Refrigerator Door Hinge Wire Routing for Thin-Door Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face issues with electric wires being exposed, damaged, or disconnected when the door is opened due to limited space in the hinge shaft, especially with thinner doors and increased wire count or diameter.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sub-door with a transparent panel assembly that includes a support frame and spacers to house electronic components, using flexible cables to route wires internally, and a multi-layered insulation structure to maintain insulation and prevent exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric wires are routed through the hinge shaft, then wires are protected from exposure and damage, but the hinge shaft inner diameter is restricted by door thickness which limits the number and diameter of wires that can be guided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wire routing path into multiple segments: wires first pass through the hinge shaft, then continue through a separate guide channel in the door assembly. This segmentation allows the hinge shaft to focus on rotational mechanics while the guide channel handles wire management, resolving the space constraint without compromising protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the wire routing from a single linear path through the hinge shaft to a multi-dimensional path that includes vertical channels and lateral guide passages within the door assembly. This dimensional expansion provides additional routing options and space for multiple wires without increasing hinge shaft complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If door thickness is reduced for a sleeker design, then aesthetics and space efficiency improve, but the inner diameter of the hinge shaft is restricted making it impossible to guide all electric wires through it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wire guiding function from the hinge shaft and relocates it to a dedicated guide channel structure within the door assembly. This extraction allows the hinge shaft to maintain a compact diameter suitable for thin doors while the separate guide channel provides adequate space for wire routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary guide channel structure that mediates between the hinge shaft and the door exterior. This intermediary component receives wires from the hinge shaft area and guides them through the door thickness, enabling wire routing in thin doors without compromising the hinge shaft's rotational function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic parts are provided in the door, then functionality and versatility improve, but the number and diameter of electric wires increase making it impossible to guide all wires through the hinge shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wire routing functions into a single integrated guide channel structure that accommodates multiple wires of different diameters and functions. This unified structure reduces overall complexity compared to separate routing paths for each wire, while still supporting multiple electronic components in the door.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, a door rotatably disposed at a front of the cabinet, a hinge mounting part recessed downward at an upper end of the door, the hinge mounting part having a hinge hole, a wire extending from the cabinet into an interior of the door, the wire extending through the hinge mounting part, a hinge coupled with the door to rotate the door, the hinge having a hinge shaft inserted into the hinge hole, a hinge cover configured to accommodate the hinge, and a sub cover located at the hinge mounting part, the sub cover being configured to cover an opened upper portion of the hinge mounting part. The hinge cover extends toward a space between the hinge mounting part and the sub cover.