Side-By-Side Refrigerator Door Cover for Magnetic Sensor Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of manufacturing refrigerators with magnetic field sensors and magnets on extruded or bent metal sheet sidewalls are increased due to the difficulty in installing these components on the sidewalls, as seen in existing refrigerator designs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a longitudinal side cover part on each door end cover, where the magnetic sensitive unit and magnet are connected to the side cover parts, eliminating the need for a mechanism on the sidewall and allowing for easier replacement and improved installation precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the magnetic field sensor or magnet is installed on the extruded side cover or bent metal sheet sidewall, then the door structure is compact, but the manufacturing complexity and cost significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The end cover is segmented into a main body part forming the horizontal sidewall and a side cover part extending longitudinally. This segmentation allows the magnetic sensitive unit and magnet to be installed on the side cover part, which is easier to manufacture and assemble, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the compact door structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The side cover part acts as an intermediary component between the main body part and the magnetic sensitive unit/magnet. It provides a convenient mounting surface for these components, simplifying the installation process and reducing the complexity of integrating sensors or magnets directly into the extruded side cover or bent metal sheet.
2Ease of repair
If the magnetic sensitive unit and magnet are connected to the side cover parts after foaming procedure, then replacement and maintenance become easier, but the installation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The side cover part is designed with through holes or mounting structures in advance, allowing the magnetic sensitive unit and magnet to be connected after the foaming procedure. This preliminary preparation of the side cover part simplifies the replacement and maintenance process while the modular design keeps the installation process manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection method is designed to be dynamic and flexible, allowing the magnetic sensitive unit and magnet to be installed at different stages (before or after foaming) depending on the specific manufacturing or maintenance situation. This flexibility facilitates easier replacement and maintenance while adapting to different installation scenarios.
3Reliability
If the magnetic sensitive unit or magnet is damaged, then functionality is compromised, but replacement becomes difficult if integrated into the door structure
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensitive unit and magnet are segmented from the main door structure and mounted on the side cover part. This segmentation ensures that if either component is damaged, only the side cover part needs to be removed for replacement, without damaging the door structure, thereby maintaining reliability while facilitating easy repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic sensitive unit and magnet are extracted as separate, independently replaceable components mounted on the side cover part. This extraction allows them to be removed and replaced without affecting the integrity of the door structure, ensuring that functionality can be restored quickly and easily if damage occurs.
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 design simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and maintains the integrity and appearance of the side covers by integrating the magnetic components into the end covers, enhancing reliability and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field sensor and a magnet are arranged on a corresponding sidewall of the corresponding door respectively to detect whether at least one of the doors is open
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator (1) includes a pair of side-by-side doors (3a, 3b). One of the doors (3b) is provided with a magnetic sensitive unit (4). The other door of the doors (3a) is provided with a magnet (5) for cooperating with the magnetic sensitive unit (4). Each of the doors (3a, 3b) including an end cover (7) which includes a main body part (71) which forms a horizontal sidewall of the door (3a, 3b). According to the present invention, each end cover (7) includes a side cover part (72) which is connected to one end of the main body part (71) and extends longitudinally, the pair of side cover parts (72) face each other when the pair of doors (3a, 3b) are closed, and the magnetic sensitive unit (4) and the magnet (5) are connected to a corresponding side cover part (72), respectively.