refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators without a pillar structure struggle to prevent cold air leakage and face issues with the combined forces of damping and resistance, leading to improper door closure and potential damage to components.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that incorporates a damper with adjustable damping force and a foldable pillar, where the damping force changes as the door rotates, ensuring smooth and secure closure while minimizing impact on the pillar and surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a damper provides damping force to the door during closing, then the door closes smoothly and noise is reduced, but the combined force with the pillar may prevent proper door closure
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is designed with variable damping force that changes dynamically during the door closing process. The damping force is strong at the beginning to control closing speed, then becomes weak near the end to allow complete closure without obstruction from the pillar.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping force parameter of the damper is changed during operation. The damper provides a first damping force during most of the closing process, then transitions to a second damping force (weaker than the first) when the door approaches the closed position, ensuring the door can overcome the pillar resistance to close completely.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a pillar is installed to prevent cold air leakage, then shielding performance is improved, but the pillar may be damaged by excessive impact force from door closing
Solution Approach 1:
The damper provides cushioning force before the door impacts the pillar. By controlling the door's closing speed and reducing impact force through variable damping, the pillar is protected from excessive impact that could damage its structure or sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful impact force from door closing is converted into a beneficial controlled closing action. The damper transforms the harmful impact into a smooth, controlled closing process that protects the pillar while maintaining effective sealing.
3Speed
If damping force is increased to control door closing speed, then door rotation speed is reduced, but the door may not close properly due to excessive resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The damping force is made dynamic rather than constant. The damper adjusts its resistance level during the closing process, providing high resistance when speed control is needed, then reducing resistance when closure completion is the priority.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping action occurs in two distinct periods: a first period with strong damping force for speed control, and a second period with weak damping force for closure completion. This periodic variation in damping intensity ensures both speed control and reliable closure.
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 design allows for effective control of door rotation speed, ensuring smooth closure without excessive force, improving the quality feeling and shielding performance of the storage compartment while reducing the risk of damage to the door and pillar structures.
Implementation Method 1
the damper may provide a damping force by using a resistant force caused by friction that is generated while a charging material such as oil or gas charging the damper passes through an orifice
Implementation Method 2
The piston can move the charging material in the damper while reciprocating linearly in the cylinder in the damper
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment, a door rotatably connected to the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment, and a damper configured to provide a damping force to resist the movement of door as the door rotates in a closing direction, the damping force including a first damping force having a first magnitude and a second damping force having a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude.