Refrigerator Base Unit with Bottom-Access Door Opening Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household refrigeration appliances face challenges in simplifying the assembly process of functional components, particularly the door opening unit, which requires reduced pulling forces and is difficult to install without interfering with thermal insulation and other components.
Innovation Solution
A door opening unit is designed to be inserted from below through a receiving shaft with a hood-like cover and integrated cable duct, allowing for easy assembly and protection from thermal insulation material, reducing the complexity of installation and ensuring precise cable routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the door opening unit is installed from below through a receiving shaft, then the assembly process is simplified and accessibility is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to the receiving shaft and cover design
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit is divided into multiple components: the base unit itself, the receiving shaft, and the hood-like cover. This segmentation allows the door opening unit to be assembled from below through the receiving shaft, simplifying the assembly process while managing structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening unit is accessed and assembled from the vertical dimension (from below through the base unit) rather than from the front or top. This dimensional change in assembly approach improves accessibility and simplifies installation without requiring disassembly of front panels or interference with thermal insulation materials.
2Ease of operation
If the door opening unit is positioned at the lower base area, then it does not interfere with the opening plunger when the door is open, but the space available for installation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening unit is positioned in the vertical dimension at the lower base area, utilizing space that would otherwise be unused. This positioning allows the opening plunger to extend forward without interference while maintaining adequate installation space through the receiving shaft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening unit is nested within the base unit structure through the receiving shaft, which provides a dedicated pathway and housing. This nesting approach maximizes the use of available space while ensuring the door opening unit does not interfere with other components like the opening plunger.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the receiving shaft is covered with a hood-like cover, then thermal insulation material is prevented from interfering with the door opening unit, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hood-like cover extracts and isolates the door opening unit from the surrounding thermal insulation material. By creating a separate covered space for the door opening unit, the design prevents thermal insulation interference while managing complexity through a focused protective structure rather than redesigning the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood-like cover acts as an intermediary structure between the door opening unit and the thermal insulation material. This intermediate element protects the door opening unit from harmful thermal insulation interference while maintaining the overall compact design without requiring major structural changes.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic refrigerator (1), with a housing (2) in which a receiving chamber (3, 5) for food is formed, and with a door (4, 6, 9) for closing the receiving chamber (3, 5), the door being arranged movably on the housing (2), wherein the housing (2) has a base unit (7), wherein the base unit (7) which is designed as an outer part of the housing (2) has a receiving well (20) in which a door opening unit (21), which is designed for at least assisting the opening of the door (4, 6, 9) is arranged, wherein the receiving well (20) has an access opening (15) which is open downwards, as viewed in the vertical direction of the domestic refrigerator (1), and through which the door opening unit (21) is insertable from below for installation in the receiving well (20). The invention also relates to a method for mounting a door opening unit (21).