Refrigerator Door Hinge Structure for Wider Opening Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerator hinge design limits the opening angle of the door due to a ridge portion formed by the side and front walls, which can interfere with the refrigerator's cabinet and wall alignment, especially in tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a hinge body with a positioning shaft and guiding shaft, along with a guide block on the door, allowing the door to rotate and move away from the pivoting side, with limiting balls for support, enabling increased opening angles and preventing door shaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-shaft hinge is used in a refrigerator, then the hinge structure is simple, but the door opening angle is limited due to the ridge portion exceeding the cabinet side wall
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into two independent shafts: a positioning shaft for rotational movement and a guiding shaft for translational guidance. This segmentation allows the door to follow a complex trajectory (rotation + translation) while maintaining a relatively simple hinge structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The door movement is transformed from simple rotation in one dimension to a two-dimensional composite motion combining rotation around the positioning shaft and translation along the guiding groove. This dimensional change enables the door to clear the cabinet side wall during opening while maintaining hinge simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened to a larger angle, then the usability is improved, but the ridge portion interferes with the cabinet and wall alignment
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the translational dimension through the guiding shaft and groove, the door can move outward away from the cabinet side wall during opening. This allows larger opening angles without the ridge portion interfering with cabinet or wall alignment, as the door follows a path that clears these obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding groove acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door and hinge body, mediating the door's movement path. It guides the door to translate outward during opening, preventing interference with cabinet alignment while enabling larger opening angles.
3Ease of operation
If a guide block with positioning and guiding grooves is used, then the door opening angle is improved, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge functionality is segmented into two independent shafts (positioning and guiding) with their respective grooves. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, achieving complex door motion while keeping individual components relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide block serves multiple functions: it houses both the positioning groove (for rotational guidance) and the guiding groove (for translational guidance), and accommodates multiple limiting balls. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, balancing structural complexity with operational capability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If limiting balls are added to support the door, then door stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting balls automatically perform the support and stabilization function through their mechanical interaction with the guide block and hinge body. As the door moves through different positions, the limiting balls self-adjust to provide support, eliminating the need for additional active control mechanisms or complex stabilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting balls change their positional parameters dynamically as the door opens and closes, moving between different locations on the guide block. This parameter change allows them to provide support at various door positions while maintaining a simple mechanical structure without additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising a cabinet, a door and a hinge body. A guide block is provided on the door, a rotation shaft is provided on the hinge body, and rotation shaft grooves are provided on the guide block. With the structure of the hinge body, the gravity of the door and the friction force may be shared onto the first and second plate bodies of the hinge body, thereby reducing abrasion and prolonging the service life of the door of the refrigerator.