Modular Panel Assembly for Home Chiller Machine Compartment Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliance devices, such as chillers, face inefficiencies in assembly, disassembly, cooling performance, and design, particularly in covering machine compartments, which affects their overall efficiency and stability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a home appliance device with a connection unit comprising panel modules and fin mounting elements that allow for toolless assembly and disassembly, improved air redirection, and enhanced stability, using elongate connection elements and fin reinforcement profiles made of plastic, along with air separators and cover elements for efficient air flow and uniform design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional assembly methods are used for panels in home appliance devices, then structural stability is achieved, but assembly efficiency and disassembly ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into multiple panel modules that can be independently assembled and disassembled. Each module contains fins, mounting elements, and connection elements that can be connected without tools, enabling efficient assembly while maintaining structural integrity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements are designed to be movable in the lengthwise direction of the panel during assembly, allowing dynamic adjustment and toolless connection. This mobility enables easy assembly and disassembly while the final assembled state provides structural stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If panels are made as single integrated units, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to different configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into multiple modules that can be connected in different configurations. The connection elements provide strong joints between modules, ensuring structural strength is maintained while allowing flexibility in panel arrangement and adaptation to different furniture housings.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel modules are designed with universal connection elements that can be assembled in various configurations. The same basic module can be arranged differently to suit different installation requirements, providing adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through standardized strong connections.
3Ease of manufacture
If screws are used for panel assembly, then connection strength is improved, but assembly complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional screw-based mechanical fastening is replaced with a specialized connection element system that provides toolless assembly. The connection elements incorporate mounting elements with movable components that achieve strong connections through mechanical interlocking and friction without requiring screws or other fastening tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements are designed to be self-assembling through their movable components that engage with mounting elements. The assembly process does not require external tools or complex procedures, yet achieves connection strength comparable to or exceeding traditional screw-based systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If air flow is not optimized in machine compartment, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The machine compartment is segmented with air separators that divide and direct air flow into optimized pathways. These separators are simple structural elements that can be easily manufactured and integrated, yet they significantly improve cooling performance by ensuring efficient air circulation around heat-generating components.
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 solution enhances the efficiency of home appliance devices by improving assembly and disassembly processes, cooling performance, and design, while ensuring stability and efficient air circulation, allowing for mirror-inverted panel implementation and flexible adjustment to different furniture housings.
Implementation Method 1
a connection unit for connecting the at least one panel, the panel comprising at least one or at least two or a plurality of panel module/s which has/have at least one or at least two or a plurality of fin/s
Implementation Method 2
the connecting element being movable with respect to the first fin mounting element and the fin second mounting element in a lengthwise direction of the panel in at least one pre-assembled state of the panel
Data Source
AI summary
For the purpose of improving efficiency, a home appliance device, in particular a home chiller appliance device, is proposed. The device includes at least one panel for at least partly covering an opening of a machine compartment; and a connection unit for connecting the panel; the panel comprising at least one panel module which has at least one fin, at least one first fin mounting element and at least one second fin mounting element for mounting the at least one fin, the connection unit comprising at least one connection element for connecting the at least one panel module, and wherein the connection element is movable with respect to the first fin mounting element and the second fin mounting element in a lengthwise direction of the panel in at least one pre-assembled state of the panel.