Refrigerator Drawer Elevation Assembly for Stable Heavy-Load Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator drawer systems face challenges with the elevation of drawer-type doors, leading to inconvenience and safety issues due to exposed electrical devices, instability, and reduced storage capacity, particularly when dealing with heavy loads and eccentric loads.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring an elevation assembly with elevation devices on both sides of the drawer door, integrated into the drawer part and front panel door, allowing for safe and stable elevation of the support member without tilting, while minimizing exposure and maintaining storage capacity, and enabling selective separation of components for improved assembly, cleanliness, and serviceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer-type door is disposed in the lower region of the refrigerator, then the refrigerator structure is compact, but the user has to turn its back to take out heavy items causing inconvenience and potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical elevation dimension to the traditionally horizontal drawer door. The drawer door is equipped with an elevation mechanism that allows it to rise vertically from the lower region, bringing heavy items to an ergonomically accessible height without requiring the user to bend or turn their back, thus solving the convenience issue while maintaining the compact lower-positioned structure
2Ease of operation
If the drawer door is elevated to improve user convenience, then user accessibility is improved, but electrical devices and structures for elevation may be exposed causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation mechanism and electrical devices are nested within the drawer door structure itself. The motor, gears, and other elevation components are integrated into the door assembly, hidden from external view. Only the functional exterior surface of the drawer door is visible, eliminating exposure of electrical devices while maintaining the elevation function for improved accessibility
3Device complexity
If force for elevation is applied to a front end of the storage container, then the elevation mechanism is simplified, but stable elevation is difficult due to eccentric load causing deformation and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric force application system where the elevation force is not applied at a single front-end point but is distributed through an asymmetric linkage mechanism. This asymmetric design allows the force to be transmitted in a way that compensates for the eccentric load of stored items, preventing deformation and breakage while maintaining mechanism simplicity
4Ease of operation
If the entire basket is elevated, then user accessibility is improved, but the basket has to be completely withdrawn and insertion/withdrawal becomes unstable requiring reinforcement structures
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation function is segmented from the complete drawer door assembly. Instead of elevating the entire door and basket, only the necessary storage containers or baskets within the drawer door are elevated independently. This segmentation allows baskets to remain partially inserted for stability while providing elevation functionality, eliminating the need for complex reinforcement structures
5Power
If pneumatic cylinders are disposed on each of both sides to elevate the basket, then elevation capability is improved, but the basket may tilt if not accurately controlled and safety issues arise from exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the elevation functions of both pneumatic cylinders into a single integrated control system. The cylinders are coordinated through a unified control mechanism that ensures synchronized operation, preventing basket tilting. Additionally, the cylinders are integrated into the drawer door structure, hiding them from external exposure while maintaining their elevation capability
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a lower storage space, a front panel door part, a drawer part connected to the front panel door part, a support member located at the drawer part and configured to seat one or more objects stored in the drawer part, at least one draw-out rail that is configured to connect the drawer part to an inner wall surface of the lower storage space, and that is configured to extend and retract in multiple stages to assist insertion and withdrawal of the drawer part based on movement of the front panel door part, and at least one elevation device that is located at each of both side surfaces of the drawer part, that is connected to each of both sides of the support member, and that is configured to elevate the support member relative to the drawer part.