Refrigerator Bulkhead Duct Layout for Stable Rack Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with evaporators and cold air ducts positioned in the middle bulkhead, it is challenging to install rack supports without conflicting with the cold air duct and hole positions, which hinders efficient air distribution and rack stability.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a bulkhead partitioning the refrigerator's inner space with a duct part guiding cold air, featuring cold air holes on the outer wall and support members on the bulkhead and duct part to securely hang racks between these holes, allowing for stable rack installation without obstructing air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the evaporator and cold air duct are provided in the middle bulkhead, then the cold air distribution is improved, but the installation of rack supports becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bulkhead is segmented into multiple regions: the middle bulkhead contains the evaporator and duct for cold air distribution, while the side bulkheads provide dedicated spaces for rack support installation. This segmentation allows both cold air distribution and rack support installation to function independently without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack support installation problem is resolved by moving from the middle bulkhead plane to the side bulkhead planes. By utilizing the vertical dimension and side walls of the bulkhead structure, rack supports can be installed without conflicting with the horizontal cold air duct positioning in the middle bulkhead.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rack supports are installed in the middle bulkhead, then rack stability is improved, but the cold air hole positioning conflicts with the duct structure
Solution Approach 1:
The rack support function is extracted from the middle bulkhead and relocated to the side bulkheads. This extraction removes the conflict between rack supports and cold air holes, allowing the middle bulkhead to be dedicated solely to cold air distribution without structural interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The side bulkheads serve as intermediary structures that provide rack support functionality without interfering with the middle bulkhead's cold air distribution system. These intermediary structures mediate between the need for rack stability and the need for unobstructed cold air flow.
3Temperature
If the duct is positioned to guide cold air efficiently, then cooling performance is improved, but the available space for rack supports is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator interior space is segmented into functional zones: the middle bulkhead region is dedicated to cold air distribution with the duct, while the side bulkhead regions are dedicated to rack support installation. This spatial segmentation ensures that the duct positioning for optimal cooling does not encroach on the space needed for rack supports.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a bulkhead partitioning an inner space of the refrigerator, a duct part provided to the bulkhead to guide a cold air to the inner space of the refrigerator, at least one rack configured to divide the inner space partitioned by the bulkhead into sub-spaces, the at least one rack configured to support an object to be stored, and at least one support part provided in one of the bulkhead and the duct part to support the rack.