Refrigerator Door Height Adjustment Using Nested Hinge Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with side-by-side compartments, the height difference between the refrigerating and freezing compartment doors poses a challenge during assembly, requiring a structure that can adjust door heights simply and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustment unit is integrated between the hinge assembly and the support bracket, allowing the door to be vertically moved using a tool inserted between the support bracket and the door, enabling easy alignment of door heights without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a height adjustment structure is added to match door heights, then door height alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment part is nested within the hinge assembly structure, with the adjustment part located inside the hinge assembly and the support bracket integrated into the same assembly. This nesting approach allows the height adjustment function to be incorporated without adding external complex structures, thereby improving door height alignment while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly acts as an intermediary component between the door and the body, incorporating the adjustment part within it. This intermediary structure enables height adjustment functionality while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, as the adjustment mechanism is embedded within the existing hinge assembly rather than requiring separate complex adjustment devices.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment by inserting hand into gap is required, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to hand injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
A tool is introduced as an intermediary instrument to perform the adjustment operation. The tool is inserted into the gap between the support bracket and the door to rotate the adjustment part, enabling height adjustment without requiring manual insertion of hands into the hazardous gap. This maintains ease of operation while eliminating the hand injury risk by using a tool instead of direct hand contact.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If tool is required for adjustment, then safety is improved by preventing hand injury, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A simple, inexpensive tool is used for the adjustment operation. The tool required is basic and straightforward, making it easy to obtain and use. While a tool is needed instead of direct manual adjustment, the tool itself is simple and commonly available, thereby maintaining relative ease of operation while effectively preventing hand injury by keeping hands out of the hazardous gap.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a body, a door, a support bracket, a door bracket, a fixing part, and an adjustment part. The body defines a storage chamber. The door openes and closes the storage chamber. The door is rotatably coupled to the body by a hinge. The support bracket supports a load of the door. The door bracket is coupled to a lower side of the door. The fixing part is disposed between the support bracket and the door bracket. The adjustment part is coupled to the fixing part and supports the door bracket to adjust a vertical movement of the door.