Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in efficiently arranging and electrically connecting various electronic devices, leading to exposure of electric wires and compromised insulation performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a rotatable inner and outer door system with a connector seating portion and hinge assembly that maintains constant wire lengths and prevents wire exposure, allowing for selective separation of doors and improved electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If various electronic devices are added to the refrigerator, then the functionality and convenience are improved, but the complexity of arranging and electrically connecting these devices increases, leading to exposed electric wires
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into multiple detachable modules including inner door, outer door, and intermediate portions. Each module can be independently assembled and disassembled, allowing flexible arrangement of electronic devices within each segment without exposing wires. The segmentation enables organized routing of electric wires within each module's internal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested door structure where the outer door contains the intermediate portion, which in turn contains the inner door. This nested arrangement allows multiple electronic devices to be housed within different layers of the door structure, with wires routed through internal channels of each nested layer, preventing wire exposure while maintaining functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door structure is made complex to accommodate electronic devices, then the functionality is improved, but the insulation performance deteriorates due to exposed electric wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible insulation materials and sealing films within the door structure to wrap around electric wires and electronic devices. These flexible insulation layers conform to the complex arrangements of components while maintaining thermal insulation performance, preventing heat loss through wire exposure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The door modules are pre-assembled with insulation materials and sealing structures before installation on the refrigerator. Electric wires are pre-routed through insulated channels and sealed connections are pre-established, preventing potential insulation failures before they occur during operation.
3Ease of operation
If the door is designed for easy separation and assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the electrical connection reliability may worsen due to frequent disconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connectors are pre-positioned and pre-aligned within the door modules during manufacturing. Connection guides and alignment features are pre-built into the connector structures, ensuring that when doors are assembled or reassembled, the electrical connections automatically engage correctly without misalignment or damage, maintaining reliability despite frequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates protective cushioning structures around electrical connectors and wiring channels. These cushioning elements absorb mechanical stresses and vibrations during repeated assembly and disassembly operations, preventing connector damage and wire fatigue, thereby maintaining electrical connection reliability over time.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment; an inner door rotatably provided at the main body; and an outer door configured to open and close the storage compartment together with the inner door and rotatably provided at the inner door, wherein the inner door includes a connector seating portion disposed at an upper portion of the inner door and configured to connect a first electric wire extending from the main body to the inner door to a second electric wire extending from the outer door to the inner door. Connections between the electric wires are improved so as not to be influenced by the inner and outer doors such that durability of the electric wires can be improved.