Refrigerator calibration method and system, and refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators often experience abnormal refrigeration performance due to connection errors, such as reverse welding, during the production process, leading to increased maintenance and production costs.

Innovation Solution

A calibration method and system that determines the correspondence between refrigeration systems and compartments based on temperature variations after the systems have been running for predetermined times, eliminating the need for pre-set connections and allowing for real-time correction of calibration errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If outlet tubes and capillary tubes are marked with color codes and connected according to preset rules, then the refrigeration system can be assembled efficiently, but connection errors occur due to faded marks or assembler carelessness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidconnection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic calibration by running each refrigeration system, detecting temperature changes in compartments, and determining correspondence between refrigeration systems and compartments based on detected temperature variations. This feedback mechanism verifies and corrects connection relationships, ensuring accurate matching between outlet tubes and capillary tubes without relying on potentially faded color marks or human accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If manual marking and connection methods are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but connection errors lead to abnormal refrigeration performance and increased maintenance costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidrefrigeration performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator performs self-calibration automatically after assembly. The control device controls each refrigeration system to operate sequentially, detects temperature changes in compartments using temperature sensors, and automatically determines the correct correspondence between refrigeration systems and compartments. This self-service calibration eliminates the need for complex manual marking processes while ensuring reliable refrigeration performance through automatic verification and correction of connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If pre-set connections with color marks are used, then assembly is straightforward, but connection mismatches occur during transportation or assembly, requiring product recall and maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration actions automatically during the factory testing phase. By running each refrigeration system and detecting actual temperature changes in compartments, the system determines and stores the correct correspondence between refrigeration systems and compartments before the product leaves the factory. This preliminary action prevents connection mismatches from affecting production efficiency, as any potential errors are identified and corrected during calibration rather than requiring product recall or maintenance later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach effectively reduces the likelihood of refrigeration errors, improves production efficiency, and enhances the reliability of refrigerators by automatically correcting connection mismatches without the need for pre-marked connections, thereby reducing repair probabilities and production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of refrigeration systems for cooling the plurality of compartments in a one-to-one correspondence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

detecting temperatures of the plurality of compartments; controlling a first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate, after a first predetermined time, and detecting the temperatures of the plurality of compartments again

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP3985338B1Refrigerator calibration method and system, and refrigerator
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP3985338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3985338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3985338B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A refrigerator calibration method and system, and a refrigeration device. The method comprises: starting a compressor of a refrigerator, and measuring the temperatures of a plurality of compartments (S101); controlling a first refrigeration system from among a plurality of refrigeration systems to operate, and measuring the temperatures of the plurality of compartments again after a first predetermined time (S102); and determining, according to the variation in the temperatures of the plurality of compartments, a correlation between the first refrigeration system and a first compartment from among the plurality of compartments (SI03). According to the refrigerator calibration method, by means of the variation in the temperatures of a plurality of compartments after any one refrigeration system operates for a predetermined time, a correlation between the refrigeration system and a compartment can be determined, such that a connection between the refrigeration system and the compartment does not need to be pre-specified, and therefore, a refrigerator being unable to perform normal refrigeration due to a connection error during a production process can be effectively avoided, and the probability of needing to repair the refrigerator is reduced, thereby improving the production efficiency of the refrigerator and the reliability of the refrigerator.