Refrigerator Door-Opening Aid Using Sensor-Activated Drive Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in refrigeration appliances lack a door-opening aid due to the absence of a door handle, making it difficult to open the door without manual effort, especially after the door seals break, causing negative pressure.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance equipped with a sensor that detects door movement and pressure changes within the interior, activating a drive element to assist in opening the door, allowing users to open it with minimal effort without needing a handle, using a pressure sensor and control circuit to react to user-initiated movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a door-opening aid is added to built-in refrigeration appliances, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive element with the existing door structure, integrating the opening aid into the door assembly rather than adding a completely separate mechanism. The control circuit is merged with the sensor system to create a unified control unit that detects door movement and activates the drive element accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the door's own movement to trigger the opening aid. When the user moves the door, the sensor detects this movement and automatically activates the drive element to assist opening, eliminating the need for separate manual activation or complex control interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If a handle is added to built-in refrigeration appliances for door opening, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability is reduced because the handle design must match adjacent furniture fronts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical handle system with an automated drive element that is activated by motion sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for visible handles that would compromise the furniture-like appearance of built-in appliances, while still providing effective door opening assistance through the drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor and control circuit act as intermediaries between the user's door movement and the drive element activation. This intermediary system allows the door to be opened easily without requiring a visible handle, maintaining the aesthetic requirements of built-in appliances.
3Reliability
If the seal maintains strong sealing contact, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to negative pressure making door opening difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive element is activated in advance to assist door opening before the user has to manually overcome the full negative pressure. The sensor detects the user's initial door movement and pre-activates the drive element to create a pressure equalization effect, making the opening process easier.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the pressure sensor to detect when the user attempts to open the door. This feedback triggers the control circuit to activate the drive element, which then assists the user in overcoming the negative pressure created by the strong seal, combining automated assistance with user-initiated action.
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
Enables easy door opening with reduced effort, allowing users to open the door using conventional methods, even when the seal is still engaged, by detecting pressure changes and activating the drive element, thus addressing the challenge of negative pressure resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for detecting a movement of the door and a control circuit coupled to the sensor for activating the drive element when a movement of the door is detected, the sensor being a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure change inside the refrigeration appliance
Implementation Method 2
a drive element arranged to move the door from the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration device comprises two housing parts (1, 2), namely a body (1) and door (2), that delimit an interior (3), a seal (4) that is fastened to one of the housing parts (1, 2) and sealingly contacts the other housing part (2, 1) when the door (2) is closed, and a drive element (6), arranged to drive the door (2) from the closed position. A sensor (9) for detecting a movement of the door (2) and a control circuit coupled to said sensor serve to activate the drive element (6) when a movement of the door (2) is detected.