Refrigerator Damper Layout for Larger Chamber Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have a restricted accommodating chamber space due to the need for a baffle to tilt towards the chamber side, which limits the chamber's size and requires additional space for the damper device's operation.
Innovation Solution
The damper device is designed with a baffle that moves in the opposite direction of the accommodating chamber, allowing the frame to be inserted into the cold air inflow port without protruding, enabling a compact design and larger chamber space, with the drive part positioned within the duct to further reduce the refrigerator's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the baffle is structured to tilt on the accommodating chamber side when the flow passage is open, then the damper device can control cold air flow, but the accommodating chamber space is restricted and reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is inverted to tilt toward the duct side instead of the accommodating chamber side when open. This reversal of the conventional design allows the damper device to operate effectively while preventing the baffle from encroaching on the accommodating chamber space, thus resolving the space restriction problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold air inflow port is formed in a direction perpendicular to the duct, creating a new spatial dimension for airflow control. This dimensional change allows the damper device to be positioned and operated without reducing the accommodating chamber volume, as the control mechanism operates in a different spatial plane.
2Ease of operation
If the duct is bent to supply cold air to the accommodating chamber, then the damper device can be positioned, but the refrigerator size increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of bending the duct to accommodate the damper device, the design inverts the approach by forming the cold air inflow port perpendicular to the duct. This allows the damper to be positioned along a straight duct, eliminating the need for bends and maintaining a compact refrigerator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The perpendicular cold air inflow port design serves multiple functions: it allows damper device positioning, maintains straight duct configuration for compactness, and enables efficient cold air supply. This universal design solution addresses multiple requirements simultaneously without compromising any single function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple damper devices are disposed along the duct, then cold air flow to multiple chambers can be controlled, but the refrigerator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By forming cold air inflow ports in a direction perpendicular to the duct, multiple damper devices can be disposed along the duct in a compact arrangement. This dimensional orientation allows multiple control devices to be integrated along the duct length without significantly increasing the overall refrigerator footprint, enabling versatile cold air distribution to multiple chambers.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator includes an accommodating chamber (12, 14), a duct (18) through which cold air flows, and a damper device (20) which is provided with a baffle (24) for controlling supply of the cold air into the accommodating chamber (12, 14). A cold air inflow port (12a, 12b, 12c, 14a) is provided in the duct (18) in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the cold air flowing through the duct (18) and through which the cold air is supplied to the accommodating chamber (12, 14), and the damper device (20) is provided at the cold air inflow port (12a, 12b, 12c, 14a) so that the baffle (24) is moved in an opposite side to the accommodating chamber (12, 14) to open the cold air inflow port (12a, 12b, 12c, 14a).