Refrigerator Crisper with Removable Filter to Reduce Membrane Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator storage containers with semipermeable membranes for fruits and vegetables become dirty and clogged, leading to reduced storage time due to high decay rates of fresh green leafy vegetables, which negatively impact other stored items.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a tilting crisper with a removable, gas-permeable filter that can be easily replaced and housed within the unit, utilizing a cassette for protection and air intake openings to maintain optimal gas composition and prevent odor formation, ensuring freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a semipermeable membrane is used in the storage container, then the fruits and vegetables can remain fresh for a long time, but the membrane gets dirty and the pores become clogged over time, shortening the storage period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtering function from a permanent membrane structure and places it in a removable filter element that can be easily taken out and replaced. This allows the filtering function to be maintained without the degradation problems of permanent membranes, as the filter can be removed once clogged and replaced with a fresh one.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the filter element can be discarded after use and replaced with a new one. The housing is designed to accommodate multiple filters, allowing users to simply replace the filtered element rather than cleaning or maintaining it, thus recovering the filtering function continuously.
2Quantity of substance
If fresh green leafy vegetables with high respiration rates are stored, then the storage container provides adequate space, but the decay rate is high which affects other vegetables and fruits and deteriorates storage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air composition from the storage environment and replaces it with an optimized gas mixture. By removing the natural air and replacing it with a controlled atmosphere (typically reduced oxygen and increased carbon dioxide), the respiration rate of stored produce is slowed, reducing decay even when high-respiration items like green leafy vegetables are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the storage atmosphere by using a semipermeable membrane with specific permeability characteristics that allow selective gas exchange. This creates an modified atmosphere inside the container that slows down metabolic processes of stored produce, extending freshness without requiring reduced storage capacity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a removable filter with optimized gas permeability is used, then the ideal gas composition is obtained to maintain freshness, but the filter needs to be replaced after being removed and cleaned by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the filter system into a permanent housing and a removable filter element. This segmentation allows the filter to be easily extracted and replaced without disassembling the entire storage container, making maintenance simple and user-friendly while preserving the benefits of a customized gas permeability structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic filter system where the filtering element can be easily inserted and removed from the housing. This dynamic design allows users to replace filters as needed without permanent installation, combining the advantages of customized filtration with operational flexibility and ease of maintenance.
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
The solution extends the freshness of stored fruits and vegetables by maintaining optimal gas composition and preventing odor formation, while the removable filter ensures continuous effectiveness by avoiding clogging and dirt accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (5) that can be replaced with a new one after being removed from inside the housing by the user and that has a gas permeability value optimized so that the ideal gas composition required for the fruits and vegetables in the storage container to remain fresh for a long time is obtained
Implementation Method 2
The gasket remains between the cassette and the storage container when the cassette is closed over the crisper. Thus, by means of the vacuum effect created in the crisper, the fruits and the vegetables are the enabled to remain fresh for a longer time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a storage container (4) that has a crisper (2) wherein the fruits and/or the vegetables are stored and a body (3) that supports the crisper (2) and that facilitates the placement of the crisper (2) into the refrigerator (1).