Motor-Driven Refrigerator Drawer with Anti-Wobble Rail Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator designs, particularly bottom freezer types, face challenges in user convenience and accessibility due to the need for users to stoop to open the freezer compartment, potential cold air leakage, and limited accessibility caused by motor and gear assemblies, which also complicate the support structure for stacked storage boxes.

Innovation Solution

A drawer movement apparatus with a drive motor and pinion system integrated into the freezer compartment floor, coupled with a rail assembly and anti-wobble alignment apparatus, allows for automatic and controlled movement of the storage box, eliminating the need for a separate handle and enhancing accessibility by preventing lateral wobbling and ensuring consistent withdrawal speed regardless of the weight of contents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a motor and gear assembly is provided to automatically open the freezer compartment, then user convenience is improved, but the support structure for stacked storage boxes becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor assembly is merged with the drawer assembly by integrating it into the drawer bottom, allowing the motor to directly drive the drawer without requiring a separate gear assembly. This combining of functions simplifies the support structure while maintaining automatic opening capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear assembly is extracted and eliminated from the system. The motor is configured to directly drive the drawer through its rotation, removing the intermediate mechanical transmission components that would complicate the support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a separate handle is provided for manual opening, then accessibility is improved, but the refrigerator dimensions and packaging space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidrefrigerator dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer is equipped with self-service opening capability through the motor assembly that automatically detects and responds to user intent (such as knocking or pulling), eliminating the need for a protruding handle while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical handle system is replaced with an automated motor-driven system that can be activated by various inputs (knocking, pulling, or button press), removing the need for external manual handling components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the drawer is allowed to move freely, then ease of withdrawal is improved, but lateral wobbling occurs affecting stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of withdrawalVSAvoidlateral stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Guiding rails are introduced as intermediary components between the drawer and the refrigerator body. These rails constrain the drawer movement to a linear path, preventing lateral wobbling while maintaining smooth withdrawal and insertion operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding rails provide localized constraint only in the lateral direction, allowing free movement in the withdrawal direction. This selective constraint maintains stability where needed while preserving ease of operation where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If the motor is positioned to provide sufficient driving force, then productivity is improved, but the available storage space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer movement efficiencyVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor assembly is nested within the drawer bottom structure, utilizing the existing drawer volume to house the motor components. This integration allows the motor to be positioned optimally for driving force while minimizing the impact on overall storage space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 improves user convenience by enabling automatic and controlled movement of the storage box, reduces the need for a separate handle, maintains insulation integrity, and ensures consistent withdrawal speed, thus enhancing the usability and efficiency of the refrigerator.

Implementation Method 1

A drawer movement apparatus with a drive motor and pinion system integrated into the freezer compartment floor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8169175B2System and method for driving a drawer in a refrigerator

Publication Date: 2012.05.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A system and method for driving a drawer of a refrigerator and a refrigerator employing this system is provided. This system and method allows for the automatic opening and closing of multiple drawers of a refrigerator either sequentially or simultaneously. The system automatically closes a first drawer after a second drawer has been opened to reduce the loss of cooling air and to preserve freshness of items stored in the refrigerator.