Refrigerator Door Storage Hinge Layout for Better Thermal Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with auxiliary storage regions face issues of increased power consumption, complex structures, deflection of the auxiliary storage region due to food weight, and interference with the rotary mechanism, leading to poor thermal insulation and cold air leakage.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a second hinge member with a rotary shaft aligned vertically and linearly with the first hinge member's shaft, allowing the auxiliary storage region to rotate independently within the cabinet, minimizing interference with the door and gasket, and distributing loads effectively through a connection member to prevent deflection and maintain thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary storage region is added to the refrigerator, then user convenience is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary storage region is nested within the door structure of the refrigerator, allowing it to be integrated without adding external complexity. The container is positioned inside the door's thickness, utilizing unused space and maintaining a compact overall structure while providing additional storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the main closure for the refrigeration compartment and as the mounting structure for the auxiliary storage region. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If multiple gaskets are installed to seal the auxiliary storage region, then cold air leakage is prevented, but power consumption increases and dew formation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the main door gasket that already exists for the refrigeration compartment. The auxiliary storage region utilizes the same gasket structure, eliminating the need for separate gaskets and reducing the total sealing surface area, which in turn reduces power consumption and dew formation risk.
3Ease of operation
If the auxiliary storage region is made rotatable for independent access, then user convenience is improved, but the rotary mechanism becomes complex and load-bearing capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary mechanism is segmented into simple hinge components that are integrated into the door structure. The container is connected to the door via hinges that allow rotation without requiring a complex rotary mechanism, reducing both structural complexity and improving load-bearing capacity.
4Volume of moving object
If the auxiliary storage region is positioned within the cabinet, then space utilization is improved, but the rotary mechanism interferes with the door sealing and becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the auxiliary storage region within the cabinet body, the invention inverts the approach by locating it within the door structure. This reversal eliminates interference with the cabinet and simplifies the rotary mechanism, as the container rotates with the door rather than requiring independent rotation within the cabinet space.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator including a cabinet (10) defining a first storage region (2) for storing food, a door (20) for opening and closing the first storage region (2), a gasket (26) which is provided on an inner surface of the door (20) and seals the first storage region (2) from outdoor air by forming a sealing boundary when the door (20) closes the first storage region (2), a first hinge member (40) which has a rotary shaft (42) and rotatably connects the door (20) to the cabinet (10) out of the sealing boundary, a container (100) which defines a second storage region for storing food and is received in the first storage region (2), and a second hinge member (200) which is fixed, at one side thereof, to the container (100) within the sealing boundary while being rotatably connected, at the other side thereof, to the door (20), the second hinge member (200) having a rotary shaft (206) which is vertically and linearly aligned with the rotary shaft (42) of the first hinge member (40).