Refrigerator Drawer Elevation Assembly for Safe and Stable Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator drawer systems face challenges with unstable and unsafe elevation mechanisms, exposing electrical devices and compromising safety and space efficiency, particularly with drawer-type doors where users must turn to access contents, leading to inconvenience and potential injury.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring an elevation assembly on both sides of the drawer door with a motor-driven mechanism housed within the door panel, using a shaft and rail system to elevate the support member without tilting, while keeping the electrical components concealed for safety and aesthetics, and allowing partial drawer exposure for stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer-type door is disposed in the lower region of the refrigerator, then the refrigerator structure is compact, but the user has to turn its back to take out basket or foods which causes inconvenience and potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer-type door is designed to be movable not only horizontally but also vertically. The door can be elevated to a predetermined height from the lower region, transforming from a static position to a dynamic one that adapts to user needs. This allows users to access the drawer without turning their back, improving convenience while maintaining compact structure.
2Device complexity
If the storage container is elevated with force applied to the front end, then the elevation mechanism is simple, but the eccentric load causes unstable elevation and deformation or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the elevation mechanism and the storage container. This support member extends from the rear surface of the drawer-type door to support the storage container, distributing the load evenly and preventing direct stress concentration at the front end. This intermediary structure enables stable elevation while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
3Force
If the pneumatic cylinder is disposed on both sides to elevate the basket, then the elevation force is sufficient, but the basket may tilt if not accurately controlled and the volume within the basket is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism including the pneumatic cylinder is extracted from the visible exterior and disposed inside the drawer-type door. The support member extends outward to provide the necessary elevation force, while the main actuating components are hidden within the door structure. This extraction maintains sufficient elevation force while preserving basket storage volume and improving aesthetics.
4Ease of operation
If the entire basket is elevated, then the user convenience is improved, but the basket has to be completely withdrawn which requires reinforcement structure such as rail
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of elevating the entire basket, only a support member extending from the rear surface of the drawer-type door is elevated. This partial action provides sufficient user convenience by bringing the storage container closer to the user without requiring complete basket withdrawal. This reduces the need for complex reinforcement structures like rails while maintaining operational ease.
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 solution provides a safe, convenient, and space-efficient method for elevating contents within the refrigerator drawer, enhancing user safety and operational reliability while maintaining a neat appearance by hiding the elevation mechanism and minimizing storage space loss.
Implementation Method 1
an elevation assembly on both sides of the drawer door with a motor-driven mechanism housed within the door panel, using a shaft and rail system to elevate the support member without tilting
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a cabinet; a front panel door part; a drawer part configured to be connected to the front panel door part and to insert into and withdraw from the cabinet based on movement of the front panel door part relative to the cabinet; a support member located in the drawer part and configured to seat an object stored in the drawer part; and an elevation device that is located at each of a first side surface of the drawer part and a second side surface of the drawer part, that is configured to be coupled to each of a first side of the support member and a second side of the support member, and that is configured to elevate the support member relative to the drawer part in a state in which the drawer part is withdrawn from a lower storage space defined in the cabinet.