Refrigerator Cable Chain for Stable Sliding Door Wire Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs face issues with the flexible accommodation and protection of electrical wires during the sliding motion of drawer-type doors, leading to potential scratches and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A cable chain system is implemented, which includes a slider and chain units that rotate relative to each other, with curve guide portions and rotation restricting portions to maintain a stable path for the wire, ensuring smooth operation and protection from peripheral components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid wire protection structure is used, then the wire is protected from scratches, but the structure cannot accommodate sliding motion of the refrigerator door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cable chain structure composed of multiple flexible chain units connected together. This flexible structure can bend and deform to accommodate the sliding motion of the refrigerator door while continuously protecting the electrical wire running through it, preventing scratches and damage during movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible cable chain is used, then the sliding motion is accommodated, but the wire may not be adequately protected from peripheral components
Solution Approach 1:
The cable chain acts as a flexible protective shell that encloses the electrical wire. Each chain unit forms a protective segment, and when linked together, they create a continuous flexible barrier that protects the wire from peripheral components while allowing the necessary sliding motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection structure is divided into multiple discrete chain units that are connected together. This segmentation allows the protection system to flex and adapt to movement while maintaining continuous coverage over the wire throughout its range of motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chain units are freely rotatable, then the cable chain is highly flexible, but the wire routing path becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The cable chain employs dynamically adjustable chain units that can rotate relative to each other to accommodate movement. The rotation restricting portions provide dynamic constraints that maintain stable wire routing during normal operation while still allowing necessary flexibility for sliding motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation restricting portions act as intermediary elements between the chain units, mediating their relative motion. These restrictors prevent excessive or unstable rotation while allowing controlled movement, thereby maintaining stable wire routing through the cable chain during refrigerator door sliding.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator that has a slider and chain units that are coupled in a manner that allows rotation. The slider and chain units define a cable chain that covers a wire. Curve guide portions are positioned between the slider and a chain unit, and a rotation restricting portion is positioned between the chain units. The cable chain may curve in the same direction regardless of the force applied so as to reduce potential damage on the wire due to scratches by peripheral components and mis-operation of a refrigerator door. Also, a buffer may be installed at an end of a fixed rail to provide additional safety, a protection cover is installed at a driving motor to reduce potential for separation of the wire, and a door switch is installed at a rail guide to facilitate detachment of the door switch.