Pivoting Inner Refrigerator Container to Reduce Cold Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with auxiliary storage compartments face issues such as increased power consumption due to cold air leakage, deformation, and sagging, especially when a single door is used to access both the main and auxiliary storage regions, leading to reduced storage space and interference with the cabinet's inner surface.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a pivotally rotatable container with a metal frame and integrated horizontal and vertical parts, supported by a second hinge member, which allows for independent rotation and minimizes sagging by distributing weight evenly and preventing distortion, while a single door seals both compartments effectively without the need for additional gaskets or heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single door is used to access both main and auxiliary storage compartments, then device complexity is reduced, but cold air leakage increases causing higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary storage compartment is segmented from the main storage compartment by providing it with an independent pivotally rotatable container structure. This allows the auxiliary compartment to be accessed independently through its own hinge mechanism, enabling selective opening without necessarily opening the main compartment door, thus reducing cold air leakage while maintaining simplified overall device structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the auxiliary storage compartment body is filled with insulator to reduce volume, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the auxiliary storage region volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator is selectively applied only to specific regions of the auxiliary storage compartment body where thermal insulation is most needed, rather than filling the entire body. This localized insulation approach maintains adequate thermal performance while preserving maximum storage volume for food items.
3Ease of operation
If the auxiliary storage compartment body volume is reduced to avoid interference with cabinet inner surface, then ease of operation is improved, but the auxiliary storage region volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary storage compartment is designed as a nested structure that fits within the main storage compartment space. The container is pivotally mounted to allow it to nest within the cabinet when closed, and rotate outward when opened, minimizing interference with the cabinet inner surface while maintaining adequate storage volume.
4Productivity
If the auxiliary storage compartment is made compact to fit within main storage compartment, then productivity is improved, but the auxiliary storage region volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary storage compartment utilizes vertical space and three-dimensional positioning within the main storage compartment rather than only horizontal expansion. By employing a pivotally rotatable container design, it efficiently uses available space in multiple dimensions, achieving compact integration while maintaining adequate storage volume through optimized spatial arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet (10) configured to define a first storage region in which food is stored, a door (20) rotatably connected to a first rotating shaft via a first hinge member (40) to open or close the first storage region, the first rotating shaft being located at the front of the cabinet (10), a gasket provided at the door (20) and a container (100) configured to define a second storage region, the second storage region being received in the first storage region, the container (100) being rotatably connected to a second rotating shaft via a second hinge member (200), the second rotating shaft being located at the door (20).