Refrigerator Rear Fitting Cover for Food-Safe Fire Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household refrigeration appliances lack an effective solution for securely and safely accommodating electrical and electronic components within the insulating foam, while ensuring food safety and fire protection standards are met.

Innovation Solution

A household refrigeration appliance design featuring a backing part partially foamed in insulating foam, with a cover system comprising an outer cover made of food-safe material and an inner cover made of flame-retardant material, using a fastening device with grooves and bulges for secure attachment, allowing for easy access and protection of electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-material cover is used for the backing part, then the structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously satisfy food safety requirements and flame retardancy requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover structureVSAvoidsafety compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into two distinct parts: an outer cover made of food-safe material and an inner cover made of flame-retardant material. Each part serves its specific safety function, allowing the system to meet both food safety and fire safety requirements simultaneously without compromising overall structure integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different materials are applied to different parts of the cover structure based on local requirements. The outer cover uses food-safe material where it contacts food, while the inner cover uses flame-retardant material where fire protection is critical, optimizing safety performance for each specific location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the backing part is securely fixed in the insulating foam, then the electrical components are protected, but the access and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidcomponent accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed with a detachable fastening system using grooves and corresponding protrusions that allow the cover to be easily removed and reattached. This dynamic connection enables maintenance personnel to access electrical components when needed while ensuring the components are securely protected during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as an intermediary element between the fixed backing part and the external environment. It provides a removable barrier that protects electrical components when attached while allowing easy access when removed, mediating between the need for security and the need for accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the cover is tightly sealed to the backing part, then the electrical components are well protected, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidfastening accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system uses groove-protrusion interfaces that provide multiple contact points and tolerance compensation. The grooves in the backing part receive corresponding protrusions on the cover, creating a robust mechanical connection that maintains protection effectiveness while being tolerant of normal manufacturing variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 solution provides secure, accessible, and protected electrical components while ensuring food safety and compliance with safety standards, such as IEC/UL 60335, by using a dual-layer cover system that is both food-safe and flame-retardant.

Implementation Method 1

a backing part which is at least partially foamed into the insulating foam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Implementation Method 2

the backing part is partially foamed into the insulating foam in order to fix it to the thermally insulated wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3832233B1Domestic refrigerating device with a rear fitting part and method for manufacturing the domestic refrigerating device
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3832233B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832233B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3832233B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance (1) and a method for manufacturing the household refrigeration appliance (1).The household refrigerating appliance (1) comprises a coolable interior (4) for storing food, a refrigeration device (12) for cooling the coolable interior (4), a thermally insulated wall (2) comprising an inner skin (3) defining the coolable interior (4) and an insulating foam adjacent to the side (3b) of the inner skin (3) facing away from the coolable interior (4), at least one electrical and/or electronic component (27), a backing part (21) at least partially embedded in the insulating foam, on which the electrical and/or electronic component (27) is arranged and which has a front (23) accessible via an opening (3c) in the inner skin (3) through which the electrical and/or electronic component (27) is accessible, and a cover (22) attached to the backing part (21) for covering the front (23) of the backing part (21) and the electrical and/or electronic component (27).The cover (22) comprises an outer cover (29) and an inner cover (30) attached to the outer cover (29), which is arranged between the outer cover (29) and the front (23) of the storage part (21). The outer cover (29), at least one side (29a) of the outer cover (29) facing the coolable interior (4), is made of a food-safe material, and the inner cover (30), at least one side of the inner cover (30) facing the front (23) of the storage part (21), is made of a flame-retardant material.