refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators require additional space above the condenser for maintenance and assembly, which reduces the storage space due to the vertical mounting and dismounting requirements, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization within the machine room.

Innovation Solution

A design where the condenser is mounted on a base pan and can be easily assembled and disassembled through a sliding mechanism within the machine room opening, allowing for three-dimensional air flow and minimizing the machine room's height and volume, eliminating the need for extra vertical space during service and installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the condenser is mounted in a vertical downward direction, then the condenser can be installed and maintained, but additional vertical space above the condenser is required for service operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondenser maintenanceVSAvoidmachine room volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The condenser is mounted horizontally rather than vertically, changing the mounting dimension from vertical to horizontal. This allows service operations to be performed from the front of the machine room without requiring additional vertical space above the condenser, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and machine room volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of stationary object

If the machine room volume is minimized, then the storage space is maximized, but the space required for condenser assembly and service is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space volumeVSAvoidcondenser service space
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By mounting the condenser horizontally and positioning its front surface to face the machine room opening, the patent enables service operations to be performed from the front without requiring additional vertical clearance. This dimensional change allows the machine room volume to be minimized while still providing adequate access for condenser assembly and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the condenser is mounted with downward movement, then the condenser can be installed, but a space equal to the moving distance in the vertical direction is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondenser installationVSAvoidmachine room volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The condenser is mounted to move horizontally into the machine room from the front opening rather than moving vertically downward. This horizontal mounting approach eliminates the need for vertical clearance equal to the condenser's moving distance, thereby reducing the required machine room volume while maintaining ease of installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enhances the interior volume of the refrigerator by minimizing the machine room space, simplifies the assembly and maintenance of the condenser, and maintains effective heat dissipation and cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

a condenser (50) for dissipating heat of the refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a blowing fan unit (60) for forcing to flow air in the machine room (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3719417B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3719417B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3719417B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3719417B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a refrigerator including: a cabinet for defining a storage space therein; a machine room for defining a space separated from the storage space inside the cabinet and having a compressor disposed therein; a machine room cover for shielding a machine room opening defined in one face of the machine room; a base pan disposed in the machine room; a condenser including: a pair of header posts mounted on the base pan and extending in a direction crossing the base pan; a plurality of tubes for connecting the pair of header posts with each other; and each heat exchange fin disposed between two adjacent tubes spaced apart from each other; and mounts protruding upward from the base pan and fixing the condenser by restraining a lower end of each header post, wherein each insertion hole opened toward the machine room opening is defined in mounts, wherein the condenser is able to move to pass through the machine room opening, and wherein the lower end of each header post is inserted and mounted into each insertion hole and is separated by exiting each insertion hole by the movement of the condenser.