refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with drawer-type doors face issues such as exposed elevation structures causing safety concerns, poor appearance, difficulty in cleaning and servicing, instability due to long draw-out distances, and deformation of the door and basket components.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a drawer door with a separable door and drawer part, incorporating a hidden elevation assembly and draw-out mechanism that limits the draw-out distance, ensuring stable operation and safe, efficient use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the drawer-type door is disposed in the lower region of the refrigerator, then the refrigerator can accommodate more storage space, but the user has to turn its back to take out items which causes inconvenience and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer door is designed to be dynamically adjustable in height. The support member can be elevated to different positions using the elevation assembly, allowing the drawer door to adapt its position based on operational needs. This dynamic adjustment enables users to pull out the drawer door more easily while maintaining efficient lower region storage space utilization.
2Ease of operation
If the constituents for elevating on the door side are disposed in an exposed state, then the elevation function can be achieved, but the appearance becomes poor and safety is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation assembly is nested within the drawer door structure itself rather than being exposed on the door. The support member is positioned inside the drawer door, and the elevation mechanism is integrated into the drawer door's internal structure. This nesting approach maintains the elevation function while hiding the constituents, thereby improving both appearance and safety by preventing exposure to moving parts.
3Ease of operation
If the basket is elevated by operation of a support member provided on a door, then the basket can be raised to accessible height, but the support member is exposed directly causing safety problems
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is extracted from the door structure and repositioned within the drawer door. By taking the support member out of the door and placing it inside the drawer door, the elevation function is preserved while the support member is no longer exposed on the external surface of the door, eliminating the safety hazard of exposed moving parts.
4Ease of operation
If the entire basket is elevated during operation of the elevation structure, then the basket becomes accessible, but when food inside is eccentric it is difficult for the basket to vertically move stably and the basket may be severely deformed and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism is redesigned to provide guidance in multiple dimensions. The elevation assembly includes guide structures that constrain the support member's movement not only vertically but also laterally, preventing deviation caused by eccentric loads. This multi-dimensional constraint system maintains vertical elevation functionality while stabilizing the basket's movement path and preventing deformation.
5Ease of operation
If the entire basket for elevation is withdrawn to the outside of the refrigerator body, then the basket is accessible, but the draw-out distance is relatively long and the structure for elevating the basket is additionally disposed on the door causing instability and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation function is merged with the drawer door structure rather than being separately disposed on the door. The support member and elevation assembly are integrated into the drawer door, combining the withdrawal and elevation functions in a unified structure. This integration reduces the need for long draw-out distances and eliminates the instability caused by separate elevation constituents on the door.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which an upper storage space and a lower storage space are defined, a door part opening and closing the lower storage space, a drawer part provided behind the door part and inserted and withdrawn together with the door part, a drawer-side device provided in the drawer part to elevate a food or a container within the drawer part, a door-side device provided in the door part to provide power for an operation of the drawer-side device, and a connection device provided in the door part to connect the door-side device to the drawer-side device so that the power of the door-side device is transmitted to the drawer-side device. At least a portion of the connection device is exposed to a rear surface of the door part so that a user manipulates the connection device, and when the user manipulates the connection device, the connection device operates to separate the drawer-side device from the door-side device.