Refrigerator door body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door bodies with sheet metal frames are prone to corrosion and rusting due to moisture intrusion, increasing maintenance costs and affecting their longevity.
Innovation Solution
The use of sheet metal frames with a covering edge and end covers that enclose the outer side of the frames, preventing moisture from reaching the metal surfaces and incorporating connecting members for enhanced stability and sealing, while reducing production costs by replacing aluminum alloy frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sheet metal frames are used to reduce costs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the frames become prone to corrosion and rusting due to moisture intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an end cover as an intermediary component that physically separates the sheet metal frame from the moisture-prone environment. The end cover acts as a protective barrier, preventing direct contact between moisture and the metal frame, thereby eliminating the corrosion problem while maintaining the cost benefits of sheet metal construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive end cover made from basic materials to protect the sheet metal frame. This sacrificial protective component is easier and cheaper to manufacture than complex corrosion-resistant coatings or alternative materials, providing effective protection at minimal cost
2Reliability
If aluminum alloy lateral side frames are used to prevent corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive aluminum alloy frames with inexpensive sheet metal frames protected by simple end covers. This substitution uses a much cheaper material structure that achieves the same corrosion protection function, dramatically reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the corrosion protection function from the frame material itself (aluminum alloy) and separates it into a dedicated protective component (end cover). This allows the use of cheaper sheet metal for the frame while maintaining corrosion resistance through the separate protective element
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator door body comprises a door body frame (2) and a glass panel (14) attached to a front side of the door body frame (2). The door body frame (2) comprises sheet metal frames (11) located on two sides, end covers (12) located on upper and lower sides, and connecting assemblies (13) connecting the sheet metal frames (11) to the end covers (12). The end cover (12) is provided with a side flange (123) and a covering edge (124) located on an outer side of the side flange (123). After the end covers (12) and the sheet metal frames (11) are assembled, the side flange (123) is fitted to an inner side of the sheet metal frame (11), and the covering edge (124) is fitted to an outer side of the sheet metal frame (11), thereby ensuring that an end portion of the sheet metal frame (11) is not prone to corrosion.