Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in reducing the thickness of the door while allowing water pipes or electric cables to pass through, and maintaining insulation performance.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator design includes a door with a strategically positioned door opening spaced apart from the hinge center, allowing water pipes or wires to pass through, and incorporates a guide unit to minimize exposure and prevent freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the diameter of the hinge portion is increased to allow water pipes or electric cables to pass through, then the water pipe and electric cable can be routed through the hinge, but the total thickness of the door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water pipe and electric cable routing function from the hinge portion by providing a separate guide unit. The guide unit includes a guide hole through which the water pipe and electric cable pass, and this guide unit is positioned away from the hinge portion, allowing the hinge to maintain a small diameter while still accommodating the necessary utilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guide unit as an intermediary component between the hinge portion and the water pipe/electric cable. The guide unit includes a guide hole that specifically accommodates the utilities, separating this function from the hinge portion and allowing both components to be optimized independently.
2Length of stationary object
If the diameter of the hinge is reduced to decrease door thickness, then the door thickness is reduced, but the water pipe or electric cables cannot pass through the hinge portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water pipe and electric cable routing function from the hinge portion by providing a separate guide unit. The guide unit includes a guide hole through which the water pipe and electric cable pass, and this guide unit is positioned away from the hinge portion, allowing the hinge to maintain a small diameter while still accommodating the necessary utilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by moving the utility routing function to a different spatial location - the guide unit is positioned at a distance from the hinge portion, utilizing the third dimension (depth/thickness direction) to separate the functions. This allows the hinge diameter to be minimized while the guide unit provides the necessary passage for utilities.
3Length of stationary object
If the door thickness is reduced, then the door becomes thinner and more compact, but the insulation performance of the door deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing thermal insulation specifically at the guide unit location where the water pipe passes through. The insulating member is positioned around the water pipe in the guide hole, providing localized insulation at the critical area where heat transfer would occur, while the rest of the door can maintain reduced thickness.
4Length of stationary object
If the water pipe is positioned close to the hinge center, then the door thickness can be reduced, but the water in the pipe may freeze due to exposure to cold air from the cold air duct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulating member as an intermediary between the water pipe and the cold environment. The insulating member surrounds the water pipe in the guide hole, preventing heat transfer from the water to the cold air, thus preventing freezing while allowing the door to maintain reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing thermal insulation specifically at the guide unit location where the water pipe passes through. The insulating member is positioned around the water pipe in the guide hole, providing localized insulation at the critical area where heat transfer would occur, while the rest of the door can maintain reduced thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
The refrigerator of the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet including a storage space; a door configured to open or close the storage space and including a dispenser; and a hinge device configured to rotatably connect the door to the cabinet, wherein the door comprises: a door frame including a door opening disposed at a position spaced apart from the center of rotation by the hinge device; a door liner coupled to the door frame and including an ice-making compartment wall forming an ice-making compartment; and an ice maker accommodated in the ice making compartment to produce ice, and a horizontal distance from a front surface of the door to the center of the door opening is greater than the distance from the front surface of the door to the center of rotation, and the horizontal distance from the front surface of the door to the center of the door opening is smaller than the distance from the front surface of the door to a front wall facing the front surface of the door among walls forming the ice-making compartment.