Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator door panel mounting systems face challenges such as exposed coupling portions, difficulty in maintaining accurate mounting, and susceptibility to deformation, leading to defects in the outer appearance and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly mounting structure that uses upper and lower cap decors with recessed handles and restriction members to securely attach the panel assembly to the door body, preventing exposure and ensuring accurate alignment, even when the door is deformed, and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple brackets are mounted on the outside to attach the panel, then the panel can be securely mounted, but productivity deteriorates and accurate mounting position cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling groove, forming a nested structure where one component fits inside another. This eliminates the need for external brackets while maintaining secure attachment, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing mounting reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure is extracted from the external bracket configuration and integrated directly into the door and panel assembly. The coupling protrusion and groove are built into the components themselves, removing the separate bracket elements and simplifying the assembly process
2Reliability
If multiple brackets are mounted on the outside to attach the panel, then the panel can be securely mounted, but the outer appearance deteriorates due to exposed brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion fits inside the coupling groove, creating a nested configuration where the fastening mechanism is concealed within the panel and door structure. This eliminates exposed external brackets while maintaining secure attachment, thus preserving the aesthetic appearance
3Ease of manufacture
If recessed grooves are defined in the door body to mount the glass panel, then the panel can be attached, but the coupling structure is exposed and the upper end may not be accurately coupled
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling groove is pre-formed in the door body at the precise location where the coupling protrusion will engage. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the panel is installed, the protrusion automatically aligns with the groove, achieving accurate coupling at the upper end without requiring additional adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical bracket system is replaced with a direct geometric interlocking mechanism between the coupling protrusion and groove. This substitution eliminates the need for exposed coupling structures and achieves precise positioning through the inherent geometry of the interlocking features
4Ease of manufacture
If the door components disperse or deform due to temperature differences or foaming pressure, then the groove shape may be deformed, but the glass panel cannot be accurately mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling groove is designed with sufficient dimensional tolerance and structural rigidity to accommodate expected deformations from foaming pressure and temperature changes. The groove maintains its functional geometry despite these environmental factors, ensuring accurate panel mounting is achieved even when the door body undergoes thermal or pressure-induced deformation
5Reliability
If multiple grooves and installation portions are required for heavy glass panels, then the panel can be mounted, but assembly and disassembly operations become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion inserts into the coupling groove to form a nested fastening structure that secures heavy glass panels effectively. This single interlocking mechanism replaces multiple grooves and installation portions, making assembly and disassembly operations simple while maintaining secure attachment of heavy materials
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door. The door includes a door body including a door liner, a front plate, a cap decor connected to the door liner and the front plate and having a recessed handle, and an insulator filled between the door liner, the front plate, and the cap decor. The door includes a panel assembly detachably mounted on a front surface of the door body and defining a front surface of the door. The panel assembly includes a panel defining an outer appearance of the front surface of the door and an insertion protrusion protruding backward from the panel and inserted into a front surface of the cap decor when the panel is mounted to restrict the panel assembly. The insertion protrusion extends from the outside of a recessed space of the handle in a direction crossing the recessed space.