Refrigerator Door Cable Guide Design to Reduce Cold Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with transparent panel assemblies for viewing the interior suffer from insulation performance issues due to gaps where cables connect the display to the PCB, leading to unnecessary cold air leakage and potential cable damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a design where the panel assembly is positioned within a plate opening, with an insulator, such as foam liquid, filled between the door liner and frame cover to maintain insulation, and a cable guide system that separates the cable path from the insulator injection area, ensuring the cable is protected and the insulation is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the panel assembly is disposed on the door without filling insulator in the space above it, then the cable connection between display and PCB is simplified, but the insulation performance of the door deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A cable guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the display and PCB. This cable guide includes a cable passage that channels the cable through the insulator-filled space, allowing electrical connection while maintaining thermal insulation. The cable guide acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of cable accessibility and insulation integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable passage within the cable guide is designed with flexible routing capability, allowing the cable to bend and connect to the PCB while the surrounding insulator material maintains its rigid protective structure. This flexible routing within a rigid insulated housing enables cable connection without compromising the insulator's thermal barrier function.
2Ease of operation
If the cable is routed through the space above the panel assembly, then the cable connection is easier, but the cable is exposed to potential damage from insulator injection and poor insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide structure is pre-formed with an integrated cable passage before the insulator injection process. This preliminary preparation creates a protected channel through which the cable can be safely routed, preventing the cable from being exposed to the harsh insulator injection process while maintaining easy cable routing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide structure serves as a protective cushioning element that shields the cable from direct exposure to the insulator injection process and potential mechanical damage. The guide structure absorbs and distributes the stress and pressure during assembly, protecting the vulnerable cable while maintaining its routing functionality.
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
This design enhances insulation performance by preventing cold air leakage and cable damage, while improving assembly and serviceability by allowing easier connection of the panel assembly to the PCB.
Implementation Method 1
an insulator, such as foam liquid, filled between the door liner and frame cover to maintain insulation
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator including a frame on which a panel assembly is mounted in a door provided with a panel assembly of which the inside thereof is visible, and a screen is output. The frame includes a panel assembly mounting part opened so that the panel assembly is mounted; a barrier configured to partition the inside of the door into a PCB accommodating space, in a PCB is disposed, and an insulator accommodating space, in which the insulator is disposed; and a cable guide part which is connected to the panel assembly mounting part and in which a cable configured to connect the panel assembly to the PCB is disposed. A frame cover configured to connect the cable guide part to the barrier in the insulator accommodating space and to guide the cable of the cable guide part into the PCB accommodating space is mounted on the frame.