Refrigerator and elevation device for refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs with drawer-type doors face issues such as exposed lifting mechanisms leading to safety concerns, reduced storage capacity, noise, and instability due to eccentric loads when elevating heavy objects, which compromise user convenience and storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring an electric device for elevation integrated within the door, with a mechanical device for the drawer part outside the door, utilizing a lifting assembly of interlocking rods to elevate the drawer part, ensuring stability and minimizing storage capacity loss, while keeping the lifting mechanism hidden from view to improve appearance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator to elevate the bin, then the bin can be elevated, but the storage capacity is significantly reduced and the mechanism is exposed causing safety problems
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is divided into two separate parts: a driving device disposed inside the refrigerator (in the door) and a lifting mechanism disposed outside the refrigerator (in the drawer). This segmentation allows the storage space to remain unaffected while still providing the elevation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting mechanism is extracted from the interior of the refrigerator and placed in the drawer exterior. Only the essential driving device remains inside, while the bulk of the lifting mechanism is positioned outside, preserving storage capacity and eliminating safety hazards from exposed internal components.
2Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then elevation can be achieved, but the appearance is poor and noise is transmitted to the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The noisy lifting mechanism components are extracted from the refrigerator interior and positioned in the drawer exterior, where noise does not interfere with the refrigerator's operation or transmit to the outside. Only the compact driving device remains inside.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer acts as an intermediary structure that houses the lifting mechanism outside the refrigerator while still enabling the elevation function. This intermediary placement isolates noise-generating components from the refrigerator's interior environment.
3Force
If the driving part increases in size to provide sufficient force for heavy objects, then elevation force is improved, but internal volume loss and noise become larger
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a compact driving device inside the refrigerator and a larger lifting mechanism outside. This allows the lifting mechanism to be sized appropriately for heavy loads without compromising the refrigerator's internal volume, as the bulk of the mechanism resides in the drawer exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting mechanism utilizes the external dimension of the drawer space rather than consuming internal refrigerator volume. This dimensional shift allows for a larger, more powerful lifting mechanism without reducing the refrigerator's storage capacity.
4Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism supports one side of the bin bottom, then elevation is achieved, but eccentric load causes instability when the door is withdrawn
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism combines multiple support points and load distribution structures to evenly distribute the bin's weight across the lifting assembly. This merging of support functions eliminates eccentric loading and ensures stable elevation even when the drawer is withdrawn.
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 stable and efficient elevation mechanism that maintains storage capacity, enhances user safety and convenience, and improves the refrigerator's appearance by concealing the lifting assembly, thus addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
a lifting assembly of interlocking rods to elevate the drawer part
Implementation Method 2
The lifting assembly includes: a pair of first rods including a first rod, the pair of first rods having a first end rotatably coupled to the lower frame and a second end configured to translate along the upper frame
Data Source
AI summary
An elevation device for a refrigerator drawer includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly includes: a pair of first rods having a first end rotatably coupled to the lower frame and a second end that translates along the upper frame; and a pair of second rods having a first end rotatably coupled to the upper frame and a second end that translates along the lower frame. The second rod is rotatably coupled to and crosses the first rod. The first or second rod is connected to a driving device via the first end of the first or second rod, with the driving device disposed outside the upper frame and the lower frame. The first and second rods are configured to, based on power from the driving device, rotate about their respective first ends to elevate the upper frame relative to the lower frame.