Appliance Ladder Rack Support for Stable Storage and Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance support assemblies lack efficient mechanisms for stabilizing storage features and maintaining airflow within vacuum insulated appliances, leading to instability and reduced cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly comprising a ladder rack with adapter members, cantilever supports, rail assemblies, and spacers that engage with the inner liner to stabilize storage features and adjust gaps for improved airflow, allowing storage features to transition between stowed and deployed positions while enhancing stability and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a support assembly is added to stabilize storage features, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is divided into multiple independent components: ladder rack, adapter members, cantilever supports, rail assemblies, and spacers. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall system complexity while providing comprehensive stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Adapter members serve as intermediary components that connect the ladder rack to the cantilever supports, and spacers act as intermediaries between the cantilever supports and the inner liner. These intermediary elements simplify the connection mechanisms and enable modular assembly.
2Temperature
If spacers are used to adjust gaps for improved airflow, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are designed to automatically maintain optimal gaps between the cantilever supports and the inner liner through their own structural properties. The spacers self-adjust to maintain consistent spacing, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms and simplifying the overall system while ensuring proper airflow for cooling.
3Ease of operation
If rail assemblies are coupled to cantilever supports for storage feature movement, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage feature is extracted from a fixed position and enabled to move independently along the rail assemblies. This allows the storage feature to be accessed and removed separately while the support structure remains in place, improving accessibility without requiring complete disassembly of the support system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner. A ladder rack is coupled to the inner liner. The ladder rack includes first and second sidewalls coupled together by a connecting wall that defines a plurality of apertures. An adapter member includes a hook configured to extend through an aperture of the plurality of apertures when coupled to the ladder rack. The adapter member is coupled with a locking member that engages inner surface of first and second sidewalls of the ladder rack. A cantilever support is coupled to the adapter member and extends outward from the ladder rack. A rail assembly is coupled to an upper surface of the cantilever support. A spacer is coupled to an end of the cantilever support and abuts an inner liner surface. A storage feature is coupled to the rail assembly and is operable between stowed and deployed positions.