refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs with drawer-type doors often expose lifting mechanisms externally, leading to safety concerns, poor aesthetics, noise issues, reduced storage capacity, and serviceability challenges, as well as instability due to eccentric loads when elevating heavy objects.
Innovation Solution
An electric device for elevation is integrated within the door part, accompanied by a mechanical mechanism in the drawer part, featuring an elevation detection system that ensures complete ascension or descension, preventing malfunctions and abnormal operations, while maintaining a clean outer appearance and improving serviceability by separating the door and drawer components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is disposed outside the bin, then the structure is simple and accessible, but safety problems occur and appearance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is nested inside the bin structure, with the driving part housed within the bin's internal cavity. This nesting approach maintains accessibility for maintenance while eliminating external exposure that causes safety and appearance problems.
2Reliability
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then safety and appearance are improved, but storage capacity is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is positioned in the vertical dimension within the bin's height space, rather than occupying horizontal storage space. This dimensional placement allows the mechanism to be housed inside the refrigerator without significantly reducing the usable storage volume.
3Ease of operation
If the driving part is exposed to the outside, then accessibility is improved, but noise is transmitted and appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driving part is nested within the bin's internal structure, surrounded by the bin walls that act as acoustic insulation. This nesting configuration contains noise within the bin while maintaining accessibility through designated access points.
4Force
If a large motor is used to lift heavy objects, then sufficient force is provided, but internal volume loss and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical advantage system using a pulley and rope mechanism replaces the need for a large direct-drive motor. This mechanical substitution provides sufficient lifting force for heavy objects while using a smaller, more compact motor that occupies less volume and generates less noise.
5Device complexity
If the lifting mechanism supports one side of the bin bottom, then structure is simplified, but deflected load is generated causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The bin bottom support structure is segmented into multiple support points distributed across the bottom surface. This segmentation distributes the load evenly, preventing deflected loads and maintaining bin stability during elevation while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
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 safety, aesthetics, and storage efficiency by hiding the elevation mechanism, reducing noise, and ensuring stable operation, while allowing for easy detection of elevation states and improved assembly and serviceability.
Implementation Method 1
an elevation detection device is provided in the screw unit to detect whether elevation is completed
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a storage chamber, a door including a door part configured to open and close the storage chamber and a drawer part configured to provide a storage space, a rail configured to connect the door to the cabinet, the rail being configured to allow the door to be inserted or withdrawn therethrough, a driving device provided in the door part to provide power, and an elevation device provided in the drawer part, the elevation device being connected to the driving device to allow a portion of the drawer part to vertically move. The driving device includes a motor assembly, a screw unit including a screw that rotates by the motor assembly and a screw holder elevated along the screw, and a lever configured to connect the screw holder to the elevation device, the lever rotating by the elevation of the screw holder. An elevation detection device configured to detect an operation state of the driving device to determine whether the elevation device completely ascends or descends is disposed on one side of the driving device.