Refrigerator Drawer Frame Design for Load Separation and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large refrigerators, the rear-mounted components on the door interfere with shelves or drawers, requiring deep hand access and making it difficult to retrieve items, leading to structural issues like deformation and reduced storage capacity due to complex and heavy receiving frames.
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 reduce visible components and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the receiving frame is designed to withstand the entire load of the drawer and food, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and the volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load support function into two separate components: the receiving frame and the drawer guide. The drawer guide is specifically designed to support the load of the drawer and food, while the receiving frame only needs to provide structural support and guide the drawer movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall complexity and volume of the receiving frame while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity.
2Strength
If the receiving frame is designed to withstand the entire load, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the weight of the receiving frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load support function into two separate components: the receiving frame and the drawer guide. The drawer guide is specifically designed to support the load of the drawer and food, while the receiving frame only needs to provide structural support and guide the drawer movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall complexity and volume of the receiving frame while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity.
3Strength
If the receiving frame volume is increased to support the load, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the storage compartment capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load support function into two separate components: the receiving frame and the drawer guide. The drawer guide is specifically designed to support the load of the drawer and food, while the receiving frame only needs to provide structural support and guide the drawer movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall complexity and volume of the receiving frame while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity.
4Device complexity
If the link is connected to the bottom surface of the receiving frame, then the movement mechanism is simplified, but bending moment and shearing force cause deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the load support function from the receiving frame and assigns it to a separate drawer guide component. This allows the link to be connected to the receiving frame in a position and manner that minimizes bending moments and shearing forces, while the drawer guide handles the load support. The drawer guide is designed to work together with the receiving frame to provide both load support and movement guidance, eliminating the deformation issues while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
5Adaptability or versatility
If the drawer is positioned deep in the storage compartment, then the rear-mounted door components can be installed, but hand access becomes difficult and item retrieval is problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a receiving frame that can move forward and backward along guide rails. When the refrigerator door is opened, the receiving frame automatically moves forward, bringing the drawer closer to the user for easier access and item retrieval. When the door is closed, the receiving frame moves backward to its original position, allowing the installation of rear-mounted door components like home bars and ice makers. This dynamic movement mechanism resolves the contradiction between deep drawer positioning and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with a drawer 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. A frame which is movable in the front/back directions by a frame guide, 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. The side plate includes 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.