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, poor aesthetics, noise transmission, reduced storage capacity, and instability due to eccentric loads when elevating heavy bins, which compromise user convenience and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an electric driving device within the door part and a mechanical elevation device in the drawer part, connected by a selective assembly that prevents external exposure of components, maintains stability, and allows for efficient elevation without compromising storage capacity or noise levels, enhancing user convenience and serviceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the lifting mechanism is disposed outside the bin, then the structure is simple and accessible, but safety problems occur and aesthetics deteriorate
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 structural simplicity while improving safety by enclosing moving parts and enhancing aesthetics by hiding the mechanism from external view.
2Reliability
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then safety and aesthetics improve, but storage capacity is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is positioned locally at one side of the bin rather than occupying central or distributed space. This localized placement minimizes the volume consumed by the mechanism while still providing effective lifting functionality, thereby preserving maximum storage capacity.
3Ease of operation
If the driving part is exposed to the outside, then accessibility is improved, but noise transmission increases and aesthetics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The driving part is nested within the bin's internal cavity, which acts as an acoustic barrier. This enclosure reduces noise transmission to the external environment while the bin's opening provides access for operation and maintenance.
4Device complexity
If the lifting mechanism supports one side of the bin bottom, then the structure is simple, but eccentric load causes instability
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is deliberately positioned asymmetrically at one side of the bin, with the driving part offset from the center. This asymmetric placement is compensated by the bin's structural design and support distribution to maintain overall stability while keeping the mechanism 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
This configuration improves safety, aesthetics, and operational stability while maintaining storage efficiency and user convenience by ensuring smooth elevation of heavy loads without noise or storage capacity loss, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a driving device, which is an electric device, inside a door part
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a cabinet (10) that defines an upper storage space (11) and a lower storage space (12); a front panel door (31) that opens and closes the lower storage space; a drawer (32) that inserts into and withdraws from the lower storage space, the drawer including an accommodation portion; a driving device (40) located in the front panel door and configured to generate power; and an elevation device (80) located in the drawer and configured to elevate, relative to the drawer, at least part of the accommodation portion of the drawer. The driving device is configured to couple to the elevation device through a rear surface of the front panel door and through a front surface of the drawer that faces the rear surface of the front panel door. The driving device is further configured to, in a state of being coupled to the elevation device, provide the power for operation of the elevation device.