

The evaporator is placed on the bottom wall of the storage liner with integrated limit structures, such as ribs, and is fixed with a top cover, enhancing its positioning and stability, while the air supply duct is designed to prevent falling and ensure stable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the evaporator is located at the rear part of the bottommost storage space, then the evaporator can be installed in a compact position, but the front-rear direction volume of the storage space is reduced and the depth of the storage space is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space volumeVSAvoidevaporator installation structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaporator is repositioned from the rear horizontal location to the bottom vertical location of the storage space. The bottom wall is designed with an evaporator cavity that accommodates the evaporator, changing the spatial arrangement from horizontal occupation to vertical placement. This dimensional change allows the evaporator to be installed at the bottom of the storage space rather than at the rear, thereby increasing the front-rear direction volume and depth of the storage space while maintaining compact installation through the integrated cavity structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the evaporator is located at the rear part of the bottommost storage space, then the evaporator can be installed in a fixed position, but it becomes inconvenient to place articles that are large and difficult to separate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of placing articlesVSAvoidevaporator positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The evaporator is moved from the rear horizontal position to the bottom vertical position of the storage space. By placing the evaporator in the evaporator cavity at the bottom wall, the front-rear depth of the storage space is increased, providing sufficient space for placing large articles and improving operational convenience while maintaining evaporator positioning stability through the integrated cavity and limit structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom wall of the storage space is designed with a specific evaporator cavity structure that has different local characteristics. The cavity includes limit structures at the front and rear ends, and side walls with fixing supports, creating localized regions with different functions: the cavity provides evaporator accommodation and positioning, while the surrounding area maintains full storage capacity for articles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the evaporator is placed on the bottom wall with limit structures, then the storage space height is increased and user bending is reduced, but the evaporator requires integrated limit structures for positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser bending reductionVSAvoidlimit structure integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The limit structures are integrally formed with the bottom wall of the storage space rather than being separate components. The front and rear limit structures are directly molded into the bottom wall, eliminating the need for additional positioning parts and simplifying the overall structure. This merging approach provides evaporator positioning functionality while maintaining a simple, integrated design that does not increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom wall structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural base of the storage space, creates the evaporator cavity for evaporator accommodation, and forms the integrated limit structures for evaporator positioning. The bottom wall structure serves itself by incorporating all necessary evaporator support and positioning features directly into its design, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration increases storage space height, reduces user bending, facilitates the placement of large articles, and improves refrigeration efficiency by ensuring uniform air flow and preventing frosting, thus enhancing user experience and refrigeration performance.

Implementation Method 1

an evaporator, arranged in the cooling space and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling space to form a cooling airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4006462B1Improved evaporator mounting structure refrigerator
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 QINDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP4006462B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4006462B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4006462B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body, comprising a storage liner at a bottommost position; a top cover, arranged to divide the storage liner into a storage space at the upper part and a cooling space at the lower part; and an evaporator, arranged in the cooling space and configured to cool airflow entering the cooling space to form cooling airflow; wherein the evaporator is placed on a bottom wall of the storage liner, and the bottom wall is provided with a limit structure at the front part and rear part of the evaporator respectively, to realize front and rear limits of the evaporator. The bottommost space of the refrigerator of the present invention is a cooling space, which increases the height of the storage space above the cooling space and improves user experience; the evaporator is placed on the bottom wall of the storage liner, and the bottom wall is provided with a limit structure at the front part and rear part of the evaporator respectively, thereby realizing the front and rear limits of the evaporator.