refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with ice making chambers located at corners or rear sides require opening the main door for access, leading to cold air leakage and complicating water filter maintenance and replacement.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design with an ice making chamber integrated into the inner door, sealed by a gasket, and a water filter accommodation portion on the inner door, allowing access without opening the main door, and a simplified water supply pipe system using a hinge member to connect the external water supply to the filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice making chamber is located at one corner inside the refrigerator compartment or at the rear side of the refrigerator compartment door, then the refrigerator structure is compact, but it requires opening the door to access the ice maker and ice bucket
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into an inner door and an outer door, with the ice making chamber integrated into the inner door. This segmentation allows independent access to the ice making chamber through the inner door without opening the outer door, solving the accessibility issue while maintaining overall door structure integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner door with the ice making chamber is nested within the outer door structure. The inner door can be accessed independently while remaining part of the overall door assembly, enabling easy access to the ice maker without compromising the compact refrigerator structure.
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened to access the ice making chamber, then the ice maker and ice bucket are accessible, but cold air flows out causing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the door into inner and outer doors with the ice making chamber in the inner door, users can access the ice maker through the smaller inner door opening rather than opening the entire outer door, thereby minimizing cold air leakage and energy loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If the water filter is installed inside the refrigerator compartment, then the water supply structure is simple, but the water filter is difficult to replace and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The water filter is installed in the inner door separate from the main refrigerator compartment. This segmentation allows the water filter to be accessed and replaced by opening only the inner door, making maintenance easier while keeping the water supply structure integrated and simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner door serves as an intermediary space that provides easy access to the water filter for maintenance purposes, while the water supply pipes connect through the hinge member to maintain a simple overall water supply structure.
4Device complexity
If the water supply pipe is connected through the hinge member, then the water supply structure is simplified, but the hinge member must accommodate additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge member is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the mechanical hinge connection between inner and outer doors, and simultaneously houses the water supply pipe passage and water filter connection. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall water supply structure while integrating components into a single manufacturable part.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator includes a body configured to include a storage compartment, a door portion configured to include an inner door pivotably coupled to the body to open/close the storage compartment and an outer door pivotably provided in front of the inner door, an ice making chamber formed at the door portion to be divided from the storage compartment by the inner door and to be opened or closed by the outer door, an ice making system accommodated in the ice making chamber, a dispenser provided at the door portion to provide water and ice, and a water filter mountable at the door portion to purify water supplied from an external water supply source. The ice making chamber is easily accessible by opening only the outer door while the inner door is closed and prevent cold air in the storage compartment from flowing out.