Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator drawer systems face challenges in providing a safe, stable, and convenient elevation mechanism for drawer-type doors, often resulting in exposure of electrical components, safety issues, and reduced storage capacity due to the need for complex structures and increased draw-out distances.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring an elevation assembly with elevation devices on both sides of the drawer part, integrated into the drawer door, where the electrical device is housed within the front panel door part, and a mechanism connected to the drawer part, allowing for selective separation to enhance safety, appearance, and operational reliability, while minimizing storage space loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drawer-type door is disposed in the lower region of the refrigerator, then the refrigerator structure is simplified, but the user convenience deteriorates due to the need to turn back to take out heavy items
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer-type door is designed to be movable in the vertical direction through an elevation mechanism including a motor assembly, gears, and a shaft, allowing the door to be elevated to a predetermined height to improve user accessibility while maintaining the simplified lower-region placement structure
2Ease of operation
If the drawer-type door is elevated to improve user convenience, then the ease of operation is improved, but safety issues arise due to exposure of electrical components and elevation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly and electrical components are nested within the drawer-type door structure itself, with the motor assembly housed in a dedicated space within the door and the shaft positioned centrally, allowing the elevation mechanism to be integrated without exposing electrical components to the exterior environment
3Ease of operation
If the entire basket is elevated to improve accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the draw-out distance increases requiring reinforcement structures such as rails
Solution Approach 1:
Only the drawer-type door is elevated to a predetermined height rather than the entire basket or storage container, providing sufficient accessibility improvement while avoiding the need for increased draw-out distance and associated reinforcement structures
4Ease of operation
If the drawer-type door is elevated, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential separation of the door from the storage container
Solution Approach 1:
A connection portion is provided between the drawer-type door and the storage container to prevent separation during elevation and withdrawal operations, ensuring the door remains properly attached while allowing the elevation function to operate reliably
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a lower storage space, a front panel door part, a drawer part connected to the front panel door part, a support member located at the drawer part and configured to seat one or more objects stored in the drawer part, at least one draw-out rail that is configured to connect the drawer part to an inner wall surface of the lower storage space, and that is configured to extend and retract in multiple stages to assist insertion and withdrawal of the drawer part based on movement of the front panel door part, and at least one elevation device that is located at each of both side surfaces of the drawer part, that is connected to each of both sides of the support member, and that is configured to elevate the support member relative to the drawer part.