Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs face issues with stability when opening a drawer assembly, leading to potential tilting or collision with the floor, and expose rail components externally, compromising aesthetics and cleaning ease, especially in smaller refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a weight balance mechanism within the drawer assembly opposite the door, coupled with a rail assembly and door bracket system that minimizes rail exposure and allows for easy drawer separation and cleaning, ensuring stable door opening and preventing forward tilting or floor collision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drawer assembly is connected to the door in existing refrigerator designs, then the drawer can be pulled out together with the door, but the refrigerator may tilt forwards or the drawer door may hit the floor due to excessive weight
Solution Approach 1:
A weight balance mechanism is introduced within the drawer assembly, positioned opposite the door, to counteract the excessive weight of the drawer assembly connected to the door. This counterweight system prevents the refrigerator from tilting forward or the drawer door from hitting the floor during drawer withdrawal operations.
2Ease of operation
If the rail assembly is mounted on the side face of the storage box, then the drawer can be pulled out, but the rail is exposed to the outside which deteriorates the sense of beauty and makes cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rail assembly is nested within the drawer assembly structure rather than being mounted externally on the side face of the storage box. This nested configuration allows the drawer to be pulled out while keeping the rail assembly hidden inside the drawer structure, preventing external exposure and maintaining aesthetic appearance while facilitating easier cleaning.
3Ease of operation
If the storage box is hinge-coupled to the drawer door, then the drawer can be pulled out together with the door, but it is not easy to separate the storage box from the drawer door and cleaning is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer assembly is segmented into separable components, including the storage box and the drawer door, connected through a detachable coupling mechanism rather than a permanent hinge coupling. This segmentation allows the storage box to be easily separated from the drawer door for independent cleaning and maintenance while still enabling the drawer assembly to move together with the door during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises: a cabinet having a storage chamber; a door to open and close the storage chamber; a drawer assembly connected to the door and having a drawer; a rail assembly to connect the drawer assembly to the cabinet; and a weight balance positioned in the drawer assembly and opposite the door.