refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly process of refrigerator doors is complicated by the need for screw fastening, which deteriorates workability and increases the number of assembly processes, making it difficult to maintain the mounting position of the inner case during the assembly of display assemblies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sealing member made of compressible material between the inner case, outer plate, and cap decoration, along with a case inserting portion that engages and restrains the inner case, allows for easy coupling and temporary fixing without additional screw fastening, ensuring accurate positioning and sealing during the injection of foaming liquid for insulating material molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw fastening is used to couple the inner case to the door cap decoration, then the mounting position is securely maintained, but the assembly workability deteriorates and the number of assembly processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the screw fastening mechanical system with a snap-fit coupling mechanism. The inner case includes coupling protrusions that engage with coupling grooves in the door cap decoration, eliminating the need for screws while maintaining secure mounting. This substitution improves assembly workability by allowing simple snap-together coupling without requiring fastening tools or multiple assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the screw fastening system and integrates it into the coupling structure between the inner case and door cap decoration. By taking out the screw fastening requirement and replacing it with integrated coupling protrusions and grooves, the assembly process is simplified while maintaining secure mounting position.
2Reliability
If multiple assembly processes are used to couple the inner case, display assembly, and door cap decoration, then secure mounting is achieved, but productivity decreases due to increased assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coupling functions of the inner case, display assembly, and door cap decoration into an integrated structure. The inner case is directly coupled to the door cap decoration via coupling protrusions and grooves, while the display assembly is mounted on the inner case, creating a unified assembly sequence that reduces overall complexity while maintaining secure mounting of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the door assembly into distinct components (door cap decoration, inner case, display assembly) with standardized coupling interfaces. The coupling protrusions and grooves provide modular connection points that allow each component to be securely assembled in a simplified sequence, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining security.
3Manufacturing precision
If the inner case is temporarily fixed during foaming liquid injection, then position accuracy is maintained, but additional fixing mechanisms increase assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the coupling protrusions and grooves during manufacturing, so that the temporary fixing function is already built into the structure. During foaming liquid injection, the inner case is naturally held in position by these pre-formed coupling features, maintaining mounting position accuracy without requiring additional fixing mechanisms or assembly steps.
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 solution significantly reduces the number of assembly processes and eliminates the need for screw fastening, improving assembly productivity and maintaining the inner case's accurate position, while preventing the inflow of foaming liquid and position changes due to pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member made of compressible material and disposed on the case upper surface and the case front surface and configured to seal between the inner case, the outer plate, and the cap decoration
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet having a storage space; and a door configured to open and close the cabinet, the door includes a cap decoration defining an upper surface of the door and having an opening; an outer plate made of metal, defining a front appearance of the door, and including a display configured to indicate operation information by a combination of a plurality of fine through-holes; a door liner coupled to the outer plate and defining a rear surface of the door; an insulating material filled between the outer plate and the door liner; an inner case coupled to the outer plate and the cap decoration inside of the door and including an independent accommodating space that communicates with the opening and into which the insulating material is not provided; and a display assembly inserted through the opening from an outside of the door and disposed inside of the case, and the cap decoration includes a case inserting portion into which an upper side of the inner case is inserted and restrained.