Refrigerator door ice maker and dispenser with a coupling unit for motor connection between the door and the main body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with icemakers and ice buckets at the door lack sufficient capacity, have complex structures, and pose safety risks due to exposed driving components, and the ice feeding operation is not smooth.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design with an ice bucket and feeding unit at the door, featuring a coupling device that transmits driving force from a motor in the main body to the feeding unit, which includes a hidden coupling mechanism for safety and aesthetics, and a horizontally arranged rotation shaft for smooth ice feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the driving motor is mounted at the door to drive the feeding unit, then the ice bucket capacity can be increased, but the door structure becomes complex and safety risks increase due to exposed driving components
Solution Approach 1:
The driving motor is extracted from the door and relocated to the main body of the refrigerator. The coupling device transmits driving force from the main body to the feeding unit at the door, thereby reducing door structure complexity while maintaining the ability to drive the feeding unit effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling device is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the driving motor in the main body and the feeding unit at the door. This coupling device includes a driving coupler and a driven coupler that engage and disengage based on door position, enabling force transmission while simplifying the door structure.
2Power
If the driving motor is mounted at the door, then the feeding unit can be driven effectively, but safety risks increase due to exposed driving components
Solution Approach 1:
The driving motor is extracted from the door and placed in the main body, removing the source of safety hazards from the door area. The coupling device ensures that driving components are not exposed when the door is open, eliminating the safety risk of pinching or injury to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as a safety intermediary by automatically disengaging when the door is open, preventing exposure of driving components. The driving coupler and driven coupler are designed to separate when the door is in the open position, ensuring user safety while maintaining driving capability when closed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the coupling device is designed to connect and disconnect based on door position, then safety and aesthetics are improved, but the coupling mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is designed with dynamic characteristics, automatically transitioning between connected and disconnected states based on door position. The elastic element enables the coupling to engage when the door is closed and disengage when opened, providing adaptive safety without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device operates autonomously based on door position, using the door's movement itself to trigger engagement and disengagement. The elastic element and geometric design of the couplers enable automatic connection and separation without external control, simplifying the overall system while maintaining safety.
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
The design increases ice bucket capacity, simplifies the door structure, enhances safety by concealing driving components, and improves the ice feeding operation's efficiency and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a second coupling unit (710) which is engaged with the first coupling unit (610) to receive driving force, and moves backward in an axial direction by pressurization of the insertion protrusion (620)
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a main body having a storage compartment; a door rotatably coupled to the main body to open or close the storage compartment; and an icemaker and an ice bucket configured to store ice cubes produced by the icemaker. The ice bucket is provided with a feeding device to feed the ice cubes stored therein. The main body includes a driving device configured to drive the feeding device. When the door is closed, the driving device is connected to the feeding device, and when the door is opened, the driving device is disconnected from the feeding device.