Refrigerator Cooling Module Sealing for Detachable Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerator designs require disassembly of the cabinet to install and maintain the cool air supply system, making it difficult to test and maintain the cooling performance effectively.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a detachable cooling module that includes a compressor, condenser, and evaporator, featuring a sealing mechanism with inclined sealing portions and a sealing member to securely attach to the cabinet, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance without disassembling the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the cool air supply system components are integrated into the cabinet, then the cooling performance is maintained, but the maintenance and testing require disassembly of the cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The cool air supply system is segmented into a separate detachable cooling module that can be removed from the cabinet without disassembling the cabinet structure. This allows independent maintenance and testing of the cooling system while keeping the cabinet intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling module including compressor, condenser, and evaporator is extracted from the cabinet as a separate unit. This enables the cooling system to be maintained and tested independently by simply removing the module from the cabinet mounting portion.
2Ease of repair
If the cooling module is made detachable for easy maintenance, then the ease of repair is improved, but the sealing performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing portions are provided in advance on both the cabinet and cooling module at the mounting interface. These pre-formed sealing structures ensure proper sealing is achieved automatically when the cooling module is mounted, without requiring additional sealing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member acts as an intermediary element between the cabinet sealing portion and the cooling module sealing portion. This sealing member ensures reliable sealing while allowing the cooling module to be easily detached and reattached.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing portions are positioned at an inclination, then the ease of mounting is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing portions are positioned at an asymmetric inclination rather than symmetrically. This asymmetric design allows the cooling module to be easily guided into place during mounting, with the inclined surfaces facilitating self-alignment and reducing mounting difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming a storage chamber therein and including a cooling module mounting portion, a cabinet sealing portion formed on an outer surface of the cooling module mounting portion; a cooling module detachably mounted to the cooling module mounting portion and including an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor, wherein the cooling module includes a module housing, and the module housing includes a module sealing portion facing the cabinet sealing portion, and the module sealing portion includes a module inclination portion positioned at an inclination with respect to a direction in which the cooling module is insertable into the cabinet to be mounted to the cabinet; and a sealing member positioned between the cabinet sealing portion and the module sealing portion.