refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs with lifting mechanisms for drawer units face issues such as exposed components leading to safety and aesthetic concerns, noise transmission, reduced storage capacity, and difficulty in servicing.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design where the electric device for elevation is integrated within the door unit, and the mechanical device for elevating the drawer unit is housed within the drawer itself, preventing component exposure and optimizing space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then safety and appearance are improved, but the storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is nested within the drawer unit structure, with the driving unit housed in the door unit and the elevation device integrated into the drawer. This nesting approach allows the mechanism to be concealed within the refrigerator's existing structure, improving safety and appearance while minimizing the impact on storage capacity.
2Shape
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then appearance is improved, but the storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism components are nested within the drawer unit and door unit structures, concealing them from view when the drawer is closed. This maintains a clean, uninterrupted appearance while the storage capacity loss is minimized through efficient spatial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting mechanism utilizes the vertical dimension and the depth space between the drawer front and back, rather than occupying horizontal storage space. This dimensional approach allows the mechanism to be hidden while preserving usable storage volume.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the driving unit is operated with exposed structure, then noise is transmitted to the outside, but increasing the motor size can solve the lifting force problem
Solution Approach 1:
The driving unit is nested within the door unit, which acts as an acoustic enclosure. This containment structure blocks noise transmission to the outside environment while still allowing the mechanism to generate sufficient lifting force for large or heavy bins.
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 design enhances safety and appearance by concealing components, reduces noise, minimizes storage capacity loss, and facilitates easier servicing and assembly of the drawer unit.
Implementation Method 1
a screw unit including a screw configured to be rotated by the motor assembly and a screw holder configured to move up or down along the screw
Implementation Method 2
a lever configured to connect the screw holder and the elevation device and rotate when the screw holder moves up or down
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises a cabinet having a storage space; a door including a door unit configured to open or close the storage space and a drawer unit configured to provide a receiving space; rails configured to connect the door and the cabinet to draw in or out the door; a driving device disposed at the door unit to provide power; and an elevation device disposed at the drawer unit and connected with the driving device to move up or down a portion of the drawer unit, in which the driving device includes: a motor assembly; a screw unit including a screw configured to be rotated by the motor assembly and a screw holder configured to move up or down along the screw; and a lever configured to connect the screw holder and the elevation device and rotate when the screw holder moves up or down, the motor assembly includes: a driving motor; and a power transmission unit configured to transmit power from the motor to the screw unit, and the screw is disposed to be inclined with respect to a vertical line.