Household refrigerator with an opening device for a door or drawer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household refrigerators lack an efficient mechanism for easily opening closed door leaves or bottom drawers, which can make accessing stored items cumbersome and may compromise the thermal insulation of the refrigerator.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a sensor, actuator, and plunger is integrated within the compressor compartment to detect air pressure changes and assist in opening the closed door leaf or bottom drawer, maintaining the thermal insulation integrity by being housed within the compressor compartment rather than the thermally insulated cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a device for opening the door leaf is integrated within the thermally insulated cabinet, then the door opening function is achieved, but the thermal insulation integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device is extracted from the thermally insulated cabinet and relocated to the compressor compartment. The device includes a sensor, actuator, and plunger mechanism that are mounted on the inner wall of the compressor compartment, allowing the door to be opened without penetrating the thermal insulation layer of the cabinet.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger acts as an intermediary element that transfers the opening force from the actuator (located in the compressor compartment) to the door leaf (on the cabinet exterior). This allows the door opening function to be achieved without direct mechanical connection through the thermal insulation.
2Device complexity
If the door opening device is attached to the cabinet, then the structure is simplified, but the device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device is segmented into independent functional modules: a sensor unit for detecting door closure, an actuator unit for generating opening force, and a plunger mechanism for transmitting the force. These modules are separately manufactured and then assembled within the compressor compartment, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If a sensor and actuator system is added to detect air pressure changes and open the door, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor automatically detects when the door is closed by sensing air pressure changes, and the actuator automatically activates to open the door without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the natural pressure differential created when the door is closed to trigger the opening mechanism.
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 device facilitates easy opening of closed compartments without compromising the refrigerator's thermal insulation, enhancing user convenience while maintaining efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
The device contains a sensor adapted to sense if a person wants to open the closed door leaf or to open the closed bottom drawer
Implementation Method 2
The device contains an actuator adapted to move the plunger from a first position into a second position for opening the closed door leaf or the closed bottom drawer
Implementation Method 3
When moved from its first position to its second position, then the plunger pushes the closed door leaf or the closed bottom drawer open such that at least the magnetic seal, if applicable, detaches from the cabinet
Implementation Method 4
The household refrigerator contains a refrigerant cycle intended for cooling the storage compartment. The refrigerant cycle contains a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator
Implementation Method 5
The household refrigerator may contain an elastic magnetic seal which is attached to the surface of the door leaf facing towards the storage compartment. When the door leaf is closed, then the magnetic seal touches the cabinet
Data Source
AI summary
A household refrigerator has a thermally insulated cabinet, a storage compartment intended to store food and/or beverages and contained within the cabinet, a refrigerant cycle intended for cooling the storage compartment, and a compressor compartment housing a compressor of the refrigerant cycle. The cabinet is mounted on top of the compressor compartment. The household refrigerator contains a door leaf pivotally hinged with respect to the cabinet for opening and closing the storage compartment or a bottom drawer located directly above the compressor compartment and intended for storing food and/or beverages. The bottom drawer is closed when pushed into the storage compartment and open when at least partly be pulled out of the storage compartment. The household refrigerator contains a device for opening the closed door leaf or for opening the closed bottom drawer, which is attached inside the compressor compartment.