Refrigerator Door Soft Closing Device Using Lever-Cam Damper System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliances with auto-closing devices face issues such as requiring large forces to rotate the door, potential door opening due to misaligned hinge bracket bodies, rapid door closure causing shocks, and incomplete door closure due to damper operation, especially in thinner doors.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance with a soft closing device that includes a damper, lever, and cam system, where the damper provides a reaction force through a cam that interacts with a lever to control door closure speed, reducing impact and ensuring complete closure without compromising appearance or insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an auto-closing device directly applies torque to the hinge shaft, then the door can be automatically closed, but a large force is required to rotate the door making the device bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lever as an intermediary component between the auto-closing device and the door. The lever converts the small force from the auto-closing device into a larger closing force through mechanical advantage, eliminating the need for the device to directly apply large torque to the hinge shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing function is segmented into two parts: the auto-closing device provides the initiating force, while the lever provides the mechanical amplification. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resulting in a more compact and efficient system.
2Reliability
If the door closes rapidly to ensure complete closure, then the door closes reliably, but a shock occurs between the door and the cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is installed beforehand in the lever to cushion the closing action. As the lever rotates during door closure, the damper gradually resists the motion, reducing the closing speed near the end of the stroke and preventing shock between the door and cabinet while ensuring complete closure.
3Speed
If a damper is mounted in the cabinet and protruding forward, then the door closure can be controlled, but the damper has a portion exposed to the outside compromising appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is nested within the lever structure, specifically housed in a cavity of the lever body. This nesting arrangement allows the damper to be concealed inside the lever, eliminating external protrusions while maintaining the door closure speed control function.
4Force
If the damper is positioned to provide closing force, then the door can be closed, but the door may not close completely due to damper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The damper's resistance force is made dynamic rather than constant. The damper provides increasing resistance as the lever rotates, allowing free rotation during most of the closing stroke and providing gradual cushioning only near the end position. This dynamic characteristic ensures complete closure while preventing shock.
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
The system allows for smooth and complete door closure with reduced impact, applicable to various door structures, including thinner doors, and prevents incomplete closure, maintaining insulation performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cam that extends radially outward from a rotation center to press the damper
Implementation Method 2
a damper that provides reaction force when pressed
Data Source
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AI summary
A home appliance of the present disclosure includes a cabinet providing a storage compartment open forward, a door rotatably provided at the front of the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment, a hinge fixed to the cabinet and rotatably supporting the door, a soft closing device that is provided in the door and include a damper for providing reaction force when pressed, and a lever that is provided on the door, is rotatable in accordance with rotation of the door, and includes a cam extending radially outward from a rotation center to press the damper.