Refrigerator Detachable Cooling Module Sealing for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators require disassembly of the cabinet to maintain and repair the cool air supply system, making it inconvenient and prone to cool air loss.
Innovation Solution
A detachable cooling module with a recessed groove and protrusion mechanism, along with a sealing member, allows for easy mounting and sealing of the cooling module to the cabinet, enabling efficient maintenance and reducing air leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cool air supply system components are integrated into the cabinet, then the cooling performance is maintained, but the maintenance and repair require disassembly of the cabinet causing cool air loss
Solution Approach 1:
The cool air supply system is segmented into a detachable cooling module that can be separated from the cabinet. The module includes the evaporator and associated components, allowing it to be removed as a complete unit for maintenance without disassembling the entire cabinet, thus preventing cool air loss during service operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling module is extracted as a separate detachable unit from the cabinet structure. This extraction allows the module to be removed and serviced independently, eliminating the need to open the cabinet during maintenance and thereby preventing cool air escape.
2Ease of repair
If the cooling module is made detachable for easy maintenance, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the sealing between cabinet and module becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing portions are pre-formed on both the cabinet and cooling module before assembly. The cabinet includes a sealing portion with a groove, and the module includes a corresponding sealing portion with a protrusion that fits into the groove, ensuring proper sealing alignment is established in advance during manufacturing rather than during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member acts as an intermediary element between the cabinet sealing portion and the module sealing portion. This sealing member fills the gap between the two components, creating an effective seal that prevents cool air loss while allowing the module to remain detachable for maintenance.
3Reliability
If the sealing member is compressed to seal the gap, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the mounting force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The module sealing portion with its protrusion is nested into the cabinet sealing portion with its groove. This nested arrangement allows the sealing member to be compressed in a controlled manner within the confined space of the groove, achieving effective sealing without requiring excessive mounting force.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing portions are designed with curved or inclined surfaces rather than flat surfaces. The inclined sealing surfaces allow the sealing member to be gradually compressed as the module is mounted, distributing the mounting force more evenly and reducing the peak force required while still achieving reliable sealing.
Data Source
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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.