Refrigerator Drawer-Frame Linkage for Interference-Free Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with increased capacity face interference issues between door-mounted components and storage compartments, leading to difficulties in accessing food, structural instability, and reduced storage capacity due to complex receiving frames that concentrate loads, causing deformation and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a drawer guide system where the drawer is supported by a cantilever and a frame that moves in conjunction with the door, separating load support and movement structures, with a side plate extending between the inner and outer cabinets to enhance rigidity and reduce visible frame exposure, allowing for automatic drawer withdrawal and improved air circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the front end of the food storage unit is located at a place spaced apart from the front of the main body to prevent interference with door-mounted components, then interference is avoided, but the user must reach deeply into the storage compartment to access food and checking food in the rear portion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the food storage unit movable rather than fixed. The storage unit can automatically move forward when the door is opened and return to its original position when the door is closed, dynamically adjusting its position to resolve the contradiction between preventing interference and maintaining accessibility.
2Strength
If the entire load of the shelf or drawer is transferred to the receiving frame, then the shelf or drawer can be supported, but the structure of the receiving frame becomes complicated, its volume increases, and its weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the load support function into two separate structures: the drawer guide supports the load of the drawer, while the receiving frame only guides the movement of the frame. This segmentation eliminates the need for a complex, heavy receiving frame structure while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity.
3Ease of operation
If the link is connected to the bottom surface of the receiving frame to move the receiving frame, then the receiving frame can be actuated, but bending moment or shearing force acts on the receiving frame causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the load support function from the receiving frame and assigning it to the drawer guide. The receiving frame is extracted from the dual role of supporting load and guiding movement, leaving only the movement guidance function. This eliminates the structural deformation issue while maintaining operability.
4Strength
If the receiving frame is designed to withstand concentrated loads, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but the capacity of the storage compartment is reduced due to the receiving frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the load support function (handled by the drawer guide) from the movement guidance function (handled by the receiving frame). This allows the receiving frame to be much smaller and simpler in structure, thereby increasing the available storage compartment capacity while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity through the dedicated drawer guide structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator of the present invention may have a drawer which is provided in a storage compartment formed on a cabinet and which accommodates stored goods, the drawer being movably supported by a drawer guide disposed in the storage compartment. In the storage compartment, a frame which is supported to be movable in the front/back directions by a frame guide may be provided, and a door opening and closing the storage compartment may be connected with the frame by a link. The frame may have a base part which is disposed on the lower side of the drawer and is connected with the link, and the frame may comprise a side plate which extends from the base part and reaches a height corresponding to the drawer. The side plate may comprise a vertical part which is vertical with respect to the base part. A cross section formed by horizontally cutting the vertical part may be formed so as to be elongated along the moving direction of the drawer. The vertical part may be connected with the drawer so as to enable the drawer to move integrally with the frame.