Refrigerator Drawer Elevation Mechanism Using Nested Screw-Lever Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with drawer-type doors face issues such as exposed lifting mechanisms causing safety hazards, poor appearance, noise, reduced storage capacity, and instability when elevating heavy loads, which affect user convenience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a concealed driving device with a motor assembly, symmetrical screw units, and levers that elevate a drawer part, housed within the door part to maintain a clean appearance and reduce noise, while ensuring stable and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then safety and appearance are improved, but storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is nested within the door assembly structure, with the motor assembly, screw units, and levers integrated into the door part. This allows the mechanism to be concealed within the refrigerator without occupying additional external space, thereby maintaining storage capacity while improving safety and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting mechanism utilizes the vertical dimension within the door assembly by positioning components at different heights (motor assembly at upper end, screw units extending downward, levers connecting to drawer part). This vertical arrangement allows the mechanism to fit within the door's height without protruding outward, preserving storage space while achieving concealment.
2Shape
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then appearance is improved, but noise is transmitted to the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The door part acts as an intermediary barrier between the lifting mechanism and the external environment. By positioning the motor assembly and other noise-generating components within the door assembly, the door structure itself serves as sound insulation, preventing noise from being transmitted to the outside while maintaining a clean external appearance.
3Force
If a large motor is used to elevate heavy loads, then lifting capability is improved, but internal volume loss and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a direct-drive motor system with a mechanical transmission system comprising screw units and levers. The motor assembly connects to the screw units, which convert rotational motion into linear motion to drive the levers. This mechanical substitution allows for a smaller motor while maintaining lifting capability, thereby reducing internal volume loss and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw units provide mechanical advantage by converting small rotational movements into larger linear displacements. This parameter transformation allows the system to lift heavy loads with a smaller motor, optimizing the balance between lifting capability, motor size, and noise generation.
4Ease of repair
If the lifting mechanism is disposed inside the refrigerator, then serviceability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is segmented into distinct functional modules: motor assembly, screw units, and levers. Each module can be independently serviced or replaced. The motor assembly is positioned within the door part, allowing technicians to access and maintain components by working on the door assembly separately, thereby improving serviceability despite the integrated design.
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 safe, quiet, and efficient elevation mechanism that maximizes storage capacity by hiding the lifting mechanism, improving user convenience and maintaining the refrigerator's aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a screw disposed in the housing, the screw being gear-coupled to a gear of the motor assembly to rotate; a screw holder penetrated by the screw, the screw having a screw thread corresponding to the screw to move along the screw
Implementation Method 2
a lever configured to rotate by the screw unit, the lever being connected to the elevation device to provide power for elevating the elevation device
Implementation Method 3
a guide bar disposed parallel to the screw inside the housing, the guide bar passing through the screw holder to guide the movement of the screw
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet (10) configured to define a storage chamber; a door (30) comprising a door part (31) configured to open and close the storage chamber and a drawer part (32) configured to provide a storage chamber; and a rail configured to connect the door (30) to the cabinet (10), the rail being configured to insert and withdraw the door (30) , wherein it is comprising: a driving device (40) disposed on the door part (31) to provide power; and an elevation device (80) disposed on the drawer part (32), the elevation device (80) being connected to the driving device (40) to vertically elevate a portion of the drawer part (32), wherein the driving device (40) comprises: a motor assembly (60); a screw unit (50, 50a) disposed on each of both sides with respect to the motor assembly (60), the screw unit (50, 50a) being connected to the motor assembly (60) to operate at the same time; and a lever (42) configured to rotate by the screw unit (50, 50a), the lever (42) being connected to the elevation device (80) to provide power for elevating the elevation device (80), wherein the screw unit (50, 50a) comprises: a housing (51); a screw (52, 52a) disposed in the housing (51), the screw (52, 52a) being gear-coupled to a gear of the motor assembly (60) to rotate; a screw holder (56, 56a) penetrated by the screw (52, 52a), the screw (52, 52a) having a screw thread corresponding to the screw (52, 52a) to move along the screw (52, 52a); and a guide bar disposed parallel to the screw (52, 52a) inside the housing (51), the guide bar passing through the screw holder (56, 56a) to guide the movement of the screw (52, 52a).