Refrigerator Air Duct Shielding With Dual Rotating Outlet Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The air supply capacity of traditional air-cooled refrigerators is limited due to a small area proportion of the air outlet in the air duct shielding device, which restricts the refrigerating and freshness-keeping performance.

Innovation Solution

An air duct shielding device with a fan base, a first adjusting part having a rotary disc and shielding sheets, and a second adjusting part with shielding sheets, allowing for adjustable exposure and shielding of air outlets to increase the air outlet area, thereby enhancing air supply and refrigerating capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a traditional air duct shielding device with a single shielding layer is used, then the device structure is simple, but the air outlet area proportion is limited to less than 50%, restricting air supply capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidair supply capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding function is segmented into two independent shielding layers (first shielding layer and second shielding layer) instead of a single layer. Each layer can be independently adjusted to control air outlet exposure, allowing the air outlet area proportion to exceed 50% while maintaining structural manageability through modular segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the air outlet area is increased to improve air supply capacity, then refrigerating performance improves, but the device requires more complex adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply capacityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Both shielding layers are designed with rotational adjustment capabilities, transforming the static shielding structure into a dynamic system. The first shielding layer rotates around a first axis and the second shielding layer rotates around a second axis, enabling flexible real-time adjustment of air outlet exposure area to optimize air supply capacity according to different refrigeration needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The second shielding layer is nested within the structure formed by the first shielding layer. The second shielding layer's rotating disc is positioned inside the region enclosed by the first shielding layer's rotating disc, creating a nested configuration that allows both layers to function independently while sharing space efficiently, reducing overall device complexity.

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

The adjustable air outlet area increases air supply capacity, improving the refrigerating performance of air-cooled refrigerators by allowing for variable air supply and reducing the air duct blind region, thus enhancing food freshness and storage time.

Implementation Method 1

a fan 6 mounted in the fan base 5

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a shielding sheet 31 on the air duct shielding disc 3 is rotated out of an accommodating space 52 of an escaping portion 51 on the fan base 5, and an air outlet 53 on the fan base 5 is partially or completely closed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical Blocking: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP4145071B1Air-cooled refrigerator and air duct blocking device thereof
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 QINDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP4145071B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4145071B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4145071B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention discloses an air duct shielding device and an air-cooled refrigerator; the air duct shielding device includes: a fan base having a plurality of air outlets; a first adjusting part having a rotary disc portion and a plurality of first shielding sheets arranged at intervals, the first adjusting part being configured to controllably rotate around an axis of the rotary disc portion; and a second adjusting part provided between the first adjusting part and the fan base, the second adjusting part having a plurality of second shielding sheets arranged at intervals; wherein when the first adjusting part rotates around the axis of the rotary disc portion, the second adjusting part is driven to rotate, such that the first shielding sheet and/or the second shielding sheet completely shield(s), partially shield(s) or completely expose(s) each air outlet, thereby adjusting an air outlet area of each of the plural air outlets.