Modular Machine Room Layout for Compact Refrigeration Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration appliances have machine rooms that are model-specific, leading to high production costs due to the need for custom housing parts and varying assembly steps, making it difficult to create a compact machine room suitable for different device models without compromising storage chamber space.
Innovation Solution
A machine room design with modular assembly locations that allow for interchangeable components, where one assembly location can be blocked by a component mounted in another location, using a wall panel with designated mounting areas that accommodate functionally equivalent components, such as power distributors and valves, to maintain appliance functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a machine room is designed specifically for each model to be compact, then the machine room can be compact and accommodate storage chamber space, but production costs increase due to model-specific housing parts and varying assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a machine room with standardized wall panels that can accommodate multiple different components (compressor, condenser, fan, or other refrigerant circuit components) through interchangeable assembly locations. The wall panels are designed with multiple possible assembly locations, and components are equipped with corresponding mounting elements that can be positioned at different locations depending on the model requirements. This allows a single machine room design to serve multiple refrigeration appliance models without requiring model-specific housing parts, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a machine room is designed to accommodate different refrigeration appliance models with assembly locations for each component, then production costs are reduced, but the machine room dimensions increase at the expense of storage chamber space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the machine room wall into multiple discrete wall panels, each containing specific assembly locations for different components. Instead of designing a large machine room to accommodate all possible components simultaneously, the wall panels are segmented into sections that can selectively accommodate different components based on model requirements. This allows the machine room to maintain compact dimensions while still being adaptable to different configurations, as only the necessary assembly locations are activated for each specific model.
3Adaptability or versatility
If assembly locations are provided for all possible components, then the machine room can accommodate different models, but unoccupied assembly locations remain wasted space that could be used for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the machine room configuration adaptable and changeable rather than fixed. The wall panels are designed with multiple possible assembly locations, and the specific configuration of assembly locations can be dynamically adjusted depending on which components are installed in a given model. This dynamic approach allows the machine room to optimize its internal volume usage for each specific configuration, eliminating wasted space from unoccupied assembly locations while maintaining the ability to accommodate different models through selective component placement.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The refrigeration appliance comprises a motor chamber (4), which receives components of a refrigerant circuit, where mounting points for the components are provided in the motor chamber. A vacant mounting point is blocked by a component mounted in another mounting point. A wall of the motor chamber is covered with a wall panel (10,11), in which the mounting points are formed.