Oxygen-Control Refrigerator Pump Placement to Reduce Noise and Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators fail to efficiently maintain a low oxygen environment in freshness preservation compartments due to high temperatures in the compressor compartment affecting the gas extraction pump's operation and generating noise through resonance with the compressor.

Innovation Solution

The gas extraction pump is positioned on a partition plate separate from the compressor, allowing for effective noise reduction and maintaining a low temperature environment, which optimizes the pump's performance and extends its service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the gas extraction pump is placed in the compressor compartment, then the structure is simplified, but the high temperature affects the pump's operation efficiency and service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidpump operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas extraction pump is separated from the compressor compartment and independently installed in the freshness preservation compartment. This segmentation allows the pump to operate in a low-temperature environment, improving its operational efficiency and service life while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of stationary object

If the gas extraction pump is placed in the compressor compartment, then the device occupies less space, but resonance with the compressor increases running noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice occupancy spaceVSAvoidrunning noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas extraction pump is extracted from the compressor compartment and relocated to the freshness preservation compartment. This extraction eliminates the resonance between the pump and compressor, significantly reducing running noise while the pump still occupies a compact space within the freshness preservation compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the gas extraction pump operates in high temperature environment, then the structure is simpler, but the oxygen content control in freshness preservation compartment is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidoxygen content control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the pump's location from the high-temperature compressor compartment to the low-temperature freshness preservation compartment, the pump can more precisely control oxygen content in the freshness preservation compartment. The low-temperature environment improves the pump's performance and control precision without complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces noise, prolongs the service life of the gas extraction pump, and enhances the freshness preservation effect by maintaining a controlled atmosphere with reduced oxygen levels in the freshness preservation compartment.

Implementation Method 1

a gas extraction pump for sucking gas in the freshness preservation compartment to facilitate reduction of an oxygen content of air therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas extraction: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a suction pump for sucking air from a vegetable container through the oxygen enrichment membrane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Data Source

PatentEP3812671B1Oxygen-control freshness preservation refrigerator
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD
  • EP3812671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3812671B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3812671B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an oxygen-control freshness preservation refrigerator, comprising a cabinet (100) with a refrigerating compartment (11) and a freezing compartment (12) formed therein. A partition plate (15) for separating the refrigerating compartment (11) from the freezing compartment (12) is arranged in the cabinet (100). The refrigerator is further provided with a freshness preservation compartment (10) arranged inside the refrigerating compartment (11) and an oxygen control device for reducing the oxygen content inside the freshness preservation compartment (10), wherein the oxygen control device comprises a gas-regulating membrane assembly (21) and a gas extraction assembly (22). The gas-regulating membrane assembly (21) is provided with at least one gas-regulating membrane for selective gas permeation. The gas extraction assembly (22) is provided with a gas extraction pump (220) arranged in the partition plate (15); and the gas extraction pump (220) is provided with a gas intake pipe (222) in communication with a gas discharge side of the gas-regulating membrane, and a gas discharge pipe (221) for discharging gas from the gas discharge side of the gas-regulating membrane.