refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator doors with increased weight due to additional features and materials become difficult to open and close, leading to noise and potential item displacement, and existing damping solutions are externally exposed, requiring additional space.
Innovation Solution
A damping device integrated within the door, utilizing a magnet and oil-based mechanism, is coupled with a detection device to detect door closure, allowing for soft closing without external exposure and efficient spatial disposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a damping device is disposed externally to reduce closing speed, then door closing control is improved, but external appearance is degraded and additional space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is nested within the door structure itself, with the damping cylinder integrated into the door body and the rod extending through the door to contact the detection device. This nesting approach eliminates external exposure of damping components while maintaining the door closing control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping device is repositioned from external placement to internal integration within the door's thickness dimension. The damping cylinder is disposed inside the door, utilizing the door's internal space rather than external space, thereby improving appearance while preserving functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a damping device is disposed externally to reduce closing speed, then door closing control is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional disposition space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is merged with the door structure, where the damping cylinder becomes part of the door assembly rather than a separate external component. The detection device is also integrated into the door, with both devices working together within the door's internal space, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping cylinder and detection device are nested within the door structure, utilizing the door's internal volume efficiently. This nesting eliminates the need for additional external disposition space while maintaining all required functions.
3Shape
If heavy materials are used to enhance outer appearance, then aesthetic quality is improved, but door weight increases making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device parameters are optimized to provide effective damping force with minimal weight. The damping cylinder and rod are designed with appropriate dimensions and material properties to achieve the required damping effect while keeping the added weight minimal, allowing heavy-duty appearance materials to be used without excessive total weight.
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 minimizes external exposure of the damping structure, reduces noise and item displacement, and enhances productivity by integrating damping and detection functions, improving the refrigerator's outer appearance and operational ease.
Implementation Method 1
The damping device may include a magnet, and the detection device may include a detection sensor which detects the magnet
Implementation Method 2
a cylinder which forms a compressed space in which oil is accommodated and has an open surface; a push member which is provided on the cylinder; a rod which extends from the inside of the cylinder; a piston which is coupled to the rod, moves relative to the compressed space, and forms an orifice through which the oil passes
Implementation Method 3
a spring which is accommodated in the compressed space and providing elastic force to the piston
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a cabinet which has a storage space; a door which opens and closes the storage space; a detection device which is provided in the cabinet and detects the closing of the door; and a damping device which is provided on the door and reduces the closing speed of the door, in which the damping device is disposed at a position corresponding to the detection device and is in contact with the detection device when the door is closed.