No-Frost Evaporator Module With Labyrinth Seal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing no-frost refrigeration devices have complex evaporator assemblies that are difficult to install and require multiple parts, leading to a cumbersome assembly process and potential air flow losses due to the separation of evaporator and cold spaces.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece design integrating the web with the wall and carrier elements, forming a labyrinth seal, with cooperating detent means for simplified assembly and reduced air flow losses, where the fan is mounted on a shell with the impeller and motor positioned to prevent heat transfer into the air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the evaporator assembly uses a conventional multi-part design with separate components, then each component can be manufactured independently, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (carrier, web, air duct, and fan support) into a single integrated carrier element. The web is formed as an integral part of the carrier, and the air duct is directly connected to the carrier structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations and reducing the total number of parts.
2Ease of manufacture
If the evaporator and cold space are separated with multiple components, then manufacturing and assembly of individual parts is easier, but air flow losses occur at the interfaces between components
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is integrated directly into the carrier structure, creating a continuous flow path from the evaporator through the air duct to the cold space without interruptions or gaps. This integration eliminates air leakage at interfaces and reduces turbulence, thereby minimizing energy losses in the air flow system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the fan is mounted separately from the air duct, then the fan can be installed independently, but the positioning and alignment become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fan support structure is integrated into the carrier element, creating a unified assembly where the fan, air duct, and support structure are positioned relative to each other in a single manufacturing step. This integration ensures precise alignment and eliminates the need for separate positioning operations during installation.
4Device complexity
If the motor is positioned close to the air flow path, then the structure is simpler, but heat from the motor directly heats the circulated air
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is positioned in a separate compartment or zone within the carrier structure, spatially separated from the air flow path. This segmentation prevents direct thermal coupling between the motor and the circulated air, allowing the motor to be close to the air flow path structurally while maintaining thermal independence.
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 design simplifies the assembly process, reduces the number of parts, and enhances air flow efficiency by minimizing direct heat transfer into the air stream, ensuring effective cooling distribution without significant losses.
Implementation Method 1
a fan 11 with impeller 12 and motor 13 is accommodated, which extracts air from the evaporator chamber 5 and forces it into an air duct 14
Implementation Method 2
The web and a wall of the shell preferably form a labyrinth seal, so that the air flow driven by the fan reaches the cooling space of the refrigeration appliance essentially without losses
Implementation Method 3
The refrigerator has a body 1 and a door 2, which are each realized in a conventional manner as a hollow body filled with a heat-insulating foam thermal insulation layer 3. The partition wall 4 is formed by the bottom of a support 7 for an evaporator assembly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an evaporator module for a no-frost cooling device, comprising an evaporator, a housing (7) which surrounds the evaporator and a ventilator (11) which is arranged on a passage (10) of the housing. A path (17), which forms a wall of an air channel (13) which communicates with the inside of the housing via a passage (10), is formed in a protruding manner on the outer side of the housing (7).