Refrigerator Body Reinforcement Structure for Thin-Wall Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerator designs face issues with deformation due to thermal contraction differences between plastic and steel materials, leading to reduced insulation performance and rigidity, which compromises the internal capacity and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement structure is implemented, including a reinforcement plate made of steel and strategically positioned reinforcement members to counteract thermal contraction deformations, and an electric apparatus box is positioned in the hinge cover to enhance spatial utility and safety by preventing fire spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the thickness of the insulating material is reduced to increase internal capacity, then the internal capacity is improved, but the insulation performance is lowered and rigidity is deteriorated causing body deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines foam insulating material with a reinforcement structure comprising a reinforcement plate and reinforcement members. This composite structure allows the insulating material thickness to be reduced while the reinforcement components provide the necessary rigidity to prevent body deformation, thus achieving both increased internal capacity and maintained structural strength.
2Volume of stationary object
If the thickness of the insulating material is reduced to increase internal capacity, then the internal capacity is improved, but the insulation performance is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement structure with steel reinforcement plate and members provides structural integrity that allows thinner insulating material to be used without compromising insulation performance. The composite design enables the insulating material to maintain its thermal barrier function while occupying less space, thereby increasing internal capacity.
3Strength
If reinforcement structure is added to maintain rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement structure is segmented into distinct components: a reinforcement plate and multiple reinforcement members positioned at specific locations. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, making the complex reinforcement system more manageable and easier to produce while maintaining the necessary rigidity.
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 reinforcement structure effectively reduces deformation and maintains insulation performance, while the electric apparatus box improves spatial efficiency and safety by containing potential fires within the apparatus box.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating material foamed between the inner case and the outer case
Implementation Method 2
the plastic material has an approximately five times larger quantity of thermal contraction than that of the steel material, when the body thermally contracts, the inner case contracts greatly compared to the outer case
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator which is capable of reducing a quantity of deformation of a body by improving rigidity of the body that is lowered due to a thickness of insulation reduced to increase an internal capacity of the body, using a reinforcement structure, and in which an electric apparatus box in which electric apparatus components for controlling an operation of the refrigerator are accommodated, is disposed in a hinge cover disposed in the front of an upper portion of a body so that spatial utility can be improved and when a fire breaks out in components inside the electric apparatus box, a reinforcement plate formed of a steel material is disposed in the electric apparatus box so as to prevent the fire from being spread toward an outside of the electric apparatus box.