Refrigerator Container Lid Actuation for Adjustable Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household refrigeration appliances, especially no-frost models, foods requiring moisture to maintain nutritional value and structure dry out due to dehumidified air, necessitating separate refrigerated containers, but varying humidity needs require adjustable humidity control within the storage space.
Innovation Solution
A manually controllable refrigerated goods container with a lid that can be opened and closed by converting linear movement into a lifting motion using an adjusting wheel or toggle switch, allowing for adjustable humidity control by creating a circumferential gap between the lid and container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the container lid is made fully openable for humidity control, then humidity regulation capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the storage device mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is nested within the inner container structure, with the container lid integrated into the storage device assembly. The support arms and guide elements are incorporated as part of the container lid structure itself, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides full opening capability without adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed to move with the container lid throughout its entire range of motion, maintaining equipotential positioning relative to the lid. This ensures that the storage device remains properly positioned whether the lid is fully closed, partially open, or fully open, enabling complete humidity regulation capability without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the container lid is moved horizontally in the depth direction, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision is required for the guide elements
Solution Approach 1:
The guide elements incorporate curved and rounded surfaces instead of sharp edges, with the support arms featuring rounded contact surfaces that engage with corresponding curved guide contours. This curvature design provides self-centering action that tolerates manufacturing variations while ensuring smooth horizontal movement of the container lid during manual actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements are designed with optimized geometric parameters including specific curvature radii, contact surface angles, and clearance dimensions that transform the interaction between support arms and guide contours. These parameter optimizations enable easy manual operation by reducing friction and guiding forces while accommodating normal manufacturing tolerances through built-in mechanical compliance.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating surface is positioned for deep finger insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating surface on the container lid serves multiple functions: it provides a deep insertion surface for finger actuation, integrates with the storage device structure, and maintains sealing functionality. This multi-functional design enables easy finger operation without requiring separate actuating mechanisms, as the same structural elements fulfill multiple roles including actuation, support, and sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating means is merged with the container lid and storage device structure, combining the actuation function with the existing lid and support arm components. The actuating surface is integrated into the lid structure itself rather than being a separate element, and the support arms serve both as structural supports and as the actuating mechanism, eliminating the need for additional complex actuating components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance (1) having a thermally insulated interior container (3) designed to enclose at least one storage space for material to be refrigerated, a container for refrigerated material (8) mounted in said interior container (3) and having an opening accessible from above, and a container cover (9), which is mounted on a bearing device (11) in the interior container (3). The bearing device is designed to convert a linear movement of the container cover (9) in one depth direction (P2) caused by a manual control means (18) into a lifting movement (P1) of the container cover (9), in order to open and close the opening of the container for material to be refrigerated (8), in which the manual control means (18) has an actuating surface (19) adjustable in the depth direction.