Drawer assembly and refrigerator provided with it
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drawer assemblies in refrigerators require manual force throughout the closing process and lack stability, resulting in an uncomfortable user experience and potential vibration, noise, and damage due to quick closure.
Innovation Solution
A drawer assembly with a damping reset unit featuring an elastic member and a damping member that allows the drawer to automatically close smoothly and slowly without external force, incorporating a telescopic piston rod and locking structure to manage the closure and rebound process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a roller-slideway structure is used for the drawer assembly, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but manual force is required throughout the closing process and stable operation cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member (spring) stores potential energy when the drawer is opened and automatically releases this energy to push the drawer closed, making the system self-serving without requiring external manual force during the closing process. The locking structure engages automatically at predetermined positions, further enhancing the self-service capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-loaded with potential energy during the drawer opening process, preparing the force necessary for automatic closure in advance. The locking structure is also pre-positioned to engage at specific points during the closing trajectory, ensuring stable operation without requiring real-time manual intervention.
2Productivity
If the drawer closes quickly to improve closing speed, then productivity is improved, but vibration, noise and potential damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member is positioned to engage before the drawer completes its closing motion, providing cushioning and energy dissipation in advance of the final closure. This prevents the drawer from slamming shut, reducing vibration, noise, and potential damage while still maintaining efficient closing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member acts as an intermediary element between the moving drawer and the stationary structure. It absorbs and dissipates kinetic energy through friction and deformation, mediating the closure process to eliminate harmful vibrations and noises while allowing the drawer to close efficiently.
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
Enables the drawer to automatically close without manual force, improving user experience by reducing vibrations, noise, and potential damage, while ensuring smooth operation and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (31) that drives the drawer body (1) to reset from an open state to a closed state
Implementation Method 2
a damping member (32) that reduces the reset speed of the elastic member (31)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A drawer assembly and a refrigerator, the drawer assembly comprising a drawer body (1), a slideway assembly (2) for pushing and pulling the drawer body (1), and a damping reset unit matching the drawer body (1) and being arranged on the sliding channel assembly (2), the damping reset unit (3) comprising an elastic member (31) for driving the drawer body (1) to reset from an open state to a closed state and a damping member (32) for reducing the reset speed of the elastic member (31). A refrigerator is provided with the drawer assembly. The arrangement of the damping reset unit (3) enables the process of closing the drawer body (1) to not require the application of external force during the entire process, and the arrangement of the damping member (32) makes the rebound process of the drawer body (1) more gentle, avoiding the vibration, noise, and damage that may be produced during rapid rebound.