Refrigerator Door Opening Mechanism for Low-Force Sliding Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face issues with door durability and require excessive force to open and close, especially in French type models with large compartments, due to negative pressure and weight, leading to breakdowns and difficulty in operation.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a handle with a grip portion matching the freezer door width, including first and second pressing portions, a grip rod, and elastic members like coil springs to advance and retreat push members, reducing breakdowns and allowing easier opening with less force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single trigger member is disposed at a portion opposite to a hinge portion of the door hinge-coupled to the refrigerator or an upper portion of the drawer type door which is slidably opened and closed, then the door opening device is simple in structure, but the door is not smoothly opened and the durability is reduced due to separation between the pressing surface and drawing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The single trigger member is divided into first and second trigger members disposed at different locations on the door. This segmentation allows each trigger member to be engaged with separate pressing and drawing surfaces, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing separation issues while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the trigger member is engaged with the edge of the opening of the heating insulating housing to open the door, then the door can be opened by overcoming negative pressure, but the end portion of the handle is separated between the pressing surface and drawing surface due to frequent door opening and closing, causing breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger member is segmented into first and second trigger members that are engaged with separate pressing and drawing surfaces. This prevents the single handle end portion from being subjected to excessive separation forces, thereby improving durability while maintaining door opening functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger members act as intermediaries between the handle and the door edge, transferring forces through distributed contact points rather than concentrating stress at a single location. This intermediary mechanism protects the handle structure from breakdown.
3Device complexity
If a conventional door handle is used for a French type refrigerator with large cooling and freezing compartments, then the structure is simple, but excessive force is required to open the door due to the weight of the door and goods stored in the drawer
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening force is distributed through multiple trigger members engaged with separate pressing and drawing surfaces. This segmentation allows the total force to be divided and applied at multiple points, reducing the effort required at any single point while maintaining the ability to overcome the heavy door weight.
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 enhances door durability and reduces the force required to open and close heavy doors, maintaining smooth operation over time by using elastic members to guide the push members and balance pressure differences.
Implementation Method 1
a handle (130) capable of rotating around a rotational axis (140) horizontally disposed at an upper boundary of the third door (20) in parallel with the third door (20); a plurality of push members (40) adapted to move to advanced positions from retreated positions as the handle (130) rotates upward; and an elastic member (50) disposed between the push members (40) and the third door (20)
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator which allows a user to easily open a door of the refrigerator with a small force is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body (10) having an upper storage (11) compartment and a lower storage compartment (12) defined on upper and lower sides, a door (20) which slides to open and close any one of the storage compartments, a handle (30) which is disposed at an upper portion of the door (20) to be vertically rotatable, a plurality of push members (40) which move to advanced positions from retreated positions in connection with a vertical rotation of the handle (30) to separate the door (20) from the main body (10), and an elastic member which is disposed between at least one of the push members and the door to restore the push members to the retreated positions when an external force is removed from the handle.