refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with transparent panel assemblies on the doors face issues with heat loss and increased power consumption due to heat transmission along the perimeter through spacers.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a panel assembly with multiple transparent panels, insulating material within the door, and a heater in contact with one of the panels, along with a specific mounting structure that includes first and second insulating layers with different configurations to extend the heat transfer path and prevent cold air loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a transparent panel assembly is formed on the door to allow visibility of the storage space, then user convenience and aesthetic appearance are improved, but heat loss increases due to heat transmission along the perimeter through spacers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-layer panel assembly structure where transparent panels are nested between insulating layers. The first transparent panel is positioned between a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, creating a nested configuration that allows visibility while trapping insulating material around the perimeter to block heat transmission through spacers.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly uses composite construction combining transparent panels with insulating materials (foam or air gaps). The panel assembly includes transparent panels bonded to insulating layers, creating a composite structure that provides both optical transparency and thermal insulation properties.
2Loss of energy
If insulating layers are added to the panel assembly to block heat transmission, then thermal insulation is improved, but the door thickness increases reducing storage space capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies insulating material selectively at critical heat transmission paths. The first insulating layer is positioned at the front perimeter and the second insulating layer at the rear perimeter of the transparent panel, focusing insulation where heat transmission through spacers occurs most, rather than uniformly increasing door thickness throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses thermal insulation by adding insulation in the lateral dimension (perimeter regions) rather than only increasing thickness in the depth dimension. The insulating layers extend beyond the transparent panel edges at both front and rear, blocking heat transmission paths without requiring proportional increases in overall door thickness.
3Volume of moving object
If the door thickness is reduced to maximize storage space capacity, then storage space is improved, but insulating performance deteriorates and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer nested structure allows compact integration of transparent panels and insulating layers within a reduced overall door thickness. The transparent panels are nested between insulating layers that extend beyond panel edges, providing perimeter insulation without increasing the distance between door inner and outer surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite panel assembly combines thin transparent panels with perimeter insulating layers to achieve effective thermal insulation within a compact thickness profile. The insulating material is strategically positioned at the perimeter where heat transmission occurs, allowing reduced overall thickness while maintaining insulation performance.
4Strength
If spacers are used to constitute the panel assembly structure, then structural integrity is improved, but heat transmission along the perimeter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulating layers as intermediary elements between the transparent panels and the external environment. These insulating layers are positioned at the perimeter regions where spacers are located, acting as a thermal barrier that interrupts heat transmission paths through the spacer structures while maintaining the structural framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layers are nested around the perimeter regions of the transparent panels, creating a thermal envelope that encompasses the spacer structures. This nested configuration allows the spacers to maintain structural integrity while being thermally isolated by the surrounding insulating material.
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
This configuration effectively reduces heat loss and power consumption by lengthening the heat transfer path, while also allowing for a thinner door design to maximize storage space and improve user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a heater being in contact with one of the panels
Implementation Method 2
insulation layers are formed between the panels
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A refrigerator of an embodiment of the disclosure includes a cabinet forming a storage space; and a door configured to open and close the storage space, in which the door includes a door liner forming a rear of the door and having a liner opening; a panel assembly configured to see through a rear space of the door by a plurality of transparent panels; and an insulating material filled inside the door excluding the panel assembly, the panel assembly includes a first panel forming a front surface of the door; a second panel provided at a rear side spaced apart from the first panel and forming a first insulating layer between the second panel and the first panel; and a third panel provided at the rear side spaced apart from the second panel to cover the liner opening and forming a second insulating layer between the third panel and the second panel, and the first insulating layer is formed to be larger than the second insulating layer and protrudes further than an end portion of the second insulating layer.