refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with door-in-door structures face challenges in securing space for a chiller room with a different temperature than the refrigerating compartment, ensuring a cool air supply passage, optimizing the design for both the ice making room and the chiller room, and maintaining stability of the door hinge while accommodating the ice making room and dispenser.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that includes a chiller room and an ice making room within the door, with a partition wall and damper to control cool air flow, and a dispenser positioned to maintain door hinge stability, allowing for efficient ice production and storage while minimizing cool air leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a door-in-door structure is used to increase storage capacity, then the storage space is improved, but the space for installing a chiller room with different temperature is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The chiller room is nested within the door structure by utilizing the space between the inner door and outer door. The partition wall divides this inter-door space to create the chiller room, allowing it to be embedded without increasing the overall refrigerator volume or compromising the door-in-door storage configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The chiller room is positioned in the vertical dimension between the upper and lower doors, rather than occupying horizontal storage space. This dimensional reorganization allows the chiller room to coexist with the door-in-door storage structure by utilizing the thickness of the door assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a chiller room is added to the door structure, then temperature control versatility is improved, but the complexity of the door structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door structure serves multiple functions: the outer door provides main refrigerating compartment access, the inner door provides access to door storage spaces, and the partitioned space between them creates the chiller room. This multi-functionality is achieved by integrating the chiller room into the existing door assembly rather than adding a separate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure is segmented into multiple functional zones using partition walls. The inner door is divided into multiple door bodies for different storage spaces, and the chiller room is created by partitioning the inter-door space, allowing independent temperature control zones without requiring a completely separate structural system.
3Ease of operation
If an ice making room and dispenser are installed in the door, then convenience is improved, but the stability of the door hinge is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making room and dispenser are positioned in specific locations on the door that optimize convenience while maintaining hinge stability. The ice making room is typically placed in the upper portion of the door where it can be accessed without opening the main door, and the dispenser is positioned to allow easy access to ice and water while keeping the center of gravity balanced relative to the hinge.
4Manufacturing precision
If a partition wall and damper are used to control cool air flow, then temperature control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damper automatically adjusts cool air flow between the chiller room and other compartments based on temperature differential and usage conditions. The partition wall with integrated damper creates a self-regulating system that controls air flow without requiring complex external control mechanisms, achieving precise temperature control through passive thermal management combined with simple damper actuation.
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 allows for efficient storage of frequently used items at a temperature different from the refrigerating compartment, minimizes cool air loss, and improves spatial utilization within the door, while ensuring the stability and convenience of the ice making room.
Implementation Method 1
a damper opening and closing the communication hole so as to control a cool air flow between the ice making room and the chiller room
Implementation Method 2
a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber and the cool air inflow hole of the ice making room such that cool air of the evaporation chamber is supplied to the ice making room
Implementation Method 3
a cool air return duct having a first inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the ice making chamber and a second inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the chiller room
Implementation Method 4
an evaporation chamber; a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and an evaporation chamber, a first door, a housing in the first door, an ice making room defining a cool air inflow hole and a cool air discharge hole, a chiller room defining a cool air discharge hole, a second door connected to the first door, a partition wall defining the ice making room, the chiller room, and a communication hole, a damper opening and closing the communication hole, a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber and the cool air inflow hole to supply cool air of the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, and a cool air return duct having a first inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the ice making chamber and a second inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the chiller room.