Modular universal air supply device for refrigerator, refrigerator, and method for manufacturing refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator air duct designs require multiple molds and management complexities due to varying widths, leading to increased costs and management waste, as the heat insulation layer and inner liner need modification to accommodate different air duct sizes, causing condensation issues.
Innovation Solution
A modular universal air supply device with an air duct main body, widening modules, and adjustable cover plates that allow for universal installation of air ducts with different widths within the same cabinet, using thermal insulation material like PE foam to prevent condensation, and a method for manufacturing refrigerators with these components to reduce mold costs and management complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air duct width is increased to meet diversified appearance requirements, then the air duct can accommodate different width requirements, but the heat insulation layer and inner liner need to be widened and modified, resulting in new mold opening costs and increased device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply device is divided into a fixed cabinet body and a separable air duct assembly. The air duct can be independently widened or modified without affecting the cabinet structure, allowing different width configurations using the same basic mold for the cabinet body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabinet body is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate air ducts of different widths. The fixed cabinet body serves multiple functions: structural support, heat insulation housing, and mounting platform for various air duct configurations, eliminating the need for separate cabinet molds for each air duct width.
2Reliability
If the heat insulation layer is widened to accommodate wider air ducts, then thermal insulation performance is maintained, but new mold opening is required and management waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulation layer is integrated into the fixed cabinet body as a unified thermal insulation system. This combined structure maintains consistent thermal insulation performance across different air duct configurations without requiring separate heat insulation components or molds for each variant.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air duct designs are created for different widths, then specific width requirements are met, but management confusion and waste occur
Solution Approach 1:
A universal cabinet body design serves as a platform for multiple air duct width configurations. The standardized cabinet structure can accommodate different air duct sizes through modular air duct assemblies, reducing the need for multiple cabinet variants and minimizing management waste.
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
The modular design reduces mold costs and management waste by allowing universal use of air ducts and inner liners across different platforms, enabling efficient airflow and preventing condensation, thus achieving cross-platform universality and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal insulation material layer 60 disposed between the air duct main body 20 and the front cover portion 41; and a thermal insulation material layer 60 disposed between the widening module 30 and the corresponding widening cover portion 51
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a modular universal air supply device for a refrigerator, the refrigerator, and a method for manufacturing the refrigerator. The modular universal air supply device comprises: an air duct main body (20); two optional widening modules (30) arranged on two lateral sides of the air duct main body (20); and a first optional air duct covering plate (40) and/or a second optional air duct covering plate (50) each comprising a front cover part (41) and two connection parts (42) arranged on two lateral sides of the front cover part (41); the front cover parts (41) are arranged on a front side of the air duct main body (20), and each connection part (42) is configured to be mounted on a refrigerator body; and the second optional air duct covering plate (50) further comprises two widening cover parts (51), and each widening cover part (51) is connected to one lateral side of a front cover part (41) and is arranged on a front side of one optional widening module (30). The universality of the refrigerator body and air duct foam can be improved, the molding cost is reduced, waste in terms of administration caused by too many air ducts and refrigerator bodies is reduced, air ducts with different apparent widths can be installed in the same refrigerator body, and cross-platform air duct module universality and refrigerator body universality are achieved.