Refrigerator Door Roller System to Prevent Drooping and Maintain Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator doors tend to droop due to weight or standard errors, affecting aesthetic quality and the retention of cool air, particularly in side-by-side and French door models.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a roller system at the rear surface of the doors, supported by the bottom surface of the storage compartment, which is accommodated within a dyke structure, to prevent drooping and enhance the external appearance by minimizing external exposure and storage space encroachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If hinges are connected only to one side of the door, then the door can be supported with fewer components, but the door droops due to weight and standard errors
Solution Approach 1:
A roller is added to the opposite side of the door from the hinge connection, positioned to contact the bottom surface of the storage compartment. This roller acts as a counterbalancing support that prevents door droop without requiring additional hinges on both sides, thus maintaining simple hinge connection while achieving door stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a roller is added to prevent door droop, then door stability is improved, but storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is positioned at the rear surface of the door and contacts the bottom surface of the storage compartment, utilizing the depth dimension of the door structure. This placement allows the roller to provide support functionality without protruding into the storage space, thus maintaining maximum storage volume while achieving door stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the roller is exposed externally, then door support function is achieved, but aesthetic quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is recessed into a roller receiving groove formed at the rear surface of the door, with the roller surface flush with or slightly recessed below the door surface. This nesting arrangement allows the roller to provide door support functionality while being concealed within the door structure, thus maintaining aesthetic quality without compromising support function.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having a door rotatably hinged to a body of the refrigerator that prevents droop of the door at the side opposite to the axis of rotation of the door. A dyke formed on the rear surface of the door is provided with a roller, which is supported by the bottom surface of the storage compartment. A roller cap having a roller accommodation space to accommodate a part of the roller is connected to the dyke, and the roller is rotatably mounted to the roller cap.