Refrigerator Door Frame with Conductive Sealing Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated enclosures face challenges in maintaining thermal efficiency and preventing condensation on door sealing surfaces, which affects the integrity of the thermal seal and energy retention.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated cabinet door frame design featuring an outer frame of thermally conductive material and an inner frame of thermally insulating material, combined with a sealing plate that forms a continuous heat transfer path, preventing condensation and enhancing the thermal seal by maintaining the sealing surface temperature above the dew point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thermally insulating material is used for the door frame, then thermal efficiency is improved, but condensation forms on the sealing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame is segmented into two distinct parts: an outer frame member made of thermally insulating material and an inner frame member made of thermally conductive material. This segmentation allows each material to perform its specialized function - the insulating outer frame reduces heat transfer, while the conductive inner frame maintains the sealing surface temperature above dew point to prevent condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different thermal properties are applied to different locations of the door frame. The outer frame member uses thermally insulating material for overall thermal efficiency, while the inner frame member uses thermally conductive material specifically at the sealing surface location to prevent condensation. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between insulation and condensation prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thermally conductive material is used for the door frame, then condensation is prevented on the sealing surface, but thermal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame is divided into functional segments where the inner frame member (thermally conductive) is positioned only at the sealing surface to prevent condensation, while the outer frame member (thermally insulating) handles the bulk of the frame to maintain thermal efficiency. This segmentation allows both contradictory requirements to be satisfied in their respective zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermally conductive material is applied locally only where needed for condensation prevention (inner frame member at sealing surface), rather than throughout the entire frame. This localized application minimizes the thermal conductivity impact on overall frame insulation while achieving the condensation prevention goal.
3Device complexity
If a single-material frame is used, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal seal integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame employs a composite structure combining two different materials - thermally insulating material for the outer frame member and thermally conductive material for the inner frame member. This composite construction optimizes both thermal performance and condensation prevention, achieving superior thermal seal integrity compared to single-material frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is segmented into multiple components (outer frame member and inner frame member) with different material properties, allowing each segment to contribute to overall seal integrity. The conductive inner frame ensures sealing surface temperature while the insulating outer frame maintains thermal efficiency, together providing enhanced reliability.
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 improves thermal efficiency, minimizes condensation, and provides a more positive thermal seal, enhancing the overall performance of refrigerated enclosures by maintaining the temperature of the sealing surface and preventing heat transfer into the enclosure.
Implementation Method 1
The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface of the sealing plate and the outer surface of the forward end of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path of material more thermally conductive than the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member
Implementation Method 2
an inner frame member of a thermally insulating material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention features a refrigerator cabinet door frame. The frame includes a thermally conductive outer frame, a thermally insulating inner frame member, and a sealing plate. The outer frame member includes a forward end having an outer surface that is disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and a rearward end defining a joint. The inner frame member includes a first end retained in the joint, and a second end. The sealing plate includes a first edge coupled to the outer frame member at the rearward end, forward of the joint, a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and a thermally conductive sealing surface. The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface and the outer surface of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path.