Refrigerator Cooling Zone with Directed Airflow for Hot Food
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in rapidly cooling hot food and pans within refrigerators, which can lead to increased bacteria formation due to room temperature cooling, necessitating a targeted and efficient cooling solution.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator appliance with a dedicated cooling zone featuring an air flow channel and identifying features such as heat insulating members made of high-temperature silicone, illuminations, and a temperature sensor to facilitate rapid cooling and user guidance for precise placement within the cooling zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hot food is allowed to cool at room temperature before placement in refrigerator, then the likelihood of warming adjacent foods is reduced, but bacteria formation increases due to extended time in temperature range between 40°F and 140°F
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator interior is segmented into a general cooling environment and a dedicated rapid cooling zone with targeted air flow channels and outlets that direct cold air specifically to the shelf area where hot food is placed, allowing simultaneous cooling of hot items without affecting the entire refrigerator interior
Solution Approach 2:
The rapid cooling zone implements local quality enhancement by concentrating cooling resources (cold air flow, lower temperature) in a specific localized area of the refrigerator, enabling fast cooling of hot food without requiring the entire refrigerator to operate at higher cooling capacity
2Productivity
If a dedicated rapid cooling zone is implemented, then cooling speed and bacteria reduction are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional air flow channels and identifying features
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow channel structure implements local quality by concentrating cooling air flow paths and outlets in the specific rapid cooling zone area, rather than distributing cooling uniformly throughout the entire refrigerator, thus achieving rapid cooling without requiring complex system-wide modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf incorporates visual identifying features such as color changes or distinct markings that indicate to users where to place hot food items for rapid cooling, simplifying user interaction without requiring complex electronic interfaces or controls
3Ease of operation
If heat insulating members are added to the shelf to guide user placement, then user identification of cooling zone is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat insulating members are added only to specific portions of the shelf that correspond to the rapid cooling zone, rather than insulating the entire shelf, thus providing user guidance while minimizing impact on manufacturing complexity and material usage
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 creates a targeted cooling zone that reduces bacteria formation time by efficiently cooling objects and simplifies user interaction through visual and tactile cues, ensuring effective temperature management and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow channel in fluid communication with the cooling source and the fresh-food compartment
Implementation Method 2
the one or more heat insulating members may be made of high-temperature silicone
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance having a targeted cooling zone for cooling objects within the fresh-food compartment. The cooling zone may include one or more identifying features. The identifying features may be positioned adjacent an outlet of an air flow channel supplying the cooling air stream from a cooling source. The identifying features may have insulating and/or non-insulating properties.