refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator drawer-type doors with lifting mechanisms have safety and aesthetic issues due to exposed lifting mechanisms, noise during operation, and limited elevation height, which can cause user inconvenience and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a drawer that includes an elevation plate and a plate support device, where the elevation plate is elevated vertically using a system of curved racks and elevation bars connected to a driving motor, with the elevation mechanism housed within the drawer to maintain a horizontal state and prevent exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is disposed outside the storage box, then the elevation function is achieved, but safety problems and contamination occur due to exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism is nested inside the storage box, with the curved rack and elevation bar housed within the box's internal space. This nesting approach allows the elevation function to be achieved while keeping all mechanical components enclosed, eliminating safety hazards and contamination risks associated with exposed mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is exposed to the outside, then the elevation function is visible, but noise during operation is transmitted to the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The noise-generating components (curved rack, elevation bar, and driving mechanism) are nested within the storage box, which acts as an acoustic enclosure. This containment prevents noise transmission to the external environment while preserving the elevation function's operational effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If the frame protrudes further upward than the door, then the storage box can be elevated, but the elevation height is limited and aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism utilizes the vertical internal dimension of the storage box by positioning the curved rack along the rear inner surface of the door. This allows the storage box to be elevated to a greater height without requiring the frame to protrude beyond the door's outer surface, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while achieving functional elevation.
4Ease of operation
If the vertical portion of the frame protrudes than the top surface of the door, then elevation is achieved, but user's clothing or body parts may get caught
Solution Approach 1:
All elevation mechanism components are nested within the storage box boundaries, ensuring that no protruding frame elements extend beyond the door surface. This eliminates the safety hazard of clothing or body parts getting caught on protruding structures while maintaining the elevation function through internal mechanical action.
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 enhances user convenience by reducing the need for excessive waist bending when retrieving items, minimizes safety risks by hiding the elevation mechanism, reduces noise, and maintains the storage box's appearance while allowing for greater elevation height without protrusions.
Implementation Method 1
a curved rack and an elevation bar corresponding to the curved rack, the curved rack being curved at a predetermined curvature and the elevation bar being connected to one end of the elevation plate
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space therein, and a drawer slidably movable forward and backward from the storage space. The drawer includes a door, and a storage box provided at a rear surface of the door, an elevation plate disposed within the storage box, and an elevation device including a plurality of elevation parts which are connected to a plurality of points, respectively, at the elevation plate to allow the elevation plate to move vertically. The plurality of elevation parts include a first elevation part connected to a first point at the elevation plate, and a second elevation part connected to a second point at the elevation plate, which is spaced apart from the first point.